Bocchi meets fantasy in this series about a great but socially anxious mage on a secret quest to guard a prince in an elite academy. It has mystery, court intrigue, romance, comedy, and a magic system that I’ve never heard of before. The main lead, who gained the moniker Bocchi the Witch, is also pure gap moe that makes it an enjoyable watch.

However, Secrets of the Silent Witch may look bland and slow at times for some, since it doesn’t have a lot of overstimulating battle scenes and focuses instead on personal clashes and the silent, merciful way of killing. I’ve been slowly warming up to that kind of genre since Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, and I’ve been into fantasy academia for the longest time since I grew up reading Tantei High, so it still became one of my favorite shows this summer.

This review is spoiler-free.

A mage’s not-so-quiet life

Even before it aired, the premise had already topped the charts in humor. Our main character, Monica Everett, one of the Seven Sages in the Kingdom of Ridill, became the first mage to use magic without chanting because of one simple reason — she is extremely shy. But her antics aren’t the only thing that makes her a likable protagonist.

She’s incredibly powerful, daringly smart, and unbelievably kind. And did I mention that she’s a math nerd? To the point that numbers excite her, and counting the Fibonacci sequence has become her coping mechanism. She’s like Maomao and her poisons, and Senku and his science, and I’m just glad to be here to meet a new character like her with unique obsessions.

Despite her enchanting magic, however, the series isn’t the kind of action fantasy that makes us breathless. It’s more about a shy and short girl navigating through a noble life, stepping out of her comfort zone, and finding enjoyment in such a cruel world.

A world filled with numbers and nobles

This world’s magic system is very different from those in other magic school anime and is far more fascinating, in that magic can be controlled and constructed using magical formulas. It can be invented, like Monica’s unchanted magic, or overwritten by someone more genius to serve another purpose.

When it comes to the setting, the story takes place at Serendia Academy, which excels in magecraft, law, and other courses for children of nobility. We got to see the students participate in elite activities such as chess tournaments, horseback riding, tea parties, and ballroom dancing, which is new and very apt for the setting. It was my first time seeing chess being played in anime, and it got me really excited.

The court intrigue, in addition, is surprisingly intense. I especially found the confrontations riveting, like they were what the viewers would have actually done or spoken in the heat of the moment. They helped reveal who Monica really is and why she’s such a cherished protagonist.

Final thoughts

While I enjoyed the slice-of-life aspect, I expected to see more of Monica in action. But that’s understandable since she’s keeping her mission a secret, and it was still great that she grew and made new friends. I was also very entertained by the budding romance and the menace that is Isabelle Norton, who’s one of the best characters in the series. Monica’s father is intriguing, as well as the mysteries surrounding the second prince, so I hope to learn more about them in the next season, if there will be one. 

As with the animation, it is pretty clean. But there are times when it looks lackluster compared to its opening sequence, which perfectly captures how magical the series is. I hope they kept that glow in the actual episodes because it made such a difference. The music is gorgeous, though, especially Hitsujibungaku’s Feel.

Rating: 8.5/10