Flying Witch

This is one show I keep coming back to, because the cast of characters is well-written and funny, and the world is relaxing and beautiful. Real-world, historical magic and witchcraft are often depicted as misunderstood powers of young women, where politically powerful men feel threatened by them. Often in Japan, someone who is "weird" or "different" is quickly turned into a target for bullying and isolation. Flying Witch does neither with its witchcraft: it's not a massively powerful set of abilities like in countless magical girl shows or The Ancient Magus Bride, and the community in this little corner of Aomori is surprisingly accepting of these quirky young women who can fly on brooms. Witches in this world try their best to do good with their abilities, which is cool because it would quickly become a very different anime otherwise. I'm not 100% familiar with Wiccan customs and rituals, but it seems to me that the original artist and the anime production crew did their homework here (or at least, made it look convincing). The only category of ritual the show doesn't delve into is curses and hexes, which is good because, again, seeing one performed might transform the show into something else. The show does a great job of capturing the idyllic beauty of rural Japan. Well, not quite as rural as Non Non Biyori, but you get to see nature much more than in metropolitan Tokyo or Osaka (yes, I know, there's places like Ueno Park and the Imperial palace, but those are heavily managed). This cast is very well-written and directed. Makoto is a sweet yet slightly clumsy heroine, Chinatsu can light up anyone's day, Kei is a fantastic foil to both (with good deadpan lines), Akane is great comic relief fodder, Nao and Inukai are great tsukkomi girls, and the parents are cool with just about anything. Even the cats provide good comedy in the style of R2-D2 (and I just learned Ai Kayano voiced Chito, so that's cool). Finally, the music. For the most part it's either synth with a really good instrument set or studio musicians, and the one recurring theme is Makoto's. One track uses woodwinds to gently lead up to the introduction of Makoto floating on her new broom, another uses pizzicato strings to accompany a humorous vignette. The opening theme is cheerful and fun, though for some reason the characters are leading an odd syncopated clapping in the refrain. This series is great if you want to kick back and watch happy anime.

(This review has been adapted from my blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!) I used to practice magic tricks with cards a lot when I was a kid. I wasn’t very good at it, but I could do a few. Double-flipping, “stories,” rigged decks. It was fun trying to trick my family members, seeing their bewildered faces as I did something seemingly impossible. Something that only magic could account for. Flying Witch does not have card tricks, but it does have lots of magic – of a different kind. STORY On one unassuming day in April, Makoto, a witch-in-training, arrives in a new town where her relatives live. Her purpose? To better her witch knowledge and abilities. Thankfully for her, the day to day happenings lend themselves to magical opportunities. And thus Flying Witch proceeds. This proceeding is nothing like work or routine. The anime is, after all, an “iyashikei” (or “healing”) show. Meaning, its contents are heavily designed to be easy, soulful, and happy in nature. And that is what the audience gets. Makoto hangs out with Chinatsu and Kei, Akane and Inukai, Nao and Anzu. She takes part in simple yet soothing activities, like finding herbs in a forest or pruning apple trees. The setting also aides in Flying Witch’s healing capabilities. The small, quiet town is not boisterous with the clamoring of cars and bustling venues. Instead, it invites a feeling of nostalgia, a sense that this spot is tucked away from other parts of the world. Their home houses all the “action,” but its open doors, small farm, and simple décor create comfort with ease. Even the anime’s comedic moments are reserved. Nao says to Chito (Makoto’s black cat) that she seems to have gained weight, so she jumps on Nao’s back and lightly taps Nao’s forehead with her tail. The anime does not aim for huge laughs on purpose since that would defeat its healing agenda. Of course, one cannot forget about the magic, for it is implied in the title. And, unsurprisingly and surprisingly, magic ends up being the most important part of the show and the least important part of the show. First, magic being the most important. Throughout the season, the anime showcases many magical events. Summoning a murder of crows with Akane’s help. Turning Inukai from a dog-girl into a full-fledged dog. Revealing a ghostly waitress through Makoto’s drawn circle. It must be noted that these magics are not flashy whatsoever. While these are some of the more obvious moments, Makoto levitating or speaking with Chito are just as magical. No matter how normal the anime (rightly) depicts them. Since these non-flashy magics coincide with the iyashikei tone of the show, they also bring about some of the best moments that the anime offers. Hiding cafés, flying whales, and glowing fish are not possible, but, precisely because they are magic within a non-magic world, they stand out as a wonder to behold. Second, magic being the least important. In many of the scenes, magic plays no role at all. Makoto, Chinatsu, and Kei get their picture taken by a kind old lady passing by. Nao does her best to cook food during their cooking class. Chito walks the same route two different times. Just as it was with the flashiness of the magic, it must be noted how mundane these events are. Picking radishes and making hotcakes aren’t life-altering events. But they demonstrate that life really is just that: a series of simple yet personable moments. For instance, it’s not the otherworldly people that visit the café; it’s the good luck that a pair of romantic ladybugs bring. It’s not that there are fish that swim in the ground; it’s the serendipitous glow of those fish in the nighttime sky. It’s not the giant flying whale; it’s the peaceful ruins of a civilization long since gone on its back. In other words, when the magic and non-magic are combined, the show’s main message reveals itself: The truly magical moments are the ones that have been “nearby” all along. The show does have small faults when it does not take advantage of some of its elements. The father gets sidelined hard, the Harbinger of Spring only shows up once (despite having a dancing part in the OP sequence), and Chinatsu’s whole witch apprenticeship (let alone Makoto’s own training) does not see a conclusion. Again, these are not deal-breakers, but they do stick out as odd narrative choices. Regardless, Flying Witch’s tone and its message carry it as far as any broom could. That is to say, pretty far. ANIMATION Flying Witch does not try to dazzle its audience, but what it provides is a lot of prettiness over the course of the season. Especially in its backgrounds. Dense forests, a quaint café, and a nighttime shot of some cherry trees are detailed in both lighting and depiction. Even more importantly, their soft colors and simplicity further evoke a feeling of calm. Perfect for this healing anime. In particular, the plants do the most work. Trees, flowers, bushes, herbs, and grass play a major part in making the show a peaceful, nature-filled hub. And since green is often associated with health and healing, the focus on greenery only furthers the anime’s goals. Even the town itself, with its roads, parks, and buildings, show off how pretty the anime can look. It’s a location revisited multiple times – much like Kei’s family’s house – but it never ceases to feel inviting to walk within. The character designs go for simplicity as well. And rightly so, for these characters are just that: simple, everyday people. Makoto’s long black hair, emerald eyes, and yellow cardigan simultaneously don’t stand out but make her the center of attention. Akane’s dark complexion contrasts with her white hair, giving her a foreign look. And Kei may as well be a background townsperson (in a good way) for how unassuming he dresses. Their various outfits, like Makoto’s pigtails and Chinatsu’s overalls, mix up how they usually look, adding even more strength to their designs. Of course, the more magical-looking designs deserve a mention. Inukai’s dog transformation, the Harbinger of Spring’s mask, and the paper man’s all-black attire. Indeed, their contrast with the normal, simplistic world Flying Witch presents makes their designs that much more intriguing. The show even employs reaction faces. They are subdued, often slight expressions of shock or bewilderment, bringing small moments of laughter yet keeping the show from going over the top in its delivery. The only real issue art-wise comes in the actual animation. The backgrounds and the designs receive the most attention, so the characters’ movement sadly does not. Most of the time, Makoto and the others are just sitting around the living-room table or chatting on a bus. Some more interesting segments exist, like when Makoto flies on her broom for the first time or when she’s chasing a pheasant, but these scenes are quite uncommon. Arguably, the unmoving nature of the characters fits Flying Witch. After all, less movement means more calm, and more calm means more peace, and more peace means more healing. Still, their lack of movement is noticeable, and it is enough to make the anime feel rigid rather than fun. CHARACTERS With an anime like Flying Witch, it’s difficult to judge their characters in the traditional sense. The episodic format, the lighthearted, no-drama stories, and the lack of any character conflicts make Makoto and the other characters nothing more than themselves from start to finish. Not that that’s a bad thing. Because (again) with an anime like Flying Witch, it makes sense that the characters do not change. In fact, it’s almost thematic. Just as the story brings healing through showcasing the mundane parts of life, simplicity of character adds its own brand of healing: nostalgia, familiarity, and ease. Now, the problem with this approach is that it doesn’t leave the characters in what one would call a memorable light. Remember Kei’s design? His personality is just as dull. That’s not his fault; he’s …

For Indonesian review you can scroll down. English is not my first language so I apologize in advance for my bad english. It feels like finishing a warm cup of coffee during cold weather There is a need to make a good review for a great underrated anime like this. Because this is the first slice of life anime that I felt attached to, so it is a shame that the anime only consist of 12 episode. So, after I binged all the episodes, I binged the manga as well. I can say that both manga and anime are great, but I was amazed by how the stories in the anime are ‘rearranged’ from the manga while not hurting the main strories. Also, the addition of trivial things apart from the manga makes the anime version livelier and the characters more connected to each other. In this case J.C Staff has done a great job of adapting the manga. I’ve watched another great slice of life anime such as K-ON!, Usagi Drop, Demi-Chan Wa Kataritai (Interview with the monster girls), and Sora no Wo To (Sound of The Sky). What makes Flying Witch really stand out from the others is the fact that this anime has succesfully build the calm, warm, and peaceful feeling after watching each episode. It may be a little exaggerating, but I would say that this is the holy grail of slice of life anime. Everything done in the right way in the right dose. The animation is not as great as other anime in the same season, but it fits the atmosphere of the anime. The background art takes you deep to the beauty of Hirosaki region in Aomori. The characters really support how the stories goes and felt like a real person, not self-inserted characters, not artificially made characters, not a moe blob, not overly cute, not someone who is stubbornly determined to achieve something in his/her life, overly funny, or -deres type characters. The story is the one which held strongest point in this anime, despite the lack of main plot, every episode have certain connection of cause and effect to other episodes. What I really like is how the anime/manga makes the magic somehow believable. There are no flashy magic, the magic here is done like chemistry or making herbs that has to be done in the right amount or else the result won’t come as expected. The soundtrack of this anime besides the opening, is not really memorable but it is not bad either. The opening itself is good enough so I decided to download it to my phone. Overall, I highly recommend this anime for all anime audience, young or old, newcomers or veterans. INDONESIAN REVIEW. Saya harus menulis sebuah review yang baik mengenai anime ini, agar dunia tahu bahwa anime ini terlalu bagus untuk dilewatkan. Inilah pertama kalinya saya merasakan keterikatan terhadap sebuah anime slice of life. Sayangnya, hanya terdapat 12 episode. Jadi, setelah saya habiskan ke-dua belas episodenya, saya langsung habiskan manganya juga. Bisa saya katakan bahwa keduanya bagus. Hanya saja saya merasa kagum dengan versi anime-nya. Sebab, cerita yang disajikan di anime ini diubah urutannya agar terasa lebih pas, tanpa merusak pesan utama yang ingin disampaikan. Selain itu penambahan beberapa hal kecil yang tidak diceritakan dalam versi manga-nya membuat keseluruhan anime ini terasa lebih utuh dan koheren. Dalam hal ini studio J.C Staff berhasil menjalankan tugasnya dengan baik. Sebelumnya saya juga sudah menonton anime slice of life yang menurut saya bagus, seperti K-On!, Usagi Drop, Demi-chan wa kataritai, dan Sora no Wo To. Namun, yang membuat Flying Witch menonjol adalah kenyataan bahwa anime ini berhasil membuat penonton merasa tenang dan damai setelah menonton tiap episode-nya. Meski agak berlebihan saya berani mengatakan bahwa anime ini adalah anime slice of life pamungkas. Semuanya dilakukan dan diselesaikan dengan cara yang tepat dan jumlah yang tepat. Animasinya tidak sehalus anime-anime lain di musim yang sama, tapi kualitas animasinya pas untuk anime ini. Selain itu background art-nya dilakukan dengan baik sehingga seakan-akan membawa penonton ke Hirosaki, Aomori, daerah yang menjadi latar anime ini. Tokoh-tokohnya terasa seperti orang asli, bukan tipe-tipe karakter moe, -dere, atau jenis-jenis karakter streotipikal anime yang laku dipasaran. Jika anda mengerti maksud saya. Dari segi cerita, anime ini memegang kekuatan utama. Satu hal yang paling saya suka dari anime ini adalah bagaimana sihir yang dilakukan terkesan nyata, tidak bombastis seperti Harry Potter atau anime-anime sihir yang lain. Disini, sihir dilakukan seperti percobaan reaksi kimia atau membuat jamu, semua harus dilakukan dengan takaran yang pas, jika tidak hasil tidak akan seperti yang diharapkan. Untuk musik latar sendiri tidak ada yang istimewa, namun untuk musik pembukanya menurut saya cukup bagus untuk saya cari dan saya unduh di HP saya. Secara keseluruhan, saya sangat menyarankan para penikmat anime dari segala usia untuk menyaksikan anime yang satu ini. Akan sangat disayangkan apabila anda melewatkan anime yang satu ini.

For someone who likes the Slice of Life as much as I do, this anime was the first to be marked on the List to plan to watch as soon as it was announced (because lately there are not many anime's of this genre lately). But after looking at it ended up disappointing me a little. The story does not have an argument and is based only on compilations of various events, in the end it tells you nothing more than the daily life of Makoto and his family. In several places I found it tedious to keep looking at her so I had to end up looking at one chapter a day. The Art is fine, to be an anime somewhat recent meets what it should and the characters are a lot like manga, it may be the strongest point of the anime. The Soundtrack is not bad, a well animated Opening and with a somewhat sticky musical theme, the ending is calm and characteristic of a Slice of Life. The background sounds that set the story are also correct. The characters I did not like, the protagonist of the anime never managed to transmit the interest for what happens in history and many of the secondary characters appear just one chapter giving the impression that they are there for "obligation." In conclusion I can not say that it was wrong but I really expected much more from this anime. If you just start looking at the genre of Slice of Life there might be some better options so you do not end up hating this genre after looking at Flying Witch.

Finding a break from the pressures of studying to be a doctor from your parents, the stresses of trying to fit into society, and the burden of existing in such a fascist world? Well I have just the anime for you! With an entirely innocent plot of a teenage witch learning to juggle studying high school and witchcraft at the same time, and a cast of characters that are not pushovers, everyone in this world can benefit from such stress-free anime, even if your favourite anime of all time is one of the three longest running anime in history. Only 12 episodes for the fidgety anime watchers, and no shady 'side-genre' to distract you from the goodness it exudes from your screen. Also a great anime to watch for the goers who are in a dilemma of seeking a break from anime.

Hey folks, this will be a review for Flying witch. There isn't much to cover so this will be brief. It a very relaxing and cute show. The story revolves around a witch named Makoto, who is a witch. She has come of age, but do to her parents wish to finish school has gone to live with her cousins. Nothing really interesting happens, no real action, or mini plot points. This is both a strength and a weakness for the show imo. It creates this relaxing and non intrusive mood to the show. However it also seems to be alot of missed potential. Characters are introduced, situations are created, magic is discussed and used, and not only does nothing come from it but it also never seems to get brought back up. The art was very pretty and colorful. The soundtrack is very catchy, and even though not usually my taste is now on my playlist. The characters were interesting enough, but like I said above nothing comes from it. Makoto the young witch who is bad with directions has plenty of personality, but doesn't really shine. Other witches are introduced and shelved and only brought out for a quick glance here and there. The cousin and the rest of the family only seemed to exist for small comic relief. I enjoyed this show overall. However pure slice of life shows like this are not to my taste. This one in particular is particularly dry do to it having zero drive. No characters stand out, the story or even the theme of the show not even remotely discussed, no mini events take place...etc. Normally this would make me rate a show poorly but it did a great job in being an escape that I think it hit what it was trying aim for. TLDR: Nothing to the show really. Watch if you like dryer than normal slice of life shows. It is cute and relaxing, also has great art and soundtrack.

In the bustling cacophony that is daily life, sitting down and relaxing doesn't particularly come easy. In this dog eat dog world that we live in rampant with all sorts of negative occurrences that pop up without warning, it's important to set aside such stressful moments and enjoy something that is quieter or less hectic, and enjoy the magic that is the casual, everyday life. Story: Kowata Makoto is a witch in-training who comes to Aomori, a rural area of Japan that is far away from the usual bustle of city life to live with her cousin and his relatives as she journeys to become a full-fledged witch. While it doesn't look like it from the outside, the majority and beauty of Flying Witch is its simplicity and its rather basic nature. Every episode has Makoto and various characters in the series experience different and sometimes magical events around town that offer a new adventure with just a touch of whimsy to each and every one. None of these so-called adventures are extremely outlandish with most of them pertaining to simple, everyday tasks like going to the store, spending time with others at home, or even just going out for a walk with only a very small amount of them being somewhat extreme in terms of what the adventuring is. But what really separates this show from other similar concepts is the execution and unique flair that the show adds to it. As the show is also about witches and the supernatural in order to add that one little touch of whimsy to the series, the show very often showcases magic and other magical attributes associated with witches. However, the magic in the show is extremely subtle, similar to magic in the real world. There're no dramatic spells or effects, with the biggest thing to come out of actual magic in this series being just a small little poof if anything. This subtlety adds to the overall feel of the show to make it seem as though that even real life events can be magical regardless of how mundane they can be. The only real downside that I can see with this show is the fact that this show is extremely atmospheric. While the story aspect and overall feel of the series is what drives it to become this whimsical everyday tale that it is, the calm and gentle atmosphere has very often been the problem for many people who want something to 'happen' as some have stated. The show doesn't really have any high points nor does it have any low points. It's a slice of life series that pertains to the life of a young witch living in a rural town, so it's a kind of show that sadly, doesn't really appeal to everybody. Despite that, Flying Witch still holds its merit for being a wonderful show due to its calm and beautiful atmosphere to give it this individual feel to it. The show kept its own pace and delivered what they wanted to do each episode. In fact, I come out of the series feeling like I didn't even watch enough of the show because I was smiling throughout the whole episode and was so engrossed in this gentle world that the episode ended just right after I started it. Even with me watching the OP and ED every episode, every episode just felt too short. That's how you can tell that it's a good show. Overview: + Simple and whimsical atmosphere + Even pacing + Subtlety in all aspects to pertain it to real life - Gentle atmosphere has been known to make people despise this show Characters: The characters in Flying Witch are what could be described as normal people in a sense. While yes, there are a few outlandish/mythical characters and the main character is technically a witch, the majority of the cast aren't these exaggerated and overdone character tropes, but just simple rural people that enjoy the simpler things in life. First there's Kowata Makoto. A directionally challenged witch in-training, Makoto is the main character of the series who spends the majority of time in the series like all of the other characters, living their quite lives out in the countryside. However, beyond this, Makoto doesn't particularly have any other traits to her. Beyond what is established, Makoto doesn't really change much in ways of character development in the series and are more or less introduced to new things rather than grow as a person. She, like the rest of the cast are very simple characters that don't have too much to them. Then there's Kuramoto Chinatsu, Makoto's younger cousin who is introduced to the world of witches. Chinatsu is a bright, energetic, and adventurous elementary schooler who finds fascination in the world of witches, often times being shown the magic and/or parts of the witch world. She sort of plays the audience in the series as she, like the audience, are being shown these whimsical things that add a bit of spice to the series. The rest of the characters in the series more or less play the part of going along with the ride. I chose to weed out Makoto and Chinatsu specifically because they both get the most screentime. In actuality, all of the characters play similar parts to these two girls by just being characters that go along with the ebb and flow of the series and live out whatever event that is going on at the time whether it'd be the unique task of the day or meeting someone new. As such, these characters don't really feel like characters so much as they feel like the ones on stage who are showing us, the audience what new thing that they're going to do for us today. They add to the atmosphere rather than being what the show is about, so the characters fall flat a bit in that sense. Overview: + Characters aren't tropes but feel like people - The story drives the characters rather than the other way around Art: Produced by J.C. Staff, a company that has had both its ups and its downs, Flying Witch is one of their projects that got a substantial budget and got a very good treatment in terms of the quality of its production. The overall color scheme is bright and cheerful, with the show boasting high quality and production art that was breathtaking to look at. And the water looked like REAL WATER. (Do you know how hard it is to animate good water?) I think what really made the art for Flying Witch just exceed expectations is the fact that virtually every location that was drawn and animated for the series was based off of a real-life location. Every background that was made for the series was an almost 1:1 comparison to the real world location and that to me is not only mind-boggling, but just shows the dedication and the lengths and the effort that was taken to make this series so pretty. As for character designs, the show boasts a moe style that leans towards realism rather than an 18 year old girl looking 10. The characters still have relatively big eyes and cute appearance, especially since the majority of the cast is female, but the characters looked more like their actual age than opposed to what other shows have done. However, if you're not a fan of the moe artstyle, than this might still be a bit of a tougher watch for you. Overview: + Excellent, high-quality art + Wonderfully made backgrounds +/- Moe artstyle for character designs Sound: Ah, yes, the OST. The OST brings just so much joy to this series. Adding into the calm and gentle atmosphere for the series, the soundtrack for Flying Witch utilizes several key instruments like piano, acoustic guitar, bell, flute, and clarinet to give it that airy and whimsical sound like a gentle breeze to add to the already pleasant atmosphere. For its OP, we have "Sharararan", an OP that I NEVER skipped. The OP is this extremely happy and cheerful opening that I always had the urge to clap to every time I heard it. It's the kind of feel good song that you can't help but smile to or dance along to just because of how catchy it is. Its ED, Nichijou no Mahou, is a gentle and quieter song sung by Makoto and Chinatsu's seiyuus that acts as the quieter night to Sharararan's sort of morning feel. It's a good song, but compared to the other track…

I felt calm while watching this anime. The initial story is a typical story about a wizard who has just arrived in a new land, but the magic here isn't the instant magic we usually see in other anime, but rather feels like traditional magic or magic that requires preparation and certain rituals. The storyline is relaxed and enjoyable while enjoying a meal and a warm cup of coffee. The depiction of each character and creature from the magical world, which seems close to the human world, feels like a common occurrence in this anime, and The background music and art style feel lighter. I enjoyed watching this anime. For those of you who want a calm anime about the lives of school girls with magical activities, I recommend this anime.

This was kind of a bit unexpected because I thought it would be a lot better but this ended up being a bit boring. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s that it’s boring. It doesn’t really go anywhere or do anything, there is little to no plot development and for a comedy, it’s not funny apart from two moments, but in general, this show is not funny, despite being labeled as a comedy. The characters are also very one dimensional and offer no opportunity for development… or to do anything even remotely interesting. This was ultimately a one cour show that came and went without doing anything or even making an impact.

Flying Witch is a small and light-hearted story. It's a slice of life filled with kindness and peace. All characters act their age and in a natural manner (for a world in which witches and magic exist, of course). There's no real plot. Just characters interacting with each other and their environment in a heart-warming way. Though not particularly funny (but it does have its moments), it's an easy and entertaining enough watch. The premise shares some similarities with Kiki's Delivery Service. Both are about a young witch's experiences as she leaves home and sets herself up in a different town. Bonds of friendship and/or family flow with the world that surrounds them. Furthermore, there is in Flying Witch a theme of growing, healing and caring, expressed clearly in the characters' dealings with nature. From greeting the coming of spring to cultivating a small plot of land or allowing for the regrowth of herbs by collecting no more than needed, our characters show the utmost respect and love for the natural world, and you can't ask for a more Miyazaki-like trait than that. There's also an episode (episode 11) that uses imagery very similar to that of Laputa: Castle in the Sky. Finally, the animation isn't bad and fits the style and mood of the show. The main issue is perhaps the soundtrack. Music plays over every scene, and although low and subtle, it can at times feel somewhat intrusive. All things considered, it's a good watch and a great slice of life. Simple and short, it gets its job done. Definitely worth watching.

Flying Witch isn't about obtaining things, achieving goals or defeating an enemy: It's about being in the moment and enjoying the little things. Story: "Today is a gift, that's why it's called present" That's the best way to summarize it. Flying witch isn't about the story, and this may be true for life itself. We care so much about the story, what happens, were we are going and what we are achieving, that we don't see the present moment, were we are and what we have. Art: Beautiful. Sound: Lovely. Characters: Real, simple, relatable and genuine. This is what you see when you are tired, when you are anxious or before you go to sleep. This is what the Tao would look life if it was an anime. This is the most relaxing thing in the world.

If this anime had 5 seasons I would definitely watch them all and replay it because it is just so good. But I think there could be a little more magic in the anime, I know it's a slice of life but ... anyway, the art is very good, the story was very elaborate, it's even funnier than I expected hahaha. incredibly the characters were very real built in a very short time, which surprised me a lot because they managed to develop 3 or 4 characters at the same time and still none is less developed than another which is really very good. after all these anime is simply one of my favorites for sure.

Many people call this show the definition of comfy and I have to agree. It's such a relaxing show with endearing characters that are all so likeable. The main family is just so wholesome and side characters are fun as well. The urban fantasy lets you experience the fantasy aspects at a fun pace and enhance both the comedy and the make the audience curious. The show spends quite some runtime with the characters cooking, shopping or sewing, but it never stops being entertaining. All in all this is a show that delivers on it's promise of rest and relaxation with a cute soundtrack, adorable characters and a bit of good humor which culminates in the perfect escapist fantasy slice of life show, that just lets you forget stressful everyday life. That's a 9/10 for me.

While at first you may think this is just another slice of life anime, well for me compared to other slice of life anime's this is pretty unique as it breaks several cliche's that we see not just in slice of life anime but in all anime in general. Here are some reasons. -Both parents have active roles in this series compared to the typical where they are missing or died or at work. we see our characters interact with them in their daily lives. - It's not High school-centric where most of the scenes are set in a school. no school clubs, school festival etc. we see our characters on how they spend their everyday life and that's it. we also see our MC Makoto do some witch stuff though i think we could have seen more. -There are are no romantic buildups here, no childhood friend promises or jealousy, they closest one you can get is Kei saying that Inukai might be his type. not to mention like in a typical anime girls always wonders what their guy is doing right now. it's not the case here in flying witch. Makoto and Nao can interact with each other without thinking about Kei. -There's no fanservice. no panty shots beach episodes or ecchi scenes. The only thing i hoped for for this anime is that I wish they could have shown us more about the witch stuff. -The setting is also unique, since unlike what we in anime set typical countryside. where witches and occult stuffs are treated like a bad luck. that's not a case here. Makoto is a witch and everybody knows and accepts it. they also had some few supernatural things going like the Whale who flies. the hidden cafe shop etc.. When it comes to the characters, yes they all have active roles in which i like, they are not your typical characters, for instances Chinatsu is not your sis-con loli, Kei is not your charismatic brother, he just works and helps the family. the only cliche character here is probably Akane where we typically see the hyperactive big sister. i just wish we could have also seen more of the harbringer and Anzu. The Sound and the Art is nice it's refreshing. the opening was nice and so as the mandrake. the transitions from slice of life to comedy was well done and so as the facial expressions. overall if you want to relax, then watch this anime and thank me afterwards.

-No Spoilers Below- First and foremost please understand that this anime is relatively slow. It is a comedy slice of life with aspects of magic/fantasy though not an insane amount. I quite enjoyed this anime after watching it. Unlike most anime it was not in a rush to shove as much detail down my throat as humanly possible. Which to be fair is often something i dislike about a lot of anime. Shoving 24 + EP worth of stuff into a 12 anime series. As follows will be my ratings and thoughts. Story: I'm not gonna lie this anime had a solid story. Certainly not a 10/10 but easy to follow and quite nice to watch casually. It does not beat you over the head with anything like some other anime tend to do, but it also just goes at it's own pace. Grant you this pace is what makes people rate it poorly because they consider slow anime to be "Boring" or "Pointless". Lack of fighting or fast pacing does not make an anime bad. Art: This is one area i have to give my props. I will admit there are some instances where the art is not the best it could be, however, overall i think that this anime is well done in the art department and they strive to make a good impression. Sound: Ok so this is something i often don't pay much attention to when it comes to anime unless i am just flooded by amazing musical scores or awful dubbing and irritating sounds that exist for no reason. I rated this relatively high because the dubbing (japanese) was done well and the music was quite nice. Character: Ok so this one was a bit underwhelming for me if i'm being fair. I loved the characters in this anime, but overall you don't see an insane amount of development from any characters. They pretty much go with the pacing of a slice of life that has little to no drama at all. This does not however mean that the characters have zero development. Development aside they have fun personalities, and each of them is quite unique. Enjoyment: LOL so this category is almost pointless to be honest. Though i understand why it exists. This anime was fun and just wholesome for me. It was something different and the characters themselves made things worth watching. Overall: So you can assume my thoughts based on everything above. This anime is not ACTION PACKED or some fantasy isekai that will have you vying for magical blasts and high end spells. It is one that does not take itself too seriously but still leaves room to take you along for the right. Again this anime has it's own style of pacing and is not quick to throw you into this world. This story though is very fun and genuinely interesting to just see the characters daily interactions. It might not be the most exciting anime ever but it's still worth the watch.

Just a fun, relaxing anime. Typically for me after watching 3 or 4 episodes of an anime all in a row, I feel a little drained. Flying Witch had almost the opposite effect, where I felt even better after watching it than when I started. The story is solid, with the characters all having a purpose and even if they only appear for one or two episodes they feel like real people with real lives. The art style works very well with the laid back personality this piece has. The into song is on point, and I still can't tell if I love or hate the sounds the cats make when they meow. Overall this anime is a good way to wind down and enjoy an anime.

***THIS IS A SPOILER FREE REVIEW*** Flying Witch pulls off the unthinkable feat of matching the serene and relaxing feel of Aria. It matches almost every aspect of Aria while improving in certain areas. NOTE: The reason I am going to compare this show to Aria is because they both borrow the same mechanics to make their slow-paced show so amazing. Story: 5/10 Slice-of-Life anime usually fall into the issue of not having a driving plot force throughout the show. This was somewhat prevalent in Aria's first season but was less of an issue in season 2 and 3. In Flying Witch there is almost no plot direction between episodes. Some characters show up in later episodes but there really is no driving plot force in this show. This might be a plus for some people who like the episodic type shows (Like Mushishi and Cowboy Bebop) but I personally like there to be a connection from each episode to the next (even if it is a very small one). Tamako Market is another Slice-of-Life anime does a decent job of connecting each episode to one another so the payoff is much better in the end. Because of these reasons, I find that Flying Witch is lacking in the plot department. I love what I am seeing but it is due to the other elements of the show. Animation: 8.5/10 Flying Witch flat out looks gorgeous every frame of the show. The character's expressions, the color, the backgrounds, everything looks very spot on. I felt that the animation was a little off in certain scenes but overall the show did very well in the visual performance department. Sound: 10/10 This is where the show nailed it home for me. Like with Aria, the music and ambient sounds are 100% perfect. The backing music in every scene fits perfectly and enhances what you are seeing ten-fold. This is one of those shows that you should absolutely go out and get the OST. Not only the supporting music but the ambient sounds were spot on. The wind whistling in the background, the birds chirping, just everything audio wise made this anime feel like it was in a rural Japanese town. Lastly the voice cast was simply amazing. They nailed the dead-pan comedy parts and did an amazing job relaying their character's personalities. Characters: 9.5/10 It's honestly hard to find any real issues with the cast in this show. They all feel incredibly unique and interact with each other so fluidly. Every scene that has a character interacting with another character(s) was just such a joy to watch. It is because of this key aspect that this show works so well; it is not a plot driven show but a character driven one instead. This is the same for Kiznaiver which did a very good job of allowing its characters to drive the show. If the cast is well-knit enough they will carry the show. It is one of the few things that can override a boring plot. The only reason this category is not getting a full 10/10 is because unlike in Aria there isn't a whole lot of character growth going on in Flying Witch. The show does the same thing as Aria showing the daily lives of a small cast but it does not show each character striving for a specific goal and achieving it. This might not be a fair complaint since Aria has three seasons and a OVA while Flying Witch only has this one season but I just do not see where the character growth is going to occur within this cast in the future. Overall: 8.3/10 This is a fantastic Slice-of-Life anime that you should absolutely put on your “Want to Watch” list right now. It takes a slow, laid back approach to show to you the calm and serene features of this rural Japanese town while the cast helps provide the show with some genuine funny moments. If you are someone who cannot stand slow-paced shows then maybe skip out on this one but regardless you should give the first episode a try. Enjoyment: 9.9/10 Thanks for reading my review! If you liked my writing style, would like to see some other reviews, or just want to talk, please stop by my page! Sincerely, Awesome Drummer

Makoto is a witch in training who moves in with her relatives to further her training. If you're looking for a true slice of life with a light sprinkling of magic, Flying Witch may be up your alley. It shares the feel-good family interactions seen in shows like Minami Ke. However, it lacks a comical equivalent of Kana and doesn't have any semblance of romance. This show literally goes nowhere. If you're like me and need some semblance of story or character development, you're better off looking elsewhere. Animation: This show has some pretty impressive, detailed backgrounds. Whether in a local pedestrian mall, a garage shed, or walking outdoors, the characters are surrounded by vivid, meticulously-drawn scenery. If you like majestic mountains, green crop fields, and rustic towns, then this is your kind of scenery. Backgrounds aside, the show is standard fare. It's drawn in a bright but low-saturated palette, which fits the peaceful yet plain feel of the story. There is your standard fare 3D CGI used in all the vehicles and trains but luckily they're only used in a few scenes. The characters themselves are well drawn but actually look humorously plain sometimes compared to the detailed scenery. The show involves a lot of spiritual beings visiting the household so expect some rather odd looking characters- your reactions will probably be similar to that of Chinatsu. I actually think the best drawn character here is actually the cat Chito, who seems to have more personality than our rather boring male cousin, Kei. There is pretty much no action in this rather peaceful show. Likewise, despite there being a witch on a broom in a miniskirt, the camera keeps things clean. Sound: The light, guitar-backed op fits both the scenery and pacing of the show; it's a fair and relatively catchy melody. The ED, by contrast, has a much richer instrumentation and is sung by our main heroines. The BGM is rather playful in tonality, it relies heavily on brass instruments, plucked strings, and occasionally piano. It serves its role better than in your typical show and some tunes will become familiar by the end of the show. The primary VAs are relatively fresh. Minami Shinoda does a great job giving Makoto a gentle yet eager personality; she makes pulling out weeds very entertaining. I can't really say the same for our male protagonist- Shinsuke Sugawara's character is just plain boring- his voice gives him a rather dull character that never seems to be phased by anything. The show is, however, supported by a lot of veterans cast in secondary roles. You have Ai Kayano and Ari Ozawa voicing witch familiars (they don't actually speak words) and Kikuko Inoue voicing the residence's mom, her performance outright puts a lot of the other characters to shame. Story: There isn't that much to say for this category. The show basically has a bunch of interesting characters visiting the country residence and showcases a bunch of interactions between the cast. For instance, a good portion of one episode consists of multiple characters individually following the cat Chito while a large portion of another episode has our cast picking wild vegetables. There is actually a bit of educational material here in a similar vein to Silver Spoon but obviously to a lesser degree. The show is pretty episodic overall with just a few exceptions, and there isn't really any central plot or story progression. There's a bit of light comedy but otherwise it's just a lot of nice, peaceful scenes and interactions. Character: The show focuses on Makoto, her elder sister, and her cousin. There isn't a lot of background on many of the characters; the show focuses more on just interactions. I wouldn't expect much in the form of romantic developments or even dynamic characters; other than Chinatsu, the other characters are pretty much the same all the way through. There are some particularly interesting supporting characters, such as Inukai, but the majority of the interactions are simple conversations and occasional visits by unique spirits. Chinatsu and Akane (Makoto's sister who bears no family resemblance) are the main entertainers of the show; they have vibrant personalities, but aren't particularly deep. Value: I didn't really have that many expectations coming into this show and it pretty much matched my expectations. It is a nice, peaceful show with a lot of calming scenery. If that's what you're into then by all means dig in. As for me, there wasn't much entertainment value out of it due to the various reasons listed above.

At the beginning and when the anime started, I had a little trouble with the character's facial expressions, but it gradually became natural to me. The calm environment of the anime, the detailed and beautiful backgrounds, the smooth story and away from false excitement, all give you a special sense of peace. This anime gives you a special peace and you want to experience a life free from worries and calm like that. The good and logical relationships of the characters, the small humor and the gentle stories, are all beautiful and worth watching. The story is relatively specific and underdeveloped. What I enjoyed most was the beauty of life in small, rural towns and a warm, friendly family.

In the enchanting land of Aomori, the vibrant world of "The Flying Witch" unfolds. The story follows Kowata Makoto, a studious 1st year girl with dark hair, green eyes, size 7 1/2 shoes, and her friends and family Akane, Shina Anzu, Ishiwatari Nao, Kuramoto Chinatsu, Kuramoto Kei, Chito, Kenny, and Inukai. They embark on adventures of their daily lives. The group of friends encounter normal stuff in each episode, to facing magical creatures, and learning life lessons. As the episode navigate, their bond grow more and more stronger. Introduces the viewers to the power of comfiness. Each episode also represents the element loyalty, laughter, generosity, and kindness perfectly. In my honest opinion, this feels like an ASMR but in anime form. Makes you cozy, relaxing bgm, seiyuu soothing voice, you name everything to make a good ASMR. I would say the story is over all a 10 out of 10. The theme and message was great. The general plot was as nuanced as I would like it to be. And admittedly they were really funny and wholesome. Very very light story to watch. Like if you watch this with a 5 year old children, they would understand it. Like Shinchan for example. Every episode is filled to the brim with happy go around vibe. Nobody is bad, no villain, even if they have the power to be a good villain. Love this kind of story because it reminds me about all the good people in this world. Sure real life sucks, but hey there's also a lot of people that's nice too. The art was definitely beautiful. Now I may be a bit biased from the fact that they drew all the characters with such pretty face that I sometimes got so mesmerized, but from the transition scenes, I could tell that the backgrounds were drawn nice as well. The art style is in match with the comfy and relaxing feeling this anime bring to me. So yeah 10-10 The sound design was nice. I loved Makoto's voice acting and also Chinatsu's. I thought they really clashed well when they were on screen together, like the sweetness of the pineapple, mixed with the sultry bitterness of the pizza, MMMGH that stuff is good. They both are the biggest support on why I say the ASMR anime thingy. The music was also an excellent choice, it all fit the vibe, especially the OP and ED. So I would say 10 out of 10 too. Makoto is amazing, her personality gave the vibe of one of my childhood friends that I really had a crush on. They have the same shoe size and everything with the second toe being longer than the first. I think I already made my stance clear on Kei, Chinatsu, and Inukaj, but I didn't touch much on Anzu sadly. Despite my praise for Makoto, Anzu was definitely my favorite by a long shot. Her personality is just so wifey material, she's cute, kind, independent, blonde, and wear serafuku most of the time. That's not all tho. I want more screentime for her but I guess that's too much to ask. Enjoyment here we go. I'll start off by saying everything was great. The animation was great, the plot was nuanced and demonstrated the character's values nicely, the girls were cute, the music is a banger, and the world building is unique too. They touch to a 'what if' scenario of witch living alongside all of us and the fantasy creatures too. They act like normal people and not like all the movies depict. A breath of fresh air to this genre. Combining supranatural with slice of life. I will definitely rewatching this next year when I need to distract myself for a bit from the busyness real life throws at me. Thank you for reading my review.