Forum - View topicRelease that Witch (ONA) (donghua).
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Edjwald
 Posts: 3505 |
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Release that Witch (ONA) (donghua) Source: Web Novel (completed by Er Mu) Demographic: Seinen Animation Studio: Thundray Genres: adventure, drama, fantasy Themes: aristocracy, economics, ingenuity, isekai, medieval, royalty, sorcery, witches Plot Summary: Modern man Cheng Yan unexpectedly dies and his soul travels to a medieval European-style otherworldly continent, becoming Roland, the fourth prince of the Kingdom of Graycastle. This playboy prince saves the witch Anna at an execution scene and is shocked to discover that magic really exists in this medieval-style otherworld. When Anna, as a witch, displays her magical skills, Roland realizes that magic can replace some modern technology, so he formulates a "great development of magical industry" plan. Thus, in an era where everyone hates witches, the independent Roland begins to recruit witches, using their magic to transform Border Town and improve the lives of himself and the locals. In addition to using magic to develop industry, Roland also introduces modern business ideas to Border Town. Under Roland's leadership, people manufacture firearms, and Roland gains public support. As the number of witches in Roland's camp increases, the magical industry continues to improve. At the same time, Roland will face battles with great families and other princes and princesses. As his territory expands, Roland successfully creates a harmonious coexistence between witches and ordinary people, gradually bringing the western territory of Graycastle and even the entire kingdom under his rule, and slowly uncovering the secrets of the devil race and the Witch Empire. [Crunchyroll] Air Date & Platform: March 02, 2026 (Monday) Available on: Crunchyroll Episode Count / Runtime: 8 episodes Trailer [EDIT: Fancy opener stuff edited. -TK] Last edited by Edjwald on Sat Mar 28, 2026 11:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3505 |
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I just discovered this on Crunchyroll by accident even though it's been on for 22 days. I couldn't find an ANN encyclopedia entry though maybe there's one for the full Chinese name that I'm unaware of, and I don't think I ever saw it on any of Crunchyroll's seasonal lineups. I haven't watched it yet either, but I thought I should let any people in the same boat as me know that there's an anime that fell through some cracks out there.
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Blood-
 Bargain Hunter Posts: 25599 |
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Good catch. Gonna check it out.
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Edjwald
Posts: 3505 |
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I'm really liking this. I meant to only watch the first episode and then pace the rest out at an episode a week on Mondays if I liked it, but I wound up watching all four available episodes at once.
I'm no expert on animation, but I break it into two primary criteria - motion sequence and illustration - and then those two areas have all sorts of subsets. This anime doesn't have a lot of Solo Leveling style action sequences, and it doesn't go off on a lot of flights of artistic fancy, but there aren't a lot of CG or still frames or empty screens behind the character to show emotional tirades. I thought the motions were fluid and the character designs and backgrounds were awesome. And even though there's not a lot of fighting yet, there's no absence of tension. I thought the episodes flew by. I should point out that I've read the Chinese web novel this series is based on and enjoyed it, so I'm not entirely sure if that made me harsher or more lenient than I would be normally. All I can say is that I think this anime is pretty awesome. |
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Panino Manino
 Posts: 803 |
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Thanks for the topic.
There was not action scenes yet, the story is only promising it in the last episode. I'm curious to see how good those scenes will be when the rest is so well made. But I think I don't care that much about the quality of the animation per se, I'm much more curious about how they fight will be, what type of action can we expect from this series. I'm prediction some more "strategic", with movement of larger groups (the militia) to control the beasts for the 2-4 guns to deal the killing blow. I don't think we'll see any Witch other her powers in this fight. (also, I don't want to see Anna's "transformation". Me thinks this series would make a wise decision if it chooses to NEVER show the Witches Trial). |
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Panino Manino
Posts: 803 |
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#7
"The true 'God' is the one that justifies my acts of violence." Truer words were never spoken in an isekai. I just noticed, we don't know what the "Church" in this world is about. What "God" are they talking about? And from a map I saw, there are other neighboring kingdoms and they may not follow the same Church. |
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Edjwald
Posts: 3505 |
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I read the web novel, so I won't drop obnoxious hints about the vampire pope (oops). No, just kidding!
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rapata
 Posts: 96 |
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E3: vampire pope or no, ever since the suspicious pigeon message was sent, I've been very much expecting the inquisition to arrive at any time. Overall, I'm liking the style, no unnecessary explanation or narration, plot moves forward steadily, no special powers for the prince and his plans don't work on the first try. His retainers are a tad bit too eager to revere him though. Graphical look is clean and fine.
Re: animation, mostly fine but there's something fishy in some scenes -- in E2 when he walked to pick up a flower for Anna his legs did something weird. Similarly, in E3 in the scene where the mason is drawing corrections to his plan for the wall and they are shown from above left, his lower body looks weird. Also enjoying the choral OP. |
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Panino Manino
Posts: 803 |
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That message was sent by Tyre, the assassin that killed original Roland. She was sent by Garcia, from Clearwater Port. The scene at the beginning of episode 4 was about the message, in that scene Garcia and hard subordinate caller her as "Kingfisher". That scenes hints that Garcia is the most ambitious of the Royal Siblings, Killing Roland and sabotaging Valencia's commerce also getting herself a "buccaneer". |
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rapata
Posts: 96 |
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Yes, once you watch E4 it is clear. Disappointing lackadaisical attitude on their part to not have spies close to every prince.
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Panino Manino
Posts: 803 |
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"They" probably have, it's just that no one took Roland seriously, not even original Roland. He wasn't a real contender, is just Garcia that is meticulous and did early what someone would have to do later. Actually, if you think about it, if Garcia had not decided to get rid of easiest target so soon isekai Roland would not have happened. Even if Roland died later and the same thing happened, would probably be too late for isekai Roland to take parti the competition.
Anyway, I just wonder now if Garcia had some other objective in mind when she decided to kill Roland. Boris would benefit. Did she wanted to secure Boris and Osmond (Stronghold's Duke) on her side? |
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Panino Manino
Posts: 803 |
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#8
"Winter is coming..." THE END! THAT'S ALL FOLKS! There's no justice and this world just keeps getting worse. FREE PALESTINE! |
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Eilavel
Posts: 475 |
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Thanks for the recommendation, this was a fun and quick watch I otherwise would have missed.
Characters are pretty sparse and nobody really has an arc, but they do a good job sketching out a broad comic persona suitable to their role in the story. Its focused on setting and plot, which are both pretty interesting and keeps things moving at a pace. The animation is serviceable given that. There are other kingdom building isekai, but this takes out all the gamification. all the slice of life, ect- basically anything outside the core kingdom building- and honestly its all the better for it. Its pacy and enjoyable. Of course, you can pick holes in this kind of artificial scientific acceleration (you would expect them to start with a more basic arquebus, you would also expect metal to be conserved by using a wooden wagonway at the mine, that steam engine is ridiculously good for v1 partly built by blacksmiths) but the use of a fire mage to at least handwave the major metallurgical problems is clever. Also the church thing really isn't well communicated. Churches are generally based on at least some portion of people having really sincere beliefs. Obviously in every age some people didn't actually care but 0 is pushing it; contrast with, say, Spice and Wolf. This world building and plot first style reminds me of Mamare Touno- of whom I'm a fan. I'll possibly pick up the novel at some point, though given its 2 million words I might be better holding out on more anime... |
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