I love Magi, and I have a crush on Orient. There are plenty of things to discuss concerning Shinobu Ohtaka’s latest work.
It’s not right to claim if Orient is better or worse than Magi with only one season. I’m not going to rant or gush about it and ignore other opinions.
I will go over the similarities, differences, and a theory or two about what might happen in future Ohtaka works.
I’ve watched the Orient anime on Crunchyroll, and I’ll read the manga soon. Therefore, this article will contain spoilers for the Magi anime and manga.
So please keep that in mind as we take a trip down memory lane and explore future opportunities. Are you ready to slay the Oni and the Kishen?
The good, the bad, and the funny
Magi has a lot of boob jokes and knows when to hold back and focus on other things. I like to think of Orient as Magi’s slightly more mature sibling.
Orient has almost no adult humor and shows promise. However, most of the reviews on Youtube complain about Orient’s animation.
They’ve called it low-budget and not up to 2022 standards. Personally, I don’t have a problem with the animation.
To me, as long as you can tell who’s who and what’s going on, everything is fine. The Orient Season 2 release date is coming up in a few months. Studio A. C. G. T. is doing a good job.
So, let’s take a look at the Top 10 similarities and differences between Orient and Magi.
10. The power of three
Magi centers around the adventures of Aladdin, Alibaba, and Morgiana. Orient is about a slightly older trio that fights Oni, Mushahi, Kojiro, and Tsugumi.
9. Magic
Aladdin is a magi, a special type of magician that has almost unlimited amounts of magic. You can’t go an episode or chapter without encountering magic.
Unfortunately, Orient has none except for the Oni, Kishen, and a Goddess who needs a host and can’t stay in the physical world for long. However, I’m not convinced she isn’t a Kishen.
8. Tricky adults and easy to fool children/teenagers
In Magi, Aladdin spent most of his childhood in an underground chamber. Morgiana grew up as a slave, and Alibaba was a merchant and used to live in a palace. In Orient, Mushashi studied in an elite school for miners, Kojiro became self-sufficient, and both boys lived in the same village. Tsugumi grew up in a Bushi fortress and had the most knowledge/training to deal with the Oni.
Keeping their ages in mind and the fact that the main characters learn how to make their own choices makes each encounter with someone older and wiser delightful. Especially in Magi, because most of the adults have their own agenda.
7. Clear/evolving goals
Magi started as an adventure. Two boys set out to capture some dungeons and see the world. Orient is more focused on getting to the next enemy with an organic way of explaining the terrain.
6. Pacing
One of the main complaints I’ve heard concerning Orient is the slow burn pace. I think the pace is fine. Orient does an excellent job of giving viewers enough information without bogging down the episode. We know the main objectives, know who the bad guys are, and fight scenes are never too long. Some characters are introduced towards the end, but we’ll learn more about them in the next season.
5. Likable characters
I can talk all day about my favorite Magi characters. Musashi is everything an older Aladdin with red hair should be. The same goes for Kojiro and Alibaba. Tsugumi needs more time to grow, and hopefully, we’ll get that in the next season.
4. Trauma done right
Morgiana and Tsugumi are two peas in a pod, and the differences between these girls are few. Morgiana was a slave who was beaten, degraded and terrorized before Aladdin and Alibaba came along. Tsugumi was verbally abused by her adopted father and constantly told she was worthless. Tsugumi is awkward and believes that taking off her clothes is how to make friends, thanks to her older sister.
Please understand me; I’m not glorifying abuse in any way. I’m saying that these girls went through hell, and Morgiana had the time to overcome it. Mushashi and Kojiro will help Tsugumi overcome her past, but it won’t be a quick fix.
3. A fun way to learn about different cultures and myths
Aladdin, Alibaba, Sinbad, and Jafar should ring a bell to anyone interested in movies, especially when it comes to Disney. Orient screams feudal Japan thanks to the Kishen designs based on Buddhist mythology and the Bushi.
2. Colors everywhere
Colors play a significant role in both series. In Magi Season 1, white and black are the main focus, while season 2 gives us red, blue, yellow, and green for magic. Orient has a similar approach; only it’s for souls. With white, red, green, blue, and yellow being normal and black being forsaken.
1. Mysterious main characters
Aladdin’s past was a fun read that the anime has yet to cover, and Mushashi’s relationship with the Obsidion Goddess is one I can’t wait to learn more about! What does it mean to be “forsaken?” Is Mushashi, Orient’s version of a “fallen?”
Will we get Magi Season 3, and what is the connection between Magi and Orient?
Many fans were hoping for season 3 of Magi when Orient came out, and I wasn’t one of them because I didn’t learn about Orient existing until recently.
I have a habit of getting into anime/manga/video games long after they’ve come out, which is how I got into Magi. My ex-boyfriend brought me to the library, and I cleaned out the manga section.
He didn’t think I’d be able to read them all, and I had fun proving him wrong. Orient has a long way to go, but it’s established itself well so far.
I like what I’ve seen and will pick up the manga in the future.
I want to wrap things up with a theory of mine involving Sinbad. This is where the spoiler warning comes into play.
Don’t read this if you haven’t read the Magi manga. It has a strange ending, but it promises sequels, spin-offs, and alternate series.
Sinbad is one of the most bada** characters; a God, a villain, and then nothing? Out of all the characters in Magi, Sinbad is the only one who hasn’t received a satisfying ending.
A lot of fans believe he’s dead. I believe he got sent to a different world and does what he does best. In the last episodes of Orient, we’re introduced to 8 generals of Black Stone.
Sinbad had 8 generals serving under him, and they were all-powerful in their own way. Most were the rulers of their countries!
If Sinbad survived or got reincarnated, I believe he’ll go back to what he does best: exploring, fighting, being a player, and drinking. Does this mean we’ll see him or other Magi characters in Orient?
I don’t know, but I want to find out! It would be fun to see the King of the Seven Seas interact with the Bushi Clans and kick Oni butt.
Sinbad was the first to conquer a dungeon, obtained seven Djinn, started his own country, and for a time, he was God. So Mushashi and his friends would be in good hands if he did show up in their world, and most importantly: Sinbad promised Aladdin he’d be back.
I await the Singularity’s return, and I shall read the various manga in the meantime! Is it July yet?