Witchcraft

Raisa Raisa (ages 35–40) appears at first glance to be an average, divorced woman in her mid-thirties trying to locate her son in a supernatural world. However, she is actually from a family of witches—a semi-sorceress—and a complete novice in witchcraft. So much so that she relies solely on her teenage son’s notes to navigate the other world. Raisa is grumpy, pragmatic, and occasionally cynical, but she is always ready to help those close to her and those in need. Amidst the pervasive «fairy-tale» atmosphere, she seems like a «typical gloomy aunt» (sometimes even to herself). But beneath this facade lies a witch’s strong spirit and a heart full of kindness and loyalty, which has led her to join forces with young, homeless hunters of evil and take on Waiku’s care. Due to the underdeveloped nature of her magical abilities, it is difficult for her to guide or understand her son, a powerful sorcerer from birth. She is a mother determined to connect with her son and with the reality surrounding them.

Vayka Vayka—a mysterious creature discovered amidst the witch’s lands. Visually, he blends seamlessly with the rest of the otherworldly inhabitants, but unlike the other residents of the strange realm, he possesses the ability to influence the witches’ magic. The fact that his coat changes color during these moments only deepens his mystery. Vayka is a naive youngster, possessing a childlike innocence and boundless curiosity—which inevitably leads him into trouble. The heroes find him in the forest, pursued by a frantic supernatural entity sent by a terrifying, wicked witch who tails the creature. Vayka does not remember where he comes from or what kind of being he is. For a long time, he wandered the witch’s woods, restless and alone. Like Raya, he feels like an outsider in this other world and longs to find his place and someone close to him in this life.

Sirin Sirin (16)—a diva-rebel who escaped from Iria. A flamboyant nonconformist justifying her magpie-like nature. Sirin is a loud, brazen, and caustic young woman who loves to draw attention to herself (like a proper diva). She partners with Mii as a monster hunter. Beneath the façade of a defiant girl, Sirin conceals a desperate, lonely teen who grew up in harsh, authoritarian conditions. She fled the avian people to preserve what is most precious to her—her own heart. Sirin wishes to retain the humanity that they tried to erase from her.

Miy Miy (16)—a young champion in training. He has been tasked with capturing all the new spectral entities that have appeared in the Navis. He is skilled in combat against malevolent spirits but struggles with tracking and holding them once caught. Because of this, he teamed up with Sirin. In the final capture, Raisa assists them with witchcraft in exchange for help finding her son. Miy is awkward, shy, and kind-hearted. Despite his talent for combat magic, the path of the champion is extremely difficult for him. Having been raised under the care of his grandmother, Miy has been confronted with the harsh customs of seasoned fighters against the supernatural. Although the young man appears soft at first glance, beneath his outward timidity lies stubbornness and compassion.

Decembrina Raisa’s mother. A witch-matriarch and keeper of the ancient knowledge of her family’s witchcraft. She grew up in a village where many generations of witches hid from the public eye. But life forced her to leave her native village in her youth and move to a large city, where she now lives with her children and grandson. She presents as a classic pensioner grandmother—one wouldn’t guess she possesses magical abilities. She is simple to talk to, and somewhat altruistic. She is accustomed to taking on burdens for others so as not to complicate the lives of her loved ones. Even if that means not teaching them witchcraft and keeping them isolated from it.

Yasha Yasha (age 14)—Raisa’s son, a young Witcher. He fled to the witch lands, where he can freely wield magic. He spends his time participating in showcase competitions with the covens. He is highly artistic and creative, especially concerning the application of witchcraft. Because of this, he has gained a following among the inhabitants of another world, a number comparable to the fans of the bird maidens (much to the latter’s open displeasure). Despite his outwardly charming youth, he is actually a quite secretive boy, one who keeps his thoughts to himself. Agile and ambitious beyond his years, he is determined to extract the maximum experience from his stay in the magical world and cast plenty of spells. For this reason, he does not wish to reunite with his mother. He fears that Raisa will force him back into the unfriendly human world, where he is an «oddity» because of his abilities. It is also worth noting that Yasha arrived in the witch lands at the same time as the appearance of new monstrosities and a mysterious, malevolent witch who terrorizes both the worlds of witches and humans…

«Witchcraft» is a fantasy drama set at the intersection of magical worlds and everyday life. The series is based on low Slavic mythology, adapted for contemporary media. To grasp the mood and atmosphere, imagine a blend of the show «Battle of the Mediums» and the Pokémon franchise: ordinary people, forced to adapt to a new magical reality by supernatural forces, are even compelled to confront external powers. Against the fragility of human existence, the show addresses the vital issue of preserving humanity.

The series narrative follows two main threads:

1. The interaction between diverse characters (varying in generation, strength, or race within the story’s context, or core principles). In fairy tales or fantasy sagas, protagonists are often equal in age, status, or calling. However, the premise of this show is to attract the widest possible family viewership, as the connection between generations plays a crucial role in the plot.
2. The contrast between the magical world and the fantastical elements against the harsh reality of ordinary people—with all their sorrows and dramas. The narrative combines a magical journey into an unfamiliar new space with the horrors of sorcery encroaching upon the lives of mortals.

THEMES Generational Conflict At the core of the story is a classic tale of «fathers and sons"—or more precisely, «mothers and children.» Rai’s and Yash’s family is far from ideal or the «nuclear model»: the parents are divorced, they carry a burdensome heredity in the form of magical abilities, and there are family squabbles, both among Rai’s relatives and on Yash’s father’s side. In a world with magic, this conflict unfolds into an odyssey in another dimension. This is the series' true value—that even with fantastical obstacles and problems, the main character strives to resolve her family issues and mend her relationship with her child. «Witchcraft» champions the principle that despite differences, different generations within a family can and should understand one another. This is shown not only in Rai’s quest but also in the disagreement between Miye and his grandmother regarding his career as a knight, and in Vaiki’s desire to discover his roots. A large part of the plot plays on the contrast between the vivid, fairy-tale world of Navi, where witches compete in spectacular performances and knights hunt beast-like creatures, and the gray reality of the human world, where a witch beyond the mirrors drives people insane and kidnaps them, transforming them into new monsters. Vibrant fantasy versus mystical horror. The dreams and hopes of the characters pitted against their fears also play a very important role. Yash utilizes this particularly well: portraying himself as a «wonderful young witcher» while simultaneously terrorizing two worlds in the guise of a fearsome witch.