Witch Hat Atelier

Setting

Witch Hat Atelier is set in a fictional, fantasy world, more specifically in the Zozah Peninsula, where magic can be performed by drawing magical runes with a special ink. Its use was a common knowledge until a series of uncountable crises, wars and catastrophes led to the "Day of the Pact", when the Great Hall of Witches (魔法使いの大講堂, Mahōtsukai no Dai Kōdō) was established. From then on, only witches authorized by the Great Hall are allowed to perform magic or know how to use it, and their knowledge is kept a secret from the rest of the population, called the "unknowing". Any unknowing who discovers the truth or witches who breaks their rules have their memories about magic erased. Certain magical practices are also forbidden even amongst them due to the possible dangers it can cause, such as casting magic or drawing magical runes directly on the human body, except for magic that erases memories, only allowed to protect their secret.

The witches from the Great Hall have a pointed hat with no brims as sign of loyalty towards their traditions and rules, while there is also a group of rogue witches who reject the rules of the Day of the Pact known as the Brimmed Caps (つばあり帽, Tsuba ari-bō) who act in secret, covering their faces with brimmed hats and using forbidden magic.

Plot

Coco is the kind and daydreaming daughter of a dressmaker who aspires to become a witch, despite being told that only innate magic users can practice and use magic. One day, she meets a witch named Qifrey and after she witnesses how he uses magic, Coco realizes that a book she previously bought from a masked witch was actually a book about magic, which she uses to accidentally cast a spell that encases her mother and house in crystals.

As only Coco has a vague memory of which magic spell she cast, which is the only clue they have to restore her mother and Qifrey is tracking the Brimmed Cap behind the incident for his own agenda, he takes Coco as his apprentice. She then starts learning magic under him alongside his three other female witch apprentices: Agott, Tetia, and Richeh, and supervised by Olruggio, another adult witch who is Qifrey's childhood friend. As Coco gets used to her new environment and develops her magic skills, the Brimmed Caps' interest on her grows, as they hope that she will help them revive the free use of magic.

Manga

Written and illustrated by Kamome Shirahama, Witch Hat Atelier started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Morning Two [ja] on July 22, 2016.^[11] The magazine ceased print publication and moved to a digital release starting on August 4, 2022.^[12][13] Kodansha has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on January 23, 2017.^[14] As of April 23, 2026, 16 volumes have been published.^[15][16]

In North America, Kodansha USA announced the acquisition of the series in July 2018.^[17] The first volume was published on April 9, 2019.^[18]

A spin-off manga series by Hiromi Satō, titled Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, started in Morning Two on November 22, 2019.^[19][20]

Anime

In April 2022, it was announced that the series would receive an anime adaptation.^[21][22] It was later revealed at Anime Expo 2024 to be a television series that is produced by Bug Films and directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with Jun Shinohara as the assistant director, Hiroaki Kojima as the producer, Hiroshi Seko handling the series composition, Kairi Unabara designing the characters, and Yuka Kitamura composing the music.^[23] The series was originally scheduled for 2025;^[24][25] however, it was later delayed due to the ability "to present the charm of the project at an even higher quality".^[26] It premiered on April 6, 2026, on Tokyo MX and other networks.^{[23][27][28][a]} The opening theme song is "Kaze no Anthem" (風のアンセム; 'Wind's Anthem'), performed by Eve feat. Suis of Yorushika. The ending theme songs, performed by Nakamura Hak, are "Tada Utsukushii Noroi" (ただ美しい呪い; lit. 'Just a Beautiful Curse') (episodes 2, 4, 6–7, 9 and 11–12); "Yoru ni Ukabu" (夜に浮かぶ; lit. 'Floating in the Night') (episodes 3 and 5), and "Hikari" (光り; lit. 'Light').^[28][31] Crunchyroll is streaming the series worldwide outside of Asia,^[32] while Remow licensed it in Southeast Asia.^[33]

Novel

A novel written by Jun Esaka, titled Witch Hat Atelier: Special Stories (小説 とんがり帽子のアトリエ スペシャルストーリーズ, Shōsetsu Tongari Bōshi no Atorie Supesharu Sutōrīzu), was released by Kodansha on November 21, 2025.^[34]

Awards and nominations