‘Witch Hat Atelier’ Episode 10 review: “A Promise in Silver”

Tenacity is the name of the game in Witch Hat Atelier Episode 10. “A Promise in Silver” is the perfect example of what makes Witch Hat Atelier so special. At the heart of it all, magic is something that you tailor so that it works for you, not the other way around. Additionally, taking the chance to focus on a different character from the main ensemble only creates a more layered world for the audience to sink into.

The most magical thing about “A Promise in Silver” is the way it makes a single character feel central to the story at hand. It would be easy to believe Tartah (Mutsumi Tamura) is a smaller, one-off character that doesn’t play much of a role within the universe, but Episode 10 flips the script. Kamome Shirahama—and by extension Bug Films—makes sure that Tartah gets his moment, building up to it over the last few episodes.

It’s a great tie-in not only for the story at large but also for emphasizing Coco’s connections with people outside the atelier. It puts the spotlight on Tartah, showcasing not only his drive to be a witch but also the painful past that comes with it. There’s no shying away from the hurtful things that Tartah still thinks about, feeding his insecurities whenever something disheartening happens. Highlighting this makes the episode as a whole more impactful.

Witch Hat Atelier Episode 10 captures the depths of Tartah’s struggle.

The Witch Hat Atelier anime brings Tartah’s struggle to life in a way that differs from the source material. With greywashed tones throughout the episode, “A Promise in Silver” shows, rather than just telling, what his everyday life is like with Silverwash. The episode doesn’t ease into it either; instead, it drops viewers into Tartah’s perspective from the jump.

This brings the reality of his condition to the forefront of the episode, making it clear how serious it is for Tartah to live with this every day. The animators exemplify their ability to understand not only the manga itself, but Tartah as an important character within the story. It’s that extra step that makes the anime feel that much more emotional.

This animation choice also goes hand in hand with Tartah’s struggle to find his own place within the witch community and his insecurities. Because he can only see in silver, his ability to become a witch apprentice — and by extension, a fully fledged witch — is almost nonexistent. And despite the structures Tartah puts in place to succeed, his insecurities are loud and clear. When he can’t figure out which medicine to give Coco, he breaks down about his inability to help at such a crucial moment. Additionally, in Episode 8, when the flash of light distracts Coco and the bottles fall from the shelf, Tartah instantly recognizes that his memorization of where the bottles sit can no longer help him. For people with chronic illnesses, this feeling isn’t new.

“A Promise in Silver” shows off a tremendous amount of artistry.

Having to learn how to make something work because of a lack of accessibility is something people struggle with every day. That the series has a character such as Tartah to represent this offers a refreshing layer of validation.

The animation in “A Promise in Silver” is the highlight of the series thus far. The sequence with Tartah trying to figure out which medicine was the tranquileaf is some of the best animation of any anime this year. Additionally, the way the herbs come to life in the storage room, with an almost ethereal glow, makes the whole buildup to that point that much more beautiful. Even with Episode 10 taking place almost exclusively in one place, the animation never felt stilted or boring. The animators took care to make Coco’s hospital room look just as intriguing as the atelier itself.

Witch Hat Atelier Episode 10 makes the magic come to life — literally. By focusing on character, the audience can truly understand how isolating the pointed caps world can be. The worldbuilding done in a single location with only two characters is a feat in itself and sets the bar for both the rest of the series and other anime. With only three episodes left to wrap up the final arc of season one, Witch Hat Atelier is sure to end on a high note.

Witch Hat Atelier Episode 10 is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

Images courtesy of ©Kamome Shirahama/KODANSHA/ Witch Hat Atelier Committee

Kayla Chu

Made up of feminism, sports, and cheap wine.
Questions, comments, inquries please be sent to kaylamchu@gmail.com