Pour sauver un jeune garçon, Coco a utilisé un sort pour transformer un rocher en sable. Mais catastrophe ! Son sort a eu bien plus de portée qu’elle ne le pensait, et tout le lit de la rivière s’est effondré en conséquence. Coco est accusée par la milice magique d’avoir eu recours à un sort interdit et condamnée à voir sa mémoire effacée. Elle est sur le point d’être bannie à jamais du monde des sorciers…
Gravity makes wonders / But on us it doesn't seem to weigh / Float like clouds on water / We're waves across an open plain (Cave Me In – Gallant, TABLO & Eric Nam).
Hey there, I know you’re thinking, “man, this guy literally gives everything a four star rating!” and to that I say… yeah, I do. I’d like to say it’s because I have so much love in my heart, but that’s not it, I think I’ve just gotten pretty good at choosing things I know I’ll like. It took a while, but now I know myself, and one thing’s for sure, you’ll never catch me purposefully hate reading something! It’s funny because a lot of the times whenever I recognize something as being hyped to the moon before I get to it, my brain goes into devil’s advocate overdrive and starts to find reasons to call it over hyped. It’s like how everyone calls the opening dance number to James Gunn’s show Peacemaker one of the best title screens of all time, but when I finally started watching season 2… it’s literally just a bunch of people barely staying on beat, dancing around like the lost members of the D.K. crew? I just don’t get it, but don’t worry, I also hate this contrarian side of me! One thing I do to counteract the hating side of my brain is that I choose something to dive into and then tell myself over and over again like a mantra that I will enjoy it. I know talking about a “positive mental attitude” often seems like an empty platitude, but you’d be surprised at how many new favorite things I’ve found by just telling myself that I’ll probably like a book or a song or a movie if I just give it a chance. I remember thinking I only liked a select few of the songs on Found Heaven by Conan Gray because he was doing a weird voice on most of the songs, but I very recently gave the album another listen, and it’s actually been on repeat for several days now. Yeah well, that’s what happened with this manga, Witch Hat Atelier, because even though there are a lot of common manga tropes that I usually find annoying like the Sasuke rival character, a overly forgiving and kind hearted main character, and several characters who act on misunderstandings rather than just taking a second to listen, I somehow found myself just getting lost in the fantasy world rather than letting an endless amount of nitpicks sour my mood. Besides, the more I read through this manga the more I realize that it’s basically catered to my specific interests with fantasy; the fashion aesthetic is really unique while also evoking the drip from Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, they’ve got a villain who looks like Zant from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, a symmetrical style to the story-telling not dissimilar to Glenn Powell’s face, systemic issues involving corrupt officials who go around and Men in Black memory erase people whenever they show the tiniest amount of suspicion, a magic system that has limits, and finally, a beautiful storybook art style so full of imagination that I can imagine a soundtrack to go along with it. And let me tell you, I heard the beautiful music whenever I turned the page!
As for this specific volume though, we continue the misadventures of Coco as she’s still deep in learning to become a witch powerful enough to unfreeze her mom from that pesky block of ice back home, which kind of begs the question, is there a time limit here, or is her mom trapped in time as well like when you enter the underwater Hyrule Castle at the end of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and all the monsters are frozen in place until Link takes the Master Sword? Sorry, I’m probably being that annoying guy who asks pertinent questions about the movie during the movie, only for said questions to be answered if I just keep watching. You’d best believe I was really annoying at the Pulp Fiction watch party! Ugh, this is why I try not to review volumes when I'm right in the middle of the series, because I always end up making grand statements that are either answered differently or debunked all together throughout the story. Like, right now I think the teacher, that twink on the cover, is sus, but he'll probably be revealed to have been a good guy all along. Well, I guess I’ll just keep reading to find out, and I’ll let you know about my findings when I rate the next volume four stars! Anyway, back to the story! Even though magic is secretly easily accessible to the masses as long as they clear the hurtle of learning how to draw good, it turns out that…. learning how to draw good is hard! As hard as learning how to do anything, really. Which I feel is a nice allegory, because even though I spoke too soon while reviewing the first volume when I talked about how there are no contrived “Chosen One” archetypes to be found in this manga, seeing as Coco is revealed by the villains to have been such a hero, it’s still cool in my book because her status isn’t well-known and doesn’t give her any inherent advantages within the narrative. She still has to work hard as anyone else to be a competent artist! Oops, I mean witch. Fun fact, I often talk about how the only social media that I used other than Goodreads is Tumblr (because I just think that’s a very funny sentence to say to people), but the original reason I even made a Tumblr is because I wanted to look at beautiful art! Fan art or whatever, and my real favorite kind to look at was super detailed art of fantasy worlds, you know, castles and dragons and whatnot. But the lines have blurred since then, and now when I say I like art, I have to specify that I mean real art done by real people, with pen and paper! That’s why I find Witch Hat Atelier’s message that “practice makes perfect” especially profound considering the fact that I’ve had to become an art sleuth just to discern whether or not art posted online is actual art... or just another disgusting A.I. generated slop-fest. Reading a story that basically says that even if a person’s art isn’t the best of all time, just the very fact that it’s done with their own hands makes it as wonderful as anybody else's art is a really powerful sentiment to leave off on. I guess what I’m basically saying that Witch Hat Atelier is a beautifully artistic story and the kind that I'm always looking for; whimsical, fantastical, and most importantly… real!
These flies on my window are winners in a losing game / Dip, duck, roll, and hover / They barely see a season change.
I am enjoying this manga so much. I was originally drawn to it by the original and whimsical art style, but I believe that is not the only quality of this series. Essentially: I came for the art, I stayed for the story.
About this third volume, I absolutely adore the character of Tartare and the blossoming "friendship" which is unfolding... I also like the way the plot seems to be headed and the fact that more the original mystery is being revealed, the more a new one is already being outlined... seems like the author planned the story very well! Very intriguing. Can't wait to see where this is headed!
Magic as assistive technology! This volume has a disability-focused plotline involving the protagonist Coco and Tartah, the shopkeeper's son becoming friends. He has an in-universe visual impairment, "silverwash," that seems at least somewhat similar to real-world monochromacy, and this supposedly means he can't become a witch because he can't distinguish between different ink dyes for drawing magical symbols. Or, can he?!
Without getting into spoiler territory, I really liked that this didn't go the usual cure-plot route where the disability is magically gone. I also thought the actual process of figuring out how Tartah could manage his disability was ingenious. I overall really like the solutions this series brings for various issues the characters face, I think they are both thoughtful and creative.
I appreciated the the book showed that the witches didn't even bother *trying* to include Tartah, they just went 'nope, it's not going to happen' and that this was a systemic issue with them, not just in his particular case. That's more social commentary about ableism than in many thick fantasy doorstoppers. I also liked that the narrative showed Tartah trying to pass as a nondisabled person.
Random tidbit: I waited 3 volumes for the shopkeeper to and it finally happened!! Aaaahhh!!! ______ Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library
Gorgeously illustrated volume three of the story of Coco, training to become a witch, with a focus on learning magic to heal the world. Her teacher, Qifery, sees that the ink jar she carries has been tainted/corrupted by dark magic. The sweet Coco has been having nightmares. . . maybe connected? Gotta fix that! Coco makes friends with Tartah, wants to heal him with magic. Friendships with follow apprentices grow. A lot of talk about various tests at various levels to become witch, and as usual cool magical ideas. Pure fantasy with a girl in the middle of it all.
the lore and world building for this series is getting SO fascinating and the art remains top tier. i love that underneath all this sweet found family and pretty magic there’s a darkness lurking
Me encantó, una historia llena de dulzura y personajes entrañables
Vuelvo al manga cada vez que me siento trabada y perdida con mis lecturas. Me ayuda a desconectar y pasar el rato de una forma simple y ligera.
En este caso volvemos a ver a Coco en un entramado de magos que la buscan por alguna razón. Tiene mucha acción y todo el tiempo están pasando cosas, aunque también hay momentos de pausa dónde nos cuentan de a poquito como funciona el mundo mágico.
PD: Coco es adorable y amé la relación que tiene con Tartar, voy a manifestar una futura pareja.
Esperando leer pronto el tomo 4! Se los recomiendo un montón!
the plot is unfolding SO well, and i'm just here soaking it all in (╥﹏╥) 🤍
mini thoughts: - quifrey what are you hiding?? - brimmed hats get away from coco NOW (but also their lore is v intriguing) - coco + tartah moments were so freaking wholesome askdkslsld !!!! - i def see the potential for growth for agott <3
Третій том манґи «Ательє чаклунських капелюхів» Камоме Шірахами далі продовжує дивувати. Уже в цій частині можна помітити, як детально авторка описує сюжетні лінії, підіймає інтригу навколо лиходіїв та головних героїв, і, що найцікавіше, грається із героями другого плану, які, то стають на передній план у сюжеті, то відходять на перефирію, займаючись своїми буденними справами. Також із кожним томом вона вводить одного чи двох нових героїв, які вплітаються у загальний сюжет, даючи змогу розширювати світ і взаємозв’язки із персонажами.
Одним з таких прикладів є Таато, який у попередніх арках згадувався побіжно. Але цього разу він набуває значної ваги у сюжеті. У навчанні чародійства хлопець був серйозно обмежений очікуваннями інших людей, які вважали, що він ніколи не може досягнути навіть маленьких успіхів у чарах через свою хворобу «срібла» (на скільки розумію це аналог дальтонізму в цьому світі). Камоме Шірахама змогла познайомити нас глибше із персонажем, починаючи зі спогадів про погане ставлення, яке викликало у нього почуття безнадійності, до його мрій, які завдяки силі волі й підтримки нових знайомих можуть стати реальністю. Сценаристці вдалося розкрити й розвинути персонажа в рамках однієї арки, що для мене зробило його одним із найцікавіших персонажів цієї манґи.
Цей том також є чудовим прикладом того, як грати у довгострокову гру, розбудовуючи світ та розширюючи сюжетні ходи, одночасно надаючи належне короткостроковим конфліктам. Хоча сюжет із Таатом займає значну частину уваги в цій частині, ми також маємо невеликі натяки на те, що планують лиходії. Мало того, таємниця також поглиблюється, коли персонажі, які, здавалося б, були хорошими героями, натякають на те, що вони можуть замислити щось зловісне. Існує певне відчуття, що масштаби цього чарівного світу, яким би він уже не був, лише розширюватимуться далі й далі.
Я відверто не очікував такого захоплення від цієї манґи, тому надіюся, що Камоме Шірахама ще приховала багато тузів у своїх рукавах, адже томів ще багацько. І на останок, йдіть вже нарешті купіть перший том «Ательє чаклунських капелюхів», якщо досі цього не зробили.
2025 Review: While there have already been hints that there's danger, secrecy and more serious goings-on lurking beneath the surface of a story that's also got magic, friendship and adventure, it really becomes very clear in this volume. There are a number of more intense moments (both in a physical and emotional sense), and we see larger threats beginning to emerge (despite not getting full answers). It's all very well-done!
2022 Review: I’m sincerely loving how this story is unfolding so much! We’re continuing to learn more about the characters and getting glimpses of the bigger picture and I am HERE for it all.
Tartah, the shop assistant, steps into the spotlight this time as first it is revealed he struggles with a disability and then he becomes closer to Coco. Also, Qifrey has been bending rules in his quest to find the witch with an eyeball on his brimmed cap, but is he becoming increasingly obsessed, reckless and . . . dangerous?
These storylines are fine, but the book suffers a trifle as my fave, Agott, is mostly sidelined -- though her brief scenes are quite good.
Creo que ya lo mencioné en alguna reseña, pero Atelier of Witch Hat fue el primer manga de no-terror que leí en mi vida. Entiendo que quizá para muchos el manga sea algo muy explorado. Yo recién empiezo, y aun hoy me cuesta un poco adaptarme al estilo. Pero sé que cada vez me gusta más, y que definitivamente voy a continuar esta serie porque me parece maravillosa.
Продовження історії залетіло за пару сеансів. Мої враження ті самі: 1. Графіка—божественна. Я так не тільки ніколи не зможу, але й не схочу малювати, а от насолоджуватися—інша справа. 2. Це от суто виховна література, прямо на поверхні. Але історія зроблена так, що я хочу 4 частину.
Hach, ich mag die motivierende Art der Mangareihe einfach extrem! Die Probleme wirken im Rahmen ihres Fantasy-Settings nie überzogen und die Zeichnungen bleiben weiterhin ein Traum!
La tercera entrega de Atelier of Witch Hat se dedica a resolver el cliffhanger anterior. Eso sí, menos potente que en Atelier of Witch Hat, Vol. 2. Después de ayudar a Qifrey y Orugio en una tarea de rescate, Coco y Agete reciben la visita del Consejo de Seguridad. Acusadas de utilizar magia prohibida, se libran gracias a sus compañeras y tutores. Eso sí, el gran Consejo de seguridad no dejará de investigar ni quitar ojo de encima al Atelier de Qifrey.
Kamone continúa su historia con un volumen de mayor transición, extendiendo ciertas subtramas en torno a personajes secundarios (Oh, querido Tartar, me rompes la patatuela), dando trasfondo a algunos de los principales y mostrando algunas cartas en el tema de la poco nombrada Conspiración. Presenta algún concepto nuevo de la magia, los supuestos villanos de la historia tienen alguna aparición más (que espero vaya a mucho más), conocemos el sistema de exámenes a superar para ser mago y ampliamos nuestro conocimiento de magia prohibida.
Y de nuevo, poco que decir del arte de Kamone, más que es tan precioso, perfecto e impresionante que te quieres casar con cada página. Y eso, pocos lo consiguen.
Another solid installment with new adventures and also the moving pf the plot. Mr Qifry finds a lead on the Brimmed Hats, but does a bad thing after. We get to know Tartah, the kid who can’t be a witch because he is color-blind - but Coco gives him hope. There is a bit of social commentary on the witches not being too accepting of differences...
The art is still gorgeous and the story flows well. A menacing new enemy appears at the end to make us reading...