I promised I’d talk about a witchy anime I liked. Here it is: Flying Witch. (Yeah, I know — most boring title ever.)
Plot Summary
Makoto Kowata, a teenage witch, moves to Aomori to live with her relatives while she trains. The only thing she’s good at (at first) is flying. As she adjusts to her new surroundings, she works on improving her skills and introduces her muggle friends and family to the world of magic.
My Thoughts
When I first read about this show, it reminded me of Kiki’s Delivery Service. It’s also about a teenage witch who’s only good at flying and moves to a new town for training. But while Kiki’s Delivery Service is a coming-of-age story, Flying Witch focuses on the magical world Makoto is a part of.
Kiki’s Delivery Service doesn’t even have much magic in it. Her mom brews a potion that cures rheumatism for a family friend, and Kiki flies around using “spirit”. That’s it. (Oh, and Jiji can talk, but it’s implied that only she can hear him.)
But in Flying Witch, Makoto and the other witches cast spells, read fortunes, and interact with other kinds of magic beings. The magic isn’t sparkly or flashy, though. (One of her cousins even says that in one episode.) It’s subtle and mysterious.
I would say this show isn’t even about magic, but the hidden wonders all around us. Strange phenomena have always been happening, but the muggles in Makoto’s life never noticed until she came to visit. How do they react?
They don’t really. 😕
That’s one of the weirdest parts of this show. Most of the characters aren’t scared or astonished. They’re just…amused. A couple of them freak out, but only sometimes.
Makoto’s cousin Kei speaks in monotone. Not even seeing magic is enough to draw emotion out of him. (Unless he sees ghosts.)
Kei and Chinatsu
But her other cousin, Chinatsu, is one of the exceptions — and one of my favorite characters. She reacts the way you’d expect a child to react. Some things scare her; others amaze her. Either way, she thinks Makoto is awesome!
Having the youngest character react the most naturally to magic is brilliant. You could liken it to how kids are impressed by stuff that seems boring to adults. It’s not that it isn’t amazing; we’re just jaded, so we can’t get excited anymore.
Chinatsu still does, to the point where — spoiler alert — she wants to be part of this magical world. Everyone else is content with it being a dash of weirdness — a “spicy topping”, as the theme song says — in their otherwise-normal lives.
The Main Character: Makoto
I gotta admit: I roll my eyes when I see the name “Makoto”. It’s a unisex name that means “sincerity” or “truth”, and you see it a lot in anime. Sailor Moon, Digimon Tamers, and Free! came to my mind right away.
Maybe her plain name is supposed to contrast with how odd she is. She may look innocent and normal, but she likes weird and creepy things like most witches do.
For example, in one episode, she makes lady fingers (or “Witches’ Pinkies”). But they’re literally shaped like fingers. With blood coming out of them.
Still, I think her weirdness is what makes her a charming character. It’s also nice to watch her learn magic. (Her older sister helps out later in the show.)
Verdict
My sister nicknamed this show “Farming Witch” because it surprisingly has more farming than flying. It’s also pretty slow sometimes. Those are fair criticisms. Flying Witch is slice of life, after all.
Usually, the characters are living their daily lives when something unusual happens. A cloaked stranger visits. Makoto picks a screaming mandrake out of a field. She and her cousins investigate a haunted cafe.
Half of an anime’s budget is spent on food porn.
Or they pick bakke off the side of the road and cook it. (I’m not sure what bakke is. Butterbur sprouts? 🤷🏾♀️)
Anyway, this show isn’t supposed to be action-packed. It’s about everyday life with a layer of magic over it. If you prefer drama and adventure, Flying Witch isn’t for you.
But if you don’t mind a show that’s calm, light-hearted, and episodic, then I recommend it.
CHORUS 1
SHANRANRANRAN
sora o tonde kono machi o miwatasu no
minna to iru to chigatte mieru
kitto wasurerannai
OH MY FRIEND
VERSE
FUTAFUTA mayotchatte okuresou na no gomen ne
ikou to omotteta omise teikyuubi datta mitai na no
mata doji shichatta naa
konna atashi dakedo
tomodachi de ite kurete
hontou ni arigato
CHORUS 2
SHANRANRANRAN
sora o tonde kono machi o miwatasu no
minna to iru to chigatte mieru fushigi na kurai ni
TOPPINGU SUPAISHII na
mahou de KARAFURU na mainichi
chotto kawatteru kurai ga ii ESSENSU
kitto wasurerannai
OH MY FRIEND
Prattler's Paradise 