When it comes to many of the most popular stories, I find one can usually expect that there’s an anime out there that executes the concept way better, whether it’s Code Geass absolutely destroying a certain slow-paced American show about ice-zombies or Little Witch Academia doing the same to everyone’s favourite lightning-scarred wizard.
Having just finished watching the show’s second season, I felt I had to review it—because I somehow didn’t expect it to be this good.
Maybe it’s because I was already watching Boku no Hero Academia and doubted two shows with such similar names could both be this well-done. Or perhaps it was because the last Netflix Original anime I’d seen was the abhorrent The Seven Deadly Sins. Whatever the reason, I was hesitant, but soon after I started watching I saw how much charm and heart Little Witch Academia has.
Akko
Little Witch Academia is the story of Atsuko “Akko” Kagari, a girl who enrolls in Luna Nova Magical Academy, a school for witches. The problem is that Akko has little to no magical ability and isn’t the best at studying.
Unable even to fly a broom, Akko lags behind her classmates even as she tries desperately to follow in the footsteps of her idol Chariot du Nord.
Unlike with many protagonists in anime, Akko’s optimism in the face of overwhelming odds is actually uplifting rather than annoying. Akko’s struggles and frustration are instantly relatable, and one can’t help but feel devastated each time she tries to fly a broom and can’t get off the ground. At the same time, her determination and persistence make us root for her even more.
The World
Little Witch Academia’s world, rather than keeping “muggles” unaware of magic, is instead a place where magic is no longer thought relevant in mainstream society. Meanwhile, some witches try to revitalize magic by combining it with technology.
All this results in a world that strikes me as quite unique while exploring a number of interesting themes. It’s a world where the best intentions can lead to great suffering, but Akko’s optimism keeps it from feeling dreary.
Why Little Witch Academia Destroys Harry Potter
This show is better than Harry Potter ever was—especially as J.K. Rowling managed to sneak in some truly horrifying messages that approach being alt-right.
Probably the biggest thing that separates Little Witch Academia from Harry Potter is its protagonist. There really is a lot more to Akko than Harry Potter.
Where Harry doesn’t have two traits to rub together, Akko manages to stand out even among the sea of determined, optimistic protagonists in anime. Unlike the Boy Who Lived, Akko is flawed enough that a normal human being can relate to her.
Then there’s the fact that I’d much rather watch Akko’s friend Sucy test a potion on one of her friends than hear Ron Weasley expound the virtues of slavery.
Not only are the characters far more likeable; I even think the world is more interesting. Where the Wizarding World often seems like little more than an excuse to throw in fun little details, Little Witch Academia spends a lot more time exploring the implications of its world.
For all Harry Potter’s initial charm, we seldom see a wizard even interact with a normal person. Overall I cared more about what happened in the world of Little Witch Academia than I did the Wizarding World. And although I won’t spoil anything, the big twist near the end of Season 2 is better than anything Rowling ever gave us!
“Noctu Orfei Aude Fraetor!”
Like Boku no Hero Academia, this show takes a tried-and-true anime formula and just does it really well. The characters are likeable, the plot is interesting, and it uses its world to deal with a number of interesting themes.
Even if some Netflix Original anime have a tendency to be bad, the fact that we got this and The Dragon Prince shows that Netflix can bring us some of the best shows of the past few years.
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