Kodansha's hit fantasy manga finally got its anime trailer, it also got confirmation that the series would be released in 2025.

While it's still unknown the exact date this anime will hit Crunchyroll, new and old fans eagerly await as Witch Hat Atelier is destined to be one of Crunchyroll's best anime in years. About a young girl who longs to practice magic, Coco gets her wish at a horrific cost. While she gets to be a witch and embraces the wonders of magic, she also discovers the dark secrets and dangers that come with being a witch. Before its anime release, make sure to pick up one of the best fantasy manga of all time.

Crunchyroll's Next Anime Hit Adapts One Of The Best Fantasy Manga Of The Past Two Decades

Witch Hat Atelier Is An Award-Winning Manga For Good Reason

Witch Hat Atelier released its first volume in America back in 2017, and from then on, it's taken the fantasy world by storm with a cast of endearing and earnest characters, led by Coco, a girl not born a witch but determined to be one despite the rules. This is one of the most thoughtful and creative manga currently coming out, from its fantastical world-building to a magic system that is near perfection, as well as a love letter to the creativity that permeates the entire series. However, while this is a series full of wonder and whimsy, there is a dark underbelly to it, leaving readers intrigued and excited.

Also at the heart of Witch Hat Atelier are the young witches , a unique take on magical girls that can't be missed. Each one has their own unique design and personality, as well as individual goals. They're full of awe and innocence, allowing readers to experience magic for the first time with them. However, that means when they realize the world of magic is not always right, readers feel equally horrified and betrayed. Witch Hat Atelier skirts a difficult line successfully by maintaining the magic and wonder of this fantasy world while raising difficult questions and pointing out injustices with the systems in place.

Will Witch Hat Atelier Work As An Anime?

Witch Hat Atelier Uses The Manga Format For Its Benefit

On top of all the praise for the story -- the world building, the magic system, the cast of characters, the mystery, and more -- one cannot deny that Witch Hat Atelier is one of the most beautiful manga currently in publication. For anyone who is a fan of cottage core fashion, the Art Nouveau movement, or classical fairy tales, Witch Hat Atelier captures the essence of all that and then some. There is also an ethereal quality to Witch Hat Atelier, and that carries over to the characters.

For the adult witches, there is an air of mystery and elegance to many of them, which makes perfect sense. As readers spend more time in this magical world, they realize not everything is as it seems. Meanwhile, the kids are often drawn with these awe-inspired faces, capturing the innocence of childhood before reality comes sinking. That being said, even for the witches who have been doing this for decades, there are still moments where readers see that wonder in their eyes again, reminding them that magic should be a gift and used for good.

Witch Hat Atelier is a visual masterpiece that should be read before the anime hits Crunchyroll and becomes one of its best anime hopefully. This is not to say the anime will not deliver, as the first trailer for the series looks phenomenal, capturing the awe-inspiring wonder of Witch Hat Atelier in under a couple of minutes. However, Witch Hat Atelier uses the manga format in a unique way, playing with the ing and negative space at times to show how this magical world can not be confined to what is expected of it. Also, by doing this, it compliments the magic system, since the magic in the manga is all about creativity and pushing boundaries with writing and art.

Of course, animation is also about pushing those boundaries, but since it is a different medium, how it approaches these elements of the manga will have to differ. If anything, this stays true to the heart of Witch Hat Atelier, as the animators will need to rework what's come before to make something new, innovative, and magical. Time will tell how Witch Hat Atelier will look as an anime, but until then, do yourself a favor and pick up Witch Hat Atelier Volume 1 today.