Witch Hat Atelier creators Kamome Shirahama and Rena Motomura, the Japanese voice actor for protagonist Coco, spoke about the anime adaptation during an interview at Anime Expo 2026. The pair reflected on seeing the beloved manga brought to life on screen and shared how the finished anime surpassed even their own expectations.
Their conversation came just months after Witch Hat Atelier emerged as one of Crunchyroll’s biggest breakout anime series of the year.
A Scene That Left a Lasting Impression
When asked which scene from the first season exceeded her expectations, Rena Motomura pointed to the emotional climax of Episode 1. She recalled Coco’s heartbreaking cry for her mother before Qifrey carried her into the sky, describing it as the moment she realized the anime was becoming something truly special.
The manga creator highlighted Episode 5, saying it felt less like a weekly television episode and more like a full-length animated film. She praised the staff for delivering a level of quality that exceeded what she had imagined while creating the original story. Their reflections offered a rare look at how both the creator and the lead voice actor experienced the finished adaptation.
During the interview, Shirahama explained that the anime adaptation does more than recreate the manga panel by panel. Produced by Bug Films, the series expands on the source material with new visual details that make its magical world feel richer and more immersive. She noted that several backgrounds and environmental elements were created specifically for the anime, allowing scenes to feel larger and more alive than they appeared on the printed page.
Those additions gave the fantasy setting a greater sense of scale while remaining faithful to the spirit of the manga.
Rena Motomura’s Most Emotional Performance
While discussing her favorite moments, Motomura revealed that one scene resonated with her on a deeply personal level. She pointed to the dragon maze arc, where Coco realizes that her actions have placed everyone around her in danger and breaks down emotionally.
Motomura explained that performing the scene required her to move beyond Coco’s usual optimism and reveal the anxiety the young witch had been carrying throughout the story. He added that Coco’s cheerful personality has always been balanced by moments of self-doubt. Bringing those hidden emotions to life became one of the most rewarding parts of her performance during the first season.
