Witch Hat Atelier producer clears up production confusion behind the years-in-the-making anime

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New anime Witch Hat Atelier has been years in the making – but not quite as many years as was first reported.

The manga adaptation has reportedly been in the works since 2019, but one of the show's producers has now revealed that work didn't actually start on the series until 2023.

"I’m often asked about the production period, so I can’t really go into details, but here’s a little behind-the-scenes information: The anime adaptation was announced in 2022, but Bug Films wasn’t involved from the beginning," Hiroaki Kojima wrote on Twitter.

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"I officially joined the production in 2023, thanks to a fortunate connection. So, the actual production period was approximately 3 and a half years. Even so, it was the most time-consuming project I’ve ever worked on, and I’m grateful to everyone on the production committee. What I’m trying to say is, I want all the fans to simply enjoy the work."

The anime follows Coco, who's an aspiring witch without any powers. Per the official synopsis, "when a young witch named Qifrey visits her village, Coco uncovers the 'absolute secret,' becomes Qifrey’s apprentice, and begins her studies. This is the story of children who encounter despair, yet reach out toward hope."

Ayumu Watanabe, who has previously worked on titles like Summer Time Rendering and Children of the Sea, directed the show.

Witch Hat Atelier is currently streaming weekly on Crunchyroll. Stay up to date with our Witch Hat Atelier release schedule, or get up to speed with our guide to the other best new anime on the way in 2026.

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Emily GarbuttEntertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related. I help bring you all the latest news, features, and reviews, as well as helming our Big Screen Spotlight column. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.

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