Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches

As a child of the 70s who's been watching anime since VHS fansubs, I've seen plenty of series come and go. Some leave lasting impressions; others blend into the crowd. Today, let's get into an anime that straddles the line between memorable and average: "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches."

Tomoki Takuno is the creator of the famous Japanese animation studio Liden Films' anime series "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches." Liden Films is well-recognized for its other popular anime adaptations, such as "Terra Formars" and "Berserk." Michiko Yokote penned the script for the series. Crunchyroll licensed the series for distribution in North America, while Medialink holds the license for South Asia. The anime is an adaptation of the manga series of the same name, written and illustrated by Miki Yoshikawa.

The manga series was serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Magazine and published by Kodansha from February 2012 to February 2017. The series was later compiled into 28 tankōbon volumes. Digital publishing of the series in English commenced in 2013 through Crunchyroll, and later in 2015, Kodansha USA licensed it for publication in North America.

The anime adaptation aired in Japan from April to June 2015, including 12 episodes, each approximately 24 minutes. It explores a unique blend of genres, including Comedy, Mystery, Romance, and the supernatural. It caters to the Shounen demographic. Given its content, it carries a PG-13 rating.

Rarely is there a school in "Anime Japan" that viewers could call normal; Suzaku High School is no exception. Nestled in Japan is a school that harbors a unique group of students known as the "Seven Witches." Like any good witch who doesn't have a house atop them, they are endowed with remarkable powers.

It's surmised that these powers emerged from their desires. Typically, the witches manifest their abilities through a kiss, but exceptions exist where capabilities can be deployed via regular body contact. This renders them potentially dangerous should they misuse their powers. What witch has ever done that? While these powers are mainly neutral, certain ones can produce adverse effects, like the "Provocation Power."

Provocation power is a technique that simply tells you where this anime is headed, and where it's headed is to the introduction of our protagonist Ryu, or Ryuu (going with the former) Yamada.

Ryu Yamada is a second-year student at Suzaku High. He sleeps in class, arrives late, gets into fights, and gets poor grades. He's Timmy Turner without the fairies. Ryu's life takes an unexpected turn when he falls down a flight of stairs and lands on Urara Shiraishi, the top student at his school—waking to discover that he has swapped bodies with her. I'm also going to go out on a limb here and say he also learned why you don't wear slippers in school, but I digress.

Now, buyer, beware if you ever exchange bodies with a person of the opposite sex, as the packages will be compared to the receipts. Yamada-kun immediately did what I would have done in this circumstance, providing laughter and a glance at the protagonist and deuteragonist. In doing so, it is easy to overlook the brilliance of the anime in favor of comedy and fan service.

This is a romantic comedy, but its brilliance lies in examining identity and the masks we wear to conceal ourselves. This anime's level of introspection distinguishes it from the typical mindless entertainment of the genre.

So I'm giving away a little bit of the story, but you know how there's always that one guy in anime that puts all the pieces together for the entire story? He usually has silver hair or wears glasses; yeah, they've got one of those too, so when you try to hide a secret long enough, there's usually somebody that will figure that out. Toranosuke Miyamuras is that guy.

They revive the Supernatural Studies Club on the advice of Toranosuke Miyamura, the student council vice president, and Miyabi Ito, a student interested in supernatural phenomena, joins right away. Miyabi Ito is that one character who fills that one trope of the oddball who doesn't fit in. As the series progresses, Kentaro Tsubaki becomes the final member.

The Supernatural Studies Club also offers something we all want: high school drama. The Student council president's race and club budget issues, which remind me of the first season of Mob Psycho, allow for excellent character development among our principal and secondary characters. Additionally, it advances the plot. But what about the witches?

In a devilishly bizarre twist of fate, Ryu finds himself in a constant game of smooch and switch. Each lingering kiss with a witch causes him to suck up their powers like a paranormal vacuum, leaving him untouched by their abilities. His power switches faster than a fashionista in a thrift store, rendering the previous witch's abilities as useless as a chocolate teapot. His mimicry of the witches' powers doesn't just throw a new dynamic into the mix; it tosses it in, stirs it around, and sets it on fire.

The plot thickens as Yamada and the Supernatural Studies Club take a break from their midnight horror movie marathons to find the seven witches, a task loaded with danger, mystery, and a heavy sprinkle of insanity. As rumor has it, any lucky or unlucky soul who rounds up these witchy wonders gets a free wish. But be careful what you wish for.

The infamous seven witches: Nene Odagiri, Meiko Otsuka, Maria Sarushima, Noa Takigawa, Mikoto Asuka, and Rika Saionji, pop up throughout the series, each endowed with a power as unique as their favorite brand of eye-liner. Urara Shiraishi, in a twist as tasty as wasabi ice cream, can swap bodies with anyone she kisses. Nene Odagiri has the power of charm that makes people around her as smitten as kittens in mittens. Meiko Otsuka, Miss Mind-Reader herself, turns the art of conversation on its head. Foretelling the future, Maria Sarushima carries her crystal ball around in the form of a premonition power.

The enigmatic Mikoto Asuka, who might as well have "Does not exist" stamped on her file, can turn invisible—perfect for those days when you just can't deal with people. Noa Takigawa, our very own time-traveling historian, has the power to see the past. Lastly, Rika Saionji, the mistress of memory manipulation, can erase or alter memories, and boy, don't we all have a few we wouldn't mind her tinkering with?

Each equipped with peculiar powers, This band of witches spins the wild and wicked tale of "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches." But remember, it's all fun and games until someone gets hexed.

This anime is entertaining because of its lighthearted tone; it is nothing like I expected. "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" is a whirlwind of comic relief in which absurd character interactions generate humor. Characters misusing their abilities unexpectedly or landing in painfully awkward situations is a hilarious way to build character depth and relationships and a clever comedy device.

This anime combines supernatural, romantic comedy, and harem elements in a refreshing cocktail. The protagonist is not your typical Romeo romancing all the witches, but rather a problem-solving partner—that is a plot tornado, not a plot twist!

The series' backbone may be a comedy, but adding dramatic elements keeps the audience on their toes, creating a balance as perfect as a well-cooked ramen bowl. The animation's visual humor adds a splash of vibrant colors and expressive character designs, enhancing the comedic appeal of the series. Comic highlights include Yamada's first power use, which results in a wig disaster, and Yamada's disguise as Shiraishi, in which he challenges Leona to a strip tease to discover the seventh witch. His awkward icebreaker about underwear is a hilarious addition to the series' humor quotient, as is his reaction to becoming Miyamura's secretary.

Like Yamada's view on the "bro code," one-liners that stick with you keep the humor rolling; all of these come together like a well-oiled comedy machine, setting "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" apart from other works in its genre and guaranteeing an unforgettable, hilarious viewing experience.

In "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches," the intriguing body-swapping twist becomes the linchpin for a profound exploration of interpersonal connections, emotional intricacies, and romantic themes. It's akin to dipping "Freaky Friday" into the rich hues of anime, giving rise to a reflective layer that distinguishes it from the garden-variety, slapstick-laden series.

Critics and enthusiasts alike applaud the anime's artwork. The animation is the work of Liden Films, a renowned Japanese studio known for films like "Terra Formars" and "The Heroic Legend of Arslan," which display their seasoned talent.

Helming the character design is Eriko Iida, the creative mind behind the visually arresting "Children of the Whales." The anime's vibrantly dynamic sequences contrast brilliantly against the witches' distinct appearances, emblematic of their individualism and abilities. The anime's steady, reliable animation is remarkable, with neither quality nor vigor faltering over time. Thanks to Liden Films and Eriko Iida's skillful hand, "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" elevates animation into an art form, producing a captivating adaptation that's as eye-pleasing as it is engaging.

The music in "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" is excellent. The voice actors bless them and bring their characters to life, delivering the goods in a downright realistic and riveting manner. No joke, the soundscape is the work of maestro Masaru Yokoyama, who worked on other major releases like "Your Lie in April" and "Fate/Apocrypha."

The opening track, "Kuchizuke Diamond" by WEAVER, is so catchy it'll rattle around your brainbox for days—and that's a good thing. It sets up the vibe for the show just right, pulling you into the world of witches and high school drama. And when it's time to close out, "CANDY MAGIC" by Mimi Meme MIMI hits the spot with its upbeat energy, perfectly capping off each episode.

Not to mention the backbone of it all—the background score (tell me if you hear the Napoleon Dynamite sample); it is like a perfectly tailored suit, enhancing every scene and emotion while perfectly fitting the anime. Give it up for the sound department, folks—they've nailed it!

Witchful Thinking | Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches | Anime Review | Pinnedupink.com

Kicking off the regular rom-com playbook, "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" weaves a narrative that's anything but cliché. Say goodbye to the humdrum beach episodes and overdone culture festival sagas. Instead, brace yourself for a roller coaster ride with each of the seven witches' unique powers, adding an element of surprise to every episode.

But be warned, this ain't your mama's rom-com. With its quirky blend of sunshine, rainbows, and a fair share of turbulence, "Yamada-kun" serves up a roller coaster ride that occasionally jumps its tracks. The creators, in a manic bid to fit a sprawling narrative into a measly 12 episodes, have succumbed to the all-too-common sin of our binge-watch era: breathless pacing that leaves some character arcs feeling rushed or, worse, half-baked.

Then there's the Ecchi element. Yes, it comes with the territory, but at times it feels like the anime is gorging on an overdose of ogle fests targeting the girls' figures and assets. Sometimes it reeks of superfluity—something that just exists for the heck of it. So if you're allergic to such visual seasoning, consider yourself warned.

But hey, if your anime diet craves a smorgasbord of comedy, romance, and supernatural shenanigans, "Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches" is just the ticket. Sure, it has flaws like speed-demon pacing and a tendency to pile on the ecchi, but no anime's perfect. It's about the overall package; trust me, this one's worth watching.

What this show does, it does with style: an original and intriguing plot, characters that you can't help but root for, and humor that'll have you spraying ramen from your nostrils. It's a clever cocktail of comedy, romance, and the supernatural. If that's your kind of brew, then you're in for a treat.