Let’s be honest: we’ve all seen the “magical girl moves in with the stoic guy” trope a dozen times already. But Witch Watch, written and illustrated by Sket Dance and Astra Lost in Space creator Kenta Shinohara, takes that familiar setup and cranks it up with spell-induced chaos, rapid-fire comedy, and a sprinkle of romantic tension right from the get-go.
Unlike Sket Dance, which took its time exploring romance and often leaned into school-based slice-of-life stories, Witch Watch throws you into the magical mess immediately. It’s still full of Shinohara’s trademark humor, but this time it’s delivered through spells gone wrong, magical misunderstandings, and a cast of supernatural misfits. And hey, if you are a fan of Sket Dance, keep an eye out—you might just see familiar faces when Witch Watch hits those crossover chapters. Fingers crossed Bibury animates them!
Welcome to the Otogi House
Nico the witch and her ogre childhood friend, Morihito.
The story kicks off with Nico Wakatsuki, a bubbly, slightly scatterbrained teenage witch who’s just wrapped up her six years of magical training. Her next mission? Move in with her childhood friend Morihito “Moi” Otogi—a stoic, serious, and deeply responsible boy who also happens to be an ogre in disguise.
Nico’s plan is simple: have Moi become her familiar. It’s totally official witch business... but also very obviously a ploy to get closer to him romantically. Nico’s got zero chill, and Moi? Well, Moi’s too busy overthinking an ominous prophecy about Nico’s future to deal with her advances. He’s not embarrassed—he’s just always five steps deep into worst-case scenarios.
The Magic Isn’t the Solution—It Is the Problem
Nico thinks that duplicating herself can make her task easier—but she got smaller as she did that, so it was basically useless.
Nico split herself into four, which still didn’t solve her problem.
Where most fantasy romcoms use magic as a cute plot device or a way to fix things, Witch Watch uses it to break everything—in the funniest way possible. Nico means well, but her spells tend to cause more trouble than they solve. Like the time she cast a cloning spell to try and get more done—only to split herself into several mini Nicos, each with only a fraction of her intelligence. Instead of helping, the tiny Nicos just caused total chaos around the house.
Each episode brings something new, from unintentional wardrobe malfunctions to magical mishaps that send everyone into a frenzy. And it’s all played with the kind of comedic timing and absurdity that feels uniquely Shinohara. If Sket Dance was about helping classmates with their weird problems, Witch Watch is about accidentally creating those problems via magic, then scrambling to fix them while pretending everything is fine.
Romcom That Actually Romcoms
Nico and Moi during their childhood and present, as seen in the opening.
One of Witch Watch’s biggest strengths is that it doesn’t make you wait 100 chapters for a hint of romance. From the start, Nico’s feelings for Moi are obvious to everyone—everyone except Moi himself. Though he’s not quite reciprocating (yet), the story never shies away from the romantic angle. Their dynamic is sweet, frustrating, and hilarious all at once—especially when Nico’s magical mishaps end up making things more intimate or awkward than either of them intended. And while there are plenty of moments hinting that Morihito might feel more than he lets on, he’s so stoic and guarded that it’s almost impossible to tell what’s really going on inside—even for himself.
Nico tries to seduce Moi, but much to her dismay, he only stared at her blankly.
Morihito isn’t dense out of cluelessness alone—part of it is due to a hidden "curse" that unconsciously keeps Nico’s feelings from reaching him. Combined with his strong sense of duty as her familiar and the bond they formed in childhood, it trapped him in the role of her protector, unable to see her as anything more. But when the walls finally crack and he hears Nico’s feelings for himself, all the emotions he had long locked away come rushing to the surface.
The Found Family Vibes Are Strong
Nico and her familiars, as seen in the manga.
As Witch Watch expands, Morihito’s place turns into a chaotic, yet strangely cozy hangout for a quirky group of characters who feel more like family with every passing day. There's Kanshi, the wind-controlling tengu with a knack for getting into trouble, Keigo, the werewolf whose alter-ego "Wolf" is as arrogant as he is troublesome, Miharu, the blunt, life-force-draining vampire, and of course, Nemu, the shapeshifting witch who can’t help but fall asleep in her cat form—especially when Morihito's around.
Shinohara has a knack for creating lovable oddballs, and Witch Watch is no exception. Each new character adds a fresh layer of chaos, with their unique personalities and abilities constantly throwing Morihito’s life into disarray. But despite all the madness, there’s a genuine sense of camaraderie between them, a messy, magical family of sorts. What starts as a simple story of Nico and Morihito evolves into a heartwarming, hilarious tale of friendship, magic, and plenty of unintentional mayhem.
The Anime Brings the Magic to Life
Nico mistakenly cast her magic on Moi’s hair, and a sudden Hunter x Hunter reference appeared!
Bibury Animation Studios nailed the tone. The animation is bright, bouncy, and expressive—perfect for a show where visual gags and fast-paced humor reign supreme. Whether it’s Moi’s deadpan reactions or Nico’s over-the-top magical mishaps, the anime captures Shinohara’s comedy style without missing a beat.
There are a few rough patches here and there—some scenes feel a bit flat in terms of background detail—but overall, the direction, comedic timing, and character acting more than make up for it.
Also, shoutout to that OP and ED. YOASOBI brings the energy with an opening theme that slaps, and the visuals match the chaotic, magical, slightly romantic vibe of the show perfectly.
Is It for You?
If you like unpredictable comedy, magical misadventures, and a romcom that actually progresses, Witch Watch is for you. It’s zany without being exhausting, sweet without being sappy, and clever without taking itself too seriously.
Fans of Sket Dance will appreciate the humor and heart, while newcomers will be drawn in by the offbeat premise and lovable characters. Just don’t expect things to make sense all the time—this is a world where a simple spell can turn a classroom into a fish tank and nobody questions it for long.
Final Verdict: Don’t Sleep on This One
With 26 episodes lined up and plenty of manga content left to adapt, Witch Watch is only getting started. Whether you’re here for the magical chaos, the slow-burn romance, or just the absurdity of it all, this is one anime that deserves a spot on your watchlist.
So if you’ve been missing that specific brand of chaotic heart that Sket Dance delivered, but with a magical twist and way more romantic tension? Witch Watch is your new favorite.
Now go watch it—and pray Bibury doesn’t skip the Sket Dance crossover chapters. And of course, you can also read the manga if you can’t wait for more, which you can buy here at ZenPlus, shipped to you straight from Japan!
WITCH WATCH | OFFICIAL TRAILER
WITCH WATCH | Official Trailer 2 | Netflix
TVアニメ『ウィッチウォッチ』オープニング映像｜YOASOBI「Watch me!」
What do you think?
What sort of curse is Moi under that makes him unable to realize his feelings for Nico?
Will Nico and Moi get together at the end?
What happens in the “Day of the Disaster”?
Let us know in the comments or drop us a line on social media: X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook! We’d love to hear from you!
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You can watch Witch Watch on Bilibili, Crunchyroll, Prime Video, Hulu and Netflix.
About the Writer
Cristy is a freelance artist and writer who has been obsessed with anime and manga since childhood. Her love for these imaginative worlds fuels her creative endeavors, and she shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
