Anne Finnelan

**Anne Finnelan** (アン・フィネラン, *Ann Fineran*?) is a character in *Little Witch Academia*. She is the teacher at Luna Nova Magical Academy who in charge of History of Magic, Magic Linguistics, and Object Control Magic subjects as well as the faculty member in charge of student guidance and academic affairs.

## Appearance

Finnelan is a middle-aged woman with brown hair tied into a bun with two fringes falling at the front, blue eyes, and pale skin complexion. She wears the standard Luna Nova teacher uniform with two feathers on her hat.

## Personality

Finnelan is a serious and authoritative woman, demanding respect and discipline from students.. She seemed to have a preference for skilled students like Diana as she is usually kind to them. She is usually calm, but is quick to lose her temper, particularly when dealing with incompetent students and troublemakers such as Akko and company.

Unlike other teachers, she respects the most formal style of witchcraft. She is very disgusted with bad manners and always does everything to preserve the prestige of Luna Nova Academy.. Said respect and dedication to preserve the academy's prestige, however, made her rigid and unwilling to compromise when it comes to dealing with crisises that threatened the academy if available solutions to solve it greatly affect both the academy's prestige, tradition, and witchcraft it taught to its students (such as Vajarois' constant sorrow where Akko believes that simply appeasing the tortured soul will only torment her further and the spirits' strike for extra magic output that instigated the energy crisis). She believes all witches should be formal, collected, and act seriously, and has a bias against magically untalented students and those who have a technological approach in dealing magic, which give her a highly predictable personality. Finnelan's respect on the rules of both magic and the academy made her unwilling to bend it under any circumstances nor willing to tolerate others to do the same. Unfortunately, while this gave her better strengths than her fellow teacher Ursula, Finnelan's single-minded adherence to the laws of both magic and Luna Nova and dedication to preserve the prestige of the academy narrowed her perspectives and made her unable to see tenacity and determination within untalented students that allowed them to success in the end (which Ursula ultimately called her out for), and easily angered with Akko and Ursula's clumsy front on separate occasions.

Despite her aforementioned faults, Finnelan is not without any likable qualities. It's revealed in Keisuke Satō manga that after the events of "Orange Submariner", she learned not to let her personal bias and perspective cloud her judgement. When confronting Amanda, Akko, Lotte, and Sucy about the stolen answer sheet in their hands, she takes her time analyzing circumstances revolving the case thoroughly instead of yelling at their faces as expected, knowing security systems placed to protect other sheets cannot be easily breached and impressed by the Irish American's noble decision to confess her mistake. On a related note, she is also shown smiling proudly upon seeing Akko managed to levitate on her broom for the first time with her own power during "Tree of Leaves", showing that her faith in the Japanese's prowess has since improved. Though mostly motivated by her disdain in mixing technology and magic, Finnelan's suspicion regarding Croix and her magitronics proved to be correct as the Modern Magic teacher had ulterior motives in mind. Overall, while she's not one of kindest professors in Luna Nova, Finnelan is still a respectable and exemplary figure in her own way.

## Abilities and Equipment

Finnelan is a skilled and experienced witch, recognized as one of the best teachers at Luna Nova Academy, assigned to teach both Magic Linguistics (specifically Luna Alphabet) and Object Control Magic. Demonstrated enough ability to use a spell as advanced and complicated as Luna Lana. She is able to create sturdy and protective magical barriers, has great ability in controlling objects, enough to impart it in Luna Nova, and like other teachers, can project images and scenes in thin air.

Also, being the teacher of Magic Linguistics, is knowledgeable of many magical languages, including the ancient Luna Alphabet.

## Voice actors

 English
 German
 Brazil

## Etymology

* The name Anne is a Latin variation of the Hebrew name meaning Hannah "favour or grace, prayer, God has favored me".
* "Finneran" is an Anglicized form of the Irish surname of "O' Finnthigheirn", meaning "male descendant of the fair lord". "Finnelan" appears to be just an alternative romanization of that name's Japanese form.

## Trivia

* Finnelan shares the same voice actress as Nelson in *The Enchanted Parade*.
	+ In the anime, she shares the same voice actress as Lukić.
* Rather being based on Severus Snape from *Harry Potter* series like what some viewers assumed (an assumption which admittedly stemmed from the misconception of *Little Witch Academia* being erroneously thought as the rip-off/retelling of *Harry Potter* series despite both franchises ironically shared little in common apart from magic school setting), Finnelan is much more plausibly inspired by Miss Hardbroom from *The Worst Witch* series given to similar hairstyle, being strict and very stickler for tradition, and initial animosity toward protagonists for their magical talent which left much to be desired (Akko for Finnelan and Mildred Hubble for Hardbroom). Considering Yoh Yoshinari later confessed in Trigger Night Vol. 11 that he came up with *Little Witch Academia* after vaguely watching 1998 TV Series adaptation of *The Worst Witch* series, latter indication seemed much more likely.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Little Witch Academia Chronicles, Chapter 4, page 120
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://twitter.com/KarenKahler/status/880900529861283840
5. ↑ Chapter 11
7. ↑ »Little Witch Academia«: Deutsche Sprecherin von Lotte Jansson bekannt
8. ↑ Anne name meaning (She Knows)
9. ↑ Surname Database: Finneran Last Name Origin