Netflix Little Witch Academia is a popular animated series that has gained a large following since its debut on the streaming platform. The show follows the journey of a young girl named Akko Kagari, who dreams of becoming a witch like her idol, Shiny Chariot. Akko enrolls at Luna Nova Magical Academy, a prestigious school for witches, and quickly becomes friends with her classmates Lotte and Sucy. Together, they navigate the challenges of learning magic and uncover the mysteries of the magical world. One of the appealing aspects of Little Witch Academia is its charming and whimsical animation style. The characters are beautifully designed and the magical world they inhabit is richly detailed.
A beloved anime’s now on Netflix, but not quite in the way fans want
The Little Witch Academia TV series is now on Netflix, bringing one of the year’s most highly anticipated anime to the West for the first time. But stateside viewers will have to keep waiting to watch the full first season, leaving some disappointed with the Netflix release.
Although it’s labeled as “season one” on the streaming service, the magical girl series’ first 13 subbed and dubbed episodes are available as of today. The full season ran for a total of 25 episodes, with the season finale airing in Japan just last week.
Confusion arose around how many episodes would be available just before the anime’s Netflix launch on places like the main anime subreddit. An email from a Netflix affiliate reportedly said that the service would release “all episodes” of season one at once, despite Little Witch Academia’s Netflix page saying otherwise.
Regardless, that only half of the first season is up — with no release date set for the second half — has anime fans frustrated, especially since the episodes have been out on unofficial sites for months.
One user rattled off a variety of problems with the Netflix release, from the number of episodes out now to the subtitles being “shit compared to fansubs.” (There was also a problem within the first hours of availability where the non-Japanese audio tracks were only available on certain episodes, which has since been fixed.)
“I can't comment on the quality of the English dub because I haven't had time to sit down and watch it but I'm not at all optimistic,” the user continued. “How did they fuck this up so bad?”
“As a consumer who has slowly been importing the Blu-rays to watch and trying to support the show legally this is very frustrating,” wrote another user. “Perhaps it is entitled to say so considering Netflix is part of the reason this even exists but alienating Western fans this much is just not how the business model works anymore.”
Netflix is known for dropping all episodes of its original series onto the service at once, to satisfy viewers’ binge-watching needs. Not so with anime; fans routinely criticize Netflix for waiting until after seasons have aired and subtitled DVD releases are out in Japan to bring licensed anime to the West.
Meanwhile, Hulu and Crunchyroll — the most popular anime-streaming site — often air shows simultaneously with their Japanese debuts to deter pirates from getting episodes other ways.
Little Witch Academia fans who did wait can at least start watching the show’s first full season. The fantasy anime rapidly gained an audience in 2015 after reaction to its one-off debut short inspired a follow-up episode, which went on to raise more than half a million dollars through crowdfunding.
Little Witch Academia (TV)
"A believing heart is your magic!"—these were the words that Atsuko "Akko" Kagari's idol, the renowned witch Shiny Chariot, said to her during a magic performance years ago. Since then, Akko has lived by these words and aspired to be a witch just like Shiny Chariot, one that can make people smile. Hence, even her non-magical background does not stop her from enrolling in Luna Nova Magical Academy.
However, when an excited Akko finally sets off to her new school, the trip there is anything but smooth. After her perilous journey, she befriends the shy Lotte Yansson and the sarcastic Sucy Manbavaran. To her utmost delight, she also discovers Chariot's wand, the Shiny Rod, which she takes as her own. Unfortunately, her time at Luna Nova will prove to be more challenging than Akko could ever believe. She absolutely refuses to stay inferior to the rest of her peers, especially to her self-proclaimed rival, the beautiful and gifted Diana Cavendish, so she relies on her determination to compensate for her reckless behavior and ineptitude in magic.
In a time when wizardry is on the decline, Little Witch Academia follows the magical escapades of Akko and her friends as they learn the true meaning of being a witch.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
The characters are beautifully designed and the magical world they inhabit is richly detailed. The animation brings the magic to life, creating a visually stunning experience for the viewers. The storytelling in Little Witch Academia is also captivating.
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Each episode presents a new adventure for Akko and her friends, often involving lessons in magic or encounters with magical creatures. The episodes are filled with humor, heartwarming moments, and valuable life lessons. Akko's determination and optimism are inspiring, as she never gives up on her dream of becoming a great witch. Additionally, the show touches on themes of friendship, teamwork, and self-discovery. Akko learns the importance of believing in herself and the power of friendship. The relationships between the characters are well-developed and provide emotional depth to the story. Overall, Little Witch Academia is a delightful and enchanting series that appeals to both children and adults. Its stunning animation, engaging storytelling, and relatable characters make it a must-watch for fans of animation and fantasy. Whether you're a fan of witchcraft or simply enjoy a good coming-of-age story, Little Witch Academia is a show that will capture your heart and leave you wanting more..
Reviews for "Comparing Little Witch Academia: The Short Film vs. The Netflix Series"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Netflix Little Witch Academia". I had heard so many great things about the original anime series, and was excited to see what the Netflix adaptation would be like. However, I found the animation to be sloppy and the storyline to be lackluster. The characters were flat and uninteresting, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, it felt like a watered-down version of the original, and I was left feeling let down.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I was really looking forward to watching "Netflix Little Witch Academia", but it was a complete letdown. The storyline was confusing and all over the place, and the animation felt lazy and uninspired. The show lacked the charm and magic that made the original so captivating. I couldn't bring myself to care about the characters or their struggles, and I ended up losing interest halfway through. I would not recommend this series to fans of the original or anyone looking for a well-crafted anime experience.
3. Mike - 2 stars
I have been a fan of the original "Little Witch Academia" anime for years, so naturally, I was excited when I heard about the Netflix adaptation. However, I found the show to be a huge disappointment. The animation quality was subpar, with poorly drawn characters and choppy movements. The voice acting was also lackluster, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. Overall, it felt like a rushed and poorly executed attempt to cash in on the success of the original series. I would advise fans to stick with the original and skip this adaptation.