Most years, there is an anime hit that comes out of nowhere (or perhaps expectedly so) and takes the internet and anime community by storm. Everyone is cosplaying its characters, reading the manga, and discussing each week’s episode. Looking ahead to 2025, if there is any new anime with the potential to be a massive hit, it has to be Witch Hat Atelier.
The premise of this particular series is quite familiar and straightforward. Coco is a girl that grows up wanting nothing more than to be a witch. Magic is a huge part of her world’s society and she wants to be one of the exclusive witches able to wield it. However, if you are not born inherently with magic, you aren’t able to become a witch. Sadly, that is the case for Coco.
That is, until a certain witch arrives in her small town. As you might expect, things go haywire, revelations are discovered, and Coco finds her life turned upside down. In the process, she is able to embark on a journey that presents her with the possible chance to make her dreams come true and become a witch.
I won’t dive too much deeper into the story or plot as to avoid spoilers. But just know that not everything in the world and story is as it seems. And this is all within the first few chapters of the first volume that I read recently in preparation for the upcoming 2025 anime adaptation. I have no doubt now this is going to be one of the biggest new anime of 2025.
For one, Witch Hat Atelier already has the classic zero to hero vibes going on. This is a prevalent story mechanic we see in a lot of popular anime series like Naruto, My Hero Academia, and more. But it goes beyond this, as the series continues to surprise with every single chapter.
There is such rich lore and history within the world. Fortunately, the manga creator Kamome Shirahama recognizes this and gives the proper attention and detail this series deserves. Better yet, the characters are also solid favorites of mine instantly. Coco herself is the classic wide-eyed hero with brilliant hopes and dreams. She is simultaneously funny and someone you can cheer for. But, at the same time, she is far smarter than other similar anime protagonists.
Then there is her teacher in Qifrey. This guy not only looks like Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen, but he kind of acts like him a bit, too. He is a slightly off-kilter and goofy guy with a likable personality. I already see plenty of cosplay potential for this series. Not to mention, I imagine Qifrey himself will have some diehard fans in the future. But it doesn’t stop with them, as the supporting cast is also pretty great from the start.
Above all else, though, the most significant potential of the Witch Hat Atelier anime is the visuals. This manga series has some of the best art I have seen in a long time. Shirahama has a high level of detail that is so rarely seen in rushed manga. Every incantation, spell, and location is rife with intricate features. It makes the world feel so alive even with the black and white pages.
If the anime studio Bug Films is able to even remotely come close to adapting this unique art style well, the Witch Hat Atelier anime will be one of the best-looking of 2025. Its previous work, Zom100, looked spectacular with its pop of colors. I imagine it should be a similar situation here. If done right, Witch Hat Atelier is the anime to watch in 2025. Prepare to see tons of cosplays, reaction videos, merch, and trending posts about it in the very near future.
The Witch Hat Atelier anime series will release sometime in 2025. You can read the manga right now via Kodansha.
Published: Dec 29, 2024 06:00 pm