Witch Hat Atelier

Witch Hat Atelier (Japanese: とんがり帽子のアトリエ, Hepburn: Tongari Bōshi no Atorie) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kamome Shirahama. It has been serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Morning Two magazine since July 2016.

Witch Hat Atelier
Volume 1 tankōbon cover
とんがり帽子のアトリエ
(Tongari Bōshi no Atorie)
GenreFantasy[1]
Manga
Written byKamome Shirahama
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineMonthly Morning Two
DemographicSeinen
Original runJuly 22, 2016 – present
Volumes8
Manga
Witch Hat Kitchen
Written byHiromi Satō
Published byKodansha
MagazineMonthly Morning Two
DemographicSeinen
Original runNovember 22, 2019 – present
Volumes2

Plot

Coco is a kind and daydreaming daughter of a dressmaker who aspires to become a witch; however because only innate magical users can practice and use magic, she has to give up on her dream. One day she meets a Wizard named Qifrey and after she witnesses how he uses magic (by drawing magical runes and using magical ink), Coco accidentally casts a spell that turns her mother to stone.

As Coco does not know which magic spell she cast and Qifrey is tracking the sinister coven that could be behind the incident, he takes Coco as his apprentice in order to undo the spell and allow her to fulfill her dream. As it is gradually revealed, the coven in question - the Brimhats - have taken an extraordinary interest in Coco, hoping that she will help them revive the free use of magic, which was outlawed because of the atrocities committed with it in past times, with some of their repercussions still enduring in Coco's world. Because rune magic can be effectively made by everyone, the Assembly carefully watches over any abuse of it, even going as so far as to erase the memories of any uninitiated (called "Unknowing Ones") when they discover this secret. Thus, as Coco immerses herself into this new, wondrous world, a sinister plot begins to thicken around her.

Characters

Qifrey's Atelier
Coco (ココ, Koko)
A bright, optimistic young half-orphan and dressmaker's daughter who dreams of becoming a witch, and sees her wish fulfilled at the horrid cost of her mother getting turned to stone. Subsequently, she is taken in by Qifrey and, instead of having her memory erased, is allowed to learn the ways of rune magic, which gains her a dubious reputation in the magic community. While initially clumsy and naive, she is very enthusiastic about learning all she can about magic, and with her background as an Unknowing One, she is able to conceive highly creative ways of using her new-found knowledge.
Qifrey (キーフリー, Kīfurī)
A reclusive witch and magic teacher specializing in water magic. His school is a haven for children who have magical talent but are considered outcasts because they did not - or refused to - fit into the rigid structures of the old established schools. While it is partly out of kindness that he takes Coco in, he has also taken note of the Brimhat's designs on her. In fact, he holds a very personal grudge against the Brimhats ever since his childhood, where they used him in a fell ritual that took away his right eye (which he now keeps covered by his hair) and the memory of his former life. As a result of their attempts to prevent him from tracking his tormentors, he distanced himself from the Assembly, returning only for necessities. In his pursuit for vengeance, Qifrey is ruthless enough to employ forbidden mind control magic to prevent any hindrance.
Agott (アガット, Agatto)
A black-haired girl from the renowned Arclom family, one of the houses who established the vow to keep the magic arts a secret to the general populace. Agott was cast out during her test for apprenticeship when malicious rumors surfaced that the magic she was to present at her trial was someone else's. Upon becoming Qifrey's student, she became a bitter loner, obsessed with perfecting her magic skills under her own power, and distanced herself from the other students. Still, her precision in drawing rune circles makes her very popular with her schoolmates, who often approach her for help or advice.
Upon first meeting Coco, Agott initially treats her with scorn, even sending her off to a demanding test even though Coco had no practical experience with magic yet. However, owing to Coco's sincerity and imagination in devising new ways of employing magic, Agott gradually comes out of her shell and begins regarding Coco as a dear friend and equal, even though she is still reluctant to openly confess her feelings.
Tetia (テティア)
A bright, bubbly and constantly upbeat girl with curly hair. Her greatest desire is to create make people happy with her magic.
Richeh (リチェ, Riche)
A gloomy, distant-looking young girl with a stubborn personality who is skilled in crystal magic and specialized in drawing very small rune circles. She became withdrawn when her beloved older brother Riliphin was the only person to appreciate her magic, and since refused to learn any new magic or submit to authority. Under Coco's encouragement and a magical test where she and her friends were imperiled by the Brimhats, she decided to move on and learn more magic to help her friends.
Olruggio (オルーギオ, Orūgio)
A blackhaired witch living as a partner and supervisor for the Assembly (a "Watchful Eye") at Qifrey's atelier. Despite his gruff demeanor, he is actually a caring soul, and the magical items he creates are commonly meant to increase the comfort of their users. He specializes in magic creating fire, light and heat.
The Brushbug (フデムシ, Fudemushi)
A fluffy caterpillar-like creature who attaches itself to Coco during her test for apprenticeship (mainly due to his species' love for the smell of magical inks) and henceforth resides at Qifrey's atelier as a pet. It is frequently hinted that he has an intelligence and persona as complex as a human's.

Brimhats
Iguin (イグイーン, Iguīn)
A high-ranking member - and possibly the leader - of the Brimhats, who characteristically wears a cone hat with a face mask shaped like an eye. Iguin is the one who gave Coco the spellbook which ultimately became responsible for turning her mother into stone, and it is hinted that he sees a potential in her which would allow the reintroduction of magic into everyday life.
Sasran (ササラン, Sasaran)
A Brimhat who experimented with transformation magic which failed, giving him a feline appearance. In order to hide this, and to intimidate his victims, he has taken to remote-control an empty cloak and hat to impersonate his presence, leading to his nickname "Empty Cloak Witch".

The Witches' Assembly

The Witches' Assembly is the institution in Coco's world which governs the use of magic, its spreading (by regulating the enlistment and advancement of apprentices) and the maintenance of its secrecy. The seat of the Assembly is located in an underwater city called the Great Hall, which can only be reached by a certain stairwell descending into the depths of the earth, as well as special magic.

Alaira (アライラ, Araira)
A dark-skinned senior witch and one of Qifrey's best friends, even after he left the Assembly to strike out on his own.
Beldaruit (ベルダルート, Berudarūto)
Known by the title "Sage of Instruction", Beldaruit is a high mage and member of the Three Sages, the Assembly's ruling council. He is disabled, forcing him to rely on a walking chair for locomotion, and likes to cloak his presence with illusions. His playful and seemingly scatter-brained personality hide a sharp intellect. He was once Qifrey's teacher and thus knows about his faults, and has offered to teach Coco to keep her out of her tutor's plotting against the Brimhats.
Sinosia
A friendly and caring witch physician residing in the Great Hall. Because any magic directly applied to a living body - including healing magic - is considered forbidden lore, she is limited to using conventional healing methods to treat her patients.
Couccoureaux
A disparaging, irresponsible sorcerer and Euini's former mentor.
Riliphin (リリフィン, Ririfin)
Richeh's older brother.

The Magic Security Council

Also known as the Knights Moralis, the Security Council is a subsidiary agency to the Assembly - basically, its law enforcement branch. Its members are assigned to track any abuse of magic and hunt down perpetrators and victims for memory erasure.

Luluci (ルルシィ, Rurushi~i)
A leading member of the Knights Moralis, who is quietly stern but - contrary to some of her colleagues - moderate-minded.
Easthies (イースヒース, Īsuhīsu)
A stern, by-the-book field leader of the Security Council.
Utowin (ウトウィン, Utou~in)
A brash, easy-going member of the Knights Moralis.
Garuga (ガルガ, Garuga)
A member of the Knights Moralis.
Ekoh (エコー, Ekō) and Etlan (エトラン, Etoran)
Twin juvenile Knight apprentices who have yet to take their profession seriously.

Others
Nolnoa (ノルノア, Norunoa)
An eldery maker of magical stationery (pens and inks) residing in the town of Karoon.
Tartah (タータ, Tāta)
Nolnoa's young assistant in the shop. He suffers from argentosis, a rare sight condition which makes him effectively colorblind and thus initially unable to use magic because certain effects rely on inks differentiated by their color. He becomes a dear friend to Coco, who helps him by teaching him magic with which to circumvent his disability.
Euini (ユイニィ, Yuini)
A nervous young witch apprentice, and originally Couccoureaux's student. During an advancement test in which some of Qifrey's students were also participating, he is kidnapped by the Brimhats, who etch a magical sigil into his skin, permanently turning him into a scaled wolf. However, with the help of Coco, Agott and Richeh, he receives a talisman which reverses the transformation while worn. Because his tattoo makes him eligible for mind erasure by the Security Council - despite his victimization - he has gone underground with Alaira, who has become his new tutor. He has also formed a bond with Richeh, which has become her primary motivation to expand her studies in order to help him.
Coustas
A young minstrel who had his legs permanently crippled in an accident that Coco and Agott rescued him from. He has come to befriend Tartah, and wishes to learn all he can about healing herbs from him in order to restore his legs.
Dagda
A wandering minstrel and Coustas' foster father.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Kamome Shirahama, Witch Hat Atelier started in Kodansha's Monthly Morning Two on July 22, 2016.[2] Kodansha has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on January 23, 2017.[3] As of December 23, 2020, eight volumes have been published.[4]

In North America, Kodansha USA announced the acquisition of the series in July 2018.[5] The first volume was published on April 9, 2019.[6]

A spin-off series titled Witch Hat Kitchen (とんがり帽子のキッチン, Tongari Bōshi no Kitchin), written and illustrated by Hiromi Satō, began in Monthly Morning Two on November 22, 2019.[7][8] The first tankōbon volume was published on May 22, 2020.[9] As of December 23, 2020, two volumes have been released.[10]

Volume list
No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 January 23, 2017[3]978-4-06-388690-0April 9, 2019[6]978-1-63236-770-9
2 August 23, 2017[11][12]978-4-06-510138-4
978-4-06-510203-9 (LE)		June 25, 2019[13]978-1-63236-804-1
3 February 23, 2018[14][15]978-4-06-510930-4
978-4-06-510894-9 (LE)		August 27, 2019[16]978-1-63236-805-8
4 September 21, 2018[17][18]978-4-06-512681-3
978-4-06-511766-8 (LE)		November 12, 2019[19]978-1-63236-860-7
5 May 23, 2019[20][21]978-4-06-515597-4
978-4-06-515598-1 (LE)		March 17, 2020[22]978-1-63236-929-1
6 November 21, 2019[23][24]978-4-06-517778-5
978-4-06-517909-3 (LE)		September 15, 2020[25]978-1-64651-010-8
7 May 22, 2020[26][27]978-4-06-519266-5
978-4-06-520266-1 (LE)		February 2, 2021[28]978-1-64651-078-8
8 December 23, 2020[4][29]978-4-06-521625-5
978-4-06-521626-2 (LE)		——

Reception

As of July 2018, the first three volumes of the manga had over 700,000 copies in circulation.[30] As of September 2018, the first four volumes had over 1 million copies in circulation.[31]

The series ranked 6th on Kono Manga ga Sugoi!'s top 20 manga for male readers 2018.[32] The manga was nominated for the 11th Manga Taishō awards in 2018.[33] The manga was nominated for the 42nd and 44th Kodansha Manga Award in the General category in 2018 and 2020 respectively.[34][35]

It was picked as a nominee for "Best Youth Comic" at the 46th Angoulême International Comics Festival held in 2019.[36] In 2020, it was one of manga titles that ranked on the "Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens" by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) of the American Library Association.[37] Along with Taiyō Matsumoto's Cats of the Louvre, the series won the 2020 Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material in the Asia category for Kodansha USA's English release.[38] In 2020, Witch Hat Atelier won the Harvey Awards for the Best Manga category.[39][40][41]

Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network ranked the first two volumes as a "A-". Silverman praised the series for its world, story, characters and artwork, and concluded: "this is one tale you don't want to miss".[42] Writing for Barnes & Noble, Kelly Chiu listed the series on her list of "The Perfect Manga Matches for 10 Studio Ghibli Movies", and recommended the series to fans of Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away.[43]

References
  1. "Witch Hat Atelier - The Spring 2019 Manga Guide". Anime News Network. May 29, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  2. TAGROの新作は江戸に生きる女武芸者の婿取り、白浜鴎もモーツーで新連載. Natalie (in Japanese). July 22, 2016. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  3. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  4. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（８） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  5. Sherman, Jennifer; Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 7, 2018). "Kodansha USA Adds The Seven Deadly Sins: Seven Days, Love in Focus, Witch Hat Atelier Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  6. "Witch Hat Atelier 1". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  7. Sherman, Jennifer (October 21, 2019). "Witch Hat Atelier Gets Gourmet Spinoff Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  8. 魔法を使って夜食を楽しむ「とんがり帽子」スピンオフ始動、「ALL OUT!!」は完結. Natalie (in Japanese). November 22, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  9. とんがり帽子のキッチン（１） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
  10. とんがり帽子のキッチン（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  11. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（２） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  12. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（２）特装版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  13. "Witch Hat Atelier 2". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  14. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（３） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  15. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（３）限定版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  16. "Witch Hat Atelier 3". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  17. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（４） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  18. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（４）限定版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  19. "Witch Hat Atelier 4". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  20. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（５） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  21. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（５）限定版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  22. "Witch Hat Atelier 5". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  23. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（６） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  24. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（６）限定版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  25. "Witch Hat Atelier 6". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  26. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（７） (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  27. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（７）限定版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  28. "Witch Hat Atelier 7". Penguin Random House. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  29. とんがり帽子のアトリエ（８）限定版 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  30. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 1, 2018). "Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series (July–August)". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  31. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (September 29, 2018). "Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series (September) - Updated". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  32. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 8, 2017). "Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Reveals 2018's Series Ranking for Male Readers". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  33. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 22, 2018). "11th Manga Taisho Awards Nominates 12 Titles". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  34. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 5, 2018). "42nd Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  35. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 2, 2020). "44th Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  36. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 3, 2019). "7 Manga Nominated for Angoulême's Top Prize". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  37. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (January 4, 2020). "Witch Hat Atelier Manga Ranks in YALSA's Top 10 Graphic Novels for Teens". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
  38. Hodgkins, Crystalyn (July 24, 2020). "Cats of the Louvre, Witch Hat Atelier, Way of the Househusband Win Eisner Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  39. Mateo, Alex (August 31, 2020). "Harvey Awards Nominates The Poe Clan, The Way of the Houseband, Witch Hat Atelier for Best Manga". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  40. McMillan, Graeme (October 5, 2020). "2020 Harvey Award Winners Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  41. Mateo, Alex (October 5, 2020). "Witch Hat Atelier Wins Best Manga at Harvey Awards". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  42. Silverman, Rebecca (June 26, 2020). "Witch Hat Atelier GN 1 & 2 - Review". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  43. Chiu, Kelly (August 24, 2018). "The Perfect Manga Matches for 10 Studio Ghibli Movies". Barnes & Noble. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
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