Little Witch Academia TV Series

[dniv]

Originally Posted by Slayerx

Well just ask the question, what exactly can magic do that technology can't? Not only can technology be used to emulate much of what can be done with magic, but technology is much more convenient since any idiot can use it where as magic takes years in order to learn. Sure you can use magic to attack someone, but you can also attack someone with a gun; which is easier, learning to shoot magic, or learning to shoot a gun? How long does it take to ride a broom vs driving a car?

Magic also has the additional handicap of being severely limited on where in can be used. Magic for the most part can only be used in areas that are located near a source of magic power; technology on the otherhand can be used anywhere. So even in the cases where you have magic that can do something useful that technology can't, its overall usefulness is severely limited. For instance, magic can easily repair broken objects, but that won't do you any good if you don't live near a source of magic

Since it's an ongoing theme this plot line about magic slowly becoming obsolete is likely to have a larger role in the overall plot. Witches are slowly becoming irrelevant and that's not really good for Akko's own dreams. Perhaps this story will ultimately be about restoring magic to the world

Hmm. Interesting. Personally, my interest in the show and my enjoyment isn't dampened by any of this. I was just pointing it out. I love Pokemon... so I'm not going to stop watching a show just because it does this. It's often just a stylistic choice with the implication that even if the real world is more complicated, the same sort of ideals can still hold if you try hard enough to make sense of it all like that.

For me though... the problem with magic is exactly the fact that it can't be controlled. That makes it have much larger potential for destruction, lol. I feel like any sort of chaos-creating organizations would love magic for such reasons... At the same time, it's really unclear if science can ever replicate the feats of magic. Science is just really, really, really advanced cleverness, but its way more limited than magic and it moves forward much more slowly. For people who are drunk on getting more power and who are short-sighted, it's obvious that they'd pick magic over science.

@Quigonkenny I'm not treating this like an animated cartoon though. Little Witch Academia clearly isn't for kids or at least is also tailored towards young adults/adults given all the references they've worked into it. It's just a bit strange to me. I'm mostly hoping that they'll pull something like what they did with Akko's personality where she originally just did well by caring, but then she realized she also had to put in a lot of hard work before she'd get the right sorts of results (which was much more realistic and nice to see). I'm not sure what they'd do with it, but of course, I can just suspend disbelief if necessary. My gut instinct is telling me that they're doing this so that they can focus on the themes they're interested in and not deal with all of the BS in making sense of the grittier aspects of things that aren't the main point for them in this series. I can understand that. It's not like Harry Potter got better after going all edgy.

I'll just treat what they're doing as what anime generally does... in a sense it's not that different from science where science just dumbs down real world situations and makes ridiculous assumptions about them and then deals with those super simplistic and absurd theoretical cases... and then even with all that being the case, it still turns out super useful. So I guess this is probably just a case of that. I guess I don't really mind too much, but when I'm lazy, I prefer it when the anime creators do all of the work for me and directly make it apply to real life... but of course I can reinterpret things for myself, this is a skill you are automatically forced to pick up after watching a lot of anime because anime rarely ever makes sense if you don't do that sort of thing.

This is my favorite show this season anyway.

[orion]

Originally Posted by Slayerx

Well just ask the question, what exactly can magic do that technology can't? Not only can technology be used to emulate much of what can be done with magic, but technology is much more convenient since any idiot can use it where as magic takes years in order to learn. Sure you can use magic to attack someone, but you can also attack someone with a gun; which is easier, learning to shoot magic, or learning to shoot a gun? How long does it take to ride a broom vs driving a car?

You can use this argument for about any profession. Doctors vs chiropractors acupuncturists have similar arguments. "One profession can do things just as well as the other, so why do we need "X"? Because it gives society a choice. Because one is not necessarily better than the other, it's just another way of doing it.

And...like it or not, magic is a part of their culture. Culture is supposed to be preserved for future generations. On a broader scale, a minority group is facing extermination of their culture because elements within the majority group has problems with them.

[quigonkenny]

Originally Posted by dniv

@Quigonkenny I'm not treating this like an animated cartoon though. Little Witch Academia clearly isn't for kids or at least is also tailored towards young adults/adults given all the references they've worked into it.

I'm not diminishing the series as a mere "animated cartoon" (like that's a bad thing, considering every anime is an "animated cartoon"). I compared it to Looney Tunes and Disney, both of which have no problem adding references that younger audiences might not get, and both of which are clear inspirations for the series. And, historically, anime in general. TRIGGER has a much more "old school" way of doing things than most studios, and that goes for American influences just as well as Japanese.

[Gan_HOPE326]

Originally Posted by dniv

Little Witch Academia clearly isn't for kids or at least is also tailored towards young adults/adults given all the references they've worked into it.

They surely know they also have an adult audience, but that could be said of any cartoon, nowadays especially. It's much more tailored to kids and teens than the average anime is. It has basically zero sexual jokes and zero fanservice; that is even less than most shounen action shows, which are designed for 12 year olds and up. It's something that you could easily show to a 8 year old girl. Whereas most anime, well... let's not go there .

[Panzercracker]

Originally Posted by Gan_HOPE326

They surely know they also have an adult audience, but that could be said of any cartoon, nowadays especially. It's much more tailored to kids and teens than the average anime is. It has basically zero sexual jokes and zero fanservice; that is even less than most shounen action shows, which are designed for 12 year olds and up. It's something that you could easily show to a 8 year old girl. Whereas most anime, well... let's not go there .

So, you mean, anime aim for young adult/adult must sure has sexual jokes or fan service?

[Gan_HOPE326]

Originally Posted by Panzercracker

So, you mean, anime aim for young adult/adult must sure has sexual jokes or fan service?

"Must"? No. "Usually has"? Yes.

Now don't get me wrong, of course there's plenty of serious, adult shows without fanservice, but they usually have adult themes in general (take Rakugo, for example). This is a very whimsical adventure/slice of life/fantasy show that could have easily been configured as a typical "cute girls doing cute things" show, but it's not been played like that. The lack of fanservice is just a hint, but in general, I'd say the entire thing feels like it's squarely aimed at being at least ALSO a kid's show. Which isn't meant as an insult or anything. I love it unashamedly and in fact think it's pretty nice that something like this is being played with a purely innocent tone for once rather having the occasional moment that makes you feel awkward for watching it.

[Dextro]

Originally Posted by Gan_HOPE326

"Must"? No. "Usually has"? Yes.

Now don't get me wrong, of course there's plenty of serious, adult shows without fanservice, but they usually have adult themes in general (take Rakugo, for example). This is a very whimsical adventure/slice of life/fantasy show that could have easily been configured as a typical "cute girls doing cute things" show, but it's not been played like that. The lack of fanservice is just a hint, but in general, I'd say the entire thing feels like it's squarely aimed at being at least ALSO a kid's show. Which isn't meant as an insult or anything. I love it unashamedly and in fact think it's pretty nice that something like this is being played with a purely innocent tone for once rather having the occasional moment that makes you feel awkward for watching it.

And, ironically, I think that's part of the reason why the show seems to be slightly off radar for most otaku circles. Being so "safe" and family friendly seems to have made most of the regular anime fandom drift away from the show. It's a shame because I find it oddly refreshing when it clearly shouldn't be. The show feels much more mainstream friendly than 90% of the shows that come out each passing year, I just fear that the market isn't there nowadays.

[Draco Spirit]

Funny enough it most strongly reminds me of Pixars offering in general style and tone.

[Kazu-kun]

Wow, this episode was good. Like really good. We finally get plot progression. With this, I think I have a pretty good idea of where the story is going.

Spoiler for episode 11:

A conflict between Akko and Diana.

Akko is awakening the seven jewels in the Shiny Rod in order to become Chariot. Diana read in a forbidden book that those jewels are the key to open a seal to some great power. Diana wants to use that power to fix the problem of magic fading away. So eventually she'll try to take the Shiny Rod from Akko to open the seal. The problem is, that power was sealed for a reason. Plus it looks like Diana is being manipulated into trying to unseal it.

[Albel VII]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Wow, this episode was good. Like really good. We finally get plot progression. With this, I think I have a pretty good idea of where the story is going.

Spoiler for episode 11:

A conflict between Akko and Diana.

Akko is awakening the seven jewels in the Shiny Rod in order to become Chariot. Diana read in a forbidden book that those jewels are the key to open a seal to some great power. Diana wants to use that power to fix the problem of magic fading away. So eventually she'll try to take the Shiny Rod from Akko to open the seal. The problem is, that power was sealed for a reason. Plus it looks like Diana is being manipulated into trying to unseal it.

Yeah, this was a pretty good episode, the plot took a really interesting direction. As for your theory,

Spoiler for reply to theory, just in case:

I agree that probably there's gonna be some sort of conflict between Akko and Diana later on because of the seal, but if anyone is manipulated to break it, then it's Akko, if you ask me. Shiny Rod chose her, it’s easier to manipulate her, and she's already unknowingly revived two of the seven spells/poems/whatever, after all. Not to mentioned that it looks like Chariot and Uttward-sensei (was it Uttward?) want Akko to revive the Rod without telling her what she is doing.

And I don't think was a forbidden book, it was just very valuable and tricky to open. I mean, if it was a forbidden book, then the principal wouldn't have let her read it.

[Endscape]

Originally Posted by Albel VII

Yeah, this was a pretty good episode, the plot took a really interesting direction. As for your theory,

Spoiler for reply to theory, just in case:

I agree that probably there's gonna be some sort of conflict between Akko and Diana later on because of the seal, but if anyone is manipulated to break it, then it's Akko, if you ask me. Shiny Rod chose her, it’s easier to manipulate her, and she's already unknowingly revived two of the seven spells/poems/whatever, after all. Not to mentioned that it looks like Chariot and Uttward-sensei (was it Uttward?) want Akko to revive the Rod without telling her what she is doing.

And I don't think was a forbidden book, it was just very valuable and tricky to open. I mean, if it was a forbidden book, then the principal wouldn't have let her read it.

Spoiler for episode 11:

Diana is the one who just got conveniently guided to learning about a power that can change the world, it's clear forshadowing that she's going to use it. Plus,it would mirror the first OVA as well.

And the book was clearly forbidden, it had a lock on it.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Albel VII

Yeah, this was a pretty good episode, the plot took a really interesting direction. As for your theory,

Spoiler for reply to theory, just in case:

I agree that probably there's gonna be some sort of conflict between Akko and Diana later on because of the seal, but if anyone is manipulated to break it, then it's Akko, if you ask me. Shiny Rod chose her, it’s easier to manipulate her, and she's already unknowingly revived two of the seven spells/poems/whatever, after all. Not to mentioned that it looks like Chariot and Uttward-sensei (was it Uttward?) want Akko to revive the Rod without telling her what she is doing.

And I don't think was a forbidden book, it was just very valuable and tricky to open. I mean, if it was a forbidden book, then the principal wouldn't have let her read it.

For your theory to be true, the series would have put everything we know on its head. Like the Shiny Rod being revealed as something evil and such. I don't think there's even a remote possibility of that.

Akko is collecting the Words to get the Rod up to full power (note it becomes a new weapon every time she unlocks a Word). The Words also have the power to break the seal in the Actorus forest, but no one said that Akko has to open the seal. Heck, the Rod showed her some pretty ominous images, probably to warn her of what could happen if the seal if broken.

The one who wants to open that seal is Diana, as she thinks that power will change the world and save magic. But pay attention. Note the book had a lock on it, so it was clearly forbidden. Also note the book was missing a page. That's really suspicious, as it seemed there was really important stuff in that page.

[PreSage]

Wow, good episode. So LWA isn't as ditzy of a series as it looks on the surface. The underlying plot seems to be a bit darker and quite interesting.

Sounds like Witches didn't need to rely on the Leylines or the Philosopher Stone for power; in the past, they had infinite power, but based on the flashback, someone abused that power and the consequence is probably what is happening now in the present. There was a quick flash of an evil looking individual that may had been the cause of things...and we may get a revisit of said evil?

Diana is certainly up to something here. I have a feeling she isn't as righteous as she may appear? Or she's just over confident of her own ability to the point of possibly choosing the wrong path.

For someone who appears to be incompetent of magic, Akko sure has a lot of knowledge that even Diana doesn't know about. And Akko met one of the Nine witches...Prof. WoodWard. Is it just me or do ancient witches look so much cooler than the current witches?

...and you gotta love Sucy's yoga moves.

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

The one who wants to open that seal is Diana, as she thinks that power will change the world and save magic. But pay attention. Note the book had a lock on it, and the lock magically disappeared when she took the book. Also note the book was missing a page. That's really suspicious, as it seemed there was really important stuff in that page.

I thought the lock simply disintegrated because it was so old.

And what the book didn't reveal to Diana were the seven words, which appeared that only Chariot/Prof Ursula has in her room.

The question remains though is why Chariot went into hiding, when she obviously went through all the trials that Akko is going through now. I'm guessing that she didn't succeed in the end, where Akko probably will. Given that the Shiny Rod was "lost", possibly suggest that it no longer approved of Chariot as its owner and went into dormancy.

[Endscape]

Originally Posted by PreSage

I thought the lock simply disintegrated because it was so old.

There was no rust on the lock to start with, and the way it disintegrated was unnatural.

[Kazu-kun]

Another thing to consider is that unlocking the words seems to be some form of trail, as the master of the Shiny Rod had to demonstrate certain character qualities to unlock the words, like a strong will and such.

So, as long as Akko is the one keeping the Rod, everything is okay. But if someone who didn't pass the trails take it from her, things can go to shit, I would assume.

[Flower]

Ep 11

Wow. Definitely the most engaging episode of the series for me thus far hands down. Really excellent ... and a bit thought provoking as well. Professor Woodward was ... definitely something. If that is an example of how things used to be "way back when" then no wonder things were so different!

Also ... Sucy's yoga poses while sniffing incense kept me giggling quite a bit. XD

[FlareKnight]

A very interesting episode. Dropped a lot of information and added a few more questions.

Clearly Akko is expected to continue awaken the words needed to break the big seal. Open the way to the Grand Triskelion and....do something. Certainly has vague terms about it, but the power to change the world is a pretty extreme thing. A tough road for her in facing these trials and moving forward.

A lot of extra questions raised. Why didn't Chariot herself undo the seal? She appears to know the words themselves. Was she simply unable or unqualified to awaken the words? Did she stop being Shiny Chariot for that reason or something else entirely?

Good backstory as well about magic being far more easily used than it is now. Much harder for Witches to use their abilities.

Just kind of liked how both Diana and Akko were active and learning things tonight. Diana finding answers in that old tome that she was directed towards by the blue moon while Akko went underground and faced her trial from Professor Woodward.

Liked the little scene of Akko seeing that shown 'future'. Whatever the path ahead I hope she does reach the kind of future she is seeking.

[Albel VII]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

For your theory to be true, the series would have put everything we know on its head. Like the Shiny Rod being revealed as something evil and such. I don't think there's even a remote possibility of that.

Akko is collecting the Words to get the Rod up to full power (note it becomes a new weapon every time she unlocks a Word). The Words also have the power to break the seal in the Actorus forest, but no one said that Akko has to open the seal. Heck, the Rod showed her some pretty ominous images, probably to warn her of what could happen if the seal if broken.

The one who wants to open that seal is Diana, as she thinks that power will change the world and save magic.

Shiny Rod does not have to be evil at all in this case. Woodwart (so that's her name) can be however. She definitely wants Akko to revive the words/spells/poems for some reason. It might not be a malicious reason, but it's still suspicious a bit, since it is implied that it can be very dangerous to do so.

Does Akko intentionally try to power up the Rod though? I mean, does she actually know she can do that?

I'm not saying that Diana wouldn't want to take away the Rod to save the magic world. I'm just saying that Akko would be a far easier and more practical target to manipulate. As I mentioned in my previous post, I agree that there's gonna be some sort of conflict between the girls because of the seal, I just don't think Diana is manipulated based on what we’ve seen so far. If she is, that just means I could learn a few things from you.

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

But pay attention. Note the book had a lock on it, so it was clearly forbidden.

I saw the seal, but I always thought that a "forbidden book" is something far more dangerous than that. Something that the principal wouldn't allow Diana to read. Something that makes you crazy by reading it, or granting you some really freaky and unholy power just by reading it, things like that. But hey, I'm not an expert on this issue, so if you say that a lock is enough to qualify it as a forbidden book, then I'll believe you.

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

.Also note the book was missing a page. That's really suspicious, as it seemed there was really important stuff in that page.

Nice catch, I didn't really notice that.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by Albel VII

Shiny Rod does not have to be evil at all in this case. Woodwart (so that's her name) can be however. She definitely wants Akko to revive the words/spells/poems for some reason. It might not be a malicious reason, but it's still suspicious a bit, since it is implied that it can be very dangerous to do so.

Woodwart is one of the nine olde witches (a picture of her appears in the book Diana was reading, wearing one of the hats Miranda has in her office.) So I very much doubt she has bad intentions. In fact, she was the original master of the Shiny Rod, as seen in the images shown in episode 1 when Akko is travelling through the leylines. The Shiny Rod wouldn't work for her if she was evil.

Furthermore, she never said that Akko has to break the seal. She only said Akko has to gather the Words. Sure, Akko could use the Words to break the seal, but that's a different deal. We really don't know why Woodwart wants Akko to get the Words. My assumption is that she wants Akko to be ready and at full power because those ominous images Akko saw is probably the future, and Akko would need the full power of the Shiny Rod to face it.

I'm not saying that Diana wouldn't want to take away the Rod to save the magic world. I'm just saying that Akko would be a far easier and more practical target to manipulate. As I mentioned in my previous post, I agree that there's gonna be some sort of conflict between the girls because of the seal, I just don't think Diana is manipulated based on what we’ve seen so far. If she is, that just means I could learn a few things from you.

Diana was led by some supernatural force, just like Akko. The difference is that we got to see who was leading Akko. It was Woodwart. Whoever was leading Diana to the book remains hidden, which is more suspicious.

Plus Diana has a history of letting her ego get the better of her, resulting in problematic situations. In the OVA she unleashed a dragon. In the tv show she almost killed the magical butterflies. Besides she never told the truth about the latter to the teachers, so that was a situation that was left unresolved. If she thinks the sealed power can save magic, she might try to take the Rod from Akko to break the seal. It would certanly be in character for her to decide that she knows better and is more suited than Akko to take care of things. And of course, it would result in yet another fuckup.

I saw the seal, but I always thought that a "forbidden book" is something far more dangerous than that. Something that the principal wouldn't allow Diana to read. Something that makes you crazy by reading it, or granting you some really freaky and unholy power just by reading it, things like that. But hey, I'm not an expert on this issue, so if you say that a lock is enough to qualify it as a forbidden book, then I'll believe you.

The whole place was forbidden, actually. The only reason Miranda allowed Diana to enter there is because she's Diana. She's the girl who saved the school, and I'm sure Miranda probably thinks Diana might be the chosen one who can fix the problem magic is going through.

[Stark700]

Episode 11:

Ah, this was definitely the most plot driven episode yet so far in this series and the most serious one yet imo.

Akko's character is progressing forward more and I like the direction of it. Rather than being a fan, perhaps now she'll make name for herself and become a great witch. I also wonder who that mysterious woman is though..maybe someone related to Diana or an ancestor?

Speaking of Diana, it's also noticeable that she learned some inside info from that forbidden book. Really makes me curious who led her to that book though and if it's a good or bad entity. And possibility, I think she'll serve as a major adversary against Akko during her journey to awaken the Words.