Witch Hat Atelier Solves Fantasy's Biggest Problem

I've always loved fantasy, so I was genuinely surprised when I found out a lot of people don't. Maybe it's because I enjoy escaping reality, but the criticism I hear most often is that magic can solve almost any problem a story throws at it and it’s unsatisfying. Honestly, it's also one of the biggest complaints people have about anime in general. Just look at Fairy Tail. What's the first thing people bring up? The power of friendship magically solving every problem. Or think about almost any battle shonen. People love those moments when all hope seems lost and the villain feels impossible to beat. Then the main character suddenly unlocks a new power and wins anyway. Those moments can be incredibly exciting, but I completely understand why some people feel cheated afterward. I mean, Tanjiro is losing, then suddenly remembers his father's Hinokami Kagura dance and instantly turns the whole fight around. It's an amazing scene, but once it's over, you can't help thinking about how convenient it was. We let it slide because it's cool, but it doesn't completely hold up once you stop and think about it.