Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina – Anime Review

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina

We all had our favorite storybooks and fairy tales when we were younger. Be it tales of great heroes accomplishing impressive feats and being recognized, or of princesses finding their place in the world and becoming beloved after many trials and tribulations. Maybe your favorites were completely outside these common tropes and told an entirely different kind of adventure, each one forming our early fantasies and desires. These tales hold a special place in our hearts and hit us with a wave of nostalgia in the present, perhaps shaping who we have become.

“Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina,” also known as “Majo no Tabitabi,” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 2nd of October until the 18th of December in Fall 2020. It was produced by Lantis, Movic, AT-X, Kadokawa Media House, Kadokawa, and SB Creative; licensed by Funimation (now streaming on Crunchyroll); and animated by Studio C2C. The main staff behind the project are producers Cook Justin, Kikushima Kazufumi, Ogata Mitsuhiro, and Yoshie Terushige. Featuring the genres of adventure and fantasy, this 24-minute-per-episode series earned an R-17+ rating for its violence and profanity.

The anime is based on the light novel of the same title, which began publication on April 15, 2016, and is still ongoing, thanks to author Shiraishi Jougi and artist Azure. It was even published in English via Yen Press under the Yen On imprint on the 28th of January 2020. A manga adaptation under the same title released a total of six volumes from November 29th until March 28th, 2024. It was the work of the same author, but artist Nanao Itsuki, whose work got serialized in Manga UP! This installment was also published in English by Square Enix from the 14th of July 2020 to the 19th of August 2025. A new anime film sequel was officially announced at GA Fes 2026, confirmed by author Jougi Shiraishi to continue the story directly from where the TV series left off. Additional details, such as staff and release date, have yet to be disclosed.

The series centers on the titular protagonist, Elaina, who has always been fascinated by stories since childhood. Even among these great tales, her ties are strongest to those in her favorite book featuring the renowned witch Nike. This marvelous entity has undertaken many great travels across the world, and it’s no exaggeration to say she has inspired many. Wishing to experience the very awe of adventure for herself, Elaina is determined to become a witch and eventually succeeds despite the many trials thrown at her. After becoming a full-fledged witch, she finally sets off on her long-awaited journey, where she is destined to meet many different people along the way while learning their own unique stories. By embarking on this grand journey, she explores the world in all its fullness, experiencing both its light and dark sides, thereby sparking her own legendary tale that inspires future generations!

Elaina starts as a sheltered child possessing outstanding proficiency in magic, full of childish innocence and not quite as acquainted with failure as most. This young and pure soul always dreamed of one day becoming a witch, but no experienced witch took her under their wing, even though she passed the Magic Exams, owing to her age. Elaina’s folks end up directing her to the “Stardust Witch,” Fran, who was probably the apprentice of Elaina’s mother. With her guidance, our MC finally conquered the road to becoming a full-fledged mage and became the “Ashen Witch.” This finally opens the doors for her to explore the whole world from the skies and discover new things at every turn, things that would have otherwise remained a mystery to her forever.

Thus, the series follows a very episodic format, with each installation telling a different story. It can range from visiting a brand-new city to meeting new people to discovering something new. Still, each of these tales is unique and intriguing on its own, at times magical and enchanting, and at others even violent and depressing. Not even one episode felt repetitive or unnecessary, allowing us to explore this beautiful fantasy world in detail alongside the protagonist. There’s no shortage of surprises and twists, showcasing a truly imaginative story that I’m sure the author loved writing, as it is rife with emotion and care.

When it comes to the Character department, Elaina is obviously front and center as a truly charming protagonist who can attract other characters and audiences alike. She becomes a witch at only fifteen years of age, just three years before the series begins, and is not perfect right off the bat. Although lacking experience, she knows exactly what she wants to do in life, and her beautiful adventures teach her priceless lessons that mold her into a stronger person. At the same time, she remains a kind, loving, and considerate individual who doesn’t necessarily seek out trouble but is always up for helping people with problems that may have nothing to do with her. She even stands for the weak, poor, and vulnerable, with many layers to what may seem like a simple personality on the surface, and she develops along the way as well.

The next character I want to mention is Saya, an apprentice witch whom Elaina runs into in the Land of Mages and ultimately changes her life. With Elaina’s help, she passes the Magic Exams, and we can just feel how much she adores her mentor throughout the show. Fran has her own unique backstory, on top of being the amazing teacher who molded Elaina into who she is, and thus shares a special bond with her. While none of the supporting cast are worth mentioning individually, they all felt unforced, realistic, and uniquely appealing on their own terms, helping keep the show fresh and engaging at every turn.

The Art and Animation department is a wonder to behold, right alongside this magical world, full of unique and breathtaking scenes that would make superb wallpapers. The level of detailing is surreal, and all the visuals flow ever so smoothly in cohesion. Every line and color is carefully chosen to work together, and every significant detail is highlighted to ensure we miss nothing. Even the magic the characters use looks wonderful, and we see Elaina doing it very often, which carries over into the action scenes. The animation of character movement is a highlight for me, with everyone looking fluid and natural as they perform their actions consistently. The character designs, especially Elaina’s, are done with such charm and positivity that it oozes through the screen, so you can just feel all the hard work and effort that went into this. Even the remaining cast of characters is portrayed in ways that reveal something about their personalities and backgrounds, leaving me wondering how they’ll be integrated alongside Elaina.

The Sounds and Music department is equally handled with love and care. Every OST, though subtle most of the time, suits each scene perfectly and enhances the mood, too. The opening theme is “Literature” by Reina Ueda, which has a calming feel and is a wonderful way to turn the page in your mind for each episode’s story in the charming grimoire of Elaina. It brings with it the prospect of beauty, fun, and intrigue with each passing event, framing it as your adventure as much as it is Elaina’s, and reminding you that you are the author of your own story. The ending theme, “Haiiro no Saga” by Chou Cho, is quite literally the polar opposite; it has a solemn, dark, mysterious, and even slightly frightening vibe, reminding us this journey isn’t all just sunshine and rainbows. Voice acting is also superb across the board. All of these pieces combine to make you genuinely excited for the adventures and to wonder about the mysteries to be unravelled along the way.

Overall, “Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina” is a fantastic experience of accompanying Elaina on her mystical journey. Each passing episode has a unique vibe and story, making you feel something new every time, and the colorful characters with their distinct backgrounds make everything hit that much harder. Everyone has a story to tell, feelings to express, thoughts to convey, and emotions to stir in the audience, so kudos to the fantastic team that put so much thought and effort into this lovable project. By the end, I felt quite sad to depart from this world and would very much love an entire line of sequels, so long as they retain the same wonder and feel of this season. There is no genre restriction here either, because quite literally anyone can enjoy the plethora of well-woven elements here that never feel forced or out of place, so I highly recommend this series to anyone.