Witch Hat Atelier Wins 2025 Harvey Award, Leaving Hits Like One Piece Struggling
For over two decades, One Piece has stood as one of the most well-known and bestselling shonen titles. It’s an anime and manga powerhouse whose influence spans generations and inspires millions of fans around the world. With its global recognition, the series has helped popularize anime and manga and has broken multiple records.
One Piece is known for its epic battles, sense of adventure, memorable characters, and strong themes that resonate with its dedicated fan base. However, in a surprising turn, another title has snagged one of manga’s highest honors for 2025. Witch Hat Atelier has eclipsed the Straw Hats with a massive win earlier this month.
Witch Hat Atelier Wins Best Manga Title of 2025
The 2025 Harvey Awards were announced on October 10 at New York Comic Con and honored Witch Hat Atelier as this year’s Best Manga title. The win marks a defining moment for the series, which is best known for its imaginative story and beautiful artwork. Following its 2016 debut, the series has steadily built a loyal fan base.
Created by Kamome Shirahama, Witch Hat Atelier is praised by critics and fans alike, with many calling it a masterpiece, particularly for its world-building, art style, and strong cast, each with their own unique personalities and development. The manga also won the Harvey Awards in 2020, with its latest win cementing its place as a growing influence.
Some may be surprised that while One Piece was fully eligible for the Harvey Awards, it wasn’t selected by the nomination committee. Despite being one of the world’s most recognizable manga and meeting the criteria for nomination, it was ultimately omitted, likely to create a fair playing field. Among the titles included were The Summer Hikaru Died and Wind Breaker.
Witch Hat Atelier’s Long-Awaited Anime Finally Coming in 2026
Along with its award-winning recognition, Witch Hat Atelier is set to take an even larger step with the premiere of its anime adaptation in 2026. Originally, the series was slated for release in 2025; however, it has been delayed to ensure the animation is of the highest quality possible.
The series centers around a curious young girl named Coco, who dreams of becoming a witch in a world where magic is reserved for those with innate abilities. However, after witnessing a spell being cast, her attempts to recreate it drastically alter her life when she accidentally turns her mother into stone, ultimately leading her to become a witch’s apprentice.
With its recent Harvey Award win and a highly anticipated adaptation, the series is poised for a strong debut, allowing the story to reach a much wider audience. 2026 has plenty of anime lined up, but Witch Hat Atelier is easily among the most talked-about and most anticipated among anime and manga fans.
