Crunchyroll's Biggest Fantasy Anime Of 2026 Officially Reveals Its Dark Depths

2 weeks ago 27

There haven't been many series quite as anticipated as Witch Hat Atelier. It's been lauded as one of the "Big Three" of fantasy anime, next to Frieren: Beyond Journey's End and Delicious in Dungeon, and after just a few episodes, it's easy to see why.

Witch Hat Atelier is magical to its core. The visuals are stunning, the characters are captivating, and the magic system that the world is based on feels like something we've never seen before. Beneath its stunning surface, however, is a much darker side that, ironically, makes the series shine even brighter.

There's an incredibly dark undertone to Witch Hat Atelier that the series itself isn't exactly hiding. After the last couple of episodes, this ugly underside its rearing its head unapologetically, and the series has never been more intriguing.

Witch Hat Atelier Is Beautiful, But...

Witch Hat Atelier is gorgeous in more ways than one. The visuals are absurd, and they make the series stand out from the rest of the anime that it's competing against. The magic system is wildly simple, and yet, has enough depth to keep even the most pretentious fans interested. What makes Witch Hat Atelier top-tier, however, is its characters.

Witch Hat Atelier stars Coco, a person freshly introduced to the world of magic that couldn't be happier. She's always wanted to be a Witch, and after accidentally unleashing terribly powerful magic that petrified her mother, she finally got her chance. At times, Coco feels like a stand-in for audiences in the best way possible.

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Sometimes as viewers, it's frustrating to watch characters in our favorite anime series take magic so lightly. It makes sense in context, as these characters grew up in a world where magic is normalized. That's exactly where Coco comes in: like the viewer, she doesn't see magic as something to take lightly, and her excited expressions are a direct reflection of how we all feel.

Direct opposite of Coco is her mentor, Qifrey. He's been (rightfully) called a Gojo clone because of his appearance, but it's more than white hair and blue eyes that draw comparisons between the two. Both Gojo and Qifrey are incredibly powerful, but unlike Gojo, Qifrey has a wildly dark side to him that is finally rearing its head.

... It's Way Darker than We Could've Predicted

The first few episodes of Witch Hat Atelier are almost too lighthearted. Other than Coco accidentally petrifying her mother, there isn't an obstacle in sight. Everything feels like it'll work out, and the series itself doesn't feel grounded enough to be compared to the magnificent Frieren: Beyond Journey's End. Enter Qifrey.

Qifrey reflects the first few episodes' tone when he's in them, but during a couple key events, his mask slips, and his true nature reveals itself. He's a powerful Witch, a patient and kind mentor to the young Witches in his Atelier, and someone brimming with potential. He's also a hunter, and he'll do anything and everything if it means getting closer to the Brimmed Cap Witches.

Qifrey's ambition is borderline deranged. He threatens his allies, erases their memories, and holds on to evil magical ink because it might get him closer to his Brimmed Hat enemies. His motives haven't been explained yet, but they don't need to be: his intimidating intentions contrast so starkly against his kind mentorship that he immediately becomes a much more interesting character.

Qifrey's character development is exactly what Witch Hat Atelier needed. It was too soft; now, it has the edge it needs to compete against the best. Qifrey feels dangerous every time he's on-screen, and unpredictable in a way nobody could have seen coming. It's an amazing change for the franchise, and we can't wait to see what else Witch Hat Atelier has in store.