Magical Nannies: What I Want to be When I Grow Up

They're magically inclined, quirky, deal with hordes of naughty children, and usually carry a proper British accent. If you've never been entertained by a proper magical nanny, then it was high time you were!

Though, they're not part of a separate genre of their own, in anime or otherwise, magical nannies have always captured our hearts one way or another. Nannies such as Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee manage to change not only the children's behaviors, but the thoughts and views of the parents (as most nannies tend to do) with a nifty magical advantage. They're usually tactful, clever, and full of awesome surprises. A few to note are:

Mary Poppins- This practically perfect nanny of 17 Cherrytree Lane can make a jolly holiday out of the most mundane things. Being able to entertain her charges with going in and out of chalk pavement pictures and winning a horse race with a carousel horse is all in a days work for this nanny. She's a friend to all and teaches an important lesson to us: a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. It never hurts to see a bright side in all the bad things that happens, is what she teaches her children and their work-a-holic father.

Nanny McPhee- Though her appearance is quite the contrast to the aforementioned nanny, her homely visage should not cause anyone to misjudge the might of her powers. Her ability to handle several children at a time is unsurpassed. With a tap of her cane, she shows her young charges the error or their bad behavior through visible consequences. By setting a situation into mass chaos does she show them how to correct themselves without a qualm or harsh word.

Fraulein Maria- If you've never gotten the opportunity to watch the Sound of Music, now is an absolutely perfect time. Fraulein Maria, much like Nanny McPhee, must deal with a handful of children who have lost their mother and have a very emotionally distant father. She is also 12th in a long line of governesses (another term for nanny, I suppose), proving that the children are quite misbehaved. However, she has no magic powers at hand, except for her miraculous love of song. Patiently, she teaches the children the wonders and disciplines of music while reawakening their father's love for it. I won't give to much away, but it is a very compelling true-to-life story that only Rogers&Hammerstein could pull off.

Mrs Piggle-Wiggle- She lives in a topsy turvy house with an old horse and dog. She holds random neighborhood parades that consist of nothing but children. She even remembers each child by name. While she is more of a psychologist than a nanny, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle manages to rid bad habits with the aid of her chest full of magical cures. From the Picky Eater to the Bickering Twins, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a cure for everything and anything. Sometimes the cure tells the parents to leave the child be and the children learn the lessons on their own. Sometimes there is a special aid like a powder or radish seeds. Whatever the case may be, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has the answer.


If I ever have to stop my job as a magical girl, I would definitely love to use my magic in such an awesome way. Or better yet, I'd open up an academy, just to teach awesome magic stuffs to nannies in need of a little boost! Thanks lots for reading and if you have any other nifty nannies to name or comments about anything in this post, feel free to comment. I'd be happy to hear from you!

~DJ Melody