In a lot of anime, these MacGuffins are the ones that stand out the most.
The word MacGuffins anime , coined by Alfred Hitchcock, alludes to a plot device. It might be the titular Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the gleaming suitcase in Pulp Fiction, or even a character such as Toby the baby in Labyrinth or John Connor in The Terminator series.
Anime has its own iconic MacGuffins, whether they are mystical artifacts that bring power, curses that create tragedy, or items that tip the scale in favor of one side or another, and so on. However, some are more noticeable than others. Here are the most famous MacGuffins in anime.
7/7
Dragonball: The Dragon Balls
Speaking of obvious entries with their names in the program, where would the Dragonball franchise be without the Dragon Balls themselves? They’re mysterious orange orbs with 1-7 stars on each to distinguish one from the other. They’ll summon when they’re all gathered together.
Shenron, the Divine Dragon, will grant that individual any wish they desire. Fame, money, immortality, and even underpants!
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While the original Dragonball series began with the quest to find them all, their significance has evolved throughout time. Sometimes they’re the focus of an arc, other times they’re off to the side, or they’re used as a deus ex machina to help save everyone or bring people back from the dead. While the shouting, battling, and power levels are more noticeable nowadays, Dragonball just wouldn’t be Dragonball without the Dragon Balls.
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6/7
Death Note: The Death Note
Another simple option. The manga and anime would have been about how Light Yagami became Japan’s version of a Republican if the Death Note didn’t exist. With it, he transcends the status of a disgruntled high schooler. He becomes the world’s judge, jury, and executioner with the correct names and planning. Under his alias ‘Kira,’ he becomes a deity to his devotees and a source of anxiety to everyone else.
The Death Note, which once belonged to the Shinigami (death god) Ryuk, is a notebook that will kill whoever’s name is inscribed in it. The author can even choose a type of death, or simply let the default heart attack finish them off. Its power is so alluring that its next owner put it up for auction online a decade later. Its final sale price was more than enough to solve Japan’s economic woes. Who purchased it? Let’s just say that political remark was not unexpected.
5/7
Sailor Moon: The Rainbow Jewels
Seven different colored crystals? These appear to be familiar. Perhaps Dragonball wasn’t the only anime Sonic Team watched in the early 1990s. Still, Sailor Moon’s Rainbow Jewels differ from Sonic the Hedgehog’s Chaos Emeralds. Previously, Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom utilized her power source, the Silver Crystal, to imprison the Dark Kingdom’s most powerful soldiers, the Seven Great Youma.
It caused the crystal to shatter into seven pieces, which were subsequently locked inside the bodies of six people and a cat. As a result, the premise for Sailor Moon’s first season was established. Usagi and company must prevent the Dark Kingdom from obtaining the crystals by resurrecting the Seven Great Youma and recreating the Silver Crystal in order to resurrect their great leader Queen Metalia.
4/7
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: The Stand Arrow
Each chapter of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure contains a distinct MacGuffin. Phantom Blood possessed the Stone Mask. Battle Tendency possessed the Aja Red Stone. The Stardust Crusaders had Jotaro’s mother Holly on the verge of death until Dio was defeated. The Stand Arrow, on the other hand, was a recurring MacGuffin in the series. They’re a line of arrows made of an unusual metal found only in the Arctic.
When they strike someone, they either kill them or bestow new abilities on them, culminating in their own Stand. Usually, they are shot at by someone else, but sometimes they are drawn to specific persons on their own. Off-screen, Enya Geil utilized them to form Dio’s disciples in Stardust Crusaders. In Diamond is Unbreakable, Jotaro and Josuke pursued them. While in Vento Aureo, Giorno and his gang attempted to prevent Diavolo, the boss of the Passione organized crime group, from obtaining one in order to boost the power of his Stand.
3/7
Pokemon: The GS Ball
Not every MacGuffin is famous for its application. In the case of Pokemon’s GS Ball, it is well known for its inactivity. Ash and his friends were intended to take this gold and silver Poke Ball from Professor Ivy’s lab and study it in the ‘Pallet Party Panic’ episode. Its design was reported to be more durable than the normal Poke Ball, and it served an unknown purpose.
But it was never followed up on. The ball was passed to Kurt, but it quickly vanished from the sequence. The GS Ball, according to director Masamitsu Hidaka, was created to introduce Celebi and lead into various adventures with them as the centerpiece. But that changed when the Pokemon 4Ever film did it instead. As a result, the GS Ball was thrown violently, its contents forever unknown.
2/7
Princess Mononoke: Ashitaka’s Cursed Arm & the Forest Spirit’s Head
Princess Mononoke is often called Hayao Miyazaki’s best movie, which is quite a compliment since it came out before Spirited Away, which won an Oscar. Even though San is the face of the story, it could be said that Prince Ashitaka is more of the main character than she is. When Nago, a demon boar, bites him on the arm, he is pulled into the story. The bite gives him a curse that will kill him in the end. Ashitaka must go to the boar’s home country in the West to find a cure for himself and the village.
There, he finds Iron Town, a group of people living together, at war with samurai and forest animals. The town thinks that if they give the head of the Forest Spirit to the Emperor, he will protect them. The samurai also want the favor of the Emperor, so they also want the head of the Forest Spirit. While San, her guardian wolf Moro, the boars, and others want to keep it safe. The curse that threatens Ashitaka’s life was caused by their mutual hatred. He won’t be able to save himself if he doesn’t bring peace to everyone, but with so many strong feelings and one big disagreement that can’t be solved, it’s going to be hard for him.
1/7
One Piece: The One Piece
This is one of the most obvious things to put on this list. After all, the clue is in the name. The show’s legend says that the Pirate King Gol D. Roger did something that no other seafaring swashbuckler could do: he took over the Grand Line, made a lot of money, and started the Golden Age of Pirates. The World Government gave him a public execution because he chose to go to jail instead of dying from a disease that would kill him soon.
They thought it would put an end to piracy for good, but he told them that anyone could take his treasure if they could find it. It’s all out there, and it’s all together. For the past 20 years, that has been the goal of Luffy, his Strawhats, and every other sea dog in One Piece. Since the manga is coming to a close, it might be time soon.
That concludes the list of the 7 Most Iconic MacGuffins in Anime.
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