Common Sense Media Review
Fantasy adventure adopts Arab cultures; has blood, nudity
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic
What's the Story?
MAGI: THE LABYRINTH OF MAGIC tells the story of Alibaba (voiced by Erica Mendez in English dub), an orphan turned hero, and Aladdin (voiced by Erik Scott Kimerer), a magical child destined to save the world. Alibaba and Aladdin meet by chance and help each other navigate a magical dungeon that grants them treasure. Following this adventure, they're separated and seek to reunite -- but the journey is both mystical and dangerous as they uncover truths about themselves and face off against new enemies.
Is It Any Good?
This fantasy shonen series brings action, fun, and friendship, but has startling violence, outdated humor, and questionable cultural representation. Magi: The Magic of Labyrinth has some fun plot setup: travel the world, journey through magical dungeons, save humanity. The characters are cute, and their genuine kindness is endearing. At times, the themes of friendship and family seem rushed or juvenile, but they're still heartwarming. With all this, the contrast of brutal violence (slavery, abuse, war, merciless killing) is startling. While the show seems like a casual magical fantasy, it's actually more geared toward audiences looking for an action adventure series.
While the diverse representations of cultures is never mean-spirited, it does feel hollow when only the clothes are different and not the actual character designs. And the jokes at the expense of diverse body types are a bit off-putting. However, it is refreshing to have a fantasy anime show not set in a Western-inspired world, and the world of Magi may just inspire viewers to learn more about the cultures it does draw inspiration from.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about cultural representation in media. The setting, characters, and storylines are inspired by historical cultures from the Arabian Peninsula and East Asia, as well as stories from One Thousand and One Nights. Is this influence an example of cultural appreciation, appropriation, or something else?
Are any of the characters in the show positive role models? What characters traits do they have that you'd like to model in your own life?
Characters use violence in different ways (e.g., to solve problems, express anger, hurt others). Is violence ever justified? Could the characters have handled some situations differently? If so, what could they have done instead?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 7, 2012
- Cast : Erica Mendez , Erik Scott Kimerer , Cristina Valenzuela , Matthew Mercer
- Networks : Netflix , Crunchyroll
- Genre : Anime
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , History
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate