Exciting News: Megumi Ishitani Directs WITCH WATCH Opening Sequence!

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Summary

  • Megumi Ishitani directed WITCH WATCH opening sequence.
  • WITCH WATCH OP features a song by YOASOBI.
  • Fans feared Ishitani left Toei, but she was just temporarily transferred.

Previously, it seemed plausible that the animated series “WITCH WATCH” would be successful during the Spring 2025 season due to various factors. However, a new reason has emerged for its potential success: Megumi Ishitani is responsible for directing the opening sequence of the show.

Witch Watch” is the newest manga penned by Kenta Shinohara (known for ‘SKET DANCE’ and ‘Astra Lost in Space’), and it has been serializing in ‘Shonen Jump’ since 2021. Similar to many other ‘Jump’ series, there appears to be a significant budget dedicated to this adaptation, which can now be streamed on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.

Megumi Ishitani Directed Witch Watch OP

Following the premiere of “WITCH WATCH Episode 1” today, Megumi Ishitani officially acknowledged on her social media platform the speculation that had been circulating throughout the week: she was indeed responsible for directing the opening sequence of the anime.

Here’s what she said:

I directed the storyboard of the opening sequence!

It was a privilege when producer Taniguchi extended an invitation to me. Fortunately, Toei granted a temporary transfer for me at Byburi Animation Studios! Together with Taniguchi and Nakame, we put in a great deal of effort into the project!

Alongside its breathtaking graphics, the opening theme for WITCH WATCH, titled “Watch Me!”, is provided by YOASOBI, a band known for their popular tunes that have been well-received not just in Japan but also internationally. For instance, the opening song of Oshi no Ko Season 1 serves as a testament to their success in anime series themes.

Is Megumi Ishitani Out of Toei Now?

Megumi Ishitani is a well-known animator who has contributed to numerous episodes of “One Piece,” and she even co-directed the critically acclaimed “ONE PIECE FAN LETTER” special series. Following its release, she was featured in several interviews discussing her work on the series.

Ishitani, who works as an animator at Toei, had fans concerned when it was thought she may have left the company due to her work on WITCH WATCH. However, this is not the case. Instead, she clarified that she was temporarily transferred with Toei’s approval, indicating that she returned to the studio after completing this assignment. This situation might also imply that Ishitani could potentially contribute sporadically to other anime productions in the future.

Additionally, she has voiced her opinions on the ongoing debate surrounding the “Ghibli AI trend,” which arose following an update to ChatGPT enabling users to convert their images into artwork reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s signature style. This development has been met with disapproval by numerous artists, and Japanese artists and animators have been particularly vocal in their criticisms or outright condemnation of the trend. Ishitani is among those expressing concern, stating that the trend is a dishonor to Studio Ghibli.

In case you’re interested, the first episode of “WITCH WATCH” has been released, however, it is currently subtitled. If you prefer a dubbed version, you can expect it to arrive on streaming platforms within about three weeks, as per Netflix’s announcement.

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2025-04-06 20:34