It is no surprise to know that in recent years, The Suitor has been one of the biggest anime sensations around the world. The Suitor kicked off in 2023 with its first season, and it immediately exploded in popularity. After an excruciatingly long wait, it has returned with its second season with great success. That said, Freiren Season 2 is shaping up to be a short ride, so fans won't get to enjoy their favorite elf belly too much. Fortunately, another magical fantasy anime will take over shortly after The Friar, and that. This series is Witch Hat Atelier.
Witch Hat Atelier is an incredible magical fantasy story that is a long overdue anime, ad it finally starts running starting in April 2026. This anime could even surpass Frieren.
The suitor has become the biggest magic anime
The suitor is loved both in Japan and abroad
The Suitor: 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 has managed to captivate all readers, particularly showcased by beloved characters like the Friar and Fern.
Add to that a slow, melancholic adventure, and you can see why The Friar has been a huge success. The Frieren story mostly follows the journey of the main character Frieren, an ancient elven mage who goes on a quest to meet the hero Sky's soul again. Along the way, she meets new allies and battles ruthless demons. The story of The Frier is about enjoying the slow moments in life and appreciating each one of them. Sometimes the story also heats up with exciting action and battles.
“There's nothing wrong with being a fake hero. I will defeat the demon king and bring peace to the world. Then it doesn't matter if I'm fake or not.” – Heaven
Its first season, which aired between 2023 and 2024, gave fans 28 episodes to enjoy, and the reception was so good that it ended up being the highest-rated anime of all time on MAL. Apparently, The Suitor is considered one of the biggest new hit animeand the series showcased its popularity once again with its grand return in 2026.
As fans know, The Bachelor Season 2 began airing in January 2026and with just one episode, this new season could surpass all before it and become the new highest rated anime of all time. The Suitor Season 2 even surpassed its predecessor, and it continues to evolve along the way, especially thanks to the incredible support of fans.
Witch Hat Atelier is the next suitor in 2026
The Bachelor Season 2 will end very quickly
So far, The Friar Season 2 has been pretty exciting. Fans have been tuning in every week to see the new adventure of the Friar, Fern, and Stark, but as is clear, this adventure won't last long. The Suitor season 2 will only have 10 episodes, which is incredibly short. Even the average short anime seasons tend to be at least 12 episodes, so Frieren having this run comes as a surprise. This is even more disappointing when you compare it to the first season of The Friar, which had 28 episodes.
As it stands, The Frier is set to end sometime around April. Fortunately for fans, just as the Friar disappears, another highly anticipated magical fantasy anime makes 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 of the same name, by creator Kamome Shirahamawhich first debuted in 2016. Now, over ten years later, it's finally getting its anime adaptation. The Witch Hat Atelier anime was previously delayed due to production issues. Now the production is finished and fans are guaranteed to get this new anime series in April 2026. No doubt, Witch Hat Atelier will bring fans an exciting new adventure and a beautiful new world of magic.
Witch Hat Atelier has the potential to surpass Freiren
Witch Hat Atelier might become the best magic anime in Frieren's absence
Witch Hat Atelier has not yet aired, so its performance cannot be measured yet. For that, one would have to wait until it starts airing in April, but considering the content of the manga and the brilliant story it contains, it can be said with great confidence that Witch Hat Atelier will be a huge hit. After all, although the manga does not yet have an anime, it is already an incredibly popular work, loved by millions of fans.
Witch Hat Atelier, compared to Frieren, has a much more captivating cast which fans will love. Coco, the main character, as well as Qifrey, are fan favorites in the series whose goals and motives will keep fans intrigued and wanting more. The magic system in Witch Hat Atelier is also much more complex and exciting, as are the villains and supporting characters in general.
Also, fans should keep in mind that The Friar Season 2 is short, and its return date after that is currently unknown. Since the anime has caught up to the manga at a lightning fast pace, it may be that the Frieren anime will have to go on hiatus while the Witch Hat Atelier series continues with a huge fan base behind it.
At the end of the day, Frieren vs Witch Hat Atelier would all come down to how the studio delivers on the adaptation of the latter. The Friar already has an incredible adaptation of Madhouse, which elevates the story of the manga with great direction and animation. Meanwhile, Witch Hat Atelier has already had issues with its Studio Bug Films production, so things may be different here. But if the adaptation is as good as The Friar, fans will have an anime gem just as good, if not better, on their hands.
Fans are still worried due to some rumors circulating that the studio is lying about production ending. Based on the first look, it seems that the series will be promising. If it is properly adapted, Witch Hat Atelier may go on to become the #1 new magical fantasy anime, surpassing even The Friar. Its ratings on platforms like MAL should showcase its popularity and reception.
Either way, the heartwarming story of Coco, who embarks on her quest to become a skilled witch, under Qifrey's guidance, in hopes of one day reversing the spell she accidentally placed on her mother, is soon 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, KBCY, RKCRY,
- Directors
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Kento Matsui, Kota Mori, Takahiro Natori, Morio Asaka, Lim Ka-hee, Taku Kimura, Ken Ando, Hirotaka Mori, Ayaka Tsuji
- Author
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Tomohiro Suzuki
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Atsumi Tanezaki
The Suitor (voice)
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Kana Ichinose
Fern (voice)
