The first episode is fairly straightforward and, like most pilot episodes, focuses on exposition and world-building. 

Right off the bat, we are introduced to Luna, a black witch, and her isolation. She lives in a house made of poisonous mushrooms. While she looks young, the show explains that she is much older than her appearance and has lived longer than the typical human lifespan. 

She is skilled in making medication, and once every three months, she delivers the medicine to the town in exchange for money, which she uses to buy other items, mostly books. Noticeably, as she makes her way into the town with the medicine loaded on her bull-shaped familiar, poisonous mushrooms of different colours, shapes and sizes bloom in her wake. Consequently, she is given the name “Champignon Witch” by the townspeople.

“Champignon” is a term used to describe edible mushrooms. 

This is, however, just one of the things that horrifies the townfolk about Luna. The most repulsive thing in their eyes is the fact that everything she touches becomes poisoned, including humans and animals. 

This is then promptly demonstrated by a butterfly drifting in too close to Luna’s breath. The butterfly stops flying, floats to the ground, and after a few twitches, it dies. Dramatic much?

The witch, quite sadly, is used to this type of treatment, and she ignores the townfolk and heads straight to the apothecary, where she delivers the medicine she compounded. The owner is slightly more friendly to her but still does not approach her without precaution. The instant she enters the shop, he dons a herb-infused mask and instructs her to pluck the sprouted mushrooms on her way out. 

The next stop on this trip is the bookstore. The owner of the bookstore is a descendant of both the human and spirit worlds and thus is more understanding of the witch. As the witch shops, the owner makes a revealing statement. 

“It’s been quite some time since your last visit, so the air in town’s grown stagnant. Even just stepping outside felt depressing.” 

It turns out that the witch can absorb the “poisons,” that is, negative human emotions, filter out these toxins and transform them into mushrooms. This explains why mushrooms grow in her wake, and why these mushrooms are toxic. 

She agrees with his statement, adding that a bunch of scary mushrooms sprouted in the town square as she walked past, shocking her. He informs her that it is because of a public execution that took place in the square last week. The criminal’s regret and the crowd’s outrage must have been intense, causing the mushrooms to sprout in such severe shapes and colours. 

We are then treated to a bit of exposition about the kingdom and their relationship with magic. Apparently, the term “black witch” is used to describe witches who are not aligned with the royal family. White witches work with the crown and help to grow and expand the kingdom. 

It remains unsaid by the bookstore owner, but the person executed was likely a black witch as part of the “Black Witch Hunt.”

She concludes her business in the bookstore after buying several books and helping the owner dispel a curse stuck in a book.

Despite his apparent easygoingness, the bookstore owner is also quite careful around the witch, wiping all surfaces with a strong lye the instant she leaves the store. 

As the sun sets, Luna is treated to the sight of people queuing at the apothecary to purchase her medicine. The medication’s effectiveness delights Luna, and she basks in the praise. Of course, the townfolk are blissfully unaware that she is the one behind this medication. If they were, they would surely reject the drug. 

As she hides out of sight of the apothecary, she sees a one-legged man on crutches, hobbling away. She returns the next day with medicine that can regrow a limb, but the apothecary owner refuses to stock the drug, stating that such medicine would put him—and subsequently, her—under scrutiny. 

The lack of romance in Luna’s life is the next theme to be highlighted as she sees a couple embracing in town. She reflects on her poisonous skin and the resultant lack of physical contact. To deal with this, Luna draws people and things that she sees in the town. She also brings the characters from her books to life, briefly animating them for her entertainment. 

In her poisonous mushroom home, she draws and animates the boy she sighted in earlier in the town. Well-drawn and infused with magic, the boy comes to “life,” animated and offers Luna a dance. She takes off into the night sky with him, feeling the touch of another, albeit only paper, without poisoning her dance partner. 

On her next trip to town, she sees the couple in the midst of an argument. It seems like ever since Luna’s last visit to town, the boy has lost his “soul,” becoming a shell of himself. Luna quickly realises that her realistic drawing is to blame and she swiftly rights this, restoring the boy’s vitality. 

Now more like himself, the boy vows to talk to Luna the next time he sees her. 

Verdict

From the first episode, it seems like, while there are fantastical elements to the story, Champignon no Majo (Champignon Witch) will be a romantic anime. The worldbuilding around the magic is light and easy to follow. 

There was a lot of narration in this episode. I personally think it was due to a lack of dialogue between the characters, because of the witch’s isolation. I mean, there is no one for her to talk to. 

The animation was okay, and the drawing was average. However, for a romance fantasy anime, it will do the job. 

Plot-wise, I do not believe that the story will pop out with any unexpected twists and turns. I expect the male lead to be the boy whose drawing she animated and danced with. I also expect that the “Black Witch Hunt” will in some way threaten her and, of course, that the townsfolk will find out that she compounds the medicine they are so fond of and perhaps, come to her aid then. 

I might not finish this anime, but I will watch the next three episodes.

Rating: 5/10

Verdict: Will continue for three more episodes

In the first episode, we are introduced to Wakana Kinme and her bubbly personality as she runs her cleaning service. She takes orders, tagging items and uses a variety of methods to clean the clothes left in her care. 

A friend, Yagara-san, comes to visit, bringing sweets, and as they discuss, Kinme’s rigorous and meticulous cleaning method is revealed.

 
The conversation is mundane, but she makes a strange statement as she talks to her friend:

“It’s the one thing I didn’t forget.”

A hint at amnesia?

As the episode progresses, we are introduced to other town residents, including her landlady—Aji-san, to whom she hands over the month’s rent— and the son of the innkeeper Ishimochi (owner of Homestyle Inn Ishimochi); the latter, who then visits the laundry shop to drop off items to be cleaned.

The young boy seems quiet and reserved, almost aloof. As he hands the items over to Kinme, however, she pauses, a blush creeping up her face. Before he can ask what is wrong, she dashes over to the side, collects some items and comes to a stop in front of the boy.

She drops to her knees and, retrieving a sliver of sandpaper, begins to work on a scratch on the boy’s shoe.

Fanservice is, of course, imposed on us, the audience, as Kinme buffs and polishes the shoe of the boy—who is supposed to be in high school, by the way—from an indecent angle.

He is impressed by the correction and tells her as much. Beaming with praise, she tells him that their cleaning service does not solely focus on clothes, but also cleans shoes, leather bags, and other materials.

Suddenly contrite, she bows in apology, telling him that she did not mean to impose on him. Then, as she straightens, her cleavage is so conveniently revealed from the top of her blouse, as she apologises for overstepping her bounds.

Verdict

From the first episode, it seems to be a very basic slice-of-life anime. The animation is simple, and the main character also does not seem to be unique, except for the hint that she might have memory problems.

The fanservice, as all fanservice tends to be, is unnecessary and only detracts from the anime.

As such, I will not be continuing the anime. 

Fate/strange Fake's release pattern is a little bit…weird. A-1 Pictures produced a television special, “Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn,” which premiered in July 2023. Subsequently, an anime series adaptation of the light novel premiered in December 2024, with only one episode. 

Thankfully, it was announced that more episodes of the anime series would be released in January 2026.

As such, it is time to refresh our memory on the plot and setting of the new Fate instalment and what to expect in the new episodes. 

Introduction to the world of Fate/strange Fake

It’s another Holy Grail War. 

The refreshing thing about the Fate series is that they are quite consistent in the plotting of the story. There are new characters, new places, new timelines, new alliances and new antagonists, but the objective of the story remains the same every single time:

Fight for the Holy Grail.

This instalment, however, throws a mini-wrench into the typical Fate gears. It’s a Holy Grail War, yes. But it’s a fake one. Hence, the name “strange Fake.”

Apparently, after the Third Holy Grail War, a mage organisation in America decided to copy the structure of the war to allow them to design their own war, to their own ends. As the Holy Grail War is a feat of intense magical design, the mages are unable to perfectly replicate the war, resulting in some strange irregularities. 

For example, a typical Holy Grail War has seven Servant classes: Caster, Lancer, Saber, Archer, Assassin, Rider, and Berserker. The rules state that a Servant from each class must be summoned for the Holy Grail War to commence. However, in this false war, the Saber class is missing. 

Also, a Ruler (a Servant that does not participate in the war) must also be summoned to oversee the rituals of the war. This false war is lacking a Ruler. The Ruler is supposed to be an external, balancing act in the war, and the absence of a Ruler is a sure sign that this war will not stay on the rails.

Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn

Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn was the television special released by A-1 Pictures in December 2023. This special served as a sort of “episode 0,” an introduction to the false Holy Grail War. This episode introduced watchers to the setting, the stakes, the different factions and the goal of this war. 

Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn is a must-watch if you are to understand the rest of the anime. 

Fate/strange Fake, Episode 1: The Heroic Spirit Incident

Episode 1 picked up from where Whispers of Dawn stopped, showing the immediate aftermath of the battle between Gilgamesh and Enkidu. 

The military is swiftly closing down the area in Snowfield where the fight occurred. A gas explosion is the official cover-up for the crater left behind after Gilgamesha and Enkidu battle it out. As the army rolls in, we are introduced to Ayaka Sayjou, a seemingly confused, quiet and reserved mage, stumbling into the Holy Grail War in Snowfield. 

Ayaka Sayjou is just one of the many parties and Masters involved in this war. She is not known to Faldeus, a member of the mage organisation orchestrating the war, and he places her under surveillance, just before she is kidnapped. 

From his command centre, Faldeus lists the current participants of this Holy Grail War: 

Flat Escardos, Tiné Chelc, a silver Chimera wolf, and the police chief. 

He lists other likely Masters but does not have the complete picture. While the organisation he represents launched this false Holy Grail war, he is having issues grasping the entire breadth of variables, while also being tasked with concealing the entire war. 

Across the pond, the Clock Tower is also struggling to come to terms with this false war. Lord El-Melloi II and Langal discuss the possible benefits of such a war, including the possibility that the organisation behind this war wishes to mass-produce the Holy Grail War system.

Meanwhile, back in America, another party is introduced: the Snowfield chief of police, Orlando Reeve, and his Servant, Caster. The relationship between these two is quite testy, a push-and-pull for dominance. 

The scene does not last long, and we are taken to an opera house, where Ayako Sayjou is being held. She is in the middle of a summoning circle and is being questioned by a man hired by Francesca about the markings on the back of her right palm. 

“That mark is no Command spell,” he says right before trying to summon Saber.

In the instant before he completes the summoning spell, however, he is killed by another Servant, Assassin. 

The magic restraints he used to hold Ayako in place break upon his death, and Ayako’s right hand touches the summoning circle. The magic of the circle is reactivated, and summoning is completed. 

We, the audience, were led to believe that there would be no Saber-class Servant in this fake war, but lo and behold, a Servant of the Saber class appears, wielding Excalibur.

This is not Arthur Pendragon. The identity of this Servant is not revealed, as he brandishes Excalibur, causing the Assassin to retreat. The power of Excalibur causes the partial destruction of the opera house, attracting the police and fire service. 

Ayako and Saber are apprehended by the police. While they are being led out of the opera house, Saber launches into a poetic rhetoric, apologising for his actions, right in front of all the spectators and cameras. 

Faldeus watches from his command centre in pure exasperation as his plan to conceal the explosion falls apart.

In a church in Los Angeles, two priests are seen discussing the false Holy Grail War. As instructed by the Church, they are expected to be supervisors in this war.

Verdict

The thing about the Fate series is that it is so well established in the anime society that it really doesn’t require intensive world-building. However, I appreciate the details provided by the Fate/strange Fake: Whispers of Dawn episode. New characters were aptly introduced, their motivations explained, and alliances swiftly defined. 

As the Fate series is centred around the Holy Grail and the battle for it, it might seem like the plot is obvious before the story is revealed. And while I do find the plotline to be straightforward, the storytelling, character development and fight scenes are quite engaging. 

I am looking forward to the progression of this fake war and all its irregularities.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku)

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku) is a romantic anime produced by the animation studio CloverWorks, following the stories of high school students, Rintaro Tsumugi and Kaoruko Waguri, as they work through the common prejudices that plague society.  

The anime aired from July to September 2025, comprising a total of 13 episodes. I must say that each episode, from start to finish, was a masterclass in character development and emotional maturity.

I initially planned to write reviews for each episode, but I got caught up in the steady pacing of the episodes, and greedily binged them all, taking absolutely no notes as I did. After a much-needed and much slower rewatch, I now feel confident in tackling this simple but well-crafted high school anime.

The theme of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity (Kaoru Hana wa Rin to Saku) is prejudice. At first, it seems like a romance-themed slice of life, but slowly, via the dialogue, the scenes, and the interactions between characters, we begin to see the true theme of the anime:

Bias, and the way it clouds our interaction with ourselves and with society.

We see this from the very first scene in episode 1. There is a standoff between Rintaro’s friends and two students from a nearby public school. The two students try to bully Rintaro’s friends, but Rintaro Tsumugi appears, towering over the entire lot, and the other students flee, frightened by his tall stature and intimidating glare. Little did they—and we, the audience—know that Tsumugi is the gentlest and kindest member of the group.

Tsumugi and his friends attend Chidori Public High School, a boys-only high school for “delinquents.” Chidori is located right next to Kikyo’s Private Academy Girls' High School, and the difference between the two schools can not be overstated.

Chidori is a school for so-called “fools” and rejects of society, evidenced by the dyed hair and piercings the students frequently sport. Kikyo is a noble academy for female children of the elite. As such, Kikyo students are quiet, soft-spoken and always impeccably dressed. 

The two schools have absolutely no dealings with each other. In fact, in episode 1, as Rintaro and his friends are about to enter their school, they cross paths with two Kikyo girls, whose faces immediately cloud over when they see the boys. One of the girls mistakenly drops a handkerchief, and Shohei, Rintaro’s friend, helpfully picks the handkerchief up and tries to hand it back to the girl.

She shuns the effort, saying that she suddenly no longer wants to use it. What a bitch.

Although the schools are side by side, the curtains on Kikyo’s side are always closed, leaving the boys without a glimpse of the other world.

Once again, we are treated to the little ways in which bias and prejudice cloud people’s perception. 

Rintaro’s family run a pasty shop where he has to assist his parents once in a while. There, we are introduced to the female lead, Waguri-san, a beautiful regular with a large appetite. Rintaro, taking in her figure and young face, falsely assumes that she is in middle school. As he silently examines her and the empty plates lying on the table, shocked at her appetite, she baulks and dashes from the store.

Once again, Rintaro makes another false assumption: “She looked at me and ran away. If she stops coming, it’ll be because of me.”

He is chagrined and even considers searching for her middle school so he can apologise. So, imagine his surprise when she returns and apologises for her behaviour the other day. He is even more surprised when she admits that she did not run away because she was afraid of him. 

“I have never once thought you were scary, Rintaro,” Waguri says as she leaves the shop, leaving Rintaro in complete shock.

The drama is far from over, though. Rintaro’s mom finds Waguri’s cake box lying on the floor near the shop. The box looks damaged, and Waguri is nowhere to be found. It turns out that the two students, who earlier in the episode tried to bully Rintaro’s friends, waylay Waguri after seeing the duo standing in front of the pastry shop. 

They try to intimidate Waguri, calling Rintaro “wild” and saying that nothing good will come out of hanging out with him. Rintaro overhears the conversation and is briefly downhearted until Waguri comes to his defence. 

Waguri repeats her conviction on Rintaro’s personality, and then Rintaro intervenes—his intimidating figure coming to his advantage—causing the bullies disperse, leaving Rintaro with only a scratch on the forehead.

The episode has one more twist for us before it ends. Rintaro arrives at school the following day, tired because he had got little sleep the night before. I wonder why. 

He sees the curtains in the Kikyo building twitch. Transfixed, he watches as the curtains part, revealing none other than Waguri on the other side of the great Chidori-Kikyo divide.

Waguri is a Kikyo student.

Verdict:

All in all, I have to say that the first episode of the anime really did an excellent job in introducing the audience to the setting of the anime and laying the groundwork for future conflicts.

The episode was well-paced, and the character introductions did not feel overwhelming. 

It was also refreshing to see Rintaro, a frequent victim of misunderstandings and discrimination, also fall into the trap of misunderstanding another person due to his own preconceptions.

At the end of the episode, I was more than excited for what would follow. And I think that’s how all pilot episodes should make an audience feel.