Since pen was first put to paper, magic has played an instrumental role in the world of fiction. From the classic tales of Merlin and The Faerie Queene to modern-day hits like The Dresden Files and the Mistborn Saga, magic, spells, and curses have dazzled readers and viewers for centuries. Perhaps this is why I get a nostalgic feeling whenever I watch Witch Hat Atelier, a new anime series from Bug Films (Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead) and director Ayumu Watanabe (After the Rain, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko). Not only does this fantasy tale understand what makes magic wonderful and dangerous, but it also shows viewers how it works to a science!

Based on the manga by Kamome Shirahama, Witch Hat Atelier puts the spotlight on Coco (Rena Motomura), a girl who dreams of becoming a witch. When a witch named Qifrey (Natsuki Hanae) stops by her mother’s workshop, Coco curiously watches as he fixes his carriage with magic using special ink. After getting the right tools, Coco practices drawing magic runes from a picture book she received from a masked witch. However, one spell works too well, resulting in her mother becoming petrified.

That’s when Qifrey decides to take in Coco, in order to both train her properly to become a witch and save her mother. Joining her under Qifrey’s mentorship are Agott (Hibiku Yamamura), Tetia (Kurumi Haruki), and Richeh (Hika Tsukishiro). Although Coco gets along well with Tetia and Richeh, Agott keeps her distance and constantly scolds Coco for being too green to do magic. As the days go on, Coco hones her skills, building on her weaknesses and tinkering with her strengths to be a great witch.

As Witch Hat Atelier shows, the path to become a witch is not an easy one. And while it has its whimsy here and there, the seriousness of how magic works is shown with the greatest of care. It’s this aspect that makes this anime a fantastic watch, as it goes to great lengths to demonstrate not only how the magic works, but also how it can be enhanced. This anime treats magic like a science, as if one were mixing chemicals, but only with spells.

With Coco being a beginner, her quest to become a witch will be a long one. Very rarely does she get a spell right the first time. Sometimes the circle isn’t fully closed, or it’s drawn too squiggly. Other times, Coco might draw an arrow or another shape in the wrong direction, resulting in a spell going haywire. What’s great about these moments is how they can be framed, with some screw-ups being funny to watch or — in a couple of cases — resulting in something dangerous being unleashed.

It’s why Coco’s relationships with Agott and Qifrey play an important role in Witch Hat Atelier. Where Coco is a wide-eyed wanderer with magic, Agott is a somewhat seasoned veteran with spells. Agott loathes the way Coco treats magic, to the point where she forces Coco to go on a quest alone to prove her worth. However, as time goes on, the relationship between the two softens, albeit in a cautious manner.

As for Qifrey, he acts as a father figure to Coco, helping her get settled into her new life and guiding her in training and errands. However, as the story goes on, it becomes apparent that Qifrey knows more about the magic that Coco had used in the beginning than he was letting on. It’s in his odd friendship with the Watchful Eye Olruggio (Yuichi Nakamura) where some of his past gets revealed bit by bit. While Qifrey’s intentions are good, his actions may not be up to any magician’s code.

Much of Witch Hat Atelier presents magic as both majestic and dangerous. Sometimes it can help out with people and errands. Other times, it can unleash new dangers. A great example of this is when Coco, Agott, and the other apprentices find themselves trapped in a labyrinth with a dragon. Friendships are put to the test, magic is both mastered and flubbed, and the young girls go face to face with a terrifying danger. All of it is captured with some terrific storytelling, character growth, and some phenomenal visuals.

However, the anime goes an extra mile to present characters born with disadvantages. This is showcased well with the character Tartah (Mutsumi Tamura), a spell fanatic who is color-blind. With Coco’s aid, he is able to overcome obstacles that made him a minor burden on the shop he assists in. In his arc, Tartah demonstrates how one conquers their daily challenges, giving a prime example of working on one’s strengths to compensate for their weaknesses.

I honestly can’t believe that director Watanabe is doing both Witch Hat Atelier and Akane-banashi at the same time. The animation under his guidance feels like something out of a classic fairy tale book. Whenever a spell is cast, it often gives off a vibe like a fireworks show, one that makes it hard to look away from. On top of that, the way the characters emote is charming, with Coco’s eyes lighting up every time she gets a spell right being captured with beauty and childlike wonder.

Where the anime also shines is in the voice acting. Motomura captures both the joys and sorrows of Coco with great ease, delivering solid drama and light-hearted moments in a wonderful manner. Hanae takes a more calm approach to Qifrey, sometimes throwing in a comedic reaction when a situation may call for it. Yamamura may act a bit like a tsundere at first, but her Agott has far more layers that slowly reveal why she has such an attitude in the first place.

Witch Hat Atelier is a gem. Between this and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, it feels like we’ve returned to a golden era of fantasy anime. How the magic works, the way Coco grows towards being a witch, and the worlds and creatures she experiences help make this a truly engaging experience to watch. It may have taken nearly four years for it to finally arrive, but the wait for Witch Hat Atelier has thus far been truly worth it.

Witch Hat Atelier can be viewed on Crunchyroll, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-11 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Crunchyroll.