Skip to content 
Witch Hat Atelier is a fantasy manga that has a breathtaking art style and unique approach to magic, captivating readers across the globe with its charm and depth.
With an anime adaptation slated for release in 2025, fans of the series have much to look forward to as the story continues to soar in popularity.
Amid this excitement, Animehunch had the privilege of interviewing the manga’s author, Kamome Shirahama, as a part of the Kodansha House event held in October at NYC this year.
In our conversation, Shirahama reflected on the themes woven into Witch Hat Atelier, shared insights about the manga’s future, and discussed her personal growth as an author over the past eight years since the manga began serialization.
Q1. How did it feel to be part of the Kodansha House event? What kind of impression did you have of the fans you met there?
Shirahama: Walking between volumes of manga and into a bookshelf to reveal a world filled entirely with manga was incredibly exciting! The exhibition was absolutely wonderful—the sense of immersion I felt from it was the same one I get when reading a book! The fans who gathered for the talk event were also very passionate, and I really got the sense that they were all deeply and earnestly engaged in the story.
Q2. Did you take part in the exhibits on display at the Kodansha House? Maybe the Attack on Titan photobooth?
Shirahama: Yes, the exhibits were really well-made and fun! Getting to actually become a titan and look down on a city was really exciting. The AKIRA bike was popular whenever I went, so I didn’t get to experience it, but seeing everyone enjoying it so much also brought me joy.
Q3. You have previously mentioned that you love traveling, and it inspires the settings in Witch Hat Atelier. Now that you’re in New York, has anything caught your eye that you’d like to incorporate into your work?
Shirahama: A great variety of people of all different types live in New York, and its buildings are really large in scale, so it makes a great reference for large cities like Ezrest! I also saw a show on Broadway this time, and I think that experience will also find its way into my future work.
Q4. In Witch Hat Atelier, anyone with the right tools and knowledge can use magic, much like how in real life, anyone with the right skills and support can create something impactful—whether good or bad. Was this parallel between magic and real-world creativity something you intentionally explored? If yes, why? Was there any particular message you wanted to convey with this setting?
Shirahama: In many fantasy works, magic, in spite of its convenience, is something that comes from one’s lineage or an innate special ability. Naturally, I wasn’t born with any special abilities, so, if possible, I wanted to read a story that didn’t rely on those tropes.
If I could control fire or water, I think I’d like to use that for cooking or doing laundry instead of battling monsters, but when you really think about it, even gas stoves and water supply systems look like magic, considering how they allow us to effortlessly use fire and water at the touch of a finger. The same goes for being able to fly across the sea to other countries in an airplane and being able to have readers around the world look at the manga you’ve drawn.
We can live lives of convenience in our current time thanks to the “magic” created through the efforts of all kinds of people, and the premise for my story was born from the thought that those types of creative ideas exist within many people.
Q5. This is something the fans (and also us) really want to know!!! How far along is Witch Hat Atelier in its overall plot? Would you say we’re nearing the halfway point? What key themes or points will you explore more going forward?
Shirahama: You could say that the Silver Eve Festival arc marked a turning point in the world of Witch Hat Atelier. After this event, some characters will overcome personal obstacles, others will begin to question the rules, and some will feel anxious about the signs of change in the air.
The overall concept and themes of the story have not strayed from what I originally envisioned, and the story is heading in its intended direction. I hope readers will continue to enjoy the magic Coco and the others will create from now on.
Q7. Witch Hat Atelier has been serialized in Kodansha for over eight years now. During this period, how do you think your approach to creating manga has changed? How have you grown as an artist and as a person during this time?
Shirahama: I feel a stronger sense of responsibility now. When I was just a manga reader, I enjoyed them in a more easygoing manner. But now, having someone else read a book I wrote is like having a one-on-one conversation with a stranger, so I have to be considerate with the actions and words I’m putting out there.
Talking to crowds of readers at events outside of Japan like this and getting the sense that more people are getting the chance to read my work has me keenly aware of the responsibility that comes with communicating a message to people through the actions I depict and the words I write in my stories. I see that as part of my growth as an artist.
Q8. Are there any other manga being published by Kodansha which you are currently following? Are there any favorites? Other than Witch Hat Atelier of course!
Shirahama: I recommend Magus of the Library! It’s an epic fantasy manga that I find appealing for it’s beautiful art and rich setting. It’s the series I most look forward to continuing right now. Medalist is also great! It’s an intense sports manga that features incredibly cool and powerful ice-skating scenes!
Some other manga that I’ve been enjoying are Spacewalking with You, Tengu no Daitokoro (The Tengu’s Kitchen), Nina the Starry Bride, Kishiou no Shokutaku (The Knight King’s Dining Table), Blue Period, and Skip and Loafer.
