Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the hills, there lived a mysterious woman known as the crocheting witch. She was a solitary figure, often seen sitting on her porch with her crocheting needles in hand, weaving intricate patterns into the yarn. The villagers were both fascinated and fearful of her, believing her to possess magical powers. No one quite knew how the crocheting witch came to be, as she appeared in the village seemingly overnight. Some whispered that she had arrived on a midnight breeze, carried by the winds of destiny. Others claimed she had always been there, hidden away from prying eyes.
Vital Stats:
Released by: Geneon /Pioneer
Dubbed by: Bang Zoom!
Director: Wendee Lee
He didn t just flip the bird at a gangster once, he did it for as long as he could still get his fingers to work between the beatings the gangster gave him. Mayes handles both sides of Kagome equally well the competent leader, and the young woman with a comically hopeless crush on her boss, Mao s grandfather.
Others claimed she had always been there, hidden away from prying eyes. Regardless, her presence brought both curiosity and unease to the villagers. Every day, the crocheting witch would sit on her porch, surrounded by piles of colorful yarn.
A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions
According to MyAnimeList, what Crunchyroll has lumped under a single title, Catman, is actually Catman, Catman Series II, and Catman Specials. I caught the title change from Catman to Catman Series II, but when the specials started I got confused, because they used the title Catman.
Episodes, in general, run 3-5 minutes long. Crunchyroll has 22 episodes total.
There is no spoken dialogue (unless you count the reporter in the "shoot at the sun" episode), just subtitles and music from the Planet Smashers.
If you want to watch this series on Crunchyroll (I'm not sure where else it's available), you'd better watch it soon, because it's going to be removed by the end of this month.
There's not much of a plot, although there are a few recurring characters. All characters in this series are anthropomorphized cats - they drink, smoke, talk, gamble, etc. like human beings and don't seem to have any feline-specific behaviors, although that didn't keep me from becoming nervous on behalf of the bird and mouse that showed up in a couple episodes.
Catman tends to live in the moment, which, unfortunately for him, often results in him doing things that leave him hurt, lonely, and/or penniless. He tends to be dissatisfied with his life and wants to run away to someplace different and, hopefully, better. Episodes in the first part of this series show moments in Catman's life. He also captures the interest of a female cat-person.
Wanting to be free, Catman leaves the lady cat-person behind and spends much of the rest of the series engaged in self-destructive behaviors (drinking, angering gangsters, gambling away all his money). Will Catman ever stop running away from all his problems?
This series is not for everyone. At the very least, you really, really have to be okay with slice-of-life stories. When I said there wasn't much of a plot, I meant it. In the first episode, Catman does nothing but jump from one place to the next. In another episode, Catman is so hot he tries to shoot down the sun. Even the more action-oriented episodes are brief and simple. For example, one episode is almost entirely about Catman running from a guy after stealing one of his apples.
I didn't really like this show overall. There were certain moments and episodes I liked – the gangster episodes were usually fun, I laughed when Catman shot at the sun, and I found that one lady cat, the aged former beauty (prostitute?) who talked to Catman about love, to be both chilling and sad. However, it felt like the show didn't have any kind of plan, or at least not a consistent one, and I thought it suffered a bit from that. Also, there were times I really disliked Catman.
In the first part of the series, I could tell that things were probably moving towards a romance between Catman and the lady cat-person who dressed in green. When he left her at the start of Catman Series II, I figured that his self-destructive behavior would culminate in a realization that he preferred life with the lady cat-person to the “freedom” he had on his own. This was not really the direction in which the series went, and, although I was somewhat relieved for the lady cat-person (she was barely a character, but, even so, I couldn't help but feel that she could do better than Catman, if only she'd just move on), I was also disappointed.
When the gangster episodes started, I felt the tone of the series shifted. Catman's self-destructive behavior no longer seemed to be presented in as negative a light. Instead, the stupid things he did became gutsy and cool. He didn't just gamble away his own money, he almost gambled away a stranger's money. And then he gambled away his own money a second time. He didn't just flip the bird at a gangster once, he did it for as long as he could still get his fingers to work between the beatings the gangster gave him. It was stupid of him, but it was presented as cool and, I think, intended to show that he was finally developing the spine and pride necessary not to run away at the first sign of trouble. All of this seemed, to me, to contradict earlier hints that the show was moving towards Catman's realization that his idea of “freedom” was actually just a bunch of self-destructive behaviors that weren't going to get him anything other than an early grave.
The inconsistent feel of the series bothered me, and I never quite got over the dislike I felt the moment Catman turned away from the lady cat-person. Still, like I said, there were moments and episodes that were enjoyable. I'm glad I watched this show before it was removed from Crunchyroll, but it's not something I could see myself recommending to very many people.
- Maus (graphic novel) by Art Spiegelman - Okay, so I still haven't read this, but it immediately came to my mind as a work that might potentially appeal to those who liked Catman. As in Catman, the characters are all animal-people (cats, mice, pigs). Spiegelman interviewed his father, a Holocaust survivor, about his experiences and turned that story into Maus.
- Cowboy Bebop (anime TV series) - Those who'd like something else starring a "cool guy" main character and featuring action and a good soundtrack might want to try this. The series focuses on a group of bounty hunters doing their best to earn enough money to feed themselves.
- Tekkonkinkreet (anime movie) - Like Catman, this is set in a fairly gritty urban environment, and the main characters are amazingly athletic as they run and jump around town. I've written about this movie.
- Dark Side Cat (anime) - If you'd like another short show featuring Flash animation, you might want to try this, although Dark Side Cat's tone is different and its pace is faster. I've written about this series.
She would transform these strands into beautiful creations, from delicate doilies to cozy blankets, each piece more intricate than the last. The villagers would watch in awe as she effortlessly worked her magic, fingers dancing with the yarn as if guided by an unseen force. Children would gather around her, drawn by her enchanting presence and the stories she would weave into her crafts. With each stitch, she would share tales of distant lands, mystical creatures, and ancient traditions. The children would listen wide-eyed, captivated by her words, as if under a spell. Not everyone in the village, however, was enthralled by the crocheting witch's charm. Some believed her to be a bringer of misfortune, blaming her for every ill that befell the village. They whispered that the patterns she wove into her creations held a dark magic, cursing those who possessed them. Fearful of her influence, they kept their distance, casting wary glances towards her house. Despite the fear and suspicion, the crocheting witch remained undeterred. She continued to create her intricate tapestries, finding solace and joy in the rhythmic motion of her needles. She believed in the power of her craft to heal, to inspire, and to unite. Slowly, over time, the villagers began to see the crocheting witch in a new light. They marveled at the vibrant colors and intricate designs she brought into their lives. The blankets she gifted to newborns kept them warm and safe, while the delicate shawls she crafted brought comfort to the ailing. The village began to realize that the crocheting witch was not a source of darkness, but a purveyor of love and kindness. And so, the crocheting witch became an integral part of the village, her porch a gathering place for both young and old. She taught the villagers the art of crocheting, passing down her knowledge and passion for the craft. They began to appreciate the meditative rhythm of the needles, finding solace and purpose in the creation of something beautiful. The crocheting witch's influence spread far beyond the village, as people from neighboring towns heard tales of her magical creations. They traveled from far and wide to meet the mysterious woman who could bring yarn to life. And, in turn, the crocheting witch welcomed them with open arms, embracing their shared love for the craft. In the end, the crocheting witch's magic was not found in dark spells or curses, but in the power of creation and connection. Through her artful craft, she had woven a tapestry of unity, turning strangers into friends and fear into understanding. Her legacy would forever be remembered in the hearts and stitches of those touched by her gentle enchantment..
Reviews for "Casting with Crocheting: Unveiling the Secrets of the Witch's Craft"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Crocheting Witch" as I love both crochet and witchcraft, but this book was a major disappointment. The characters were flat and one-dimensional, and the plot was predictable and boring. The crochet instructions were unclear, making it difficult for me to follow along and try the patterns myself. Overall, I felt like this book didn't live up to its potential and left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Alex - 1 star - I found "The Crocheting Witch" to be poorly written and lacking in substance. The dialogue was stilted and unconvincing, making it hard to feel any connection to the characters. Additionally, the pacing of the story was incredibly slow, with very little happening until the final few chapters. The premise of a crocheting witch had so much potential, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver on that promise. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Jessica - 2 stars - As someone who enjoys both crochet and witchcraft, I was excited to read "The Crocheting Witch." However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. The characters were underdeveloped, and their actions often seemed illogical and inconsistent. The language used was also overly flowery and unnecessarily complicated, making it difficult to fully understand what was happening. The inclusion of crochet patterns throughout the book was a nice touch, but overall, I felt like the story lacked depth and failed to engage me as a reader.
4. Tyler - 2 stars - "The Crocheting Witch" fell flat for me. The writing style was dull and uninspiring, making it hard to stay engaged with the story. The plot itself was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. While the crochet patterns were a nice addition, they didn't make up for the lackluster storytelling. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and would not recommend it to others.
5. Emily - 1 star - "The Crocheting Witch" was a complete letdown. The characters were uninteresting and lacked any depth, resulting in a lack of connection with the reader. The writing style was clunky and awkward, making it difficult to get through the book. The crochet instructions were confusing and poorly explained, making it impossible for me to try any of the patterns. Overall, this book was a waste of time and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.