Summary
When it comes to magic, each anime does it differently, whether it’s a power system or just a part of the world, and witches are one of the most classic representations of magic in storytelling. Along with wizards, witches are the symbols of the arcane and magical, who are often included in fairy tales as well asother fantasy works. The difference is that witches are associated with cauldrons, brooms, and curses more than other spellcasters.
Perhaps due to their negative image, the number of anime stories about witches is quite small. Most women with magical abilities are either magical girls or mages, which are similar but not quite the same, and many actual witches in the story are most often villains. Luckily, there are also anime that portray witches positively, allowing them to be heroes or even important members of society.
Compared to other anime on this list,Tweeny Witchesdefinitely paints witches in a darker light. The story follows a young girl named Alice who believes in magic and its ability to help people. One day, she is transported to a magical world ruled by witches, but they aren’t like the ones she dreams about. Rather than use magic for fun, thesewitches capture and enslavesprites as a means of controlling the world.
One thing that stands out about this anime is its unique style and animation. There’s nothing like it, and it matches the story quite well. Alice plays the role of the energetic protagonist who is set on changing the status quo, but behind the funny moments, there are great lessons to be learned about growing up, belief, and hope.
8Grimoire Of Zero
A Traditional Fantasy Adventure
InGrimoire of Zero, witches and humans are at war, and in the middle of the conflict are the beastkin, humans cursed with the appearance and strength of animals. One day, a lone beastkin meets the witch Zero, and despite his grudge against them, he agrees to be her bodyguard as she travels. Her goal is to find her old spellbook that’s filled with powerful magic thatcould lead the world to ruin.
This anime is akin to a budgetFrieren, except it doesn’t contain the same level of nuanced writing and development. It’s a classic fantasy adventure that features a mix of character building, slice of life, and action, but it lacks anything that makes it unique.Grimoire of Zerois best enjoyed at face value, as any further thought into the details will reveal some glaring inconsistencies.
7Maria The Virgin Witch
The Journey Of A Peace-Loving Witch
While historical settings in fantasy are common, historical fantasy stories are quite rare. This anime takes place during the Hundred Years' War when England and France were at war. Fed up with the constant battles and the loss of innocent lives, a witch named Maria decides to directly intervene. Unfortunately, this catches the attention of the heavens and the angel Michael is sent to issue a warning. Despite this, Maria does her best to end the war regardless of the consequences.
Maria The Virgin Witchis a peculiar anime that tries to appeal to a wide audience while also discussing the morality of religion, war, and sexuality as it’s framed in the 15th century. These topics are portrayed well throughout the story, but the themes and lessons that are being given are undermined by stereotypical anime writing and humor. Despite these flaws, this anime is a fascinating take on witches and how they are viewed in society.
Magical DoReMiis a popular witch anime that was big during the early 2000s. In this story, Doremi Harukaze considers herself the unluckiest girl in the world, lacking in talent, smarts, and family life. She wishes for a magical wand to turn her life around, which actually happens. After an accident, Doremi becomes a witch apprentice, but unfortunately, she’s not good at using magic. She and her two friends must study extra hard to pass the witch exam to become full witches.
This is a bright, colorful anime targeted mostly at young children that teaches them lessons about morality, friendship, and life in general. It also works to change the perception of witches in the media as it discusses how witches are commonly portrayed and seen by society. To that end, this anime uses manyelements from the magical girlgenre, like uniquely-colored uniforms, secret identities, and special powers.
Perhaps due to its release in early 2024,The Witch and the Beastwas largely ignored by the anime fanbase for other titles likeSolo LevelingandDelicious in Dungeon, but that shouldn’t stop people from checking it out. Rather than the life of witches, this anime is about hunting witches. Guideau is a powerful entity trapped in the body of a young girl due to a witch’s curse, and with Ashaf’s help, she searches for clues to break it.
The Witch and the Beastis a great dark fantasy that presents a unique take on witches and other magical concepts. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by powerhouses likeFrierenthat were airing at the time. Compared to more popular anime, this one was lacking in terms of excitement and animation. Nevertheless, it tells a compelling story and has some interesting characters that people are sure to enjoy.
The iyashikei genre in Japanese media refers to anime and manga that feature slow, slice-of-life stories that are meant to have a healing effect on the audience.Flying Witchcan be considered a perfect example of the genre. It follows the young witch Makoto as she does her mandated independent study of witchcraft while living with her cousins. Although she goes to school like a normal teenager, she’s also involved in supernatural occurrences that happen periodically.
This anime is not for action lovers. In fact, the main goal of this anime is to be a simple, refreshing story about a young witch. Many people love the realistic characters andrelatable family moments, which resemble a normal person’s daily life. It strays from conventional anime storytelling that’s highly active and always exciting.
Fantasy elements in an otherwise mundane setting can make even the most banal themes exciting. This anime spices up the average high school romantic comedy with magic. Ryuu Yamada is determined to start over during high school with good grades and behavior, but by his second year, he’s relapsed into his old ways. Things take an unexpected turn when he accidentally kisses honor student Urara Shiraishi, which causes them to swap bodies.
Despite how it looks,Yamada-kun and the Seven Witchesisn’t just aharem anime filled with fan service. It’s a well-developed comedy story where Yamada finds himself involved with several witches who can activate their powers with a kiss. It has a good mix of lighthearted romance and supernatural mystery, and while pacing can be a problem at times, it’s easy to look over when the show is entertaining enough.
Witches are known to sequester themselves and practice magic in secret, but Elaina is quite different. She dreams of seeing the world and visiting the places she’s read about, and to do that, she must become a witch. After successfully taking the exam and finishing her apprenticeship, Elaina sets off on her adventure, meeting new people and having new experiences as she learns about the world and herself.
Adventure stories without a destination walk a thin line between boring and interesting.Wandering Witchis able to maintain its momentum through its supporting characters. Elaina is an observer throughout this anime, and because of that, it can be hard to understand her. Her character is built through her interactions with others, subtly revealing things through her choices. Some may find this a little too passive, but it makes for a unique viewing experience.
InLittle Witch Academia, magic is no secret, but it’s not exactly popular, either. Despite being viewed as outdated by the public, learning magic is the goal of many young girls, including the main character, Atsuko Kagari. Inspired after seeing the performance of Shiny Chariot, Akko makes it her goal to become a witch even if she doesn’t have any magic ability. With some luck and a little help from new friends, she’s able to make it to Luna NovaAcademy, where witches are made.
This anime is exactly what it appears to be: a cute story about magic, determination, and friendship. With its cartoon style and whimsical colors, it makes for a great TV show to watch with the family. For the most part, it’s pretty lighthearted and casual, but the second half has a serious tone shift, which is matched by a focus on plot rather than everyday life. It definitely leaves a lasting impression.
