Once Upon a Witch's Death
Oshimeter
Synopsis
Raised in a witch's tower, Meg Raspberry has spent her entire life learning magic under Faust, the Eternal Witch, always dreaming of one day becoming just as powerful. Then, on her 17th birthday, Faust tells her she's going to die. A congenital curse means that once she turns 18, her body will age a thousand times faster than normal; she'll be gone in days. The only cure? Collecting a thousand tears of joy from other people within the next year to create something called a seed of life. So Meg, who's basically lived her whole sheltered life inside a witch's tower, suddenly has to go out into the world and make strangers genuinely happy enough to cry. That's the premise of this 12-episode TV series, and it hits in a way you might not expect. Each encounter Meg has feels personal and specific; these aren't throwaway side characters, they're people with real weight to their stories. The world-building is quiet but detailed, with magic woven into everyday life rather than treated as spectacle. Yuki Kajiura handles the soundtrack, which should tell you everything about the emotional register here. If you liked Violet Evergarden's approach to grief and human connection, or the way Mahoutsukai no Yome builds its magical world around loneliness and belonging, this one's in that space. It's got shades of Made in Abyss too, not in darkness, but in how it treats wonder and loss as two sides of the same coin. Worth your time if you're in the mood for something that sits with you after.
Episode Guide
Characters
Raspberry, Meg
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Episode 12 reveals Eldora, Witch of Disaster, is tied to Meg’s birthplace through revenge, while Ms. Faust adopted her as atonement. Dreams hint at her past, pushing Meg to go to Orlov. It ends with an emotional goodbye and anticipation for what she may uncover next.
Episode 11 raises the stakes with a magic disaster in Aquamarine, pushing Meg to save lives quickly. Driven by emotion and her desire to help, she rings the bell to guide people to safety, showing growth and responsibility. It ends with an eerie vibe as Eldora, the Witch of Disaster, appears, foreshadowing conflict.
Episode 10 explores healing, responsibility, and the limits of magic as Meg travels to Aquamarine. Hints about her past and curse add emotional depth, while the mystery of Stage V magic contamination creates intrigue and highlights her continued growth.
Episode 9 explores hope and renewal as Meg investigates a corrupted sacred tree. Her bond with Serena adds emotional depth, while the tree's reincarnation into a beautiful new form that brings smiles to others reflects Meg's growth as a witch.
Episode 8 takes a darker turn as Meg becomes involved in a family’s connection to a demon. The themes of sacrifice, desperation, and selfishness add emotional weight, while the eerie visuals build tension throughout. By the end, Meg shows growth, strengthening her resolve to stay true to her beliefs and save more people.
Episode 7 expands Meg’s world with the Grand Magic Ceremony and the introduction of several powerful witches. While lighter than previous episodes, it hints at the growing magical crisis ahead. The displays of magic make the episode fun and enjoyable, while Meg’s meeting with Eldora, the Witch of Disaster, adds an intriguing layer of foreshadowing.
Episode 6 is a turning point for Meg as her confidence makes her lose sight of the emotional meaning behind “tears of joy.” When Faust restricts her from using magic, she’s forced to connect more sincerely. The soft music and visuals add emotional depth and highlight her growth.
Episode 5 focuses on emotional connections rather than action, with Marie's story highlighting how brief encounters can leave lasting memories. Meg and Sophie's heartfelt conversation adds emotional depth, while the flower-like fireworks create a magical atmosphere. Another touching episode.
Episode 4 uses Meg and Sophie's growing friendship to explore loneliness and vulnerability. Meg's kindness helps Sophie lower her guard, reinforcing themes of empathy and connection. The soft visuals and calm atmosphere enhance the episode's emotional impact.
Episode 3 introduces Inori, the Witch of Wisdom, who helps Meg overcome her doubts about her mission. Their conversations explore hope, resilience, and self-reflection, showing how a new perspective can help someone face challenges and move forward.
Episode 2 continues Meg's journey to collect tears of joy while exploring the value of human connections. Through empathy and small acts of kindness, the episode highlights emotional healing and growth, showing that Meg's quest is about helping others as much as saving herself.
Episode 1 effectively introduces its themes of mortality, grief, and hope through Meg's quest to collect tears of joy. By focusing on a grieving family rather than action-driven events, the episode emphasizes emotional healing and human connection, highlighting the importance of finding happiness despite loss.
it really felt like the story was just about to start for her. the whole series felt like an introduction because we basically only figured out a small portion of what happened and who she was. the plot was a bit slow and there was no huge plot twist happening yet. it was just a slow build up into learning about Meg as a person and what potential she had.
i’ve seen a lot of anime with crazy plots but who knew that something so straightforward could be this touching for me as well. Meg was definitely on another scale for being able to do something like that. she could really contribute a lot when it came to emotion. being able to do so much in the presence of 3 other powerful mages was definitely a flex.
talking about an interesting plot yeayyy we’re finally here. took us up to episode 10 to actually get a little bit more serious in the game huh. that was for sure a hell of a build up. the pacing was definitely a bit slow for a short series in my opinion. but it helped us in getting to understand Meg and her nature more. Meg was never an ordinary witch in the first place. this episode has really opened up more doors into questioning who and what Meg really was.
i loved this episode a lot. again, Meg being Meg, she didn’t hesitate at all. that was a very huge decision she made just for the sake of everyone else. another heartwarming episode. i guess this anime was meant to make you give Meg your tears of happiness as well lol it was indeed touching enough to get me all teary eyed.
pretty interesting. i guess Meg would always be herself even if it meant to cause her harm. she didn’t even hesitate to help. Faust on the other hand managed to steal the show with that one liner she came with. the plot was somewhat slightly predictable to be honest. but it was still heartwarming nonetheless.
i liked this episode more than the previous one. we definitely had some interesting encounters. it was definitely time for a bit reveal into the curse that had befallen Meg. not gonna lie, Eldora’s presence was definitely something. by far the most interesting character i’ve seen in the whole anime. she definitely knew things a lot of them didn’t considering her title.
another simple heartwarming episode. it was so right of Faust to prohibit Meg in the first place. it might not look like a huge of a problem but then realising that you were losing sincerity in the things you love doing the most could really make you feel bad. Meg definitely needed that lesson.
gosh Sophie was unexpectedly charming. she was just missing all the fun of being a kid. and Meg was randomly disgusting HAHAHA in a funny way. omg she was so unhinged when Sophie ate her bun. Sophie was definitely a character i was quite fond of. she definitely changed a lot after meeting Meg. anyway, that was a very interesting love story we got going on.
Once Upon a Witch's Death
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