Nurse Witch Komugi is an OVA series produced by studios Tatsunoko Production, TMS Entertainment and Kyoto Animation (the latter two for the first two episodes only), spanning six episodes. Five episodes were produced in 2002 with a supplementary episode chronologically located between episodes 2 and 3 later created in 2003.
The OVA was later adapted to an Manga under the same title illustrated by Rei Nakajima and published by Hakusensha in their magazine Young Animal Arashi. The Manga spanned two volumes produced between September 29th, 2003 and August 27th, 2003.
A sequel OVA was also produced by studio Tatsunoko under director Kou Matsuzono with the title of Nurse Witch Komugi-chan Magicarte Z. Spanning two episodes the sequel OVA was released September 10th, 2004.
All versions of the work follow the same basic premise, a parody of Magical Girl Anime and more specifically The SoulTaker. The plot follows Komugi Nakahara, a cosplay idol who turns into the Magical Nurse Witch Komugi when trouble is around.
A remake, Nurse Witch Komugi R, was released in January 2016. Other than sharing some names, it's unrelated to the original.
Tropes:
- A-Cup Angst: Komugi, as repeatedly pointed out by the rest of the cast.
- Bland-Name Product: Often averted, given that it takes place in Akihabara.
- Blush Sticker: Komugi at all times.
- The Cameo: Nabeshin (yes, that Nabeshin) appears in one episode. In the English dub, Brett Weaver reprises the role from Excel♡Saga.
- Clark Kenting: Komugi and Koyori, they even use their actual names. Though, once Komugi came pretty close to deducing that Koyori was Magical Maid Koyori.
- Cosplay Otaku Girl: Komugi
- Cute Little Fangs: Both Komugi and Koyori.
- Cute Witch
- Deadly Doctor: As a magical nurse, Komugi occasionally wields oversized medical equipment such as scalpels.
- Elegant Gothic Lolita: Komugi's street outfits often contain a Sweet Lolita influence.
- Furo Scene: Once per episode.
- Gag Series: The whole deal with Komugi hunting down viruses to save the world? It quickly gets abandoned to focus on silly plots.
- Genki Girl: Komugi
- Lighter and Softer: In stark contrast to its predecessor anime, The SoulTaker. Justified, in that the contrast in tones between the shows makes it hilarious.
- Little Bit Beastly: Koyori, who is a raccoon girl.
- Look Both Ways: Komugi is hit by a truck and dies right at the start of episode 3. After spending some time as a vengeful ghost, she comes Back from the Dead repeatedly only to be run over again and again.
- Magical Girl Warrior: Parodied.
- Noblewoman's Laugh: Koyori. On the
DVD Commentary for the dub, her voice actor notes that performing the laugh is like being kicked in the stomach. - Non-Human Sidekick: Komugi has Mugimaru, Koyori has Posokichi and Komachi has Kuribei. They are Magical Girls, after all.
- Overly Long Name: Kim Nicholas Fidel Muammar Tikriti Adolf de Komachi
- Show Within A Show: Prequel series The SoulTaker is redefined as a live-action drama by bringing the cast back as actors and following their lives behind the camera.
- Shout-Out: Tons of them.
- In particular, Komugi often ends up cosplaying as other Tatsunoko characters, such as Speed Racer or the heroes of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman.
- Even Koyori cosplayed as the 1st Tekkaman!
- Big Sightron's theme song is one to old school mech anime so who better to have on board than tokusatsu veteran, Akira Kushida to sing it and the equally awesome Michiaki "Chumei" Watanabe note to compose the backing track. It helps that Tatsunoko has loads of experience with both the mecha and superhero genres.
- Shinichi Watanabe: While he had nothing to do with the making of the show, Nabeshin cameos up as an unnamed anime director in episode 4.
- Spin-Off: To The SoulTaker, making it a self-parodying sequel.
- Superpowered Evil Side: Koyori's Magical Maid persona.
- Transformation Sequence
- Verbal Tic: Komugi's flying rabbit partner, Mugimaru, always ends its sentences with "-mugi". In Japanese, Koyori also ends sentences with "de gozaimasu wa" when she's in Magical Maid form.
- Weaponized Landmark: Many of Japan's famous buildings are transformed into Humongous Mecha by Koyori, starting with the Tokyo Big Sight convention center.
