Today we embark on a new notes adventure, checking out the unusually renowned children’s show Ojamajo Doremi! Most of what I know about this one consists of “it has a remarkably high-tier staff,” that staff includes Mamoru Hosoda at some point, and its face game is extremely strong. Children’s anime in general tends to be somewhat better-written than the stuff for teenagers, so I guess we can lump that into the “potential knowledge” pile. Also witches? I believe witches are involved. Either way, I’m down for another exploration of one the shows those sakuga nerds keep going on about. Let’s get right to it!
Episode 1
And we open with… an advertisement for Ojamajo Doremi! Seems like a pretty cool show, I should check it out
The faces are already extremely silly!
Ooh, this first background is really nice. I like its storybook hand-drawn quality, and its European-style architecture makes sense for a show about witches
This is also a very engaging OP in general. Very active and creative transitions
The title is initially a series of musical notes. So there’s some sort of music theming going on here?
A song about how having powers would solve your problems, presumably introducing a show about how they don’t
Jeez, there are a ton of characters in this OP. I’ve heard one of Doremi’s strengths is how it humanizes a broad cast, so I guess we’ll see how that goes!
Girls activating their transformations through items that look like, well, cheap plastic toys. I haven’t really watched any of the big magical girl series aimed at kids, so I guess maybe I’ll see how they engage with the commercial needs of the products they’re selling
Their costumes are basically just shapeless bags they stick their heads through
This song is very catchy
These backgrounds continue to be very nice. Simplistic but arresting watercolor effect
Going heavy on the witch/Halloween theming with this bat weather vain
The classic scenario, a mysterious old shop offering rare curiosities
I personally would not trust a salesperson with a laugh like that
I love this show’s character designs. These faces and string bean limbs are great
The show is effectively compensating for very limited animation with highly expressive single frames
These backgrounds continue to be lovely. Everything looks like it’s been animated on heavy, textured paper
Doremi’s got a crush on Igarashi
Uh oh, the girl at the witch’s shop likes Igarashi too. Gotta keep up, Doremi
Jeez, this show is INSANE with its faces. Such expressive stuff
And now this water fountain trick
The school itself is very simplified – extremely basic geometry both inside and out
Oh no, cute teacher
Doremi has a megaphone in her throat
“Is it that weird for me to want to use magic?” C’mon Doremi, we all love magic
Huh, very interesting low-angle shot, focusing on the clouds here. They really are setting this up as a whimsical and sometimes ominous fairy tale
Apparently witches always wear gloves
Look Doremi, the lady’s a friggin’ witch. Whatcha gonna do about it
Haha, interrupting the ominous witch’s monologue
This is such a lively episode! I love the drum roll and crazy angles for this buildup
The witch turned into a booger!
Oh no, why did the cat turn into a fairy lady. Cats are good
This shop has a lovely design
More musical note motifs. We’ve already got the witch/magic theming, wonder where the music will come in
Majo Rika is the witch’s name
Time to teach Doremi to be a witch
Whoa, switching to these very thick and jagged lines for this ominous line of dialogue. This show is demonstrating far more aesthetic versatility than most shows
“Taps, items used by witch apprentices.” Okay, we’ve got some of the music theming and the toys to sell
Okay, their devices play notes
“Pretty Witch Doremi!” Rika is not impressed
I like how quickly and buoyantly they’re moving through this setup material
And she’s got a gumball wand
Doremi reacting to turning into a witch in a very relatable way – “this is awesome, teach me a friggin’ spell”
Doremi’s voice actress is pretty great. She really leans into Doremi’s sillier moments
Welp, looks like the gumballs are limited “magic spheres”
Ooh, witch exams. That should be fun
Lala is the fairy
Doremi just slowly floating backwards and upside down across the scene
Goddamnit Doremi, you’re going to screw up your crush blocking a direct kick
This show’s faces are incredible
“If you heal someone with magic, you will receive the wound!” Magic doesn’t seem particularly useful so far
Alright, so Doremi is a mess, but why was Rika selling children dangerous magical artifacts in the first place
Jeez, these kids play some rough soccer
Oh my god, this sequence of her trying to set up Igarashi for the goal is great
The nurse is surprisingly supportive of her students hooking up in the office
Oh dang, Igarashi actually likes the rival. Now that’s an interesting bit of storytelling – these other characters get to have their own totally separate narrative and lives. I guess that’s the first hint of this show’s broader focus
“They should be together.” Dang, Doremi is very mature about this
And Done!
That ended up prompting far more words than I’d expected, even if they weren’t exactly the most scintillating criticism, so I’m splitting this one up. I’ve already got two more episodes of notes written, so we’ll be returning to visit Doremi again soon!
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