Among this year’s top fantasy anime releases, Witch Hat Atelier continues to attract global interest. While we await the upcoming second season, the production team has been traveling to international events to connect with enthusiasts. During their promotional tour, they stopped at Germany’s AnimagiC, joining panels and signing sessions for European fans.
At the event, we interviewed director Ayumu Watanabe, voice actress Rena Motomura (who voices Coco), and producer Hirotsugu Ogo to discuss the development of Witch Hat Atelier’s first season and reflect on the finale’s reception.
This interview has been modestly edited for clarity and was conducted with the help of an interpreter.
Q: If you could choose only one type of magic shown in the first season to use, which one would be your pick?
Ogo-san: I’d pick the flying shoes, as they fulfill the timeless dream of being able to soar through the air.
Motomura-san: I’d love to attempt the water spell that conjures a dragon like Qifrey’s; it’s intricate but would be spectacular.
Watanabe-san: I’d go with the repetition spell, which would let me extend deadlines at will [laughs].
Q: Watanabe-san, you mentioned before that you felt overwhelmed when you received the project. How do you feel after the first season finale and the audience’s reaction?
Watanabe-san: Honestly, I still feel far from relaxed, as the finale has added even more pressure [laughs]. Yet I’m genuinely enthusiastic about moving the project forward.
Q: Why do you think the Witch Hat Atelier story is so compelling and resonates so deeply with people?
Ogo-san: The narrative itself is inherently gripping. It’s a warm fantasy that anyone can relate to, and the animated world feels especially meaningful for both kids and adults who recall similar moments from their youth.
Q: Overall, the story is full of light. However, particularly at the end of the season, we can see glimpses of darkness. How did you decide to balance this in the first season?
Watanabe-san: Darkness arises from light. In many ways, magic parallels technology: both offer benefits and convenience but also hidden dangers. The ideal is to keep them in balance. As the series progresses, more shadows will appear, so we focused on showcasing optimism in this first season.
Q: The world of Witch Hat Atelier follows strict rules and mechanics regarding magic. Did that also affect the way you adapted it into the anime?
Watanabe-san: To give fantastical elements a credible feel, we need clear guidelines and detailed execution. Without defined limits, the presentation can appear implausible.
Q: Director Watanabe-san mentioned in our previous interview that Coco’s voice actress “should be a voice that has infinite possibilities and that hasn’t really been dyed by any type of ideology.” After watching the first season, we can confirm that you conveyed the feeling of a growing witch discovering a new world. Motomura-san, how did you prepare for the role?
Motomura-san: I didn’t approach Coco with a preset image; I let her emotions flow naturally, which mirrors how Coco herself acts without constraints. Trusting the team’s choice, I aimed to bring the character to life as authentically as possible.
Our gratitude goes to Watanabe-san, Ogo-san, and Motomura-san for sharing their time, as well as to the AnimagiC and Crunchyroll teams for making this interview happen. We look forward to reconnecting with them at upcoming events.
Also check out other anime at Latest Anime & manga Info.
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