Many fans are seeing Harry Potter in Mashle, the latest comedy anime of the spring season. They are even dubbing Mashle as the perfect Harry Potter anime parody due to the obvious references.
But is Mashle based on Harry Potter? If so, is it still worth watching for Harry Potter fans?
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers from the Mashle manga series.
READ MORE: The Best Fantasy Anime You Should Watch
Is Mashle Based on Harry Potter?
Contrary to popular belief, Mashle is not based on Harry Potter, but the manga series’ creator, Hajime Komoto, obviously draws some inspiration from it.
He is clearly a Harry Potter fan, and it shows through his work in his own manga series.
Almost everything in Mashle is reminiscent of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, from the magical realm where Easton Magic Academy exists to its students who wear the same kind of robes.
However, this does not imply that Mashle's premise is identical to Harry Potter's.
The manga series brings something fresh to the table, such as an overpowering protagonist who is uninterested in the magical realm except for his adoptive father and his tasty limited-edition goblin creampuffs.
Moreover, Mash Burnedead is not Harry Potter at all. He is his own person, but anyone can see that Mash is most similar to Saitama from One-Punch Man.
But still, Mash is a completely different shounen anime protagonist than Saitama, even though they’re both funny as well.
In a world where magic users reign supreme, Mash Burnedead is dirt in everyone’s eyes.
And because of this, Regro Burnedead, Mash’s father, has to ensure that his amenable son is protected at all times.
It should have been easy for the father-son duo, but all good things come to an end.
Mash has to reveal himself to other people, even if it means going to a magic school!
In Easton Magic Academy, Mash aims to become a Divine Visionary, change the world, and eat all the goblin creampuffs he can get his hands on!
That being said, here are five times that Mashle effectively spoofs Harry Potter, so you know what to expect when you watch the anime!
READ MORE: How Many Episodes Will Mashle Have?
Mash’s Scar Is Harry Potter’s Iconic Scar
We are well aware that Harry Potter has a lightning bolt-like scar on his forehead as a result of Lord Voldemort's unsuccessful murder attempt on his life.
In Mashle, Mash Burnedead's scar is on his cheek, but it has the same lightning-bolt-like shape as Harry Potter's.
Apparently, it was Regro Burnedead who put the scar on Mash’s face to allow him to fit in at the Easton Magic Academy.
After all, everyone in the magical realm has a scar (mark) on their face that indicates their capacity to use magic.
So, if Mash enters the institution with his bare face, he will immediately be apprehended.
And since Mash can’t use magic, he doesn’t have any scars on his face, and he needs Regro’s help to manually imprint them on his face.
Duelo and Quidditch Are the Same Sport
We believe we've all heard about Quidditch in Harry Potter. It is the most popular sport at Hogwarts, and all of the dorms compete with their top players.
Duelo is similar to Quidditch in that Mash Burnedead must ride a broom mid-air and shoot balls to score.
He performs it with ease, except he can't utilize magic to perform the feat.
Instead, Mash has to rely on his quick and nimble feet to float in the air, ride his broom, and shoot as many goals as possible!
It is a very funny moment, and Mash is literally a beast who destroyed the opponents by scoring almost a thousand goals!
If Harry Potter and his comrades wish to completely eliminate the House of Slytherin, they must recruit Mash Burnedead on their team!
Innocent Zero Is Lord Voldemort
Mashle's final arcs present Innocent Zero as the last boss that Mash must overcome in order to return to his tranquil life with his father.
The same is true in Harry Potter, as Lord Voldemort exists to antagonize Harry and everyone he cares about.
But what most resembles Innocent Zero and Lord Voldemort is their desire for immortality and how they intend to achieve it.
Lord Voldemort immortalizes himself in Harry Potter by creating Horcruxes.
He makes it by killing people, fracturing their souls, and setting them on something.
If Lord Voldemort's body dies, these Horcruxes allow him to be resurrected.
Innocent Zero, on the other hand, must kill six of his biological children in order to obtain immortality.
He must absorb their hearts, including Mash Burnedead's, into his own.
In a nutshell, you can say that Mash Burnedead is a reverse Horcrux.
Easton Magic Academy Is Hogwarts
Anyone can see the similarities between Easton Magic Academy and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Both have the same structure, ambiance, and even feel. We can all agree that Easton Magic Academy is the anime equivalent of Hogwarts.
In addition to the structure, the system at Easton Magic Academy is similar to that at Hogwarts. The student body is divided into three houses: Adler, Lang, and Orca.
All of the students must face a dragon-like creature to find out which house they belong to.
The same can be said for Harry Potter's dorms and the Sorting Hat.
Mashle’s Episode Titles
Noticeably, Mashle’s episode titles are somehow formatted with Harry Potter’s book titles. It is clearly an allusion, and we are living for it.
For some examples, you can read the following, and tell us if they are similar or not:
- Episode 1: Mash Burnedead and the Body of the Gods
- Episode 2: Mash Burnedead and the Mysterious Maze
- Episode 3: Mash Burnedead and the Baleful Bully
- Episode 4: Mash Burnedead and the Challenging Magic User
- Episode 5: Mash Burnedead and the Unpopular Classmate
Whereas in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, the book titles read as follows:
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Notice the similarities?
ALSO READ: When Will Mashle Be Dubbed in English?
So, Is Mashle Worth Watching for Harry Potter Fans?
Yes, Mashle is worth watching for Harry Potter fans and anyone who hasn't seen or read at least one of J.K. Rowling's novels.
In fact, knowing the Harry Potter references in Mashle will make the experience much more significant.
You'll be reminded of so many things from the classic novel, and you'll have a blast trying to spot them all.
But besides the Harry Potter references, Mashle has its own distinct charm.
Yes, it is an anime parody, but it addresses a wide range of societal issues, including bullying, prejudice, politics, and even the corrupt social system.
In addition to the very unusual art style utilized by Hajime Komoto, which is evocative of classic comedy anime shows, it provides new comedic bits for fans to chew on.
The plot may appear monotonous to some, as Mash frequently proves himself to those who do not believe in him, but Mash remains unpredictable, which keeps things intriguing.
Nonetheless, aside from the obvious references mentioned previously, Harry Potter fans have a lot to look forward to in Mashle as the plot unfolds.
Want the latest on all things anime? Make sure you follow us on Twitter!
READ NEXT: Do Mash and Lemon End Up Together?
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!