Fate/Kaleid Liner PRISMA ILYA is a spin-off of Fate/stay night. Set in an alternate universe, it features Ilyasviel von Einzbern as the main character, with many former central figures from the original series now playing minor roles. Watching the anime or reading the manga of Fate/stay night, or even playing the Visual Novel (which I personally recommend), can greatly enhance your understanding of the story.
STORY (6/10)
What can we say about the story? Given the primary narrative of Fate/stay night, PRISMA ILYA feels original, but compared to numerous other animes and mangas, the plot appears unoriginal. Ilyasviel von Einzbern is a regular girl living with her older brother Emiya Shirou and her maids Sella and Leysritt. Her parents, Emiya Kiritsugu and Irisviel von Einzbern, are perpetually traveling around the world. Obsessed with Magical Girl anime and manga, Ilya unexpectedly becomes one herself. The question remains: why?
Tohsaka Rin and Luviagelita Edelfelt are two magi sent by the Mages Association to Japan to retrieve the Class Cards, seven enigmatic cards capable of materializing Heroic Spirits. They are given the Kaleidosticks: Kaleido Ruby and Kaleido Sapphire, magical wands that harness power from other dimensions, providing unlimited mana (magical energy) to the user, contingent on their capacity to contain it. However, Rin and Luvia despise each other and constantly quarrel. One night, while battling mid-air, they are reprimanded by the Kaleidosticks, who abandon them (mid-air!) to find new masters. This is where Ilya enters the story: one evening while bathing, she notices a mysterious light in the sky and is struck by Kaleido Ruby, which forces a contract upon her, transforming Ilya into the magical girl Prisma Ilya.
Do you see any originality in this plot? I don't.
ART (8/10)
The art in this manga is one of its finest attributes. It effectively conveys seriousness when necessary and humor during comedic scenes. I don't perceive any flaws in the artwork.
CHARACTERS (6/10)
Well... this is what happens when you have only one new character: Miyu Edelfelt. All other characters originate from Fate/stay night, so we're already familiar with their personalities. Ilya is somewhat different since she wasn't raised by the Einzbern family to be a weapon for the Grail War like in Fate/stay night; instead, she was raised by her parents. To summarize: while F/sn!Ilya oscillates between "Cheerful and Innocent Child" and "Creepy and Evil Child," Prisma!Ilya is entirely a "Cheerful and Innocent Child" (well... if you consider the extent of her attraction to Shirou as "innocent," because I don't). Miyu Edelfelt is the sole new character mentioned earlier and is quite likable, though there isn't much to say about her since her backstory hasn't been (yet) revealed.
ENJOYMENT (9/10)
Despite all its shortcomings, I genuinely adore Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILYA. I believe this stems from my fanaticism for Fate/stay night and my love for Magical Girls, but you didn't come here to hear about my personal preferences. My only complaint is that the story rapidly alternates between humor and seriousness, but don't let this detract from your enjoyment of the series. As stated at the outset of this review, it's highly recommended to read/watch/play the Fate/stay night manga/anime/visual novel (and once again, I recommend the visual novel) not merely to grasp the basic storyline but also to understand all the references to Fate/stay night present in this manga, such as Rin reversing the "Are you my master?" line with Ilya when she compels her to be her slave.
Overall (7/10)
Not terrible, but not the greatest either. A must-read for all Fate/stay night fans and/or Magical Girls enthusiasts. Meh, just go read it already. Don't let the sugary exterior of this manga deceive you, as it can become as intense as Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha and Puella Magi Madoka Magica (but without the horror) when the story reaches its climax.
Popular Reviews
STORY (6/10)
What can we say about the story? Given the primary narrative of Fate/stay night, PRISMA ILYA feels original, but compared to numerous other animes and mangas, the plot appears unoriginal. Ilyasviel von Einzbern is a regular girl living with her older brother Emiya Shirou and her maids Sella and Leysritt. Her parents, Emiya Kiritsugu and Irisviel von Einzbern, are perpetually traveling around the world. Obsessed with Magical Girl anime and manga, Ilya unexpectedly becomes one herself. The question remains: why?
Tohsaka Rin and Luviagelita Edelfelt are two magi sent by the Mages Association to Japan to retrieve the Class Cards, seven enigmatic cards capable of materializing Heroic Spirits. They are given the Kaleidosticks: Kaleido Ruby and Kaleido Sapphire, magical wands that harness power from other dimensions, providing unlimited mana (magical energy) to the user, contingent on their capacity to contain it. However, Rin and Luvia despise each other and constantly quarrel. One night, while battling mid-air, they are reprimanded by the Kaleidosticks, who abandon them (mid-air!) to find new masters. This is where Ilya enters the story: one evening while bathing, she notices a mysterious light in the sky and is struck by Kaleido Ruby, which forces a contract upon her, transforming Ilya into the magical girl Prisma Ilya.
Do you see any originality in this plot? I don't.
ART (8/10)
The art in this manga is one of its finest attributes. It effectively conveys seriousness when necessary and humor during comedic scenes. I don't perceive any flaws in the artwork.
CHARACTERS (6/10)
Well... this is what happens when you have only one new character: Miyu Edelfelt. All other characters originate from Fate/stay night, so we're already familiar with their personalities. Ilya is somewhat different since she wasn't raised by the Einzbern family to be a weapon for the Grail War like in Fate/stay night; instead, she was raised by her parents. To summarize: while F/sn!Ilya oscillates between "Cheerful and Innocent Child" and "Creepy and Evil Child," Prisma!Ilya is entirely a "Cheerful and Innocent Child" (well... if you consider the extent of her attraction to Shirou as "innocent," because I don't). Miyu Edelfelt is the sole new character mentioned earlier and is quite likable, though there isn't much to say about her since her backstory hasn't been (yet) revealed.
ENJOYMENT (9/10)
Despite all its shortcomings, I genuinely adore Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILYA. I believe this stems from my fanaticism for Fate/stay night and my love for Magical Girls, but you didn't come here to hear about my personal preferences. My only complaint is that the story rapidly alternates between humor and seriousness, but don't let this detract from your enjoyment of the series. As stated at the outset of this review, it's highly recommended to read/watch/play the Fate/stay night manga/anime/visual novel (and once again, I recommend the visual novel) not merely to grasp the basic storyline but also to understand all the references to Fate/stay night present in this manga, such as Rin reversing the "Are you my master?" line with Ilya when she compels her to be her slave.
Overall (7/10)
Not terrible, but not the greatest either. A must-read for all Fate/stay night fans and/or Magical Girls enthusiasts. Meh, just go read it already. Don't let the sugary exterior of this manga deceive you, as it can become as intense as Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha and Puella Magi Madoka Magica (but without the horror) when the story reaches its climax.