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Do you want a show that is serene, tranquil, and perfect for relaxation? Maybe you are tired of how action-packed and over-the-top most anime are? Perhaps you want to relieve yourself of all the worries in real life and just enjoy the ride?

Regardless, I invite you to enter the world of Flying Witch. It is not heavy, exciting, or full of action. In fact, it meanders through quite uneventful situations. However, it is truly the pinnacle of slice of life as far as feeling good goes. It's a beautiful concoction of peaceful music, a laid-back setting, and genuinely sweet characters doing everyday things with no ... worry or tension and magic thrown in. While more demanding audiences may find it dull, I can safely recommend it those who just want something sweet and soothing.

There are other relaxing shows out there, like Non Non Biyori, K-On!, and the Suzumiya Haruhi Series to name a few, but not very many of them can create such a perfectly built universe that seems separate and devoid of anime clichés and stereotypes. It is merely a tale of a girl named Makoto visiting her family in the outskirts with her cat. However, their daily activities aren't very ordinary. In fact, they regularly involve magic. Think of it like Aria or Yokohama Shopping Log with fantasy flavor. Makoto herself is a witch and their everyday events include anything from planting a mandrake to helping a friend turn back into a human from a furry to visiting a Ghibli-esque café with regular customers that include ladybugs, foxes, and invisible people. The magical elements blend in so seamlessly, it's as if they're natural. It adds a level of extra beauty to an otherwise run of the mill story.

The cast of characters are very memorable. They all have stunning chemistry together and their conversations flow with ease. Each of them also have many personality traits that adds a level of familiarity that most SoL anime don't have. While I was watching it, I didn't feel like I was just watching characters talking with each other. I felt like they were genuine people that I knew closely. Don't expect them to be well-developed or complex though.

Now I come to the big issue - Unfortunately, not everyone will appreciate Flying Witch. Regardless of how cute and cuddly it is, a large portion of the audience will find it boring. There is no overall plot, no drama, no conflict, no character development, and no degree of complexity. Those who want something exciting, thrilling or deep won't get what they're looking for. I had to be in an undemanding mood to enjoy it to the fullest, so I found myself bored while watching it some days.

The production was done by the masters of slice of life themselves, J.C.Staff. Like all their shows, the animation is rather standard. It doesn't look choppy or ugly but certainly doesn't boast anything special. The designs are very typical but don't stick out as terrible or anything. I can say the visuals fit the calm style of the narrative but only that much.

As for the music, it does a good job of being soothing and restful but like the visuals, it's not fantastic. Most of the soundtrack is composed of calm piano and flute pieces, as well as some stringed music. None of the tracks in particular are very memorable but as a whole, it does its job. The opening, on the other hand, can be described in one word - Cute. With the adorable dance routine, upbeat song, and colorful visuals, you can't help but feel warm inside after watching it. It does a very good job of preparing for what's to come. There is also something special about the voice acting. Quite simply, the VAs sound genuine. None of them deliver squeaky or overly obnoxious roles (unlike a good portion of slice of life), so it sounds very nice.

So, sit back, relax, drink a cup of tea, sit on your couch, and enjoy the ride. Are you having a bad day? It will be a great remedy for that. In the end, what you have is definitely a basic slice of life type of show - but one of the best ones out there. Even if you're a cold-hearted bastard and spawn of Cthulu, you should still get something out of it.