Little Witch Academia misconceptions

Little Witch Academia is no doubt one of Studio Trigger's popular franchise. As such, it is not uncommon for general audiences to make and/or perpetrate misconceptions about the series. The following is a list of Little Witch Academia-related misconceptions, stereotypes, errors, and fallacies.

Note that this list is meant to contextualize and address common misunderstandings on the subject with appropriate clarification, and is not intended to be a platform for discourse.

Little Witch Academia and Harry Potter comparisons

Is Little Witch Academia inspired by or is a retelling/rip-off of the Harry Potter series?

Anyone who is not overly familiar with Little Witch Academia would immediately believe it to be inspired by Harry Potter series at best and retelling/rip-off of Harry Potter series at worst. However, the only thing both franchise shared in common is primarily set in a magic school and that this misconception largely attributed to the latter being a worldwide phenomenon despite its author's recent controversies. This didn't help by fans of said series' dismissal or ignorance to the fact that Harry Potter being admittedly NOT the first fantasy series revolved around a magic school; the concept had been used long before the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Earlier known works featuring magic schools are 1954 short story The Accountant by Robert Sheckley and The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy whose 1998 TV Series adaptation Yoshinari cited as the basis for Little Witch Academia as he confessed in Trigger Night Vol. 11, having vaguely watched it in 1990s.

That being said, during Q&A event with Masahiko Ōtsuka in July 8, 2013, having read some books of Harry Potter franchise, he acknowledged it influenced a handful of elements of Little Witch Academia franchise which intentional in his part (ex. Rajani and Rashmi being apparently inspired by Padma and Parvati Patil, Wangari apparently conceived as female version of Lee Jordan, and Sorcerer's Stone being named after alternate moniker of Philosopher's Stone) yet never concerned by implications of both similar to one another as the result. True to this, more astute fans and audience would find Little Witch Academia and Harry Potter nothing alike apart of elements in question.

To further drive the point of both series' contrasting premise, Harry Potter is both a war story and the growth of the titular mythical hero with immense powers (Harry Potter) who forced to spend his early life as a mundane mortal before eventually learned his true heritage, attended the magic school to better master his gift of magic, and fulfilled the destiny where he would end the very conflict that put his home community at the stake once and for all, something which evident from its fourth installment and onwards — a premise which much more in common with original trilogy of Star Wars. Little Witch Academia by contrast, revolves around a nobody who aspired to become a witch despite her mundane background resulted her magical talent left much to be desired compared to her more talented peers. Yō Yoshinari explained that the plot of Little Witch Academia, which mainly centers around Akko's struggle in magic, was intended to represent similar hardships in animators who believed raw passion is more than enough to make up the lack of technique. The idea behind Akko attending magic school, as confirmed by Masahiko Ōtsuka and interpreted by Tatsuru Tatemoto in an interview, was also meant to make her relatable to animators who worked on original 2013 short and therefore more grounded in comparison of Harry Potter's education in Hogwarts which, in certain perspective, less for learning and more of preparing for the inevitable conflict against the same evil who both terrorized his one true home community and killed his parents. In another interview which further set both franchises apart, Yosuke Futami stated that Little Witch Academia was about students developing themselves while working alongside their friends and interacting with their teachers as they grew up, while Yoshinari joked that he had nothing to do with Warner Bros.' possible accusation of copyright infringement for their perceived similarities as he intended Little Witch Academia to be enjoyable by everyone. Both Harry and Akko would later find themselves fighting to save the world, though the latter's stakes are not as high as the former.

Are Diana, Hannah, and Barbara based on Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle?

Diana, Hannah, and Barbara's initial antagonistic dynamic toward Akko, Lotte, and Sucy is quick to remind fans and audience to that of Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Even so, the former trio are much tamer in comparison due to the fact that Draco and his cronies assume more villainous role in later installments of their home franchise. To elaborate, Diana didn't like Akko at the beginning due to the latter looking up at Shiny Chariot as a role model despite her infamy in the eyes of more conservative magical families rather than her mundane background and importantly, lacked Draco's prejudice towards mundanes. Although Hannah and Barbara don't have best opinions regarding magic users from/associated with mundane families and follow Diana around not unlike Crabbe and Goyle with Draco, the two later revealed to be kinder and more loyal than they let on as confirmed in anime TV series continuity of the franchise where they worry about their roommate's family situation and even finally befriend Akko in gratitude for helping the latter in dealing such crisis. All of this of course, contrasted Crabbe and Goyle who ultimately too much of Draco's lackeys and eventually turn against their leader.

Is Anne Finnelan based on Severus Snape?

Although it appeared Finnelan's biased nature towards troublemaking and lesser-achieved students such as Akko as well as favoritism towards more capable students such as Diana quick to remind some with Severus Snape from Harry Potter series, it must be noted that she's less prejudiced than the latter. In fact, despite her misgivings towards Akko, Finnelan's opinions about the Japanese witch-in-training finally improved somewhat after the latter revived Yggdrasil and destroyed Noir Rod at the same time alongside Diana and even shown smiling proudly when Akko finally able to fly at the end of "Tree of Leaves". Severus Snape by contrast, proved too vengeful and biased to do the same regardless of everyone's opinions, even though it didn't stop him from sharing Harry his memories in his last moments looking at The Boy Who Lived's eyes so his own death won't be too unbearable.

Is the term Muggle also used in Little Witch Academia?

Muggle, the derogatory term for non-magical humans from Harry Potter series, is occasionally used by fans during interview with showrunners of Little Witch Academia, especially at 4chan forums. It must be noted the term is never used in the franchise proper.

Is Sorcerer's Stone based on the titular artifact in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone?

The United States publishers' decision to change the title of the first entry of Harry Potter series from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone out of concern where most American readers would not be familiar enough with the term "Philosopher's Stone" didn't just led to criticism by the British public who felt it shouldn't be changed due to the fact it was an English book, but also misconception regarding Sorcerer's Stone, the artifact designed to draw power from Ley Lines and re-emit it for magic users to use in Little Witch Academia franchise. As such, it's understandable less astute and knowledgeable fans would assume Sorcerer's Stone to be a variant of Philosopher's Stone thus supposedly shares traditional powers and properties such as producing elixir of life and transmuting lesser metals into gold. That being said, Sorcerer's Stone is never shown being used to perform such wondrous feats and that magic users such as Luna Nova witches only utilize theirs as the source for their magic, stressing that the artifact was crafted for different purpose entirely.

Lore

Is Magic a female-exclusive craft?

Although Studio Trigger had since confirmed wizards indeed exist in Little Witch Academia universe as stated by the producer and eventually confirmed in the final episode of anime TV Series where two of them accompany Dorlin in bringing Croix Meridies into custody, their sparse appearance (not counting Sorbates Academy students in Little Witch Academia: ‍The Midnight Crown manga which set in its own continuity) resulted some fans erroneously assumed magic practiced in the series being a female-exclusive craft. Others suspected that majorities of Wild Hunters are wizards albeit not in traditional sense like witches, which arguably true since their training centered around hunting ghost both as sport and neutralize restless spirits of the dead who pose considerable threat to everyone in mortal plane. To be fair, much of information pertaining them has yet to be revealed up to this point.

Character Designs

What Color is Lotte's Hair?

Under greenish light provided by Will-o'-chan to illuminate the staircase leading to lower floors of New Moon Tower's dungeons, Lotte's hair appears to be blonde.

Although Lotte's hair in official illustrations is evidently bright orange, some audience and fans alike still erroneously described it as blonde. The explanation behind this confusion is pretty simple; it can appear blonde depending on the lighting, particularly in areas with dim light.

Was Mr. Holbrooke a pirate in life?

Thanks to the manner he wore his tricorn hat and cutlass, it's easy to mistake Mr. Holbrooke as a pirate.

Another minor yet noteworthy misconception as much as Lotte's hair color is Mr. Holbrooke's occupation in life. Due to wearing his tricorn hat in rather stylized manner and cutlass both not unlike those of storybook Renaissance Era European/Caribbean pirates popularized by fantasy supernatural swashbuckler series Pirates of the Caribbean and long-running, fantasy ocean punk swashbuckler shonen franchise One Piece, less astute fans erroneously assumed him as one. This wasn't a case, more so considering he never referred as such in life. The vague resemblance nonetheless gave Lotte an idea for a dubious cover story for Mr. Holbrooke in which he was a long retired legendary pirate as she assured two police officers who caught him searching a dumpster.

Miscellaneous

Is Little Witch Academia a yuri franchise?

A curious interaction between Diana and Akko near the end of original short, which possibly inspired speculation whether Little Witch Academia being a yuri series.

Although the producer already stated that Little Witch Academia won't feature yuri elements so as to maintain its family-friendly atmosphere and better appreciated by the largest demographic, some fans and audience still mistook/insisted it to be a yuri franchise, which attributed by romantic subtexts between major female characters such as between Diana and Akko as well as Ursula/Chariot and Croix. Same group of fans and audience also initially didn't keen with introduction of male characters such as Andrew and Frank in anime TV Series for this reason. In fact, on the /a/ board of 4chan, one of them, as an anonymous user, expressed their outrage over such development, ranting how Studio Trigger ruined the series by "shoehorning" male characters into the plot in order to add some unneeded romantic tension among the protagonists.

The debate extends to theories revolving some of main casts' sexuality. Many fans theorized Diana to be a lesbian because of her lack of interest on boys until this point as well as her unamused expression during Andrew, Frank, and Paul's visit at Luna Nova in "The Fountain of Polaris". Fans similarly theorize Ursula aka. Chariot and Croix to be a lesbian couple who broke up due to their past differences until they eventually rekindle their relationship as of "Tree of Leaves". "Sleeping Sucy" hinted Sucy developed some feelings for Akko at one point, if her embodiment of stray emotion Akko's behavior upon seeing Akko administering medicine to the unconscious Manbavaran's core personality via. mouth-to-mouth method at the risk of stealing her first kiss was any indication. Lastly, Akko is implied to be bisexual through her separate interactions with Andrew and Diana. Although Studio TRIGGER decided not to include romance in any form shot down possibilities to explore this topic further, it nonetheless allowed fans to come up with their own interpretations through their fan works.

Is Diana a Mary Sue?

Mary Sue is a derogatory term used to describe a fictional character, usually female, who is seen as too perfect and almost boring for lack of flaws. Prejudiced viewers erroneously assumed Diana to be one, likely from her portrayal throughout first cour of anime TV Series as a top student who more capable than even Luna Nova's professors (correcting Badcock when the latter made an error in her lecture in "Pappiliodya" and fluent in Dragonese in "Luna Nova and the White Dragon") and best in everything she does. Still, Yō Yoshinari and more astute watches know better the Cavendish is more flawed than she seemed to be, even prior to second cour which revealed her concerning household crisis. Diana's success in restoring Jennifer Memorial Tree isn't a perfect one because she received unexpected assistance from Akko who discovered the true cause of the Tree's decline. Her feat in translating Fafnir's contract actually foreshadowed how much Luna Nova professors lost their way in their pride; it's implied they underestimated the importance to study Dragonese, the language in which said contract was written, thus allowing Fafnir to scam them in the first place and they are just extremely lucky. Not to mention about neither of them bothered to recheck Vajarois' background and they, Finnelan in particular, are shown too proud to try less traditionalistic approach in overcoming the decline of magic which begin to affect fairy custodians under their employment until it becomes a major problem.

Can Diana handle modern technology?

• Diana and Akko using laptop at Luna Nova Library in Terio Teri manga
• Diana is mixed by the Modern Magic subject in "Chariot of Fire"

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Perhaps due to her mixed reaction upon Modern Magic subject in "Chariot of Fire" and implied lack of electronics in her residence, some fans proposed that Diana may very well not familiar with modern technology thus it's up to Akko to guide her in using it. While such implication left at ambiguous note in TV Series continuity, Terio Teri manga ironically established her to be at least knowledgeable in using laptop provided by Luna Nova.

Would Akko fare better in magic had she not exposed to Dream Fuel Spirit?

Because of the revelation of Akko's struggle in magic which partly attributed to Chariot draining her audience's magic potential during her show at Japan (the same show Diana attended also as a child) in "Chariot and Croix", some fans theorize that the Japanese witch-in-training would have easier time in studying magic at Luna Nova had she not exposed to Dream Fuel Spirit, going so far believing she would surpass Diana at very least, if not becoming the series' overpowered heroine. While her magic potential is indeed unmistakable in either continuities hence why Shiny Rod chose her and such theory somewhat true in short films continuity where her struggles being not as great and that there's no indication of her magic potential somehow drained as with in anime TV Series continuity, they still overlooked/dismissive to other factors worth considering: Being hailed from mundane community means she lacked immediate access for learning basics of magic prior to enrolling at Luna Nova unlike her peers. Akko herself confessed to Sucy in "A New Beginning" that her family is non-magical thus lacks ancestors from whom she inherited magical talent also in addition of taking mail order courses, cementing her status as a nobody in stark contrast of her fellow Luna Nova students.

Are original 2013 film and The Enchanted Parade OVAs?

OVAs (short of original video animations) are Japanese animated films and series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters. Even to the day, it's easy to mistake original 2013 film Little Witch Academia and its sequel Little Witch Academia: The Enchanted Parade as the franchise's OVA duology because of their style and length (around 30 to 50 minutes) compared to 2017 anime TV Series. That being said, both shorts originally premiered in theatres in Japan first as part of Anime Mirai 2013 of Young Animator Training Project thus technically theatrical films.

Does Little Witch Academia have a second season?

As of this point, anime TV series of Little Witch Academia has yet to receive second season, though creative license Netflix put up in both subbing and dubbing it sparked some confusion among fans. Though the series' first season consisted of two cours (first cour from Episode 1 to Episode 13 while second cour Episode 14 to Episode 25), Netflix labelled each as Season instead, something which noted by astute fans who compared how the series was originally aired in Japan.

Also, while Yoshinari and the rest of Studio Trigger are eager to work on new seasons, they still have to wait for approval from Anime Production Committee since they already sold its IP to the latter. It didn't help by dealing with Netflix which co-founded it where the contract will expire approximately in 2027-2028. Another issue which complicated the matter was the passing of head writer Michiru Shimada months after the airing of "Tree of Leaves".

During Shin Bungeiza X AnimeStyle Vol. 167 events which involves a talk show with Yoshinari and his fellow animators in addition of screenings of animes such as original short, The Enchanted Parade, and Gridman Universe, Yoshinari himself revealed his plan to make Little Witch Academia a long-running series as much as Nintama Rantarō. As such, the prospect of the series receiving new installments regardless whether it will be a new season of TV Series is best not to be ruled out.

Ursula and Akko's Relationship

There's no denying Akko and Ursula have a close student-teacher relationship, with the Astronomy professor always looking out for the Japanese witch-in-training and makes an effort to ensure her truly excel as much as her fellow students. It's no surprise that many fans and audience found their dynamic akin to daughter and mother also, something which led to localization of Chamber of Time described it as such. This is a stretch to the truth however, as neither of them technically referred their relationship as such in the series proper, and the localization behind the "Reminisce about Professor Ursula?" cutscene took creative liberty in intepreting Akko's line. Throughtout the aforementioned cutscene, Akko refers to Ursula with the words Sensei and Shidou, which means teacher and mentor, respectively. Furthermore, during the scene where Akko states Ursula was like a second mom, she is actually saying the following: "Since I don't know a lot about magic and I am so far away from Japan, Ursula offered to tutor me.".