I’ve been meaning to watch
Ojamajo Doremi for quite a few years now and after watching the first four episodes it’s not only abundantly clear just why this series is as beloved as it is but it’s equally clear that the wait was worth it.
Ojamajo Doremi not only looks to be a phenomenal series but one that may become an all-time favorite of mine well before it's all said and done. From the charming art style that evokes the aesthetic of a child’s fairy tale book with its soft and painterly visage to the delightful character designs that accurately depict the looks and mannerisms of a carefree child to the adorable voice acting that bowls over the audience with ample amounts of cuteness. It’s a delightful series that had me genuinely laughing at all of the predicaments the writers had managed to conjure up but through all of the comedy and lightheartedness however lays a series with tact. It’s a delicate, sensitive series that entertains as much as it educates what would be younger audience members in a way that must make the cast proud to have their names attached to such a wonderful series.
Ojamajo is a show about unluckiest pretty girl in the world,
Harukaze Doremi. She dreams of becoming a witch one day as a means to use magic to fix all of her problems. The
first episode introduces us to her life, her family and the way in which she becomes a witch. We learn the ways in which the magic works and the etiquette itself, from how to transform into a witch which requires the use of a object called a tap to currency that is needed in order to cast spells, known as magic spheres. The
second episode introduces the audience to her best friend, the book smart
Hazuki Fujiwara whom is having issues at home.
Harukaze, feeling that she too has issues at home with her family decides to use her powers in order to switch places for the day where they soon grow to realize that maybe their families care more about them than they initially thought. The
third episode introduces us to a new character that is new to the town and joins the same school as
Harukaze. At first she seems a little mean but we grow to understand her and a friendship is formed between the three. The
fourth episode deals with
Karukaze’s friends becoming witches and the three work to renovate the magic shop in order to purchase more magic spheres.
The backgrounds in
Ojamajo aren’t intricately detailed but are instead both soft and painterly, often evoking the aesthetic of a children’s fairy tale book. The edges of the screen are often faded out and the backgrounds have a texture to it not unlike a dimpled handmade piece of paper. All of this works together to create a warm and inviting canvas that you often get lost in. An extensive use of earth tones comprised of browns, tans, warm greys, and greens are utilized which adds to this effect. For a show that aired in
1999, one aimed at a younger audience no less and at a span of
51 episodes the show has managed to age amazingly well and looks fantastic. Some of the more dated visual effects manage to add charm to this show and are implemented flawlessly. The visuals are pleasant and attractive to the eyes and fantastic character designs and animation play a big part in that.
The character designs themselves are fun and highly animated. The characters have large heads with huge eyes that are super expressive. Expressive is the perfect word to use when talking about this show because everything from the facial expressions to the hyper animated and exaggerated mannerisms of the characters is highly indicative of a young child. The animators capture the childlike nature superbly which adds to the plausibility of these characters and their emotions. In traditional children show fashion the three main characters designs each make use of three distinct colors, pink, blue and orange in order to distinguish one from the other, although the unique character designs do the job of distinguishing them from each other perfectly. The character movements are funny and interesting and the facial expressions are equally entertaining.
Music is a key element of this series and so far this show has excelled in the audio department. The voice acting is nuanced and charming and the then 24 year old voice actress that voices the main character does a fantastic job of depicting the voice of a child. The cadence at which the characters speak adds a lot to the humor.
So far I’ve loved every second of this series and I’m champing at the bit to watch more. I have it on good record that this show goes in directions with some upsetting and depressing themes being tackled, from miscarriages to suicide and so far the show has done a fantastic job of proving that it will be able to handle such themes with tack and sensitivity and I can’t wait to watch more.
