Summary
This anime season, Kenta Shinohara’sWitch Watchdebuts its animated adaptation. The story follows the young witch Nico and her childhood friend Morihito as they go through daily life while juggling the consequences of Nico’s magic. It’s a silly show full of fun references to other anime and pop culture that everyone can enjoy.
There are many facets toWitch Watch. On the one hand, it’s a romantic comedy between childhood friends, and on the other, it’s a slice of life that uses absurdist humor. However, it also has a supernatural and magical element to it, which helps each episode stay interesting. Because of its eclectic mix of traits, this anime is similar to many others, but it remains unique due to the way everything fits together.
Part of what makesWitch Watchfun is the partnership between Nico and Morihito. Although their personalities are quite different, it’s clear they still care for one another. It’s the same for the pair inIn/Spectre. Kotoko and Kurou are a couple, and despite their differences, they manage to keep the peace between the yokai and humanity, solving problems big and small to maintain order.
Like Nico and Morhito, Kotoko and Kurou are a combo of magical girl and monster boy, but instead of a witch and an ogre, they’re a medium and a hybrid yokai. The dynamic between them is incredibly interesting, especially because of the work they do. Their relationship is just as important to the plot as all the mysterious events that occur.
Witch Watch’s story begins with Nico returning from her witch training to make Morihito her familiar. This isn’t the first time a male protagonist has become a witch’s familiar, either. Saito Hiraga is summoned to another world inFamiliar of Zerodue to Louise’s ritual, and he has no choice but to obey her commands. Of course, their relationship is very different from Nico and Morihito’s.
While theWitch Watchduo are equals from the start, it takes time for Saito and Louise to learn about and understand each other, especially when Saito’s special powers are revealed. They’re able to become good partners despite their differences and eventually fall in love. This anime is much more of a typical Shōnen adventure, but it can be just as silly and fun.
Despite the way it looks,Yamada-kun And The Seven Witchesisn’t a typical harem anime with tons of fanservice. It tells a decent story with fun and interesting characters. What happens is Ryuu Yamada transfers to a new school to salvage his reputation, but by his second year, he’s relapsed into his old ways. After an accident, he collides with Urara Shiraishi, kissing her in the process, and that small mistake leads totheir bodies being swapped.
The rest of the story follows the two as they learn about the other witches in the school, leading to multiple romantic encounters. It’s not the most unique anime out there, but it does what it’s meant to do without being overly sexual or explicit. The plot and characters are pretty well-rounded. The biggest complaint most people have is that it’s rushed, having only twelve episodes to work with.
Beyond The Boundaryis another anime that mainly features a supernatural duo, but rather than friends, these two start as enemies. Mirai Kuriyama is awarrior who huntsand fights youmu, and her job in the story is to kill Akihito Kanbara, a half-youma hybrid. Unfortunately, Akihito’s powers make him immortal, so with no other choice, the two start a tentative friendship that soon grows into something more intimate.
UnlikeWitch Watch, this anime has more of a serious tone, and the events in the plot are mostly set up for the finale. There’s definitely more drama and tension in this story, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun. There are a fair number of silly moments and even a whole episode dedicated to forming an idol group. It’s a good combination of slice of life and traditional shōnen storytelling.
For another magical slice-of-life anime,Flying Witchis the best choice for a relaxing experience. Similar toWitch Watch, the story follows a young witch, Makoto Kowata, who moves in with her relatives so she can train to be a full-fledged witch. There are some minor conflicts here and there, but for the most part, it’s a show about living a peaceful life in a rural village.
Witch Watchis full of chaotic moments, but it also has great scenes where Nico and Morihito are just normal people.Flying Witchwill appeal to those who enjoy the daily life segments in the anime and want something to cool down with after watching other, more exciting shows. It’s perfect for decompressing after a stressful day.
7Gugure! Kokkuri-san
A Chaotic Gag Anime
Another unlikely anime duo is Kohina and Kokkuri fromGugure! Kokkuri-san. In this anime, the doll-like Kohina Ichimatsu summons the fox spirit Kokkuri to make a wish, but with fewer people visiting shrines and praying, he’s lost his power. When he sees Kohina’s poor living conditions, he takes it upon himself to take care of her by cleaning, cooking, and just being around.
This anime is based on a series of short comics with the same title, so it should be clear what the style of humor will be. Kohina herself is the gag most of the time, and her lack of common sense and understanding is the catalyst for the story. It’s incredibly similar to Nico’s clumsiness with magic inWitch Watch. There’s a lot of spontaneity and chaos, but that’s what makes it fun.
InWitch Watch, Nico is a young girl with magic powers, and although she’s a little clumsy, she has good intentions. If that sounds familiar, that’s because Usagi (or Serena) fits the bill exactly.Sailor Moon’s protagonist is another clumsy magical girl. Although her shtick is fighting for love and justice, Usagi is also a normal teenage girl who likes going to the arcade, shopping, and being with her friends.
Whether it’s the originalor the reboot,Sailor Moonis a fantastic anime to pick up or revisit. Not only is it based on themes of friendship and unity, but it’s also a classic story that paved the way for other female-led narratives. Its repetitive nature can be attributed to the time it was produced, but that should stop someone from enjoying ashow full of drama, action, and genuinely funny moments.
Supernatural couples are pretty common in anime and manga, especially in romance. InKamisama Kiss, however, Nanami Momozono accidentally becomes a local god and enters a contract with the fox familiar Tomoe. Although the two are at odds in the beginning, they slowly build a relationship, and it’s not until much later that they become more romantic.
For the most part, this anime is a slice-of-life story that leans more into romance, so it’s a little less exciting thanWitch Watch, which seems to balance more genres and themes. However, for people who like more cutesy anime romances,Kamisama Kissis great, and it even features some magical hijinks with spirits and other supernatural entities.
InWitch Watch, Nico literally crashes into Morihito’s life with her entrance, breaking his glass door. InHinamatsuri, Hina appears similarly, falling out of the sky and into Nitta’s apartment. Hina is ayoung girl with telekinetic powersthat allow her to move objects with her mind, and she uses them to force herself into Nitta’s life, making him take care of her. The two have a strained relationship at first, but eventually they become something like a family.
Witch WatchandHinamatsuriactually have many things in common, namely the writing and comedic style and overall plot. There are tons of funny asides and out-of-pocket moments, and combined with multiple absurd scenarios, it makes for a pretty entertaining show. It’s an incredibly enjoyable anime with jokes that anyone can appreciate.
Fans ofWitch Watchwill want to check out Kenta Shinohara’s other big title,SKET Dance, which is based on the manga of the same name. Since they’re written and illustrated by the same person, they have similar comedic writing and use many of the same plot devices. AlthoughSKET Danceis in a more mundane setting, it’s still just as odd and exciting, which makes some of the events that happen even more outrageous.
The story is about the SKET Brigade, a school club made up of three friends who dedicate themselves to helping people. Whether they’re students or faculty members, the SKET Brigade will do their utmost to make their wish come true. This usually means some silly antics, but some wholesome and touching moments ground the story.
