Imagine this: You’re watching a random anime, and out of nowhere, one of its characters stands up and references a famous franchise. The level of excitement we experience in that moment is unexplainable. Witch Watch is an anime that has tons of such references. In the modern world of anime, Witch Watch stands out as a masterclass in incorporating wild pop culture references to elevate its story.
The way Witch Watch incorporates these delightful pop culture references is seamless. The anime is only 10 episodes into its story, and it has already integrated several references to iconic franchises like The Avengers, Star Wars, and Dragon Ball into its story. These nods are more than just random throwaway gags. They are clever elements woven into the narrative to create something that is refreshingly hilarious.
Witch Watch is a love letter to pop culture nerds
Everyone needs to acknowledge that the comedy writing in Witch Watch is top-notch. It thrives on its ability to speak directly to fans like us who revel in recognizing Easter eggs. The feeling you experience when you randomly come across a reference is fulfilling. Thankfully, Witch Watch excels in delivering such moments.
Take, for instance, the anime’s episode 10 in which we find the line, “What are you guys, the knockoff Avengers?!”. The cheeky jab at Marvel’s superhero team lands perfectly in the anime and makes one laugh upon hearing it (one guy does look like a comic character while licking his knife). This reference, however, isn’t just for evoking laughter. References like these help ground the anime’s fantastical elements and place the anime in a relatable, modern context.
Sure, we may love to see Nico and Morihito’s interactions, but references like these are much appreciated as well. The anime also references anime like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, and franchises like Star Wars (the opening explanation and vertical lines were hilarious). These references are genius, and it’s as if the anime is telling us that it knows what we want.
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Few other anime are capable of making such wild references and getting away with them. The comedic legacy of Gintama (Gintoki can play an entire cast of characters by himself) and The Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime (Veldora might be our spirit animal) are good examples. Such references make Witch Watch a love letter to us pop culture nerds, and make us appreciate the anime even more.
Witch Watch excels at cross-cultural comedy
What Witch Watch does is something that few other anime can replicate. Its brilliance lies in its ability to balance comic relief with cleverness. This makes its pop culture references feel organic. While a few shows delve too much into such references, Witch Watch finds the sweet balance between silliness and story. These references, while being fun on their own, are made even more hilarious because the story takes place in a high school setting.
What is also brilliant about Witch Watch is how it uses its previews. Just take a look at the preview for Episode 11. The announcer in Episode 11’s preview can be heard shouting “KAMEHAMEHA!”—a direct homage to Goku’s iconic attack from Dragon Ball. The anime is great at placing such references throughout its episodes, and these amplify the show’s playful tone.
The great thing about these references is that while you can appreciate them if you’re an ardent pop culture nerd, you can also revel in their comical nature even if you’re a casual watcher. You don’t need to know every reference and quip because the silliness is universal. Such humour plays a huge role in making the show a rewarding rewatch.
Witch Watch is a testament to the power of pop culture as a storytelling tool. By filling its comical moments with references from iconic pop culture franchises like Avengers, Star Wars, and Dragon Ball, the series gives us a comedic experience that’s both accessible and deeply rewarding for pop culture aficionados. If you are a pop culture lover, then Witch Watch is a must-watch (hey, it rhymes).
Witch Watch is currently available to stream on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
