To describe Secrets of the Silent Witch in one word: adorable! Both the protagonist Monica herself and the other characters and their interactions with each other.
The story takes place in a fictional world where magic exists and witches and wizards use spells to perform magic. Monica is one of them, but she has a huge problem: she is far too shy to say a word in front of other people! Instead of facing her fear, she solves the problem in an even more impressive way: she develops spell-free magic without having to speak, thereby managing to be accepted into the elite circle of magicians.
Despite her achievements, she spends her days in a lonely cabin in the mountains until she receives an assignment that not only requires her to hide her identity, but also to return to school and be around people again. The assignment plays a minor role in the series and serves only to further develop the main story. It is much more interesting to watch Monica as she faces her fears, makes new friends after a long time and begins to trust people again. Her clumsy nature is both a blessing and a curse.
Anyone who thinks that her entire character is defined solely by her shyness is mistaken. She has another striking quirk, which I don't want to spoil for you at this point.
Speaking of friendship, I particularly like the dynamics between Monica and her new friends. Each of them has their own character, personality, and motivation.
Lana, for example, picks up on the cliché of the rich girl, but at the same time questions it. Lana is not always aware of the value of her possessions, but she does think about them and reflect on herself when asked about them. Isabell embodies the perfect villainess for the mission, while behind closed doors she makes a 180° turn in character.
I find the motivation of another of Monica's friends particularly exciting, and it even elevates the plot beyond school to a geopolitical level.
One point I would like to emphasise in particular is the soundtrack and the animations. I find the fights especially atmospheric. Although they only take up a few minutes of the entire series, these scenes stand out and fit in with the rest of the rather cozy plot.
However, I would like to mention one negative point, which is more of a personal nature: I suffer from second male syndrome in this series. Yes, I admit it. I don't really like the love interest that the series has presumably intended for Monica. I would much rather see Monica with another icy gentleman. The two of them simply have better chemistry.
That aside, I would like to emphasise at this point that Secrets of the Silent Witch is not a romance series! Instead, the focus here is clearly on the friendships that Monica forms with other girls in particular over the course of the series.
Unfortunately, I haven't seen an official announcement for a second season yet. This is particularly unfortunate because the anime series doesn't have a proper ending. The last episode doesn't feel like a conclusion, but leaves the impression that the next episode is still missing. This is typical for a series that is only meant to promote the corresponding manga or light novel.
Until then, however, you'll have a wonderful time with Secrets of the Silent Witch, especially if you're in the mood for some feel-good anime.
19 out of 21 users liked this review