1st ‘Witch Hat Atelier’ trailer introduces a fantastical world of magic and wonder in a Studio Ghibli-style
Michelle Topham 
LA’s Anime Expo 2024 is taking place this week, along with all the anime announcements that type of event usually entails.
One of those announcements was for the upcoming fantasy anime Witch Hat Atelier, which just got a new key visual and its first trailer at the event.
The key visual is slightly disappointing, as it shows nothing but Qifrey’s spell-making equipment.
The Witch Hat Atelier trailer, however, is much more fulfilling as it gives us a look into a fantastical world of magic and wonder, with an art style and way of presenting the anime that is Studio Ghibli-like in almost every detail.
The anime is being directed by Ayumu Watanabe (Summertime Render), with Kairi Unabara (Pokemon Revolutions) as character designer. (No word yet on who is providing the series composition/scripts).
Bug Films (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) is in charge of anime production.
The Witch Hat Atelier manga series
Witch Hat Atelier is based on the manga of the same name by Kamome Shirahama, which is known for its captivating story and utterly gorgeous art style.
It is being published in English by Kodansha USA, who recently published Volume 12 in the series.
The American publisher talks about the fantasy manga’s plot in this manner:
In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic.
Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician.
After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…
Kodansha also publishes the manga’s popular spin-off Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen.
Enjoy the first Witch Hat Atelier trailer below, as that art style and feel of wonder is lovely, and promises something quite special once the anime premieres.
The anime itself is due to premiere some time in 2025, with Crunchyroll streaming it in most of its territories.
We will update you here on Baozi Buns as more information is released. (Update: Witch Hat Atelier has now been postponed until 2026).
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Steven Reynolds 
