8Bit/Digi

A Hidden World of Dragons

Back in 2020; fans of Bleach were treated to an anime adaption of the one-shot spin-off, Burn the Witch. The OVA presented an exciting story while also introducing viewers to an alternative world they have known for some time. Now we get to enjoy Burn the Witch 0.8 an adaption of the prologue chapter.  

Burn the Witch 0.8 delves deeper into acquainting viewers with the world of Reverse London. It focuses on the transformation of Balgo Park into a Dragonclad and sheds more light on the dynamics between Ninny and Noel. Despite being only a single episode, it never wastes its limited run time.  

It should be noted that I’m anime only regarding the series. Hence this review will not be comparing Burn the Witch 0.8 with the manga. Instead, my critique will be based on the anime adaptations’ own merit. 

Don’t Judge A Book 

To recap the series, Burn the Witch is a spin-off to Bleach and follows the exploits of the Soul Society West Branch (also known as Wing Bind). Unlike the East Branch, Wing Bind is responsible for the protection and control of Dragons in Reverse London. 0.8 is a single episode series that is based on the prologue – “Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover”. 

The story begins when Noel Niihashi experiences another encounter with Balgo Park in Front London. While skillfully eluding him, she inadvertently discloses a glimpse of Reverse London. Subsequently joining with Ninny Spangcole, they embark on their assigned mission. Acting on Shelby’s guidance, Balgo takes a proactive approach to learn more about the entrance of Reverse London. However, he has unwittingly become a pawn in a sinister trap.

Welcome to Reverse London

Burn the Witch first got my attention primarily due to its breathtaking animation and meticulous attention to detail. With 0.8, the series takes it a step further with an animation quality that nearly rivals the standards set by Studio Ghibli. The artistic design is one that is very colorful while attention has been put into the details. Despite being a single episode, the level of effort invested in crafting this visually stunning world and maintaining overall animation excellence is truly commendable.

Also one could obviously see a lot of the Studio Ghibli influence at the beginning of the episode when we are given a tour of Reverse London. Yet this is not the only nod to other anime’s one will see. From Noel’s ringtone to Ninny stopping the bus, there is a treat for every anime fandom. 

The story itself is easy to follow and I would recommend starting with 0.8 before watching Burn the Witch. We do get to learn more about Balgo and Noel’s life in Front London while having a better understanding of life in Reverse London. At the same time, it goes more into detail about who Shelby was and how his actions led to Balgo becoming a Dragonclad. Even though it was somewhat explained in the OVA, here we see it in more detail.

Curse of a Dragonclad

Burn the Witch 0.8 is an anime adaptation of the manga’s prologue chapter, which makes me wonder why it was not included in the first adaptation. While the OVA did explain enough about the world and how Balgo became a Dragonclad, the information presented in 0.8 would have shed more light on the lore. This is especially true with fans who are anime only or haven’t gotten the chance to read the manga.  

But this is not a shortcoming that would deter someone from watching this prequel episode.

Making Me Special

Burn the Witch 0.8 adds more depth and better elaborates on the lore that was absent in the OVA. Here we get to learn more about the core characters while presenting a world that has been brought to life with an appealing artistic design. All of this in a very limited time frame. 

Disclaimer:I watched this on Crunchyroll, which I pay for myself.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Burn the Witch 0.8

9

Excellent

9.0/10

Pros

• We get to learn more about the core characters.
• Rich world building in a small time frame.
• A unique and appealing visual design choice.

Cons

• Should have been part of the OVA.