Jujutsu Kaisen and My Hero Academia. The absence of both titles left a sizable hole in Shōnen Jump's lineup, and fans wondered what sort of stories might step in and steal the spotlight.
It didn't take very long for one to rise above the rest. Osamu Nishi's and Shiro Usazaki's Ichi the Witch debuted in September 2024, and as soon as the series' first volume hit shelves in Japan, stores had trouble keeping volumes on the shelves. A story featuring a vast fantasy world, magic, and adventure, Ichi the Witch has gotten off to a thunderous start on platforms both in Japan and internationally. An interview about the series with writer Osamu Nishi revealed some of its influences, which might explain its fast success.
Shōnen Jump's Newest Hit Takes Influence From Two Familiar Franchises
Ichi the Witch Was Directly Inspired by Magical Girls and Pokémon
Ichi the Witch's greatest strengths often lie with the interactions between its characters, though its world and magic systems are both highly engaging aspects of the narrative. In an interview published on Shueisha's international manga reading platform, Manga Plus, series' author Osamu Nishi touched on a few of Ichi the Witch's greatest influences. Citing magical girl series like Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura, she wanted to convey a fantasy journey in which the protagonist would travel and collect scattered magic.
For the series' Magiks, the enemies that exist throughout the world and are eventually captured and become allies, the author attributed the collection aspect of the story to the instantly recognizable creatures of Pokémon. Nishi told interviewers, "Both series brought me a lot of enjoyment during my childhood." Ichi the Witch's near instant rise in popularity might just be explained by the author's borrowing ideas from some of the most successful franchises in anime history.
Ichi the Witch Hits All the Right Notes
Shōnen Jump's New Hit Series Successfully Utilizes Shōnen Traditions
Many stories leave the Shōnen Jump lineup as quickly and quietly as they arrive, often struggling to stand out among competing titles. Ichi the Witch is a story that doesn't take many risks, but its masterful execution of shōnen's greatest aspects has allowed the series to thrive. Protagonist Ichi is typical of the genre, but his chemistry with the rest of the manga's cast makes for incredibly entertaining adventure and action.
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The ing, self-appointed greatest witch of all, Desscaras, is overwhelmingly cool and extremely pretty, making for a dangerous combination that tends to win over shōnen audiences. Combine these characters with a unique world and power system, and there is a winning formula that is already showing very early signs of success. Sprinkle in influences from a couple of the biggest titles in anime, and Shōnen Jump can be almost certain Ichi the Witch will be its newest smash hit. With other major series on breaks, now is no better time to give the manga a shot.
Source: Manga Plus
- Created by
- Naoko Takeuchi
- Latest Film
- Sailor Moon Cosmos
- First TV Show
- Sailor Moon
- Latest TV Show
- Sailor Moon Crystal
- First Episode Air Date
- March 7, 1992
- First Film
- Sailor Moon R
Sailor Moon is a magical girl franchise created by Naoko Takeuchi. It began as a manga in 1991 and was adapted into an anime series in 1992. The story follows Usagi Tsukino, a middle school girl who transforms into Sailor Moon to protect Earth from evil forces. The franchise spans five original anime seasons, films, musicals, video games, and a reboot series, Sailor Moon Crystal. Its global impact has made it a cultural icon and one of the most successful shōjo franchises in history.
