Within the very first episode of Witch Watch, witch in coaching Nico desperately needs to impress her new roommate (and childhood crush!!!!!!!!) Morihito, after breaking his window and his favourite mug. So, she decides to indicate off one in every of her extra sophisticated spells — on herself, after all, so she doesn’t break any extra of his objects. In a flash, she’s now flattened like a paper doll. However earlier than Morihito can totally react to her magical prowess, a wind catches her and she or he floats off into the road. Cue a zany chase by means of the streets as Morihito runs after her.
Sadly for Nico, that is the primary of many shenanigans that talk completely to what makes Witch Watch such a enjoyable watch (at her personal expense).
Picture: Bibury Animation Studios/GKIDS
Witch Watch has an extremely attractive pitch for anybody who loves magical hijinks and romantic tropes: Nico should transfer in together with her childhood buddy Morihito, a humanlike ogre who she’s had a crush on since they have been children. She thinks she’s simply right here to complete her witch coaching (and the actual fact she will get to reside together with her crush is just a enormous bonus). In the meantime, Morihito’s father advised him the actual purpose she’s right here is as a result of Morihito should defend her from an impending prophecy that would spell her doom.
Already, the distinction between their motivations is hilarious. She gleefully proclaims that she’s right here to start out her romantic adventures; he’s decided to maintain her out of hurt’s manner, it doesn’t matter what. It doesn’t assist that Nico can also be keen to indicate off her magic, since being an excellent witch means utilizing magic to assist others — at the same time as Morihito, nevertheless, advises her not to draw any consideration.
Even with out the magical hijinks, they have already got fantastically clashing personalities that lend to some nice romantic stress. Nico is bubbly, impulsive, and appears to talk with the 💖 emoji after each sentence. She’s continually making an attempt to impress Morihito, be it together with her magical skills or her look. However Morihito is Very Severe, devoted to his better mission. He has some quirks, although, like a fixation on brewing his espresso simply proper and a penchant for classic clothes.
Picture: Bibury Animation Studios/GKIDS
However what actually elevates the present from charming to hilarious is how successfully the magic is used for laughs. The bodily gags in Witch Watch are so completely timed and executed, so even after I count on them, I burst out laughing. I knew that paper doll Nico gag from the trailer, however the actual supply was simply so rapid-fire and zany that even when I kinda knew what was coming, it nonetheless received me howling. The character of Nico’s spellcasting means she’ll announce what results the spells can have earlier than she makes use of them; nonetheless, figuring out what they’re presupposed to do didn’t put together me for the sheer ridiculousness of seeing them in motion. Witch Watch performs with these expectations, indulging them into essentially the most absurd end result or fully subverting what we expect will occur.
The primary three episodes are chock-full of magically induced bodily humor, which solely will get funnier the extra folks get pulled into Nico and Morihito’s circle. We don’t see lots of the opposite characters simply but, however there’s an entire classroom of quirky college students (and one secret otaku instructor) that we’ll in all probability get to know — together with another magical characters from Nico’s previous.
Witch Watch is filled with traditional tropes — childhood pals! Roommates! Grumpy and sunshine! — which already spells a enjoyable time for anybody searching for a cute romantic comedy. Nevertheless it’s the cartoonishly bonkers bodily humor that makes it so memorable. Contemplating simply how a lot the primary three episodes alone made me chuckle, I can’t wait to see the place the present goes because the scope of the world expands. Even with out the ominous menace chasing after Nico, she’s positive to get herself into an entire hodgepodge of magical shenanigans simply to impress her crush. And actually? I get it.
Witch Watch kicks off on April 6, streaming on Netflix, Hulu, and Crunchyroll, with the English dub coming April 27.