Witch Watch: Witch-Next-Door and Occult Peeping Toms

The sexier the witch, the more disturbed. Sure, laugh now, but I’ll yell, “I told you so,” from the adjacent zip code when you’re strapped naked to a pentagram with a corset-wearing goth girl standing over you. It’s all kinky fun until the screaming starts! Witch Watch would like to remind us that not all witches want to sacrifice your manhood to their demon patron. Some will make do with a loyal bodyguard who’ll fulfill their every whim and put up with their ditsy BS.

Meet witch-next-door Nico Wakatsuki (voiced by Rina Kawaguchi) and her oni familiar buddy guard Morihito Otogi (Ryōta Suzuki). They’re the main characters in an anime, Witch Watch, which promises entertaining “living with a quirky girl” antics and hilarious efforts to avoid lovey-dovey hand-holding.

Kasaix covered the preview of Witch Watch, including the teaser trailer and synopsis, here on the J-List Blog. Check out his article if this is the first time you’ve heard of this wacky Shōnen romcom.

Witch Watch Gets a Chef’s Kiss for Animation

Man, I hope Witch Watch keeps dishing out quality animation. Bibury Animation Studios delivers a rare treat of visual action and expertly rendered scenes in Witch Watch. The anime stands out as a Candyland for the eyes. Would we have noticed if we weren’t up to our nostrils in isekai junk? Maybe!

It’s easy to figure out if an anime is visually entertaining. The litmus test is GIF-ability (pronounced “jiff-ability”). Straightforwardly, how many GIFs can we get out of an episode? GIF-ability rises in direct proportion to the on-screen action and visual gags.

Simply put, Witch Watch looks good. I’ll stick around for the pretty pictures and visual comedy until at least the mid-season quality slump.

Watch Witch-Next-Door Nico in Witch Watch

Nico is the perfect girl next door. And yes, she lives with the male protagonist, yadda yadda. But Nico is funny and adorable without being overly sexy. “Moi” has known her for ages, and they’re a solid pair with no obvious romantic baggage between them. I hope a sexier love interest moves in to snatch Morihito away from Nico so that the in-your-face girl-next-door plot plays out. And I sure hope she’s a shapeshifting goth witch.

I’m all in for the tug-of-war that could play out with Nico and Morihito plucking each other’s heartstrings. As long as we get some resolution. Since Witch Watch is based on a 21-volume manga, I’m not betting on seeing a satisfying ending by episode twelve. But I’m hopeful. A screen adaptation can be its own thing. Right? So why not give us a start-to-finish girl-next-door romance for once, Japan?

Occult Peeping Toms Watch Witches in Witch Watch for the Adorable Antics

Ask, and anime provides. Sometimes. So far, Witch Watch has done everything right to satisfy fans. Morihito wasted no time binding himself to Nico’s cause. And she was refreshingly overt when she broadcast her feelings for him. I’m sure he’ll give her the cold shoulder and remain oblivious to her feelings while putting his life on the line for her. Regardless, we, the audience, will know their relationship makes sense and can enjoy basking in the heartwarming feelings they radiate. Those are the ingredients that make a girl-next-door romcom work its magic.

Hiroshi Ikehata directs Witch Watch for Bibury Animation Studios. Deko Akao (alias for singer and screenwriter Hitomi Mieno) wrote the show. Weekly Shōnen Jump has serialized Witch Watch since 2021, and Viz Media and Shueisha simul-publishes it digitally in English.

Watch Witch Watch on Crunchyroll with Japanese, French, or German audio. English subtitles are available, and the show streams on Hulu and Netflix. Witch Watch summons a stellar Chibi Megumi rating of five for creating a romantic comedy with lovable characters who kept the laughs coming.

Have you met a witch before? Was she wearing heavy black eyeliner? And did she leave with your manhood? Tell us in the comments so we can warn the other brothers.

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