Witch Hat Atelier Creator Shares the Inspiration Behind Character Coco

It has been quite some time since Witch Hat Atelier went live, and soon, the series will attract a whole new set of fans. Next year, Bug Films will bring Kamome Shirahama’s award-winning fantasy to life in the form of an anime. With the anime adaptation on the horizon, all eyes are on Witch Hat Atelier as its characters prepare for the spotlight. Recently, Shirahama built anticipation for the anime by discussing the inspiration behind the main character, Coco.

During Shirahama’s recent visit to Los Angeles, the creator engaged with fans about their work on Witch Hat Atelier, and Coco was a frequent topic of discussion. When asked how Coco came to life, Shirahama explained that rather than looking to other stories for guidance, they created Coco based on the aspirations and dreams that drive people.

“I thought a lot about Coco initially. I wanted to make her a character who you would want to be her friend,” Shirahama revealed. “I also wanted to write her in a way where she’s really, really trying hard to chase her dream, but there are moments where she may question if she’s really going to achieve it. I hoped the audience, the readers, would want to share Coco’s dream with her.”

Shirahama definitely succeeded in making Coco a character that readers desire to befriend. Coco stands out as an exceptionally wholesome heroine. Despite numerous challenges, Coco has never given up on her dream of becoming a witch. Not even tragedy can deter her ambition, and in moments of despair, she relies on hope to achieve her goals. Witch Hat Atelier features one of the most enthusiastic protagonists in manga, and there is no doubt that anime fans will fall in love with Coco once they see her on screen.

If you are not familiar with Witch Hat Atelier, the acclaimed series is available to read in English through Kodansha. For more information about the story, here’s the official synopsis:

“In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch… until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody ‘knows’ might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…”

Coco’s journey in Witch Hat Atelier is one that resonates deeply with readers and soon, viewers as well. Her determination and hope make her a standout character in the fantasy genre. As the anime release draws near, excitement continues to build, and fans old and new eagerly await the chance to see Coco’s dreams take flight on screen.

Source: ComicBook