Little Witch Academia (2017)

Now that the full series is (finally) up on Netflix, let's take a little look at this tale of whimsy and magic, shall we?

Normally when I hear something described as “fun for all the family” I just kind of roll my eyes, because what this usually means is that it's a film aimed at kids, with very little to grabbed the attention of older audiences. Really, only Disney consistently puts out content that amuses both the young and the old.

However, I think that Little Witch Academia definitely hits that sweet spot. I possesses that charm and magic usually exclusive to Disney, and will manage to draw your attention, almost regardless of how old you are.

Warning:  There may be spoilers beyond this point!

Little Witch Academia is the story of one Atsuko Kagari, otherwise know as Akko. Upon seeing a magic show performed by a real witch as a child, Akko became enraptured with the idea of magic, and the witch in question became her idol. Thus is born within her the desire to pursue a career of magic, and to become a witch herself. Skip forward a few years, and we find an older Akko preparing to attend Luna Nova, the most prestigious magic school in the world.

Our heroine:  Copyright ©Studio Trigger.

So far so very Harry Potter.

However, the basic premise of having a character attending a magic school, is where the similarities between the two begin and end. Akko is does not have an unknown heritage that whisks her off into a land of magic, she is a nobody who struggles to gain acceptance and be noticed in a world where everyone is special. Of course, she has her flaws, the two most glaring being impatience, and a habit of acting rashly.

Akko's two closest friends at school are Lotte, who is very much a nerdy girl; and Sucy, a girl who both looks and acts like your typical wicked witch. At first it seems like these will be rather flat characters, but they do get episodes dedicated to exploring their characters. My only complaint would be that they get left behind as the main story begins to reach its climax.

Akko's main rival at school is a girl called Diana, who is the opposite of Akko in that she is from a long line of witches, and is hailed as a genius. However, Diana is not the “mean girl” type, far from it. Early on we see that she values hard work, and that she likes to see that credit is handed-out to the appropriate parties. She dislikes favouritism, even when it is in her favour.

Akko and Diana:  Copyright ©Studio Trigger.

There are naturally a wide variety of other characters as well, each with a varying degree of importance to the plot. However, no matter how relevant they are to the main story, each character feels unique. None of the characters feel particularly bland, and each brings there own energy and life to any scene they're in. There are too many good characters to list in this show, and to do so would naturally be moving into spoiler territory. However, most of them have a depth to them, even if it's only a little beyond what was necessary for their role in the plot.

Thematically the show seems to deal with themes of worth, about how one must prove oneself worthy, rather than being born that way. It also deals with how one balances following tradition, with progress; how the past is important, but shouldn't dictate the future. The show is subtle with its themes, in that it doesn't scream them from the rooftops, but they are there. To be frank, I like that it doesn't feel the need to hit you over the head with a metaphorical hammer.

The animation is dynamic, and well done. The artist at Studio Trigger have used a deceptively simple art style, that helps keep character designs simple. Despite the fact that it may not look too impressive in a still image, it really comes alive in motion, and successful communicates the energetic nature of the show. The bright colour palette gives everything a life and vibrancy, helping to add the magical nature of the surroundings.

The art style as a whole seems to take some cues from Disney, which one episode deliberately makes reference to.

The character designs are also good, highlighting certain aspects of the personalities of each of the characters, whilst at the same time never being too obvious about it. For example, the way in which Sucy's outfit looks a lot like a traditional “wicked witch”, highlighting her seemingly callous nature.

I feel that the story itself is well done, constantly keeping us invested in this world and its people. Some viewers may be put off by how the first half is heavy with slice-of-life episodes, but I don't think it's a problem. The daily life segments help us get invested in the characters, and establish a status quo that will be threatened later; besides which, watching these characters interact and go about their daily lives is never boring.

The choreography is clear and tidy, it is always easy to tell what is happening, and the action never gets lost amongst the special effects. The visual effects themselves are aesthetically pleasing, and actually fit thematically with their surroundings, never looking out of place. More importantly, the magic effects are used to enhance the magic and the mood, rather than drawing attention away from it.

The voice acting is also good, each actor successfully brings out the personality of their character, and they're all talking with the right amount of energy. It's definitely a stepped above some English dubs of Japanese animation, which can pierce the ears like nails in a chalkboard; although that is damning this dub with faint praise. To reiterate, the acting is good, with each actor clearly enjoying their role.

Finally, the music is also good, successfully conveying a sense of whimsy, or dread, or any other emotion, as appropriate.. Whilst none of the background music particular stands out I feel this is for the best, as the music helps to draw attention to the scene, rather than to itself.

Special mention must go to the first opening theme though, it has a dynamism and energy that never fails to bring a smile to my face. I like it.

So on the whole another show I can whole-heartedly recommend. With interesting characters, an intriguing storyline, and beautiful animation, it's definitely worth a watch. Even if it does not seem like it would normally be your thing, I urge you to give it a go!

Until next time,

PhoenixAct.