This video from Get in the Robot, although alleging to focus on the rationale for transformation sequences in magical girl anime, is actually a history of the genre with some critical interpretation thrown in. And it’s one of the better ones I’ve seen, so you should watch it. It mentions a lot of the major milestones in the genre, but smartly avoids getting sidetracked by rabbit trails or minor titles while at the same time pointing out some influences that others often miss.
My only small quibble with this video would be in its claim that the genre has shifted away from an early focus on coming-of-age stories. I think that’s something that’s been muted by the infusion of superhero tropes, but by no means eliminated.
