Rbastid

Had a bad week? Need to just relax and enjoy a nice show? Well put on Flying Witch and hopefully you’ll start to feel a bit better about everything.

Story - 8/10

The show is such a simple concept, Makoto is an apprentice witch who goes to live with her cousin’s family in the country. While there she works on some of her witch training, while also teaching her young cousin Chinatsu about becoming one too. There really isn’t much going on in the series, besides day to day events that somehow intertwine with Makoto’s training, but it still ends up being such a nice and enjoyable series to watch.

Despite not much going on it’s a show you’ll want to continue for episode after episode, and it’s major disappointment is that it only lasted twelve when I could have easily watched fifty.

Animation - 7/10

At the start the show had an interesting way of coloring and shading characters that sometimes looked great, but at other times made the proportions look out of balance. Over the series they worked out those little kinks and the animation looked as nice as most of these pleasant type shows that have beautiful pastoral setting, and who’s artist really focus on the small details of objects we’d know from life.

The characters weren’t very original looking, but in a show such as this I think they're more real to life appearance worked very well, as while it is a fantasy series about witches, it’s also supposed to not be over the top.

Sound - 7/10

The V.O. work for this series was one of its best attributes. Outside of the need to make “Country Japanese folks” sound like comical American southerners, I think all the artist did a great job. They especially did great matching voices to the calm demeanor of the series, as no one was overly loud or screechy, they all we as soothing as the story itself.

Personally I wasn’t a fan of the opening or closing songs used in the series, but I understand I’m not the target audience for the show, and when it comes to the show itself I think the songs worked well and matched perfectly. The background music, on the other hand, was like so much in the series, which is to say it just was spot on with what it should have been.

Characters - 8/10

I can’t say there were any bad characters in this show, sure most aren’t given a deep backstory or are that original, but they still are all so likable and what we’re told about them seems enough for the type of show this is.

Even describing them is tough because there isn’t some huge secret or overwhelming trait about them that stands out. Every character is polite and kind to everyone, they all can be a little goofy, but not as if we’re in a slapstick comedy. 

The only one who comes across a little different is Makoto’s old sister Akane, who while still very kind and helpful, does have a few traits that make her almost a toned down copy of FLCL’s  Haruhara.

Overall - 8/10

Flying Witch isn’t a show that’s going to have you on the edge of your seat, you won’t be rooting for one side over the other other, or crying your eyes out at a horrific event. Likewise, while it does have some funny moments, it’s not a full on comedy or a show with wackiness all around.  I’d say it’s just a very nice show about good people living life, and you’ll probably be better off for spending the few hours needed to watch the whole series. The creators never hit those high marks of so many other series, but they also never faltered either, everything was nicely above average and they never seemed to cut corners or try to deprive the viewer of their best. While the show did have a few supernatural elements, as it is about witches, it was still one of the best shows that just felt as if we were watching reality. 

This is one show that I can say is perfect for both the new anime viewer and the seasoned one, as well as being able to span all ages.

Positive Reasons for Score:

 * Such lovable characters.

 * An amazingly pleasant story.

 * Overall just a really well made show.

Negative Reasons for Score:

 * Length of the series

 * A few early animation misses (But I’m now nitpicking here)

Ways to make the show better:

 * Make a slightly deep storyline.

 * Add a hundred more episodes.