Witch Hat Atelier Episode 5 Rambles
I've been inactive on here for a while, but I just need to talk about the newest witch hat episode. That was incredible.
Spoilers up until the Witch Hat Atelier Anime Episode 5, and then manga spoilers after the break.
I didn't realize this until after reading discussion threads, but the episode doesn't have its opening. It just drops you into it.
Coco giving Tetia her hat and lending her cloak to her was adapted really well. Plus the animation of Coco warming up next to Tetia was fun.
Richeh, best character, dropping from above the cloud "bubble" like its nothing. Can't wait for her to get more focus later on.
I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't adapt Agott's "She's operating on the assumption that she's going to fail?" realization. It really drives home the difference in mindsets between the two apprentices. One either does it perfectly or not at all, while the other does it with failure in mind.
THE SCENE WHERE THEY PLAN THE WHOLE THING WAS SO WELL DONE: Coco drawing her and everyone else beside the sleeping dragon for her point to stick, Tetia getting excited about her dream becoming a reality, Richeh marveling at the idea of how even the greatest of beings are helpless against a fluffy and warm blanket(best character btw), and Agott slowly realizing that the idea is possible, with a little compliments from the others to encourage her.
Coco reinforcing that magic is the gift that brings happiness to the world after bringing up how Qifrey told her to learn a kinder magic is the core of what this series is about. Magic is supposed to bring happiness.
Then they figure out the potential composition of such a spell, which was also a really good sequence. Actually, I'm realizing that I'll say that for the rest of this episode but you can't hold back PEAK. Anyways, the fact that a good few minutes is spent on the brainstorming session gives even more credence to the fact that these are regular people trying to solve a difficult problem.
Coco drawing a Pyreball spell correctly(pay-off from the last episode) with Tetia and Richeh being there to support her was much more satisfying than it felt in the manga. The camera panning to all of Coco's failed attempts was ahhhhhh. I'm running out of words to describe this.
Then they execute the plan, and can I just say this was the best animated sequence I've watched this year. Everything from the smoothness of the motion to the music was just breathtaking. The scene with everyone drawing each seal, then finally executing each seal back to back to back.
I was worried that the anime could never compare to the manga, but this plus Episode 3's changes add so much to the story and heart to the series.
Dragon-Disabler Cushion ftw!!! Though I do admit that Serpent's Bed of Sand is cool, and Agott should get naming rights for the foreseeable future.
Qifrey stepping(flying?) in to save Agott, then proceeds to solo a dragon and win is certainly not a good sign for everyone wishing to avoid those articles claiming that Qifrey is the strongest witch(title goes to Olly obviously /j). That was also beautifully animated by the way, the dragon turning into a flower was compensation for them not animating Qifrey drawing a water flower earlier.
Iguin you magnificent enigma, keep aura farming.
I forgot that Coco cries at the end of this arc and it made me feel a bit inside. When she looks down at everyone's muddied clothes and realizes that they went through all of this for her, then the tears start... ahhhhhhhhhhh. Qifrey did a really good job at comforting her too.
And lastly, Qifrey silencing the ED with a death stare. I hope we get more of those as the series progresses.
And now onto the spoilers for the latest manga chapters. Thanks for reading this far! Spoilers start after the break.