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Episode 5 – Witch Hat Atelier

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It’s probably worth taking a step back and remembering that all of Qifrey’s apprentices are children. This episode sees them placed in a situation filled with impossible dangers, with no one to turn to for help but each other, which is an extreme way to force Agott to stop being so petty and horrible to Coco. She still is, to a degree – but she’s also not just being a bully when she says that she can’t trust Coco with a spell, because it’s true that Coco hasn’t mastered them yet. She also shows she’s at least a little self-aware, since she mentions Coco being upset by what she said earlier. This implies that she knows she was wrong; she just doesn’t care or isn’t mature enough to apologize.

Tetia, on the other hand, is. She fully and unabashedly asks Coco to forgive her for her cruel words and overreaction. It’s a striking scene compared with any scene between Agott and Coco, and, by positioning Tetia as Agott’s foil, it ought to make us wonder what the difference between the two girls is. Yes, part of it is simply different personalities, but there’s more going on here that’s backed up by Coco’s observation that all three of her fellow apprentices have a trick for drawing perfect circles. They all use the same one, which either indicates that Qifrey taught them or that this is such common knowledge among witches that they picked it up by observing the adults around them. It reinforces Coco’s position as an outsider and also reminds us how children learn: by observing grown-ups.

That should make us think very hard about other differences between Tetia and Agott. Where Agott’s main goal seems to be perfection, Tetia’s is more a desire to use magic to make people happy. Again, this could come down to personality, but it could also speak to how they were raised. Tetia’s family perhaps encouraged joy and whimsy, whereas Agott’s enforced perfection in all things. Even if that’s not the actual situation, it’s clear that Tetia has learned some humility and needs to apologize when she’s wrong. That Agott didn’t paints her less as a deranged sociopath and more as someone who was failed by the adults in her life. While there are always exceptions, usually when a child acts out, it’s because of specific problems rather than being a so-called bad seed.

Speaking of adult influence, Coco very clearly has two dueling grown-ups invested in her education – and after the look Qifrey gave poor old Nolnoa at the end, I’m less inclined to call one “good.” If you listen to the way the mysterious Brimmed Cap speaks, it sounds very much like they consider themselves Coco’s master in much the same way Qifrey is. They’re essentially a cuckoo, putting their egg in Qifrey’s nest, only they keep checking back in to carefully raise their chick the way they want. I doubt if they intended for Agott, Richeh, and Tetia to get caught up in their labyrinth alongside Coco, but I also suspect they’d be quite pleased to have the chance to subtly influence even more witch children. Watching the girls make Tetia’s magic bed spell a reality demonstrates the sort of creativity that the Brimmed Caps seem to value. It’s not a forbidden spell per se, but it’s also not a conventional one, and that may be a step in the right direction as far as the “bad” witches are concerned. It’s the sort of action that makes it a bit difficult to decide which side is the good one, especially since Qifrey’s emphatic wish that Nolnoa not tell the Knights Moralis (whose name makes it easy to guess they’re some sort of morality police like those that existed in the 1920s U.S. and Canada) suggests that he’s not keen on them learning what happened. Of course, his determined glare and Nolnoa’s reaction to it almost suggest forbidden magic, although I don’t think there’s an actual spell involved. It still feels awfully close, though.

What gift did the Brimmed Cap give their “student?” Can BUG FILMS keep up the extraordinary quality of animation they’ve maintained for five episodes so far? What is Qifrey’s deal? It’s a sign of how good this story is that even as we get more questions than answers, the need to keep watching only grows stronger.

Rating:





Witch Hat Atelier is currently streaming on
Crunchyroll.


The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of Anime News Network, its employees, owners, or sponsors.

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Manga Mavericks Books Hosts Horon of The Closed Country Creator Sen at Anime NYC 2026 – News

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Manga Mavericks Books announced on Monday that it will host Horon of the Closed Country manga creator Sen at the Anime NYC 2026 event. The company will host autograph sessions for the author, along with a panel on August 21 at 3:30 p.m. EDT.

Announcement image of Sen at Anime NYC 2026
Image courtesy of Anime NYC

Manga Mavericks publishes Horon of the Closed Country in English, and it describes the story:

What the Forest Deity takes will never return.

A forest deity hides and protects an ancient land from foreign enemies, but in order to do so, sacrifices must be made. In recent times, the forest deity has been encroaching more on humankind, with only people with special powers, diviners, able to drive them back. One child has the power of these diviners, but their memory has been stolen from them, leaving only the aforementioned warning. An unlikely trio, each of whom has lost something dear to them, find themselves journeying to unravel the secrets of the forest deity. Little do they know that what they have lost, the frequent appearance of the deity, and the need for sacrifices are all connected…

The completed indie manga series has four volumes. Manga Mavericks is releasing the series at A5 (5.83″ x 8.27″) size. The first volume is available digitally  and will get a print release in winter 2026.

Anime NYC runs from August 20-23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Source: Press release


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Live-Action Series How Do We Relationship? Reveals 7 More Cast Members – News

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The staff for the live-action series adaptation of Tamifull‘s How Do We Relationship? (Tsukiatte Agete mo Ii ka na) manga unveiled the main visual and seven more cast members on Tuesday. 

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Image via How Do We Relationship? live-action series’ X/Twitter account
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Image via How Do We Relationship? live-action series’ X/Twitter account

The newly announced cast members are (from top left to bottom right in image above):

  • Ayaka Konno as Yuria Washio, a new hire at the tavern where Saeko works
  • Eiku Yamashita (boy band ONE N’ ONLY member) as Mikkun, drummer in a band with Saeko and Miwa
  • Kasumi Yamaya as Shiho Kumagai, Miwa’s senior in high school and first love
  • Reina Kurosaki as Rika-chan, member of the light music circle
  • Kū Ijima as Tsuruta, guitarist in a band with Saeko and Miwa
  • Yo Aoi as Rucha, vocalist in a band with Saeko and Miwa
  • Ryō Hashimoto (from School Zone comedy duo) as Kamedo, Saeko’s senior at the tavern
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Image via How Do We Relationship? live-action series’ X/Twitter account

The series will premiere on MBS on September 10. 

The series stars Riho Sayashi as Saeko Sawatari (left in image right), and Sakurako Konishi as Miwa Inuzuka.

Kana Yamada is directing episodes 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8 of the series, while Sunhye Hong is directing episodes 4, 5, and 7. Miki Matsugasako is penning the scripts. Tomohide Harada is composing the music. Momoko Nishiyama is credited as “intimacy coordinator.” Yuri Igarashi is credited for LGBTQ supervision.

Viz Media licensed the series, and it describes the story:

Shy Miwa has always dreamed of finding love, but living in small-town Japan made finding the right match difficult—especially since she likes girls! Even going away to college didn’t seem to help, until one day her outgoing classmate Saeko suggests they might as well start dating each other since it’s not like either of them has other options.
 
At first it seems like things won’t work out as their personalities clash and misunderstandings abound. But when their casual friendship starts to become something more, Miwa begins to wonder—can a pragmatic proposal lead to true love?

The manga debuted in Shogakukan‘s Ura Sunday and Manga ONE in August 2018, and ended in March 2025. Shogakukan published the manga’s 14th and final compiled book volume in April 2025. Viz Media published the 14th volume on April 14.

Sources: How Do We Relationship? live-action series’ website and X/Twitter accountComic Natalie


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HIDIVE to Stream ‘Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume’ Anime With World Premiere Screening at Anime NYC on August 21 – News

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Anime premieres in October



HIDIVE announced on Tuesday that it will stream Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume, the original television anime based on the Tetsudō Musume (Railway Girls) characters, for the fall 2027 season in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The anime’s world premiere will screen at this year’s Anime NYC event on August 21 at 12:15 p.m. EDT. The company streamed an English-subtitled trailer:


Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume 2nd key visual
Image via Tetsuryō! meet with Tetsudō Musume anime’s X/Twitter account

The anime will premiere in October.

The anime will star:

The original anime’s story centers on four train-loving college students who are members of the Tetsudō Ryokō Dōkō-kai (“Tetsuryo” in short, or literally Railway Travel Club). They journey throughout the world where hundreds of Tetsudō Musume work.

TOMYTEC is credited for the original work in collaboration with I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level novel writer Kisetsu MoritaMisuzu Hoshino (Laid-Back Camp episode director, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!The Maid I Hired Recently Is Mysterious director) is directing the anime at East Fish StudioAya Satsuki (Solo Camping for Two“Ippon” Again!Too Cute Crisis) is overseeing and writing the series scripts, and Hisanori Hashimoto (Laid-Back Camp season 3) is designing the characters.

Tetsuryo Club, comprised of the main voice actors – May Tachibana (Misaki), Mao Shōji (Kodama), Haruna Fukushima (Ushio), and Hika Tsukishiro (Usa) – perform the ending theme song “Watashi Miraisen” (My Future Line).

The Tetsudō Musume characters “work” in railway companies and railway-related businesses all over Japan, wearing real uniforms and work clothes. As of May 2025, there are 114 Tetsudō Musume all over Japan. Tetsudō Musume launched in 2005, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025.

Source: Press release


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