Bewitched artificially, half-bred and through sheer will.

Mary and the Witch's Flower - Chilling Adventure of Sabrina - Little Witch Academia
pop culture daily @ weekly 044

I want to increase this segment's frequency but then I have to increase my viewing frequency as well. Hm ... I am caught in an unwinnable scenario. I guess I just have to do my best then:

Chilling Adventure of Sabrina

s01e01&e02

[Netflix]

Taking direct inspiration of the graphic novel series rather than that 90's series that I was fond of since it is part of my childhood, I know this will be an eerier watch compared to the other two on this list, and I am not wrong! Sabrina Spellman is on the eve of her sixteenth birthday and will need to decide to go full witch and leave her human behind, and we see how this huge decision is weighing down on her as time ticks by with everyone and everything around her is pushing her to do 'the right thing'. The careful pacing of the first two episodes let us learn carefully of her world view on the human world she is currently inhabiting and the darker underworld so to speak that is being thrust upon her, and how her bloodline makes her at the center of attention of the coven. This is unlike any other YA show as the subject matters in the spotlight leans on heavily on the occult and all the implications it brings so viewers' discretion is heavily advised. The end of the second makes me want to jump in right away and I implore you to watch it but if you're too young, please have adult's supervision at all times.

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Mary and the Witch's Flower

[Studio Ponoc]

Didn't watch it at the time it came out last year and only decided to watch it to try to keep in theme with this particular entry and I regretted why it didn't cross my mind to watch much more earlier. Admittedly the storyline is not as clear what I was used to from anime movies (especially those coming out of Studio Ghibli) but I love feeling I am just going through this wonderful magical journey with the titled protagonist as she is being thrust upon this strange new world that she didn't know have closer ties to her life and excel on it despite having a little help on the side. While I love how beautifully realised the world is from the magic and the magic school, it is the possibility of unlimited power and how it will corrupt those who are not strong enough to wield it responsibly. How an adult and a child views it really molds the narrative and I think it is its strongest element and I think this should be a required viewing for children or youth to learn the temptation of power and the value of friendship. It's a wholesome film and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

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Little Witch Academia

s01e13&e14

[Yoh Yoshinari & Trigger]

Thinking of breezing through the season months ago but just didn't tune back in until now, I am now back in the thick of things with this series. This anime certainly has a sunny disposition to it as it views the concept of magic in a more upbeat and positive outlook, especially if viewed from the eyes of the main protagonist. These two episodes seeing her wanting to emulate her childhood idol despite her unfortunate shortcoming and giving her all to achieve it. While everything doesn't seems to go her way at all, Akko receives a helpful guidance from a mentor to keep the fire of passion burning which in turns inspire her roommates to help her and strengthen their friendship as a result. The world they are in is a particular one with a twist on the magic tropes from the witches to the magical creatures and the more comical approach if I have to refer to it comes with the territory and whether or not you are in tune with Japanese's particular brand of humor, I believe this will be an entertaining watch nonetheless.

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P.S. Kiernan Shipka is wonderful as Sabrina! It's a different version than what I used to before but she is just delightful to no end!

P.P.S. I love how Akko Kagari's imperfect transformations play well into how she will entertain the ghost!

Well, that's all folks! Thank you for your time and please do come back for my future posts! :-)