Little Witch Academia

Little Witch Academia

Promotional artwork
リトルウィッチアカデミア
(Ritoru Witchi Akademia)
Genre Fantasy
Anime film
Directed by Yoh Yoshinari
Produced by Naoko Tsutsumi
Written by Masahiko Otsuka
Music by Michiru Ōshima
Studio Trigger
Licensed by
Acttil
Released March 2, 2013
Runtime 26 minutes
Manga
Written by Trigger
Illustrated by Terio Teri
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Ultra Jump
Published August 19, 2013
Anime film
Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade
Directed by Yoh Yoshinari
Produced by Naoko Tsutsumi
Written by Masahiko Otsuka
Music by Michiru Ōshima
Studio Trigger
Released July 3, 2015
Runtime 53 minutes
Manga
Written by Trigger
Illustrated by Terio Teri
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Seinen
Magazine Ultra Jump
Original run August 19, 2015 – November 20, 2015
Volumes 1
Manga
Little Witch Academia: Tsukiyo no Ōkan
Written by Yuka Fujiwara
Published by Shueisha
Demographic Shōjo
Magazine Ribon
Original run September 3, 2015 – December 28, 2015[1]
Volumes 1

Little Witch Academia (リトルウィッチアカデミア Ritoru Witchi Akademia) is a 2013 animated short produced by Trigger for Anime Mirai 2013. The short was created and directed by Yoh Yoshinari and written by Masahiko Otsuka. The short was released in theaters on March 2, 2013[2] and was later streamed with English subtitles on YouTube from April 19, 2013. A second short film partially funded through Kickstarter, titled Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade (リトルウィッチアカデミア 魔法仕掛けのパレード Ritoru Witchi Akademia: Mahō Shikake no Parēdo), was released on October 9, 2015. Two manga series has been published by Shueisha.

Story

Akko Kagari enrolls into Luna Nova Magical Academy (ルーナノヴァ魔法学校 Rūna Nova Mahō Gakkō), a school for young witches, after being inspired at a young age by a witch named Shiny Chariot, and often spends her days hanging with her classmates, Lotte Yanson and Sucy Manbavaran. However, she has trouble paying attention in class, doesn't know how to ride her broom, and is often looked down upon for admiring Chariot, who many believe gives the wrong impression about witches. One day, as a teacher instructs the class to explore a dungeon and retrieve rare treasures, Akko finds the Shiny Rod that belonged to Chariot. Meanwhile, the top student, Diana Cavendish, inadvertently breaks a seal on a dragon that grows more powerful by absorbing magic. Noticing the Shiny Rod still has power after all these years, the teacher sends Akko and her friends to reach the Sorcerer's Stone, the source of the academy's power, before the dragon can devour it and become invincible. Arriving at the stone, the Shiny Rod absorbs some of its power, allowing Akko to fight against the dragon. Put into a desperate situation, Akko hears Chariot's words coming from somewhere, that a believing heart is magic, and with renewed conviction she uses the full power of the Shiny Rod to destroy the dragon.

In Enchanted Parade, Akko, Lotte and Sucy, having gotten in trouble yet again, are forced to team up with three other troublemakers; Amanda O'Neill, Constanze Braunschbank Albrechtsberger and Jasminka Antonenko, and must make an annual witch parade a success or else flunk the school year. Not content with how the festival revolves around the mockery and subjugation of witches, Akko becomes determined to make the festival a spectacle that'll show off how awesome modern witches are. As Akko's ambitions for the parade grow, however, she ends up arguing with her friends when they don't feel the same way. However, Akko remains determined to prove Shiny Chariot's ideals of magic to everyone, using the Shiny Rod to borrow some magic from the Sorcerer's Stone for the parade. During the parade, some delinquent kids try to steal the rod, only to be caught by a giant that was sealed away long ago. Luckily, Akko is assisted by the other witches, including the return of Lotte and Sucy. Making up with each other, the three witches combine their power and put a stop to the giant, resulting in the parade becoming a great success.

Characters

Atsuko "Akko" Kagari (アッコ・カガリ)
Voiced by: Megumi Han (Japanese); Erica Mendez[3][4] (English)
The main protagonist, an energetic girl who joins a school for witches called Luna Nova after being inspired by Shiny Chariot. Having not come from a magical background, she struggles using magic most of the time.
Lotte Yanson (ロッテ・ヤンソン Rotte Yanson)
Voiced by: Fumiko Orikasa (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh[4] (English)
Akko's friend and roommate, a shy girl who wears glasses. She worries about Akko's well being. In The Enchanted Parade she harbors a song from her home town that appeases spirits.
Sucy Manbavaran (スーシィ・マンババラン Sūshi Manbabaran)
Voiced by: Michiyo Murase (Japanese); Rachelle Heger[4][5] (English)
Akko's other friend and roommate, a sickly looking girl who specialises in potions with various effects. She likes using poison mushrooms in her spells and concoctions.
Diana Cavendish (ダイアナ・キャベンディッシュ Daiana Kyabendisshu)
Voiced by: Yōko Hikasa (Japanese); Laura Post[4][6] (English)
The top student in Luna Nova who looks down on Akko for her admiration of Shiny Chariot. Despite saying this, she is secretly a fan herself.
Professor Ursula (アーシュラ先生 Āshura-sensei) / Shiny Chariot (シャイニィシャリオ Shainī Shario)
Voiced by: Noriko Hidaka (Japanese); Alexis Nichols[4] (English)
An instructor at Luna Nova. She has bluish-grey hair and wears glasses. It is later revealed in the film that she was Shiny Chariot, a flashy and popular witch who specialised in spectacular performances and inspired Akko to become a witch.
Hannah (ハンナ Hanna) and Barbara (バーバラ Bābara)
Voiced by: Eri Nakao and Chinatsu Akasaki (Japanese); Jennifer Alyx and Alexis Nichols[4] (English)
Diana's schoolmates who team with her during the dungeon crawling task.
Amanda O'Neill (アマンダ・オニール Amanda Onīru)
Voiced by: Arisa Shida (Japanese); Marianne Miller[7][8] (English)
A Luna Nova witch student who appears in The Enchanted Parade who got in trouble for breaking into the school's high-security vault. She is a party girl who is very good at dancing and doing aerobatics on her broomstick.
Constanze Braunschbank Albrechtsberger (コンスタンツェ・ブラウンシュバンク・アルブレヒツベルガー Konsutantse Buraunshubanku Aruburehitsuberugā)
Voiced by: Rie Murakawa (Japanese); Jennifer Alyx[8][9] (English)
A Luna Nova witch student who enjoys combining magic and technology to create robots, laser guns, and other gadgets.
Jasminka Antonenko (ヤスミンカ・アントネンコ Yasuminka Antonenko)
Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Stephanie Sheh[8] (English)
A friendly and laid-back Luna Nova witch student who got in trouble for stealing food; she is always seen snacking on something, even during classes.

Media

Anime

Little Witch Academia was produced by Trigger as part of the Young Animator Training Project's Anime Mirai 2013 project, which funds young animators, alongside other short films by Madhouse, Zexcs and Gonzo.[10] The short was created and directed by Yoh Yoshinari and written by Masahiko Otsuka with music by Michiru Ōshima. The short, along with the other Anime Mirai shorts, opened in 14 Japanese theatres on March 2, 2013.[11] Trigger later released the short on Niconico and with English subtitles on YouTube and Crunchyroll on April 19, 2013.[12] The YouTube version received over 850,000 views up until it was taken down in August 2013 to promote the Blu-ray release.[13] The short was later released on region-free Blu-ray Disc on October 24, 2013.[14][15][16] The short is also available for streaming on Crunchyroll[17] and Netflix.[18]

On July 5, 2013, Trigger announced at Anime Expo that a new episode, titled Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade, would be developed in response to the reception the first episode received.[19] The project began production in 2014 following the airing of Kill la Kill.[20][21] Whilst initially having the funds for a twenty-minute episode, Trigger launched a Kickstarter campaign to extend its runtime to fifty minutes.[22] The Kickstarter was launched on July 9, 2013[23] and met its $150,000 goal within five hours.[24] A stretch goal of $500,000 was added to produce a making of documentary and audio commentary for the Blu-ray release.[25][26] The Kickstarter raised a total of $625,518.[27] The short was premiered at Anime Expo 2015 and for Kickstarter backers on July 3, 2015 and was subsequently released in Japanese theaters on October 9.[28][29] Otsuka has stated that if the sequel performs well, they may potentially look into producing a television series or full-length film.[30] Both films were later released on Netflix with an English-language dub on December 15, 2015.[31]

A crossover short featuring characters from both Little Witch Academia and Inferno Cop premiered at AnimeNEXT 2015 on June 13, 2015[32] and was also shown at Anime Expo 2015 on July 2, 2015.[33]

Manga

A short one-shot manga based on the anime, drawn by Terio Teri, was published in Shueisha's Ultra Jump magazine on August 19, 2013.[34] Another manga by Teri, featuring an original story, was serialized in Ultra Jump between August 19, 2015 and November 20, 2015. The series will be compiled in a single tankōbon volume on January 19, 2016.[35] Another series illustrated by Yuka Fujiwara, Little Witch Academia: Tsukiyo no Ōkan (リトルウィッチアカデミア 月夜の王冠, lit. "Little Witch Academia: The Midnight Crown"), began serialization in Shueisha's Ribon magazine from September 3, 2015.[36]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-05/little-witch-academia-tsukiyo-no-okan-manga-ends-in-december/.95952
  2. ↑ "Studio Trigger Posts Long Little Witch Academia Trailer". Anime News Network. March 4, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ https://twitter.com/tsunderica/status/676867448298070016
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Little Witch Academia. 2013. Event occurs at closing credits Cast (English) – via Netflix.
  5. ↑ https://twitter.com/Rachellular/status/676847514411143168
  6. ↑ https://twitter.com/LauraPostVoice/status/676846659616157696
  7. ↑ https://twitter.com/mariannemiller/status/676872222590369792
  8. 1 2 3 Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade. 2015. Event occurs at closing credits Cast (English) – via Netflix.
  9. ↑ https://twitter.com/JenAlyx/status/676897545969356801
  10. ↑ "Gonzo/ZEXCS/Trigger/Madhouse's Full Anime Mirai Trailer". Anime News Network. February 5, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Anime Mirai 2013 Slated for March 2". Anime News Network. December 16, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Trigger Streams Little Witch Academia Anime with English Subs". Anime News Network. April 19, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  13. ↑ Little Witch Academia via YouTube
  14. ↑ "Little Witch Academia Blu-ray to Have English Subs". Anime News Network. May 20, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  15. ↑ Little Witch Academia Blu-Ray
  16. ↑ "Little Witch Academia (Blu-Ray) product page". Trigger Online Shop. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  17. ↑ http://www.crunchyroll.com/little-witch-academia
  18. ↑ http://www.otakuusamagazine.com/LatestNews/News1/Little-Witch-Academia-Shorts-Now-on-Netflix-7203.aspx
  19. ↑ "Studio Trigger to Launch Kickstarter for New Little Witch Academia Episode". Anime News Network. July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ Answering Fans’ Wishes with Kickstarter: Studio Trigger ("Little Witch Academia 2") Interview [1/3]
  21. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2 by Studio TRIGGER » Getting started! — Kickstarter
  22. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2 by Studio TRIGGER — Kickstarter
  23. ↑ Studio Trigger Launches Little Witch Academia 2 Kickstarter
  24. ↑ Trigger's Little Witch Academia 2 Meets Kickstarter Goal
  25. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2 by Studio TRIGGER » New stretch goal (fix) — Kickstarter
  26. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2 by Studio TRIGGER » Stretch Goal achieved! — Kickstarter
  27. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2 Kickstarter Ends With US$625,518 Pledged
  28. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-25/little-witch-academia-streamed-again/.82625
  29. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-06-03/little-witch-academia-2-to-premiere-at-anime-expo-with-guests-hiroyuki-imaishi-yoh-yoshinari/.88881
  30. ↑ Little Witch Academia 2 by Studio TRIGGER » Message from Otsuka Masahiko — Kickstarter
  31. ↑ http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/12/15/little-witch-academia-the-enchanted-parade-streams-on-netflix
  32. ↑ http://reversethieves.com/2015/06/18/animenext-2015-trigger/#more-37389
  33. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-02/trigger-teases-new-project-and-new-inferno-cop-little-witch-academia-crossover-short/.90008
  34. ↑ Little Witch Academia Gets Short Manga in Ultra Jump
  35. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-11-22/little-witch-academia-manga-ends-in-ultra-jump/.95575
  36. ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-28/little-witch-academia-inspires-2-new-manga-series/.90996

External links

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