Journal with Witch is the Best of the Season

There's another grammar thing I wasn't able to get to in the video. Episode 3 is all about definitions. Asa is not mad that [Journal with Witch]>!her friend told her secret!<, rather she is frustrated at the idea that rather than being seen as an ongoing person, she will be collapsed into a static image. Oh she's *that* girl. The fact that a show can use grammar of all things to tell a story has been so fascinating, and why it's my favorite this season by far

Two Kamimashita vids in one month, is that even legal? [](#spinning)

You put what makes the series' approach to viewing characters, nay, people so special really well. We're all ongoing processes.

I kind of expect this to be downvoted to hell by the JJK and Frieren folks with that title.

Honestly, coming into this season, my most hyped anime was Golden Kamuy. But my god, Journal with Witch is making a case to beat it. It excels at not offering some outstanding characterization of both the aunt and niece. You end up really absorbed into their characters.

But also the visual storytelling is so good at maximizing the anime medium. I need the studio to be very good coming in, but good lord, it excels at so many things.

I usually have only 2-3 shows each season that I consider top tier, which usually just means I can’t wait for the next episode and would watch it as soon as it goes up.

But this season, there’s quite a few, like Frieren, Jujutsu Kaisen, Oshi no Ko, Torture Princess, Polar Opposites, Wash It All Away. And this show is among them.

I agree the writing in this show is very good however I am not as emotionally connected to its cast compared to a few other shows this season (Frieren S2, Polar Opposites, Wash it All Away, etc.). I still like it and I feel like it might be more of a slow burn and right now it's not at the level for me where I'm dying to see the next episode.

TBH I judge anime based on how fast they feel like they are ending to me. Journal is decent but the usual suspects are better (Fate/JJK/Frieren) to me along with sentenced to be a hero.

Hell I'd even say Mato S2 and Polar opposites are better but that being said, this isn't my kind of story most of the time (I don't actually watch anime for stories like this) so it is what it is.

I went into this season mostly thinking about returning series like Frieren or JJK, or even new series like Fate, but I'm so captivated by this anime that everything else has taken a backseat. Maybe as I’m getting older, I’m leaning more toward shows like this.

Yeah, I actually have to agree so far. It’s the best of the season for me at this point in time.

It's in my Top 3 of the season, after The Darwin Incident and just slightly above Shiboyugi: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table.

Everything that I'm watching is all new series (except Gnosia and Ganglion continuing as two cour from autumn 2025) and I'm not following any of the big/popular title returning series that some folks are referring to in contrast and comparing it against, so I can't judge any of those.

But Usagi Drop is the second series I ever watched, still one of my few 10s and top favorites, and ever since then I've always been saying how I originally thought there would be even a lot more of these more realistic and down to Earth-style family drama and coming of age series, Josei or otherwise, than there were, and wish there were at least one or more of these per season the same way there is with isekai, villainess, hero's party fantasies, etc (actually way more of those but I'd settle for even one realistic drama versus five or 10 of the others).

This is most definitely the best written show of the season for me, in my top two, the other being Jujutsu Kaisen for entirely different reasons. Both are sitting comfortably at a 9 with potential to become 10s for me depending on how each play out. Ikkoku Nikki reminds me of March Comes in Like a Lion in its character development and depth, and how it quietly lays out a huge amount of detail in very simple gestures and dialogue.

I think it is the best directed show of the season. Perhaps even of the past 13 months.

I suppose in terms of core story/characterization it doesn't reinvent the wheel so basically it's a YMMV situation when it comes to how much you like this story. There's nothing especially *new* here in terms of ground being tread.

That said, the treatment of the material is handled with a lot of restraint and maturity, without being overly minimalist. Characters don't behave in an "anime-like" manner but closer to how characters in a Japanese live action movie/series would behave.

Use of music is not excessively manipulative and a large chunk of scenes play out without BGM.

It reminds me of Only Yesterday in some ways. Or Supercub. While they are all nothing alike storywise, there is a maturity and restraint here in its direction and tone that is not common in most TV anime, which is similar to those titles.

It’s fast becoming my favorite new anime this Season. The Op and Ed are both excellent as well.

It's my favourite so far. So captivating!

Best. Absolutely not.

Really fucking good. Hell yes.

I’m watching 18 anime this season (kind of light for me honestly) and Journal With Witch and SHIBOYUGI are my two favorites by far.

When I studied French, this is what the exclamation for the verb tense “imperfect past”/passe-imparfait” sounded.

It’s one of my favorite verb tenses because the ambiguity is very comfortable.

I love when a show comes out of nowhere and instantly becomes one of my favourites.

I fell in love instantly when watching the first ep!!!! I really hope it keeps being amazing!!

It's my best of the season, too.

In ways *Journal With Witch* contextualizes my feelings after my own dad died that I could never really put into words or the words I could find but didn't feel comfortable saying aloud to people around me. It's a brilliantly written story and I hope more people watch it.

I know they are different stories and plots, but this gives “With you and the Rain” vibes from last season which I loved as well

After Frieren, it’s the best for me. Haven’t been surprised like this since Takopi. This show is absolutely fantastic and I pray they animate the entire thing.

I'm new to this sub and I need to talk about this anime.

Only four episodes in and I can't remember the last time I connected with something so deeply.

Some of the things this anime portrays well are:

Grief and loneliness
The complicated feelings involved with abusive family members
The unique suffering you feel when you were raised in a broken home
Being strong to emotionally support others while dealing with your own pain

On multiple occasions I've had to pause and take a moment almost in shock.

The scene where Asa in the desert was a beautiful representation of not only the dissociation felt after losing a loved one but also feeling lost in life when you didn't come from a loving home.

Asa forgetting her way to here new home was also a perfect example of how you are in a daze after a traumatic event and how your mind hasn't fully come to grips with your new reality.

This anime also gets into what it means to truly love. Some parents will do everything to signal that they are good parents while not actually being emotionally available to their children.

Makio isn't outwardly loving, but she listens and doesn't try to tell Asa how she should feel. I believe this kind of empathy only comes from someone that has suffered and has lived around controlling family members.

Sorry I know I'm not the most well spoken and not really sure if this is the best place to discuss but I needed to talk about this anime

Yes, I actually have to agree so far. Nice sirise 

Gave this anime a try on a whim, since I had nothing else to watch. And wow. I just finished episode 3 and found myself in tears. It really is such a good anime so far, and now I feel like I need to read the manga. I will be looking forward to new episodes.