LogFAQs > #969474241

25. Flying Witch
https://myanimelist.net/anime/31376/Flying_Witch
Spring 2016 (12 episodes)
My Score: 9/10, MAL Score: 7.51/10
Best Character: Kowata Makoto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82mm5JvJOmo

Premise: When a witch turns fifteen, they need to go out into the world to continue independent study. Apprentice witch Kowata Makoto moves in with her cousins in a rural town full of magic and nature.

The Good: Flying Witch is a relaxing slice-of-life anime, specifically from the iyashikei subgenre (it's Japanese for "healing"). Makoto is a nice girl who moves in with her nice cousins in a nice town, and she meets nice people while having nice adventures. I'm a big fan of relaxing shows like that, but my definition of iyashikei appears to be narrower than most. Looking at the TVTropes page for the subgenre, among the ones listed are depressing junk like Taisho Otome Fairy Tale (relaxing... suicidal thoughts, forced marriage, and abuse?) and even Yuki Yuna is a Hero (relaxing... dark magical girl traumatic battles?). It also lists Squid Girl, which at least isn't bleak, but I'd call that a comedy first and foremost. Iyashikei anime can have jokes, but humor usually isn't the focus. To me, at least, the distinction comes down to the pacing and the mood. When I was having a rough day and I needed some relaxing vibes, I rewatched Flying Witch and it was perfect.

Makoto may not have reached my top 100 characters, but I still really like her. She's an apprentice witch, and quite a few stories involve her gathering materials or flying on her broom. She's also a nice girl who spends time with her family, makes friends, or explores the town. Makoto has an awful sense of direction too, which is a cute trait. I like all of the side characters too. Makoto's free-spirited older sister visits often, her young cousin Chinatsu is cute, and they encounter various friendly magical beings. Flying Witch has really nice vibes whether the characters are doing something fantastical like practicing broom flying or doing something as mundane as helping a relative pick fruit. It was always relaxing to watch, and the colorful and vibrant visual style was always nice to look at.

The Bad: Flying Witch is basically flawless. It is exactly the kind of anime it sets out to be. My only complaint is that it's only one season, and that other anime with the same relaxing vibes are so hard to find.

Overall: The subgenre Flying Witch belongs to definitely won't appeal to everyone. There isn't a whole lot of plot or character development in this. Sometimes, though, all I want is to sit back and relax. Flying Witch is perfect for that. It isn't quite my favorite relaxation anime, but it is one of the best. The lighthearted adventures of Makoto's daily life were more than enough to elevate this into my favorites.