J. K. Rowling sucks, so why bother giving the time of day—ironic or otherwise—on a Deathly Hallows reboot lining her pockets when manga and anime have been serving up fresh magical-school-themed bangers for years? Instead of tossing lapsed fans into the deep end of animanga’s infinite corridor of options, we’ve earmarked six enchanting series worth discovering if you’re chasing your next magical-school-themed thrill.
Black Clover
What It’s About: Black Clover, created by Yūki Tabata, follows a loud, hyperactive orphan boy named Asta who, despite living in a world teeming with magic, doesn’t have any magical power. Still, that’s not keeping him from pursuing his dream of becoming the Wizard King by doing intensive physical training in the hopes it’ll awaken any latent magical powers. After some hijinks that see his best friend and rival, Yuno, in peril, Asta comes into a unique power all his own as the two boys go on competing paths to achieve the same goal.
Black Clover‘s reputation honestly precedes it. In the wake of the big three, it was an early forerunner to be the next big shonen thing alongside My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer. If you’re in the mood for a battle fantasy shonen with some fashionings of Naruto in its DNA, magic guilds in the style of Fairy Tail, and all the usual helpings of rival friends, tsundere love interests, and godly mentors, Black Clover has you written all over it.
Where to discover it: You can read Black Clover on Shonen Jump and Manga Plus and watch its anime on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu.
Ichi the Witch
What It’s About: Ichi the Witch, written by Osamu Nishi and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki, is a glittery battle shonen manga set in a world where only women can be all-powerful witches. That is, until Ichi, a Goku-esque wild child, becomes the first man to be able to wield magic. What follows is an action-packed adventure in which Ichi and his cool-as-hell mentor, Desscaras, travel the world, acquiring powerful magical beasts called Majiks who, after completing their deadly trials, gain the ability to use their elemental powers. Deadass, it’s one of the best Shonen Jump series going outside of Akane-banashi, of course.
If you’re looking for a series with a strong female cast filled with humor and heart and one of, if not the best, depictions of a Black woman in the entire medium, Ichi the Witch is a must-read.
Where to discover it: You can read Ichi the Witch on Shonen Jump and Manga Plus.
Little Witch Academia
What It’s About: Little Witch Academia, created by Yoh Yoshinari, is an anime-original series that’s criminally slept on. It follows Akko, a magic-less girl (get used to this setup, folks) who enrolls in a prestigious all-girls academy in the hopes of becoming a powerful witch like her childhood hero, Shiny Chariot. With Chariot’s wand, her ride-or-die friend group, and a rival turned gal pal, Diana Cavendish, Akko goes on a series of magic misadventures and discovers what it really means to be a witch.
Little Witch Academia has all the charm typical of a Studio Trigger joint with the same giddy, whimsical energy of My Hero Academia. If any of that piques your interest, you should definitely check it out.
Where to discover it: You can watch Little Witch Academia on Netflix.
Mashle: Magic and Muscles
What It’s About: Mashle: Magic and Muscles, created by Hajime Kōmoto, is a fantasy series that lampoons the usual setup of a magical school tale, much like how One Punch Man parodied the battle shonen genre. The main joke here is that, instead of being a talented mage like his classmates, Mash Burnedead is a genetic freak with incredible physical strength. The series follows Mash as he outshines snobby mage elites, advances through every insurmountable magic trial thrown his way, gains a funny gaggle of friends, and noshes on cream puffs in his pursuit of a peaceful life.
If you enjoy gag-humor series with sharp timing that unabashedly parody the series that should not be named, Mashle will be right up your alley.
Where to discover it: You can read Mashle on Shonen Jump and Manga Plus and watch its anime on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu.
Wistoria: Wand and Sword
What It’s About: Wistoria: Wand and Sword, originally created by Fujino Ōmori and Toshi Aoi, is a magical school fantasy series that takes an interesting subversion of the genre. Like Mashle, it follows a student named Will who enters a magic academy without the gift to cast spells, but instead of going to the gym for massive gains, its hero studies the blade and is damn good at it. However, instead of rising the ranks of his academy just to stunt on his haters, Will’s doing it to keep a promise to his childhood friends to become one of the five exceptional mages of his generation.
If you’re looking for a series that does a bit more with the well-trodden “no magic” protagonist trope that’s driven by friendship as much as it is by thrilling action, Wistoria might be the series for you.
Where to discover it: Wistoria: Wand and Sword is available to read on Kodansha, and its anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.
Witch Hat Atelier
What It’s About: Witch Hat Atelier, originally created by Kamome Shirahama, follows Coco, a girl who’s always dreamed of becoming a witch and gets her wish in the most tragic way possible. After discovering the secret behind magic is that spells are cast, not drawn, she accidentally casts a forbidden spell, freezing her mother and her entire house in crystal. Instead of having her memory wiped, she’s taken in as a pupil of Qifrey, a kindhearted witch. What follows is an equally gorgeous and grotesque tale in which Coco makes new friends and navigates the world of witches in hopes of saving her mom. Highkey, Witch Hat Atelier is comparable to Fullmetal Alchemist both in its world-building and its depthful character writing.
If you like stories with cool magic systems, a charming ensemble, and immaculate artistry, Witch Hat Atelier is all that in a bag of chips.
Where to discover it: You can read Witch Hat Atelier on Kodansha and look forward to its anime adaptation streaming on Crunchyroll in April.
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