Little Witch Academia is an animated Japanese television series that has gained widespread popularity since its release in 2017. The show follows the story of Atsuko Kagari, a young girl who enrolls in the prestigious Luna Nova Magical Academy to fulfill her dream of becoming a witch. The series has been lauded for its stunning animation, captivating storyline, and lovable characters. The **animation** in Little Witch Academia is truly impressive. It is beautifully crafted, with bright and vibrant colors that bring the magical world to life. The attention to detail is evident in every frame, from the intricately designed costumes to the mesmerizing spell effects.
- Amanda goddamn O'Neill makes her first speaking appearance, accompanied by Improbable Piloting Skills.
- A small moment from Jasminka — she was able to effortlessly sidesaddle a broom while eating potato chips.
- Diana pulls a Big Damn Heroes moment, much like in the first OVA, by catching Akko after she is knocked off the super broom.
- Akko getting back onto the Shooting Star by firing herself out of a cannon for the second time that day.
Ursula finally snapping at Professor Finneran s unfair treatment of Akko and giving a surprisingKirk Summation to Finneran, telling her off that Akko deserves to be a student at Luna Nova. These load times and unnecessarily long travel times interrupt the flow of the narrative and players will come to dread when quests require schlepping to one side of the school and back again.
The attention to detail is evident in every frame, from the intricately designed costumes to the mesmerizing spell effects. The animation quality is consistently high throughout the series, which adds to its overall appeal. Apart from the animation, the **storyline** of Little Witch Academia is equally impressive.
Moments subpages are Spoilers Off. You have been warned!
Being a cutesy show does not stop Little Witch Academia from having awesome moments.
- For moments specific to the franchise as a whole, see this page.
- In the first episode, Ursula makes her usual appearance by sensing that (would-be) students are in a life or death situation. Obviously, this is a perfect opportunity to teach Akko her first spell.
- When Diana tries to blast magic butterfly cocoons on Jennifer's Memorial Tree, believing them to be pests, Akko takes a bolt to save them. Even though Diana couldn't bring herself to tell the professors the truth, one thing is clear: Akko's courage humbled Diana.
- Amanda goddamn O'Neill makes her first speaking appearance, accompanied by Improbable Piloting Skills.
- A small moment from Jasminka — she was able to effortlessly sidesaddle a broom while eating potato chips.
- Diana pulls a Big Damn Heroes moment, much like in the first OVA, by catching Akko after she is knocked off the super broom.
- Akko getting back onto the Shooting Star by firing herself out of a cannon for the second time that day.
Akko: What�s an injury or two or three or four or five or six?! If I say I�ll ride a broom, then I�m gonna ride it! [fires cannon, lets out an angry scream, sticks the landing, and chains herself onto the broom] Don�t even try to shake me off now. I won�t even let go to the very depths of hell!
- Constanze, Constanze, Constanze. Her smuggled-in tech solves every problem that doesn�t involve the debt, and she does it plain sight, too. The only reason why none of her machines are confiscated must be that they're so damn useful.
- The fight outside the Rastaban Ruins. Explosions everywhere!
- Diana walking in and telling off the dragon conman like a boss.
- Andrew effortlessly leaping over a broken staircase by using Arcas' head as a stepping stone as it attempted to attack him.
- Akko gazing into the Fountain of Polaris and getting a glimpse of Chariot's memories.
- Ursula rescuing Akko and Andrew from Arcas and giving Akko a much needed pep talk.
- Akko being able to use magic successfully in order to free a fish's family from a trap.
- Ursula finally snapping at Professor Finneran's unfair treatment of Akko and giving a surprisingKirk Summation to Finneran, telling her off that Akko deserves to be a student at Luna Nova. Doubly awesome because Finneran spends a lot of time relentlessly chastising and scaring Ursula.
- Just the fact that Akko managed to pass her last exam without even taking the written test itself.
- Akko being able to learn Fish Language within a day certainly counts even if it came as a result of a botched transformation spell.
- Akko managed to defy Diana's prophecy, and basically fate itself, by avoiding expulsion from Luna Nova.
- Akko attempting to swat at the love bee while Andrew plays "Flight of the Bumblebee" on the piano. Running and jumping atop a balustrade in high heels is no mere feat.
- Akko turning the Shiny Rod into an axe and kicking off the season 1 Story Arc in motion, shortly after learning that mistakes are just as important as her victories.
- Akko passing the Secret Test of Character the way she did cannot be understated. Her entire life has revolved around succeeding Shiny Chariot. However, when she learns that the price would be her past - complete with all the failures and humiliation that came with it - she rejects it with barely a moment's hesitation.
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A lot of classmates tell Akko that she generally sucks at magic, but Diana decides to get up close and personal to tell her why she sucks at magic. It�s refreshing to take a break from every other character going on and on about how much of a Privileged Rival Diana is and listen to how she embraces the Japanese Spirit theme of the show from her own mouth.
Diana: [sighs] Whenever something doesn�t go your way, you sulk and lose all motivation. You play at being Chariot without the slightest knowledge of history or magic. You have no right to learn at this academy!
Akko: I am motivated! I�m serious about following Chariot�s footsteps! Diana: Serious? You are? Akko: I�ll prove it to you. That my passion for magic is the real deal!- Lotte stands up for herself and yells at Diana and her team for how rude they were to Akko.
- Akko's plan: Make Vajarois laugh. Then with her now quite skilled transformation magic (using her inability to get things quite right as a plus to increase humour) and skill as a performer, she wins the crowd, puts Vajarois' soul to rest, and unlocks the third word. Diana is utterly awed by the performance, and Akko makes good on proving her passion from Episode 12. Becoming like Shiny Chariot is no longer a pipe-dream for this little witch who put on such an amazing show.
- A new opening!
- Akko standing up to a condescending verbal assault from Diana, leaving the latter completely flustered!
- She singlehandedly prevents the strike from imploding.
- This resulted in the Fan Nicknames "General Secretary Akko" and "Comrade Akko" from left-wing fans.
- With Akko in danger and no witnesses around to fool, Ursula drops her "demure, clumsy young teacher" act and kicks ass against New Moon Tower's defenses. To wit: dodging a hail of arrows, parkouring between chunks of flying rubble, knocking around giant statues with magically enhanced punches and kicks, and finally bypassing the stairs entirely by running up the tower wall. All of this is accompanied by a dangerously uncharacteristicDeath Glare. All flash and no substance, Shiny Chariot was not.
- Akko's Armor-Piercing Question to Andrew that if doing what he's told makes him happy.
- Amanda and Louis's sword fight is impressive on two accounts. Not only is it really well animated, but its clear both are extremely skilled, and Amanda wins. Then Louis ends up stuck in some Animated Armor and, using magic, Amanda wins again.
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With some assistance from Akko gathering materials, Constanze builds a flying ship to take part in the Wild Hunt. And thanks to Akko inspiring her with one of her zany ideas, Constanze re-designs it so that it can transform into a Humongous Mecha!
Akko: Burning souls turned into magic power! The seven shining stars of justice! A believing heart is our magic! Magic Suit Grand Charion!
- The transformation, the chant that came with it, the mecha and the Finishing Move are all reminiscent of a certain Gainax anime, with all the awesome that entails.
- When Diana's Aunt Daryl and cousins start being condescending to Akko because of her non-magical lineage, Diana stands up for her.
- With Diana's help, Akko manages to unlock the 5th word, which transforms the Shiny Rod into the Shiny Valley, Shiny Chariot's trademark flying broom.
- Diana (while on the Shiny Valley) manages to dodge the combined magical forces of her aunt and cousin's snake magic.
- In spite of all of the crap her and cousins have done to her, Diana passes up the chance to complete the ritual that would make her the Cavendish head in order to rescue her family from certain death.
- This line from Akko when she is bitten by two of Aunt Daryl's snakes:
- Akko's sheer tenacity in general regarding her absolute determination to save Diana, her self-proclaimed rival. And through ingenuity and the hard-earned bit of skill she's finally earned from her time at Luna Nova, she succeeds.
- The sixth word test, to climb an endless tree in order to understand who deserve your sincere thanks.
- When Akko is captured by Croix's cube-spider monster, Ursula busts through the door and uses it as a skateboard of sorts before taking down the monster with a single spell. A brief moment, but awesome nonetheless.
- In a horrifying way, Shiny Chariot's last performance. Angry at her fading popularity and the audience's apparent indifference, she panics, she uses a powerful spell with more power than intended and blasts the moon instead of a portal home.
- Doubling as a Heartwarming Moment, the fact that despite all the hardships Chariot's show caused her, Diana still managed through hard work and toil get good at magic, precisely because of how inspiring Chariot's show was. It specifically goes to show that, while her magic ability may have been crippled by the show, it really isn't impossible to overcome said weakness and become a true witch despite this solely because of how damn inspiring it was. This is what finally manages to snap Akko out of her depression and regain her spirit, showing her that there is still hope for her as a witch.
- Before that, Diana learned Ursula or Chariot's role in robbing her of her magic. She was shocked but looked past that as Akko's safety was her main concern. What truly bring out her rage was that Ursula seemingly want to distance herself from Akko. Diana shouted and tear through at her idol for such an act. Looking back, Diana felt like she was the only Witch who ever loved Chariot and felt all alone until Akko arrived. With this new revelation, Diana realized she wasn't alone anymore and that the others who did loved Chariot had their magic stolen from their idol and were unable to attend magic schools. Diana's What the Hell, Hero? wasn't just how hurt she was, Diana was speaking on behalf of Akko and the thousands of young girls that Chariot has betrayed. With that, Diana abandoned Chariot and had a new mission: to save Akko and ensure she won't be alone like she herself went through.
- Chariot and Croix's fight in Croix's Supervillain Lair, complete with Chariot using a lightsaber!
- Chariot's battle with the rage dragon formed from Croix's emotion cubes to protect Croix.
- And keep in mind, the Sorcerer's Stone is out, meaning there is no magic in the area. In other words, Chariot's fighting the dragon without any magical enhancements.
- The episode compounds Awesome upon Cool upon further Awesome in a similar vein to the fight against Ragyo and Nui. Here are some highlights:
- Multi-stage rocket brooms! Little Witch Space Program!
- Diana dodging the incoming Macross Missile Massacre with her own Itano Circus maneuver.
- Akko destroying the same missiles by turning them into cute things.
- Akko isn't even on the broom for much of the fight, alternating between her different animal forms and racing across the back of several missiles, coasting from target to target by sheer inertia alone. The girl knew how to fly even before she managed it with a broom!
- The triumphant return of the legendary Shooting Star, all the way back from episode 3, accompanied by the triumphant fanfare of the first opening. Akko even saves Diana the exact same way she was rescued back in 3, repaying the favor.
- Shooting Star outpacing the missile.
- The final moments as Yggdrasil is reborn, the Hate Plague missile is destroyed and Akko spreads happiness everywhere.
- And finally, minor things: Jasminka opened her eyes, Akko finally flies under her own power, and Constanze actually speaks.
- Not to mention how they took down the missile together!
Each episode presents a self-contained story, but there is also an overarching plot that develops as the series progresses. The narrative is engaging and filled with heartwarming moments, making it easy for viewers to become invested in the characters and their journey. The show also explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and self-belief, which adds depth to the overall storytelling. One of the highlights of Little Witch Academia is its **characters**. Atsuko Kagari, the main protagonist, is a relatable and endearing character. Her determination to become a witch and make a difference in the world is inspiring, and viewers cannot help but root for her. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, with each character having their own unique personality and motivations. These characters go through personal growth and challenges, creating a strong emotional connection with the audience. Overall, Little Witch Academia is an **impressive** animated series. It excels in its animation, storytelling, and character development. It appeals to both younger audiences and adults, as it combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and coming-of-age. The show has gained a loyal fanbase and received critical acclaim for its creativity and charm. Whether you are a fan of animation or just looking for a captivating series to watch, Little Witch Academia is definitely worth checking out..
Reviews for "The animation techniques used in Little Witch Academia: A visual feast"
1. John - 2/5 - While "Is Little Witch Academia impressive" may have received critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base, I personally found it to be underwhelming. The storyline felt cliché and predictable, with shallow character development that left me feeling disconnected from the characters. Additionally, the animation, while visually appealing at times, lacked consistency and failed to truly immerse me in the magical world they were trying to create. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable experience that failed to live up to the hype.
2. Sarah - 2/5 - I was excited to give "Is Little Witch Academia impressive" a try, but it ultimately left me disappointed. The pacing of the show was incredibly slow, with episodes that seemed to drag on without any real progress in the plot. The humor fell flat for me, with jokes that were predictable and lacking originality. The magic aspect of the show felt underwhelming and underexplored, and the overall plot lacked depth. While I can see why some people may enjoy it, it just didn't capture my attention or leave a lasting impression.
3. David - 2/5 - I don't understand the hype surrounding "Is Little Witch Academia impressive." The characters felt one-dimensional and lacked any real growth or development throughout the series. The magical world they tried to create felt generic and uninspired, with predictable plot points that offered no surprises. The animation, while vibrant and colorful, couldn't make up for the lackluster storytelling. I struggled to stay engaged with the show and found myself constantly checking the time, waiting for it to be over. Overall, it was a disappointing and forgettable experience for me.
Little Witch Academia: A modern fairy tale for all ages