NEW YORK, NY – Kamome Shirahama’s critically acclaimed manga series, Witch Hat Atelier, has once again taken home the prestigious Harvey Award for Best Manga, marking its second win in the category. The announcement was made alongside the New York Comic Con 2025 event, solidifying the series’ standing as a favorite among comic professionals. This victory follows its initial win in 2020, making it one of the few manga to achieve multiple accolades at the industry-voted awards.
The fantasy series triumphed over a strong field of nominees for the 2025 award, which included The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn’t a Guy at All, The Summer Hikaru Died, Tokyo These Days, and WIND BREAKER.
A Repeat Victory at the Renowned Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards, named after the legendary artist and writer Harvey Kurtzman, are unique in the comics industry as they are nominated and selected entirely by comic book professionals, offering a peer-recognized stamp of excellence. The “Best Manga” category was introduced in 2018, with My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness by Kabi Nagata being its first recipient. Witch Hat Atelier‘s win in 2020 established its initial recognition, and its subsequent triumph in 2025 further highlights its enduring quality and impact within the global comics landscape.
Previous Best Manga Winners
Prior to Witch Hat Atelier‘s repeat success, the Best Manga category has seen a diverse range of acclaimed titles. In 2019, Kōhei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia received the award. Tatsuki Fujimoto’s popular Chainsaw Man notably won the award three consecutive times from 2021 to 2023. Most recently, in 2024, Ryoko Kui’s Delicious in Dungeon was honored as the Best Manga.
The Enduring Appeal of “Witch Hat Atelier”
Written and illustrated by Kamome Shirahama, Witch Hat Atelier has captivated readers worldwide since its serialization began in Kodansha’s Morning Two magazine in July 2016. The series follows Coco, a girl who, despite not being born with magical abilities, dreams of becoming a witch. After a fateful encounter with the mysterious witch Qifrey, Coco discovers a hidden world of magic and embarks on an apprenticeship, learning the intricate art of spell-casting.
The manga is celebrated for Shirahama’s “sumptuous” and “evocative” artwork, praised for its intricate detail and unique aesthetic that some have likened to “art nouveau.” Beyond its stunning visuals, the series is lauded for its compelling narrative, subtle characterization, and the rich, immersive fantasy world it builds. As of April 2025, 14 tankōbon volumes have been published, with over 5.5 million copies in circulation by July 2024.
Critical Acclaim and International Recognition
Witch Hat Atelier‘s critical success extends beyond the Harvey Awards. In 2020, it also won the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia. The series has garnered numerous other awards and nominations globally, including French and Spanish manga awards, further cementing its international appeal. The manga’s English translation by Stephen Kohler and lettering by Lys Blakeslee also received recognition at the first American Manga Awards in 2024.
What’s Next for “Witch Hat Atelier”?
Fans of Witch Hat Atelier have even more to look forward to, as an anime television series adaptation produced by Bug Films is scheduled to premiere in 2026. The anime, which will be directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with Hiroaki Kojima producing and Yuka Kitamura composing the music, is set to be streamed worldwide by Crunchyroll. This adaptation is expected to introduce the beloved story to a new global audience, building on the manga’s already significant success and critical acclaim. The creator, Kamome Shirahama, has expressed humility at the series’ widespread resonance, initially imagining a smaller, dedicated audience.
