Once Upon a Witch's Death (Japanese: ある魔女が死ぬまで, Hepburn: Aru Majo ga Shinu Made) is a Japanese light novel series written by Saka and illustrated by Chorefuji. It was serialized as a web novel published on Kakuyomu from October 2019 to August 2022. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works who began publishing it under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei light novel imprint in December 2021. A manga adaptation illustrated by Kenu Amearare began serialization on ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comic Regulus manga website in March 2023. An anime television series adaptation produced by EMT Squared aired from April to June 2025.
Contents
Plot
Meg Raspberry is a young apprentice witch raised by her teacher Faust, the Eternal Witch. On Meg's 17th birthday, Faust reveals that Meg is afflicted with a curse that will cause her to age rapidly and die shortly after turning eighteen. Faust tells her there is only one way to survive: Meg must create a "Seed of Life" by collecting a thousand human tears shed from genuine joy, all within a single year. Faced with an seemingly impossible task, Meg sets out on a journey beyond her sheltered life, using magic to help others and becoming involved in their personal struggles and happiness.
Characters
Meg Raspberry (メグ・ラズベリー, Megu Razuberī)
Voiced by: Yoshino Aoyama (Japanese); Hannah Alyea (English)
Faust (ファウスト, Fausuto)
Voiced by: Yoshiko Sakakibara (Japanese); Linda Young (English)
Carbuncle (カーバンクル, Kābankuru)
Voiced by: Miharu Hanai (Japanese); Corinne Sudberg (English)
Snowy Owl (シロフクロウ, Shirofukurō)
Voiced by: Aina Suzuki (Japanese); Naya Moreno (English)
Fine Cavendish (フィーネ・キャベンディッシュ, Fīne Kyabendisshu)
Voiced by: Rumi Okubo (Japanese); Reshel Mae (English)
Sophie Hayter (ソフィ・ヘイター, Sofi Heitā)
Voiced by: Hina Yōmiya (Japanese); Abigail Blythe (English)
Mysterious Girl (謎の少女, Nazo no Shōjo)
Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki
Inori (祈)
Voiced by: Shizuka Itō (Japanese); Marwa Elda (English)
Eldora (エルドラ, Erudora)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa
Media
Light novel
Written by Saka, Once Upon a Witch's Death was serialized as a web novel published on the Kakuyomu website from October 3, 2019, to August 26, 2022. It was later acquired by ASCII Media Works who began publishing it as a light novel with illustrations by Chorefuji under their Dengeki no Shin Bungei light novel imprint from December 17, 2021, to September 17, 2025. Four volumes have been released as of September 2025. The light novel is licensed in English by Yen Press.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Kenu Amearare began serialization on ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Comic Regulus manga website on March 10, 2023. The manga's chapters have been compiled into five tankōbon volumes as of December 2025. The manga adaptation is published digitally in English on Kadokawa's BookWalker website. In August 2025, Yen Press announced that they had also licensed the manga for English publication beginning in February 2026.
Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on June 28, 2024. It is produced by EMT Squared and directed by Atsushi Nigorikawa, with Keiichirō Ōchi overseeing series scripts, Yuki Shizuku designing the characters, and Akiyuki Tateyama and composing the music. The series aired from April 1 to June 17, 2025, on AT-X and other networks. The opening theme song is "Drops", performed by Maaya Sakamoto, while the ending theme song is "Hana-saku Michi de" (花咲く道で; On the Road Where the Flowers Bloom), performed by Aoi Teshima and composed by Yuki Kajiura. Crunchyroll streams the series.