Magic circle

An active Midchildan Circle

A magic circle (魔法陣 mahōjin) is a visual representation of the mana being shaped by a mage. It also accompanies Device booting and similar power-ups, and is composed of visible light often appearing just under the caster's feet and center of gravity. The circle's spin depends on the mana release frequency of the caster, and is white and glows the same color as their magic color. This is with the exception of some villains, whose circles are black and have a purple glow.

Function

According to A's manga, the shape of the magic circle is determined by the particular spell being cast. Because magic in the Nanoha universe is similar to the application of programs, each spell includes complex mathematical calculations, and the magic circles are the visual representation of the mage doing them.

Forms

Basic forms

The form of a mage's magic circle is determined by the magic system he or she practices:

• The Midchildan system (ミッドチルダ式 Middochiruda shiki) uses a proper circle, with more concentric rings and squares inscribed in it. At the corners of each ring are the small Greek letters π (pi), δ (delta), ω (omega) and ν (nu).
• The Belkan systems (ベルカ式 Beruka shiki), both Ancient and Modern, use a triangle, with four circles at its angles and the center. The outer circles contain abstract symbols, while the inner circle is inscribed with a cross.
• The Inherent Skills of Combat Cyborgs use a circular IS Template (ISテンプレート Ai Esu Tenpurēto). Strictly speaking, it is an "energy control formation" (エネルギー制御陣形 enerugī seigyo jinkei) but not a kind of "magic circle" as Inherent Skills are cast with non-magical energy. It is also more technological-looking than the other magic circles, composed of solid blocks of colour and no symbols. In addition, the unique magic system used by Jail Scaglietti in StrikerS also shares the same patterns as its magic circles.
• Practitioners of Formula Eltria use a magic circle known as Formula Plate (フォーミュラプレート Fōmyura Purēto) for their spells. In Reflection, the magic circle is known as Formula Circle (フォーミュラサークル Fōmyura Sākuru).
• Eclipse virus carriers display a circle containing one 8-pointed star and five 10-pointed stars when casting spells/skills with Eclipse power/energy.

Variations

Within a same system, there could also be variations of magic circles:

• Summon magic uses a magic square whose design is based on the system's regular magic circle.
• Magic loop (環状魔法陣 kanjō mahōjin, lit. ring-shaped magic circle) appears around the caster's arm, fingers or Device in numerous spells or skills (mainly shooting or bombardment type), for strengthening and accelerating the mana charge. The loop generally has straight sides of same length, like the lateral surface of a cylinder. However in rare cases, the loop is like a circular frame with its sides like two concentric circles and its flat surface perpendicular to the caster's arm, fingers or Device (e.g. Starlight Breaker Multi-Raid, driving of Bible of Silver Cross).
• Magic tape (帯状魔法陣 taijō mahōjin) is the flat and non-lateral version of magic loop, with same design but thick width. It has appeared in transformation scenes and as the "floors" for Wing Road and Air Liner.
• For a specifically powerful Midchildan spell, an extra circular loop is added to the outside of a regular Midchildan Circle, making it a large-sized "double circle".
• The Ancient Belkan Ceremonial Circle/Square also appears in the series a few times alongside the Wolkenritter.
• A sighting ring replaces the magic loop for magic charge in Teana's Phantom Blazer.

Multi-system practitioners

Although this is uncommon, an individual who has mastered more than one magic system can manifest magic circles of different form, depending on the currently used system. For example, the summoners apparently only manifest their Squares when summoning extremely powerful creatures, and use regular Circles or Triangles otherwise. When Hayate Yagami casts Hraesvelgr with aiming assistance from Long Arch, it manifests with a Midchildan Circle rather than her usual Belkan Triangle. In the refined DVD version of A's, Hayate also has a Midchildan Circle under her feet and a Belkan Triangle for the muzzle in her Ragnarok spell.

Gallery

Since the release of The MOVIE 1st in year 2010, certain magic circles have been re-designed, notwithstanding that the old ones may still be used, especially in manga for simplicity. The following summarizes magic circles seen in the Nanoha universe:

System	Regular	Summoning	Loop/Tape	Others
Midchilda (version 1)	Midchildan Circle	Midchildan Summoner Square	Midchildan Loop/Tape	Midchildan Sighting Ring
Midchilda (version 2)	Midchildan Circle		Midchildan Loop/Tape	N/A
Midchilda (version 2.5)			Midchildan Loop/Tape	Midchildan Double Circle
Midchilda (version 3)	Midchildan Circle
Belka (version 1)	Belkan Triangle	Belkan Summoner Square	Belkan Loop/Tape (same as Midchildan)	Ancient Belkan Ceremonial Circle
Belka (version 2.5)	Belkan Triangle		Belka Loop/Tape	Ancient Belkan Ceremonial Square
Belka (version 3)	Belkan Triangle		Same as version 2.5
Formula Eltria (version 1)	Formula Plate	N/A		N/A
Formula Eltria (version 3)	Formula Circle	N/A		N/A
Inherent Skills	IS Template	N/A	IS Loop/Tape	IS Frame Loop
Eclipse	Eclipse Circle	N/A	Eclipse Loop/Tape	Eclipse Frame Loop

External links

• Magic circle in traditional magic