Jet Setting Witch Elaina is a popular Japanese light novel series written by Jougi Shiraishi and illustrated by Azure. The story follows the adventures of Elaina, a young witch who travels the world. The main idea of the series is the concept of "jet setting," which refers to Elaina's constant travels to different countries and encountering various magical situations. She uses her magical abilities to help people and explore the world around her. Elaina is depicted as a skilled witch with a curious and adventurous personality. She possesses powerful magic and in each episode, she encounters different challenges and learns valuable lessons.
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.
She possesses powerful magic and in each episode, she encounters different challenges and learns valuable lessons. Throughout her journey, she meets various characters, some of whom become recurring figures in the series. The series explores themes of independence, self-discovery, and the consequences of one's actions.
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."
Elaina's encounters often lead to unexpected outcomes, teaching her valuable life lessons. These experiences shape and develop her character as she continues her jet-setting adventures. One of the key features of the series is its captivating storytelling and detailed illustrations. The use of vibrant colors and intricate designs brings the magical world of Elaina to life. Each episode offers a new location and set of characters, creating a diverse and immersive experience for readers. Jet Setting Witch Elaina has garnered a large and dedicated fan base due to its unique blend of fantasy, adventure, and exploration. It has been praised for its engaging storytelling, compelling characters, and stunning artwork. The series has also been adapted into an anime, further expanding its reach and popularity. In conclusion, Jet Setting Witch Elaina is a captivating light novel series that follows the adventures of Elaina, a young witch who travels the world. The main idea revolves around Elaina's jet-setting lifestyle, her encounters with different cultures and magical situations, and the lessons she learns along the way. The series has gained popularity for its unique storytelling, vibrant illustrations, and engaging characters..
Reviews for "Magical Encounters: Jet Setting Witch Elaina's Unforgettable Travel Stories"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really disappointed with "Jet Setting Witch Elaina". The concept seemed interesting, but the execution was lacking. The story felt disjointed and there were many plot holes that left me confused. Additionally, the main character, Elaina, didn't have much depth and felt one-dimensional. I couldn't connect with her or any of the other characters, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. Overall, I found this anime to be a letdown and wouldn't recommend it.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I couldn't even finish watching "Jet Setting Witch Elaina". The pacing was incredibly slow and nothing seemed to happen in the episodes I managed to sit through. The animation and art style were decent, but that wasn't enough to keep me interested. The dialogue was uninspiring and the story didn't have any compelling twists or turns. I was hoping for a captivating adventure, but instead, I found a boring and forgettable anime.
3. Michael - 2 stars
While "Jet Setting Witch Elaina" had a promising start, it quickly became repetitive and predictable. Each episode followed a similar plot structure, with Elaina encountering a new town or person, learning a lesson, and then moving on. There was no overarching plot or character development to keep me invested in the story. Additionally, the pacing was off, with some episodes feeling rushed and others dragging on. Overall, I felt like this anime had potential, but it failed to deliver anything unique or engaging.