Little Witch Academia (anime)

## Little Witch Academia

Official television series poster

***Little Witch Academia*** (リトルウィッチアカデミア, *Ritoru Witchi Akademia*?) is an anime adaptation to the original eponymous film and its sequel, *The Enchanted Parade*. It began broadcasting on January 8, 2017, in Japan on TV at 01:55 AM  and January 9, 2017, in the Netflix streaming site. The series ran for 25 episodes for one season split into two cours and released across nine Blu-ray Disc/DVD volumes in Japan.

The first cour, labeled as "Season 1" by Netflix, was released worldwide on June 30, 2017, while the second cour, labeled as "Season 2", was released on the same platform on August 15, 2017, both by Netflix.

In late 2017, *Little Witch Academia* won the award from Comicbook.com for Best Non-Shonen Series.

In April 7, 2020, a new season for the series has been planned, but was up put into a hold for a time being due to unknown circumstances.  The actual reason of the hiatus however, was Michiru Shimada's unfortunate passing in December 2017.

## Production

Masahiko Ōtsuka, the writer of the anime series and previous films, stated as an update to *The Enchanted Parade's* Kickstarter, that if the sequel performs well, they may potentially look into producing a TV series or a full-length film. According to Tatsuru Tatemoto, it was Ōtsuka who intended the would be anime TV series of the franchise to be lighthearted despite Yoshinari's original pitch in which the show being as dark as *Puella Magi Madoka Magica*. Indeed, despite the series' second cour notably had darker tone than its first cour, it nonetheless much tamer in comparison.

Later, it was shown the official announcement of the series on June 24, 2016, following the final episode of *Space Patrol Luluco*.

The series began airing in Japan from January 9, 2017, in the Netflix streaming platform. All the episodes would be released through nine volumes in BD and DVD format, from April 19, 2017.

In an event where the first three episodes of the series were premiered, it was confirmed that the anime series would contain 25 episodes and an international premiere on Netflix coming soon.

On March 25, 2017, the official website of the series announced that the second part of the first season would be released in April 2017, with the introduction of a new antagonist character, Croix Meridies. As confirmed in the interview with the producer, the second part has the focus on Akko's growth, more serious storyline, and foreshadowing of a secret character in 11th episode which later confirmed to be Croix herself.

In an interview with the now defunct site Fighting For Nippon on November 26, 2017, Yō Yoshinari and Naoko Tsutsumi confirmed Netflix began its involvement in the series since the success of The Enchanted Parade, where they contributed through funding and later, dubbing the anime TV Series, stated by Tattun on 4chan several months earlier on March 18, 2017, in response to a fan inquiring him on whether *Pawn Stars* cast member, Austin “Chumlee” Russell will be the VA for the Café Proprietor, who was confirmed by the producer on 4chan to deliberately have his likeness modeled after him to pay homage to Chumlee and a show of respect for his Japanese dub actor Akihiro Matsushima. While he acknowledged the production of each episodes of the anime TV series to be worthwhile, Yoshinari nevertheless lamented the studio's tighter schedule compared to when working on short films.

At AnimeExpo 2017 during the Trigger panel, Yoshinari revealed that the sequel series will focus more on other witches such as Amanda, Jasminka, and Sucy. In another interview, Yoshinari also planned to work on spin-offs either centered around Ursula's backstory or *Night Fall* — the in-universe book series Lotte happened to be a fan of — as a stand alone series. In an interview, Yoshinari also mentioned that he would likely focused more on would-be second season's animation and character design with Shūhei Handa directing it in his stead.  Shiori Miyazaki also expressed her interest for the TV series' newer installments.

## Plot

*Little Witch Academia* takes place at the Luna Nova Magical Academy, a prestigious school for young girls training to become witches. Having been inspired by a witch named Shiny Chariot, a girl named Akko Kagari enrolls at Luna Nova Magical Academy to become a witch but struggles due to her non-magical background. This all changes when she discovers the Shiny Rod, a powerful magic relic left behind by Chariot. The television series follows Akko and her friends, Lotte and Sucy, as they experience many magical adventures together, and recounts everything seen in the previous films.

## Episodes

*Main article: List of TV Series episodes.*
## Original soundtrack

The series' music is composed by Michiru Ōshima.

For the first part of season 1, the opening theme is "Shiny Ray" by YURiKA while the ending theme is "Hoshi Wo Tadoreba" (星を辿れば, *If You Follow the Stars*?) by Yuiko Ōhara. Both songs were released in CD format on February 22, 2017, in Japan, with a cost of ¥1,728.

For the second part of season 1, the opening theme is "Mind Conductor" by YURiKA while the ending theme is "Toumei na Tsubasa" (透明な翼, *Transparent Wings*?) by Yuiko Ōhara. Both songs will be released in CD format on May 24, 2017, in Japan, with a cost of ¥1,836.

## Trivia

* As confirmed in an interview with Yō Yoshinari:
	+ The TV series started with Akko's journey to Luna Nova and set in its own continuity rather than picking up from where short films left off is because he find the world-building in the series' universe needs some work and implementing more ideas than in the former.
	+ Yoshinari also intended the new installment enjoyable for its target audience (children) as much as adult considering Studio Trigger have yet to make such approach.
	+ The anime TV Series' storyline is intended to balance unexpected development and the audience's expectations to contrast *Gurren Lagann* which followed usual pattern of super robot animes.
	+ Takafumi Hori was chosen as the main animator owing to his skill in animating magical creatures and making them feel real at the same time.
	+ He and his fellow Studio Trigger staff intended the anime TV Series to combine the feel of both a Japanese magical girl anime and the classical foreign image of a wizard (ex. Gandalf from *Lord of the Rings* and Merlin from Arthurian legends)
	+ Lastly, he hoped that he could make the characters interesting and deep in the long term.
* Yuka Shibata, storyboarder who made the opening theme of TV series' first cour, admitted how happy she was in her part despite wishing to do more.
* The decision to adapt *Little Witch Academia* into actual TV Series was well-received not just by fans, but also voice actresses involved (Megumi Han, Fumiko Orikasa, Michiyo Murase, Yōko Hikasa, Noriko Hidaka, Arisa Shida, Rie Murakawa, and Reina Ueda) as confirmed in the interview at the official site. Having worked on both original short and *The Enchanted Parade* prior, they are more than delighted by their eventual involvement in it.

## Gallery

*For more images related to Little Witch Academia (anime), see the file category:* Category:TV Series images*.*
### Official art

First cour/season official poster.Second cour/season official poster.Song cover artwork of the Shiny Ray CD.Song cover artwork of the Mind Conductor CD.

### Other art

Little Witch Academia Special ED Cut for Episode 3 sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiED 4 Art sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiED 5 Art sketch by Yusuke YoshigakiLimited signed poster board signed by all Studio Trigger animators
## Videos

Trailers
Little Witch Academia (2017) TrailerOct 9, 2016 *(In Japanese)* by The Geek Show Podcast NetworkLittle Witch Academia (2017) Trailer 2Dec 1, 2016 *(In Japanese)* by The Geek Show Podcast Network
Openings and Endings
Little Witch Academia - Full Openings & EndingsLittle Witch Academia-Full Ending 2
Miscellaneous
祝！アニメ放送完結＆ゲーム化決定！豪華ゲストで贈るリトルウィッチWEB放送局Jul 24, 2017 *(In Japanese)* Panel with main trio of voice actors (Akko/Megumi Han, Lotte/Fumiko Orikasa, and Sucy/Michiyo Murase) plus representatives from Trigger, Toho, and Bandai by 声優大好き (I love voice actors!)2017 02 19【WF2017冬】「リトルウィッチアカデミア」ステージ【潘めぐみ 村瀬迪与 村川梨衣】Mar 5, 2017 *(In Japanese)* Panel with selection of voice actors (Akko/Megumi Han, Sucy/Michiyo Murase, and Constanze and Wangari/Rie Murakawa) by Brandon Tolliver
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-01/little-witch-academia-tv-anime-promo-video-reveals-song-artists-january-8-premiere/
2. ↑ LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA, POUDLARD BOOSTÉ À L’ÉNERGIE SPIRALE
3. ↑ Little Witch Academia's Netflix Release Date Announced - IGN
4. ↑ [1]
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/anime-spotlight/2017/winter/little-witch-academia/.111287
6. ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=77181
7. ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=113087
8. ↑ https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=133799
9. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-06-24/trigger-little-witch-academia-gets-tv-anime-series/
10. ↑ https://twitter.com/yottkun/status/821159605275197441
11. ↑ http://littlewitchacademia.jp/tv1st/bddvd/09.html
12. ↑ *Comicbook.com* - The 2017 ComicBook.com Golden Issue Award for Best Non-Shonen Series By Christian Hoffer - December 26, 2017
13. ↑ https://gigazine.net/amp/20200407-bna-you-yoshinari-kazuki-nakashima-interview#click=https://t.co/2Pph0pqTAP
14. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2, Message from Otsuka Masahiko
16. ↑ Trigger's Little Witch Academia Gets TV Anime Series
17. ↑ Netflix to Stream Little Witch Academia TV Anime Series
18. ↑ "Little Witch Academia" TV Anime Spotted For January 2017
19. ↑ Little Witch Academia TV Anime Reveals More Cast, Staff, Visual
20. ↑ BD/DVD
21. ↑ "Little Witch Academia" TV Anime Reportedly Planned For Two Split Cours
22. ↑ クロワ役竹内順子さんからコメントが到着！！
27. ↑ Sprinkle of Magic – Little Witch Academia Interview w/ Yoh Yoshinari, Naoko Tsutsumi, and Yosuke Futami (Archive)
28. ↑ Trigger Panel in YouTube (time: 25:30)
29. ↑ http://www.inquisitr.com/4343044/little-witch-academia-season-2-release-date-on-netflix-episode-14-25-director-lwa-season-3-characters-akko-anime-news/
30. ↑ Little Witch Academia Director Wants to Do Another Season, Spinoff (Archive)
31. ↑ 『リトルウィッチアカデミア』　監督「やりたいことが多すぎて2クールじゃ全く足りない」「シャリオのスピンオフアニメも作りたい」 (archived)
32. ↑ https://twitter.com/thomokasu33/status/888757992308461569
33. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20210514214542/https://twitter.com/gomi\_dame332/status/872860916018102274
34. ↑ Little Witch Academia TV Anime's Promo Video Reveals Song Artists, January 8 Premiere
35. ↑ Shiny Ray(アニメ盤) TVアニメ『リトルウィッチアカデミア』 オープニングテーマ
36. ↑ 星を辿れば(アニメ盤) TVアニメ『リトルウィッチアカデミア』エンディングテーマ
37. ↑ Little Witch Academia Anime's Video Previews 2nd Half, New Theme Songs
38. ↑ MIND CONDUCTOR(アーティスト盤) TVアニメ『リトルウィッチアカデミア』 第2クールオープニングテーマ
39. ↑ 透明な翼(アーティスト盤) TVアニメ『リトルウィッチアカデミア』 第2クールエンディングテーマ
41. ↑ Little Witch Academia Chronicles, Chapter 2, page 72
43. ↑ http://littlewitchacademia.jp/tv1st/special/comment.html
44. ↑ Little Witch Academia: Pre-Broadcast Cast Comments translations part 1
45. ↑ Little Witch Academia: Pre-Broadcast Cast Comments translations part 2

## External links

 Official *Little Witch Academia* Trigger TV site (in Japanese)
 *Little Witch Academia* NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
 *Little Witch Academia*
 *Little Witch Academia*
 *Little Witch Academia*
 @LWA\_jp (in Japanese)
### Reviews

* Anime B&B
	+ Spring 2017 Season Wrap: Little Witch Academia, Eromanga-sensei, Eccentric Family S2, & Alice and Zouroku by Marina June 28, 2017
	+ [12 Days of Anime] Day 8: Rediscovering Magic in Little Witch Academia by Marina December 18, 2017
* Chua Tek Ming
	+ Little Witch Academia by Chua Tek Ming November 26, 2017
* Cauthan Reviews
	+ Winter 2017: Seasonal Prospects by Cauthan January 4, 2017
	+ Winter 2017: Initial Impressions (Weeks 1-3) by Cauthan January 24, 2017
	+ Winter 2017 – Week 6 Impressions by Cauthan February 15, 2017
	+ Winter 2017 – Week 7 Impressions by Cauthan February 22, 2017
	+ Winter 2017 – Week 8 Impressions by Cauthan March 1, 2017
	+ Winter 2017 – Week 11 Impressions by Cauthan March 22, 2017
	+ Winter 2017 – Week 12 Impressions by Cauthan March 29, 2017
* *daily dot*
	+ Why fans just can’t get enough of the hit anime ‘Little Witch Academia’ by Caitlin Moore April 13, 2018 (Archived on August 23, 2023)
* Day with the Cart Driver
	+ 40 Seasons in 40 Weeks – Winter 2017 by Scamp October 18, 2019
* *Fighting For Nippon*
	+ What Anime We Liked Watching In Spring 2017 Season by Daryl Harding AKA doctordazza July 9, 2017 (Archived on September 10, 2017)
* Ink and Image
	+ How One Little Witch Saved Studio Trigger by aci\_J December 18, 2017
* I drink and watch anime
	+ Little Witch Academia – Missing a Spark by Irina September 25, 2021
* Standing On My Neck
	+ Anime Backlog Impressions — Yuru Camp, Love Live, Monster Musume, Little Witch Academia, and Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinjuu by Mr. Flawfinder December 13, 2018
* Swabulous Max
	+ Spring ’17 Reviews pt.2: Little Witch Academia & Attack on Titan Season 2 by swabl on July 27, 2017 (Archived on August 8, 2020)
	+ My Top 14 Anime of 2017 by by swabl on December 31, 2017
* *Tilt Magazine*
	+ ‘Little Witch Academia’ Is Magically Charming by Harry Morris September 8, 2017 (Archived on August 23, 2023)
	+ The Best Anime of the Decade (Ranks 25-1) by Matthew Ponthier December 30, 2019 (Archived on August 23, 2023)
* The Cart Driver
	+ Winter 2017 Anime Season Preview by Scamp December 16, 2016
	+ January 2017 Anime Roundup by Scamp January 31, 2017
	+ February 2017 anime roundup by Scamp March 2, 2017
	+ April 2017 anime roundup by Scamp May 1, 2017
	+ May 2017 Anime Roundup by Scamp June 7, 2017
	+ 2017 Anime of the Year awards and top 10 by Scamp December 31, 2017
* The Chuuni Corner
	+ Review/discussion about: Little Witch Academia (TV) by BanjoTheBear February 25, 2018
	+ Banjo’s Top 5 Spring 2017 Anime by BanjoTheBear February 27, 2018
* *uzurea.net*
	+ 一気観したい名作アニメ 『リトルウィッチアカデミア』 燃えて笑って泣ける！ 痛快作品！ (Google translated: A masterpiece anime "Little Witch Academia" that you want to watch all at once! Burn, laugh and cry! Exciting work!) by hamachi May 15, 2020 (Archived on August 23, 2023)

### Essays

* ATELIER EMILY
	+ On Studio Trigger and Inspiration: Yoh Yoshinari’s Little Witch Apprentices by ajthefourth January 16, 2017
	+ Indulging our lowbrow influences — Little Witch Academia by ajthefourth January 30, 2017
	+ Little Witch Academia on “magic (anime) is dying.” by ajthefourth February 6, 2017
	+ Spectacle and Service — Little Witch Academia and the purpose of magic by ajthefourth February 20, 2017
	+ Little Witch Academia And "A Big Bad" (Or Lack Thereof) by ajthefourth April 10, 2017
	+ Little Witch Academia On Inspiration (Again), Panda And The Magic Serpent, and Episode 22 by ajthefourth June 9, 2017
* Cauthan Reviews
	+ Little Witch Academia: Characterization through Passion by Cauthan February 23, 2017
* ISN'T IT ELECTRIFYING?
	+ BREAKING BARRIERS: THE ROLE OF ACADEMIA IN LWA AND MHA by illegenes July 13, 2017
* The Chuuni Corner
	+ Little Witch Academia and Thematic “Magic” by BanjoTheBear February 27, 2018

### News

* *Anime News Network*
	+ *Anime Spotlight - Little Witch Academia* by ANN Staff February 1, 2017 (Archived on August 22, 2023)
	+ *Little Witch Academia TV Anime Listed as '1st' in Website URL* by Karen Ressler September 22, 2017 (Archived on August 22, 2023)
		- Japanese source (yaraon-blog) - アニメ『リトルウィッチアカデミア』公式サイトのURLが変更！　”tv 1st”が付く！　もしかして2期くるううううう？ September 22, 2017 (Archived on August 22, 2023)
* *Asiana Circus*
	+ 34 UNFORGETTABLE WITCH MOVIES & SHOWS ON NETFLIX 2023 by Jella Erhard September 11, 2019
* *Crunchyroll*
	+ "Little Witch Academia" Site Update Hinting At More Anime To Come? by Scott Green September 22, 2017
* *Comicbook.com*
	+ The 2017 ComicBook.com Golden Issue Award for Best Non-Shonen Series By Christian Hoffer - December 26, 2018 (Archived on April 16, 2023)
* *FANDOM*
	+ A Beginner’s Guide to Anime: Kids Edition by Zuleika Boekhoudt June 11, 2018 (Archived on April 16, 2023)
* *Inquisitr*
	+ ‘Little Witch Academia’ Season 2 Anime Announcement Teased By Akko TV Voice Actress Megumi Han by Patrick Frye January 12, 2018
* *IGN SEA*
	+ 10 Most Enchanting Magical Girl Anime of All Time by Rosie Knight - October 2, 2022
* *Otaku-Streamers Blog*
	+ "Little Witch Academia" Celebrates Launch With Giant Subway Banner by System Message December 28, 2016 (Archived on November 3, 2020)
		- Japanese source (Anime! Anime!)*「リトルウィッチアカデミア」大型ビジュアルが新宿に出現 躍動感あふれる連続原画* December 26, 2016 (Archived on August 22, 2023)
* *Tor.com*
	+ Read This, Watch That: Pairing “School Story” SFF Books and Anime by Feliza Casano Friday September 21, 2018
		- Republished (Head Back to School in These 4 Anime + Book Pairings) by Feliza Casano Friday August 30, 2019
* WAVE MOTION CANNON
	+ ANIMATION PRINCIPLES: SQUASH AND STRETCH by ibcf April 25, 2017
	+ ANIMATION PRINCIPLES: ANTICIPATIONS by ibcf May 2, 2017

### Interviews

* *MANTANWEB*
	+ アニメ質問状：「リトルウィッチアカデミア」　シャイニィシャリオの行方、新キャラに注目 by MANTANWEB編集部 March 5, 2017

### Podcasts

* Anime Feminist
	+ Chatty AF 61: Little Witch Academia Retrospective (WITH TRANSCRIPT) by Anime Feminist July 8, 2018
* WAVE MOTION CANNON
	+ WEEKLY MOTION CANNON PODCAST EPISODE 13 – MY LITTLE WITCH ACADEMIA by CJ, IBCF and Suri August 15, 2017