Witch Watch continues to enchant audiences with its unique blend of magical mishaps and comedic slice-of-life scenarios. Episode 18, which premiered on Sunday, August 3, 2025, in Japan, and is available for international streaming, delivers another trio of whimsical shorts that showcase the series’ signature humor and heartwarming moments. This installment delves into Kara Minami’s surprising bond with a magically animated paper creation, a hilarious marble-selling scheme, and a dive into Morihito’s childhood artistic endeavors.
Release Details and Where to Watch Episode 18
Witch Watch Episode 18 was released on Sunday, August 3, 2025, at 5:30 PM JST. For international viewers, this translates to various times depending on your region, such as 1:30 AM PT and 4:30 AM ET on the same day.
Fans can officially stream Witch Watch Episode 18 on Crunchyroll. Other platforms like Netflix and Hulu also stream the episode for global audiences, with Hulu being a paid-only subscription service exclusive to the US. In Japan, the episode aired on local television networks such as MBS and TBS, and was also available on streaming platforms like Nico Nico, ABEMA, MBS video ism, and TVer.
Episode 18 Storylines: A Trio of Troubles and Triumphs
Episode 18 unfolds through three distinct comedic sketches, each highlighting the quirky dynamics of the Witch Watch cast.
Kara and the Persistent Paper Shikigami
The first segment focuses on Nico Wakatsuki and Kukumi Ureshino, who are assisting at the shrine where Kara Minami’s father serves as the chief priest. Nico, with her “Anicut” magic, enchants a piece of paper used for sacred decorations, bringing to life a charming paper cat. Inspired by this, Kara attempts to create a flying bird, but her clumsy attempt results in a rather formless creation that, unexpectedly, gains a life of its own as a shikigami—a paper spirit that refuses to disappear.
Initially apprehensive about her new, uninvited companion, Kara slowly warms up to the lively paper doll, beginning to treat it like a member of her family. A moment of tension arises when the shikigami tries to replace Kara’s hair clip, which turns out to be a keepsake from her late mother. However, the shikigami’s determination to retrieve the clip after it falls into a river solidifies Kara’s affection. She decides to integrate the paper spirit into her hair clip, ensuring they can always be together, providing a surprisingly sweet and heartfelt conclusion to this segment.
The Great Marble Scam
The second sketch introduces a more overtly comedic premise. Nico and Kanshi conspire to trick Keigo into believing that ordinary marbles are highly valuable collector’s items. They invent elaborate criteria for judging marble quality, such as the absence of air bubbles or the radiance of the colors within. Keigo, ever susceptible, falls completely for the deception, even creating a viral video showcasing his “rare” marbles. This prank quickly escalates, leading to a widespread marble craze among students and on social media, with even the seemingly “smart” characters like Morihito and Miharu getting caught up in the absurdity. The segment culminates in Nico, Kanshi, and Keigo issuing a public apology video for having misled social media, adding a comical touch to the farcical situation.
Morihito’s Martial Warriors Battle Fighters
The final short takes a nostalgic turn as the group uncovers a box of Morihito’s childhood memorabilia. Among the items is a poorly drawn manga he created titled “Martial Warriors Battle Fighters.” As Morihito reminisces about his old dream of entering the world he drew, Nico attempts a spell to make this a reality. Naturally, the magic backfires, transforming everyone, except Kanshi, into characters resembling Morihito’s crude drawings. Kanshi, unfortunately, is turned into a terrifying, albeit “award-winning,” ukiyo-e woodblock art style, forced to move around like a character from a horror movie. This segment provides a lighthearted conclusion, showcasing the unpredictable nature of Nico’s magic and the group’s endearing reactions to their transformed states.
The Enduring Appeal of Witch Watch
Witch Watch, a fantasy romantic comedy manga by Kenta Shinohara, known for SKET DANCE and Astra Lost in Space, began its serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2021. The anime adaptation, produced by Bibury Animation Studios, premiered in April 2025. The series follows Nico Wakatsuki, a young witch-in-training, as she moves in with her childhood friend Morihito Otogi, an ogre tasked with protecting her from a foretold calamity. Their cohabitation, filled with Nico’s unpredictable magic and Morihito’s protective nature, forms the core of the magical comedy. Episode 18 exemplifies the series’ strength in blending consistent humor with occasional moments of genuine emotion, maintaining its strong appeal to fans.
