I don't usually post first episode reviews of series that I've purchased on DVD. I'm not exactly sure why; I think that posting previews of shows that are already long-completed feels a bit pointless, and that it's just easier to take those series as a whole. In this case, however, I was so wowed by what I saw in the first episode that I just had to post something, however informal it might be.
While I watch and enjoy plenty of series, it's the rare show that smacks me across the face from the get-go and says "look at me!" This is one such show. In this case it's not really the animation that's the main draw, because it's one of those shows where a lot of dialog is spoken off-screen in that money-saving way about which we fans often complain. It's also not the story, which at its core is very simple, about a girl who discovers a magical world and wants to make a change. No, in this case it's the visual design of the series' world that really caused my jaw to drop, and what convinced me that my purchase of the series would be well worth it.
The world of Tweeny Witches (known by the less-annoying title Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu or "Magical Girl Corps Alice" in Japan) is one that seems almost devoid of straight lines, making every piece of construction seem slightly thrown-together and organic. There's also something of a steam punk aesthetic draped over the top which shows itself in some of the strange robotic assistants and bizarre technological gadgets that litter certain scenes. This is a fantasy world that lacks the sterile beauty one might expect from something truly lighthearted, and although the main character is filled to the brim with optimism and youthful idealism, from episode 1 it seems evident that not all will turn out to be roses and sunshine.
The most apt comparison I could make with this series might be the live-action films Labyrinth or The Dark Crystal; the bizarre animals and craggy, dark milieus seem to have been spawned from the minds at Jim Henson's Creature Shop. It hits both my nostalgia button and my appreciation for anime that make a concerted attempt to exist outside the standard expectations of character design. Here are some screen caps from episode 1 that give a good impression of what the show looks like:
Sold. Renting this one myself.
I hope you enjoy it (though at the very least I'm positive you'll enjoy the visuals).