The series focuses on Nico Wakatsuki, a teenagewitch who, after completing her magical training, moves into a house with her childhood friend Morihito Otogi, a human-lookingogre. Due to their families' ancestral history, Morihito is to become Nico'sfamiliar and protect her. Nico also hopes this will help them become a couple, as he is her longtime crush. As the story progresses, Nico and Morihito find themselves forced to deal with the various supernatural and legendary beings they encounter while also trying to solve all the unpredictable problems Nico's magic causes in their daily lives.[3]
A teenage witch who is in love with her childhood friend Morihito. She is a very kind person who often tries to help people with magic, but usually does so without fully knowing the details or side effects of the spells.
An ogre with extreme physical strength due to practicing OgreQigong. He was childhood friends with Nico, who calls him "Moi" (モイ), and is the only one who does not know she is in love with him. In contrast to the other major characters, Morihito is a serious and responsible person. He is very fond ofdenims.
Atengu who can control wind and befriended Nico during her training. He is Nico's "crow familiar", and moves in with her and Morihito as he is also tasked with protecting her. Kanshi has good social skills and speaks in theKansai dialect.
Awerewolf who transforms into another person, referred to as "Wolf" (ウルフ), when he sees acrescent shape. Keigo is usually a quiet person, but becomes arrogant when showing off his knowledge of obscure culture. Wolf, however, is always arrogant and rude. He is a classmate of Nico and Morihito, and eventually moves in with them.
Miharu Kiryu (霧生 見晴,Kiryū Miharu)
A youngvampire, who feeds by absorbing people's life force, from a family offutsumashi orexorcists. He is a third-year middle school student and usually carries aparasol to shield him from the sun. Although appearing polite and graceful, he has no filter and will say whatever is on his mind. He moves in with Nico and the others.
A witch who lives in the town next to Nico's who can transform into a black cat, but automatically reverts back when she sleeps. She originally came to Otogi household to recruit Morihito to be her familiar, but always failed to do so because Morihito's always petting her in cat form into slumber.
Kenta Shinohara revealed that it takes five days to draw the characters inWitch Watch, while thestoryboards take two and a half days.[9] In January 2023, Shinohara stated onTwitter thatWitch Watch would probably be his last weekly serial. He explained that he is "physically unable" to do one, even if he wanted to.[10] The February 6, 2023, chapter of themanga began acrossover with Shinohara's previousWeekly Shōnen Jump series,Sket Dance.[11]
Witch Watch is written and illustrated by Kenta Shinohara.[12][13] The manga began its serialization inShueisha'sshōnen manga magazineWeekly Shōnen Jump on February 8, 2021.[14][15][16] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individualtankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on June 4, 2021.[17][18] As of January 4, 2025, twenty volumes have been released.[19]
Witch Watch has been licensed for simultaneous publication in North America as it is released in Japan, with its chapters being digitally launched byViz Media on itsShonen Jump website. Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English for free on theManga Plus app and website.[20] Viz Media also publishes its volumes in digital format.[21]
Ananime television series adaptation was announced on August 19, 2024. It will be produced byBibury Animation Studios and directed by Hiroshi Ikehata, with assistant direction by Masao Kawase, scripts written byDeko Akao, characters designed by Haruko Iizuka, and music composed byYukari Hashimoto.[22][4] The series is set to premiere on April 6, 2025, on theNichi-5 [ja] programming block on allJNN affiliates, includingMBS andTBS, and will run for two consecutive cours.[6] The opening theme song is "Watch Me!" performed byYoasobi,[23] while the ending theme song is "Mahō Spice" (Magic Spice) performed by Aooo.[24]
GKIDS has acquired the license to the series in North America withCrunchyroll andNetflix will be streaming the series worldwide alongside other platforms such asHulu (United States), Animation Digital Network (several European territories) andAniplus (South Korea).[25][26] The anime's first three episodes will be also be screened in theaters outside of Japan under the titleWitch Watch: Watch Party with screenings beginning March 13 in Asia and in North America on March 16 viaGKIDS.[26]
In June 2021,Witch Watch was nominated for the seventhNext Manga Award in the Best Printed Manga category and placed tenth out of 50 nominees.[27][28][29] It was also nominated for the same award and placed second out of 50 nominees in 2022.[30][31] By November 2022, the first eight volumes of the manga had over 1.1 million copies in circulation.[32]
Timothy Donohoo ofComic Book Resources comparedWitch Watch toKouji Miura'sBlue Box and Shigure Tokita'sDon't Blush, Sekime-san! due to both series having concepts and romantic aspects similar toWitch Watch's.[33]
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