The Witch and the Beast
The Witch and the Beast
Now Showing

The Witch and the Beast

7.7
Yr 2024
Rt 24m
Status Ended
Animation Sci-Fi & Fantasy Action & Adventure Drama
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Series Brief

Overview

Guideau is a young woman who was cursed by a witch, forced to carry a dark secret. Ashaf is a tall, soft-spoken man with a coffin strapped to his back and secrets yet untold. Together they venture across the land on their quest for vengeance. Appearances can be deceiving, and each step could be their last. In a dark fantasy filled with adventure, will unlikely heroes find the vengeance they seek?

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 74 /100

Critical reception for The Witch and the Beast generally leans positive, with reviewers praising its dark fantasy aesthetic, engaging action sequences, and intriguing blend of fantasy with detective thriller elements. Episodic reviews lauded the series for avoiding conventional genre tropes and delivering atmospheric visual storytelling.

The central dynamic between lead characters Guideau and Ashaf emerged as a highlight across multiple outlets, alongside praise for Yokohama Animation Laboratory's adaptation, score, and pacing. Critics particularly enjoyed the show's dark tone, violent action, and dreamy animation style.

However, broader assessments of the series were somewhat more tempered. Some critics noted the presence of typical anime melodrama and fan-service, ultimately characterizing the adaptation as a solid or decent dark fantasy entry.

“A standout fantasy series that doesn't use any of the tropes we're used to”

“stunning animation, a steady pace that walks viewers through character motivations, and ends in an explosion of action”

“mediocre to decent show”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Crunchyroll
US • CA • UK
Why fans love it

The Witch and the Beast operates in the gritty space of dark fantasy where power rarely comes without a heavy toll. As an adaptation of a seinen manga, the series emphasizes the harsh reality of its magic systems rather than the spectacle. The aesthetic leans into a somber, violent tone that colors every encounter Guideau faces while navigating this hostile world.

The dynamic between the main pair provides a necessary balance to the surrounding gore. While Toshiyuki Morikawa delivers a measured performance that grounds the more frantic sequences, the true tension lies in the mystery of their shared goal. It is an adventurous narrative that avoids the standard tropes of the genre by focusing on the consequences of curses rather than the glamour of spellcasting. The pacing reflects the gravity of their journey, ensuring that every victory feels earned and every setback carries a genuine weight.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 46
Regulars 12
Longest run 7 eps
You Taichi
You Taichi
as Guideau (voice)
Toshiyuki Morikawa
Toshiyuki Morikawa
as Ashaf (voice)
Mutsumi Sasaki
Mutsumi Sasaki
as Narrator (voice)
4 episodes
Ryota Akazawa
Ryota Akazawa
as Shopkeeper (voice)
1 episode
Yoshiyuki Shimozuma
Yoshiyuki Shimozuma
as Detective (voice)
2 episodes
Kiyoko Miyazawa
Kiyoko Miyazawa
as Old Woman (voice)
1 episode
Yoko Hikasa
Yoko Hikasa
as Ione (voice)
1 episode
Noriko Shibasaki
Noriko Shibasaki
as Marie (voice)
1 episode
Show 38 more
Junko Minagawa as Kiera Haines (voice) 2 episodes Atsushi Kosaka as Shulk (voice) 2 episodes Takuma Terashima as Loran (voice) 1 episode Shintaro Kuroki as Paladin (voice) 7 episodes Hidenobu Kiuchi as Reuben Cole (voice) 1 episode Saori Hayami as Phanora Kristoffel (voice) 2 episodes Mayuko Sakuragi as Helga's Older Sister (voice) 5 episodes Ryota Osaka as Johan (voice) 2 episodes Hozumi Goda as Jeff Enker (voice) 2 episodes Satoshi Shibasaki as Craig (voice) 4 episodes Nozomu Sasaki as Necromancer (voice) 2 episodes Takumo Ito as Paladin (voice) 4 episodes Miyu Tomita as Helga Velvette (voice) 5 episodes Mizuki Mano as Helga's Older Sister (voice) 7 episodes Rintaro Nishi as Demon Sword Ashgan (voice) 4 episodes Akira Ishida as Matt Cugat (voice) 4 episodes Kazuhiro Yamaji as Executioner (voice) 4 episodes Yu Kobayashi as Lowell (voice) 4 episodes Kohsei Hirota as Farmus (voice) 2 episodes Syuya Matsunaga as Paladin (voice) 3 episodes Shunichi Maki as Partner (voice) 2 episodes Kazushi Maruyama as Newscaster (voice) 1 episode Aki Sugawa as Helga's Mother (voice) 2 episodes Masahiro Hattori as Receptionist (voice) 5 episodes Mirano Kanbe as Helga's Older Sister (voice) 1 episode Lemon Arakawa as Helga's Older Sister (voice) 1 episode Kana Hanazawa as Angela Anne Huell (voice) 1 episode Hiroki Yasumoto as Executioner (voice) 1 episode Mizuki Torato as Boy (voice) 1 episode Seseri Shiraki as Boy (voice) 1 episode Akira Kunishige as Boy (voice) 1 episode Ai Orikasa as Old Woman (voice) 1 episode Aimi Tanaka as Owent (voice) 2 episodes Daisuke Ono as Sven (voice) 2 episodes Ryo Iso as Cowherd's Friend (voice) 1 episode Takumo Sato as Villager (voice) 1 episode Hayato Kimura as Guide (voice) 1 episode Hiroshi Shimozaki as Stylist (voice) 1 episode
Production Board

Crew

Director
Kim Hye-jeong Masahiko Suzuki Masato Tamagawa Shinya Kawabe JOL-chan
Original Music Composer
Natsumi Tabuchi Hanae Nakamura
Executive Producer
Shin Furukawa Kazuaki Takahashi
Producer
Nobuhiko Kurosu Emi Kashimura Noriyuki Akita Mika Sugimoto
Costume Designer
Ryunosuke Oji
Development Manager
Hiroki Kikuno Mikito Kyo Mitsugu Iwano Yohei Takami
Art Designer
Satoshi Miura Daigoro Yamaguchi
Animation Director
Shoya Goto
Editor
Mai Hasegawa
Supervising Animation Director
Hiroya Iijima
CGI Director
Takuji Goto
2D Artist
Hiroyuki Yazaki
Storyboard Artist
Toshiya Niidome Toshiyuki Sone Takayuki Hamana
Series Director
Takayuki Hamana
Director of Photography
Natsumi Uchida
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Witch and the Beast overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

witch magic gore based on manga dark fantasy seinen anime
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
January 12, 2024
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
24 minutes
Origin
JP
TMDB Votes
62