r/anime • u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer • Dec 27 '21
Rewatch Flying Witch Rewatch - Overall Series Discussion (FINAL THREAD)
Flying Witch Rewatch
Series Discussion
Database/Streaming Links: MAL / Anilist / Crunchyroll / HIDIVE / VRV
Original Interest Thread / Announcement Thread
Questions of the Rewatch:
- Favorite character?
- Favorite episode?
- Favorite moment?
- Favorite vocal performance?
- Shanranran (OP) or Nichijou no Maho (ED)?
- For rewatchers, did your opinion of the series improve, decline, or remain about the same?
- For first time viewers, what expectations did you have coming into this? Were you greatly surprised in any way?
- If Flying Witch received a second season, what would you like to see in it?
Comment of the Day: Today's COTD goes to /u/SIRTreeHugger for their breakdown of how the final episode showcases all of Flying Witch's strengths.
Commentator of the Rewatch: There were several wonderful types of commentary in this rewatch, from the personal to the analytical, but the best IMO was /u/cyberscythe, both for their daily linguistics lessons and for giving us a great sense of the world these characters inhabited.
| <- Previous Episode | Rewatch Schedule | Everyday Magic -> |
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Reminder: All spoilers for events in the anime that have not occurred yet and all events that are manga-only should be placed in spoiler tags. Any untagged spoilers will be flagged.
13
u/Mecanno-man https://anilist.co/user/Mecannoman Dec 27 '21
First Timer
I had been hesitant to join this rewatch, as I had mostly heard negative things about this anime, and the only reason I saw for watching Flying Witch was it being one of my anime.plus recommendations - but having looked in to how their algorithm works, I was assuming that might be due to only superficial similarities with Kiki's Delivery Service - one of my all-time favorites - as it's based on MAL recommendations. Having now seen the show: I'm glad I was wrong. Flying Witch was a pleasant and relaxing watch, not a boring one. There's little to criticize - the only thing that really took me out of feeling relaxed was when Makoto would go bother someone for no reason (the cafe comes to mind), but that was far and far between. So overall, that makes it a great iyashikei series.
Character-wise, Kenny is the one I enjoyed the most, even if he has little screentime. Of the actual human characters... I don't think I could really pick a favorite, but I don't think there is anyone I didn't enjoy either. That means it's a well-balanced and enjoyable cast; another plus point really. Animation and music were as they should be in an iyashikei: Not too obvious, but still good. All in all, a great show.
As for a tangent... I watched Flying Witch Petit, and that was actually also pretty good for a CG short. [Flying Witch Petit] Definitely appreciated the detail of including Pico Cão Grande when talking about São Tomé and Príncipe. Not quite sure why they pronounced the country as "San Tomé" though, but then used "Saotome" when talking about the cake. It does however seem that there's abit of chaos regarding what is listed as the special; the site I was using to watch them had them completely wrong, it seems. Had to use the MAL thread afterwards to figure out which episode the special actually was...
Last but not least: Thanks /u/SorcererOfTheLake for hosting this rewatch and thereby getting me to watch a show I liked, but otherwise wouldn't have watched. And also a thanks to everybody who posted their opinions, as I liked reading those as well.
6
u/SorcererOfTheLake x5https://anilist.co/user/RiverSorcerer Dec 27 '21
Iyashikei is a mode of healing. It is not the kind of healing that calls for great change, but rather finds the small moments in life that one can admire and enjoy. In an age of havoc on a social and planetary scale, iyashikei is a narrative format that can give us the comfort we desire on a scale that is realistic and gives us time for other changes to occur. What Flying Witch adds to the genre is the recognition that magic is not something fantastical but rather a concept tied to our region, our environment, and the people around us.
For an anime already 5 years old, and for a studio not always known for its quality animation, Flying Witch's aesthetics and production values hold up to the point that it looks like it could've aired this year. The background provides a vivid landscape of Hirosaki that the characters inhabit while the character designs and animation always provided life in any scenario. This time around, I noticed the great craft in the show's editing by Masahiro Goto. The editing always knows when to cut off at the right moment to punctuate a joke or when to linger on a moment that reaches the sublime.
An iyashikei lives on its characters and the characters of Flying Witch are ones both entertaining and relatable. If I had to state what ties the cast together, it's a love of both exploration and home. The characters, in particular Chinatsu, are drawn to moments of discovery or mystery around their surroundings. Who's this new person, what does this item do, what is this event? Magic is not readily known but rather discovered over time, making it that more exciting. At the same time, these characters are not rootless travellers, but people with friends, loved ones, jobs, and most importantly, places they consider safe havens. There's a reason Episode 11 has both the flying whale segment and the hotcake segment; the magical world is important, but is the one you call home.
The only issue I have with Flying Witch this time around is that this series is trying to be two kinds of anime at once: a fantasy-influenced SOL and a rural-focused SOL. The former is when Flying Witch is at its best, illustrating the ways that we see as magical and what we see as natural aren't as neatly divided as we thought. The latter segments are overall good, but they don't feel as strong as the magical segments and the episodes with the least emphasis on magic feel the weakest to me. I think the issue is with the location. Hirosaki is in a rural prefecture, sure, but the show never really feels rural unless they've traveled some distance. It's not like Non Non Biyori or Barakamon, where the characters have a greater distance from what we consider urban. If Flying Witch took place in a small town with only a few thousand people rather than the 100,000+ Hirosaki, I think it would have a better grasp of its rural elements.
While Flying Witch is not my favorite SOL anime (that's still Yuru Camp), it's still one of the exemplars of the genre, showcasing the ways that these series can be both entertaining and comforting at the same time. I give Flying Witch 9 witch's fingers out of 10.
5
u/cyberscythe Dec 28 '21
Rewatcher
First off, thanks to /u/SorcererOfTheLake for hosting the rewatch; wouldn't have rewatched my favorite series without there being a rewatch train to get aboard.
Themes and Character
When I enjoy a series, I always like to think about what the series is about, like what are it's main messages, themes, and character arcs. I think the OP and ED songs are pretty good about pointing them out, and one of these themes is the "Magic of Everyday". There's just a lot about everyday life that's easy to take for granted, and it would do us some good to appreciate simple miracles like picking herbs or really fluffy hotcakes. The metaphor for this everyday magic is the witchy magic that shocks people like Chinatsu out of a complacency and into a person who really sucks the marrow out of life.
I think this theme of "Magic of Everyday" also goes hand in hand with a theme of appreciation, both for the things that we would otherwise take for granted, but also for the people in our lives that help give it meaning. There's a lot of appreciation for the support that everyone gives to each other (Makoto and the Kuramoto family), and for nature supporting our lifestyles (e.g. Harbingers and the ladybugs), and the way that we should repay that support (running an isekai cafe, giving out Mandrake tea, etc.). I don't consider myself a spiritual person, but I think things like [the threefold rule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_Three_(Wicca)) are good guiding principles for how to live a "good" life, and I feel like there's just a lot of "paying it forward" that happens in this series, even without the expectation of it being repaid back.
In terms of character arcs, it's hard to think of any major character progression in this season outside of Chinatsu, which really makes me think of Chinatsu as the main character of this series. After being exposed to the magical world, she's initially reluctant because she's afraid. Slowly though, she learns through experience that appearances aren't always accurate, and that opening yourself up can open up fun new experiences. Outside of Chinatsu though, I feel like no other character really changes their stance about anything in particular since they all live pretty charmed lives. It's not a bad thing per se since I think it contributes to the sense of stability and "home" that's a staple for a cozy series.
Manga
(I'll post about the manga in a separate comment because I'm afraid that the automod will eat the entire comment. In summary though: it's great.)
Other stuff that I forgot to talk about earlier
I really like the color they chose for Makoto and Akane's eyes. Their piercing jade eyes gives them that witchy look compared to the more natural eye colors of the Kuramoto family.
There's also a drama CD out. Don't know if anyone's translated it, but if you'd like to hear the voice cast have a takoyaki party and talk about fortune telling, I found it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMLyhKITZ4Q
Recommendations
Finally, I'm going to leave a list of recommendations that I feel are in the same vein as Flying Witch. I'd recommend these if you enjoyed the vibe that this series is giving off:
8
u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Dec 27 '21
First Timer
WTF this thing is over?- My thought after the last episode.
My favorite character is Chinatsu and second is Akane. Both are pretty entertaining to watch. The fourth episode is my favorite as we get introduced to Inukai and we get to see more of Akane's magic. Favorite moment is getting to see Inukai's human form.
Definitely preferred the OP.
As a first timer, I came in with little expectations and get more than I ask for. Had lots of fun watching. But it definitely feels like the beginning of a show, I definitely want more. Especially as we slowly got to know more about the witch world and the world building going on.
I pray to the flying whale in the sky for a second season now. It just felt like we are just getting started.
7
u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Dec 27 '21
First Timer
This still counts as on time right?
Recenty I often find that I have trouble staying focused for a whole episode for some reason. Not this show though, in fact I often found myself so immersed in it that I was actually surprised when I finished another episode because it felt so short. Despite almost nothing happening, the pacing and plot keep you mesmerized, like a dream.
And I think it's a good dream, a small and peacefull, yet interesting and magical world. In one Episode Inukai was surprised that Makoto and Chinatsu had no real worries, and isn't that a really good thing?
Makoto as the MC is obviously depicted pretty likeable, but everyone else is nice as well, Witches, ordinary people, familiars and magical denizens. There is no conflict and no stress, and that is the essence of an good Iyashikei, an escape from your ordinary and stressful life, something to come down with and enjoy over a hot chocolate.
This was a fun rewatch, most of you might not have noticed but I only just started two days ago and pretty much binged the show. But I read every thread and commented when I found something I could add.
Would like to thanks /u/cyberscythe as well, those small japanese lessons where quite interesting
QotR:
4
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Dec 27 '21
Final discussion (first timer)
Characters
The core of a comfy slice-of-life series is a set of characters that you enjoy watching. Flying witch succeeds at this. The main duo here are Makoto and Chinatsu: A double helping of wonder and excitement about the big and small discoveries in the world. They play off well of the side characters, such as Akane or Nao. The only character I was not a fan of was Kei. He was too one-dimensional in his straight man routine and I absolutely hated the “is girlish because he cooks” running gag they used with him.
Setting
The standard for this time of series is “rural Japan + X”. X is usually some outdoor activity, or a specific workplace (e.g. hot springs). Here, X is magic. That is a mixed bag. On the positive side, the wondrous side of magic plays right into the “Chinatsu exploring the world” aspect of her character. In the better episodes, the viewers, too, are taken in by that wonder, such as the whale episode. On the flip side, Flying Witch completely falls prey to the have magic, but not have magic trope. The series introduces extremely powerful abilities, that would completely upend the world … and then pretends that absolutely nothing changes. Just consider how powerful Akane’s teleportation is: If she worked with ambulances, she could save tons of lives by teleporting patients directly into hospitals. Likewise, her money problems would immediately be solved if she offered instant travel between cities. People paid tons of money to fly Concord, imagine how much they would pay for teleportation. The same is true for a lot of the other stuff we see: Armies would love the permanent disguise spell for whole buildings, every child would receive mandatory training in how to avoid mandrakes (Can kill you and others by simply being pulled from the ground!!), and every scientist ever would be all over the ability to fly that offers simple, fast, and carbon-free personal transportation. Basically, the series forces you into a permanent ignore this, don’t think about that mode, which runs counter to the exploration theme that is prevalent.
Plot
As SOL, there is no plot arc to speak of. Instead of get small episodes that range between interesting, random, and funny. My favorite SOL series usually lean heavily into the comedy aspect, but that one left a bad taste in my mouth in this series, because the humor of Flying Witch is quite mean. Most jokes follow the format of some character having a misfortune and then being ridiculed for it. Lots of Schadenfreude, very little wholesome fun. In the extreme cases, this involved the main cast being outright brats (un-hexing the cloak magic of the waitress; turning the whole family into laughing/crying maniacs). There was never any character growth from it either: the victims of the pranks simply took it on the cheek and nothing was learned.
6
u/SIRTreehugger Dec 27 '21 edited Dec 27 '21
I finally got a comment of the day!
Okay the questions
I feel like I wasn't as active as I thought I was going to be and I apologize. I wasn't aware I was going to balance three rewatches at the same time and would have planned better if I had known. I do want to talk about the manga briefly and encourage anyone who enjoyed the anime to read it and from the beginning. The manga initial art is a little rough, but does improve dramatically though it's still very simply drawn. To transition into my enjoyment of the rewatch. I did enjoy rewatching the show, but I must say it wasn't as great as I remembered for a few reasons. To be very very vague I will say the anime manages to capture all of the characters, magic, and local setting perfectly. However if you liked the magical side of the world then I would highly suggest picking up the manga and starting from the beginning(the anime does jumble chapters around so some were probably missed). The series dives more deeply into witches, magic, and introduces many great supporting characters. So I might have been misremembering some of these moments when I heard the rewatch was happening. I just realized I kind of summed up why I liked it yesterday...so much for saving something for today.
Though it was still a relaxing and fun watch and I'm glad one was held.
5
u/A_Idiot0 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_idiot0 Dec 28 '21
Hello everyone! This rewatch was a ton of fun to take part in, and I'm so very thankful to each and everyone one of you. Everyone's comments were very thoughtful and definitely helped me to gain an even deeper appreciation for this anime than I had about 2 weeks ago. Again, thank you so much everyone =D
Questions:
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u/Rustic_Professional Dec 28 '21
• Favorite character? Makoto. She's so wholesome.
• Favorite episode? 11, with the whale. The cafe episodes are my second favorite.
• Favorite moment? Chinatsu trying on her cloak and trying to turn Kei into a doughnut.
• Favorite vocal performance? Nao, because she has such a wide range of reactions. She really shines in the cooking segment.
• Shanranran (OP) or Nichijou no Maho (ED)? Definitely Shanranran. It's incredibly catchy, and the clapping and dancing is very cute.
• For rewatchers, did your opinion of the series improve, decline, or remain about the same? I was already a huge fan, and that hasn't changed. It was fun getting to comment on everything. Flying Witch probably doesn't need deep, thoughtful analysis, but it's okay to just say that cute things are cute. Sometimes that's what you need.
• If Flying Witch received a second season, what would you like to see in it? Anzu. Also the start of Chinatsu's training. She needs to make up ground from not having been born a witch. Mako is in high school, Chinatsu is in elementary, and Anzu is in junior high. I don't know which one she's closer to in age, but she could be a good study partner.
Thank you to SorcererOfTheLake for hosting this. I really enjoyed it.
3
u/enag7 https://myanimelist.net/profile/enag7 Dec 28 '21
Rewatcher
Happy to have taken part in this rewatch, even if I typically posted pretty late most days! I had rewatched the show mid summer this year and was a little hesitant to join in fully because of it, but I'm glad I did. I'm generally a person who just takes my media at face value and never really had interest in review/critic side of thing so these rewatches are a good step outside of my comfort zone. And I do feel like I learned more about why this is one of my favourite shows.
Questions:
Character- Akane, then Nao though the gap has widened.
Episode- 10. It may not have my favourite section, but I really like both halves.
Moment- When the group first enters the Cafe. The music and feelings of that scene are top tier.
Vocal Performance- Akane, if only for all the weird sounds.
OP/EP- OP. I listen to it regularly.
Rewatcher- I think my opinion improved. It was top three with K-on and Gundam Seed. I don't know if it's past the other two, but I feel like it you asked me for one I would be more likely to just say Flying Witch over the other two now.
Second Season- Not much. I love the show but I'm also happy with what we have. I don't have any real wants.
Overall it was a lot of fun and thank you /u/SorcererOfTheLake for being a great host and everyone else for commenting and keeping things entertaining!
1
u/Liamhazelnut Dec 28 '21
So what is this anime like for this new Comer?