Studio Bug Films recently delivered the deflating news that its anime adaptation of Witch Hat Atelier would be delayed to 2026. In the wake of its announcement, the studio gave fans an update about the nature of its delay and reaffirmed its commitment to doing the best possible job transforming manga pages into animation.
In an X/Twitter social media post, which links out to a video on Kodansha’s Instagram, Witch Hat Atelier producers explained that they’re taking the time to really hone in on adapting the artistry from creator Kamome Shirahama‘s original manga so that it can become akin to a Hollywood blockbuster like Lord of the Rings in the anime sphere. But to do that, they’ll have to take a little more time brewing the magic in production so the show can live up to their lofty goals as well as achieve the tricky hurdle of adapting its manga artistry to anime without losing its wonderment.
“The project to create an anime adaptation of this manga has been in progress since 2019. That may seem like a long time, but if you read the manga, you’ll get the picture. Figuring out how to transform the manga’s extremely intricate illustrations into an anime is taking time,” one Bug Films producer said.
News that Witch Hat Atelier would receive an anime was first announced back in 2022. Its first official trailer dropped at Anime Expo 2024.
Originally published in 2016, the ongoing manga follows Coco, a curious young girl with dreams of becoming a witch—despite living in a society where magic is cloaked in secrecy and strictly reserved for the initiated. Her life is irrevocably changed when she discovers that spellcasting is not innate but drawn—literally—through symbols inked on paper, echoing the enchanted storybooks from her childhood.
In a tragic twist, Coco’s tepid experimentation unleashes a forbidden spell that petrifies her mother and destroys her home. The story unfolds as Coco becomes an apprentice under a compassionate witch named Qifrey, who guides her through the magical world, honing her craft so she can undo the damage she’s caused.
Fans began to wonder whether something was wrong with the anime when Bug Films showed no signs of progress, as its vague 2025 release date lacked any updates or trailers that would hype the show or provide a solid release date. Another producer further characterized the nature of the anime’s delay by voicing the daunting task of adapting Shirahama’s manga, putting a focus on its unique magic system.
“A single panel showing the character suddenly enveloped in light, in the anime, it’s necessary to add things like color and movement,” a producer explained. “Each time, we consult with the author about the fine details of the magic, figuring out how it’s activated, what phenomena is produced, and how we can make the visual stand out on the screen.”
Considering the manga looks like this with every page, it would be an understatement to say Bug Films has a nearly impossible task adapting the series into an anime.
Given past experiences with long-delayed anime like Adult Swim’s Junji Ito anime adaptation Uzumakiit’s understandable that fans would be once bitten and twice shy about yet another hyped anime delay, ultimately resulting in a show that didn’t live up to the artistry of its source material.
“I want to create an anime that lets children and adults alike become immersed in the fantasy genre,” one Bug Films producer said. “I hope that the visuals will draw people from across the globe into the world of Witch Hat Atelier.”
Hopefully, Bug Films will take all the time it needs to do justice to Shirahama’s manga while living up to its own redoubled standards of artistic fidelity when Witch Hat Atelier releases on Crunchyroll next year.
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