YOASOBI Releases New Trailer, Key Art, and OP for Witch Watch – Anime Corner
A new preview video for WITCH WATCH was unveiled today, showcasing various characters from the series and offering a glimpse of the opening theme, “Watch me!” by the J-POP group YOASOBI. In honor of the catchy new theme song, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Inc. (MBS) unveiled fresh poster artwork. The trailer precedes the global theatrical debut of the first three episodes on March 16th (coming to North American cinemas via GKIDS), under the title WITCH WATCH: WATCH PARTY. This announcement follows the introduction of 8 additional cast members to the series lineup.
Eager fans can look forward to Bibury Animation Studios (known for The Quintessential Quintuplets) handling the animation, headed by director Hiroshi Ikehata (FLCL Progressive) and characterized by artwork from Haruko Iizuka (Horimiya), accompanied by music composed by Yukari Hashimoto (A Sign of Affection). The captivating trailer can be viewed below:
The anime adaptation of WITCH WATCH is based on the manga by Kenta Shinohara (famous for SKET DANCE), a delightful blend of magical elements and romance that centers on teenage witch Nico and her loyal protector Morihito, who shares her living space and uses his ogre abilities to safeguard her. Nico harbors a crush on Morihito, reveling in their cohabitation, while Morihito remains dedicated to his duties, somewhat oblivious to any romantic entanglements. The clash of personalities and a series of magical misadventures contribute to the charm of this romantic comedy. The original manga series is serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump and boasts a circulation exceeding 3 million copies.
YOASOBI shared their thoughts on their contribution to the series with the opening theme “Watch me!”: “We are YOASOBI. We are delighted to have crafted the opening theme song, “Watch me!”, for this series. I, Ayase, adore WITCH WATCH and have been a long-time fan of Kenta Shinohara-Sensei’s works since SKET DANCE, so it was an immense honor to be involved in this project. The song “Watch me!” captures the pure romantic sentiments of the protagonist Nico towards her childhood friend Morihito. I have a soft spot for Nico-chan’s character and her endearing love for Morihito, and I believe the song perfectly encapsulates Nico’s lovable nature.”
For the unacquainted, YOASOBI stands out as one of Japan’s most popular musical acts, boasting multiple diamond-certified singles and viral hits. Their impressive repertoire includes the opening tracks for notable anime series like Beastars and Oshi no Ko. Their hit song, which served as the opening for the latter series, broke records by reigning atop the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart for an unprecedented 21 consecutive weeks and clinched the number one spot on the Billboard Global Excl. US charts, making them the first Japanese act to achieve this milestone.
MBS has teamed up with ADN, Aniplus, GKIDS, and Tropics for the worldwide theatrical launch of WITCH WATCH: WATCH PARTY. Commencing on March 16th in North America through GKIDS, the screenings will soon extend to Asia (from March 18th via Tropics), selected European countries (in March through ADN), and Korea (from March 21st courtesy of Aniplus). Attendees can also expect exclusive interviews during the screenings. Additional details regarding the release schedule will be disclosed by the respective premiere partners in each region. The series will be available for global streaming on April 6th, with tickets for the North American premiere set to go on sale soon.