Season aired: Summer 2025
Number of episodes: 13
Watched on: Crunchyroll
Translated by: ???
Genres: Fantasy, Comedy, Drama
Thoughts: Secrets of the Silent Witch was an accessible anime to dive into, featuring a protagonist reminiscent of the beloved lead from Bocchi the Rock! Monica is a talented witch who invents a way to cast spells without speaking, but she isn’t motivated by fame, status, or a job title. Instead, she despises chanting spells out loud in front of others and would sooner faint than face any public speaking. Her unique magical abilities earned her a place among the top Seven Mages and the title, Silent Witch. Monica prefers to seclude herself in a forest to further her magical studies rather than interacting with the admirers who look up to her. However, her peaceful existence is interrupted when she must infiltrate a magical academy to protect the mysterious second prince, Prince Felix, without his knowledge. Unfortunately, she quickly discovers that his life is always in jeopardy!
This anime spans several genres, but the strongest aspect is undoubtedly its comedy. It would be easy to dismiss Monica as just another extremely socially anxious character who’s secretly overpowered, like many imitators after Bocchi the Rock!’s success. However, Monica’s true secret lies in her passion for numbers. Her fascination with numbers began long before she experienced any anxiety, and this devotion manifests in the most hilarious and practical ways. One of my favorite comedic moments is her obsession with what she views as “perfect body proportions from a numerical perspective” regarding Prince Felix. Her ability to locate him when the headstrong prince slips away isn’t due to intuition, a special connection, or seeing through his disguise; Monica has literally memorized his body proportions, allowing her to identify him even in a crowd of thousands. That quirky explanation always brings a smile to my face.
Monica, The Silent WitchThe humor is even more effective because Monica’s fixation on numbers is connected to something deeper. Throughout the series, we discover that Monica’s father, who was murdered, was also a magical researcher dedicated to uncovering magic through numerical calculations. Thus, her mental math skills are intertwined with a profound emotional core, representing one of the few links she has to her father. Ironically, some of the best comedic moments arise from tragedy, which is especially evident in this particular quirk of our protagonist.
If I had one significant critique of the series, it would be related to the resolution of conflicts and how the antagonists are portrayed. While Prince Felix’s life is continually at risk, Monica strives to remain undercover and uses her overpowered magic to protect him without the perceptive prince catching on. However, I find the handling of the actual threats to be somewhat lacking. One antagonist was a twist villain whose introduction felt subpar— the reveal was so out of left field with minimal setup that I was more baffled than surprised. Another storyline introduced an antagonist from Monica’s past, and again, the resolution of his change of heart towards her felt wholly unsatisfying, as significant time was spent on his cruelty with little devoted to his redemption. In fact, the only antagonist I found satisfactory was in the introductory arc, where adequate setup was provided leading to the reveal.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Sumiko Uo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
Felix and MonicaWhile Secrets of the Silent Witch stumbles in plot points, it compensates with its characters and their relationships. The burgeoning friendship and potential romance between Monica and Prince Felix is electric throughout the series, especially with the revelation that Felix is a huge admirer of her mage persona. Personally, I have always enjoyed the Clark Kent/Superman dynamic, but I also believe the show effectively develops their growing relationship. The writing cleverly avoids revealing too much about Prince Felix’s childhood, yet provides enough context to establish similarities with Monica without either character fully realizing it. This creates an excellent setup for the eventual revelation that Monica has been Felix’s idol all along, and that Felix understands the kind of trauma Monica has been grappling with throughout the series.
A significant part of that chemistry can be attributed to Shogo Sakata’s role as Felix. Though I haven’t encountered Shogo Sakata often in anime, his performance here impresses me. Prince Felix conceals many secrets; while he fits the archetype of a charming blond prince, he occasionally hints at being manipulative and even cruel. Simultaneously, he remains a teenage fanboy with a passion for reading. Shogo Sakata skillfully captures the many layers of Felix’s character, and I especially enjoy how he maintains a smooth mature tone while still allowing moments of teasing, anger, or childishness to shine through. Saya Aizawa, portraying Monica, also shines with her stuttering, mumbling, freak-outs, and numerical ramblings. As another voice actress I haven’t heard much from, I am eager to see more of her talents showcased in future roles.
The Silent WitchI must also rave about the music—it’s truly fantastic. One thing about magical academies I’ve noticed over the years is that, apart from Mashle, most of them sound generically similar, with magical melodies often reminiscent of the Harry Potter films. Secrets of the Silent Witch, however, avoids this pitfall. The magical soundtrack has a distinctly Scottish and Irish flair rather than the usual European style, and its emotional scores consistently moved me. In fact, it’s so powerful that it reminds me of how the music in Frieren and Fruits Basket could evoke tears even without dialogue.
This brings me to the finale, which stands out as one of the most fulfilling conclusions to a series this year. There’s an emotional backbone to Monica’s story as a frightened witch connected to her father. Everything from her social anxiety to her numerical skills and the events that unfold ultimately leads back to the traumatic memory of witnessing her father’s death and the destruction of his work. This blend of pain and bittersweet joy culminates in the finale, bringing me to genuine tears when Felix unwittingly takes her to an indie bookstore that still houses a final book written by her father. While her struggles began with his death, her growth and newfound courage lead her back to the invaluable knowledge he left behind.
Secrets of the Silent Witch succeeds because it comprehends that comedy often emerges from emotional tragedy and heartfelt experiences. With a solid grasp on this thematic blend, the anime has skillfully intertwined these elements to create a satisfying series. It certainly deserves a second season; however, even if it doesn’t receive one, I have no complaints about how this first season concluded.
Rating
Plot: 7.5 (Multiplier 3)
Characters: 7.5 (Multiplier 3)
Art/Animation: 8 (Multiplier 2)
Voice acting: 8
Soundtrack: 9
FINAL SCORE: 78
- Used Book in Good Condition
- George Trombley (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 376 Pages - 08/22/2014 (Publication Date) - Learn From Zero (Publisher)
- Ken Fukuyama, Yuki Fukuyama (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 246 Pages - 10/11/2022 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Sumiko Uo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 6 Pages - 01/01/2005 (Publication Date) - BarCharts Publishing Inc. (Publisher)
