Magical DoReMi

Ojamajo Doremi is an amazing series. It is an almost perfect case of how to execute a proper magical girl anime that creates strong emotional connections with the characters that has you looking forward to more of their adventures and comedic moments. It leaves you not only satisfied with the quality of the work itself, but happy that the show was able to relay its messages of personal growth, positivity, and friendship to children and adults of all ages. Whether you’re 10 years old or somebody’s parent or just someone who appreciates good anime, Ojamajo Doremi is simply worth watching.

Witches have for a long time been a source of inspiration for the creative musings of artists around the world, spanning multiple eras, cultures and religions, and as such being portrayed in uncountable ways. They are sometimes seen as deities, while in others as devils, but always possessing unfathomable powers beyond comprehension. Defiant of death and masters of nature, it comes as no surprise why witches have intrigued human imagination to such a deep extent. It is from this vast pool of inspiration that Ojamajo Doremi draws from, yet also diverges from to form its own distinct identity. Unlike most similarly themed stories, theshow opts for a more humanized portrayal of witches, who have their own world and live peaceful, carefree lives. Some of them live among humans, but due to an ancient curse they will instantly turn into frogs if someone finds out their identity. Ojamajo Doremi's special touch is that it also adds Mahou Shoujo elements to its witch lore, ranging from magical tools to transformations. None of these are used for fighting, however, and become part of everyday life instead. It is a different approach from the average Mahou Shoujo action anime, which alongside the humor gives the show its own laidback charm, although this doesn't mean it isn't rooted in the conventions of its genre. While the story's world is continually moving forward, most of the episodes are structured to have standalone plotlines, which usually involve helping secondary characters with the assistance of magic. This is a typical setup in Mahou Shoujo, but Ojamajo Doremi executes it with flying colors. Magic, as much as it is a helpful tool in the show, doesn't solve everyone's personal issues with the snap of a finger. It is but a shortcut, either giving tips on how to help someone or leading to places where the spell users can investigate a problem. Although the story is ingrained in fantasy it elegantly avoids copout resolutions, since it is first and foremost concerned about the emotional depth of its characters. Accordingly, the main characters of this story undergo extensive exposition over the course of the anime as they try to become witches. There is Doremi, an airhead at heart; Hazuki, a gentle and booklover girl; Aiko, who is energetic and honest about everything she does; and finally Onpu, who is an extrovert and loved by almost everyone. They all start out as archetypes, but it doesn't take long until their individual, hidden traits come to light as their own stories unfold. A large portion of this is developed through the characters' families, which are wonderful lens into how their personas came to be, unveiling the influence of the parents over their children. Aiko is a great example of this, as she spent most of her life as a member of a divorced family. Having lived with her father during this period, she inherited many of his idiosyncrasies and learned to take care of herself as her mother was no longer around. Her rapport with her father is unique due to their very open relationship, while Aiko never hides how she dreams of having her mother back among them. It goes to show that the story isn't afraid delving into delicate subjects like divorce, doing so with a subtlety uncommon in the medium. This also leads to a crucial plot point in the series, given that Aiko deeply seeks to bring her parents back together and becomes a witch apprentice with this purpose in mind. There is plenty of room for character building and introspection in cases like this, and the narrative makes wonderful use of these opportunities. Likewise, the other protagonists also receive the spotlight, although their stories don't carry the same sort of emotional weight as Aiko's. Thankfully, since the show keeps the characterization grounded in reality, it puts strong focus in fleshing out both the flaws and qualities of its cast. What sets Ojamajo Doremi apart in this instance is how attentive it is to its portrayal of children, in a way that carefully brings out their multifaceted and unpredictable nature. All of this paves the road for one of the Ojamajo Doremi's strongest qualities: its delightful character dynamics. With a multilayered and well-realized cast at its disposal, the show manages to keep fresh and charming thanks to its ever-evolving web of relationships. The interactions between the protagonists often carry implications which aren't simply forgotten in the next episodes. Such is the case with Onpu, who avoids forming bonds in the beginning but gradually opens up to other people after a series of important events. Instances like this unfold naturally and give a much welcome dynamism to the characters, which nicely complements the little mannerisms they have towards each other. In the center of everything is Doremi, being essentially the glue that keeps the cast together. Despite being careless and clumsy to the point of messing up the simplest things, this aspect of her character is balanced by her sincerity and willingness to help others, which draws people to her. Naturally, this doesn't happen simply because of Doremi's personality, but mainly due to the extent she goes to understand other people's situations, never abandoning anyone. Her dedication is especially strong when caring for her close friends and her family, often not measuring her actions. Benefitting greatly from the character dynamics is the humor, a big selling point of the series. The situations never come out as awkward thanks to the strong sense of intimacy the show establishes between the characters. It often makes use of their eccentricities to set up the comedy, such as Doremi's clumsiness, which is mocked by other characters and leads to genuinely amusing reactions. This is greatly enhanced by the incredibly dynamic character designs, as they allow a multitude of humorous facial expressions without sacrificing realism in other situations, sometimes even blurring the line between the two. The humor is an interesting contrast to Ojamajo Doremi's very down-to-earth storytelling, showcasing that the authors know how and when to do comedy. It is common for situations to quickly go through a change of tone, but the transitions occur so naturally and seamlessly that they are barely perceptible, thanks to the unobtrusive integration of humor with the rest of the show. With so many strong points in regard to narrative tone and characterization, it is only natural that the background cast also stands out. Several episodes are dedicated to exploring the protagonists' class and shining light onto the different personalities that make part of it. What is most notable about this is how many of these secondary characters remain relevant throughout the season. They will often be seen playing and talking to others, while occasionally assuming more prominent roles in the story. This way no one is wasted and everyone feels part of something bigger, which builds a terrific sense of community and demonstrates how much the story really cares about its cast. However, despite its qualities, Ojamajo Doremi also has its fair share of problems. For one, it is somewhat inconsistent as a whole. While there are no below-par episodes, some of them can be more easily forgotten than others when considered in the grand of scheme of things. This is often the case for the apprentice exam episodes taking place in the witch world, as they feel out of place given that they neither explore the lore nor add much in terms of characterization. It isn't to say these aren't enjoyable, but they still fall short of the better episodes. Related to this is how the show lacks a clear focus and theme, which while not a flaw in itself, leads the story to feel a bit too disjointed. The underwhelming conclusion can be seen as a result of that, given that it lacks a smooth progression and is triggered by a huge plot convenience. Specifically, the narrative fumbles its suspension of disbelief in order to set up the last episode, somewhat diluting its emotional impact. But fortunately, all of this doesn't keep Ojamajo Doremi from being a great anime. In terms of production, this is where Ojamajo Doremi most struggles. Floating character models can often be seen roaming around the screen, while the clunky animation gets in the way of more subtle body language. Given that this is a low budget anime these sorts of issues are to be expected, but it doesn't make things any less awkward for the viewer. At the very least, the art direction has excellent execution and displays a great array of beautiful watercolor backgrounds, especially when portraying scenery of the witch world. The show's usage of visual cues to mirror the characters' emotions is pretty effective as well, and especially charming when conveying happiness and excitement. All things considered, it can be seen that Ojamajo Doremi's true strength lies in its superb cast and its blending of humor and realism. Behind its simple premise hides a story that deftly interweaves magic and reality. But magic, even if central to the show, isn't portrayed as the solution to everything. And so, achieving a depth uncommon to Mahou Shoujo anime, Ojamajo Doremi is not only a rare gem within its genre, but anime as a whole.

This brief review is for overall entire franchise of Ojamajo series. If you think Ojamajo is merely a naive kid show you will be in huge surprised that it is far more than that. The story is simple as majority are in episodic length with their own like helping classmates and character background. Accompanied with the main theme which is a bit different in each season such as apprenticeship exam, motherhood, solving witch world problems and more. Yet many of them carry a life lesson message such as friendship, responsibility, forgiveness, empathy and etc. Art is simple but it makes sense for theseries focus. Sound is easily one of the most memorable aspect of Ojamajo. OPs/EDs enough to make you want to sing along the characters and the BGMs change is great and appropriate when there is a mood change. Not to mention voice acting is superb and full of emotions. The characters are adorable made you really care about them as you get to know more about them as the series goes. Think about how toy story 3 made many men teared up hard in the ending. That's exactly what Ojamajo done to my tear duct toward the ending. This series is great for all ages and I'd highly recommend it if you have kid and want them learn about some positive and valuable life lessons.

Ojamajo Doremi is a great series that has lots of elements relating to traditional depiction of witches and deals with how they're perceived by humans throughout history, as well as conveying messages about friendship and morality. The episodes may seem simple-natured, but this child-like appeal and enthusiasm will draw people in; the series wants you to partake in its imaginary and fantastical fairytale and go to a world with magic, focusing on one girl who wants to become a witch more than anything: the main character, Doremi. There are many fun and heartwarming episodes present on this journey, and while the animation is in truthnothing special, the series is brought together by its simplicity and wholehearted values about friendship. Over the course of a year, the girls go from strangers or being on uneasy terms to friends despite their potential differences, and we get to see their personal lives and how they use their magic to help others. It's a very heartwarming message in a medium which is surrounded by subversion and dark themes, and successfully creates connections with viewers. In truth here, we find that witches aren't (as western media sometimes presents) to be feared; rather, misunderstood would be more accurate, as most witches seem to be benevolent. The girls' exams to progress in witch levels are entertaining and educational: each provides a simplistic yet valuable lesson that anyone can take to heart, regardless of age. All of the characters are charming in their own way, including the sometimes impatient Majou Rika, or "precocious" Pop, as well as the series "villain" (who I shall not spoil here.) The art style is truly charming and brings together everything into a cutely wrapped package, taking advantage of the medium to its fullest. All of the "characters-of-the-day", so to speak, are memorable and provide wonderful backstories in their own rights, allowing viewers easy investment into their problems and worries. While the girls' magic may not always be reliable, their friendship is, which is the true strength of the series; bonds formed with people can be stronger than anything, and the series thrives on this. This series is easily worth recommending to anyone interested in the magical girl genre. 9/10.