This New Anime Series Is Wowing Audiences With Its Authentic Depiction of Grief and Loneliness

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When people talk about anime, you usually picture exciting fights, dramatic characters, and huge adventures. But just like any kind of storytelling, anime isn’t always about that. Some series take a step back from all the action and focus on more realistic, and sometimes harder, topics. I’ve always appreciated ‘slice of life’ anime because it’s often comforting and relaxing – a nice break after something intense, or just when life gets stressful. This season’s Journal with Witch is a bit unique, though. It has those same cozy, gentle moments, but it also portrays grief in a way that feels incredibly real, and honestly, it can be a little difficult to watch at times.

I recently watched Journal with Witch, and despite the name, it’s not about magic or fantasy at all. It’s a really touching story about two people unexpectedly thrown into a tough situation. What struck me most was how deeply it explores loss and all the different ways people grieve. It also made me think a lot about loneliness, figuring out your own self-worth, and what truly makes a family. It’s been a bit of a surprise hit this Winter anime season, and I’m excited to see where the story goes.

Journal with Witch Is a New Slice of Life Series That Tackles Some Majorly Heavy Topics

Based on the manga series by Tomoko Yamashita, Journal with Witch tells the story of Asa Takumi, a 15-year-old girl whose life changes dramatically when her parents die in a car accident. She ends up living with her aunt, Makio Kodai, a 35-year-old novelist, after her other relatives treat her poorly. While Makio agrees to take her in, it’s not a perfect fit – she’s a private person and had a difficult, unresolved relationship with Asa’s mother. As they adjust to living together, their different personalities cause some friction, but they also find ways to connect.

The anime series Journal with Witch isn’t visually extravagant, opting for gentle animation and a subdued color palette that helps its believable characters stand out. After losing her parents, you’d anticipate Asa being overwhelmed with grief, struggling with school, a new home, and typical teenage pressures. Surprisingly, she carries on with life relatively normally, rarely showing sadness and even finding moments to sing while helping around the house. Her caretaker, Makio, also seems surprisingly unaffected by the tragedy, bluntly telling Asa she didn’t even like her mother. This creates a tense dynamic, leaving viewers expecting a breakdown or a confrontation. The question is, will either of them ever truly address their pain?

The anime excels in many areas, including its realistic writing, soothing music, and strong voice acting. But what truly stands out is its sensitive and complex portrayal of human emotions, especially grief and the challenges of forming new relationships. You’d expect Asa to be devastated after her mother’s death, and Makio to be heartbroken over losing her sister. You’d also anticipate them struggling to live together. However, life isn’t that simple. Despite their pain, Asa often smiles, Makio keeps writing, and the two quickly become friendly, sharing contact information, cooking, and chatting. It’s a reminder that people are complex and don’t always react in predictable ways.

Everyone Deals With Grief in Their Own Way, and Journal with Witch Doesn’t Shy Away From How This Can Manifest

Asa is often caught off guard by sudden waves of grief, which bring tears and a feeling of intense loneliness. Sometimes, she feels furious, but more often, she feels numb and disconnected from her life. This is a way her mind protects her from overwhelming pain. Instead of helping Asa confront her problems, Makio encourages her to take things slowly and offers her a journal to write down her thoughts, no matter how strange or difficult. The loss has forced Asa to think hard about her own life, and she quickly begins to wonder what she wants to do with it, and if her parents would have supported her decisions, which only adds to her emotional burden.

The series Journal with Witch beautifully illustrates that deep connection doesn’t require complete understanding, and that all feelings are valid. We can’t control how we feel, and shouldn’t be judged for it. The show reminds us that someone can be sad even if they don’t cry, and unhappy even while smiling. Its raw honesty in portraying the difficult process of grieving is what makes it a standout watch, and a comforting choice for tough times.

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Although other anime explore difficult subjects, Journal with Witch handles them particularly well. If you enjoy this series, you might also like emotionally powerful shows such as Blue Period, Given, Violet Evergarden, Your Lie in April, and Orange.

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2026-02-05 01:06