29 Years Ago, Sailor Moon Became The Best Witch Anime of All Time

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Most anime viewers today are watching fantasy shows. Three standout fantasy anime from the Spring 2026 season are One Piece, Daemons of the Shadow Realm, and Witch Hat Atelier. While many fantasy anime are popular right now, Witch Hat Atelier is particularly noteworthy for bringing renewed attention to a classic of the genre.

Witches have long been a popular subject in fantasy, and have a strong history in film and television. The anime series Witch Hat Atelier is a recent example of this enduring appeal. However, a much earlier and incredibly popular witch anime from the 1990s followed a similar formula, but achieved a different kind of success. Looking back, the unique magical atmosphere of that older series is a key reason for its popularity.

2026’s Best Fantasy Anime Stage a Huge Comeback For Witches

Season 2 of Witch Hat Atelier is a strong contender for the best new anime of the Spring season, and many believe it could be the best of 2026. Like the characters Fern and Frieren from Frieren, Coco and the witches in Witch Hat Atelier share a similar captivating quality.

Both Witch Hat Atelier and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End feature distinctive witch aesthetics. Witch Hat Atelier’s witches wear pointed hats without brims, a detail that’s important to the story. Frieren’s Fern embodies the classic witch look with a broom-like staff and dark cloak. With both series being so popular this year, it’s clear that witches are having a moment in anime.

Recently, the charming and magical romantic comedy Witch Watch quickly became a popular fantasy romance anime, and a second season was announced immediately after the first one finished airing. Burn the Witch is another newer magical girl anime that has contributed to the growing trend of witches being featured prominently in anime’s fantasy genre.

Although anime often includes witches and magical girls, there aren’t actually that many anime focused on witches, especially when compared to popular fantasy genres like stories about people transported to another world or romantic anime. Even well-known dark anime with witches, such as Soul Eater and Puella Magi Madoka Magica, don’t center solely on them. Witches and magical girls have long been linked – Sailor Moon, which first aired in 1992, is a classic example of this connection.

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Is Still Anime’s Best Cosmic Witch

Even though Sailor Moon isn’t a traditional witch with a broom or pointed hat, the series captures much of what makes witch stories so enjoyable. The X arc, for instance, includes a memorable group of villains known as the Witches 5. With elements like magical groups, companion creatures, control over the elements, and the strength found in numbers, Sailor Moon offers a unique, space-themed take on witchcraft that some viewers didn’t even notice on their first viewing.

A central theme throughout Usagi Tsukino’s story, drawing from witch mythology, is the concept of a coven – a group traditionally composed entirely of women. This is clearly reflected in Sailor Moon, where all the Inner and Outer Guardians are female characters, and the show’s dialogue often feels distinctly feminine. Even Luna, as a guiding companion, evokes the same magical feel as Salem from Sabrina: The Animated Series, adding to the overall witchy atmosphere.

The Sailor Guardians don’t just fight alongside Sailor Moon – they actively boost her powers as the leader of their magical group. If you’ve seen the Marvel series WandaVision, you’ll recognize the similarities to the Scarlet Witch, a powerful cosmic witch. Like her, each Sailor Guardian draws on the magical energy of a specific planet. This makes them a perfect example of the elemental, often nature-based, magic traditionally associated with witches. For example, Sailor Mercury controls water, and each of the other Guardians uses powers related to their own planet.

At its heart, Sailor Moon‘s story relies on the familiar “power of three” – a common theme in many modern witch stories. This idea of a trio of magical women has roots in ancient myths, like the Three Witches in Macbeth and the Fates of Greek mythology, and is so prevalent today that we often don’t notice it. Sailor Moon is full of these powerful trios, from enemies to allies like the Outer Guardians and Sailor Starlights. A key part of Usagi’s story is that she herself represents a trio of identities – Princess Serenity from the past and Neo Queen Serenity from the future – all connected across time.

While Sailor Moon doesn’t explicitly label itself as a ‘witch anime,’ it doesn’t need to. Fantasy, including its many subgenres, benefits from variety, and Sailor Moon expertly blends classic magical elements with its own unique style. The series subtly incorporates witch-like details into its story, enhancing the enjoyment for fans of magic, all while staying true to its core cosmic shojo roots. Although shows like Witch Hat Atelier and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End are currently very popular, Sailor Moon remains an iconic series.

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2026-04-29 03:09