Majo no Tabitabi

he Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina – A Beautifully Captivating Slice-of-Life Fantasy
"The world is full of adventures, but sometimes the journey is more important than the destination."

The Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina is a whimsical and reflective anime that takes viewers on an episodic journey through a vibrant fantasy world. At its core, it's a story about Elaina, a young witch who is traveling across the world in search of knowledge and experiences. While the series presents an array of fascinating locations and characters, it balances lightheartedness with darker, more thought-provoking moments, giving the anime a unique emotional depth. With an engaging central ... character and a beautifully crafted world, Elaina is a journey worth taking, though its episodic nature and sometimes uneven pacing prevent it from being truly exceptional. Still, it earns an 8/10.

Story: A World of Adventure with Deep Underlying Themes
The Wandering Witch follows Elaina, a witch who has just completed her training and is now traveling the world. The episodic nature of the story allows Elaina to meet different people, experience a variety of cultures, and encounter both light-hearted adventures and dark, more somber situations.
The plot doesn’t follow a single overarching story, but instead focuses on individual episodes of Elaina’s travels. This episodic approach is both a strength and a weakness. It allows the show to explore a wide range of different locations and situations, from comedic moments to deeply emotional encounters. However, the lack of a central plot can make some episodes feel disconnected, and it occasionally leaves you longing for more continuity.
Some episodes, such as the one involving a country where people age backwards, stand out as creative and thought-provoking, tackling deep philosophical questions about time, life, and death. On the flip side, some episodes feel like filler, contributing little to the overall character development or narrative progression. While the story can occasionally feel uneven, the moments that do land are emotional and memorable.

Characters: Elaina Shines, but the Supporting Cast Could Use More Depth
The anime is undoubtedly carried by its central character, Elaina, who is both charming and multifaceted. She is not your typical “good-hearted” heroine—she’s a bit aloof, independent, and at times, even a bit cold. Elaina's personality is one of the key strengths of the show; her mature, no-nonsense attitude makes her a fascinating character to follow. Though she is kind-hearted, her adventures show a more complex side, where she often faces difficult moral decisions or experiences personal growth.
Elaina's journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about exploring the world around her. Her somewhat detached view of others and her willingness to move on from places and people she encounters gives the series a sense of bittersweetness that lingers.
However, the supporting characters—while interesting—are often one-dimensional. Each new location Elaina visits introduces new faces, but the depth of these characters varies greatly from episode to episode. Some characters are compelling and undergo their own emotional arcs, while others feel like they exist solely to serve the episode’s plot. The lack of a consistently developed supporting cast is a missed opportunity, especially given the potential to explore deeper connections between Elaina and the people she meets.

Animation: Gorgeous, Dreamlike Visuals with Vibrant Worldbuilding
Visually, The Wandering Witch is a treat. The animation is consistently high-quality, with bright colors and detailed backgrounds that create a dreamlike atmosphere. The world-building is rich and imaginative, with each new place Elaina visits feeling distinct and alive. The lush landscapes, charming towns, and unique cultures give the world a sense of depth, which makes each episode feel like a new chapter in a grand adventure.
The character designs are also appealing, with Elaina's distinctive look and the varied costumes of the characters she meets adding to the charm. While the show doesn't feature large-scale battles or complex action sequences, the animation shines when it comes to conveying the more intimate, emotional moments. The use of soft lighting and gentle animation complements the tone of the series, which focuses more on the journey and experiences than on high-energy conflicts.

Music: Soft, Melodic, and Fitting
The music in The Wandering Witch is gentle, melodic, and complements the series’ calm, reflective tone. The opening theme, "Tōmei na Tsubasa" by Miku Nakano, has a whimsical, dreamy quality that matches the adventures of Elaina. The ending theme, "Shiny Days" by Miku Nakano, is equally soothing, offering a sense of closure after each episode.
The soundtrack itself is lovely, with orchestral and piano-driven pieces that enhance the emotional moments. The music is subtle and never overpowering, but it adds a layer of richness to the overall atmosphere. While it might not have any standout tracks that stick in your mind long after watching, it supports the show’s introspective and tranquil nature perfectly.

Themes: Adventure, Self-Discovery, and Morality
At its heart, The Wandering Witch is about personal growth and the nature of adventure. Elaina's travels represent more than just exploration of the physical world—they are also a journey of self-discovery. As she interacts with various people, she is often forced to confront her own beliefs and values, making her journey not just about external exploration but also an internal one.
The series also delves into themes of moral ambiguity. Elaina encounters numerous situations where there is no clear right or wrong, and her decisions often reflect her pragmatic view of the world. For instance, there are moments where Elaina chooses to detach herself from the suffering of others, and the show doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of this. It challenges the viewer to reflect on the complexities of human behavior, relationships, and morality.

Why It’s an 8/10 (Not 10)
Episodic Structure: The lack of an overarching plot can sometimes leave the series feeling disconnected. Some episodes seem isolated from the larger narrative, which may make the story feel a little scattered at times.
Underdeveloped Supporting Cast: While Elaina is a fantastic character, the people she encounters often lack depth. A more consistent exploration of the supporting characters would have added emotional weight to the series.
Pacing Issues: Some episodes drag, especially when the story focuses more on world-building than character development or plot progression. These slower moments can feel like filler.

Final Verdict: 8/10 – A Whimsical, Reflective Journey Worth Taking
The Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina is an anime that blends whimsy and depth. Elaina’s character is an intriguing mix of maturity, aloofness, and growth, and the world-building is vibrant and imaginative. While the episodic structure can make the pacing feel uneven and some characters don’t receive as much development as they deserve, the overall journey is engaging and thought-provoking.
If you enjoy slice-of-life with fantasy elements, and you don’t mind a more introspective journey with an episodic format, Elaina offers a beautiful and bittersweet adventure that is easy to get lost in.

"I don’t need to be a hero. I just want to be someone who lives freely and learns about the world."

I'm not quite sure who the audience for this show was meant to be.

If you like cute stories about girls adorably bumbling through life and growing up along the way, you will find parts of it excessively dark and unsettling. If you prefer darker themes, for the most part, you will find the story boring and the characters annoying.

I do not think all of the episodes are in chronological order, either, so sometimes the main character will say she is eighteen, and then later in the series say that she is seventeen. But it isn't too confusing aside from that, as most of the episodes ... have their own story to tell.

The animation is really pleasant. I liked it a lot. The music was fun.

I would recommend this show if you're looking for something to watch around Halloween, and you aren't too picky about what.

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina, is the perfect anime if you want your blood to boil. Eleina is the absolute worst protagonist I’ve ever seen in any show. I do not mean to be harsh, but her character and what message this anime sends out triggered something in me.

All episodes follow 1 or 2 plotlines each, often with new characters. The plotlines often have something to do with each other. This is what, in my opinion, makes it easy to binge-watch for entertainment.

I usually enjoy these types of shows, but considering how triggering this series was, I just can’t give it any higher ... rating.

(Spoiler for episode 3):

In episode 3, we see 2 different stories. Assuming you've alreadu seen the episode, I'm not gonna go into detail, but both have a pretty infuriating end.

One of them revolves around some magically cursed flowers. My problem with it is that it ended with her leaving a dying boy without trying to help. I get that this is a ‘realistic thing to do’, but real people with human emotions are emotionally affected by things like this in the aftermath. Eleina shows no second thoughts, no empathy, no sign of care whatsoever. But it gets worse.

The other story shows a maid that has been bought as a slave, and is clearly being abused by her owner. This is a very strong theme to bring in to this kind of show, and if you do choose to have plot lines like this, you need to do it right. It is implied that this maid is likely going to end her own life at some point. Eleina is in a position where helping the girl would be very possible for her, but helping can be hard and her leaving is pretty realistic, yes. What is not realistic is her not showing any regret, nor sadness, nor anger, and it is never mentioned again after this episode.

Eleina is the definition of a bystander, and although episode 3 is definitely the worst one, she shows this side of herself throughout the whole show. Calling her a realistic character paints the picture that it is completely normal and okay to not care about anyone else than yourself, and not help anyone if it does not benefit you. This is a dangerous mindset, and I’m scared people on the younger end watching this ends up with the same thought process as shown in Eleina.
I enjoy the motive of not doing anything you don’t want to do, that’s a great motive. But this character simply does not care. She is sosiopathically coded, and completely ignorant.

In short, I would definitely stay away from this anime, and I would never ever show it to any children. This series romantizises narcissistic, greedy and careless personality traits, and I'm not here for it.

That being said, the art style is pretty amazing and aesthetically pleasing. The overall anime is boring and is good for nothing more than rage bait or background noise.