Witch Hat Atelier is an amazing anime constrained by the short duration of its first season. The 13-episode run is not enough to properly develop most characters beyond their basic motivations and leaves the series in a criminal cliffhanger. The season ends at a moment of peak tension, which feels unnatural and is likely a symptom of the rigid episode schedules anime productions face today.
It is refreshing to watch an anime in which power is derived from skill rather than innate abilities. While there are naturally some inherent limitations and affinities, this is not a common take in the genre and the setting uses it well. This raises, however, the main question of the anime so far: if skill is all that matters, why is Coco so relevant for the Brimmed Caps? I hope the next season answers this.
Not everything subverts conventions though, as the characters lean heavily into classic anime archetypes: Coco as the audience surrogate, Agott as the ambitious student, and Qifrey as the powerful but mysterious teacher. This reliance on tropes is not a problem in itself (although the white-haired powerful teacher is certainly overused), but the short season does not give space for the characters to develop beyond these templates. We see some signs of growth, but it feels cut short by the abrupt ending.
This season of Witch Hat Atelier works well as a setup for the world and its themes. The next season, however, must deliver more character growth and close some of the open threads.