ウィッチウォッチ

WITCH WATCH

MANGA

STATUS
RELEASING
VOLUMES
Not Available
RELEASE
Invalid Date
CHAPTERS
Not Available

DESCRIPTION

Morihito, a boy with the strength of an ogre, is about to start living together with his childhood friend Nico, who is training to be a witch. Nico's magic leads to all sorts of unpredictable trouble, and with two teens under one roof... Let the fantastical antics begin! Magical comedy series by Kenta Shinohara creator of SKET DANCE and Astra Lost in Space.

(Source: MANGA Plus)

Notes:

Ranked 2nd place for the Next Manga Award in the Print Category in 2022.

CAST

Nico Wakatsuki
Nemu Miyao
Morihito Otogi
Keigo Magami
Kanshi Kazamatsuri
Miharu Kiryuu
Ban
Yuusuke Fujisaki
Kazuyoshi Usui
Hime Onizuka
Kara Minami
Roman Saotome
Kukumi Ureshino
Wolf
Yuuri Makuwa
Tenryuu Kiyomiya
Furan Tsugihagi
Ibara Ibu
Syrup Amai
Rui Fujiki
Utsuro Akizuki
Jun Hourai
Kuromitsu Amai
Aika Watase
Reiji Otogi

CHAPTERS

RELATED TO WITCH WATCH

MANGA ComedySKET DANCE

ANIME ComedyWitch Watch

ANIME ComedyWitch Watch 2nd Season

MANGA DramaAo no Hako

REVIEWS

Oshinobody

90/100

Witch Watch goes from clowning to chaos real quick

Introduction:

At the time of writing this review, the Witch Watch anime adaptation has just begun airing. With the added display, I expect the series to gain much more attention soon. However, as someone who has followed the manga since around 2022, I wanted to share my thoughts before the spotlight fully turns to it. This also marks my first time writing a review on AniList, and I don't think I could have picked a better title to start with.

As a long-time fan of comedy manga, I’ve read many series that attempt to balance humor with mostly romance but also other elements like action or slice-of-life—but few manage to juggle them as well as Witch Watch. This manga didn’t just make me laugh; it made me laugh to the point of tears. But what impressed me most was how it fluidly switches tones, proving itself to be far more than just a romance-comedy. Over time, it introduces suspenseful story arcs, intense action scenes, and moments of drama that slowly build it up to something greater.


__Kenta Sinohara:__
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The author, Kenta Shinohara, is no stranger to blending genres. He’s best known for Sket Dance and also worked as an assistant on Gintama, which had a big influence on this series. The pacing and tonal progression in Witch Watch are heavily reminiscent of Gintama, shifting seamlessly from absurd comedy to emotional storytelling, yet he manages to put his own spin on it, resulting in a series that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
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__Pro's:__
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What makes Witch Watch stand out is its expertly crafted humor. The comedy is quirky, self-aware, and often unpredictable. It plays with genre tropes and character dynamics in clever ways that feel genuinely original. Beyond that, the characters are impressively multidimensional. Both male and female leads are given room to grow, develop, and reveal different sides of themselves throughout the story. Their interactions remain engaging whether the chapter is focused on slapstick comedy or more serious developments, which makes the more serious moments even better.

As the series progresses, it becomes clear that Shinohara is laying the groundwork for larger, more ambitious arcs. The later chapters sometimes feature surprisingly strong action sequences, drama, and moments of suspense that raise the emotional stakes significantly, while still going back to that early playfulness. It’s this tonal flexibility that gives Witch Watch its staying power—just when you think it’s only here to make you laugh, it hits you with something deeper.

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__Con's:__
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That said, it’s not a perfect series. Some of the comedy-focused chapters miss the mark, depending heavily on niche humor that may not appeal to everyone. While some will find these bits charmingly eccentric, others might feel disconnected. Additionally, the slice-of-life pacing, especially in the earlier parts of the manga, might feel too slow or meandering for readers looking for a more plot-driven experience. This is also true for the later arcs of the series. While some of them become quite intense, the story ultimately stays rooted in its original genre and tone.
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__Conclusion:__
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Still, these are minor criticisms in what is otherwise a deeply enjoyable and well-crafted series. Witch Watch is a refreshing, heartfelt, and often hilarious ride that keeps evolving the longer you stick with it. With interesting storylines, a cast of lovable characters, and a creator who clearly understands how to balance tone and genre, this manga delivers both laughs and emotional payoff in equal measure.

Whether you’re here for the comedy, the characters, or the slowly unfolding mystery behind the fantasy world, Witch Watch has something to offer. It’s a hidden gem (or used to be one) that deserves more recognition—and with the anime on the rise, there’s no better time to give it a shot.

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soulych
96/100
Forget the witch, read it for the watch!
It actually pains me that not enough people are reading this manga. Anime-only watchers might not be charmed by the story for too long, but the story truly shines in manga form. Former readers of the author's work like Sket Dance! or even Astra Lost in Space can recognize that Shinohara Kenta has a remarkable talent of cramming tons of characters into one story, give everyone unique traits and bits that make them all likable in some way, and also have them work with each other in an amazing synergy.

I'm not really great at reviews, so I just want to say that Witch Watch is worth hunkering down for the long run. I started this manga when it first came out in 2021, and while I've started as a casual reader, I can say now at around chapter 230-something that the long journey has been worth it.

Goofs and gags that have begun in the early years of the manga still are remembered into the later chapters, that random character that showed up twice in chapter 32 can still be remembered hundreds of chapters later. I almost want to say that this is the incredibly improved anime version of Wizards of Waverly Place, lol. The characters will find some newfound magic, get messed up with it, and then with some wacky happenstance fix it (or not) lol and continue on.

But I don't want to praise it just for it's comedy - It's actually a marvel how well they mix in it's serious shounen jump side of things as well. When things become dire, you actually miss when it was only laughs for the cast. You're so used to the cast accidentally turning into Minecraft characters or trying to get out of a funny, magical situation that you're charmed when they actually show their cool sides. It actually, really, truly, truly! Has a little bit of something in it for everyone. I don't know how it's possible, but they do it. There's a great romance aspect, the fighting scenes are incredible, the gags might go over your head in some niche humor, but some land really well and make characters lovable, and the foreshadowing really helps connect everything together. There are probably like 3-4 different developing story lines between characters that you forget about for a bit, and then they'll bring it back to tie it back into the main story. It's an amazing talent, and I have faith in Shinohara Kenta to be able to stick the landing.

But I haven't gotten into the main reason why I'm writing this review:

Please read this manga for Morihito Otogi. As someone who watched the anime, I'm upset that the anime only captured a fraction of Moi's charms. I love anime boys, but I feel like anyone can appreciate this one-of-a-kind um... special character. Some might say he's a bit overpowered, but I don't even care. He may appear a bit one-sided in the beginning, but you really grow to love him as you discover more and more about him. There are just so many sides to him that are incredibly funny to watch. He's also really cute in a lot of the panels. Forget the witch they are watching, this is his manga to shine in and it shows: his character development through all 200+ chapters really make you want to cheer him on, no matter what. And this isn't to say that the rest of the boys in the cast are forgettable either! He's just that great.

Please read Witch Watch! There were definitely some times I raised an eyebrow at a story development or two, but I think the ride is worth it overall. As we get into the later chapters, I am chugging down every chapter, eagerly awaiting the next update.
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