History Anime / MagicalShoppingArcadeAbenobashi

Well, none of that really matters, after Arumi's grandfather is hospitalized in an accident that destroys the last of [[TheFourGods four "guardian" figurines]] that bound the shopping district. Before their eyes, the neighborhood changes. Sasshi and Arumi find themselves trapped in a warped version of Abenobashi as if it were an RPG, with everyone they know recast as [=NPCs=].

But once they fight their way through the game's plot in grand slapstick style, thinking they will then return home, they find themselves transported to an outer space version of Abenobashi... then a Hong Kong martial arts movie version... then a [[EverythingsBetterWithDinosaurs dinosaur-filled]], prehistoric one. And many more. Will Sasshi and Arumi ever get back to the ''real'' Abenobashi? ''Why'' are they "jumping" in the first place? ''Who'' is that blue haired sorcerer who appears to be going through a mid-life crisis?

* PlayboyBunny: Mune-Mune wears one in one of the later chapters... alongside [[FanDisservice Aki.]]

* ClusterFBomb: [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_tMD5bTbLM Mr. Kouhei]] in episode 12. Also counts as a CrowningMomentOfFunny.

%%Entries marked with %% are ZeroContextExamples. They do not sufficiently describe how the

* ShoutOut: Many, though it'd be more appropriate to say they're parodying more than simply just referencing them.

* TruthInTelevision: The redevelopment of the Abeno area of Osaka has caused many older commercial districts to be gutted or demolished completely. A case in point is Abeno Ginza shopping arcade, which was torn down at the TurnOfTheMillennium and replaced by a [[http://qs-mall.jp/ trendy shopping mall]], complete with a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shop and the Osaka branch of Shibuya 109. Poor Sasshi...

* MedievalEuropeanFantasy: Episode 2, and perhaps 10 too, considering it is based on fairy tales, which in turn have a generally MEF setting.

!!Tropes:

* Bait-and-Switch Credits: The opening credits are a montage of clips from the first 2/3 of the first episode... the part before the reality-jumping and assorted weirdness. Someone missing the "Magical" part might think this is a show about the demise of an old-fashioned shopping arcade.

%%* TheReveal

** ''LightNovel/SisterPrincess''

* GoingCommando: Arumi spends an entire episode without underwear, which was stolen by the goblin while she was relieving herself behind a bush. She's then subjected to just about every suggestive trope found in HumongousMecha anime, including piloting a giant robot in a skimpy minidress after a TransformationSequence that inserted Sasshi into the cockpit directly between her legs. She's constantly mortified but Sasshi, being twelve, is so preoccupied by all of the cool robot stuff going on he doesn't even notice.

%%* HumongousMecha

* MagicalGirl: Subverted. In one world, Sasshi tries to give Arumi everything she'd ever want in order to be happy. His own screw-up antics eventually result in Arumi being forced to transform into a MagicalGirl (complete with the poses being controlled by one of Sasshi's little oni servants). She was less than enthusiastic about it.

* MegumiHayashibara: Sings/raps the theme song, and sings the ending theme.

** Episode 12 has dozens of references to American horror, science-fiction, and adventure movies, including, but certainly not limited to: ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'', ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'', ''Film/TheShining'', ''Film/SpeedRacer'', ''Series/KnightRider'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture'', ''Franchise/RoboCop'', ''Franchise/DieHard'', ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'', ''Film/{{Titanic}}'', ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'', ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', ''Film/AirForceOne'', and ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.

** Also in dino world: Sasshi briefly turns into [[Franchise/JurassicPark an old man with white hair, white beard, and a cane]] after impressing Arumi with his knowledge of dinosaurs. No, it isn't Colonel Sanders.

* ScrewDestiny: Sasshi's ultimate reaction to the revelation that [[spoiler:Grandpa Masa is dead in the real world.]] And, making for either a CrowningMomentOfAwesome or a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, [[spoiler:he comes through with it and brings him back to life.]] YMMV, though, as many felt that moment ruined the series, as noted under [[YMMV/AbenobashiMahouShoutengai They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot.]]

** Episode 12 has dozens of references to American horror, science-fiction, and adventure movies, including, but certainly not limited to: ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'', ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'', ''Film/TheShining'', ''Film/SpeedRacer'', ''Series/KnightRider'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', ''Franchise/RoboCop'', ''Franchise/DieHard'', ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'', ''Film/{{Titanic}}'', ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'', ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', ''Film/AirForceOne'', and ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.

A DeconstructiveParody of a dozen or more genres of film and anime, ''Abenobashi Mahou Shoutengai'' (''Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi'' in North America) generously trowels thick layers of off-the-wall comedy on top of a surprisingly serious storyline, one you're likely to forget about. Made by [[StudioGainax Gainax]] and {{Madhouse}}, the show makes both subtle and in-your-face [[ShoutOut references]] to [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion various]] [[LightNovel/SisterPrincess other]] [[Film/BackToTheFuture series.]]

There is also a two-volume {{Manga}} version, which is ''even weirder.'' The [[BroadStrokes basic plot is pretty much the same,]] although different worlds are visited, the ones that ''are'' in the show are different, and there's a character not shown in the anime (with the exception of a "blink and you'll miss her" scene in the twelfth episode.) While unfortunately the manga is no longer in print due to the demise of Tokyopop, cheap used copies can be found on Amazon, or if you're lucky, your local used bookstore.

[[http://www.hulu.com/magical-shopping-arcade-abenobashi Available to watch]] on {{Creator/Hulu}}.

-->'''Sasshi:''' I ain't the only one being a little kid here! You're nothing but a kid who wants to... uh, you're just... you're just!... A little kid and... ''DON'T SMOKE!!''
-->'''Arumi:''' ...that ''really'' the issue?

* BarbieDollAnatomy: Averted - nipples are right where they belong.
* BigNo: Shown silently, however

* BreastExpansion: In the DragonQuest-themed second episode, Sasshi defeats the final boss using a magic talisman that Arumi bought, which turned out to be used for BreastExpansion -- the boss's chest swelled up so much it exploded.

* ButtMonkey:

** In the DatingSim Episode however, Arumi is the ButtMonkey which is quite satisfying.
* CallingYourAttacks: As part of the Sci-Fi/[[HumongousMecha Mecha]] episode. Though since they don't know any of the pre-existing attack names, Sasshi and Arumi just make up new ones on the fly (and comment on how difficult it really is..)

-->'''Mr. Kouhei''': ''"HEY '''''FUCKING''''' COWBOY, '''''FUCKING''''' COWGIRL! HOW THE [+'''''FUCK'''''+] ARE YOU DOIN'? So tell me, are you kids on your '''''FUCKING''''' way home from school or something like that? [+++'''''FUCK'''''+++], why don't you two buy a '''''FUCKING''''' hotdog from me, Mr. Kouhei! Come on bebah, don't be cruel you '''''FUCKING''''' cowboy! Tell you what, I'll give you the King Special with a ton of '''''FUCKING''''' ketchup and '''''FUCKING''''' mustard to go with those '''''FUCKING''''' hotdogs, and sell you a pair of them for 500 '''''FUCKING''''' Yen! How do you like those bargains, bebah? [+'''''A-FUCK-YOU-VERY-MUCH-AH!'''''+] Hey, are you lonesome tonight you '''''FUCKING'''''-Cheer-'''''FUCKING'''''-Girls? '''''FUCKING''''' HOTDOGS FOR SALE, [+++'''FUCK YEAH!'''+++]''

* DeconstructiveParody: A gigantic middle finger towards geekdom. Well, at least that's what it looks like for the first half. After that, it gets... weird.
** At the halfway point, the series turns around and deconstructs ''itself''. Or to be more accurate, the second half is a GenreDeconstruction of the TrappedInAnotherWorld premise that it was following in the first half.
* DeusExMachina: [[spoiler: Sasshi's finally ready to go back to the real world and face reality, when in the last few minutes he has a change of heart and suddenly gets enough power to rewrite reality.]]

* {{Expy}}: Young Grandpa Masa in not entirely unlike [[WesternAnimation/TheMask two]] [[AceVentura cartoon characters]] modeled after a [[JimCarrey certain actor who played their live action counterparts]].

* FanDisservice: ...Ms. Aki, who takes this trope UpToEleven. See GlamorousWartimeSinger below for an example. Other examples include Grandpa Masa in the Hong Kong Arcade; later on the plot reveals that [[spoiler:Mune-Mune,]] is [[spoiler:the alternate-reality counterparts of Sasshi's ''grandmother''.]]

* TheFourGods: In the form of four statues on the roofs of family businesses in the shopping district. Three of the businesses have already closed, and the destruction of The Grill Pelican's pelican statue kicks off the plot [[spoiler:but not because of the statues' power...]].

* GainaxEnding: Sasshi turned out to be [[spoiler: one of the greatest Onmyou Mystics ever, because he's the heir of Eutus - I mean, Abe no Seimei.]] In order to keep Arumi from moving away, he [[spoiler: remade the world, as he had been throughout the series,]] except this time, it [[spoiler:''stayed'' remade, with the help of Sasshi's future self that has grown into his powers.]] As a bonus [[spoiler: Mune-Mune and Masa]] lived, and The Grill Pelican stays open.

* GenreSavvy:
** A large part of each episode is Sasshi and Arumi trying to figure out "what kind" of world they're in and what the rules are. This starts from the very first episode, where Sasshi immediately takes to the ''VideoGame/DragonQuest''-esque RPG world that they inhabit, and remarks that spending 600 of their initial 800 gold pieces in an initial shopping spree is ideal, since the strategy guide recommends saving 200 GP for inns and the like. Another example occurs in a sci-fi world: when Sasshi discovers that their sci-fi world has all of the elements of a SuperRobot show, it just becomes a matter of locating the HumongousMecha that is awaiting the two destined pilots.
** That said, Sasshi understanding how each world "works" is probably a side effect of [[spoiler:each world being retrieved from his subconscious.]]

-->Grandpa Masa: "Like hell I'm gonna stand for your lectures with bad French mixed in!"

* ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy: In the FilmNoir version of the arcade, Sasshi has to compete with Arumi's father to prove which one is the real "legendary sniper [[{{Golgo 13}} Regolgo]]" by shooting a can on the other side of the room. Sasshi manages to hit the can with a pistol ''by complete accident'', while Arumi's father empties an entire M16 clip and hits everything ''but'' the can. Then he walks right up to the can and blows it up with a bundle of TNT. [[WhatAnIdiot Arumi's father is declared the winner.]]
* IncrediblyConspicuousDrag: Crossdresser "Ms." Aki. is never outed, but is rather obvious — so much so that it seems the rest of the cast is aware of it and just treats him/her as a lovable eccentric.

--> '''Sasshi''': ''"Woah, Arumi. Since when did you have boobs?"''
--> '''Arumi''': ''"Aww shoot, you noticed already."''
--> '''Arumi's Dad''': ''"No-no-no, you still have not deciphered the meaning of this tank unit, ey mon ami?"''
--> '''Sasshi''': ''"You pad Arumi's boobs so now it's really a [[Film/{{Patton}} Pad-Ton]] tank unit? Heheheh Like it would really be something THAT stupid."''
--> '''Sasshi's Dad''': ''"Uhhh...."''
--> '''Sasshi''': ''"What, you went through all of this for something that lame?"''
--> '''Arumi's Dad''': ''"Ooooh! That's why I didn't want to say it! Sacre Bleu!"''
--> '''Sasshi''': ''"If you didn't wanna, you shouldn't have done it to begin with."''
--> '''Arumi's Dad''': ''"But there's more!'' *grabs into Arumi's chest takes out a gold orb while switching to an Irish accent* ''Dontyeknow, it's a real pad o' gold?"''
--> '''Sasshi''': ''"Not pad, POT of gold!"''
--> '''Arumi''': ''"He's stealing the punchline!" *Smacks her dad with her PaperFanOfDoom*''
* LittleBoySeeksBigGirl: 12 year old Sasshi has a crush on {{fanservice}} girl, [[RepetitiveName Mune]] [[MsFanservice Mune]], not knowing she's [[spoiler: really his grandmother, who perpetually looks like her 19 year old self thanks to [[StableTimeLoop a time paradox]]]].
* LongTitle: ''"Private E-1 Sasshi of Squad 7, Corps 6 of Division 5 General Headquarters, Auxiliary to the 4th Battalion, Under the command of the 3rd Regiment, Under the 2nd Division of the 1st Army, reporting for duty, Ma'am!"''
** Even sillier, as mentioned in the pop-up notes. The Japanese version goes just as long, but goes biggest to smallest unit (reverse order).

* MagicalGirl: Subverted. In one world, Sasshi tries to give Arumi everything she'd ever want in order to be happy. His own screw up antics eventually result in Arumi being forced to transform into a MagicalGirl (complete with the poses being controlled by one of Sasshi's little oni servants). She was less than enthusiastic about it.
* MagicalGirlfriend: Subverted. If you want to count Arumi for this role, she has no magical powers at all. In the DatingSim episode, She's actually [[spoiler: That world's magical goblin]] and everything she tried to inflict on Sasshi backfires on her. The same episode plays it straight with characters from the world itself.
* MagicFromTechnology: or so a character claims...

* MarshmallowHell: Mune-Mune to Sasshi. [[RunningGag Oh so very much]], but turned into {{Squick}} when [[spoiler: Sasshi knows and confronts the truth that Mune-Mune is Sasshi's Grandma]]

-->'''Sasshi's Mother:''' ''"You're Private E-1 Sasshi of Squad 7, Corps 6 of Division 5 General Headquarters, Auxiliary to the 4th Battalion, Under the command of the 3rd Regiment, Under the 2nd Division of the 1st Army."''
-->'''Mune-Mune:''' ''"WHAT'S THAT!? Are you Private E-1 Sasshi of Squad 7, Corps 6 of Division 5 General Headquarters, Auxiliary to the 4th Battalion, Under the command of the 3rd Regiment, Under the 2nd Division of the 1st Army!?"''
-->'''Sasshi:''' ''"That's right..."''

* ScrewDestiny: Sasshi's ultimate reaction to the revelation that [[spoiler:Grandpa Masa is dead in the real world.]] And, making for either a CrowningMomentOfAwesome or a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming, [[spoiler: he comes through with it and brings him back to life.]]
** YMMV, as many felt that moment ruined the series, as noted under [[YMMV/AbenobashiMahouShoutengai They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot.]]

* {{Shojo}}: In one world, Sasshi tries to give Arumi everything she would ever want to be happy. She doesn't want any of it.

** Episode 2 is a shout out to [[EasternRPG JRPG's]] in general, but VideoGame/DragonQuest in particular. Slimes, dead characters being represented by coffins, and needing to go back to town and pay to have them revived are just the tip of the iceberg.
** Episode 3 follows Science Fiction in general, including shoutouts to [[TwoThousandOne 2001: A Space Odyssey]], Franchise/StarWars and numerous GiantMecha series.
** Episode 4 includes a [[RanmaOneHalf Panda who puts Sasshi through a training montage]], [[FistOfTheNorthStar Sasshi getting extremely muscular with constellation-shaped scars on his chest]], [[Anime/DragonBallZ Sasshi going Super Saiyan]], arcade fighting games, and BruceLee in general.
** Episode 6 is a general shout out to FilmNoir style Hard-boiled Detective and Mobster movies.
** Episode 11 is a shout out to war movies in general, including ''Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront'', ''Film/{{Patton}}'', and others.
** Episode 12 has dozens of references to American horror, science fiction, and adventure movies, including, but certainly not limited to: ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}, ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'', ''Film/TheShining'', ''Film/SpeedRacer'', ''Series/KnightRider'', ''Film/{{Twister}}'', ''Film/{{Jaws}}'', ''Franchise/IndianaJones'', ''Film/BackToTheFuture'', ''Franchise/RoboCop'', ''Franchise/DieHard'', ''Film/TheExorcist'', ''Film/{{Barbarella}}'', ''Film/{{Titanic}}'', ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'', ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'', ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'', ''Film/AirForceOne'', and ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.

*** Also in dino world: Sasshi briefly turns into [[Franchise/JurassicPark an old man with white hair, white beard, and a cane]] after impressing Arumi with his knowledge of dinosaurs. No, it isn't Colonel Sanders.
** In the Fairy Tale episode, Sasshi creates a mini, teddy bear headed creature with little angel wings, entrusted to be guardian of a certain magical girl. At first he looks yellow. ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'', anybody?
** Don't forget about "the legendary sniper [[{{Golgo 13}} Regolgo.]]"
** Arumi also apparently spends episode 9 and the start of episode 10 hanging out at the school from TheDriftingClassroom.

* WhamEpisode: Episode 9
* WHAMLine:
-->'''Eutus:''' That [[MsFanservice babe]] [[LukeIAmYourFather is your]] ''[[LukeIAmYourFather grandmother]]'', Sasshi.

-->'''Eutus:''' It's true that I summoned [[BackFromTheDead Taizen Fuken]], but its powers were activated because '''[[RealityWarper you]]''', Sasshi [[NiceJobBreakingItHero wanted to nullify someone's death]]. You, Sasshi.
-->'''Sasshi:''' Me? Died? Who died? [[spoiler:[[PlotTriggeringDeath Masa?]]]]

[[http://www.hulu.com/magical-shopping-arcade-abenobashi Available to watch]] on {{Hulu}}.

%% * BarbieDollAnatomy: Averted

* BreastExpansion: In the second episode, Sasshi had to defeat the final boss by using a magic talisman that Arumi bought, which turned out to be used for BreastExpansion -- the boss's chest swelled up so much it exploded.

%%* {{Crossdresser}}: "Ms." Aki.

%%* TheFourGods

%%* StarCrossedLovers: [[spoiler:Mune-Mune and Eutus.]]

%%* DeadAllAlong: [[spoiler:Mune-Mune]].

* FanDisservice: ...Ms. Aki, who takes this trope UpToEleven. See GlamorousWartimeSinger below for an example. Other examples include Grandpa Masa in the Hong Kong Arcade; later on the plot reveals that [[spoiler:Mune-Mune,]] is [[spoiler:Sasshi's ''grandmother''.]]

%%* GagBoobs: Mune-mune