"Little Witch Academia" is an anime series that revolves around the adventures of the main protagonist, Akko Kagari, and her rival, Diana Cavendish. Akko is a spirited and determined young witch-in-training who idolizes the famous witch Shiny Chariot. She enrolls in Luna Nova Magical Academy, hoping to follow in Chariot's footsteps and become a great witch. However, unlike her peers, Akko possesses no magical lineage or natural talent. She relies on her wit, determination, and sheer enthusiasm to overcome her weaknesses and prove herself to others. She often finds herself in comical situations as her lack of skill becomes apparent.
She often finds herself in comical situations as her lack of skill becomes apparent. But Akko is persistent and refuses to give up, even when faced with adversity. Diana, on the other hand, comes from a prestigious magical bloodline and is highly skilled in the magical arts.
“Are you an Akko or a Diana?” Sorting out the magic of Little Witch Academia.
Sometime last year, I hired a young man who was fresh out of university and had just been married. After working with him for a week, I discovered that he is a rare type of anime fan: one who watches currently-airing series without being plugged in to any sort of anime commentary, be it Anime News Network, anime blogs, MAL forums, social media outlets; you name it, he probably hasn’t read it. Additionally his wife, who is not as much of an anime fan as he is, relies on him to scout out series that she will like, namely shoujo romances. He watches the majority of things in a new season and cherry-picks a select one or two series to watch with her. If he can’t find anything from the current season, he’ll suggest that they watch an older, more established series together.
I recommended Little Witch Academia to them as something that they could watch together that was fun, didn’t require a large time investment – unlike his most recent suggestion that they watch Kare Kano – and most importantly, legally free. The result was somewhat surprising. He, the established anime fan, liked it well enough, but she loved it. Loved it so much, in fact, that the next time she visited him at work, she made it a point to seek me out to talk about it. In that conversation, where she excitedly spoke of why it resonated with her, she asked me this question:
“So…are you an Akko or a Diana?”
I’ve spoken previously about how easy it is to classify ourselves by hobbies and subsequently seek out others who have similar interests. Furthering this idea, there are always certain properties that will play to this tendency, and the conversation that I had with my coworker’s wife on Little Witch Academia reminded me of excited sorting arguments that I had with my high school friends as we made our way through the Harry Potter universe together. Before we were to discuss Harry Potter in earnest, it was far more important to discern which Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry house each of us would belong to. Thinking about it now, it fascinates me that we spent far more time on this than speculating what was to happen within the series itself.
This tendency to classify one’s self within set guidelines or boxes that a property has set up highlights the self-centered nature with which we sometimes approach reading fiction, or viewing anime. Participating in watching something often becomes primarily about how it relates to us, or how we may organize ourselves, rather than production values, overall content, and story. Above all, it’s about who we resonate with, and where we can sort ourselves into the story, especially when it comes to the intriguing, magical worlds of both Harry Potter and Little Witch Academia. Not only do we want to relate to the characters, we want to be witches and wizards too. We want these series to inform us about our own characters and where we would fit in.
Little Witch Academia is fortunate enough to have no small amount of things going for it – an interesting setting, emotional resonance, tight writing, visual bookending, fluid animation – which could go a long way in explaining how it thoroughly decimated its recent Kickstarter goal for a second episode in a matter of hours. Everyone I’ve spoken with who has watched it has made it a point to mention their favorite character when discussing the series, be it Akko, Diana, Lotte, or Sucy. Their assertions, and mine when I mention whom I believe myself to be the most similar to in the Little Witch Academia universe, either reinforce certain things I already knew about their personality, or offer new avenues through which to explore in growing closer to them. I honestly felt that I learned a lot more about my co-worker’s wife through the fact that she identified herself as “a Diana.” Regardless of whether she embodies what I know of Diana’s character, her assertion informs me of certain traits that she appreciates within herself.
As for me, I am neither an Akko nor a Diana. I see myself as more of a Lotte. Take that as you will.
Little Witch Academia is fortunate enough to have no small amount of things going for it – an interesting setting, emotional resonance, tight writing, visual bookending, fluid animation – which could go a long way in explaining how it thoroughly decimated its recent Kickstarter goal for a second episode in a matter of hours. Everyone I’ve spoken with who has watched it has made it a point to mention their favorite character when discussing the series, be it Akko, Diana, Lotte, or Sucy. Their assertions, and mine when I mention whom I believe myself to be the most similar to in the Little Witch Academia universe, either reinforce certain things I already knew about their personality, or offer new avenues through which to explore in growing closer to them. I honestly felt that I learned a lot more about my co-worker’s wife through the fact that she identified herself as “a Diana.” Regardless of whether she embodies what I know of Diana’s character, her assertion informs me of certain traits that she appreciates within herself.
She is seen as the perfect wizarding prodigy, excelling in her studies and winning numerous competitions. Diana takes her magical heritage seriously and believes in upholding tradition and the standards of Luna Nova. Throughout the series, Akko and Diana clash due to their contrasting personalities and backgrounds. They start off as rivals, constantly competing against each other and often at odds. But as the story progresses, they develop a complex relationship that goes beyond rivalry. They start to understand and appreciate each other's strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, Akko and Diana form a begrudging friendship. They learn that they can complement each other and grow through their differences. Akko's perseverance and passion inspire Diana to reconnect with her own love for magic, while Diana's knowledge and expertise help Akko improve her magical abilities. In the end, Akko and Diana realize that they are not so different after all. They both share a love for magic and a desire to become great witches. Their friendship becomes an essential part of their growth and journey at Luna Nova, as they face numerous challenges and uncover the secrets of the magical world together. "Little Witch Academia" explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the power of believing in oneself. Akko and Diana serve as compelling characters who undergo significant character development throughout the series. Their dynamic and evolving relationship adds depth and emotion to the story, making it a favorite among fans of the magical girl genre..
Reviews for "The Significance of Akko and Diana's Friendship in Little Witch Academia's Larger Narrative"
1. Samantha - 2/5
I found "Little Witch Academia: Akko and Diana" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked depth, the animation felt stiff and uninspired, and the characters were one-dimensional. Akko and Diana, in particular, had a lot of potential for a complex and interesting dynamic, but it never fully materialized. The humor also fell flat for me, as the jokes seemed forced and repetitive. Overall, I was disappointed with this particular installment and hope that future episodes can bring more excitement and depth to the story.
2. Daniel - 1/5
I couldn't enjoy "Little Witch Academia: Akko and Diana" at all. The storyline felt disjointed and poorly thought out, with random events happening without much explanation or connection. The pacing was awkward, jumping from one scene to another without allowing the audience to fully grasp what was going on. Additionally, the animation style didn't appeal to me, as it lacked the vibrant and dynamic visuals I usually expect from anime. The character development felt rushed and shallow, making it difficult for me to connect with any of them. Overall, I found this episode to be a major letdown and wouldn't recommend it to others.
3. Olivia - 3/5
While I didn't hate "Little Witch Academia: Akko and Diana," it didn't live up to my expectations. The plot felt cliche and predictable, often resorting to typical anime tropes without adding any unique twists. The character interactions were also lacking, with Akko and Diana's relationship feeling forced and lacking genuine chemistry. The animation quality was decent, but it didn't have the wow factor that I've come to expect from the series. Overall, it was an average episode that didn't bring anything new or exciting to the table.