Although Atsuko is an ordinary girl, she became enamored by witches and magic by a magic show she saw as a kid hosted by a witch named Shiny Chariot. Now, she has aspires to be a witch, taking the first step by joining a renowned academy for witches called Luna Nova Academy. Although she faces hardship as a first generation witch and fan of Shiny Chariot, whom many consider a fraud, she and her two friends do their best each new day.
Although it started as an OVA, it won over many fans with brilliant animation and deviating from anime traditions. Now with a full length TV series, people are still flocking to it. Can these anime recommendations capture the same magic as Little Witch Academia?
Anime Like Little Witch Academia
For Fans of Bright and Beautiful Animation
Flip Flappers
Paprika and Cocona hold the keys to open the door where they can meet from their different times in a dimension called Pure Illusion. In this dimension, they search for the Shard of Mimi which is said to grant any wish. However, finding it will not be easy.
Flip Flapper and Little Witch Academia are two recent works of art in the animation world. They are both bright and colorful while also being fluid and stunning to watch. While Flip Flappers isn’t strictly about witches, they do possess some rather magical powers.
Space Patrol Luluco
Living in the rather abnormal Ogikubo, the only Space Immigration Zone on Earth and a melting pot of aliens and humans, bubbly Luluco just wants to be normal. However, when her father accidentally eats a powerful sleep capsule that freezes him solid and she also accidentally breaks him, she rushes over the Space Patrol to take his place in the office. There, the chief Over Justice hires her as an undercover agent to sniff out crime at her school.
First of all, Little Witch Academia and Space Patrol Luluco were made by the same studio. There is even a Luluco reference in Little Witch Academia. However, both shows also feature beautiful animation and super bubbly characters as is typical with shows that share a studio.
Kiznaiver
Katsuhira Agata is a quiet teen whose ability to feel pain has vanished. One day, he, his friend Chidori, and four other teenagers are abducted and bound together by the Kizuna System. While not physically connected, their pain is. Now if one party member is injured, they all feel it.
Although these two seem vastly different outside the of the just eye-blowingly beautiful animation. Both series feature characters you can strongly sympathize with as well as a dark twist near the end that shows you that both worlds are just kind of messed up.
For Fans of Dream-Chasing Characters
My Hero Academia
After the sudden appearance of super powers, or “quirks,” now 80 percent of humanity has some kind of power. With some Quirk users turning to crime, it gave rise to super heroes that help the police keep the peace. Since he was a child, Izuku Midoriya has idolized super heroes, especially the symbol of peace, All Might, but he is devastated to learn that he won’t manifest a Quirk himself. Still, he studies super heroes and is determined to become one. After a chance encounter with All Might, Midoriya learns that there still may be a chance for him to be a hero after all.
The similarities here aren’t just with their titles, but both focus on ordinary humans that dare to dream to be something that will be much more difficult for them to reach – be it hero or witch. However, they try with varying success.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki are your typical middle school girls, but one day they encounter a cute creature named Kyuubey that offers to grant them one wish. In exchange for their wish, they must become magical girls and protect humanity from witches. While Sayaka accepts right away, Madoka is more hesitant, not knowing what she would wish for. However, her decision is even further delayed when the mysterious Homura Akemi, a transfer student, begs her not to accept.
The magical girls in Madoka Magica aren’t so different from witches, despite the actual witches in this show being bad. However, what this show really has in common with Little Witch Academia is that it starts off pretty light and hopeful, but slowly drifts closer to the dark side.
K-On!
Upon entering high school, Yui is immediately entranced by the Light Music Club. The problem is, she can’t play an instrument. Deciding to join the club anyway, the other club members, despite disappointment in her lack of musical knowledge, allow her to join to prevent the club’s disbandment. Today begins Yui’s musical education!
Who would have thought you could compare these two, right? However, while K-On is about music and Little Magic Academia is about witches, they are similar in their addicting animation and adorable characters. In both shows, the main characters are also pursuing a dream, despite starting off just terrible at it.
For Fans of Witches
The Flying Witch
The young Makoto Kowata is a witch, but her skills in magic leave something to be desired. To further train her craft, she moves to rural Aomori to live with her cousins. This area, rich in nature, is the perfect place to commune with natural forces and hone her craft.
While My Little Witch Academia is about younger girls and has a little more vivacious animation, The Flying Witch features more realistic art and a more laid-back vibe. It is also focuses on a little more spirituality rather than the “magic just because” of Little Witch Academia.
Magical DoReMi
With parents that constantly fighting, a little sister that makes fun of her, and a crush that is in love with another girl, Doremi considers herself the unluckiest girl in the world. If only she could just wave a magic wand and give herself a better life. However, after a mishaps with a real witch, Doremi finds herself as a witch apprentice, but even that is pretty terrible.
Both shows focus around human, non-magical girls on their path to become witches. However, while human girls in Little Witch Academia are a rarity, they are all over Doremi. The real difference is that Doremi isn’t really proper witches, it is more like magical girls.
Tweeny Witches
Arusu believes in magic, even if there is none in her world. However, she finds herself transported to another one full of elite witches. These ladies are hard at work capturing magical creatures and forcing them into slavery. Realizing her surroundings aren’t just a dream, Arusu tries to change them.
Despite having a silly English name, Tweeny Witches and Little Witch Academia are about clumsy witch apprentices that are absolutely enamored with magic despite being from a non-magical background. However, while Little Witch Academia hides its darkness for a bit, Tweeny Witches world is pretty dark.
Did we miss any mystical magical wonderful anime recommendations for Little Witch Academia? Let us know in the comments section below.
