When Asa is fifteen, her parents die in a car crash, leaving her orphaned and alone and terribly, terribly numb. She walks through the early days of her loss in a daze, her wide green eyes dry as no tears come. Her future is uncertain; her relatives outdo one another in explaining why she is not their responsibility. Then Makio speaks up. Or rather, shouts, with eyes flashing in anger, like a wolf cast out of the pack. Makio is her aunt, a writer who, despite her trade, is often rough with her words and brusque in her manner, her deep shyness coming across as rudeness. She also hated Asa’s mother, which is why the aunt and niece don’t know one another. But it is Makio who offers Asa a place to stay and a corner in her world—and perhaps even an awkward companion through the desert of loneliness that stretches out before the girl. Then Makio throws Asa a lifeline: “You should keep a journal.”
Guys. It’s here. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! Journal with Witch is probably my most anticipated series of the year, to be honest, and it was everything I hoped it would be and more besides! This is such a moving coming-of-age slice-of-life series about mourning and grief, on the one hand, and the discovery of joy and purpose on the other, and this adaptation is getting everything right, capturing the very heart of the story from the outset. It is quirky and poetic, philosophical and childlike, all in one—both the series as a whole, and this first episode! The character designs and light, airy linework do well to translate mangaka Tomoko Yamashita’s elegant illustration style for the rigors of animation, with the rich yet subtle color design enhancing the cleanness of the art. Kensuke Ushio’s minimalist, experimental touch on the score is sublime (as always) and perfect for a story about deep emotions hesitantly expressed, breathing the desert-scape of Asa’s inner world into vivid reality. Makio’s seiyuu, Miyuki Sawashiro, is perfectly cast, hitting the exact right notes of warmth, agitation, and awkwardness with every line, while newcomer Fuuko Mori as Asa really holds her own. These are solid performances, strong enough to carry this so rare of a series—a drama about two generations of women that does not revolve around romance, professions, or hobbies, but rather engages with life, in all its rawness, pain, unexpectedness, and ultimately, hope.
And the thing is, it’s already all there, in this episode (it’s just so well written!): There’s this moment at the very beginning where Asa is singing as she cooks breakfast, when she realizes that she’s probably disturbing Makio, who is already working (or perhaps was working all through the night?). She’s immediately apologetic, but her aunt interrupts her…to ask her to sing something by Justin Bieber. It catches Asa off-guard—as I daresay it does for the viewer—this playful request in place of reprimand; the unexpected humor; and Makio’s unwavering confidence that Asa could definitely pull it off. This moment is a microcosm of this entire series; and it’s absolutely beautiful. (Also, Makio’s solution to everything is to ask whether they should eat something—even though she can’t cook! Love her. She’s trying.) Go watch it! I know I am (again).
Journal with Witch is streaming on Crunchyroll.
(For the manga, Ikoku Nikki hasn’t been licensed yet in English, but it’s available in French as Entre les lignes.)
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