Have you heard of the hugely popular manga "The Atelier of Witch Hat"? It's a classic fantasy work that's currently garnering a lot of attention. The story is about a witch with a pointy hat, and you'll find yourself drawn into its wonderful world! It's a work that I would highly recommend to fantasy fans. So, in this article, we'll introduce 5 of the charms of "The Atelier of Witch Hat"! What kind of work is it exactly? Let's take a closer look!
Before we introduce its charms! What kind of work is "The Atelier of Witch Hat" exactly?
This popular work has been serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Morning Two since the September 2016 issue. In 2018, it was voted the number one recommended comic in the general category by bookstore employees nationwide in the 13th National Booksellers' Choice Awards. It's a classic fantasy work with a magical theme, and the story revolves around Coco, a girl who dreams of becoming a witch. While there are several works with a magical theme, The Atelier of Witch Hat is a particularly classic fantasy work. Coco yearns for magic, and after a certain incident, she becomes a witch. The story unfolds at a good pace, making it a quick read. There aren't many volumes of the manga available at the moment, so it's not too late to check it out! It's a hotly-anticipated series that has been steadily gaining popularity since its initial serialization.
Top 5 Charms of [The Atelier of Witch Hat] #1 ☆ You'll be drawn into this classic fantasy!
First of all, [The Atelier of Witch Hat] is known for being a classic fantasy story. Fans of works featuring magic will no doubt be thinking, "This is the kind of manga I wanted to read!" While some people say it's "too conventional and boring," there are certainly some good things about it. Perhaps it's precisely because it's so conventional that we're drawn to the pure-hearted protagonist, find ourselves empathizing with her, and feel suspenseful when she's in trouble.
The World is Wonderful
The appeal of "The Atelier of Witch Hat" lies primarily in its world. While it's a manga, it garnered a lot of buzz when it first began serialization, as it's reminiscent of a fairy tale or picture book. This world is evident in the characters' clothing, the buildings, and various detailed drawings. Many people are drawn to the cute yet nostalgic world that brings back childhood memories. The illustrations are also quite captivating.
5 Charms of "The Atelier of Witch Hat" #2 ☆ The Characters Are So Charming!
The second appeal of "The Atelier of Witch Hat" is, without a doubt, its characters! Looking at each character, you can see that they all have their own unique personalities and are truly wonderful. The main character, Coco, is innocent and honest, making you feel cheerful just by looking at her. Coco's master, Kifree, is kind, gentle, and an expert in magic. He's also handsome, making him popular with female fans. Each character is packed with charm. You're sure to find a favorite character while reading!
The Cute Main Character! Koko
This is what the main character, Koko, looks like. Isn't she super cute? She's wearing the "pointed hat" mentioned in the title, and it suits her perfectly. In fact, it's a sign of her wizardry. Koko's personality is extremely honest and innocent. She's also very pure. Originally, Koko wasn't a wizard. However, after a certain incident, she becomes a wizard, and her adventure begins! It's exciting to see how this cute Koko will go on her adventures and grow as a wizard.
Koko's master wizard! Ki-Free
Ki-Free is Coco's master magician. By chance, Coco saw him using magic. After a certain incident, he took Coco as his apprentice and began teaching her magic. He has a gentle personality, is kind to his students, and always has a smile on his face. His fluffy silver hair and monocle look incredibly cool. It's no wonder he's so popular with female fans. Incidentally, his magical skills are also top-notch. He has an atelier in the countryside where he teaches his students magic. Magicians normally teach magic in a large auditorium. However, for some reason, Kifree hates the auditorium, so he spends his time teaching magic in the countryside. Although he's usually very calm, he turns pale when the topic of "Tongari-Hat" comes up. Kifree is a completely different person. Something must have happened in the past, but the details are still unknown. It's going to be interesting to see how things develop!
A Mysterious Character? Kifree-Hat
This character is like an enemy of the aforementioned Kifree. There's still much about him that's mysterious. In fact, this "Kifree-Hat" is the person who once sold Coco a magical picture book and pen. He likely intended for Coco to use forbidden magic. His appearance alone makes it clear that he's a terrifying character. However, not much is actually revealed about him within the story. While there's no doubt he's the mastermind behind "The Atelier of Witch Hat," we're all curious to see how things will unfold. Perhaps we'll even see a battle between Keyfree and Coco and the others!
[The Atelier of Witch Hat] 5 Charms #3 ☆ The Storyline is Exciting!
Don't fantasy stories get you excited just by reading them? "The Atelier of Witch Hat" is no exception, and you'll find yourself excitedly reading along, curious to see how things will unfold. You'll find yourself rooting for Coco and the others. So, what exactly is the story of "The Atelier of Witch Hat"? Here's a brief synopsis!
Koko, a Girl Who Dreams of Magic
Our protagonist, Koko, dreams of becoming a wizard. However, in this world, those who are born without the ability to use magic are considered "ignorant" and are unable to become wizards. However, Koko is a girl who dreams of becoming a wizard herself. Even while helping out at her mother's tailoring shop, she cannot give up on her dream of becoming a wizard.
Meeting Kifree
There, Coco happens to meet a mysterious man who has just arrived at the tailor shop. The man's name is Kifree, a wizard whom Coco has always admired. In this world, it is forbidden to watch someone use magic. However, Coco accidentally witnesses Kifree using magic. This reminds Coco of a picture book she bought at a festival a long time ago. The book contains instructions on how to use magic. Realizing this, Coco takes out the magic book and pen and tries to use it. However, it turns out to be a forbidden spell...
Become a Wizard!
By using forbidden magic, Koko's mother and her entire house were turned to stone! Koko was saved just in time by Keyfree. Originally, magic was something anyone could use if they knew how. However, using magic blindly without fully understanding its meaning can be quite dangerous. Anyone who witnesses the use of magic has their memory erased. Koko's memory would have been erased as well, but Keyfree chose not to erase hers in order to save her mother, who had turned to stone. Instead, he took Koko as his apprentice! Koko finally achieved her dream of becoming a magician. Koko's adventure to save her mother begins!
[The Atelier of Witch Hat] 5 Charms #4 ☆ The Beautiful Artwork Will Make You Fall in Love
As you've probably noticed by looking at this far, "The Atelier of Witch Hat" has incredibly beautiful illustrations. This is one of its greatest charms. Even the decorations on the buildings and clothing, the subtle changes in the characters' expressions, and even their movements are all meticulously drawn. It's strange how, despite the careful attention to detail, the work somehow doesn't look cluttered. That's no surprise, as the artist behind this work, Kamome Shirahama, graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts' Department of Design. He's a true manga artist. His picture-book-like, authentic pen strokes are a testament to his attention to detail in the characters' expressions and movements.
The panels are connected!
Let's take a closer look at this page. Some of you may have seen it before, but this panel actually became quite a hot topic on Twitter. Notice the ladders connected? It really does look like a ladder is connecting each frame, descending downwards. This technique is rare in manga. This kind of detail is truly beautiful, and it makes you want to pore over each and every frame. Incidentally, there was even an original art exhibition for "The Atelier of Witch Hat." The beauty of the illustrations is captivating.
Pay attention to the architecture that appears in the work
All the buildings and other structures that appear are so cute. This is the atelier of "Keefree," Coco's master. Isn't it so beautiful? The worldview, including the texture of the bricks, is truly beautiful, and everything feels like a fairy tale picture book. There's no end to the charm of the artwork.
[The Atelier of Witch Hat] 5 Charms #5 ☆ Reading Will Make You Feel Warm
This may be the greatest appeal of "The Atelier of Witch Hat." Reading this work truly warms the heart. You can't help but root for Koko, who dreams of magic and becomes a witch, and all the magic that appears is meant to bring happiness to people. So, even though there's a mastermind behind the scenes, there aren't any intense battles or meanness. That said, it's not a slice-of-life story either. Coco and the other characters cooperate to overcome various challenges. Their actions are heartwarming, and you'll find yourself rooting for them!
Pay attention to Coco's pure eyes
Coco absolutely loves magic. Even when she thought she couldn't become a wizard, she refused to give up, even playing witchcraft at the tailor's shop. It's amazing that she was able to fulfill her dream of becoming a witch and using magic. When Coco talks about magic, her eyes sparkle and she's so adorable. It's clear that she truly loves and aspires to magic. She also has a childlike side, which is really adorable.
All the apprentices are adorable, too!
All the characters in "The Atelier of Witch Hat" are charming. Keyfree's apprentices are all adorable, too. There are other apprentices besides Coco, and they're all unique and charming. When they're all together, they look like koropokkuru or fairies.
5 Charms of "The Atelier of Witch Hat"!
These are the top 5 charms of "The Atelier of Witch Hat"! I've examined its appeal from various angles, but I hope this was helpful. As a classic fantasy, this manga is highly recommended for fans of works featuring magic. The illustrations are incredibly detailed, drawing you right into the world. Don't you also find the characters, like "Coco" and "Kifree," incredibly charming? You can't help but root for the innocent Coco! If you're interested, be sure to check out the manga. Thank you for reading this far.
