With January nearly finished, the anime shows coming out this Winter 2026 are already generating a lot of excitement! This month brings back popular series with new seasons, like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, Jujutsu Kaisen, Hell’s Paradise, Fire Force, and My Hero Academia: Vigilantes. Plus, several new shows, including Sentenced to Be a Hero, Cosmic Princess Kaguya, and Love Through a Prism, are also attracting a lot of attention. Among all the new releases, Crunchyroll’s Journal the Witch is quickly becoming popular and climbing the charts – it’s currently ranked second on MyAnimeList’s weekly ratings after seeing a boost in scores during the fourth week of the month.
This marks a significant improvement from last week, when the series was sixth. Based on the popular manga by Tomoko Yamashita – the creator of The Night Beyond the Tricornered Window – this heartwarming anime offers a relaxing and engaging experience, perfect for viewers looking for a break from fast-paced action. The original manga ran from 2017 to 2023 and was well-received in Japan, but unfortunately, it has never been published in English. This means fans outside of Japan currently have no way to access the manga, whether through online reading or purchasing physical or digital copies.
What Is Journal the Witch About?
This series is about self-discovery and the surprising connection between an aunt and niece. Despite the title, it’s not a fantasy story about magic. The ‘witch’ refers to how the main characters are seen as different by society. The story centers on Makio Kodai, a 35-year-old novelist known for being outspoken, which has strained her relationship with her sister, Minori.
Makio and her sister hadn’t spoken in some time, and Makio had only heard about her sister’s harsh criticism for not fitting in. Because of this strained relationship, Makio wasn’t deeply saddened when she learned her sister and brother-in-law had died in a car accident. She later encountered her niece, Asa, whom she hadn’t seen in years, and felt sorry for the teenager’s loss. Noticing Asa was having trouble processing her grief, Makio suggested keeping a diary to help her express her feelings.
When Asa’s relatives refuse to take her in, Makio unexpectedly steps up to become her guardian. Makio, who has always kept to herself and focused on work, begins to form a close connection with Asa, and they both start to change for the better. As they navigate life together, they each try to figure out their future. The anime realistically depicts everyday challenges, making it easy to connect with the characters. New episodes are available to stream on Crunchyroll every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time, with a total of 13 episodes planned.
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2026-01-30 19:42