Witch Watch

Witch Watch[Jp. 1] is a Japanese fantasy and romantic comedy manga series written and illustrated by Kenta Shinohara. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump since February 2021, with its chapters collected into five tankōbon volumes as of April 2022.

Witch Watch
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Nico Wakatsuki
ウィッチウォッチ
(Witchi Wotchi)
Genre
Manga
Written byKenta Shinohara
Published byShueisha
English publisher
ImprintJump Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Jump
DemographicShōnen
Original runFebruary 8, 2021 – present
Volumes5

Synopsis

The series focuses on Nico Wakatsuki,[Jp. 2] a teenage witch who, after completing her magical training, moves into the house of her childhood friend and longtime crush Morihito Otogi,[Jp. 3] a human-looking ogre, with the intention of making him her familiar in the hope that this will help them become a couple. As the story progresses, Nico and Morihito find themselves forced to deal with the various supernatural and legendary beings they encounter in their daily lives while also trying to solve all the unpredictable problems Nico's magic causes.[3]

Production

In June 2021, Kenta Shinohara, the author of Witch Watch, revealed that it takes a five-day period to draw the characters, while the storyboards take two and a half days.[4]

Publication

Witch Watch is written and illustrated by Kenta Shinohara.[5][6] The manga began its serialization in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump on February 8, 2021.[7][8][9] Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on June 4, 2021.[10][11] As of April 4, 2022, five volumes have been released.[12]

Witch Watch has been licensed for simultaneous publication in North America as it is released in Japan, with its chapters being digitally launched by Viz Media on its Shonen Jump website. Shueisha also simulpublishes the series in English for free on the Manga Plus app and website.[13] Viz Media will publish its volumes in digital format.[14]

Volume list
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 June 4, 2021[15]978-4-08-882696-7February 22, 2022[16]978-1-9747-3261-6
  1. "Witch's Return" (魔女の帰還, Majo no Kikan)
  2. "A Magical Duo" (マジカルな二人, Majikaru na Futari)
  3. " A Giant Rookie" (大型ルーキー, Ōgata Rūkī)
  4. "Let's Go to a Family Restaurant" (ファミレス行こ!, Famiresu Iko!)
  1. "The Flying Classroom" (飛ぶ教室, Tobu Kyōshitsu)
  2. "Fresh Spring Transparent Fashions" (春のシースルーコーデ, Haru no Shīsurū Kōde)
  3. "Witch's Delivery Service" (魔女に宅急便, Majo ni Takkyūbin)
2 September 3, 2021[17]978-4-08-882764-3May 24, 2022[18]978-1-9747-3354-5
  1. "Lost Dogs and the Patter of Rain" (迷子犬と雨のビート, Maigo Inu to Ame no Bīto)
  2. "Kanshi Kazamatsuri the Tengu" (天狗-風祭監志, Tengu - Kazamatsuri Kanshi)
  3. "A Flying Demon" (天駆ける玄魔, Ama Kakeru Genma)
  4. "A Friendly Scrum" (友情のスクラム, Yūjō no Sukuramu)
  5. "Flutter Your Hair in the Hall" (渡り廊下かでなびかせろ, Watarirōka de Nabikasero)
  6. "My Student Is My Favorite Fan Artist" (教え子が推し絵師だった件, Oshiego ga Oshi Eshi Datta Ken)
  1. "My Tummy Is Tender Today" (今日はヘビーなストマック, Kyō wa Hebī na Sutomakku)
  2. "Cat Scout" (キャットスカウト, Kyatto Sukauto)
  3. "Under the Lovers' Tree, Part 1" (縁結びの樹の下で 前編, Enmusubi no Ki no Shita de Zenpen)
  4. "Under the Lovers' Tree, Part 2" (縁結びの樹の下で 後編, Enmusubi no Ki no Shita de Kōhen)
3 November 4, 2021[19]978-4-08-882842-8–—
  1. "Kanshi's Part Time Job Diaries ~The Superhero Show~" (カンシのバイト日記~ヒーローショー~, Kanshi no Baito Nikki ~Hīrō Shō~)
  2. "Dear Kara" (伽羅へ, Kara e)
  3. "Kan & Nico's Channel" (カンニコチャンネル, Kan Niko Chan'neru)
  4. "A Stray Cat's Bubble of Bliss" (通い猫の泡いひととき, Kayoi Neko no Awai Hitotoki)
  1. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 1" (大と雨滴-①, Inu to Amadare - 1)
  2. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 2" (大と雨滴-②, Inu to Amadare - 2)
  3. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 3" (大と雨滴-③, Inu to Amadare - 3)
  4. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 4" (大と雨滴-④, Inu to Amadare - 4)
  5. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 5" (大と雨滴-⑤, Inu to Amadare - 5)
4 February 4, 2022[20]978-4-08-883011-7–—
  1. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 6" (大と雨滴-⑥, Inu to Amadare - 6)
  2. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 7" (大と雨滴-⑦, Inu to Amadare - 7)
  3. "Dogs and Raindrops: Part 8" (大と雨滴-⑧, Inu to Amadare - 8)
  4. "Keigo Magami, the Werewolf" (狼男-真神圭護, Ōkami Otoko - Magami Keigo)
  1. "Release the Romance" (ときめきをときはなて, Tokimeki o Tokihanate)
  2. "The Tea Ceremony Is a Piece of Tea Cake" (お茶の心はお茶の子さいさい, Ocha no Kokoro wa Ocha no Ko Saisai)
  3. "Kind Tiger, Proud Wolf" (善人の虎高慢の狼, Zennin no Tora Kōman no Ōkami)
  4. "Diary of My Favorite Artist" (推し絵師日誌, Oshi Eshi Nisshi)
  5. "New Friends" (新しい友達, Atarashii Tomodachi)
5 April 4, 2022[12]978-4-08-883067-4–—
  1. "A Date with the Knight" (デート・ウィズ・ザ・ナイト, Dēto Wizu Za Naito)
  2. "Kanshi's Part Time Job Diaries ~The Side Job~" (カンシのバイト日記~内職ー~, Kanshi no Baito Nikki ~Naishoku~)
  3. "A Trope-tacular Student Council" (ベタベタ生徒会, Betabeta Seitokai)
  4. "The Student Council Introductions Video" (生徒会執行部紹介動画, Seitokai Shikkō-bu Shōkai Dōga)
  5. "Please, Morihito Sensei" (お願いモリヒト先生, Onegai Morihito-sensei)
  1. "I'm So Glad You're Here" (会えて嬉しい, Aete Ureshii)
  2. "Summer Monsters, Part 1" (夏の魔物-①, Natsu no Mamono - 1)
  3. "Summer Monsters, Part 2" (夏の魔物-②, Natsu no Mamono - 2)
  4. "Summer Monsters, Part 3" (夏の魔物-③, Natsu no Mamono - 3)

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

  1. "Miharu Kiryu, the Vampire" (吸血鬼-霧生見晴, Kyūketsuki - Kiryū Miharu)
  2. "Box Body Boys" (Box Body Boys (ボックスボディボーイズ), Bokkusu Bodi Bōizu)
  3. "The Creative Spark" (創作の火, Sōsaku no Hi)
  4. "Uron Mirage" (うろんミラージュ, Uron Mirāju)
  5. "Missing Parasol" (傘がない, Kasa ga Nai)
  6. "Moi's Denim Devotion" (モイちゃんのデニム道, Moi-chan no Denimu-dō)
  7. "A Freshman Witch and..." (駆け出し魔女と, Kakedashi Majo to)

Reception

Popularity

In June 2021, Witch Watch was nominated for the seventh Next Manga Award in the Best Printed Manga category and placed 10th out of 50 nominees.[21][22][23]

Critical response

Timothy Donohoo of Comic Book Resources compared Witch Watch to Kōji Miura's Blue Box and Shigure Tokita's Don't Blush, Sekime-san! due to both series having concepts and romantic aspects similar to Witch Watch's.[24]

Notes
  1. Japanese: ウィッチウォッチ, Hepburn: Witchi Wotchi
  2. 若月ニコ, Wakatsuki Niko
  3. 乙木守仁, Otogi Morihito

References
  1. 『彼方のアストラ』作者の新連載開始 天然魔女と堅物使い魔のマジカルコメディー. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. February 8, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  2. Donohoo, Timothy (July 9, 2021). "Shonen Jump: Why Witch Watch Is Hexing Its Magical Competition". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  3. Greenall, Jonathon (July 8, 2021). "Shonen Jump's Newest Trend Is the Superpowered Odd Couple". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  4. Egenolf, Kodie (June 13, 2021). "Manga Musing 06/13/2021". Viz Media. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  5. Harding, Daryl (February 8, 2021). "SKET Dance Creator Launches New Jump Manga Series WITCH WATCH". Crunchyroll. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. 漫画『ウィッチウォッチ』1巻発売　『彼方のアストラ』作者が描くマジカルコメディー (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. June 4, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  7. 篠原健太がジャンプに帰還、新連載は魔女と使い魔を描くマジカルコメディ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 8, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  8. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 17, 2021). "Shonen Jump Launches New Manga by Assassination Classroom & Astra Lost in Space Creators, 2 Others". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  9. 松井優征が史実をもとに描く新連載でジャンプ帰還！篠原健太らの新連載も. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 18, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  10. 篠原健太が描くドジっ子魔女と使い魔のマジカルコメディ「ウィッチウォッチ」1巻. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 4, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  11. ＜ウィッチウォッチ＞コミックス第1巻発売　「SKET DANCE」「彼方のアストラ」作者の“魔女×使い魔”コメディー (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. June 4, 2021. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  12. ウィッチウォッチ 5 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  13. Hazra, Adriana (February 8, 2021). "Viz Media, Manga Plus Release Kenta Shinohara's Witch Watch Manga in English". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  14. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (October 10, 2021). "Viz Announces Summer 2022 Book Releases Including Junji Ito's The Liminal Zone, Takashi Shiina's Yashahime Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  15. ウィッチウォッチ 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  16. "WITCH WATCH Vol.1". Viz Media. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  17. ウィッチウォッチ 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  18. "WITCH WATCH Vol.2". Viz Media. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  19. ウィッチウォッチ 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  20. ウィッチウォッチ 4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  21. Loveridge, Lynzee (June 21, 2021). "Voting Opens for Tsugi ni Kuru Manga 2021 Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  22. 「次にくるマンガ大賞2021」ノミネート作品発表　ウマ娘、【推しの子】、葬送のフリーレンなど話題作続々 (in Japanese). Yahoo! Japan. June 18, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  23. Loveridge, Lynzee (August 24, 2021). "Kaiju No. 8, Oshi no Ko Win Next Manga Awards Web, Print Categories". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  24. Donohoo, Timothy (September 15, 2021). "Shonen Jump's Newest Goldmine Is Awkward Romances". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved October 4, 2021.

Further reading
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