Witch Watch Review: The Most Underrated Romantic Comedy Anime You Need to Watch Right Now
Witch Watch Review: The Most Underrated Romantic Comedy Anime You Need to Watch Right NowI almost skipped Witch Watch entirely. The thumbnail looked cute, the premise sounded simple, and I figured it would be forgettable fluff. Three episodes in I was laughing out loud and completely hooked. This show deserved so much more attention than it got.
Here is my full honest review, covering everything from the story and characters to where it stumbles and why it still earns a spot on your watchlist. No spoilers, just real talk.
Quick Info: Studio: Doga Kobo | Episodes: 13 | Year: 2022 | Genre: Romantic Comedy, Supernatural | Available at 9anime-tv.pro
Synopsis: What Is Witch Watch About?
Witch Watch follows Nico Wakatsuki, a young witch with enormous magical potential but absolutely zero control over her powers. A prophecy says she is destined to cause a great disaster, so her childhood friend and loyal ogre Morihito is assigned as her bodyguard and protector.
The two move in together to make the protection easier, and what follows is a mix of magical chaos, accidental disasters, and the slow dawning realization that these two have feelings for each other that go way beyond childhood friendship.
It sounds straightforward because it is. But the execution is where Witch Watch earns its place. The humor lands, the chemistry between the leads is genuine, and the magical mishaps never get old.
Genre and Theme Analysis: More Heart Than You Expect
A Romantic Comedy That Actually Commits
A lot of romantic comedy anime tease the central relationship endlessly without ever moving it forward. Witch Watch is refreshingly different. The feelings between Nico and Morihito are obvious from the start, and the show actually lets them develop instead of dragging it out for seasons.
It is warm in a way that feels genuine. You root for them not because the show forces you to, but because they actually feel like people who care about each other.
Magic as Comedy, Not Plot Device
Most magical anime use powers to drive the plot. Witch Watch uses them to drive the jokes. Nico’s uncontrollable spells create the funniest and most unpredictable situations, and the show commits to the chaos fully each time.
It is a smart approach. Magic becomes a personality trait rather than a superpower, and that makes Nico feel more human and more endearing than most anime protagonists of her type.
Found Family Energy
Beyond the central romance, the supporting cast adds a genuine found family dynamic. The various witches, ogres, and supernatural creatures around Nico and Morihito all feel like they belong in each other’s lives. The group scenes are some of the warmest moments in the show.
What Witch Watch Does Brilliantly
- Comedy timing: The jokes land consistently. The gags never overstay their welcome and the show knows exactly when to cut away for maximum effect.
- Character chemistry: Nico and Morihito have natural, believable chemistry. Their dynamic never feels forced or manufactured.
- Animation quality: Doga Kobo delivers clean, expressive animation that makes the comedic moments hit even harder. The reaction faces alone are worth watching for.
- Pacing: At 13 episodes the show moves fast, covers real ground, and leaves you satisfied rather than frustrated.
How Witch Watch Compares to Little Witch Academia
If you have ever watched Little Witch Academia on Netflix, you will feel familiar energy here. Both feature lovable, magically challenged female leads surrounded by more competent witches, both lean heavily into humor, and both have enormous heart underneath the comedy.
The key difference is tone and focus. Little Witch Academia is an adventure story with comedy woven in. Witch Watch is a romance first, with magic as the backdrop. If you loved the warmth and humor of Little Witch Academia, Witch Watch is your next watch.
Fans of shows like Wandering Witch or Izetta the Last Witch looking for something lighter will also find a lot to enjoy here, even if the tone is much less serious than either of those.
Where Witch Watch Falls Short
It Plays It Safe
My biggest criticism of Witch Watch is that it rarely takes risks. The comedy formula works, but it repeats itself enough that you start to see the structure coming. Nico attempts something, magic goes wrong, Morihito reacts, everyone recovers. Rinse and repeat.
It is a comfortable loop, but comfort can become predictability, and by the mid-point of the season you will probably have figured out the rhythm.
The Side Characters Could Go Deeper
The supporting cast is charming but underdeveloped. Several characters show real potential and then disappear into the background for stretches of episodes. A second season with more time to develop them would go a long way.
It Does Not Push the Romance Far Enough
For a show built on romantic tension, Witch Watch gets close to payoff moments and then pulls back a little too consistently. It is not aggravating in the way some romance anime can be, but you will finish the season wanting just a little more progress between the two leads.
Witch Watch Viz Media: What About the Manga?
If the anime leaves you wanting more, good news. Witch Watch Viz has the manga available in English through Viz Media, and the source material goes much further than the anime adaptation currently does.
The manga by Kenta Shinohara, who also wrote Astra Lost in Space, has a lot more story to tell and develops the side characters more fully. If you finish the anime and want to see where things go, picking up the manga is absolutely worth it.
Final Rating: Witch Watch
Rating: 7.5 / 10
Witch Watch is not groundbreaking. It is not trying to be. What it does is deliver a consistently funny, genuinely warm romantic comedy with real charm and great character chemistry. For what it sets out to do, it succeeds comfortably. It just needed more episodes and a little more courage to push the story forward.
If you go in expecting a relaxing, smile-inducing watch with actual heart behind the humor, you will have a great time.
Bonus Note
The opening theme is an absolute earworm. It is upbeat, colorful, and perfectly matches the energy of the show. I caught myself humming it for days after finishing the season, which is honestly one of the best signs a show can give you. Also, Doga Kobo’s character expressions in this show deserve their own appreciation thread. Some of the reaction faces Morihito pulls are genuinely hilarious just as still images.
Should You Watch Witch Watch?
Yes. Especially if you want something light, funny, and genuinely sweet between heavier shows. It is the kind of anime you put on when you need to feel good and it delivers every single time.
It is short, it is fun, and it will make you want the manga immediately after. That is a win by any measure.
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