When discussing anime, certain series instantly spring to mind, conjuring vivid images of intense battle sequences, over-the-top characters, and epic adventure tales. However, like any medium, anime can sometimes be more nuanced, with some series choosing to set aside action to tackle more difficult, down-to-earth subjects. Slice-of-life anime is often cozy and comfortable, giving viewers the chance to simply catch their breath and relax after watching more demanding series or dealing with real-life struggles. This season's Journal with Witch is a bit different, blending those soft and gentle moments with a depiction of grief so authentic that it's sometimes uncomfortable to watch.
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Despite the title's name, Journal with Witch has nothing to do with fantasy or otherworldly powers, instead telling a quiet tale of two people tossed into a difficult situation they could never have predicted. The overarching theme of the series is loss and the complex ways that grief can manifest itself, though it also heavily focuses on loneliness, the concept of self-worth, and what 'family' really means. For many, this has been the sleeper hit of the Winter 2026 anime season, and there's plenty more to come.
Journal with Witch Is a New Slice of Life Series That Tackles Some Majorly Heavy Topics
An adaptation of the popular manga series by Tomoko Yamashita, Journal with Witch follows Asa Takumi, a 15-year-old girl whose life is thrown into turmoil after her parents are tragically killed in a car accident. Her mother's estranged sister, the 35-year-old novelist Makio Kodai, agrees to take Asa in after watching the rest of the family treat her like a burden. However, this isn't easy, as Makio isn't a fan of social contact and had a very troubled relationship with Asa's deceased mother, with the pair never managing to reconcile. As the two begin the new chapter of their lives under the same roof, their personalities clash and issues arise, but common ground isn't too hard to find.
Journal with Witch isn't flashy. The series features simple and pleasant animation, favoring muted colors to allow its realistic characters to shine. Following the loss of her parents, it's expected that Asa would be a blubbering mess, struggling to cope with school, a new home, and the many responsibilities and stresses of being a teenager on top of her inconceivable loss. This isn't immediately the case, however, as the girl simply goes on with life as usual, scarcely shedding a tear and choosing to hum and sing as she takes on some of the housework around Makio's messy flat. Similarly, Makio seems unbothered about the tragedy, easily announcing to Asa that she hated the girl's mother. The pair's dynamic is somewhat stressful at first, as viewers wait for the other shoe to drop and for the cruel reality of the situation to sink in. But will it ever?
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Plenty of other aspects of the anime adaptation can be applauded, from its writing style (that feels like real life and not a script) to its gentle soundtrack and voice acting. Where it shines most, however, is its painfully nuanced depiction of the human condition, particularly when it comes to grief and the complexities of new relationships. Asa should be a wreck after losing her mother, Makio should be distraught over the loss of her sister, and the pair should find it blindingly difficult to get along and coexist in the same apartment. Yet life isn't so black and white, and these "shoulds" mean nothing at all. Most of the time, Asa still smiles. Makio continues to write her novels, and the two trade contact information, cook together, and chat like the best of friends. Humans are odd and unpredictable creatures, after all.
Everyone Deals With Grief in Their Own Way, and Journal with Witch Doesn’t Shy Away From How This Can Manifest
In some quiet moments, Asa's grief surprises her, prompting tears and a brutal wave of loneliness to come crashing down. In others, she feels a hot rage, and most of the time, she feels detached from her new reality. This is how the mind can protect us from pain that is too much to bear, and rather than prompting the high-schooler to face her demons, Makio does the opposite. The author simply tells her to take things at her own pace, giving her a journal in which to record her thoughts, no matter how ridiculous or upsetting they may be. Death has a way of making those left behind contemplate their own lives more deeply, and Asa learns this quickly, contemplating with some haste what she wants to do with her life and whether her parents would approve of her choices, adding another layer to her struggle.
Journal with Witch teaches a powerful lesson—that two people need not understand each other perfectly to be close, and feelings aren't something to be judged. We can't help how we feel, regardless of what society may imply. Not crying doesn't necessarily mean we're not sad, just as not smiling doesn't necessarily mean we're not happy. Its honesty and willingness to showcase the messy reality of coping with a major tragedy are what make the series stand out as one worth watching this season, and perhaps rewatching when life feels a little too heavy.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
While Journal with Witch isn't the only series to tackle such raw topics, it's certainly one of the more competent releases. If the series manages to hook you, other emotionally charged anime series to add to the watchlist include Blue Period, Given, Violet Evergarden, Your Lie in April, and Orange.