Kamome Shirahama’s critically acclaimed manga series, Witch Hat Atelier (Tongari Bōshi no Atorie), has achieved a significant milestone, with 7 million copies now in circulation worldwide, including digital sales. This announcement was made in this year’s 50th issue of Kodansha’s Morning magazine on Thursday. The news coincides with the upcoming release of the manga’s 15th volume on November 21, which will conclude the “Silver Eve” arc.
A Global Phenomenon: The Rise of Witch Hat Atelier
Since its serialization began in Kodansha’s Morning Two magazine in July 2016, Witch Hat Atelier has garnered widespread international recognition for its unique artistry and captivating narrative. The series follows Coco, a young girl who dreams of becoming a witch in a world where magic is a closely guarded secret. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she secretly witnesses the traveling magician Qifrey performing magic, leading her to discover that magic isn’t solely for those “born” with the gift. This discovery sets her on a path of apprenticeship and adventure, unraveling mysteries surrounding forbidden magic and a clandestine group known as the Brimmed Caps.
The manga has consistently demonstrated growing popularity, with circulation figures steadily rising over the years. By July 2024, it had surpassed 5.5 million copies in circulation. The jump to 7 million copies signifies a substantial increase in its global readership.
Kamome Shirahama’s Distinctive Artistic Vision
A major factor in the manga’s success is the exquisite artwork of Kamome Shirahama. Shirahama’s illustrations are frequently praised for their intricate detail, imaginative world-building, and “sumptuous” and “evocative” style, which critics describe as “truly beautiful.” The visual storytelling, particularly the depiction of its unique magic system, where spells are drawn with specific sigils, contributes significantly to the manga’s immersive quality.
Beyond Witch Hat Atelier, Shirahama is also known for her work on variant covers and illustrations for major comic publishers like Marvel Comics and DC Comics, as well as contributions to the Star Wars franchise.
Critical Acclaim and Prestigious Awards
Witch Hat Atelier has not only captured the hearts of readers but also earned numerous accolades from the comic industry. The series has won the Harvey Award for Best Manga twice, in 2020 and again in 2025. Often considered by the comics, manga, and graphic novel industry as “the Oscars of Comics,” the Eisner Awards also recognized the series in 2020, with Witch Hat Atelier winning the Best U.S. Edition of International Material—Asia category.
Further demonstrating its international appeal, the manga has received several French awards, including the “Daruma d’or manga” at the Japan Expo Awards 2019 and the Grand Prize of the 2019 “Les Mordus du Manga” award. It has also been nominated for the prestigious Manga Taishō awards and the Angoulême International Comics Festival’s Best Comic award. In 2024, the English release’s translation by Stephen Kohler and lettering by Lys Blakeslee won the first American Manga Awards in their respective categories.
Beyond the Manga: Anime Adaptation and Spin-offs
The growing popularity of Witch Hat Atelier has led to its expansion into other media. An anime television series adaptation, produced by Bug Films, is scheduled to premiere in 2026 and will be licensed by Crunchyroll. This highly anticipated adaptation is expected to introduce the series to an even broader global audience.
Additionally, a spin-off manga series titled Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen, written by Hiromi Satō, began serialization in Morning Two in November 2019. A novel, Witch Hat Atelier: Special Stories, written by Jun Esaka, is also set to be released on November 21, 2025, further enriching the magical world created by Shirahama.
The consistent growth in circulation, critical acclaim, and expansion into animation and novels underscore Witch Hat Atelier‘s position as a significant and beloved work in contemporary fantasy manga.
