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Witchcraft Works
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Witchcraft Works
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Honoka Takamiya in Ayaka Kagari's arms
ウィッチクラフトワークス
(Witchikurafuto Wākusu)
Genre
Manga
Written byRyū Mizunagi [ja]
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineGood! Afternoon
Original runMarch 5, 2010 – February 7, 2022
Volumes17
Anime television series
Directed byTsutomu Mizushima
Produced by
  • Osamu Hosokawa
  • Yōhei Hayashi
  • Masuhiro Kinoshita
  • Yōhei Kisara
  • Miyuki Yamada
  • Junichirō Tsuchiya
Written byTsutomu Mizushima
Music byTechnoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed byCrunchyroll
Original networkTokyo MX, TVA, AT-X, BS11, ABC
Original run January 5, 2014 – March 23, 2014
Episodes12
Original video animation
Directed byTsutomu Mizushima
Produced by
  • Yūsuke Kido
  • Kenji Sumiya
Written byReiko Yoshida
Music byTechnoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed byCrunchyroll
ReleasedJanuary 7, 2015
Runtime24 minutes
Manga
Witchcraft Works Extra
Written byRyū Mizunagi
Published byKodansha
MagazineGood! Afternoon
Original runMarch 7, 2022 – present
Volumes4
icon Anime and manga portal

Witchcraft Works (Japanese: ウィッチクラフトワークス, Hepburn: Witchikurafuto Wākusu) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryū Mizunagi [ja]. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Good! Afternoon from March 2010 to February 2022, with its chapters collected into seventeen tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation by J.C.Staff aired in Japan from January to March 2014.

Plot

[edit]

Honoka Takamiya is a high school student living a normal life, which is frequently disrupted by his unavoidable association with Ayaka Kagari, the school's renowned idol. Their shared classroom seating and cleaning responsibilities often lead to minor interactions, for which Honoka faces retribution from her dedicated fan club. This pattern is broken when a supernatural event occurs: a school building is launched through the air toward Honoka. His rescue is effected by a Witch, a magical figure who repels the attack. This Witch subsequently identifies herself as Ayaka, explaining that her prior distant demeanor was a deliberate disguise for her true role as his perpetual guardian against hidden threats.

Characters

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Main characters

[edit]
Honoka Takamiya (多華宮 仄, Takamiya Honoka)
Voiced by: Yūsuke Kobayashi
Honoka is a high school student who initially questions the frequent coincidences in his life. He is targeted by a group known as the Tower Witches until his classmate, Ayaka, reveals herself as a Workshop Witch tasked with his protection. A mysterious, powerful entity called Evermillion, or the White Princess, resides within Honoka, making him a target. He becomes Ayaka's apprentice to aid her, though she forbids him from using the entity's power directly due to a dangerous "payment" it demands. Their fates are intrinsically linked; Ayaka can channel this power, but any physical injury Honoka sustains is transferred to her. This bond stems from a past incident where Honoka saved Ayaka's life by making a deal with the White Princess, an act that connected their lives and resulted in their memories being erased for protection.
Ayaka Kagari (火々里 綾火, Kagari Ayaka)
Voiced by: Asami Seto
Ayaka is a statuesque and intellectually gifted student, recognized as the official "Princess" of the school. Publicly stoic and socially detached, she is secretly a "Fire Witch" (炎の魔女) capable of manipulating flames. A powerful spell connects her to her classmate, Honoka; this bond grants her near-invulnerability and immense power so long as he is near, though any physical damage he sustains is instantly transferred to her. Her mission is to protect Honoka from hostile forces, a duty she extends to shielding him from any form of harassment. She was originally the host for the entity Evermillion until Honoka intervened, transferring the being into himself to save her life, an act that forged their profound connection and erased their memories of the event.

Workshop Witches

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Kasumi Takamiya (多華宮 霞, Takamiya Kasumi)
Voiced by: Ai Kayano
Kasumi is Honoka's younger sister and a Workshop Witch with a profound brother complex, frequently seeking his physical affection despite their ages. She possesses a teddy bear familiar that transforms into a powerful combat mech named "Maka-ron" (摩訶ロン). Tasked with protecting Honoka, she is a capable hand-to-hand fighter but requires a bear-shaped medium gifted by her brother to access her full magical potential. She is intensely jealous of Ayaka's relationship with Honoka and often clashes with her, particularly upon finding them in compromising situations.
Kazane Kagari (火々里 かざね, Kagari Kazane)
Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara
Kazane is the long-lived chairwoman of Tōgetsu High School and head of the city's Workshop Witches, a powerful figure known by fearsome monikers such as "Bad End". She is temperamental and prefers resolving conflicts through overwhelming force. Her magic passively safeguards civilians from collateral damage during supernatural conflicts. A longtime associate of Honoka's family, she saved his mother's life years ago, resulting in Honoka inheriting her magical bloodline and becoming her student. To protect Honoka and her adopted daughter, Ayaka, she later captured the witch Kayou Kagari and took control of the Kagari family.
Kyōichirō Mikage (深影 恭一郎, Mikage Kyōichirō)
Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu
A chemistry teacher at Honoka's high school who helps manage the memories of the non-witch population whenever parts of the city get destroyed by magic. He also recruits witches throughout the city for the Workshop. Mikage has his own plans for Honoka and his "white stuff", but his true motives are unknown.
Touko Hio (氷尾 凍子, Hio Tōko)
Voiced by: Kana Asumi
Touko is a Workshop Witch specializing in ice-based magic, the scale of which increases proportionally to any threat she faces. A childhood friend of Ayaka, she was personally asked by Kazane to watch over her due to Ayaka's lack of social intelligence. To support her large family, Touko works numerous part-time jobs throughout the city, positions she also uses to gather intelligence for Ayaka. She previously served as the Student Council's Vice President and now holds the title of "Vice-Vice President".
Rinon Otometachibana (乙女橘 りのん, Otometachibana Rinon)
Voiced by: Noriko Shitaya
Rinon is a Workshop Witch and Kasumi's mentor, who also leads a gang of delinquents in hamster costumes. Known as the "Bear Killer" for reportedly strangling a tiger, she relies on magic to enhance her immense physical strength rather than casting visible spells. She publicly challenged Honoka for control of the student council but was ultimately defeated, a confrontation where Honoka refused to strike the final blow. It is implied she endured the same harsh training as Ayaka under Kazane.
Atori Kuramine (昏峰 あとり, Kuramine Atori)
Voiced by: Ikumi Hayama
A soft-spoken witch with cat-like ears who wields a large sword. Atori prefers to talk through a small, magical ventriloquist doll she keeps nearby at almost all times. Has a questionable understanding of first-aid.

Tower Witches

[edit]

Ivory Quintet

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Tanpopo Kuraishi (倉石 たんぽぽ, Kuraishi Tanpopo)
Voiced by: Shiori Izawa
Sakuya is a Tower Witch and a "Shikigami User" (式神使い, Shikigami Tsukai) who commands an army of paper rabbits that can be transformed into mechanized soldiers. She acts as the unofficial leader of the "Ivory Quintet", a group of witches who transfer to Tōgetsu High School with the mission to capture Honoka.
Kanna Utsugi (宇津木 環那, Utsugi Kanna)
Voiced by: Shiina Natsukawa
She is a member of Ivory Quintet; in spite of her natural mad-looking face, she actually has normal emotions. Her power is to summon and use demons by the book called "Black Vice" (ブラックヴァイス, Burakku Vaisu) that she carries on her back, though this power is rarely shown.
Rin Kazari (飾 鈴, Kazari Rin)
Voiced by: Momo Asakura
A soft-voiced member of Ivory Quintet, who wields a scythe. She has a power called "Bone Animator" (骨使い（ボーンアニメーター）, Bon Animeta; lit. 'Bone User'), which can only be used to revive dead skeletons of any size and use them as her weapons.
Kotetsu Katsura (桂 虎鉄, Katsura Kotetsu)
Voiced by: Natsumi Hioka
A member of the Ivory Quintet and Tōgetsu High School's Kendo club. Her given name is based on a same-named Japanese sword that she wields.
Mei Menowa (目野輪 冥, Menowa Mei)
Voiced by: Yuko Iida
One of the Tower Witches that form the Ivory Quintet. She has the ability to pass through walls and create a defensive barrier. She wears a complete wolf pelt called "Coast Fenrir", a sort of baby wolf formed from the feather of a fallen angel that functions as both extra appendage and semi-sentient weapon.

Others

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Evermillion (エヴァーミリオン, Evu~āmirion)
Voiced by: Mamiko Noto
Evermillion, also known as the White Princess (白姫, Shirohime), is an ancient and immensely powerful fire witch capable of harnessing the power of souls. Her form changes based on the soul of her current host. She was formerly subjugated by Kayou Kagari and bound within Ayaka to serve as a controllable vessel. Evermillion manipulated Honoka into a deal, intending to consume his soul, but was instead neutralized and purified by his innate power and pure heart, manifesting as a frilly white princess. This transformation intrigued her, leading her to sincerely aid Honoka and engage in playful teasing. The terms of their pact are the reason Ayaka can access the White Princess's power.
Chronoire Schwarz VI (クロノワールシュヴァルツ・シックス, Kuronowārushuvarutsu Shikkusu)
Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya
A powerful Tower Witch who specializes in crafting potions and often walks around with a well-dressed crocodile familiar named Sebastian. Has her own plans for Honoka's "white stuff". Chronoire is on relatively neutral terms with Kazane despite officially being her enemy; sometimes Kazane physically beats and tortures her for information, other times Kazane entrusts her as temporary chairman of the school while she is on other business. Chronoire also has earned the nickname "Dead End" for her ability to turn into a part-crocodile monster and literally eat other witches if she wants.
Medusa (メデューサ, Medyūsa)
Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro
A high-ranking Tower Witch who controls the KMM Gang and their associates in order to steal Honoka's "white stuff" for herself. Has the power to petrify her enemies into stone statues, but has been weakened after being trapped in a magic prison.
Weekend (ウィークエンド, Wīkuendo)
Voiced by: Aya Hirano
A Tower Witch whose main strength is meticulous planning and preparation as opposed to any overtly magic power. Though Weekend is not her real name, she uses it anyway for the notoriety it brings her. Weekend's specialty involves setting up explosives of both magic and non-magic varieties. Runs her own small faction to kidnap Honoka for his "white stuff" as well.
Komachi Takamiya (多華宮 小町, Takamiya Komachi)
Voiced by: Ayako Kawasumi
Honoka and Kasumi's mother. Rather a cheerful and supportive mother, she was easily broken emotionally. She fell in love with Kazane during her school years, and promised to marry her (instead, they arranged the marriage of their future children). She works as an office lady. She also has open arms, which was evident in the fact that she took the Ivory Quintet into her home.

Media

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Manga

[edit]

Written and illustrated by Ryū Mizunagi [ja], Witchcraft Works was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Good! Afternoon from March 5, 2010,[3] to February 7, 2022.[4][5] Kodansha collected its chapters in seventeen tankōbon volumes, released from November 5, 2010,[6] to March 7, 2022.[7]

The manga is licensed in North America for English language publication by Vertical. The first volume was released on October 21, 2014.[8][9]

Following the series' conclusion, an "extra" serialization spin-off started on Good! Afternoon on March 7, 2022.[4] Four volumes have been released as of October 7, 2025.[10]

Volumes

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No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1November 5, 2010[6]978-4-06-310713-5October 21, 2014[11]978-1-941220-00-9
2July 7, 2011[12]978-4-06-310760-9December 9, 2014[13]978-1-941220-01-6
3March 7, 2012[14]978-4-06-387810-3February 7, 2015[15]978-1-941220-17-7
4November 7, 2012[16]978-4-06-387849-3April 21, 2015[17]978-1-941220-18-4
5May 5, 2013[18]978-4-06-387884-4June 30, 2015[19]978-1-941220-19-1
6November 7, 2013[20]978-4-06-387931-5August 18, 2015[21]978-1-941220-20-7
7July 7, 2014[22]978-4-06-387981-0October 13, 2015[23]978-1-941220-52-8
8January 7, 2015[24]978-4-06-388026-7December 8, 2015[25]978-1-941220-96-2
9November 6, 2015[26]978-4-06-388099-1August 30, 2016[27]978-1-942993-15-5
10November 7, 2016[28]978-4-06-388201-8December 26, 2017[29]978-1-942993-92-6
11August 7, 2017[30]978-4-06-388282-7April 24, 2018[31]978-1-947194-15-1
12June 7, 2018[32]978-4-06-511537-4July 23, 2019[33]978-1-947194-67-0
13December 7, 2018[34]978-4-06-513898-4November 26, 2019[35]978-1-949980-00-4
14November 7, 2019[36]978-4-06-517558-3November 24, 2020[37]978-1-949980-20-2
15October 7, 2020[38]978-4-06-520913-4April 13, 2021[39]978-1-949980-77-6
16July 7, 2021[40]978-4-06-524050-2July 26, 2022[41]978-1-64729-005-4
17March 7, 2022[7]978-4-06-527105-6April 11, 2023[42]978-1-64729-209-6
Extra (1)February 7, 2023[43]978-4-06-530575-1——
Extra (2)December 7, 2023[44]978-4-06-533914-5——
Extra (3)November 7, 2024[45]978-4-06-537470-2——
Extra (4)October 7, 2025[10]978-4-06-541122-3——

Anime

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An anime television series adaptation was announced in November 2012.[46] It was animated by J.C.Staff and written and directed by Tsutomu Mizushima. The series' first episode was screened at Tokyo's Cinemart Shinjuku theater on December 29, 2013, streamed to 2000 people on December 30, 2013, by Bandai Channel[47][48] and aired for twelve episodes between January 5 and March 23, 2014, on Tokyo MX. Additionally the anime was aired on TVA, AT-X, BS11, and ABC and was streamed with English subtitles by Crunchyroll.[49] The series' music is composed by Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund.[48] The opening theme song is "divine intervention" by Fhána and the ending is "Witch☆Activity" (ウィッチ☆アクティビティ) by KMM Gang consisting Izawa, Natsukawa, Asakura, Hioka, and Iida.

Episodes

[edit]
No.TitleOriginal release date
1"Takamiya-kun and the Fire Witch"
"Takamiya-kun to Honō no Majo" (多華宮君と炎の魔女)		January 5, 2014 (2014-01-05)
Honoka Takamiya is going through his usual routine of a boring school life and getting beaten up by bullies for his perceived closeness to the school's idol, Ayaka Kagari. However, one day he finds himself under attack by an army of tin soldier rabbits. He is saved from the attack by a witch with powerful fire-based magic, who turns out to be Ayaka herself, and refers to Honoka as her "princess".
2"Takamiya-kun and the Witches’ Agenda"
"Takamiya-kun to Majo-tachi no Omowaku" (多華宮君と魔女達の思惑)		January 12, 2014 (2014-01-12)
Honoka opens a classroom door to find Ayaka torturing four of the evil witches who transferred to their school. The leader of the group, Tanpopo Kuraishi, claims that they want to get his "white stuff". Suddenly, the fifth transfer student witch kidnaps Honoka, but does not get far before Ayaka blows them all away with her fire magic. Shortly after the incident, Honoka goes on a date around town with Ayaka, explaining the conflict between the Tower and Workshop witches. Then she brings him back to school to meet the chairwoman, her mother, and the leader of the Workshop witches in the city: Kazane Kagari.
3"Takamiya-kun and Chronoire’s Trap"
"Takamiya-kun to Kuronowāru no Wana" (多華宮君とクロノワールの罠)		January 19, 2014 (2014-01-19)
After another quick encounter with Tanpopo's "KMM Gang", Ayaka begins training Honoka on how to use his own latent witch powers, including the ability to hide in plain sight and fly on a broomstick. After flying around the town, he uses his powers to intervene and save a little girl from bullies, until Honoka himself has to be rescued by Ayaka again. Later, as the two of them ride the school bus, they find themselves in the trap of a powerful Tower witch named Chronoire Schwarz VI. She subdues Ayaka by injuring Honoka and using his latent powers of transferring all his damage to her, then gives him a candy that she predicts he will swallow in the future. Ayaka manages to wake up in time and force Chronoire to retreat, but Honoka keeps the candy.
4"Takamiya-kun and the Mean Little Sister"
"Takamiya-kun to Ijiwaru na Imōto" (多華宮君といじわるな妹)		January 26, 2014 (2014-01-26)
A powerful Tower witch named Medusa is shown slowly cracking open her supposedly unbreakable prison. Elsewhere, Honoka's sister, Kasumi Takamiya, starts getting jealous of her brother spending more time away from home with Ayaka. While the KMM Gang attempts another plan to kidnap Honoka by splitting him from Ayaka, Kasumi intervenes on her brother's behalf, using a giant teddy bear to fight the giant tin soldier rabbit that Tanpopo summons to fight her. However, the bear grows so large that its attacks destroy a significant portion of the town (while leaving the people unharmed). Afterwards, Ayaka returns having quickly beaten the Tower witches, promising to watch over Honoka 24/7.
5"Takamiya-kun and the Witch of Stone Eyes and Stone Hands"
"Takamiya-kun to Sekigansekishu no Majo" (多華宮君と石眼石手の魔女)		February 2, 2014 (2014-02-02)

Ayaka comes home with Honoka to ask his mother if he can stay over at her house from now on. Despite her daughter's loud objections, Komachi Takamiya agrees, revealing that she actually had an agreement with Kazane in the past that, because they could not marry each other, their future children would be married to each other instead. Upon arriving at Ayaka's incredibly luxurious mansion, Ayaka and Honoka find themselves face-to-face with the escaped Medusa. Ayaka tries to fight her, but Medusa uses magic to turn her into stone. With no other options left, Honoka swallows the candy that Chronoire gave him before, drawing out the White Princess, Evermillion. Evermillion uses her power to beat back Medusa, which ends up destroying most of the mansion and a large part of the school as well, angering Kazane enough to call for a Tower witch-hunt. Evermillion then reveals that all Honoka had to do was kiss Ayaka with love to wake her up, which he does. Ayaka then uses her powers to defeat Medusa and the KMM Gang (again).

Later, before Chronoire can launch her evil plan, Kazane captures and then tortures her for information.
6"Takamiya-kun and the Test of Love"
"Takamiya-kun to Ai no Shiren" (多華宮君と愛の試練)		February 9, 2014 (2014-02-09)
When Ayaka and Honoka arrive at school, the science teacher separates Honoka from Ayaka, using Clarke's Third Law as an excuse. He warns Honoka that by using the candy, one of five seals has been broken, and if he reveals the information to anyone, Kazane might take drastic action. Later, Ayaka uses her semi-official "Princess" position at the school to unilaterally replace the student council President with Honoka. After school, Kasumi shoots Ayaka with a powerful tranquilizer gun and kidnaps Honoka to take him out of the city, where Kazane's power supposedly cannot reach, but Ayaka quickly recovers and uses a dragon to shoot down Kasumi and her giant teddy bear plane before they can escape.
7"Takamiya-kun and Noblesse Oblige"
"Takamiya-kun to Noburesu Oburīju" (多華宮君とノブレス・オブリージュ)		February 16, 2014 (2014-02-16)
Ayaka has been secretly keeping Medusa and the KMM Gang in her room at Honoka's house after their last battle. Tanpopo tries to quietly kidnap Honoka but cannot seem to find the right moment. However, Mei and Kotetsu accidentally run into him while coming out of the bath and immediately capture him, provoking a standoff with Kazane as she returns from a shopping trip. Ayaka aligns herself with the Tower Witches to protect Honoka, and merges with Medusa to boost her power, but ends up losing anyway as Kazane beats Honoka unconscious before sending both him and Ayaka to a dungeon. Ayaka later borrows some of Honoka's power to break out, damaging another section of the school to Kazane's despair. Ayaka prepares to fight her mother, but Kazane refuses, demanding the two of them go home instead.
8"Takamiya-kun and Kagari-san's Wound"
"Takamiya-kun to Kagari-san no Kizu" (多華宮君と火々里さんの傷)		February 23, 2014 (2014-02-23)
Honoka has a dream of Ayaka's past, where she was a socially-stunted little girl to the point that her mother asked two similarly young Workshop witches to watch over her. She often spent her after class time looking for a certain boy at nearby schools until she finally found Honoka. In the present, Honoka is forced to deal with a challenge to his authority as President of the student council. The previous President lied to infamous delinquent Rinon Otometachibana that Honoka physically abused her, and as revenge, Rinon set her entire hamster-themed gang to trash the school before challenging Honoka to a one-on-one duel. Ayaka tries to help Honoka fight her at first, but on the day of the duel she cheats to make it appear as though Honoka won. Later, it is revealed that Ayaka manipulated the deposed President from the start just to reaffirm Honoka's position at school.
9"Takamiya-kun and the Witch of the End"
"Takaimiya-kun to Owari no Majo" (多華宮君と終わりの魔女)		March 2, 2014 (2014-03-02)
Ayaka decides to teach Honoka about offensive magic, trying to make him summon a familiar by throwing him off the roof of a tall building. In a panic, he ends up summoning a giant image of Ayaka in a sexy nurse outfit that catches the two of them before punching a nearby building. Meanwhile, Kazane discovers a giant magic bomb underneath the city, and meets with a Tower Witch named Weekend to negotiate, but Weekend simply detonates the bomb, destroying several buildings and exhausting all of Kazane's magic power as she tries to limit the damage. Ayaka and Honoka are escorted into a cell by other Workshop Witches for their safety, but a high-tech magic puppet created by Weekend finds them. Ayaka uses the puppet to blow up a section of the wall and break out, but Ayaka remarks that neither of them have their magic power.
10"Takamiya-kun and the Weekend (Part 1)"
"Takamiya-kun to Wīkuendo (Zen-pen)" (多華宮君とウィークエンド　（前編）)		March 9, 2014 (2014-03-09)
The Workshop Witches are in crisis mode as Ayaka and Honoka emerge to find themselves in a broken city. Without Kazane's powers, the Workshop Witches in the city are unable to use any magic and no outside help will arrive in time. To make matters worse, Weekend captures a group of Workshop Witches and straps magical bombs to them, demanding that they hand over Honoka in 30 minutes or she will detonate her hostages one by one. While Rinon and Atori try to defuse the situation, Ayaka takes Honoka down to the core of the city to renew the contract using Honoka's latent powers. At the very last second, Honoka completes the contract, allowing the Workshop Witches to rescue the hostages and capture Weekend. However, after being thrown in a magic-nullifying cell, Weekend reveals that she let herself be captured so she could destroy the Workshop from within, which she does with more hidden bombs. Honoka uses his new powers to revive the wounded witches, but Ayaka knocks him out before the strain kills him.
11"Takamiya-kun and the Weekend (Part 2)"
"Takamiya-kun to Wīkuendo (Chū-hen)" (多華宮君とウィークエンド　（中編）)		March 16, 2014 (2014-03-16)

As Ayaka lays Honoka to rest in what remains of his home, Honoka views several of Kazane's memories. Honoka then gets word from the science teacher Mikage that they are in an alternate reality created by the city due to the contract Honoka just made, and takes him down to a shelter where the residents of the city are stuck in suspended animation until they can be safely revived. Suddenly, one of Weekend's underlings attacks Honoka at the shelter. Meanwhile, Ayaka heads off to fight Weekend herself at a church. However, Weekend uses several bombs she planted around the church to drain Ayaka's power, then captures her using giant monster golems, revealing that she planted the bombs in the city months ago as part of her plan.

Back at Honoka's house, Mikage ends up reviving Honoka while Atori is attending to him. Mikage then delivers a message that Weekend plans to destroy the shelter unless Honoka is delivered to her in 30 minutes. Honoka and Atori race to the scene of a large explosion to find a drained Ayaka, and Honoka gives her some more power to defeat Weekend before she can destroy the shelter. However, Weekend reveals that she already set off her bomb.
12"Takamiya-kun and the Weekend (Part 3)"
"Takamiya-kun to Wīkuendo (Kō-hen)" (多華宮君とウィークエンド　（後編）)		March 23, 2014 (2014-03-23)

As Tanpopo decides to carry Kasumi out from the wreckage, Weekend's bomb wipes out all the townspeople inside the shelter, including Mikage. Honoka desperately tries to save them, striking a bargain with Evermillion by sacrificing his life to save the town and everyone in it, but Ayaka decides to exchange her life for Honoka's at the last minute. All of the people and buildings in the city are restored as if nothing happened, including Weekend, who stabs Honoka with a knife.

Weekend decides to have Honoka healed and acknowledges her defeat, shortly before running into Chronoire. In the restored church, Honoka, Atori and Mikage work on a way to bring Ayaka back to life, using some of Honoka's blood and a kiss. Miraculously, Ayaka regains consciousness. Meanwhile, Chronoire is shown impaling Weekend and most of her underlings on sharp poles, when Kazane shows up. Kazane then demands Chronoire hand Weekend over for questioning, but Chronoire responds that Weekend is her "dinner", and the two fight each other to settle the score.

Later, an unconscious Honoka and Mikage visit Evermillion as she talks about the renewed contract that Honoka has formed with her, warning him about the consequences he will have to face if he tries a similar action in the future. As he wakes up, Ayaka greets him at the bedroom door. The two then walk to school when the reformed KMM Gang threatens them en route. Even without her magic restored, Ayaka simply grabs Tanpopo and Mei by their faces and squeezes them until the gang submits.
13 (OVA)"Takamiya-kun and His Sister's Conspiracy"
"Takamiya-kun to Imōto no Warudakumi" (多華宮君と妹の悪巧み)		January 7, 2015 (2015-01-07)

After the events of the previous episode, Kasumi meets with a drunken Tanpopo in a nearby bar and proposes an alliance to defeat Ayaka for supposedly stealing Honoka from her. After collecting some Tower Witches who were defeated by Ayaka in the past, Kasumi and Tanpopo's new gang confront Ayaka in her room, only to be swiftly beaten by her strength alone. The next day, Kasumi watches an anime DVD with her friend Tanuma, but the more risque scenes from the show conflict with her ideas of what a romantic relationship with her brother would mean.

Suddenly, Rinon appears and carries both Kasumi and Tanpopo to a site where a giant penguin is wreaking havoc on the town. Rinon tells Kasumi to fight the penguin with her own giant teddy bear, and soon Kasumi and Tanpopo find themselves in a tag-team match against the giant penguin and one of Weekend's followers, all using enlarged familiars. Finally, Kasumi ends the fight by growing her teddy bear so large its head reaches the stratosphere, then smashes the penguin. After finding that the giant penguin was somehow spawned from a penguin idol her brother carved, she hides the evidence in her teddy bear and heads home.

Reception

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The fourth volume of the manga series ranked #25 in the Oricon charts in November 2012 with a total of 27,389 copies sold in under a week.[50] The fifth volume ranked #28 in the Oricon charts in May 2013 with a total of 31,678 copies sold in under a week.[51] The sixth volume ranked #29 in the Oricon charts in November 2013 with a total of 27,573 copies sold in under a week.[52]

References

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Witchcraft Works

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Witchcraft Works (Japanese: ウィッチクラフト・ワークス, Hepburn: Uitchikurafuto Wākusu) is a Japanese series written and illustrated by Ryū Mizunagi. It was serialized in Kodansha's * magazine from March 5, 2010, to February 7, 2022. The series was collected into seventeen volumes, the first published in on November 5, 2010, and the last on March 7, 2022. A sequel spin-off, Witchcraft Works Extra, began serialization in March 2022 and is ongoing, with 4 volumes as of November 2025. In , the was licensed for English release by Vertical, a division of , with the first volume released on October 21, 2014, and the final volume on April 11, 2023. The story is set at Tougetsu Academy and revolves around Honoka Takamiya, an ordinary high school student who secretly possesses immense magical power known as the "Covenant Child." His classmate, Kagari, the school's admired "Princess" and a powerful fire witch from the Kagari clan's Workshop Witches, vows to protect him from the rival Tower Witches, who seek to capture him for their own purposes. The narrative blends elements of fantasy, , and romance, featuring intense magical battles, school life dynamics, and a role-reversal dynamic where the typically unassuming male protagonist is guarded by the strong female lead. An television adaptation titled Witch Craft Works was produced by and directed by . It aired from January 5 to March 23, 2014, on the television network, consisting of 12 episodes. The closely follows the manga's early , emphasizing the visual spectacle of duels and character interactions, and received praise for its quality and unique premise despite mixed reviews on pacing. In 2015, a single-episode (OVA) titled Witch Craft Works: Takamiya-kun to Imouto no Warudakumi, bundled with the manga's 8th volume, was released on January 7, expanding on side stories involving Honoka's . The series has garnered a dedicated fanbase for its unconventional take on witch tropes and strong female characters.

Background

Development

Witchcraft Works is a Japanese series written and illustrated by Ryū Mizunagi. The series originated from a pilot one-shot that Mizunagi created, which won the Four Seasons Manga Award in 2004, allowing the project to develop further toward full . Serialization began on March 5, 2010, in 's * magazine . The continued irregularly over the years in line with the magazine's bimonthly schedule, with a one-month hiatus announced in late 2021 before resuming for its final chapters and concluding on February 7, 2022, after 17 compiled volumes. This extended timeline culminated in the series entering its final arc in 2021. Following the conclusion of the main series, a spin-off titled Witchcraft Works Extra began on March 7, 2022, in the same magazine and remains ongoing as of 2025, with four volumes released. Mizunagi, originally from , drew from elements to craft the story's blend of magic, high school life, and protective dynamics between characters. The initial pitch positioned the work as a seinen reinterpretation of tropes, emphasizing reversals where a powerful female witch safeguards a male protagonist, distinguishing it from typical shōjo narratives. Prior to the anime adaptation in 2014, development focused on expanding the pilot's concepts into ongoing chapters, building the world of Workshop and Tower Witches through serialized installments.

Setting and world-building

The setting of Witchcraft Works unfolds in contemporary , where a concealed society of witches integrates seamlessly with everyday human life, employing their abilities in to evade detection. At the heart of this world is Tougetsu Academy, a prestigious private high school that functions as a covert assembly point for witches drawn from across the nation, blending mundane education with clandestine magical pursuits. This dual-layered reality emphasizes the witches' efforts to maintain balance, using magic either for protective or disruptive ends within urban environments. The magical system revolves around innate supernatural powers, frequently manifested through elemental affinities such as fire, which witches harness for combat, creation, and defense. These abilities are transformative and elemental in nature, allowing users to manipulate natural forces or craft artifacts, with power levels tied to individual roles within their factions. Workshop Witches specialize in supportive magic, crafting tools and artifacts to aid in protection and regulation, while Tower Witches emphasize raw, offensive capabilities derived from their elemental strengths. Witch society is bifurcated into the Workshop Witches and the Tower Witches, representing contrasting philosophies and structures. The Workshop Witches embody an egalitarian, guardian-oriented ethos, constructing hidden workshops in densely populated cities to monitor magical usage, prevent abuses, and foster communal harmony through practical enchantments and alliances. Conversely, the Tower Witches operate within a stratified , prioritizing dominance and personal ambition, with their faction centered around an imposing tower that symbolizes their aggressive pursuit of superior magical dominance and control over rare resources. Central to the lore is the rarity of male witches, exemplified by individuals possessing exceptional magical potential, such as Takamiya's role as the "Covenant Child," which positions him as a pivotal figure in factional conflicts. This unique heritage underscores the world's emphasis on elemental symbolism, where motifs like flames represent unyielding power and protection, integral to the witches' identities and rivalries.

Synopsis

Plot summary

Witchcraft Works follows Honoka Takamiya, an ordinary high school student at Tougetsu Academy, who unexpectedly becomes the target of powerful witches known as the Tower Witches due to his latent magical abilities. Ayaka Kagari, the school's most popular and enigmatic student revealed to be a formidable witch from the rival Workshop Witches faction, takes on the role of his protector, referring to him as her "Princess" in a reversal of typical gender dynamics. The story begins with the initial protection phase, triggered by the first attack on Takamiya during his daily school life, where bizarre deathtraps orchestrated by Tower Witches force Kagari to intervene with her immense fire-based powers. As conflicts escalate, Takamiya navigates a blend of everyday high school episodes—such as classroom interactions and subtle romantic tensions—and intense magical battles, gradually forming alliances with Kagari's Workshop Witches to counter the threats. Subsequent arcs intensify the factional rivalries, featuring major confrontations against key Tower Witches groups, including the elite Ivory Quintet, who seek to capture Takamiya for their own purposes. Revelations about Takamiya's hidden potential deepen the stakes, leading to climactic battles that test loyalties and abilities across the witch society. The main serialized narrative concludes in 2021 with a resolution of the longstanding tensions between the Tower and Workshop Witches, restoring balance to the hidden magical world intertwined with ordinary life. A spin-off serialization titled Witchcraft Works Extra, beginning in 2022, explores untold stories from the characters' pasts and futures.

Themes

The narrative of Witchcraft Works centers on the theme of protection and dependency, embodied in the central romance between Honoka Takamiya, a seemingly ordinary high school student, and Kagari, a powerful witch who serves as his devoted guardian. This dynamic subverts traditional norms by inverting the classic trope of the male rescuing the damsel, positioning Kagari as the strong protector and Takamiya as the "" in need of safeguarding from threats. Power and are explored through the opposing factions of witches: the collaborative Witches, who emphasize and mutual support, and the authoritarian Tower Witches, who enforce strict dominance and control. This contrast critiques rigid, top-down structures by portraying the Tower's aggressive pursuit of power as ultimately self-destructive, while the 's egalitarian approach fosters resilience and growth among its members. The narrative features Takamiya's development as he confronts his latent abilities amid the conflicts. Urban fantasy elements are woven throughout by blending everyday high school life—such as classroom interactions and casual dates—with bursts of magical and hidden societies, underscoring the theme of concealed normalcy where extraordinary threats lurk beneath mundane routines.

Characters

Main characters

Honoka Takamiya is the male protagonist of Witch Craft Works, portrayed as an ordinary high school student at Tougetsu Academy who initially leads a unassuming life, sitting next to the school's most admired girl without ever interacting with her. He is characterized as shy and kind-hearted, often avoiding attention, but gradually develops greater confidence as he confronts the supernatural elements surrounding him. Beneath his everyday facade lies hidden dragon magic, granting him latent abilities tied to the powerful familiar Evermillion, which positions him as a key figure targeted by various witch factions. In the adaptation, Takamiya is voiced by Yūsuke Kobayashi. Ayaka Kagari serves as the female protagonist and Takamiya's primary protector, a formidable fire witch affiliated with the Workshop Witches who wields immense power through flame manipulation, capable of unleashing devastating attacks in battle. Known as the school's "" for her , , athletic prowess, and , she maintains a stoic and emotionally reserved demeanor toward others, prioritizing duty above personal expression. Despite her reserved nature, Kagari demonstrates fierce loyalty and a protective instinct, especially when it comes to safeguarding those she values. In the , she is voiced by . The dynamic between Takamiya and Kagari forms the emotional core of the series, with Kagari viewing Takamiya as her "" and devoting herself unwaveringly to his protection, reversing traditional gender roles in their partnership amid the conflicts between factions. This bond highlights themes of loyalty and growth, as Takamiya's initial passivity evolves alongside Kagari's steadfast guardianship.

Workshop Witches

The Workshop Witches form Kagari's core team of craft-oriented witches dedicated to safeguarding the city and its inhabitants from magical threats, establishing urban workshops to monitor and counter misuse of powers. Their approach prioritizes the fabrication of enchanted tools and coordinated teamwork, enabling effective protection without relying solely on raw combat prowess. This group contrasts with more aggressive factions by focusing on defensive strategies and communal vigilance. A prominent member is Touko Hio, an ice magic specialist from a lineage of ice witches who acts as a key caretaker and strategist for the team. Her cool-headed planning and analytical mindset provide essential tactical support, balancing Kagari's direct, force-heavy style with precise, freezing-based interventions that can scale in intensity based on situational demands. In the adaptation, Hio is voiced by . Overall, the Workshop Witches' dynamics revolve around synergistic roles, where specialized abilities like Hio's strategic ice manipulation integrate with the collective tool-making and collaborative spirit of members, fostering a resilient network for ongoing defense.

Tower Witches

The Tower Witches form the primary antagonistic faction in Witchcraft Works, a of witches who pursue magic for personal ambition and power. They aim to seize control of Takamiya's latent magical potential, viewing it as a key to achieving dominance over other witches and reshaping the magical hierarchy to their advantage. This pursuit often leads to aggressive incursions into human society, with the group structured around powerful leaders and specialized units that prioritize efficiency and intimidation over cooperation. At the core of their operations is the Ivory , an elite subgroup also referred to as the KMM Gang, comprising five witches who infiltrate Tougetsu Academy as transfer students to directly target Takamiya. Each member wields distinctly themed magical abilities that complement the group's strategy, blending offense, defense, and deception. For instance, Tanpopo Kuraishi employs cunning illusion-based magic and mechanical bunny s to manipulate perceptions and set traps, while Kanna Utsugi specializes in summoning multiple familiars for coordinated attacks. Their individual designs incorporate gothic uniforms adorned with symbolic accessories—like floral motifs or avian elements—highlighting their coordinated yet competitive dynamic. The operates under direct orders from higher Tower authorities, but their missions reveal underlying tensions as members vie for personal credit in capturing Takamiya. The five members are Tanpopo Kuraishi (illusions and ), Mei Menowa (water manipulation), Kanna Utsugi ( summons), Rin Kazari (barrier and support magic), and Kotetsu Katsura (metal constructs). Beyond the , the Tower Witches include numerous subordinates organized into gangs and independent operatives who execute field operations, often clashing with rivals within the faction over resources and influence. These internal rivalries manifest in betrayals and power grabs, such as disputes among mid-level leaders who seek to claim Takamiya's power for their own ascent, weakening the group's cohesion despite their shared goal of supremacy. The Chairwoman serves as a pivotal , orchestrating large-scale strategies from a concealed base and enforcing discipline among the ranks. In the anime adaptation, key Tower Witches receive that emphasizes their menacing and multifaceted personalities. For example, other prominent members like Weekend () and Evermillion () are portrayed with intense, authoritative tones that underscore the faction's threatening presence. The Ivory Quintet members are voiced by Shiori Izawa (), Yūko Iida (Mei Menowa), Shiina (Kanna Utsugi), Momo Asakura (), and Natsumi Hioka (), bringing vivid life to their coordinated assaults and interpersonal frictions.

Media

Manga

Witchcraft Works is a Japanese series written and illustrated by Ryū Mizunagi. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen magazine Good! Afternoon from March 5, 2010, to February 7, 2022. The series comprises 108 chapters collected into 17 volumes published by in . The volumes were released progressively alongside the serialization, with the first volume appearing in 2011 and the final volume on March 7, 2022. In , the was licensed and published in English under the title Witchcraft Works by Vertical, an imprint of . The English edition spans 17 volumes, released from October 21, 2014, to April 11, 2023. Digital versions are also available through Comics and platforms like K MANGA. Prior to the official English release, fan translations of the series were widely available online. Each volume typically collects around 6 to 7 chapters and features cover artwork emphasizing key characters, particularly the flame witch Kagari, who is prominently depicted in dynamic poses amid magical elements. No special editions of the main volumes were released, though a side story series, Witchcraft Works EXTRA, began after the main story concluded and has its own collected volumes. The served as the direct basis for the 2014 anime adaptation produced by , which closely followed the source material's plot and character developments without significant alterations.

Anime

The anime adaptation of Witch Craft Works was produced by and directed by , who also handled series composition. It aired in from January 5 to March 23, 2014, consisting of 12 episodes broadcast on networks including , AT-X, and BS11. The series faithfully adapts the early volumes of the original by Ryū Mizunagi, maintaining a close pace with the source material without adding filler content. Key production staff included character designer Yukie Hiyamizu, who oversaw the chief animation direction, and music composed by Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund. Scripts were written by a team featuring and for select episodes. The adaptation emphasizes the manga's blend of , and fantasy elements, with animation highlighting magical battles and character dynamics in a school setting. The episode structure follows an arc-based format that mirrors the manga's narrative progression, with the first four episodes introducing protagonist Honoka Takamiya's encounters with fire witch Ayaka Kagari and initial clashes against the Tower Witches. Subsequent episodes build on escalating conflicts, such as traps set by Chronoire and broader confrontations between the Workshop Witches and their rivals, culminating in a resolution to the introductory storyline by the finale. This condensed 12-episode run covers up to approximately the manga's sixth volume (around chapter 28), prioritizing key plot developments and character introductions over expansive side stories. In 2015, a three-episode (OVA) titled Witch Craft Works: Takamiya-kun to Imouto no Warudakumi was released, bundled with the 's eighth volume. The OVA focuses on side stories involving Honoka's sister Kasumi and other characters. Home video releases in Japan were handled by , with Blu-ray and DVD volumes issued monthly from March 26, 2014, to August 27, 2014, across six limited edition sets containing episodes in pairs. A complete Blu-ray , including bonus content like special discs and original illustrations, was later released on March 29, 2022. Internationally, the series became available for streaming on platforms such as starting in 2014, with additional licensing on .

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Witch Craft Works has received mixed critical reception, with reviewers praising its inventive take on tropes while critiquing its narrative inconsistencies. The anime adaptation holds an average user score of 6.5/10 on based on 775 ratings as of November 2025, reflecting a generally lukewarm response that appreciates its visual flair but notes execution flaws. Similarly, on , the series scores 6.97 out of 10 from 167,523 users as of November 2025, positioning it as a middling entry in the fantasy genre. The manga fares slightly better, earning a 7.33/10 on from 6,646 users as of November 2025, often highlighted in discussions of seinen titles for its blend of action and humor. Critics have lauded the series for its dynamic action sequences and unique witch designs, which bring fresh energy to familiar supernatural elements. In its review of the manga's first volume, commended the "generally good and fairly fascinating" action, particularly the varied witch powers and transformations, such as capes that enhance movement. The anime's preview coverage on the same site emphasized the "nice " and "attractive art," with magical battles described as "neat" and the central duo's reversal—where the male lead is protected by a powerful female witch—seen as a delightful subversion of romance tropes. Reviewers also appreciated the humor, noting dry gags and absurd elements like killer robo-rabbits that make the story entertaining despite its simplicity. However, the series faced criticism for uneven pacing and underdeveloped side plots, which dilute its potential. Anime News Network's pointed out that the plot "takes a bit too long to get going," with too many Tower Witches introduced early on, leading to confusion. For the , preview critiques described the writing as "negligible" and the setup as a "boilerplate ," with generic school scenes contrasting the stronger battle animation. Fanservice elements were minimal but occasionally called out as overreliant on tropes, contributing to a sense of uneven tone. The 's was sometimes faulted for same-face in character designs. The series has not received major awards or nominations, though it has garnered positive mentions in communities for its bold character dynamics and magical world-building, often recommended as an accessible entry into the genre. The franchise's legacy was extended by the spin-off manga Witch Craft Works Extra, serialized from February 2022 in and reaching Volume 4 by September 2025, exploring untold stories from the characters' pasts and futures.

Commercial performance

The manga adaptation of Witchcraft Works achieved moderate commercial success in , with multiple volumes entering Oricon's weekly manga sales rankings in the top 20 during their debut weeks. The seventh volume debuted at number 9 in July 2014, selling 70,947 copies in its first week. The eighth volume followed at number 17 in January 2015, with 52,230 copies sold initially. Later releases maintained similar performance, including the ninth volume at number 17 with 41,166 copies in November 2015, the tenth at 50,834 copies in November 2016, and the eleventh at 44,172 copies in August 2017. The 2014 anime adaptation saw modest home video performance, with its Blu-ray volumes occasionally charting on Oricon's animation rankings but recording sales in the low thousands. For example, the sixth volume ranked 12th in August 2014 with 3,838 copies sold in its first week. Bundled editions with original volumes were offered to boost sales during the broadcast period. Merchandise tied to the series included scale figures of main characters like Ayaka Kagari and Honoka Takamiya, produced by various manufacturers, as well as official art books such as the Witchcraft: Setting Material Collection. These items were distributed through hobby retailers in and contributed to the franchise's ancillary revenue. The English-language release by Vertical, a division of , supported international distribution starting in 2014. The streamed globally on platforms like , fostering an overseas fanbase.

References

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  2. https://kodansha.us/series/witchcraft-works/
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  7. https://www.amazon.com/Witchcraft-Works-1-Ryu-Mizunagi/dp/1941220002
  8. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-11-08/witchcraft-works-manga-takes-1-month-hiatus-ends-in-3-chapters/.179337
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  12. https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-02-07/witchcraft-works-manga-gets-extra-serialization/.182360
  13. https://kotaku.com/witch-craft-works-is-a-fun-twist-on-knight-and-princess-1553399657
  14. https://bookriot.com/witchcraft-works-crafting-a-story-of-witches/
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  16. https://witch-craft-works.fandom.com/wiki/Workshop_Witches
  17. https://www.anime-planet.com/characters/touko-hio
  18. https://witch-craft-works.fandom.com/wiki/Touko_Hio
  19. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/WitchCraftWorks
  20. https://witch-craft-works.fandom.com/wiki/KMM_Gang
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