This Week in Anime

Was Little Witch Academia Worth the Wait?

Nick D
Hey there Steve, how's the anime life treating you?

Well thankfully you're back just in time for us to talk about the best series of Summer 2017!

A show from Winter that ended 2 months ago!

I ain't talking about Enormous Warlock Anti-Intellectualism, I'll tell you that much

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

On the one hand, it's pretty bogus we had to wait this long to watch the show legally. On the other, I mainlined the entire thing in a combined total of 3 days.

Same. Truth be told I'm not exactly a huge TRIGGER fan - I liked Kill la Kill, but everything else they've done has either left me frustrated or totally disinterested. Lookin at you, Ninja Slayer.

But god damn if LWA didn't blow me away basically from the get go. It's a super delightful adventure show with some of the best comedic timing I've seen in ages.

It's the kind of family show I love to see getting made - brimming with creative energy and passion, light and straightforward enough for younger viewers but not formulaic enough to alienate an older audience

And that plays out through the presentation too! Nearly every episode has at least one or two cuts of really neat animation that you can tell were done by passionate, talented folks.

That's definitely an interesting angle - the show makes more than a few rather pointed references to the modern anime industry throughout its run

I especially found Luna Nove as an institution fascinating. It's a storied, centuries-old school that's allowed itself to fall into irrelevance through dedication to tradition, losing public interest and students as a result. And then in walks Akko who's all reckless new energy.

In a lesser show, that'd probably be where it ends, but I like what the series eventually says through Akko's rival Diana.

She represents the ideal of Luna Nova's traditionalsim - classically talented with a stalwart respect for their ways - but it comes from a place of affection for her family's past and a desire to continue their legacy into the future. In the end, the solution isn't "Akko's right about everything, change it all!" but finding a mutually beneficial partnership and balance of trust between her new blood and Diana's traditional ways.

I came away really impressed with how well it made its point, all without ever losing the charm and character at its heart. This is where I'd link to my 6k word essay on why LWA is the Macross 7 of the 2010s, but I don't think our editors would approve...

That's an impossible question. I love all my witch daughters equally. Even the one with a gun:

Magic Assault Rifle to my head, I guess I have to go with Ursula. I have a thing for quietly sad mentor figures, and Ursula fits that to a T. Plus I really loved seeing her and Akko's relationship build from awkward Student-Teacher to kindred spirits working to build each other back up after their struggles.

Even before we learn all about her past, you can clearly sense the unease and lingering guilt she has buried inside.

I'LL SAY

ah yes, Ursula's former senpai and Definitely Not Her Ex

I'll admit it was always funny to see the obvious tension between those two even before we found out just what caused it. Not sure the subtext could get more "burned by senpai" without just being text.

As early as their first conversation, it's obvious Croix did not abide Campsite Rules. But that does bring us to Croix - she's a pretty interesting antagonist thematically.

She's a techno-mage who's developed tons of ways to advance magic past its quill pen and crystal ball days, and she's even revolutionizing the way they use magic entirely. In a less well-written show, this could just be a bunch of fearmongering about new technology and ideas, but that's not the angle they go for. Instead, it turns out Croix's problem is that she sees magic as a self-justifying end and ignores the human element. She's not wrong for trying to advance or revive magic. She's wrong for trying to do it for the sake of magic rather than the people who use and experience it.

Is The Metaphor Clear Enough

So that's my answer, how about you?
For one million dollars: Who Is Best Witch?

Well she certainly has the best merchandise

It's a pretty thoughtful way to give some weight to her actions. Unlike Lotte or the other supporting cast, Sucy's pretty guarded and quiet (when she's not dunking on Akko), so having a story literally insider her head is a great method for telling us about her naturally. It's also drop-dead hilarious.

If we're doing Honorable Mentions, I'd also like to briefly mention Lotte. TBH she originally struck me as the weak link in the original OVAs - mostly there to be straightman and dispense exposition, but the TV series turns her into a really relatable bookworm with a penchant for wonderfully trashy YA novels. And it puts some nice pathos behind her - she's afraid of standing out and being the center of attention, but it still gets to her when people call her invisible or forgettable. She doesn't want to be a star like Akko, but everyone wants to feel at least a little important, to leave some sort of impact on the people around them, and the way Akko helps bring that out of her was sweet to see.

That episode was where I really started feeling confident in LWA's ability to sell its message. It took an obvious expy for Twilight - one of the biggest walking punchlines of my internet generation - and makes a case for why it's important to enjoy what you love without shame or apologies.

I guess in the end that's a good summation of what I love so much about LWA. It's got a genuine, positive message that still feels well-considered and accommodating.

Wonderful show, best thing TRIGGER's made yet, totally worth waiting for.

Plus you'll get to see Micchy make a cameo!