Wandering Witch: Journey of Elaina "Wandering Witch: Journey of Elaina" is a light novel series written by Jougi Shiraishi and illustrated by Azure. It was later adapted into an anime series in 2020. The story follows a young witch named Elaina, who sets off on a journey to explore various countries. Elaina is a curious and independent girl who dreams of becoming the greatest witch in the world. She decides to embark on a journey to learn about different cultures, meet new people, and experience various magical phenomena. Throughout her journey, Elaina encounters different cities and towns, each with its own unique characteristics.
Final Score: 7.5 out of 10
I d describe Wandering Witch The Journey of Elaina as a relaxing, rather than exciting, manga, but the variety of stories helped to keep things engaging and Elaina proved to be a fun and loveable lead character. She doesn t appear to be on a quest, and while it seems like she does want to see her teacher again, I think she knows exactly where her old teacher is i.
Throughout her journey, Elaina encounters different cities and towns, each with its own unique characteristics. She witnesses both the good and the bad in human nature, as well as the impact of her actions on the lives of others. The story delves into themes of love, friendship, and the consequences of one's choices.
The Anti-Social Geniuses Manga Review: Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina Volume 1
Helen: Elaina is a witch — she wasn’t born as one but she had to train hard to become one, just like everyone else. She’s talented but still young and, given how selective the witch exams are, she’s extraordinary young to be a full-fledged witch. A loner by result, but perhaps not by nature, Elaina is using her magic to travel the world, see new sites, and maybe sometimes help make some small parts of it a better place.
The Journey of Elaina starts off episodic, perhaps like a magical Kino’s Journey, and it seems like it’s going to remain episodic for at least the near future. This is perfectly fine, but I also wish it had started off with a little more grounding. We do spend time learning how Elaina became a witch and to an extent why she wanted to become a witch (and how magic works in this fantasy world), but anything beyond that seems to be an unintentional mystery and that left me feeling disconnected from her. She doesn’t appear to be on a quest, and while it seems like she does want to see her teacher again, I think she knows exactly where her old teacher is (i.e, she isn’t searching for her), and it doesn’t seem like witches are required to travel or anything like that. Even if the story is episodic I do need some motivation for her to travel, even if it’s as simple as a desire to see the world.
I do think it was an odd move for the story to begin with Elaina visiting a country of just magic users. Not just because we don’t come across any other witches in this volume (aside from Elaina’s teacher in flashbacks) but also because Elaina forms a “deep” bond with a fellow magic user, Saya, in this first chapter that just doesn’t feel earned. None of Elaina’s stays are very long, including this one, and it just felt tough to believe the story when it said that this stop is one that will leave behind a strong memory. In short, the first chapter just feels very different from the other chapters so far; I’m curious if the original light novels also started with this story or if the manga did some re-arranging (as is sometimes the case with these adaptations).
At the same time, even if Elaina’s relationship with Saya seems to have progressed too quickly for me to completely buy into it, that chapter and the flashback with Elaina’s teacher were easily the best chapters in this volume. Itsuki Nanno’s art is quite pretty, and more detailed than it appears at first glance, but it was these character moments that grabbed my eye more than any moments of flashy magic. I’m curious how Elaina comes off in the light novels where there’s only text; here she feels like a confident, and bit spoiled, young woman but I feel like there might be deeper emotions and insecurities that we haven’t dived into yet.
Naturally, I want more of this story, whether it be this manga adaptation, the light novels, or the upcoming anime adaptation, so I can find out a bit more about this wandering witch.
Helen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5
Justin: Elaina began reading the Adventures of Nique series, where a witch traveled around the world and wrote about her illustrious tales. This inspired Elaina to become a witch herself, and some years later, she did. With her broom, robe, and brooch in tow, she sets off on an adventure and travels around the world just as Nique did!
The manga version of Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina is basically the light novel version. With no real grand goal aside from traveling, we follow Elaina as she stops by countries and towns and learns how they operate. While there were certainly complaints with some stories in the light novel version, I have to keep my mouth shut this time. That’s mainly because the manga adapts the ones I ultimately liked.
Now first off, this doesn’t mean the rest of the ones won’t get adapted. For this first volume five stories that were in the light novel are adapted here: the first one where she meets the novice Saya; when she travels to a flower field with a girl whose fate has been set in stone; when she ventures to a country where the prices for travelers are insane; her days back as an apprentice witch; and a short story where she meets the muscleman. In the light novel, that’s chapters 1, 2, 4, 9, and 3 respectively, with 3 being a short after the bonus short story. While future volumes will pick and choose, they could still adapt a few more stories, but in a way that flows a bit differently.
So in short, this is probably why I prefer the manga over the light novel version, which you’ll see my thoughts next week. The order in this version feels less disconnected and not feeling all over the place. We can get a better sense of Elaina’s upbringing and personality with this type of order. Visually, where we can actually see Elaina saddened over losing her brooch or her struggling to find her place as a witch after thoroughly passing her practical exam, is also another added difference in its favor. But as already mentioned, volume 1 adapts a few of the strongest chapters so far, so there was little room to really complain.
It also totally feels like Elaina’s personality shines a bit more in this form, but that’s likely due to what’s drawn so far. It will be interesting to see what other chapters are turned into manga form, but for its debut volume, this is about as good of a start it could be. Will certainly see how others will be drawn next.
Justin’s rating: 3.5 out of 5
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| Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina Volume 1 | |
| SUMMARY | |
Title: Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (Majo no Tabitabi)
Genre: Fantasy, supernatural, adventure
Publisher: Square Enix (JP), Square Enix (US)
Creators: Jougi Shiraishi, Itsuki Nanao, Azure
Serialized in: Gangan Online, MangaUP!
Localization Staff: Taylor Engel (Translator), Bianca Pistillo (Letterer), Leyla Aker (Editor), Wendy Chan, Abigail Blackman (Designers)
Digital Release Date: May 12, 2020
Print Release Date: July 14, 2020
A review copy was provided by Square Enix.
- TAGS
- Azure
- Itsuki Nanao
- Jougi Shiraishi
- Shōnen
- Square Enix
- Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (Manga)
At the same time, even if Elaina’s relationship with Saya seems to have progressed too quickly for me to completely buy into it, that chapter and the flashback with Elaina’s teacher were easily the best chapters in this volume. Itsuki Nanno’s art is quite pretty, and more detailed than it appears at first glance, but it was these character moments that grabbed my eye more than any moments of flashy magic. I’m curious how Elaina comes off in the light novels where there’s only text; here she feels like a confident, and bit spoiled, young woman but I feel like there might be deeper emotions and insecurities that we haven’t dived into yet.
Elaina's travels are not always smooth sailing. She faces challenges and dilemmas that test her magical abilities and moral compass. These experiences shape her character and worldview, teaching her valuable lessons along the way. The narrative structure of the series is episodic, with each chapter focusing on a different town or city that Elaina visits. This allows for a diverse range of storytelling, as Elaina encounters a variety of people and situations. Some stories are heartwarming and uplifting, while others are bittersweet or even tragic. The artwork in "Wandering Witch: Journey of Elaina" complements the storytelling, capturing the beauty of the magical world and the emotions of the characters. The anime adaptation further brings the world to life with vibrant animation and a captivating soundtrack. Overall, "Wandering Witch: Journey of Elaina" is a captivating exploration of a young witch's travels and the life lessons she learns along the way. It combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and slice-of-life storytelling to create a unique and enchanting experience. Whether you're a fan of the light novel series or the anime adaptation, the story of Elaina's journey is sure to leave a lasting impression..
Reviews for "The Awe-Inspiring Wonder of Wanderinb wirch mangs: Capturing the Essence in Words"
1. Sara - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Wandering Witch Mangs" based on all the hype surrounding it, but I was sorely disappointed. The plot felt disjointed and confusing, with no clear direction or resolution. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them. Overall, I found the story to be lacking in substance and failed to capture my interest.
2. Michael - 1 star - "Wandering Witch Mangs" was one of the most disappointing reads I've had in a long time. The writing style was incredibly bland and lacked any creativity or originality. The story itself was predictable and cliché, with no surprises or twists to keep the reader engaged. I found myself struggling to finish it, and in the end, I felt like I wasted my time. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Wandering Witch Mangs" after hearing so many positive reviews, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of unnecessary exposition that did little to advance the plot. The world-building was also lacking, leaving me with more questions than answers. While I appreciated the attempt at creating a unique magical system, it was poorly executed and left me feeling confused. Overall, I found the book to be a lackluster read and struggled to stay engaged.