The anime adaptation of Kenta Shinohara’s Witch Watch continues to charm audiences with its blend of supernatural hijinks and heartwarming character moments. Episode 9, which premiered in early June 2025, takes a slightly different approach, dialing back the usual comedic elements to explore more serious and emotional themes. While the shift in tone might create a bit of whiplash for some viewers, the episode ultimately succeeds in showcasing the series’ versatility and depth.
Family Secrets and Heartfelt Reunions
One of the episode’s highlights is a storyline centered around Nico helping her friend Kara restore a shredded letter. This letter was written by Kara’s recently deceased mother, and Kara suspects that her father destroyed it to hide a family secret – that he isn’t her biological father.
Nico’s Magic to the Rescue
Nico uses her magic to piece the letter back together, revealing that Kara’s mother wasn’t biologically related to her. Kara’s father, fearing she wouldn’t accept the truth, hesitated to reveal this information, especially given Kara’s admiration for her mother.
Blood Isn’t Everything
Kara, however, is unfazed by this revelation. She still considers her to be her mother, regardless of their blood relation. This heartwarming resolution inspires Nico to offer her services as a consultant, using her magic to help others with their problems.
Emotional Depth
This segment of the episode is praised for its straightforward melodrama, which works effectively due to its simplicity. The jokes are toned down, and the visual direction emphasizes the family drama, creating a genuinely emotional experience for the viewer.
A Hilarious Skit Inspired by English Textbooks
In a stark contrast to the emotional weight of the first segment, Episode 9 features a comedic skit that draws inspiration from English language textbooks. This skit introduces new characters, Jun Horai and Ann Nikura, whose art style and speech patterns are reminiscent of characters found in textbooks like “New Horizon” and “New Crown.”
Textbook Talking
The skit humorously highlights how unnatural it would be to converse using only textbook phrases. Jun seeks Nico’s help to win over his crush, but he’s insecure about his stilted, textbook-like speech.
Be Yourself
Nico advises Jun to be himself, and it turns out his crush also speaks in the same way. This leads to a quirky and amusing connection between the two characters. While some viewers found this skit tonally dissonant and the weakest of the comedic segments so far, others appreciated its unique humor and its commentary on the absurdity of textbook language.
Morihito’s Emotions and a Movie Date
The final segment of Episode 9 focuses on Morihito and his difficulty expressing his emotions. Jun, grateful for Nico’s help, offers them movie tickets as a thank you. Nico is excited about the prospect of a date, but she’s frustrated by her inability to gauge Morihito’s feelings for her.
The Introverted Ogre
Morihito, too, is aware of his emotional shortcomings and how they lead to misunderstandings. Despite his stoic exterior, Morihito admits that he enjoyed the outing and that Nico’s presence has made his life more lively.
Acts of Service
The episode cleverly portrays Morihito’s caring nature through his actions. He may not be outwardly expressive, but he consistently helps those around him. One example of this is when he saves a boy’s popcorn from spilling at the cinema.
A Balanced Ending
This final skit strikes a good balance between comedy and emotional depth, providing a satisfying conclusion to the episode. While it doesn’t offer significant romantic progress between Nico and Morihito, it does provide valuable insight into Morihito’s character and his growing appreciation for Nico.
Overall Impression
“Witch Watch” Episode 9 is a mixed bag, but its strengths outweigh its weaknesses. The emotional storyline involving Kara and her family is genuinely touching, while the skit inspired by English textbooks provides a unique and hilarious form of comedy. The episode’s exploration of Morihito’s character adds further depth to the series, making it a well-rounded and enjoyable experience overall.
A Step in a New Direction
While “Witch Watch” is primarily a comedy series, Episode 9 demonstrates its potential to explore more serious themes and develop its characters in meaningful ways. It’s a testament to the series’ versatility and its ability to surprise and engage its audience.
A Promising Anime Adaptation
The anime adaptation of “Witch Watch,” produced by Bibury Animation Studios, has been well-received by fans. The series premiered in April 2025 and is directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, with scripts written by Deko Akao and character designs by Haruko Iizuka.
Streaming Platforms
The anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu, making it accessible to a wide audience.
The Manga
The original “Witch Watch” manga, written and illustrated by Kenta Shinohara, has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since February 2021. As of April 2025, twenty-one tankōbon volumes have been released.
Characters
- Nico Wakatsuki: A witch-in-training who moves in with her childhood friend Morihito. Voiced by Rina Kawaguchi.
- Morihito Otogi: A high school student descended from ogres and Nico’s childhood friend. He becomes Nico’s familiar and protector. Voiced by Ryota Suzuki.
- Kanshi Kazamatsuri: Voiced by Kohei Amasaki.
- Keigo Magami: Voiced by Kaito Ishikawa.
- Nemu Miyao: Voiced by Tomori Kusunoki.
- Kara Minami: Voiced by Rie Takahashi.
Staff
- Original Creator: Kenta Shinohara
- Director: Hiroshi Ikehata
- Assistant Director: Masao Kawase
- Series Composition: Deko Akao
- Character Design: Haruko Iizuka
