The Witch and the Beast

If you enjoyed the dark humor and mystery of "Undead Girl Murder Farce," then "Majo to Yajuu" won't disappoint. This anime offers a creepy atmosphere, a suspenseful plot, and a fantastic relationship between the main characters.

Fueled by fellow manga readers' excitement, I dove into this story with anticipation. As a dark fantasy and metal enthusiast, I was impressed by the world's brooding atmosphere and the engaging adventure plot. The tale of Ashaf and Guideau's quest to break a witch's curse and restore Ashaf's true form is a thrilling ride. It echoes Tsugaru, Aya, and Shizuku's journey in its blend of dark humor and monster-filled cases, but with an extra dose of genuine plot twists that kept me hooked.

This anime has a strong Dark Souls vibe, which I really enjoyed. There's a ton of worldbuilding with hints of a deeper story, but sadly, 12 episodes weren't enough to explore it all. It has great potential for future seasons! The magic system itself is a bit generic, but the powers are used really well. While the action is limited and the animation (except for the first episode) is just okay, that doesn't matter to me. The best parts are the journey to find the original witch, the atmosphere, and the relationships between the characters.

The show's real charm comes from the interactions between its characters, especially Ashaf and Guideau. They're a fun duo to watch. Ashaf is the epitome of cool composure, while Guideau is loud and sharp, basically acting like a man stuck in a woman's body thanks to the body swap. Ashaf is the calming voice of reason, reining Guideau in when she gets impulsive and keeping her on track. They're like a classic brain-and-brawn combo, similar to Inuyasha and Kagome or Tsugaru and Aya from Undead Girl. Their banter is witty, and the voice actors bring them to life so well that even slow episodes fly by.

Even though it's kind of overused, this show is simply an experience. I can't quite describe how it makes me feel. It's dark, unsettling, and emotional, and it really resonates with me. Despite some production problems, the plot is exciting, the characters are interesting, and the world has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, like most seasonal anime, it feels like we barely explored this world. Time to jump into the manga!