The world of Witch Watch, a whimsical blend of fantasy, romance, and comedy, continues to charm audiences with its unique premise and endearing characters. Penned and illustrated by Kenta Shinohara, known for his work on SKET Dance, the series first captivated readers in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine and has since made a successful transition to anime, produced by Bibury Animation Studios. At its heart, Witch Watch follows the daily lives of Nico Wakatsuki, a witch-in-training, and her childhood friend Morihito Otogi, a human-looking ogre bound by an ancient prophecy to protect her.
Episode 18, which premiered on Sunday, August 3, 2025, in Japan, continues this tradition of lighthearted magical misadventures, offering viewers three distinct comedic sketches that showcase the series’ signature humor and character dynamics.
Unpacking the Magical Mayhem: Episode 18’s Key Segments
Witch Watch Episode 18 delivers a trio of self-contained stories, each highlighting the unique magical mishaps and charming interactions that define the series.
The Lively Shikigami and Kara’s Keepsake
The first segment introduces viewers to Nico and Kukumi Ureshino in shrine maiden attire, assisting at a local shrine where Kara Minami’s father serves as the chief priest. Nico, with her unpredictable magical abilities, enchants a piece of paper used for sacred decorations with her “Anicut” magic, bringing a paper cat to life. Inspired, Kara attempts to replicate the feat, aiming to create a flying bird. However, her attempt results in a clumsily formed, flightless creature that inexplicably transforms into a sentient shikigami—a paper spirit that refuses to vanish.
While noted as the “least funny” of the three sketches, this segment is lauded for its “sincere” and heartwarming progression. Initially hesitant about her new paper companion, Kara gradually warms to the shikigami. The bond deepens when the shikigami demonstrates its devotion by retrieving Kara’s lost hair clip, a precious keepsake from her late mother, risking itself in the process. This act solidifies their connection, leading Kara to creatively integrate the shikigami into her hair clip, ensuring they are always together. This sketch subtly explores themes of attachment and finding companionship in unexpected places.
The Viral Marble Craze
The second sketch delves into a humorous social media phenomenon sparked by Kanshi and Keigo. Kanshi, ever the opportunist, cleverly “sells” Keigo on the supposed mystique of a simple marble. This elaborate deception leads Keigo to create a video extolling the virtues of the marble, featuring “flames and air bubbles.” The video, picked up by classmate Rin-chan’s popular channel, quickly goes viral, igniting a widespread craze for marbles among the students.
Even the more level-headed characters like Morihito and Miharu find themselves swept up in the fad, with Morihito becoming particularly obsessed with collecting “bubblers” rather than common marbles. The segment culminates in the market being flooded with overpriced marbles, effectively killing the craze. The punchline arrives when Kanshi, Keigo, Nico, and Morihito are forced to record an apology video, clad in suits, an appropriate comedic resolution to their orchestrated chaos.
Journey into Morihito’s Manga: A Backfired Spell
The final and arguably most visually amusing segment revolves around Morihito’s childhood. He brings out a box of elementary school memorabilia, including a manga he drew titled “Martial Warriors Battle Fighters.” As Morihito reminisces about his dreams of entering the world he created, Nico, true to her impulsive nature, attempts a spell to transport them into the manga.
Predictably, the spell backfires spectacularly. Instead of being transported, everyone (with the notable exception of Kanshi, who is comically transformed into a terrifying ukiyo-e drawing) takes on the appearance of crude, childlike drawings resembling Morihito’s original art. Their flat, paper-like forms interact absurdly with the realistic backgrounds, leading to some of the episode’s biggest laughs, especially during a scene where the group, in their distorted forms, stumbles upon and foils a robbery.
The sketch ends on a poignant note, as Morihito reflects on drawing the manga out of childhood loneliness and expresses his joy in collaborating with his friends. The comedic sting in the tail is the gang’s forgetfulness, as they walk off into the sunset, leaving Kanshi perpetually stuck in his ukiyo-e form.
Main Characters Featured
Episode 18 heavily features the core cast of Witch Watch, highlighting their individual quirks and the comedic synergy between them. The prominent characters include:
- Nico Wakatsuki: The titular witch whose unpredictable magic often instigates the episode’s comedic situations.
- Morihito Otogi: Nico’s stoic and responsible familiar, often the straight man to Nico’s antics, but capable of getting swept up in the chaos.
- Kara Minami: A classmate and shrine maiden who gets entangled with Nico’s magic.
- Kukumi Ureshino: Appears alongside Nico in the shrine maiden segment.
- Kanshi Kazamatsuri: A tengu and another of Nico’s familiars, frequently the target of comedic misfortune.
- Keigo Magami: A classmate who often finds himself a pawn in Kanshi’s schemes.
- Miharu Kiryu: Another key member of their friend group, often portrayed as one of the more logical individuals.
Reception and Impact
Witch Watch Episode 18 has been well-received, particularly praised for its strong comedic execution. Reviewers noted that the anime adaptation often elevates the humor beyond its manga counterpart, making the gags even funnier in animation. The episode’s episodic nature, focusing on distinct comedic sketches rather than advancing a major plot, is a hallmark of Witch Watch‘s appeal, demonstrating the series’ strength as a “gag manga” that consistently delivers laughs. The blend of relatable slice-of-life moments with fantastical elements continues to make Witch Watch a consistently endearing romantic comedy within the shonen landscape.
