Common Name: Flying Witch
Score: 7/10, 4/5
Length: 12 Episodes, 10 Specials
Genre: Supernatural, Slice of Life, Comedy, Shoujo
Summary: Having recently turned 15, it is Kowata Makoto duty as a young witch to leave her home, train her magical abilities, and become independent in another city. Since just dropping in is rude these days, however, Makoto has planned to stay with some distant relatives in the rural Aomori prefecture, since it is a favorite region for reclusive witches. Clearly different from her native home of Yokohama, Makoto might as well be moving to a different country given how strange the Aomori dialect sounds. At least she'll have the support of her black cat familiar, Chito; her trendy cousins, Kei and Chinatsu; as well as her older sister Akane to navigate the path to becoming a proper witch and a resident in the boonies.
Review: One part Kiki's Delivery Service. One part Natsume Yuujinchou. Add a pinch of flour to dull the flavor. Mix until it reaches an even consistency. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes and you'll have an episode of Flying Witch that is neither too rich in flavor nor too bland. Both magical and mundane, this show strikes the kind of contrast between the natural and supernatural world that makes the latter nearly indistinguishable from the former. This kind of normalizing is, of course, nothing new to the anime world, since half the fun of some of the best magical shows are the manner in which they make the magic relatable to our own lives. Witches run around with reckless abandon, casting spells that range from nonsense to utter bullshit, like a bunch of children whose imaginations haven't faded just yet. Alchemical tinkerers tirelessly craft tools and machinery that is meant to do little more than help an old woman around the house. Fae folk tend to the wounds of young children lost in the wood using strange and foreign flora like a mundane doctor or nurse would use needle and thread to make scrapes and gashes knit together overnight. These kinds of supernaturally natural stories abound throughout fiction these days and Flying Witch functionally exists the boilerplate, baseline representation of that concept made into a pretty OK slice of life comedy show.
Yep. Nothing weird or unnatural about this show at all.
Yet, while I say that this show thrives on its ability to make the supernatural seem natural, it is interesting because it acknowledges the idea that just because something is natural to our world doesn't necessarily make it a known quantity. As the old quote from Mark Twain goes: "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't." Just because we acknowledge that magic, mystical creatures, and sky whales are real during the course of this show, neither we, the audience, nor the main characters really understand what it is or why it is. Makoto might be a witch, but that just means she's more naturally inclined to perform spells or fly on a broomstick than the average human. As a matter of fact, it's acknowledged that even Makoto doesn't know what she's doing half the time, just that she was taught how to do magic and thus can. Never inclined to be flashy with her magic, she just kinda uses her natural gift as a convenience, a tool to make a complex task easier or satisfy some momentary curiosity. Even her elder sister Akane, regarded as a prodigy of their generation, doesn't seem to fully understand her gift. While she might have a firmer grasp on the basic principles and can do far more "magical" things than her down-to-earth sister since she regards magic like an imprecise science, it's just a point of fact that magic and the supernatural exist an unknown quantity in a similarly unknowable world.
While I'm inclined to talk about this with a kind of clinical detachment, rest assured that
this "unknown factor" usually presents itself through silly mistakes and hijinx.
I think what makes all those ideas charming, though, is the down-to-earth hick logic the show approaches magic from that is entirely indicative of the show's rural backwater setting. It just makes sense that Makoto wouldn't be inclined to sweat the details of her craft so long as it works because that's just how life works. People in these kinds of settings take things at face value and often cite one of the oldest tenants of hick scripture, "Don't fix it if it ain't broke." Akane might be willing and able to plumb the potential depths of her craft and its association to the world around her, albeit in a manner akin to a drunken mad scientist, but that kind of approach isn't for everyone. Makoto, more like her non-magical cousins, finds simple pleasure in the beauty of the world made all the more beautiful by its naturally magical properties.
Nothing says magical like a school of land fish that glow red and float
around like fireflies when they're drunk.
All that simple, earthly, natural charm is what made this show feel both fun and comfortable to me. As amusing as it is to watch Makoto bumble around with her magic or some of the more experienced witches like Akane goof-off and make mistakes thanks to the power of alcohol, all of the non-magical elements of this show are just as fun to watch. Makoto's cousin Kei has a dry sense of humor and is unquestionably dependable, making him both likable and a solid draw for the show. His younger sister Chinatsu, on the other hand, is infinitely more childish and imaginative which makes her an odd parallel to Makoto. She might be calmer due to her age, but Makoto lives that kind if fantasy life Chinatsu idolizes. Yet it isn't so magical that she'd need to say goodbye to the friends, family, and home she's come to love. In this world, magic is both natural and nurturing, making it seem a natural fit for the developing young girl.
Chinatsu is a pretty good kid too so it's not like her becoming a witch would be a problem...I think.
Whether the characters are casting magic, meeting supernatural beings, or just picking weeds out of the garden, there's always a kind of magical wonder to it all. At the same time, however, it's super down-to-earth and relatable to us normal people. Simplicity is just the name of the day with Flying Witch and I can't say I mind. There are very few complex shots, angles, or transitions to be found in this cinematically dull work, but the simplistic quality it possesses makes the show appealing. Warm color palates and beautiful country scenery that is notably devoid of large, bustling crowds make this show beautiful in spite of its simplicity.
Maybe it's just because it's where I grew up, but "homey" is the word I'd use to describe it.
All-in-all, I'll acknowledge that this show might be seen as dull or unimpressive to some, but it was a perfect fit for me. It was fun, simple, beautiful, and offered enough laughs to keep me engaged from start to finish. I could just sit back and watch this show after a day of work and not have a care in the world. In fact, if these praises aren't enough, I'm honestly considering watching this show again as soon as I get the chance. If that's not high praise, I don't know what is, given how bogged down I'm going to be now that the Spring 2018 season is at my doorstep.