Witch Hat Atelier has earned the title of the biggest fantasy anime of Spring 2026. Rated 4.9/5 stars from well over 70,000 reviews on Crunchyroll, Kamome Shirahama’s masterpiece continues to enchant its audience with rich world-building, loveable and sympathetic characters, and a multi-layered narrative about the nuances of magic that no fantasy series before it has touched.
The first season of Witch Hat Atelier is rapidly coming to a close, having just ended the penultimate Episode 12 with a bold move from the Brimmed Caps. Episode 13, “Forbidden Magic,” is bringing forth the big showdown that fans have been anticipating ever since Iguin marked himself as the biggest threat to Coco’s existence.
When & Where to Watch Witch Hat Atelier Episode 13
The Witch Hat Atelier anime is currently in the middle of its eighth story arc, titled the “Second Pentagram Test Arc”, of the Witch Hat Atelier manga. It began with Episode 11. Episode 12, having just covered manga Chapters 20 and 21, took viewers through the introduction of the ancient city of Romonon as well as Euini’s heartfelt character arc of discovering self-worth, ending on the cliffhanger of Sasaran kidnapping Alaira.
Witch Hat Atelier Episode 13, the anime’s season 1 finale, is set to release on Monday, June 22, at 7:00 am PT/10:00 am ET. It will be available to watch on Crunchyroll in the original Japanese subtitled version as well as the English dub.
With each episode covering an average of 1.5 to 2 manga chapters, Episode 13 will likely cover Chapters 22 and 23 of the manga, leading into a climactic face-off against the Brimmed Caps. Every story arc of Witch Hat Atelier thus far has been 2 to 3 chapters long, finishing within 1 or 2 episodes of the anime.
However, the Second Pentagram Test Arc takes up a total of 12 manga chapters, and Episodes 11 and 12 have only covered 4. So it’s unlikely that Episode 13 will complete the arc, but it will settle the whole anime into a mood much darker than what’s been seen before.
The Final Arc of Witch Hat Atelier Season 1 is All About Finding Self Worth
Witch Hat Atelier Episode 11 marked the beginning of the Second Pentagram Test Arc, where focus begins to shift to Richeh and her opposition against learning the spells taught in books. Viewers are gradually enlightened to the young witch’s heartbreaking backstory, in which Riliphin, the elder brother who once adored her, eventually became distant after becoming an apprentice.
Her brother’s emotional distance caused Richeh to hang onto her past self, the version of her that her brother loved. As a result, she refuses to learn spells that don’t interest her in fear of becoming a person she doesn’t want to be.
Much to Richeh’s dismay, Qifrey tricked her into coming along to escort Agott to take the second test, called the “Sincerity of the Shield,” because he had secretly signed Richeh up to take it as well.
Witch Hat Atelier Episode 12 further explains Richeh’s hatred of tests and learning by revealing that she was mistreated by her previous mentor, who mocked and discouraged the magic that once made Riliphin smile.
Although the current arc dives into Richeh’s character, Episode 12 is more focused on Euini. Euini has been constantly belittled by his current mentor, which has led to his disastrously low sense of self-worth.
However, Richeh is able to help him discover that he can accomplish the things he needs to by finding his own way, rather than forcing himself to stick to the conventional methods taught by judgmental teachers.
Witch Hat Atelier Episode 12 was a Deeper Look Into Witch Hat Atelier’s Broken World
Ironically, the harsh judgment that Richeh and Euini once faced fell parallel to the history of the Romonons that Qifrey told Tetia and Coco during Episode 12’s opening scene. The Romonons were a proud people who created the Serpentback Cave to deter those they saw as unworthy of their rich city.
With their protective magic successfully driving away outsiders, the Romonons had no one else to cast judgment on but each other. And so they began turning against their own citizens. Those who were deemed unworthy were sentenced to an eternal existence as golden statues to decorate the city.
The hubris of the Romonons eventually resulted in their city’s destruction, and it directly mirrors the state of the Pointed Caps’ current society. Their high standards and strict laws not only hurt the children that they’re supposed to nurture but have also created an elitist society that has birthed numerous systematic issues that arise as the story unfolds.
Witch Hat Atelier’s Season 1 Finale releases on Crunchyroll on Monday, June 22 at 7:00am PT.
- Release Date
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April 6, 2026
- Network
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Tokyo MX
- Directors
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Ayumu Watanabe
- Writers
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Hiroshi Seko, Shirahama Kamome
