TV Anime "Witch Hat Atelier" Special Program Report! Natsuki Hanae and Cast Discuss the Show's Charm and Behind-the-Scenes Production Secrets

On ABEMA, the special program "TV Anime 'Witch Hat Atelier' Special: ABEMA's Atelier" was broadcast exclusively for free on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (a national holiday) at 9:00 PM.

The TV anime "Witch Hat Atelier" is a high-fantasy series set in a world where there is a strict law: "Those who cannot use magic must never witness the moment a spell is cast." The story begins when Coco, a young girl who longs to be a witch, sees the magic of a young wizard named Qifrey, leading her to discover the "absolute secret" hidden by wizards.

The special program gathered the main cast, including Rena Motomura (as Coco), Natsuki Hanae (as Qifrey), Hibiku Yamamura (as Agott), Kurumi Haruki (as Tetia), and Hika Tsukishiro (as Richeh). The program delved deep into the world of the anime through a recap of the story so far, discussions on the characters' charms, and behind-the-scenes stories about their voice acting roles.

■Rena Motomura: "Like a Pop-up Book" – What is the Charm of this "Magnificent High Fantasy" as Told by the Cast? Behind the Scenes of Character Interpretation!

The series has garnered massive attention, drawing enthusiastic responses on social media not only from Japan but also from overseas. When asked about her first impression upon reading the original manga, Motomura commented, "I felt the same excitement as opening a pop-up book. I was deeply moved by how incredibly detailed the world is." Hanae also highlighted the appeal of the unique magic system, saying, "Since 'drawing' is what connects to magic, it makes magic feel very close to you," and "It’s incredibly immersive because you can imagine what kind of magic circle you would draw if you were in that world."

Next, the conversation turned to the charm of the characters and their approach to the roles. Motomura, playing Coco, shared, "I made a conscious effort to act naturally, without making it sound too overly 'anime-like,'" and emphasized, "Since her emotional range is so wide, I fully immerse myself into becoming Coco and give it my absolute all to express that to the fullest." The other cast members chimed in, saying, "You were really moving your whole body while recording, weren't you?" revealing the passionate atmosphere of the voice-recording sessions.

On the other hand, Hanae, playing Qifrey, introduced the mysterious charm of his character, describing him as "kind and caring, but with secrets lingering beneath the surface." Regarding his approach to the role, he revealed, "The director told me, 'Please act using your natural speaking voice,' so I tried not to make the ends of my sentences sound deliberately suspicious or overly exaggerated." He reminisced, "Publicly, I might seem like the type to go wild, but in my daily life, I’m not actually that high-energy (lol), so I kept that natural vibe in mind while performing."

Following that, the group continued to discuss their respective roles. Yamamura, playing Agott, revealed, "I was instructed to treat Coco more harshly," but commented, "However, at her core, she is someone with strong convictions and kindness." Tsukishiro supported this, saying, "Agott isn't just strict; she's genuinely kind. She just acts prickly, but she firmly holds onto her own kindness," passionately describing the charm hidden behind her frosty exterior.