Maebashi Witches (前橋ウィッチーズ, Maebashi Witchīzu) is an original Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise. It is directed by Junichi Yamamoto and written by Erika Yoshida, featuring original character designs by Yu Inami, animation character designs by Nozomi Tachibana, and music by Yuri Habuka. The series aired from April 6 to June 22, 2025, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[3]
| Maebashi Witches | |
|---|---|
 Key visual | |
| 前橋ウィッチーズ | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | Sunrise |
| Screenplay by | Erika Yoshida |
| Directed by | Junichi Yamamoto |
| Music by | Yuri Habuka |
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Original language | Japanese |
| No. of episodes | 12 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Shingo Ishizuka |
| Animator | Sunrise |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | Tokyo MX, BS11, GTV, SUN, KBS Kyoto, TVA, HTB, SBS, RKB, EBC, YTS, UX, HAB, AAB, NCC, AT-X |
| Release | April 6 – June 22, 2025 |
Plot
editThe series follows Yuina Akagi, a cheerful girl from Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture who likes to take pictures. One day, a mysterious frog-like creature named Keroppe appears before her, inviting her to be a witch. Yuina initially hesitated, but slowly accepts when she is told that becoming a witch means she could be granted a wish. She meets four other girls – Azu Niisato, Kyōka Kitahara, Choco Mitsumata, and Mai Kamiizumi – who were also recruited by Keroppe. Together, the five girls manage a mysterious flower shop where they help out people with their problems. However, as their activities continue, the girls realize that everything is not what it seems with being a witch.
Characters
edit- Yuina Akagi (赤城 ユイナ, Akagi Yuina)
- Voiced by: Sakura Kasuga[1]
- Yuina is a first year high school student who is interested in photography, a hobby inspired by her late grandfather. She always brings around an instant camera and likes taking pictures.[4]
- Azu Niisato (新里 アズ, Niisato Azu)
- Voiced by: Hinano Sakikawa[1]
- Anzu is a girl interested in fashion and cosmetics. She does not have a good impression of Yuina when they first met. Anzu is later revealed to be conscious about her weight and uses magic to have a thin body.
- Kyōka Kitahara (北原 キョウカ, Kitahara Kyōka)
- Voiced by: Rena Motomura[1]
- Kyōka is a girl from a wealthy family who is a fan of the VTuber Mogutan. She stops liking Mogutan after finding out his true nature. After finding out about Choco's family circumstances, Kyōka aims to run for mayor of Maebashi to make it a better place. In the last episode, it is revealed that she won election with 100% of the vote.
- Choco Mitsumata (三俣 チョコ, Mitsumata Choko)
- Voiced by: Haruka Minami[1]
- Choco is a cheerful girl who gets along with Yuina well. Much to their chagrin, is fond of giving others strange nicknames. Her father died when she was young, leaving her with her mother and younger siblings. Her real name is Chiyoko Mitsumata (三俣 知代子, Mitsumata Chiyoko).
- Mai Kamiizumi (上泉 マイ, Kamiizumi Mai)
- Voiced by: Honami Momose[1]
- Mai is a realist girl who has a large social media following, having over 120,000 followers.
- Keroppe (ケロッペ)
- Voiced by: Tomokazu Sugita[1]
- Keroppe is a frog-like creature who recruits the five girls with the aim of turning them into witches.
- Eiko Zen (膳栄子, Zen Eiko)
- Voiced by: Yū Serizawa[5]
- Rinko Mitsuba (三葉凛子, Mistuba Rinko)
- Voiced by: Nao Tōyama[5]
- Yua Hosaka (保坂優愛, Hosaka Yua)
- Voiced by: Akari Kitō[5]
Media
editEpisodes
editThis section needs a plot summary. (May 2026) |
| No. | Title [6][7] | Directed by [6] | Storyboarded by [6] | Original release date [8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "What's Wrong with the Status Quo?!" Transliteration: "Genjōiji de Nani ga Warui!!" (Japanese: 現状維持で何が悪いっ！！) | Kohei Kuratomi | Junichi Yamamoto | April 6, 2025 |
| 2 | "You're As Cheap and Flimsy As Your Clothes" Transliteration: "Fuku mo Anta mo Perappera" (Japanese: 服もアンタもペラッペラ) | Takahiro Hirata | Junichi Yamamoto | April 13, 2025 |
| 3 | "The Word "Lazy", Pronounced as "Being Yourself"" Transliteration: "Taiman to Kaite, Arinomama to Yomu" (Japanese: 怠慢と書いて、ありのままと読む) | Ayaka Tsujihashi | Mitsuko Kase | April 20, 2025 |
| 4 | "Go for a 70 Over a 100" Transliteration: "100-Ten Yori mo 70-Ten" (Japanese: 100点よりも70点) | Harume Kosaka | Romanov Higa | April 27, 2025 |
| 5 | "Is That 70% of 100%?" Transliteration: "Sore 100-Pāsento no 70-Pāsento?" (Japanese: それ100%の70%?) | Kohei Kuratomi | Kohei Kuratomi | May 4, 2025 |
| 6 | "Choco's Big Round Chocolate Cake" Transliteration: "Choko no Manmaru Chokokēki" (Japanese: チョコのまんまるチョコケーキ) | Wakiko Kume | Takeshi Furuta | May 11, 2025 |
| 7 | "When Things Suck, It Sucks to Admit That They Suck" Transliteration: "Shindoi Toki Shindo Itte Iu no Shindoi" (Japanese: しんどい時しんどいって言うのしんどい) | Takahiro Hirata | Romanov Higa | May 18, 2025 |
| 8 | "Kyoka-chan, You Sure Are Dumb" Transliteration: "Kyōka-chan tte Baka Nanda ne" (Japanese: キョウカちゃんって馬鹿なんだね) | Harume Kosaka | Mitsuko Kase | May 25, 2025 |
| 9 | "The Maebashi Witches Are Far Evermore" Transliteration: "Maebashi Uitchīzu wa Eien Fumetsu" (Japanese: 前橋ウィッチーズは永遠不滅) | Ayaka Tsujihashi | Romanov Higa | June 1, 2025 |
| 10 | "I'll Never Forget Today, Even If I Forget" Transliteration: "Kyō no Koto, Wasurete mo Wasurenai yo" (Japanese: 今日のこと、忘れても忘れないよ) | Wakiko Kume | Tetsuo Hirakawa | June 8, 2025 |
| 11 | "Have We Met Before?" Transliteration: "...Dochira Samadesuka?" (Japanese: ...どちら様ですか？) | Mitsuko Kase | Romanov Higa | June 15, 2025 |
| 12 | "I Think I'm Done Being a Witch" Transliteration: "Majo wa Mō ī Kanatte" (Japanese: 魔女はもういいかなって) | Junichi Yamamoto | Junichi Yamamoto | June 22, 2025 |
Theme songs
editThe opening theme song is "Sugosugi Maebashi Witches!" (スゴすぎ前橋ウィッチーズ！, Sugosugi Maebashi Witchīzu; Super Amazing Maebashi Witches!), while the ending theme song is "Sorezore no Door" (それぞれのドア, Sorezore no Doa; Each Door), both performed by the five main characters collectively known as the Maebashi Witches.[1][9][10] Crunchyroll streamed the series.[11]
Reception
editThe anime adaptation was well-received. Cy Catwell of Anime Feminist reviewed the first episode, noted they had always been a fan of magical girls and were drawn to the series because it centers on "magical girl singers", adding that the series has a "path to witchdom... lined with trials", and said it charmed her "pretty instantly", along with its "tasty feminist tidbits", with magic shown as a "vehicle to personal freedom" rather than something which harms young women, but said that the manifestation of their magic in them singing the weakest part of the episode. She also compared the series to Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Wonder Egg Priority and called it a coming-of-age story which is grounded within reality, with teen girls given an opportunity to "be themselves."[12]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Dempsey, Liam (September 5, 2024). "Original Anime Maebashi Witches Announced for April 2025". Crunchyroll. Sony. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ↑ Moore, Caitlin (April 6, 2025). "The Spring 2025 Anime Preview Guide: Maebashi Witches". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ↑ Cayanan, Joanna (February 20, 2025). "Maebashi Witches Anime Reveals April 6 Debut in Main Trailer". Anime News Network. Kadokawa Group. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ↑ Jones, Sylvia (July 31, 2025). "Maebashi Witches Season 1 Anime Series Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Mateo, Alex (March 21, 2025). "Maebashi Witches Anime Reveals 3 Guest Cast Members". Anime News Network. Kadokawa Group. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
- 1 2 3 ストーリー [Story]. maebashi-witches.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ↑ "Watch Maebashi Witches". Crunchyroll. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ↑ 放送＆配信情報 [Broadcast & Streaming Information]. maebashi-witches.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 15, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
- ↑ Cayanan, Joanna (September 5, 2024). "Sunrise Unveils Original TV Anime Maebashi Witches, to Premiere in April 2025". Anime News Network. Kadokawa Group. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ↑ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 28, 2024). "Maebashi Witches Original Anime Reveals 2nd Promo Video, New Visuals". Anime News Network. Kadokawa Group. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
- ↑ Mateo, Alex (April 2, 2025). "Crunchyroll to Stream Kowloon Generic Romance, Maebashi Witches, Apocalypse Hotel, More Anime". Anime News Network. Kadokawa Group. Archived from the original on April 2, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
- ↑ Catwell, Cy (April 8, 2025). "Maebashi Witches – Episode 1". Anime Feminist. Archived from the original on April 8, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- Maebashi Witches (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia