It is not surprising to know that, in the last few years, Freeren has become one of the biggest anime sensations around the world. Freeren Kick started with its first season in 2023, and it immediately exploded in terms of popularity. After a very long wait, it is back with its second season with great success. That said, Freren season 2 is going to be a short ride, so fans won't get to enjoy much of their favorite elf mage. Fortunately, another fantasy magic anime is coming to take over soon after Frieren, and this one. This series is Witch Hat Atelier.
Witch Hat Atelier is an incredible magical fantasy story that is a long-running anime, ad It is finally starting its run in April 2026. This anime might even surpass Freren.
Frieren has become the greatest magic anime
Freeren is loved both in Japan and abroad
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has become the most popular new-gen Magic anime. It introduced fans to its cast of lovable characters, as well as a magical system that managed to captivate all readers, and was especially demonstrated by beloved characters such as Frieren and Fern.
Add to that a slow-paced, melancholy adventure, and one can see why Frieren has been a major success. The Freren story, for the most part, follows the journey of the main character Freren, an ancient elf grandfather who seeks to reunite with the soul of the Himmel hero. On her way, she meets new allies and battles ruthless monsters. The Frieren story is about enjoying the slow moments in life and appreciating each of them. At times, the story is also heated with exciting action and battles.
“There's nothing wrong with being a fake hero. I'll defeat the Demon King and bring peace to the world. After that, it doesn't matter if I'm a fake or not.” – Himal
Its first season, which aired between 2023 and 2024, gave fans 28 episodes to enjoy, and the reception was so good that it became the highest-rated anime of all time on MAL. obviously, Frieren is considered one of the biggest new hit animeAnd the series once again demonstrated its popularity with its grand return in 2026.
As fans know, Frieren season 2 began airing in January 2026And with just one episode, this new season was able to surpass everything before it and become the new highest-rated anime of all time. Frieren Season 2 also surpassed its predecessor season, and it continues to evolve along the way, especially thanks to the incredible support of the fans.
Witch Hat is another Frieren from Atelier 2026
Frieren season 2 will end very soon
So far, FreeRain Season 2 has been quite an exciting ride. Fans are tuning in weekly to see the new adventures of Frieren, Fern, and Stark, but clearly, this adventure won't last long. Frieren season 2 will only have 10 episodes, Which is incredibly short. Even the average short anime seasons have at least 12 episodes, so it comes as a surprise that Frieren has this run. It's even more disappointing when compared to Freire's first season, which had 28 episodes.
As things stand, Freeren is on track to finish sometime around April. Luckily for fans, just as Freren is going away, another highly anticipated magical fantasy anime is making its debut. This anime series is none other than Witch Hat Atelier, and it's a series that fans have been waiting for for years.
Witch Hat Atelier is based on the manga series with the same name, By producer Kamome Shirahamawhich first debuted in 2016. Now, ten years later, it's finally getting its anime adaptation. The Witch Hat Atelier anime was previously delayed due to production issues. Now, production is complete, and fans are guaranteed to receive this new anime series in April 2026. Of course, Witch Hat Atelier is going to give fans an exciting new adventure And a beautiful new world of magic.
Witch Hat Atelier has the potential to surpass Freiren
Witch Hat may become the best magic anime in the absence of Atelier Frieren
Witch Hat Atelier is yet to air, So its performance cannot be gauged right now. For that, one will have to wait until it starts airing in April, but considering the content in the manga and the great story it has, it's safe to say that Witch Hat Atelier will be a big hit. After all, the manga doesn't have an anime yet, it's already an incredibly popular work, loved by millions of fans.
Witch Hat Atelier, compared to Frieren, has a much more charming cast One that fans will come to love. Coco, the main character, as well as the likes of Qifrey, are fan favorites in the series whose goals and motivations will keep fans enthralled and wanting more. The magic system in Witch Hat Atelier is also very complex and exciting, as are the villains, and side characters, in general.
Furthermore, fans should remember that Frieren season 2 is short, and the return date after that is currently unknown. Since the anime is catching up to the manga at a blazing fast pace, it may be that the freeren anime will have to go on a hiatus while the Witch Hat Atelier series continues with a large fanbase behind it.
At the end of the day, Frieren vs Witch Hat Atelier will all come down to how the studio delivers on the latter's adaptation. Frieren already has an incredible adaptation by Madhouse, which enhances the manga's story with amazing direction and animation. Meanwhile, Witch Hat Atelier has already had problems with its production by Studio Bug Films, so things could be different here. But, if the adaptation is as good as Frieren's, fans will have an anime gem just as good, if not better, on their hands.
Fans are still worried as false rumors spread about the completion of the studio's construction. Based on the first look, this series seems to be promising. If well adapted, Witch Hat Atelier could become the new number 1 fantasy magic anime, surpassing even Frieren. Its ratings on platforms like MAL should demonstrate its popularity and reception.
In any case, the heartwarming story of Coco, who sets out on her quest to become a skilled witch under Qifrey, hoping one day to reverse the spell she accidentally put on her mother, is about to take the world by storm.
- Release date
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September 29, 2023
- network
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Nippon TV, YTV, FBS, Chukyo TV, RNB, FCT, STV, KNB, HTV, YBS, RAB, TVI, YBC, UMK TV Miyazaki, TSB, MMT, TeNY, RNC, NIB, KKT, KTK, NKT, ABS, JRT, Daiichi-TV, KBCT, KBC, RBC
- directors
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Kento Matsui, Kota Mori, Takahiro Natori, Morio Asaka, Lim Ka-Hee, Taku Kimura, Ken Endo, Hirotaka Mori, Ayaka Tsuji
- The authors
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Tomohiro Suzuki
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Atsumi Tanezaki
freeren (voice)
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Kana Echinose
fern (voice)
