Happy birthday to you, you magical creature! Today is a day filled with joy, love, and celebration as we commemorate the day you were brought into this world. You possess a special kind of magic that radiates from within you, lighting up the lives of those around you. On this special day, we want to take a moment to appreciate the unique qualities that make you who you are. Your kindness, compassion, and zest for life inspire us to be better versions of ourselves. Your unwavering belief in the impossible and ability to see the beauty in the simplest of things is truly enchanting. You have an innate ability to sprinkle happiness wherever you go, creating an atmosphere of positivity and warmth.
Also, Saya’s anxiety is something that I personally relate to. Check episode 2.
This sentence is the reason Amnesia is wandering without any memories, and she only keeps her head thanks to the timely intervention of Elaina and Avelia. The first Drama CD came out with the special edition of Volume 8, first released November 15, 2018, with its voice actress cast going on to reprise their roles in the anime adaptation two years later.
You have an innate ability to sprinkle happiness wherever you go, creating an atmosphere of positivity and warmth. Your contagious laughter and infectious smile have the power to brighten even the darkest of days. You bring so much light into our lives, and we are grateful to have you.
JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina – First Impressions
These last two weeks have been really insane for me. Because of the lockdown in Victoria, the journeys at work, someone chastising me for not being “conscious enough» about the history of Australia, and not being able to write as much as I want for my blog.
With that said, I completely apologise for all of this my friends.
Without mentioning the tragic death of Kentaro Miura (Don’t worry guys, I am working on a proper tribute), last May 6.
But now, I finally have enough time to write about one of the most beautiful anime I have seen, from 2020. And, well… the title says it all.
WANDERING WITCH – THE JOURNEY OF ELAINA
But before I start, I must ask you guys the well-known questions:
Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?
If the answer is yes, then I am happy.
It doesn’t matter what do I feeling about the lockdown. He have to do what we have to do. And… watching The Journey of Elaina made me feel refreshed, and that is why I will pay my little tribute to this series.
Now… jet your broom and let’s get started.
PREMISE
First things first.
I must say that I already watched some episodes at the Deakin Anime Club, not all of them, but a good part (Thanks a lot for that my friends); however I decided to watch the series again, because it just transmit such a “human» vibe.
Based on the light novels written by Jougi Shiraishi, and illustrated by Azure. Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina (or Majo no Tabitabi for its original title), takes us to a fantasy world where witches are real and are very involved in society, one of those witches is called Elaina, a.k.a. the Ashen Witch, who finds a book called The Adventures of Niké (to put it lightly), about a travelling witch. Impressed by the journeys of the authoer, Elaina decides to travel around the the World, after gathering her title by the powerful Fran, called the Stardust Witch; from here, Elaina arrives to many countries and hear about many stories about its society that evokes themes like death, slavery and happiness among others.
Before I continue, every time I think of Elaina, I think about another sweet anime that I want to write soon, of another travelling girl, called…
Kino’s Journey.
Because both are very similar, having females heroes that travel around the world, facing many dangers, and learning about the lands they encounter. The main difference is that, while Kino’s Journey is more focused in science fiction, The Journey of Elaina is centered more on fantasy.
Furthermore, The Journey of Elaina has published sixteen volumes, with the next book is set to be released on July 14, 2021.
The anime is comprised of 12 episodes, released from October to December, 2020. The opening song, Literature, is performed by the very talented Reina Ueda, while the closing theme, Haiiro no Saga» (Gray Saga), is performed by the great singer from Osaka, ChouCho.
The Journey of Elaina is available at Funimation.
STORY
Like I said before, The Journey of Elaina deals with themes like slavery, death, murder, loneliness, and war. And that is exactly one of the best elements from this story, because it explores the dark side of things like absolute power, humanity, and magic, and since the fantasy element of Elaina is broader than we expected, the shock value gets us stronger than expected, with scene like this.
Scene from episode 9
And because one could expect a really feel-good, light-hearted story like Mushishi (perhaps), or Konosuba, the impact last for long; instead… we got a Re:Zero.
Especially in episodes three and four, which are, in my opinion, as dark as episode 9.
However, that does not mean The Journey of Elaina lacks comedy. And the comedy is pretty good. It is not the best, but it is definitely enjoyable, especially from some characters that you will encounter soon enough. However, sometimes that comedy is full of clichés that might worn out very quickly, at least for some of the viewers. Again, I will talk about all of this later.
Since many of the episodes of The Journey of Elaina is mostly Elaina learning about a new place she visits, the story is more a set of “simple» arcs that Elaina has to face and that makes the cast grow up or reveal a part of their past, similar to Kino’s Journey. I think this is a good element for the anime, because you do not need to watch the first episode to understand the rest; there are some episodes that can be considered “standalone». One good example, from my perspective, is episode two, which introduces one of my favourite characters of the series, or episode 10, that focuses in another couple of memorable characters. Again, I will mention them later.
Also, aside from the balance between comedy and tragedy, The Journey of Elaina has some genuine poignant moments, that are better to watch than to describe, case in point…
Seeing Saya hugging Elaina like that is simply beautiful.
The animation is beautiful. In a way, it sets the tone that you see in series like Made in Abyss; something that looks cute on the surface, but that hides a dark environment that unravels little by little.
Overall, the story perfectly matches comedy, drama and adventure in the best way possible.
CHARACTERS
Sheila, Fran and Saya
The Journey of Elaina also has very awesome characters. Aside from our cute Ashen Witch, we have Fran, the Stardush Witch, Elaina’s laid-back and carefree teacher, Sheila, the Night Witch; the teacher of both, Victorica, and Elaina’s mother.
And definitely one of my favourite characters:
Saya, The Charcoal Witch.
She is hilarious, because…
SPOILERS ALERT
…After being trained by Elaina in episode 2, Saya feels in love with her, and after everything they go through together, Saya starts acting weird. Seriously… she dreams to marry Elaina, like something of Witch Version of Kuroko Shirai. I will personally root for Saya if it wasn’t for that.
To make things stranger, and funnier, Saya has a younger sister, called Mina, who is in love in her. Probe of it…
END OF SPOILERS.
Being with Saya is refreshing. She is very adorable and extremely charming every time she appears on screen. And her development is so natural and relatable, to some extent, that she becomes a fan favourite along with Elaina.
Also, Saya’s anxiety is something that I personally relate to. Check episode 2.
All the characters are fantastic, but the ones that I mention are the best.
CONCLUSION
The Journey of Elaina is definitely one of the best anime of 2020. It is a shame that it is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated. I have started reading some of the light novels, and they are really good, to the point that, just like Mushoku Tensei, it has a very ginormous potential to be something big.
I hope that they get a second season, because I want to see more about the Ashen Witch. Until then… I will give my readers a special gift.
STAY TUNED FOR MY UPCOMING FAN FICTION.
THE LOVE JOURNEY OF SAYA x ELAINA – CHARCOAL WITCH AND THE ASHEN BRIDE.
That’s just the beginning… Saya.
"Who is the beautiful girl wearing a brooch that signals her status as a witch, whose ashen hair flutters in the wind, shining so much with beauty and talent, that even the sun's eyes squint involuntarily? That's right, it's me."
As we celebrate your birthday, we hope this year brings even more magic into your life. May your dreams soar high, and your wishes come true. May each day be filled with laughter, love, and adventure. Remember that you have the power to make a difference and touch the lives of those around you. Happy birthday, you magical creature! May this year be your best one yet. Cheers to another year of enchantment, love, and happiness. You deserve all the joy in the world. Enjoy your special day, and may it be as magical as you are!.
Reviews for "Embrace the Magic Within: Celebrating Your Birthday with Wonder"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Happy birthday you magical creature" because the title and cover were so cute. However, I was disappointed with the story. The plot was predictable and the characters were one-dimensional. The writing style was simple and lacked depth. Overall, I found it to be a shallow and forgettable read.
2. Mark - 1 star
I couldn't even finish reading "Happy birthday you magical creature". The writing was juvenile and it felt like the author was trying too hard to be whimsical. The characters were unrealistic and their actions didn't make any sense. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and the pacing was incredibly slow. I regret wasting my time on this book.
3. Emily - 2 stars
"Happy birthday you magical creature" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The plot was confusing and it seemed like the author was trying to cram too many ideas into one story. The main character was unlikable and hard to connect with. The writing was also inconsistent, with moments of beautiful prose followed by lackluster descriptions. Overall, it was a disappointing read that didn't live up to my expectations.
4. David - 1 star
I found "Happy birthday you magical creature" to be overly saccharine and unrealistic. The characters were too perfect and lacked any depth or development. The dialogue was cheesy and the plot felt contrived. It was difficult for me to suspend disbelief and get invested in the story. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a meaningful and engaging read.