Champignon no Majo (Champignon Witch): Introduction and Episode 1 review

The first episode is fairly straightforward and, like most pilot episodes, focuses on exposition and world-building. 

Right off the bat, we are introduced to Luna, a black witch, and her isolation. She lives in a house made of poisonous mushrooms. While she looks young, the show explains that she is much older than her appearance and has lived longer than the typical human lifespan. 

She is skilled in making medication, and once every three months, she delivers the medicine to the town in exchange for money, which she uses to buy other items, mostly books. Noticeably, as she makes her way into the town with the medicine loaded on her bull-shaped familiar, poisonous mushrooms of different colours, shapes and sizes bloom in her wake. Consequently, she is given the name “Champignon Witch” by the townspeople.

“Champignon” is a term used to describe edible mushrooms. 

This is, however, just one of the things that horrifies the townfolk about Luna. The most repulsive thing in their eyes is the fact that everything she touches becomes poisoned, including humans and animals. 

This is then promptly demonstrated by a butterfly drifting in too close to Luna’s breath. The butterfly stops flying, floats to the ground, and after a few twitches, it dies. Dramatic much?

The witch, quite sadly, is used to this type of treatment, and she ignores the townfolk and heads straight to the apothecary, where she delivers the medicine she compounded. The owner is slightly more friendly to her but still does not approach her without precaution. The instant she enters the shop, he dons a herb-infused mask and instructs her to pluck the sprouted mushrooms on her way out. 

The next stop on this trip is the bookstore. The owner of the bookstore is a descendant of both the human and spirit worlds and thus is more understanding of the witch. As the witch shops, the owner makes a revealing statement. 

“It’s been quite some time since your last visit, so the air in town’s grown stagnant. Even just stepping outside felt depressing.” 

It turns out that the witch can absorb the “poisons,” that is, negative human emotions, filter out these toxins and transform them into mushrooms. This explains why mushrooms grow in her wake, and why these mushrooms are toxic. 

She agrees with his statement, adding that a bunch of scary mushrooms sprouted in the town square as she walked past, shocking her. He informs her that it is because of a public execution that took place in the square last week. The criminal’s regret and the crowd’s outrage must have been intense, causing the mushrooms to sprout in such severe shapes and colours. 

We are then treated to a bit of exposition about the kingdom and their relationship with magic. Apparently, the term “black witch” is used to describe witches who are not aligned with the royal family. White witches work with the crown and help to grow and expand the kingdom. 

It remains unsaid by the bookstore owner, but the person executed was likely a black witch as part of the “Black Witch Hunt.”

She concludes her business in the bookstore after buying several books and helping the owner dispel a curse stuck in a book.

Despite his apparent easygoingness, the bookstore owner is also quite careful around the witch, wiping all surfaces with a strong lye the instant she leaves the store. 

As the sun sets, Luna is treated to the sight of people queuing at the apothecary to purchase her medicine. The medication’s effectiveness delights Luna, and she basks in the praise. Of course, the townfolk are blissfully unaware that she is the one behind this medication. If they were, they would surely reject the drug. 

As she hides out of sight of the apothecary, she sees a one-legged man on crutches, hobbling away. She returns the next day with medicine that can regrow a limb, but the apothecary owner refuses to stock the drug, stating that such medicine would put him—and subsequently, her—under scrutiny. 

The lack of romance in Luna’s life is the next theme to be highlighted as she sees a couple embracing in town. She reflects on her poisonous skin and the resultant lack of physical contact. To deal with this, Luna draws people and things that she sees in the town. She also brings the characters from her books to life, briefly animating them for her entertainment. 

In her poisonous mushroom home, she draws and animates the boy she sighted in earlier in the town. Well-drawn and infused with magic, the boy comes to “life,” animated and offers Luna a dance. She takes off into the night sky with him, feeling the touch of another, albeit only paper, without poisoning her dance partner. 

On her next trip to town, she sees the couple in the midst of an argument. It seems like ever since Luna’s last visit to town, the boy has lost his “soul,” becoming a shell of himself. Luna quickly realises that her realistic drawing is to blame and she swiftly rights this, restoring the boy’s vitality. 

Now more like himself, the boy vows to talk to Luna the next time he sees her. 

Verdict

From the first episode, it seems like, while there are fantastical elements to the story, Champignon no Majo (Champignon Witch) will be a romantic anime. The worldbuilding around the magic is light and easy to follow. 

There was a lot of narration in this episode. I personally think it was due to a lack of dialogue between the characters, because of the witch’s isolation. I mean, there is no one for her to talk to. 

The animation was okay, and the drawing was average. However, for a romance fantasy anime, it will do the job. 

Plot-wise, I do not believe that the story will pop out with any unexpected twists and turns. I expect the male lead to be the boy whose drawing she animated and danced with. I also expect that the “Black Witch Hunt” will in some way threaten her and, of course, that the townsfolk will find out that she compounds the medicine they are so fond of and perhaps, come to her aid then. 

I might not finish this anime, but I will watch the next three episodes.

Rating: 5/10

Verdict: Will continue for three more episodes