Little Witch Academia is a Japanese anime series that follows the story of a young girl named Atsuko Kagari, also known as Akko. Akko enrolls at the Luna Nova Magical Academy to fulfill her dream of becoming a great witch. However, she lacks any magical abilities and struggles to keep up with her classmates who come from long lineages of witches. Despite her shortcomings, Akko remains determined and optimistic. She idolizes Shiny Chariot, a famous witch performer, and is inspired by her belief in the power of magic to bring happiness to people. Akko's enthusiasm often causes her to get into trouble, but she is supported by her friends, Sucy Manbavaran and Lotte Jansson.
Here’s my full list of creepy things to do in Salem, Massachusetts.
Visiting Salem could have easily been a two-day trip with all there is to do in town, ESPECIALLY during October when the festivities are in full force. Ideally, visiting Salem would be perfect for a Halloween weekend getaway, but if you re like me and only have one day to spend in the Witch City; here s my guide to how to make the most of your 24-hours or less in Salem, Mass.
Akko's enthusiasm often causes her to get into trouble, but she is supported by her friends, Sucy Manbavaran and Lotte Jansson. Throughout the series, Akko and her friends face various magical challenges, embark on quests, and uncover secrets of the magical world. They also encounter the antagonistic character Diana Cavendish, who initially looks down on Akko but eventually becomes a reluctant ally.
Salem, Massachusetts Travel Guide: Witchy Things to do During a Day Trip to Salem, Mass
Salem, Massachusetts is unofficially known as the Halloween capital of the USA due to its extravagant fall celebrations, year-round witchy attractions, and of course; the horrific, dark history that gave the town its tragic claim to fame.
Visiting Salem has been a HUGE Halloween bucket-list goal of mine ever since I first watched Hocus Pocus as a kid and simultaneously fell in love with the quirky charm of Max Dennison, child-luring voice of Sarah Sanderson, and the overall allure of the spooky, Halloween-loving City.
Ideally, visiting Salem would be perfect for a Halloween weekend getaway, but if you’re like me and only have one day to spend in the Witch City; here’s my guide to how to make the most of your 24-hours or less in Salem, Mass.
Have fun, Creeps!
First, a quick look into Salem’s history
Salem is most well-known for the gruesome tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials, which took place in the town from 1692-1693.
During that time, over two hundred of Salem’s citizens were accused of witchcraft and approximately thirty were charged as guilty. Of the thirty people who were found guilty, twenty of them received the death sentence.
Though Salem wasn’t the first or only town in Colonial America to be performing witch trials at that time; the overall horrific extent and severity of the witch hunt that plagued Salem caused a level of mass hysteria that became known around the globe for its injustice and blatant example of religious extremism.
How to get to Salem from Boston
By car
I personally chose to rent a car and drive from Boston to Salem, which ended up being a very short 45-minute mostly-highway trip. It was super convenient!
Tip: I planned to visit Salem in the middle of the week so that I could miss a majority of the tourist crowd, and thankfully we found parking relatively easily in the Witch City Mall parking lot. With that said, it’s really easy to see how parking in Salem on a busy weekend could be complete nightmare.
If you’re planning to spend time in Salem on a weekend in October, I highly recommend either taking public transportation or making a list of the local parking lots and garages ahead of time so that you can save yourself some time and stress during what could be a very chaotic parking hunt.
Commuter rail
If public transportation sounds like a better fit, thankfully Boston’s train system, the ‘T’, has you covered.
Salem Station is on the T’s Newburyport/Rockport line, and departs from Boston’s North Station. The trip should cost you $8.00 each way, and normally takes only about 30 minutes to get to Salem (as long as there aren’t delays!).
Ferry
If you’re interested in taking more of a scenic route up to the Witch City; Boston Harbor Cruises seem to be a very well-recommended option!
A ferry from Boston’s Long Wharf to Salem operates every summer and fall and costs $25.00 per adult for a one-way ticket.
Though I haven’t personally ridden the ferry at Boston Harbor, I’ve heard that it’s a great way to experience views of the Massachusetts coastline!
Things to do in Salem
With only having one day to explore the city, I tried to cram in as much as possible. Visiting Salem could have easily been a two-day trip with all there is to do in town, ESPECIALLY during October when the festivities are in full force. But regardless, we definitely made the most of our time in the Halloween capital.
Here’s my full list of creepy things to do in Salem, Massachusetts.
Visit Proctor’s Ledge
Proctor’s Ledge is the official site where nineteen of the accused were executed in 1692.
Though this site has been known for quite a while as the location of the witch trial executions, the stone memorial that stands at the site today was only recently erected in 2017, and now includes engraved names of all nineteen victims who were executed by hanging.
Little Witch Academia explores themes of friendship, perseverance, and the importance of believing in oneself. The series combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and comedy, often providing lighthearted and enjoyable moments. The animation is vibrant and visually appealing, capturing the enchanting atmosphere of Luna Nova Magical Academy. The show gained popularity among anime fans for its unique and charming characters, as well as its positive messages and engaging storytelling. It received critical acclaim for its animation quality and character development. Little Witch Academia has also inspired a spin-off manga series and two short films, prior to the anime adaptation. Overall, Little Witch Academia offers an entertaining and heartwarming experience for fans of fantasy and magical storytelling. It showcases the journey of a young girl who overcomes her limitations to follow her dreams and make a difference in the magical world..
Reviews for "Behind Luna Nova: The World Building in Lotte Little Witch Academia"
1. Sam - 2/5 stars
I was really disappointed with Little Witch Academia. The premise sounded interesting, but the execution fell flat for me. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them. The plot was also quite predictable, with no major twists or surprises. Additionally, the animation style felt a bit outdated compared to other recent anime. Overall, I found the series to be underwhelming and didn't live up to the hype.
2. Emily - 1/5 stars
I absolutely did not enjoy Little Witch Academia. The storyline was boring and lacked any real depth. The jokes were repetitive and hardly made me chuckle. The main character, Akko, was annoying and I couldn't root for her at all. The animation quality was also subpar, with stiff movements and lack of attention to detail. I found myself struggling to finish each episode and would not recommend this anime to anyone.
3. Alex - 2/5 stars
Little Witch Academia was a huge disappointment to me. The plot lacked coherence and felt like a jumble of random events stitched together. The characters were cliche and lacked any real development. The animation, while vibrant and colorful, didn't make up for the show's overall lack of substance. I had high hopes for this anime, but sadly, it didn't deliver on any front. I was left feeling unsatisfied and unimpressed.