"Ojamajo Doremi" is a coming-of-age story about Doremi, an elementary school student who becomes an apprentice witch after meeting a certain witch, and her friends who also become apprentice witches. The hectic daily lives of the adorable characters have been hugely popular with children, but for a children's anime, it also has some rather harsh aspects... We've put together a summary of the risks of living as a witch through the world of Ojamajo Doremi!

If they discover she's a witch, she'll turn into a witch frog.

In some ways, this may be the biggest risk. If a human sees a witch using magic, she'll be transformed into a frog. Although she's a frog, unlike ordinary frogs, she's a witch frog, and apparently can speak and eat the same foods as humans. Even if they become Witch Frogs, they can return to their original form by raising the human who uncovered their true identity into a respectable witch. However, humans may refuse to let them become apprentice witches... The existence of a Witch Frog Village, where abandoned Witch Frogs who can never return to their original form live together in huddles, was shocking.

When Forbidden Magic is Used...

Some magic is forbidden and can be dangerous if used. These are magic spells that change people's thoughts and feelings. Despite knowing this, Doremi's classmate, Onpu, quickly resorts to forbidden magic to solve any problems or issues that don't go as planned. However, Onpu's carefree lifestyle does not last long, and her health gradually deteriorates. Eventually, her body is completely consumed by the magic. Thanks to the help of Doremi and her friends, Onpu is somehow saved, but for a while she remains motionless with her eyes closed, and it is terrifying to see her mother in tears as she watches her daughter not wake up.

Suddenly Becoming a Parent

The first witch to discover a baby born from the magical flower "Witch Queen Rose," which blooms in the witch world, is ordered to become its parent for a year. Of course, Doremi and her friends, elementary school students with no parenting experience, are no exception, and are forced to care for the baby, Hana. Although she is a witch, she is no different from a human baby, and she cries at night and has likes and dislikes for food. In fact, because she can use magic, putting up with her selfishness and mischief is a life-risking experience. Still, Doremi raises Hana with all her heart and love, just like a real parent, and her bonds with her friends deepen even further.

Love with a Human Leads to Tragedy

Unlike Doremi and her friends, who were originally human, this issue is limited to witches born with a human, but for witches, love with a human is tragic. This is because humans and witches have vastly different lifespans and ways of perceiving the passage of time. The queen two generations ago, Major Turbillon, was a witch who had a painful experience after marrying a human, and in order to prevent further tragedy, she tried to separate the human and witch worlds. In a scene where Major Turbillon reminisces about her past, we learn that she not only suffered the grief of losing her human husband at an early age, but also the heartbreaking experience of seeing her beloved son, born to her and her husband, grow old and die before her own age.

Summary

While we tend to think that magic makes us invincible, we learn that becoming a witch comes with many restrictions and risks. Nevertheless, Doremi and her friends' determination to become full-fledged witches is an inspiration not only to children, but to people of all ages and genders.