What I find genuinely interesting about Beldaruit is that despite his disability, he never seeked a cure through magic as he's still in a seal chair. It must have come to his mind at some point, he might have even had a phase in his life where this was a goal of his. This is a physical representation of his loyalty to the pact, that although he is lax in his way of leading under his jurisdiction, he is not at all rebellious and this is a character trait merely shown through his physical design. So when he says to Coco that there are things magic can't fix, and how he enforced the rules onto Custas and using Coco as a means to get to him, this was never out of character for him. I think that's an interesting way to build a character, to have his personality be one way, but physically hint at another side of his personality that he's either secretive about or have no reason to show at any other moment until the story requires it.
@@A.M.84996 (spoilers ahead) He has painful bedsores from using it and being largely bedridden. But he is fiercely defensive of the pact and his oath to upkeep it. He just simply doesn't linger on it and takes offense at people implying he'd be willing to make exceptions for healing magic because of his own condtion.
There's also the child Olruggio meets in chapter 39. He's nameless but he has sensory issues / hyperacusia like me, which makes me feel so understood in a way I usually am not. I also like that he doesn't have the silky hair most of the other characters have, and that he looks so tense with his hands stuck to his ears, because I relate to it. It's not pretty to be in pain constantly without a single moment of relief.
What I was quickly fascinated by in Qifrey's teachings is how unecessary the typical violence we associate with caregivers is to him. Him not scolding Richeh is a favorite moment of mine, but I also really like how he didn't scold Coco either for (to his knowledge) taking the first test, even though he made it clear that she could have died. It all comes back to trust : he trusts them to understand and be emotionally intelligent, so he doesn't need to yell or punish. It also shows in how little bullying is present in the main cast (some people might not agree on the term but it was in my opinion, even though it was brief and the characters have moved on). The girls are just way more encouraged to support each other than to compete and step over one another to be the best, and it really shows. Even with the initial tension when Coco arrived, it showed in Tetia's maturity to apologize for not making her feel welcomed. When you aren't violent to kids, they tend to not be violent to each other, who would have guessed
3:14 "...My only real issue in regards to the relationship is that I need more." you have no idea how giddy i was with their garuga and atuarto's interactions in the festival as I wasn't expecting it at all, and i have been wanting more of their interactions since now that [spoilers etc] anyw tysm for posting abt wha again, your other vid abt it is rlly good and it's a delight that this one's longer ToT
I love how your video depicts the love and care that the mangaka puts in her manga. I love how the mangaka doesn't avoid queer characters, disabilities, mental disabilities, as well as racial and ethnic diversity. But, she embraces it all, weaving into a story that everyone can see a little part of themselves in. As well as integrating real world problems into the setting of her magical world. By not avoiding triggering topics, but by gently showing how much it can deeply affect people. Showing that its not just physical scars that can be permanent, but mental ones too. My favorite part of all for me, is how diverse the cast is. The experiences of the past has carved them into the person they are now, all people do have an impact on them, be it positive or negative, but its the ones who teach us that is most important. Agott's desperation to prove her worth is driven by how her family had taught her, but Qifery doesn't want to rid that part of her, but teach her that if she doesn't enjoy magic as well, she'll lose her own drive to study magic. And the manga depicting how good teachers can help pave the way for a better world is heartwarming.
Witch Hat Atelier is deeply one of my favorite ongoing manga series! As a black woman who loves anime and manga, it's so good to find actual good Black character designs by a mangaka artist. Mainly because I still notice that you still got some mangaka artists out here as well as some anime creators that still for the life of me can’t seems to properly draw black people even within this modern day & age or still do outdated drawings of black characters that looks like racist black caricatures from the 40s. I love Shirahama Kamome artsy, and the way she's does diverse character designs that vary from body types to skin-tones makes me so happy to see in a manga.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much. I still tend to notice the still lingering issues with how black characters are drawn.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much, but still notice the lingering issues with how black characters are drawn within some manga series or anime.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much. But still notice issues with how black characters are drawn in some manga.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much. I still tend to notice the issues with how black characters are drawn in some manga.
quifrey and orrugio in a queerplatonic relationship fr fr you put it all so well, how representation is directly linked to the narratives and the themes! and the editing is spectacular as always.
THIS VIDEO IS SO GOOD!! Witch hat is one of m favourite mangas and this video was so enjoyable to watch! The manga panels with the lines in motion (haha) were so beautiful and lively! I LOVE ALL YOuR VIDEOS :)
I think that the riches story arc was always about the creativity and since in the teacher chapter of your video you recognize that magic is essentially art, it was about struggling to be artistically creative and oryginal against rules/techniques you have to aquire when those are forced upon you in tests. Riche choose to isolate for the sake of keeping her creativity safe (and cuz her magic (art) was deemed useless) but not because she was having mental problems with the system. Interpreting it as autism is not something unusual cuz definitly this expierience can be relatable to people who also backlashed from school because of their neurodivirgency but i think this is somewhat framing it as such and forgeting the wider context
That's definitely a good look into her character, too! I think it's because of other elements, like her being so against tests, and other parts that I talked about, like the masking (and stimming which I didn't mention actually) that made the autistic headcanon very plausible to me. And I know many autistic artists on socials have connected with her
@@linesinmotion Never really interacted with anyone who read WHA so im glad that autistic readers found comfort seeing riches dilemma. I just think that the series tackles the problems of art sometimes even better then Blue Period or Kakukaku Shikajika (maybe because art isnt here a main story but rather is used as a tool for supporting it so theres no pressure to pursue those conflicts in story) and arguments raised as well as resolution for the whole arc (Riches oryginality in interpretation and adaptation of forced school techniques let her be much more free and develop her craft/personality more) are very important voice for other artists and can be universally felt by every creative person and not just a problem shared by autistic community. So although i agree that autistic person can feel this story as much as i do, its important to make it a bigger picture and not forget the context which those expieriences where put in. Also, i never noticed Riches stimming honestly, gotta read WHA for 5th time
Loved this video! Thank you for your work 🖤. The sexual assault issue of Witch Hat might be my favorite one, and hit me deeply. As a sis straight man, I used to see the behavior in anime as it is intended: just quirky silly behavior, but as I’ve grown older I realized how dangerously problematic that trope is, and have become very against it, especially considering it’s normalizing that behavior for a young male audience. It got to the point where I was dropping so many anime because of this; Seven Deadly Sins, My Hero, Slime, etc, that I was almost ready to give up on modern anime/manga, thinking it was just not made for me anymore, which was a little heartbreaking. Then stuff like Dungeon Meshi, Frieren and, of course, Witch Hat came out and showed me that there were Mangaka who weren’t pushing and making light of this harmful trope, and I felt like I had a place in manga again, albeit on the cozier side of the genre. So when I read that issue that not only didn’t make light of it, but condemned it, I was so touched and delighted. Sorry for the rant 😅.
Dudo que a los japoneses les importe, ya que son el publico clave en realidad... y tampococ es como que Dungeon, Frieren o Atelier hayan sido los primeros en dejar el tropo del SA
@bleh329 Ya... considerables pero no claves, eso es en lo que centro. Al menos en ese sentido no estaran tan limitados tras las multiples criticas estadounidenses porque no tienen influencia sobre el anime/manga... Y tampoco es que WHA sea el mejor o primer buen ejemplo.
That one chapter with the x-ray goggles definitely comes to mind. In most manga/anime (especially those of the shonen variety), those sorts of actions would be portrayed in a comedic fashion and the characters doing it will face zero consequences for it. But WHA not only condemns those actions but also shows why many people would find it disgusting.
I hate to be a gatekeeper but- we should all really appreciate this beautiful series and the creator before the anime drops and brings in a flood of newcomers 😰 of course we should be welcoming and open to new headcanons and ideas but the way fandoms work compared to the old days has really changed. Im already seeing the qifrey/gojo comparisons and although i love a good meme or fandom joke, these new anime fans tend to be very….passionate…about characters these days 😅
Por favor ustedes son los primeros que se alborotan creyendo que todo es gay y todos tienen autismo o TDAH hay fans viejo que no piensan lo mismo sabes, fans que piensan que Agott y Coco no son lesbianas.
Every time I reread the manga, everything about it feels like it was made with sincerity and empathy at heart. The representation really made me feel seen, I think its really something special
YAY WITCH HAT ATELIER !!! I love this manga so much and it is always such a joy to watch your videos! WHA is so clearly so lovingly made and it (for the most part) really shows through with how it handles its characters and representation
I just realized you were the one that made that Dungeon Meshi video I watched a year ago and now Dungeon Meshi is my favorite anime in years. Thank you for making these videos, and I hope this one gets made into an anime that can be my next obsession.
I love the core family group in Witch Hat so much. Qifrey and Olly as teachers/fathers to the girls, and accounting for their differing learning styles. I should get around to reading the cooking Witch Hat Kitchen manga.
I know you probably wrote this before the chapter came out, but as someone with C-PTSD I am loving every scene with Rili, it’s always good to see something like this done right or at least with the respect it deserves. Fantastic video, thank you for making it!
I was thinking about starting Witch hat Atelier for ages at this point. With this video you made me start it. As a queer person I miss representation in Manga and Anime. And also thank you for calling SDS and BNHA out for their casual depiction of SA! Here I was thinking I was overly sensitive... In toal a big thanks!
Love this video so so much. I'm black and the joy I felt when I saw Jujy for the first time!! She left such a strong impression on me that she and Hieheart have quickly become my favorite characters despite them not being shown much. Witch Hat Atelier is such a special manga to me and everything it offers and will offer excites me... The first time I've ever considered cosplay is when I saw Jujy, thank you for this video
I unironically love this manga so much for every bit of love and thought that is put into the world, the magic, and the characters you can tell how much Shirahama cares for people and she's my favorite mangaka because of that! I love so much of what she's done with the series so far and can't wait to see how this wonderful story continues! PS. Also, I'm genuinely convinced that Aggot is gay. It's a headcanon that I also subscribe to and would say is at least heavily implied; And even though as you mentioned it propably won't/might not be explored further in the manga, which is honestly understandable since this is a manga, meaning serialization happens in Japan, it's still a pretty cool addition to have one of the main cast that can be read as queer. PPS. Love your video! Both this and the previous one on the paneling of WHA!
Going to read it now. Im actually in tears. Manga and Anime helped me with being a black minority in a white country. Its so nice to not only have story arcs pushing acceptance but actually seeing some who looks like me in it.
@@ahmadalimi9784 Why should i care about you? Why should i belief that you are black ? Why should i care about someone who is so fucked up to go into a comment section just to fuck with heartfelt staments from minorities ? Love will win and you will never know it. Bye Idiot 👋
15:46 This… this is what made me cry. I’m a gal who’s autistic. And seeing a GIRL who’s implied to be autistic in a series like this… just- I never thought I’d see the day where in a manga a character could be read like this. Same with those who are ADHD. I’m rewatching this video with a massive smile 😭
I'm brazilian and I love so much your videos, you have great diction, you talk about topics that I like and THE VIDEOS HAVE SUBTITLES, which help me a lot when a word appears that I don't know, thank you very much ❤
This work has been one of my favs for a few years now, from the jaw dropping art to how it handles representation of so many people. Rep is so important, If it was more diverse (or simply present) in a lot of popular media, it could helped people feel at least a little better about themselves for who they are that they can’t change. So yeah I’m very happy that it gets an anime.
You don't miss! Loved the entire video but especially loved the discussion and analysis around ableism and culture around disability. Have not seen anyone cover that for other series and just gushed when you started bringing it up. Just fantastic! Also re: video length imo you do you and whatever the UA-cam gods bless lol
I really want to thank u for this vid, because u covered a lot of topics that are not usually mentioned when wha is talked about. A lot of people praise the artstyle and the magic system (which is fair, cuz they're both amazing), but often overlook the amazing job shirahama has put into the representation in wha. And even when people do talk about the representation, i feel like there are some topics that you've covered than aren't discussed as often. Some of this topics i wanna point out as well: the dissabilities section especifically, is not something i've seen mentions widely, at least here on youtube. I found it very mindful and it touched a lot of thoughts and opinions i've had as well about the characters. My only inquiry is if characters like riliphin could also fit into this section (i thought this after reading the latest volume and seeing him deal with his anxiety). Also, thru this vid i learned that the tw on the lulucy chapter was indeed incorporated by shirahama, which i appreciate. Previously, i had only read the manga online and later on my physical copy, but i didn't know whether the warning had been added by the editorial or by shirahama herself, so it may be minimal but i really thank u for mentioning it in the vid. Lastly, I really REALLY wanna thank u for including the last section about the importance of teaching within the series, because for some reason, this is a part that i dont see many people talking about here on yt despite being one of the core and most important concepts of the series. Anyways, i just really wanna say once more, this vid is amazing and thank u so much for taking the time to create it. Sorry for yapping so much tho, it's just that witch hat atelier is one of my favorite manga series, i really love that is more talked about this days!!❤
As an autistic and LGBT artist, I have always loved representation when done with care. That's why my stories will always have a diverse cast of characters and topics related to discrimination, because I want more representation, I want to include people and represent more than one or two types of people in the world, I want to point out problems in our reality through the lens of a story, I want to give light and a voice to those who don't have it. Representation is very important and means a lot not only to me but to everyone!❤
Exageras, ustedes ya cansan con la representación. Todas tus historias serian entonces de gente que piensan que son las víctimas. Además era necesario decir lo de "soy autista y LGBT"? Esa es tu carta de presentación con la gente? No debe de ser así. Después piden ser tratados iguales pero siempre quieren ser tratados como especiales osea pudiste no decir que eras autista y LGBT y comenzar con lo de las historias.
wonderful video! a bit sad that my dearest Riliphin wasn't mentioned at all. he feels like a much more explicit autistic character than richeh, with his hiding behind beldaruit and aversion to people/loud places (to the point of sickness). his arms are scarred up as well (unclear if self-inflicted or not) which is cool to see, and the way the prince treats him as well. (see ch.38,ch.70) richeh and riliphin are peak autism siblings and i need to see more of them 💞💞
This video just- made me cry… Witch Hat Atelier is the manga and anime I NEEDED as a kid😭😭😭 I desperately hope this gets the praise it deserves. I’m autistic, and I have never seem myself in media before. But this makes me smile😭😭😭
Wonderful video! The work behind it is astounding but it's once again your perspective on narratives and how you manage to describe it that makes this one of the best channels in the site
A representation I'd've never expected from such a series is German representation. This series _oozes_ german sensibilities when it comes to Erinnerungskultur The whole witch war and subsequent heavy regulation of magic hits very close to home. As does the questioning of the younger generations when it comes to the necessities of such regulations. Coping with a harsh past you did not choose and had nothing to do with, but feeling a responsibility to never letting it happen again. That's a feeling that's all too familiar, and I've never seen it done this well in fantasy off all genres. And it's shown brilliantly how to approach that dark past, with kindness and love and hope for the future I love being represented as a gay man, or as a neurodivergent, but this, I feel, is honestly the most important representation in this manga
i just binge read the entire manga online and it was amazing!!! it felt so human and the characters are definitely my favourite part. its one of those mangas where you can just tell it had so much love put into it (just like blue period) that its quite literally exploding with love and magic :D once i save up enough money i will definitely buy one physical volume just to support the author 🙏 Shirahama my GOAT
This video is amazing not enough words to express how abfkfbaldwojkgngieh witch hat makes me feel in any language your editing is eye candy amazing abfdtdb
I'm not going to lie I found this video because I was looking for more content of witch hat alelier but Ive seen multiple times because you do make points but it's just nice hearing someone else say something nice about something that you like as well
Loved your video! Absolutely beautiful editing and your voice and perspective were refreshing! Can't wait to see what else you've posted! I've been so happy to see so much talk about one of my favorite manga. 💖💖
I was so excited for this video when you announced it on Twitter. And the wait was really worth it, it's such a good video! When I first started reading Witch Hat Atelier I was blown away by the way marginalized people were depicted. It's one thing to write characters with such real struggles, but to also show how characters can have a multitude of struggles, because of their social standing / their access to money and health care and how all of these things interlink, that just really blew my mind. Shirahama must have done a lot of research for this Manga and I greatly appreciate it! ^^
Yet another amazingly crafted video Dani!! Your first video on Witch Hat is actually what prompted me to start reading it, and it has become my favorite manga ever since, so thank you! I know this new video will definitely have the same impact for others like it did for me 😊
What a great video (as always), your script, editing, animation skill and choice of panels are amazing ✨💜 This is my favourite series right now and the one I recommend the most, you pointed out most of the things why in a great way! What I especially love about the series is something that you mentioned: most of the main characters are little girls going through life's hardships with adults around them who help them get up when needed but which also leave them the space to grow and form opinions on their own, and also in how to stand up for your beliefs seen in how Quifrey is quite the rebellious witch but Coco is an "outsider" to the system that constantly criticising its failures due to her experience and compassion; her voice is heard despite being a little girl
Your content and editing style are both so beautiful and through this video I have learnt more about the layers of meaning that our dear author presented in this awesome manga. Thanks a lot for this meaningful video!
This video essay was so beautifully written it made me a) wanna re-read it, b)made me appreciate it on an even deeper level (as queer bipoc) and c) tear me the f up Q_Q
I love this video! before i read wha, i saw the character designs of qifrey and jujy on twt and i added the book to my tbr, but it was actually your video about its panelling that finally got me to start reading it three years ago and i’m so grateful for that ♥️ this video was so well done!! i’m happy it’s going to get an anime adaptation which will bring in more fans but i’m also a bit scared, i love how supportive and friendly the fandom is right now and i’m so protective of the characters 😭 it is great though to see more people get into such an incredible story
It's really impressive to see how vast and seamless representation is integrated, I don't think I would have thought twice about a few of these without this video
Eee I saw your post on twitter about this a little bit ago and I’ve been waiting for it ever since. I’m super excited to watch this video :D I just finished the video and it was great!! I love video essays and I love witch hat atelier so so so much so I’m glad somebody made a video essay talking about witch hat atelier!! I also love the topic you decided to talk about I think it’s such a key part of witch hat and this video helped me understand the themes better. :D
*Getting this after I got so disappointed by- ehem a certain game with a fantasy genre that refuses representation when a certain culture is really important to their lore -is like a balm to the soul.*
ooo! i love witch hat, and i loved the video! Regarding what you said in the end: personally i would prefer videos that are 20-ish minutes max, it's just a nice lenght for me i've found :)
You know after you mentioned it, using magic to make disabled people's lives easier rather than curing their disability would make much more sense because people would start to seek immortality or perfection. Kinda reminds me of a quote from Mayuri in Bleach: "Perfection is despair." Overall, I enjoy the video.
@@mysmallnoman Because if we treat disability that way, then it becomes a burden to be rid of. Children will grow up with the message that they were unfortunate to live in the one world where we don’t have a convenient, easy solution to fit in with anyone else. It’s a lot deeper than “they could just use magic”. Nobody wants to everyone to see them as a burden, but that doesn’t measure up to the pain of not being seen at all. When I was a kid, wheelchair users did not seem real to me because I would never see them, and disabilities would be hidden away from me like it’s an ugly obscenity. There was no way for me to comprehend a fragment of what their life could be like. Not only is that dangerous, it’s also just cruel. In a way, the reluctance of media to portray characters with disabilities is to reject the existence of the people who could be represented. We shouldn’t pretend like fiction is just there to create new worlds. It holds a much more powerful and important purpose of looking back on our own worlds in a new lens. And in our world, people with disabilities exist and will live slightly different lives to non-disabled people. Simple as. But if you want a more narrative reason, then look to arcane [SPOILER WARNING FOR ARCANE S1]. Viktor is struck with an illness which and is accelerating him to the end of his life, so he uses technology to try and fix his body. He’s always been quite weak even as a child. In the pursuit of letting himself live like a “normal human”, he for a short time loses what it means to be human. His technology could save countless lives and he knows this. But playing with life is dangerous and inhumane and he irreversibly hurts someone who was always by his side. So he stops and accepts that he can use the little time he has left to help people in a fully positive way, not a net positive way. Tl;dr : stories have a much larger responsibility over just showing the consumers a utopia. If we only want to see stories where there are convenient solutions for everything, then we will neglect a lot of the harsh and ugly aspects of our own world such as ableism.
Why would a blind person want a stick to help them and, you know, not want a 'cure' for their blindness? For a world where magic exists, i'd love for a potion to not feel depressed, i'd die happy if I could think straight without having to use medication everyday for the rest of my life, and that's just my mental disabilities.
"Coco shows different symptoms as hyperfocus, anxiety and fatigue. Like she wants to do more, but her energy levels are so depleted that she physically can't." I got called out right there!! Though, I'm not diagnosed with ADHD at all- most people around me think I might have ADHD/ADD but I have yet to even get a diagnosis..
I havent finished all available chapters because I am waiting to get my hands on all the books I only have 6 so far but I ooved it ever since I started reading it and I am definetely picking those back up again soon so I'll save this vid for later
I adore Witch Hat. It's very difficult to write stories that can be warm without being saccharine and dark without being miserable. I'm straight and white and cisgender and heterosexual and more or less able in body and mind. On those fronts, people like me don't need any more representation in media than we already do. Still, it feels good to see characters like Qifrey, who treats the children in his orbit exactly the way I would want to treat them. It is deeply affirming to see an expression of paternal care that is so gentle and patient. Witch Hat's ongoing chapters are published in a seinen magazine, and I think Qifrey is what makes it truly belong there, to have the mentor to Coco and the other girls be a very human young man that other young men can identify with.
What I find genuinely interesting about Beldaruit is that despite his disability, he never seeked a cure through magic as he's still in a seal chair. It must have come to his mind at some point, he might have even had a phase in his life where this was a goal of his. This is a physical representation of his loyalty to the pact, that although he is lax in his way of leading under his jurisdiction, he is not at all rebellious and this is a character trait merely shown through his physical design. So when he says to Coco that there are things magic can't fix, and how he enforced the rules onto Custas and using Coco as a means to get to him, this was never out of character for him. I think that's an interesting way to build a character, to have his personality be one way, but physically hint at another side of his personality that he's either secretive about or have no reason to show at any other moment until the story requires it.
Or he could just be okay using a seal chair and not want to be cured
@@A.M.84996 (spoilers ahead)
He has painful bedsores from using it and being largely bedridden. But he is fiercely defensive of the pact and his oath to upkeep it. He just simply doesn't linger on it and takes offense at people implying he'd be willing to make exceptions for healing magic because of his own condtion.
His delight at the spell that widened the staircases for him suggests otherwise, too.
There's also the child Olruggio meets in chapter 39. He's nameless but he has sensory issues / hyperacusia like me, which makes me feel so understood in a way I usually am not. I also like that he doesn't have the silky hair most of the other characters have, and that he looks so tense with his hands stuck to his ears, because I relate to it. It's not pretty to be in pain constantly without a single moment of relief.
I know it's not 1:1 representation, but as someone who wears earplugs in public almost every day, that scene melted my autistic heart
@@bw8696 Twins ! I also wear them everywhere, they're like jewlery to me haha
What I was quickly fascinated by in Qifrey's teachings is how unecessary the typical violence we associate with caregivers is to him. Him not scolding Richeh is a favorite moment of mine, but I also really like how he didn't scold Coco either for (to his knowledge) taking the first test, even though he made it clear that she could have died. It all comes back to trust : he trusts them to understand and be emotionally intelligent, so he doesn't need to yell or punish.
It also shows in how little bullying is present in the main cast (some people might not agree on the term but it was in my opinion, even though it was brief and the characters have moved on). The girls are just way more encouraged to support each other than to compete and step over one another to be the best, and it really shows. Even with the initial tension when Coco arrived, it showed in Tetia's maturity to apologize for not making her feel welcomed.
When you aren't violent to kids, they tend to not be violent to each other, who would have guessed
Eso no tiene sentido
3:14 "...My only real issue in regards to the relationship is that I need more."
you have no idea how giddy i was with their garuga and atuarto's interactions in the festival as I wasn't expecting it at all, and i have been wanting more of their interactions since now that [spoilers etc] anyw tysm for posting abt wha again, your other vid abt it is rlly good and it's a delight that this one's longer ToT
No, because same here, wasn't expecting it at all!! I'm sure we'll get more of them, given where they are currently! And tysm!!
27:01 “unlike the other white haired teachers in comparison,” i laughed 💀
Can't watch because of spoilers but here for the support! I'LL BE BACK! MARK MY WORDS!!!
I appreciate this nonetheless, helps out with the algorithm and everything - come back whenever, video will always be here!
Same. I’m currently reading. Just seeing the chapter titles has me motivated to continue faster. I’ll be back when I’m done
I love how your video depicts the love and care that the mangaka puts in her manga. I love how the mangaka doesn't avoid queer characters, disabilities, mental disabilities, as well as racial and ethnic diversity. But, she embraces it all, weaving into a story that everyone can see a little part of themselves in. As well as integrating real world problems into the setting of her magical world. By not avoiding triggering topics, but by gently showing how much it can deeply affect people. Showing that its not just physical scars that can be permanent, but mental ones too. My favorite part of all for me, is how diverse the cast is. The experiences of the past has carved them into the person they are now, all people do have an impact on them, be it positive or negative, but its the ones who teach us that is most important. Agott's desperation to prove her worth is driven by how her family had taught her, but Qifery doesn't want to rid that part of her, but teach her that if she doesn't enjoy magic as well, she'll lose her own drive to study magic. And the manga depicting how good teachers can help pave the way for a better world is heartwarming.
Right! I'm so glad my friend introduced me to the manga!
@@mysmallnoman You're bitter. Stop
getting this video amidst all the nonsense discourse about the ryoko kui interview is so refreshing, thank you so much
Don't get me started on that discourse, the comments I've seen around it have been nothing but stupid 😭 Hope you enjoy the video!
I'm scared to ask but... what is this now? Is this in regards to the Anime News Network interview?
@@tubeminer1325for The Love Of God Dont Ask
Its The RDJ As DOOM Of Dungeon Meshi
@@thesmilyguyguy9799wait… now I wanna know
@@stardustdemon8273 Wall Do If You Wnat Or Dont AM Not The Boss Of You
Witch Hat Atelier is deeply one of my favorite ongoing manga series! As a black woman who loves anime and manga, it's so good to find actual good Black character designs by a mangaka artist. Mainly because I still notice that you still got some mangaka artists out here as well as some anime creators that still for the life of me can’t seems to properly draw black people even within this modern day & age or still do outdated drawings of black characters that looks like racist black caricatures from the 40s. I love Shirahama Kamome artsy, and the way she's does diverse character designs that vary from body types to skin-tones makes me so happy to see in a manga.
Oh, sad woman, guess you never seen black char designs before eh? Lmao
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much. I still tend to notice the still lingering issues with how black characters are drawn.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much, but still notice the lingering issues with how black characters are drawn within some manga series or anime.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much. But still notice issues with how black characters are drawn in some manga.
@@serialgunner6055 What's with the asshole condescending tone? I've seen an array of different black characters designs before within both manga and anime. Some are really good, and others not so much. I still tend to notice the issues with how black characters are drawn in some manga.
OMG I'M SO HAPPY YOU MADE ANOTHER VIDEO ABOUT WHA!! I LOVED THE PREVIOUS ONE SO MUCH!
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
quifrey and orrugio in a queerplatonic relationship fr fr
you put it all so well, how representation is directly linked to the narratives and the themes! and the editing is spectacular as always.
they are married in my mind. And they've adopted the girls
"Queerplatonic" This sounds like an oxymoron, but it does fit them.
@@lakshaykochhar6799 no its an actual term
not all queerness is love aromantic and that whole spectrum exists
No son pareja
Oh my god I didn’t know the author was a fan of owl house and she ra
THIS VIDEO IS SO GOOD!! Witch hat is one of m favourite mangas and this video was so enjoyable to watch! The manga panels with the lines in motion (haha) were so beautiful and lively! I LOVE ALL YOuR VIDEOS :)
Thank you - and I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!!!!!!! Let's me know all the trouble of editing was worth it seeing comments like this!
I think that the riches story arc was always about the creativity and since in the teacher chapter of your video you recognize that magic is essentially art, it was about struggling to be artistically creative and oryginal against rules/techniques you have to aquire when those are forced upon you in tests. Riche choose to isolate for the sake of keeping her creativity safe (and cuz her magic (art) was deemed useless) but not because she was having mental problems with the system. Interpreting it as autism is not something unusual cuz definitly this expierience can be relatable to people who also backlashed from school because of their neurodivirgency but i think this is somewhat framing it as such and forgeting the wider context
That's definitely a good look into her character, too! I think it's because of other elements, like her being so against tests, and other parts that I talked about, like the masking (and stimming which I didn't mention actually) that made the autistic headcanon very plausible to me. And I know many autistic artists on socials have connected with her
@@linesinmotion Never really interacted with anyone who read WHA so im glad that autistic readers found comfort seeing riches dilemma. I just think that the series tackles the problems of art sometimes even better then Blue Period or Kakukaku Shikajika (maybe because art isnt here a main story but rather is used as a tool for supporting it so theres no pressure to pursue those conflicts in story) and arguments raised as well as resolution for the whole arc (Riches oryginality in interpretation and adaptation of forced school techniques let her be much more free and develop her craft/personality more) are very important voice for other artists and can be universally felt by every creative person and not just a problem shared by autistic community. So although i agree that autistic person can feel this story as much as i do, its important to make it a bigger picture and not forget the context which those expieriences where put in. Also, i never noticed Riches stimming honestly, gotta read WHA for 5th time
I'm so glad this story is getting popular! I've loved this series for years! She created a beautiful and amazing story with so much diversity!
Loved this video! Thank you for your work 🖤. The sexual assault issue of Witch Hat might be my favorite one, and hit me deeply. As a sis straight man, I used to see the behavior in anime as it is intended: just quirky silly behavior, but as I’ve grown older I realized how dangerously problematic that trope is, and have become very against it, especially considering it’s normalizing that behavior for a young male audience. It got to the point where I was dropping so many anime because of this; Seven Deadly Sins, My Hero, Slime, etc, that I was almost ready to give up on modern anime/manga, thinking it was just not made for me anymore, which was a little heartbreaking. Then stuff like Dungeon Meshi, Frieren and, of course, Witch Hat came out and showed me that there were Mangaka who weren’t pushing and making light of this harmful trope, and I felt like I had a place in manga again, albeit on the cozier side of the genre. So when I read that issue that not only didn’t make light of it, but condemned it, I was so touched and delighted. Sorry for the rant 😅.
Dudo que a los japoneses les importe, ya que son el publico clave en realidad... y tampococ es como que Dungeon, Frieren o Atelier hayan sido los primeros en dejar el tropo del SA
@bleh329 Ya... considerables pero no claves, eso es en lo que centro. Al menos en ese sentido no estaran tan limitados tras las multiples criticas estadounidenses porque no tienen influencia sobre el anime/manga...
Y tampoco es que WHA sea el mejor o primer buen ejemplo.
@bleh329 Porque ustedes no lo son, y ya.
wtf mi problema o queja jamas fue contra el SA xd que decia este pibe
Appreciate the chapters on more serious or potentially uncomfortable topics ❤
Only felt reasonable and fair to do so!
That one chapter with the x-ray goggles definitely comes to mind. In most manga/anime (especially those of the shonen variety), those sorts of actions would be portrayed in a comedic fashion and the characters doing it will face zero consequences for it. But WHA not only condemns those actions but also shows why many people would find it disgusting.
I hate to be a gatekeeper but- we should all really appreciate this beautiful series and the creator before the anime drops and brings in a flood of newcomers 😰 of course we should be welcoming and open to new headcanons and ideas but the way fandoms work compared to the old days has really changed. Im already seeing the qifrey/gojo comparisons and although i love a good meme or fandom joke, these new anime fans tend to be very….passionate…about characters these days 😅
Por favor ustedes son los primeros que se alborotan creyendo que todo es gay y todos tienen autismo o TDAH hay fans viejo que no piensan lo mismo sabes, fans que piensan que Agott y Coco no son lesbianas.
Every time I reread the manga, everything about it feels like it was made with sincerity and empathy at heart. The representation really made me feel seen, I think its really something special
Kamome Shirahama is the GOAT, her story is one of the best written I've ever seen. And combined with her drawing skills, its just perfection
YAY WITCH HAT ATELIER !!! I love this manga so much and it is always such a joy to watch your videos! WHA is so clearly so lovingly made and it (for the most part) really shows through with how it handles its characters and representation
Have been waiting for this! Happy to be early
Ah, thank you for the support!!! 🥹🥹
I just realized you were the one that made that Dungeon Meshi video I watched a year ago and now Dungeon Meshi is my favorite anime in years. Thank you for making these videos, and I hope this one gets made into an anime that can be my next obsession.
I love the core family group in Witch Hat so much. Qifrey and Olly as teachers/fathers to the girls, and accounting for their differing learning styles.
I should get around to reading the cooking Witch Hat Kitchen manga.
I know you probably wrote this before the chapter came out, but as someone with C-PTSD I am loving every scene with Rili, it’s always good to see something like this done right or at least with the respect it deserves. Fantastic video, thank you for making it!
I was thinking about starting Witch hat Atelier for ages at this point. With this video you made me start it.
As a queer person I miss representation in Manga and Anime.
And also thank you for calling SDS and BNHA out for their casual depiction of SA! Here I was thinking I was overly sensitive...
In toal a big thanks!
Love this video so so much. I'm black and the joy I felt when I saw Jujy for the first time!! She left such a strong impression on me that she and Hieheart have quickly become my favorite characters despite them not being shown much. Witch Hat Atelier is such a special manga to me and everything it offers and will offer excites me... The first time I've ever considered cosplay is when I saw Jujy, thank you for this video
I unironically love this manga so much for every bit of love and thought that is put into the world, the magic, and the characters you can tell how much Shirahama cares for people and she's my favorite mangaka because of that! I love so much of what she's done with the series so far and can't wait to see how this wonderful story continues!
PS. Also, I'm genuinely convinced that Aggot is gay. It's a headcanon that I also subscribe to and would say is at least heavily implied; And even though as you mentioned it propably won't/might not be explored further in the manga, which is honestly understandable since this is a manga, meaning serialization happens in Japan, it's still a pretty cool addition to have one of the main cast that can be read as queer.
PPS. Love your video! Both this and the previous one on the paneling of WHA!
Going to read it now. Im actually in tears. Manga and Anime helped me with being a black minority in a white country. Its so nice to not only have story arcs pushing acceptance but actually seeing some who looks like me in it.
I'm black and I've never cared about things like that
@@ahmadalimi9784 Why should i care about you? Why should i belief that you are black ? Why should i care about someone who is so fucked up to go into a comment section just to fuck with heartfelt staments from minorities ? Love will win and you will never know it. Bye Idiot 👋
15:46 This… this is what made me cry. I’m a gal who’s autistic. And seeing a GIRL who’s implied to be autistic in a series like this… just- I never thought I’d see the day where in a manga a character could be read like this. Same with those who are ADHD. I’m rewatching this video with a massive smile 😭
I'm brazilian and I love so much your videos, you have great diction, you talk about topics that I like and THE VIDEOS HAVE SUBTITLES, which help me a lot when a word appears that I don't know, thank you very much ❤
Jujy's design is my favorite in witch hat atelier!!
Was like "oh this will be a good background video"
Cried.
IM ULTRA HAPPY ABOUT THEM CUZ IM A PERSON OF COLOUR, I CAN COMFORTABLY COSPLAY COUSTAS
17:47 - HOLY SHIT MAGUS OF THE LIBRARY MENTIONED!!!?!! love that manga sad it doesn't see enough recognition; or at least I never see it
this was one of the best videos I've ever seen. the amount of hard work put into this vid... Thank you Dani!
This work has been one of my favs for a few years now, from the jaw dropping art to how it handles representation of so many people. Rep is so important, If it was more diverse (or simply present) in a lot of popular media, it could helped people feel at least a little better about themselves for who they are that they can’t change. So yeah I’m very happy that it gets an anime.
You don't miss! Loved the entire video but especially loved the discussion and analysis around ableism and culture around disability. Have not seen anyone cover that for other series and just gushed when you started bringing it up. Just fantastic!
Also re: video length imo you do you and whatever the UA-cam gods bless lol
I really want to thank u for this vid, because u covered a lot of topics that are not usually mentioned when wha is talked about. A lot of people praise the artstyle and the magic system (which is fair, cuz they're both amazing), but often overlook the amazing job shirahama has put into the representation in wha. And even when people do talk about the representation, i feel like there are some topics that you've covered than aren't discussed as often.
Some of this topics i wanna point out as well: the dissabilities section especifically, is not something i've seen mentions widely, at least here on youtube. I found it very mindful and it touched a lot of thoughts and opinions i've had as well about the characters. My only inquiry is if characters like riliphin could also fit into this section (i thought this after reading the latest volume and seeing him deal with his anxiety). Also, thru this vid i learned that the tw on the lulucy chapter was indeed incorporated by shirahama, which i appreciate.
Previously, i had only read the manga online and later on my physical copy, but i didn't know whether the warning had been added by the editorial or by shirahama herself, so it may be minimal but i really thank u for mentioning it in the vid.
Lastly, I really REALLY wanna thank u for including the last section about the importance of teaching within the series, because for some reason, this is a part that i dont see many people talking about here on yt despite being one of the core and most important concepts of the series.
Anyways, i just really wanna say once more, this vid is amazing and thank u so much for taking the time to create it. Sorry for yapping so much tho, it's just that witch hat atelier is one of my favorite manga series, i really love that is more talked about this days!!❤
We're all aware of how much you love WItch Hat, but it truly shows how much care you have for the series. I'm glad you made it.
As an autistic and LGBT artist, I have always loved representation when done with care. That's why my stories will always have a diverse cast of characters and topics related to discrimination, because I want more representation, I want to include people and represent more than one or two types of people in the world, I want to point out problems in our reality through the lens of a story, I want to give light and a voice to those who don't have it. Representation is very important and means a lot not only to me but to everyone!❤
😂😂😂😂
@@25xhenry Yeah, it's funny, and it makes me happy. I appreciate that you found it funny too.😊♥️
Exageras, ustedes ya cansan con la representación. Todas tus historias serian entonces de gente que piensan que son las víctimas. Además era necesario decir lo de "soy autista y LGBT"? Esa es tu carta de presentación con la gente? No debe de ser así. Después piden ser tratados iguales pero siempre quieren ser tratados como especiales osea pudiste no decir que eras autista y LGBT y comenzar con lo de las historias.
@@25xhenryjajaj 😂😂 se nota que se proyecto
I’ve heard of Witch Hat but after this video I definitely want to give it a read
wonderful video! a bit sad that my dearest Riliphin wasn't mentioned at all. he feels like a much more explicit autistic character than richeh, with his hiding behind beldaruit and aversion to people/loud places (to the point of sickness). his arms are scarred up as well (unclear if self-inflicted or not) which is cool to see, and the way the prince treats him as well. (see ch.38,ch.70) richeh and riliphin are peak autism siblings and i need to see more of them 💞💞
Wasnt it implied that the scars were left by his past teacher?
This is an amazing break down and resource for anyone that story tells. Thank you for this
thank you again for another amazing video i truly am grateful for your videos and the inspiration you give me
Thank *you* guys for being so lovely and sticking around for my videos, I appreciate the support so much!
This video just- made me cry… Witch Hat Atelier is the manga and anime I NEEDED as a kid😭😭😭 I desperately hope this gets the praise it deserves. I’m autistic, and I have never seem myself in media before. But this makes me smile😭😭😭
This video made me cry!! Thank you for making something that acknowledges everything WHA does.
Wonderful video! The work behind it is astounding but it's once again your perspective on narratives and how you manage to describe it that makes this one of the best channels in the site
Lot of effort went into this one- The love for this manga keeps growing!!!
A representation I'd've never expected from such a series is German representation. This series _oozes_ german sensibilities when it comes to Erinnerungskultur
The whole witch war and subsequent heavy regulation of magic hits very close to home. As does the questioning of the younger generations when it comes to the necessities of such regulations.
Coping with a harsh past you did not choose and had nothing to do with, but feeling a responsibility to never letting it happen again. That's a feeling that's all too familiar, and I've never seen it done this well in fantasy off all genres.
And it's shown brilliantly how to approach that dark past, with kindness and love and hope for the future
I love being represented as a gay man, or as a neurodivergent, but this, I feel, is honestly the most important representation in this manga
i just binge read the entire manga online and it was amazing!!! it felt so human and the characters are definitely my favourite part. its one of those mangas where you can just tell it had so much love put into it (just like blue period) that its quite literally exploding with love and magic :D once i save up enough money i will definitely buy one physical volume just to support the author 🙏 Shirahama my GOAT
This video is amazing not enough words to express how abfkfbaldwojkgngieh witch hat makes me feel in any language your editing is eye candy amazing abfdtdb
This video is the reason why I got into Witch Hat Atelier lol. Love this video!! 💜💜
😭😭😭 thank you!!! And I'm glad it got you into WHA!! The qifrey pfp checks out!
I don't usually comment but I love your animations, they are so pretty and well made ;)
Thank you!!! 🥹
I've been waiting for this video!!
Hope it meets expectations! 🫣
Absolutely fantastic video here! Thank you so much for covering this subject and this manga again!
11:00 the doctors purposefully didn't label them so untrained people qouldnt self medicate and mess with their herbs
Idk if i am just sensitive but i cried throughout this video. WHA is just so so so good
LITERALLY CRYING I LOVE WHA thank you for this wonderful video 🩵🩵🤍🤍
Thank you so much for this marvelous video on this master piece (once again)!
Have a good nap, you deserve it for sure 👍
I'm not going to lie I found this video because I was looking for more content of witch hat alelier but Ive seen multiple times because you do make points but it's just nice hearing someone else say something nice about something that you like as well
Loved your video! Absolutely beautiful editing and your voice and perspective were refreshing! Can't wait to see what else you've posted! I've been so happy to see so much talk about one of my favorite manga. 💖💖
your videos are always a joy to watch
I finally read the manga so now can watch this.
thank you so much for putting this all into such eloquent words 💕💕
I'm excited for the world to enjoy this story before the anime comes out & beyond
I was so excited for this video when you announced it on Twitter. And the wait was really worth it, it's such a good video!
When I first started reading Witch Hat Atelier I was blown away by the way marginalized people were depicted.
It's one thing to write characters with such real struggles, but to also show how characters can have a multitude of struggles, because of their social standing / their access to money and health care and how all of these things interlink, that just really blew my mind. Shirahama must have done a lot of research for this Manga and I greatly appreciate it! ^^
Yet another amazingly crafted video Dani!! Your first video on Witch Hat is actually what prompted me to start reading it, and it has become my favorite manga ever since, so thank you! I know this new video will definitely have the same impact for others like it did for me 😊
Hope this is another prophetic upload and that Witch hat Atelier is getting animated❤
What a fantastic video! I’m so excited for the anime
What a great video (as always), your script, editing, animation skill and choice of panels are amazing ✨💜
This is my favourite series right now and the one I recommend the most, you pointed out most of the things why in a great way!
What I especially love about the series is something that you mentioned: most of the main characters are little girls going through life's hardships with adults around them who help them get up when needed but which also leave them the space to grow and form opinions on their own, and also in how to stand up for your beliefs seen in how Quifrey is quite the rebellious witch but Coco is an "outsider" to the system that constantly criticising its failures due to her experience and compassion; her voice is heard despite being a little girl
Your content and editing style are both so beautiful and through this video I have learnt more about the layers of meaning that our dear author presented in this awesome manga. Thanks a lot for this meaningful video!
This video essay was so beautifully written it made me a) wanna re-read it, b)made me appreciate it on an even deeper level (as queer bipoc) and c) tear me the f up Q_Q
WAKE UPPPPPP LINES IN MOTION POSTED
Oh my! A second video of ATELIER YES!!
I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS LETS GOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Thank you so much this video!!
amazing video !!! now im basically forced to re read the whole thing at work these next few days 😭👍
I love this video! before i read wha, i saw the character designs of qifrey and jujy on twt and i added the book to my tbr, but it was actually your video about its panelling that finally got me to start reading it three years ago and i’m so grateful for that ♥️ this video was so well done!! i’m happy it’s going to get an anime adaptation which will bring in more fans but i’m also a bit scared, i love how supportive and friendly the fandom is right now and i’m so protective of the characters 😭 it is great though to see more people get into such an incredible story
23:19 this just- I adore this whole section 😭😭😭
The artwork is gorgeous 😢
It's really impressive to see how vast and seamless representation is integrated, I don't think I would have thought twice about a few of these without this video
I LOVED THIS !!!
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!
peak as always
She is so sweet!!! Her twitter is one of the nicer things of twitter :)
Eee I saw your post on twitter about this a little bit ago and I’ve been waiting for it ever since. I’m super excited to watch this video :D
I just finished the video and it was great!! I love video essays and I love witch hat atelier so so so much so I’m glad somebody made a video essay talking about witch hat atelier!! I also love the topic you decided to talk about I think it’s such a key part of witch hat and this video helped me understand the themes better. :D
Fantastic! So excited for the anime
*Getting this after I got so disappointed by- ehem a certain game with a fantasy genre that refuses representation when a certain culture is really important to their lore -is like a balm to the soul.*
ooo! i love witch hat, and i loved the video! Regarding what you said in the end: personally i would prefer videos that are 20-ish minutes max, it's just a nice lenght for me i've found :)
@bleh329 They literally ask for feedback at the end of the video? what are you talking about.
So sooo good!! I’m always impressed by your work!!
In the words of the late Scott Henson:
“Representation matters.”
Fantastic work as always
Absolutely loved it!
You know after you mentioned it, using magic to make disabled people's lives easier rather than curing their disability would make much more sense because people would start to seek immortality or perfection. Kinda reminds me of a quote from Mayuri in Bleach: "Perfection is despair." Overall, I enjoy the video.
@@mysmallnoman Because if we treat disability that way, then it becomes a burden to be rid of. Children will grow up with the message that they were unfortunate to live in the one world where we don’t have a convenient, easy solution to fit in with anyone else.
It’s a lot deeper than “they could just use magic”. Nobody wants to everyone to see them as a burden, but that doesn’t measure up to the pain of not being seen at all. When I was a kid, wheelchair users did not seem real to me because I would never see them, and disabilities would be hidden away from me like it’s an ugly obscenity. There was no way for me to comprehend a fragment of what their life could be like. Not only is that dangerous, it’s also just cruel.
In a way, the reluctance of media to portray characters with disabilities is to reject the existence of the people who could be represented. We shouldn’t pretend like fiction is just there to create new worlds. It holds a much more powerful and important purpose of looking back on our own worlds in a new lens. And in our world, people with disabilities exist and will live slightly different lives to non-disabled people. Simple as.
But if you want a more narrative reason, then look to arcane [SPOILER WARNING FOR ARCANE S1]. Viktor is struck with an illness which and is accelerating him to the end of his life, so he uses technology to try and fix his body. He’s always been quite weak even as a child. In the pursuit of letting himself live like a “normal human”, he for a short time loses what it means to be human. His technology could save countless lives and he knows this. But playing with life is dangerous and inhumane and he irreversibly hurts someone who was always by his side. So he stops and accepts that he can use the little time he has left to help people in a fully positive way, not a net positive way.
Tl;dr : stories have a much larger responsibility over just showing the consumers a utopia. If we only want to see stories where there are convenient solutions for everything, then we will neglect a lot of the harsh and ugly aspects of our own world such as ableism.
Why would a blind person want a stick to help them and, you know, not want a 'cure' for their blindness? For a world where magic exists, i'd love for a potion to not feel depressed, i'd die happy if I could think straight without having to use medication everyday for the rest of my life, and that's just my mental disabilities.
that was a really enjoyable watch! your witch hat videos are the best
Why haven't I heard more about this Manga ? This sounds like an amazing series. I definitely should buy it
"Coco shows different symptoms as hyperfocus, anxiety and fatigue. Like she wants to do more, but her energy levels are so depleted that she physically can't."
I got called out right there!! Though, I'm not diagnosed with ADHD at all- most people around me think I might have ADHD/ADD but I have yet to even get a diagnosis..
I havent finished all available chapters because I am waiting to get my hands on all the books I only have 6 so far but I ooved it ever since I started reading it and I am definetely picking those back up again soon so I'll save this vid for later
"There is no heterosexual explanation for this" that's what I said to myself when I got to that part (05:22)
I adore Witch Hat. It's very difficult to write stories that can be warm without being saccharine and dark without being miserable. I'm straight and white and cisgender and heterosexual and more or less able in body and mind. On those fronts, people like me don't need any more representation in media than we already do. Still, it feels good to see characters like Qifrey, who treats the children in his orbit exactly the way I would want to treat them. It is deeply affirming to see an expression of paternal care that is so gentle and patient. Witch Hat's ongoing chapters are published in a seinen magazine, and I think Qifrey is what makes it truly belong there, to have the mentor to Coco and the other girls be a very human young man that other young men can identify with.