The anime adaptation of Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier had an impressive two-part premiere on April 6. Brought to life by Bug Films (the studio behind Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead), this new anime follows Coco, a child fascinated with magic despite lacking the innate ability to wield it. The first two episodes make a strong impression with a fantastical world where nothing is what it seems. A veteran witch named Qifrey inadvertently sets Coco on a journey to become a witch, but her path is laden with dangerous obstacles. Episode 2 ends on a curious cliffhanger when one of Qifrey’s apprentices, Agott, demands that Coco pass a test that every witch must take. The next episode, which will adapt chapters 3 and 4 of Shirahama’s seinen manga, has a crucial life lesson in store for Coco.
[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for Kamome Shirahama’s Witch Hat Atelier manga]
Agott asks Coco to take the first test (called Consent of the Crown) as soon as Qifrey leaves for the Great Hall, the stronghold for the Pointed Hat Witches. Agott argues that every witch is mandated to take this test before becoming an apprentice, and Coco shouldn’t be exempt. She explains that Coco needs to travel to the Dadah Range and climb up the highest peak to retrieve the Diadem Herb without anyone’s aid. A witch is only allowed to take three chosen tools with them, including a guidance orb (a compass) and a vapor bubble (water). Coco requests to borrow Agott’s enchanted shoes as the third item, as they’re etched with sigils that help witches fly. Agott agrees and warns that Coco has only one chance to pass the trial. Failure to do so would mean leaving the atelier for good.
Agott has been somewhat hostile towards Coco so far, but her actions aren’t rooted in malice. From her perspective, Coco is an outsider who wasn’t born a witch and therefore doesn’t deserve entry into the world of magic. This is a rather harsh way to treat another child, but Coco’s inadvertent use of forbidden magic brands her as an unwelcome anomaly among the Pointed Hat witches. Episode 1 detailed the tragic accident that became the catalyst for Coco’s journey, where she accidentally activated a forbidden spell that petrified her mother in ice. Undoing the spell isn’t easy. Even Qifrey is unsure whether a spell of such magnitude can be reversed. That said, he assures Coco that becoming a witch and passing magical trials can potentially lead to a solution, which fuels Coco’s determination to battle against all odds.
When a clueless Coco arrives at Dadah Range for the first trial, she realizes it is a cluster of rounded rocks instead of a traditional mountain range. There’s no way to safely “climb” up to the peak, as the Diadem Herb is floating at the top. The borrowed shoes work for a while to boost Coco in the air, but the area’s humid climate washes off the enchantment on the soles. Helpless and trapped, Coco looks around to find a tiny, caterpillar-like creature (called Brushbuddy) cozying up to her, seemingly attracted to the smell of conjuring ink. Comforted by its presence, Coco realizes she must use her mundane skills to achieve something magical.
This is when Coco remembers Qifrey’s praise when he had witnessed her artistry as a seamstress. “This is some real magic,” Qifrey said, referring to Coco’s steady hands while she expertly cut cloth. Using her dried cloak as a sail on a boat, Coco uses a flat stone and the limited conjuring ink to etch an elemental sigil (wind) on it. Once she miraculously leaps up to the peak like she’s wearing “a live cloak of flight,” Coco weeps, realizing that the artistic skills taught by her mother had ultimately paved the path for magic. “Wait for me, Mom. I’ll be back for you,” Coco pledges, dedicating all her strength to secure the Diadem Herb while she flies through the air.
Coco’s eagerness to become Qifrey’s apprentice doesn’t solely stem from her love for magic. She wants to reverse the forbidden spell on her mother and fix the mistakes she has made. Coco understands that she might have to endure hostility from her peers and push the limits of her ingenuity during trials. Her naive view of the world might not be as sharp and uncompromising as Agott’s or Qifrey’s, but she realizes that a hefty price must be paid for her actions. Forbidden magic is banned for a reason, and so is the knowledge that magic can be accessed by anyone willing to put their mind to it. But with great power comes great responsibility — a sentiment that Qifrey drills into Coco’s mind as soon as he urges her to use magic for good.
Coco shouldn’t have been able to pass the Dadah Range trial on her own. Qifrey knew she wasn’t ready, which is why he didn’t anticipate Agott’s demands in his absence. That said, the urge to protect and save a loved one can be fierce enough to guide a small child through the deadliest of witch trials. Coco’s love for the artistry that her mother taught her is enough to give her the confidence required to think outside the box and innovate spells in her own way. The fear of inadvertently causing harm still haunts Coco, but her desire to save her mother outweighs these anxieties.
New episodes of Witch Hat Atelier drop every Monday on Crunchyroll.
