Little Witch Academia: The Series Part 2 Episodes 5-8

Akko Kagari has finally made it to Luna Nova, the school where her greatest inspiration, Shiny Chariot, attended.  But when you’re a girl with zero magical talent, studying to become the best witch is the greatest challenge.  Between clashes with rivals and trying to save her roommates from a mushroom expanding infection, Akko is learning more and more about the school she now calls home and the troubles it might be facing that no one else knows about.  But Akko isn’t about to let anything stop her from becoming just like Shiny Chariot.  She may need to read a ton of books for class…but her real magic comes from within.

Little Witch Academia has succeeded in multiple area from visuals to world building.  The one thing is has absolutely been without doubt is fun.  This is a feel good show and this weeks second outing proves that with four more stellar episodes the progress Akko’s journey to proper Witch-Hood and set up a possibly greater conflict to come for the world she loves so much

I guess I should’ve mentioned last review that LWA’s world of magic also exists in the modern age, where technology could be considered it’s rival.  This week the argument of Magic vs. Technology took the forefront a few times.  Its been mentioned that Luna Nova isn’t as prominent as it used to be and that they’ve even had to start accepting non magical students like Akko just to keep the lights on.  The school is in constant danger of being shut down by snobbish benefactors or a Dragon in a bathrobe who plays the stock market (yes you read that last part correctly).  After all, when some see it as mere spectacle than something truly useful, why is magic even relevant anymore?  Being a fan of both fantasy and science fiction, I sometimes find it sad when the two fandoms I grew up with cant get along.  And then Akko comes in.  She is the girl who never stops believing and sees magic as the ultimate tool for happiness and hope more than a daily necessity.  Sure she royally sucks at magical studies and practice (even if she was taken in as a pity case how the hell has she not been expelled yet), but her endearing attitude makes it hard to get fully annoyed with Akko and her belief in magic might be her greatest source of strength.

That’s not to say that magic and technology cant get along.  This week also gave some spotlight to Amanda, Jazminka and Constance, the second three girl team of witches that were introduced in Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade.  Constance is the big stand out.  She doesn’t speak but she works to fuse magic and technology together to make her life a lot easier…and she gets good grades for it too.  She has an electric enhanced wand and broom and has a penchant for magically powered weaponry like shotguns and rocket launchers…yeah Constance might just be a strong contender for best character in the show.  Granted she does have to compete with Sucy, who had the one of the best episodes to date in this set.  Akko’s wacky adventure into the mind of the poison obsessed student was classic Studio Trigger: a chance for the animation staff to cut loose with Disney inspired animations and multiple nods to other Anime titles like Akira and Ace Attorney.  As much as it was a race to save Sucy’s life (supposedly, it could have all been a dream), it was an episode that didn’t take itself too seriously and allowed us to see dozens of sides of Sucy we normally wouldn’t see and theyre all entertaining as the one we love in the real world. 

One area LWA delved into that im curious will go anywhere is the possibility that Akko might now have a love interest.  I got a bit of a Disney romance vibe when Akko met Andrew, the handsome son of one of Luna Nova’s biggest benefactors.  It wasn’t quite love at first sight.  Akko did end up reminding Andrew why he wasn’t a magic fan when she gave him donkey ears and a tail…or were they supposed to be rat ears like she had?  Still, the pair had a fun run through a blocked off section of campus, being chased by a Polar Bear of all things (random Lost reference), which led to Akko getting some inspiration from a glimpse into the past of Shiny Chariot.  Andrew seemed to lighten up and helped Akko a bit during the episode but will his more accepting attitude stick?  Is he going to be around later on or is he a one off?  I think he will be back but I don’t see romance being a big focus factor of LWA.  Speaking of Shiny Chariot, Professor Ursula finally stopped being the clumsy teacher and stood up for Akko against one of her more obnoxious and stuck up elderly coworkers.  This one teacher has had it out for Akko since Day One and it was about time she got taken down a peg and im glad Ursula was the one to do so, by reinforcing my earlier point that Akko’s love for magic and desire to make peoples lives happy while using it is her greatest attribute.  Now how long before Ursula reveals she is Chariot to her biggest fan? 

Good character growth and some really fun adventures were the big highlight of this weeks second act of Little Witch Academia.  Much like we saw in Sucy’s mind, Akko can be a bit grating but she’s the underdog I’ll continue to root for.  We also got some starting momentum on a possible Luna Nova being closed storyline balanced by a ton of hilarious Anime nods that Studio Trigger is best known for.  All in all, this show is good, not quite the original short film good but still just as fun and uplifting, a true feel good show.  Cant wait to see what kind of feel good vibes it brings next week as we hit Little Witch Academia’s halfway mark.