Witch Hat Atelier is a fantasy manga with a panoramic artwork model and a singular strategy to magic, charming readers world wide with its attraction and depth.
With an anime adaptation slated for launch in 2025, followers of the collection have rather a lot to stay up for because the story continues to develop in reputation.
Amid this pleasure, Animehunch had the privilege of interviewing the manga’s writer, Kamome Shirahama, as a part of the Kodansha Home occasion held in New York this 12 months in October.
In our dialog, Shirahama mirrored on the themes woven all through Witch Hat Atelier, shared insights about the way forward for the manga, and mentioned her private progress as an writer over the previous eight years for the reason that manga started serialization.
Q1. How did it really feel to be a part of the Kodansha Home occasion? What impression did you’ve gotten of the followers you met there?
Shirahama: It was extremely thrilling to stroll via a bookshelf between the manga volumes and reveal a world filled with manga! The exhibition was completely great; the sense of immersion I felt from it was the identical feeling I get when studying a guide! The followers who gathered for the speak occasion had been additionally very passionate, and I actually acquired the sensation that they had been all deeply and severely concerned within the story.
Query 2. Have you ever participated within the exhibitions on show at Kodansha Home? Possibly the Assault on Titan photograph sales space?
Shirahama: Sure, the displays had been very well performed and enjoyable! It was actually thrilling to truly change into a titan and look down on a metropolis. The AKIRA bike was at all times well-liked after I went, so I did not get to expertise it, however I used to be additionally happy to see everybody having fun with it a lot.
Q3. You have talked about earlier than that you just like to journey, and this evokes the settings in Witch Hat Atelier. Now that you just’re in New York, has there been something you want to include into your work?
Shirahama: There are all kinds of individuals of all differing kinds residing in New York, and the buildings are very massive in dimension, so it is an important reference for large cities like Ezrest! I additionally noticed a present on Broadway this time and I feel that have can even discover its approach into my future work.
This autumn. In Witch Hat Atelier, anybody with the best instruments and information can use magic, simply as in actual life, anybody with the best expertise and assist can create one thing impactful, whether or not it is good or unhealthy. Was this parallel between magic and true creativity one thing you intentionally explored? In that case, why? Was there a particular message you needed to convey with this setting?
Shirahama: In lots of works of fantasy, magic, regardless of its comfort, is one thing that comes from one’s heritage or an innate particular capacity. After all, I wasn’t born with any particular skills, so if it was doable, I needed to learn a narrative that did not depend on these tropes.
If I might management fireplace or water, I feel I might wish to use it to prepare dinner or do laundry as an alternative of combating monsters, however when you concentrate on it, even gasoline stoves and water provide techniques are like magic, if you concentrate on how they make that doable. us to make use of fireplace and water effortlessly with the contact of a finger. The identical goes for the power to fly on a airplane throughout the ocean to different international locations and have readers everywhere in the world have a look at the manga you’ve gotten drawn.
We are able to dwell a lifetime of ease in our present instances because of the ‘magic’ created by the efforts of all types of individuals, and the premise for my story arose from the thought that these sorts of artistic concepts exist in many individuals.
Query 5. That is one thing the followers (and us too) actually wish to know!!! How far alongside is Witch Hat Atelier in its general plot? Would you say we’re virtually midway there? What key themes or factors will you discover additional sooner or later?
Shirahama: You possibly can say that the Silver Eve Competition arc marked a turning level on the planet of Witch Hat Atelier. After this occasion, some characters will overcome private obstacles, others will query the foundations, and a few will fear concerning the indicators of change within the air.
The general idea and themes of the story haven’t deviated from what I initially envisioned, and the story is transferring within the supposed course. I hope readers will proceed to benefit from the magic that Coco and the others will create from right here on out.
Query 7. Witch Hat Atelier has been produced in Kodansha for over eight years. How do you suppose your strategy to creating manga has modified throughout this time? How have you ever grown as an artist and as an individual throughout this time?
Shirahama: I now really feel a stronger sense of accountability. Once I was only a manga reader, I loved it in a easier approach. However now it is like having another person learn a guide I wrote, like having a one-on-one dialog with a stranger, so I’ve to be conscious of the actions and phrases I put on the market.
Speaking to massive numbers of readers at occasions like this outdoors Japan and feeling like extra individuals are getting the prospect to learn my work has made me aware of the accountability that comes with getting a message throughout to folks via the actions I painting and the phrases I write in my tales. I see that as a part of my progress as an artist.
Query 8. Are there some other manga printed by Kodansha that you’re at present following? Are there any favorites? Totally different from Heksenhoed Atelier in fact!
Shirahama: I like to recommend it Magician of the library! It is an epic fantasy manga that I discover interesting due to its stunning artwork and wealthy setting. It is the collection I am most trying ahead to persevering with proper now. Medalist is nice too! It is an intense sports activities manga with extremely cool and highly effective skating scenes!
Another manga I’ve loved are Spacewalk with you, Tengu no Daitokoro (The kitchen of Tengu), Nina the star bride, Kishiou no Shokutaku (The knight king’s eating desk), Blue intervalAnd Skip and idler.
