OVA
Description
Doremi Harukaze is the central protagonist of Ojamajo Doremi Na-i-sho. At the time of this original video animation series, she is an elementary school student and a witch apprentice. The Na-i-sho series takes place during the timeline of the franchise's third season, where Doremi and her friends work in a magical bakery. Her full name is Doremi Harukaze, and she is known for her boundless energy and a deeply caring nature that is often paired with a significant degree of clumsiness.
Her personality is defined by her optimistic yet frequently frustrated outlook. She often proclaims herself the unluckiest pretty girl in the world and has a verbal tic where she exclaims Bu-bu-buu! when things go wrong. Despite her self-proclaimed misfortune, Doremi is immensely compassionate and cannot ignore someone in trouble, a trait that drives most of her actions. She is a classic Genki girl, full of enthusiasm, but her impulsiveness and lack of focus make her a poor student of magic, leading her mentor, Majorika, to call her an ojamajo, which means meddlesome or bothersome witch. One of her most consistent and simple desires is her love for steak, a food she rarely gets to enjoy.
Doremi's primary motivation throughout the series is her dream of becoming a full-fledged witch. This goal is not just about gaining power but stems from a genuine belief in magic and a desire to help others. Her role in the story is that of the heart of the group. As the leader of the witch apprentices, she is often the one to rally her friends and push forward, even when her clumsy nature causes magical mishaps. In Na-i-sho specifically, the focus shifts to the personal secrets and emotional challenges of the characters. Doremi's role here is to face these more mature and realistic problems, where magic is not always the solution, and her own naivety is put to the test.
Her key relationships are central to her development. She shares a close bond with her best friends and fellow apprentices, Hazuki, Aiko, Onpu, and Momoko. Another crucial relationship is with her younger sister, Pop, who is often more competent and level-headed, creating a dynamic where Doremi is the red oni to Pop's blue oni. A significant part of her experience is caring for Hana, a magical baby who sees Doremi as her mother, forcing Doremi to learn responsibility and selflessness.
Within the Na-i-sho OVA, Doremi undergoes noticeable development that shows her maturation beyond the main television series. One of the most profound examples occurs in an episode centered on a girl named Nozomi, also known as Non-chan, whom Doremi meets in a hospital. Doremi promises to turn Non-chan into a witch apprentice to give her hope while she battles an illness. When Non-chan ultimately passes away, Doremi experiences a Heroic Blackout, a moment of deep despair that shows her grappling with the limits of magic and the reality of loss. This event is a turning point, pushing her toward a more nuanced understanding of life and death. The series also explores her future, as another episode reveals a girl named Fami, who is her granddaughter from the future, hinting at her eventual destiny.
As a witch apprentice, Doremi has several notable abilities. She uses a magical tap to transform into her witch form. To cast spells, she typically uses the incantation Pirika pirilala poporina peperuto. However, her defining characteristic is her consistent failure to perform magic correctly. Her spells frequently have unintended or reversed effects, which creates many of the series' comedic situations. Despite her poor track record, her magic is often shown to be powerful when fueled by genuine emotion, particularly her love for her friends and family.
Her personality is defined by her optimistic yet frequently frustrated outlook. She often proclaims herself the unluckiest pretty girl in the world and has a verbal tic where she exclaims Bu-bu-buu! when things go wrong. Despite her self-proclaimed misfortune, Doremi is immensely compassionate and cannot ignore someone in trouble, a trait that drives most of her actions. She is a classic Genki girl, full of enthusiasm, but her impulsiveness and lack of focus make her a poor student of magic, leading her mentor, Majorika, to call her an ojamajo, which means meddlesome or bothersome witch. One of her most consistent and simple desires is her love for steak, a food she rarely gets to enjoy.
Doremi's primary motivation throughout the series is her dream of becoming a full-fledged witch. This goal is not just about gaining power but stems from a genuine belief in magic and a desire to help others. Her role in the story is that of the heart of the group. As the leader of the witch apprentices, she is often the one to rally her friends and push forward, even when her clumsy nature causes magical mishaps. In Na-i-sho specifically, the focus shifts to the personal secrets and emotional challenges of the characters. Doremi's role here is to face these more mature and realistic problems, where magic is not always the solution, and her own naivety is put to the test.
Her key relationships are central to her development. She shares a close bond with her best friends and fellow apprentices, Hazuki, Aiko, Onpu, and Momoko. Another crucial relationship is with her younger sister, Pop, who is often more competent and level-headed, creating a dynamic where Doremi is the red oni to Pop's blue oni. A significant part of her experience is caring for Hana, a magical baby who sees Doremi as her mother, forcing Doremi to learn responsibility and selflessness.
Within the Na-i-sho OVA, Doremi undergoes noticeable development that shows her maturation beyond the main television series. One of the most profound examples occurs in an episode centered on a girl named Nozomi, also known as Non-chan, whom Doremi meets in a hospital. Doremi promises to turn Non-chan into a witch apprentice to give her hope while she battles an illness. When Non-chan ultimately passes away, Doremi experiences a Heroic Blackout, a moment of deep despair that shows her grappling with the limits of magic and the reality of loss. This event is a turning point, pushing her toward a more nuanced understanding of life and death. The series also explores her future, as another episode reveals a girl named Fami, who is her granddaughter from the future, hinting at her eventual destiny.
As a witch apprentice, Doremi has several notable abilities. She uses a magical tap to transform into her witch form. To cast spells, she typically uses the incantation Pirika pirilala poporina peperuto. However, her defining characteristic is her consistent failure to perform magic correctly. Her spells frequently have unintended or reversed effects, which creates many of the series' comedic situations. Despite her poor track record, her magic is often shown to be powerful when fueled by genuine emotion, particularly her love for her friends and family.