The Magic of Chocolate explained

Ja Kanji:ショコラの魔法
Ja Romaji:Shokora no Mahō
Genre:Dark fantasy
Type:manga
Author:Rino Mizuho
Publisher:Shogakukan
Imprint:Ciao Horror Comics
First:September 3, 2008
Volumes:24
Type:ova
Director:Shinichiro Kimura
Music:tenten
Studio:SynergySP
First:March 3, 2011
Last:December 28, 2012
Runtime:11–16 minutes
Episodes:13
Type:live film
Director:Tomonobu Morikawa
Studio:Film
Runtime:81 minutes

is a Japanese dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Rino Mizuho. It has been serialized in the monthly manga magazine Ciao and its sister magazine, , since September 2008.

A 13-episode original video animation produced by SynergySP was released between 2011 and 2012, while a live-action film adaptation was released to Japanese theatres in 2021.

In 2021, The Magic of Chocolate won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award in the children's category.

Synopsis

The Magic of Chocolate is a series focusing on Chocolat Aikawa, the owner of a chocolaterie called Chocolat Noir, located deep in the forest. She sells chocolates that can grant wishes when consumed. However, the chocolates come at a price; as payment, Chocolat will take something precious to the customer. Many of her customers have concerns or grievances they wish to remedy with the chocolates, though some aim to abuse the chocolates' magic for nefarious purposes; Chocolat will curse those who do so to "plunge into the depths of darkness," resulting in often bizarre and ironic retributions.

Characters

An emotionally stoic chocolatier, and owner of the Chocolat Noir. She is always seen dressed in lolita fashion.
  • A chocolate devil who was summoned by Chocolat's father, Shūga, and lives together with her. He is usually seen in the form of a black cat.
  • Media

    Manga

    The Magic of Chocolate is written and illustrated by Rino Mizuho.[1] It has been serialized irregularly in the monthly magazine Ciao and its sister magazine, , since September 3, 2008.[2] [3] [4] Shogakukan has collected its chapters into individual volumes, under the Ciao Horror Comics imprint. The first volume was released on July 1, 2009. As of March 26, 2024, 24 volumes have been released.

    Instead of being ordered numerically, each volume is named according to the English alphabet.[5] From October 11 to November 1, 2013, columnist held a contest on Twitter for contestants to guess the subtitle of the then-upcoming volume 10, slated to begin with the letter "J."[5] Mizuho herself judged the results, with the prizes awarded to the first three people who were able to answer correctly, as well as special jury awards such as the "Nice Silly Answer Award" and the "Cool & Sweet Award."[5]

    The series is licensed for Southeast Asian distribution in English by Shogakukan Asia.

    Anthologies

    Original video animation

    An original video animation (OVA) adaptation was announced on the wrap-around band released with volume 3 on November 29, 2010.[6] The episodes were distributed through the Ciao Ciao TV! DVD discs included in the monthly magazine Ciao, starting with the April 2011 issue; the final episode was published with the February 2013 issue.[7] [8] All episodes were made available to watch on Ciao's official YouTube channel in 2021.[9]

    Light novels

    The light novel adaptation of The Magic of Chocolate is written by with illustrations provided by Rino Mizuho. Volume 4 was written by, with Hozumi credited as a co-writer. The light novel series is published by Shogakukan under the Shogakukan Junior Bunko imprint.

    Film

    A live-action movie adaptation, first announced in January 2021, was released on June 18 the same year.[10] The film stars Maho Yamaguchi as Chocolat in her film debut.[11] [12] It is produced by Shinya Furugori and Kana Ohtsubo, with Tomonobu Morikawa directing and Tatsuya Kanazawa writing the script.[13]

    Other media and merchandise

    An official fanbook titled The Magic of Chocolate: H to I was released on April 30, 2013.[14] [15] In February 2013, The Magic of Chocolate collaborated with lolita fashion brand Baby, The Stars Shine Bright to produce a dress based on Chocolat.[16]

    Reception

    Along with Duel Masters, The Magic of Chocolate won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award in the children category in 2021.[17] [18] [19]

    Notes and References

    1. News: Jennifer. Sherman. Magic of Chocolate Horror Manga's New Series to Launch. Anime News Network. 2011-11-30. January 18, 2021. March 25, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230325044418/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-30/magic-of-chocolate-horror-manga-new-series-to-launch. live.
    2. Web site: Mizuho. Rin. ja:掲載情報です. http://miduhorino.jugem.jp/?eid=324. Happiness Diary: Rino Mizuho's Blog. September 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20090708143921/http://miduhorino.jugem.jp/?eid=324. July 8, 2009. ja. September 3, 2008.
    3. Web site: ja:2008年09月03日のアーカイブ. http://manganohi.jp/2008/09/03/. manganohi.jp. September 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20080916100529/http://manganohi.jp/2008/09/03/. September 16, 2008. ja. September 3, 2008. Japanese: 【ちゃお】ちゃお 10月号 発売中! […] ●スイーツ・ゴシックよみきり 『ショコラの魔法~ガトーオペラ歌姫の誘惑~』 みづほ梨乃 願いがかなう魔法のチョコレート。アナタは、食べる…? .
    4. Web site: Mizuho. Rino. カリカリと. Happiness Diary: Rino Mizuho's Blog. September 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20090714014311/http://miduhorino.jugem.jp/?month=200811. July 14, 2009. ja. November 2, 2008. Japanese: 今月20日頃発売のちゃおデラックスに、 「ショコラの魔法」 再び掲載されます。たこプリに続くシリーズとなります。.
    5. News: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/101157. ja:ショコラの魔法のサブタイトル当てよう、ブルボン小林企画. ja. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. 2013-10-11. January 18, 2021. July 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240719111827/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/101157. live.
    6. News: Loo. Egan. The Magic of Chocolate Shōjo Horror Manga Gets Anime. Anime News Network. 2010-11-29. January 18, 2021. July 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240719114014/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-11-29/the-magic-of-chocolate-shojo-horror-manga-gets-anime. live.
    7. News: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/45895. ja:「ショコラの魔法」アニメ化、ちゃお付録のDVDに収録. ja. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. 2011-03-03. January 18, 2021.
    8. News: Loo. Egan. Ore-sama Kingdom, Hime Gal Paradise Get More Anime. Anime News Network. 2011-03-03. January 18, 2021.
    9. Ciao Editorial Department. ciao_manga. 1350286112908951558. 2021-01-15. ja:アニメ「ショコラの魔法」ちゃおチャンネルにて公開中です #ちゃお #ちゃおチャンネル #ショコラの魔法. The Magic of Chocolate anime is now available on Ciao Channel. ja. https://twitter.com/ciao_manga/status/1350286112908951558. January 18, 2021.
    10. News: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2193962/full/. ja:山口真帆、2年半ぶりレコーディング 主演映画『ショコラの魔法』主題歌でmzsrzとコラボ . ja. Oricon. 2021-05-20.
    11. News: Rafael Antonio. Pineda. Magic of Chocolate Horror Manga Gets Live-Action Film. Anime News Network. 2021-01-18. January 18, 2021.
    12. News: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2181830/full/. ja:山口真帆、映画初出演にして初主演 『ショコラの魔法』実写化で原作を“忠実に再現”. ja. Oricon. 2021-01-16. January 18, 2021. July 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240719115059/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2181830/full/. live.
    13. News: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/412675. ja:みづほ梨乃「ショコラの魔法」山口真帆主演で映画化、ちゃお発ダークファンタジー. ja. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. 2021-01-18. January 18, 2021. July 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240719115114/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/412675. live.
    14. News: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/89777. ja:「ショコラの魔法」ファンブック発売、描き下ろしも収録. ja. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. 2013-04-30. January 18, 2021.
    15. News: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/89614. ja:【4月30日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. ja. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. 2013-04-30. January 18, 2021.
    16. News: https://natalie.mu/comic/news/84160. ja:「ショコラの魔法」のワンピース再現した本格ドレス. ja. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc.. 2013-02-02. January 18, 2021. July 19, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240719115617/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/84160. live.
    17. Web site: Crystalyn. Hodgkins. Chainsaw Man, Teasing Master Takagi-san, Duel Masters Nominated for 66th Shogakukan Manga Awards. Anime News Network. 2020-11-30. January 18, 2021. December 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211220112216/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-11-30/chainsaw-man-teasing-master-takagi-san-duel-masters-nominated-for-66th-shogakukan-manga-awards/.166856. live.
    18. Web site: ja:第66回小学館漫画賞に「デデデデ」「チェンソーマン」「ショコラの魔法」など. https://natalie.mu/comic/news/413080. Comic Natalie. January 19, 2021. ja. January 19, 2021. August 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819174947/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/413080. live.
    19. Web site: Mateo. Alex. Chainsaw Man, Teasing Master Takagi-san, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, More Win 66th Shogakukan Manga Awards. Anime News Network. January 19, 2021. January 19, 2021. November 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123141131/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-01-19/chainsaw-man-teasing-master-takagi-san-dead-dead-demon-dededede-destruction-more-win-66th-shogakukan-manga-awards/.168571. live.