The Witch and the Beast
The Witch and the Beast is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kousuke Satake. It started serialization in Young Magazine the 3rd in November 2016, before moving to Monthly Young Magazine following Young Magazine the 3rd publishing its final issue.
The series went on an initial two-month hiatus after January 2023, which was later extended upon due to Satake's health. As of August 2022, its individual chapters have been collected in 10 volumes.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory aired from January to April 2024.
Synopsis
Setting
The world consists of eight continents where magic saturates the environment, influencing both nature and civilization. Magical disasters are collectively called "Paranomena", while spellcasting involves inscribing runes, known as "Lettering", either in the air or on prepared surfaces. The Global Holy Church regulates magic from its seat on the First Continent, with technological advancement decreasing in more distant lands. However, the eighth continent is able to develop its own unique brand of magic technology, allowing it and the seventh continent to have prosperous societies. Between them lies the Fall, a seventeen-tiered abyss created by the Origin Witches, each level containing its own isolated world known only to the powerful elites.The Church's Paladin Corps handles major magical threats, while their Executioners branch ruthlessly hunts all witches. Three holy women lead the Church: the Healer, the Defender, and the Seer, who periodically awakens to prophesize future turning points called the Great Flow. Witches descend from the seventeen Origin Witches, inheriting vast power marked by Ultoma sigils when casting spells. Though outwardly human, they live two centuries without aging. Humans who master magic become mages, with the five strongest recognized as Archmages. Magic interferes with machinery unless purified, and practitioners can be neutralized through pressure points or finger injuries. Other beings like the nearly immortal vampires are capable of challenging mages.
The Order of Magical Resonance, an independent coalition of magic-wielders and supernatural beings, frequently opposes the Church's methods but maintains an uneasy truce to prevent outright war.
Plot
The story follows Ashaf, a tall, soft-spoken agent of the Order of Magical Resonance, and his unruly partner, Guideau, whose soul resides in a female body, yet her true form is that of a powerful, masked "beast", contained within a coffin strapped to Ashaf's back. They are tasked by the Order of Magical Resonance to solve cases involving magic, especially those concerning witches. As they go about their missions, they travel the world seeking a particular infamous witch, Angela Anne Huell, who casts a curse on Guideau and is the only Origin witch still alive.Due to unknown reasons, Forbidden Instruments, dark magical tools that grant the wielders immense power at the cost of blood sacrifices, are being spread around the world. At the core of it, Angela and a coven of witches and mages are prophesized to become a "great enemy" to society, causing the Order and the Holy Church to scramble to stop them.
Characters
Main characters
;Guideau;Ashaf
The Order of Magical Resonance
;Phanora Kristoffel;Johan
;Helga Velvette
;Demon Sword Ashgan
;Falvell Farmington
;Owent Farmington
;Oscar Orlencia
;Dunward Colvect
;Ganzig
;Oddman
;Lucy O'Brien
The Global Holy Church
;Matt Cugat;The Executioner
;Farmus
;Lowell
;Karl Oakleave
;Sven
;Thurlander
;Keith
;Gil Dellinger
Angela's Coven
;Angela Anne Huell;Stayler Allman
;Lucia Spendrow
Supporting characters
;Misha;Ione
;Mary
;Kiera Haines
;Reuben Cole
;Shulk Loran
;Jeff Enker
;Necromancer
;Dornez Guywasse
;The "Bridge"
;The Doll
;The Nameless Seed
;Joz
;Marda
Media
Manga
The series is written and illustrated by Kousuke Satake, and started serialization in Young Magazine the 3rd on November 6, 2016. Following Young Magazine the 3rd publishing its final issue in April 2021, the series was moved to the new Monthly Young Magazine, starting on May 20. The first volume was released on September 20, 2017. As of August 2022, the individual chapters have been collected in 10 tankōbon volumes.At New York Comic Con 2019, Kodansha USA announced they licensed the series for English publication. As the series is ongoing, the latest serialized chapters are simultaneously published with the Japanese release on Kodansha's K Manga platform.
Anime
In August 2022, it was announced that the series would be receiving an anime adaptation. It was later confirmed to be a television series produced by Yokohama Animation Laboratory and directed by Takayuki Hamana. Yūichirō Momose is writing the scripts, Hiroya Iijima handling the character designs, and Hanae Nakamura and Natsumi Tabuchi composing the music. The series aired from January 12 to April 5, 2024, on TBS, BS11 and other networks. The opening theme song is "Soumonka", performed by Sokoninaru, while the ending theme song is "Hikari no Trill", performed by Yoshino Nanjo. Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Asia. Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series in Southeast Asia.Reception
As part of Anime News Network's Fall 2021 manga guide, Rebecca Silverman and Caitlin Moore reviewed the first volume for the website. They both praised the art and concept, whilst also being critical of how the concept of the series is executed. Sarah from Anime UK News also praised the artwork, while criticizing the characters. Contrary to other critics, Che Gilson from Otaku USA praised the plot and setting in addition to the artwork.The series has over 500,000 copies in circulation.