Creality Falcon T1 Combines Five Laser Engravers Into One Machine
Laser engraving can be incredibly versatile. You can engrave designs on metal or wood and gift them to your loved ones or sell them as a business. But there has always been a catch. If you want to work with different materials like metal, wood, glass, acrylic, or crystal, you’ll often need multiple machines, each designed for a specific job. This can quickly multiply the costs and make engraving an expensive hobby. Well, that’s exactly the problem the Creality Falcon T1 plans to solve. It’s a 5-in-1 laser workstation that lets you swap between five different laser modules in a single desktop machine.
How Does This Work?
The main selling point of the Falcon T1 is its modular design. Instead of buying separate machines for different materials, users can swap between five laser modules in about 15 seconds without tools.
Each module is designed for a specific type of work. The 20W Fiber Laser is intended for deep engraving on materials like stainless steel, aluminum, and hardwood. If you’re working primarily with metals and need things like color marking or deeper engravings, the 60W MOPA Laser is designed for materials such as titanium, gold, silver, brass, and copper.
For more traditional maker projects, the 20W and 40W Diode Lasers can cut and engrave wood, acrylic, MDF, leather, ceramics, and bamboo. Meanwhile, the 5W UV Laser focuses on transparent materials such as glass, crystal, and acrylic, opening up possibilities that standard diode lasers typically struggle with.
In practical terms, this means you could engrave a custom design on a metal nameplate and switch modules, then cut a wooden display stand for it with the same machine. According to Creality, building a similar setup using dedicated machines could easily cost over $20,000, whereas the Falcon T1 starts at $2,249.
Finally, to help you not blow your eyes out, the T1 has Class 1 laser safety certification and a fully enclosed design. Additional safeguards include automatic shutdown when the lid is opened, flame detection systems, airflow monitoring, an emergency stop button, and a laser key lock.
Laser engraving can be incredibly versatile. You can engrave designs on metal or wood and gift them to your loved ones or sell them as a business. But there has always been a catch. If you want to work with different materials like metal, wood, glass, acrylic, or crystal, you’ll often need multiple machines, each designed for a specific job. This can quickly multiply the costs and make engraving an expensive hobby. Well, that’s exactly the problem the Creality Falcon T1 plans to solve. It’s a 5-in-1 laser workstation that lets you swap between five different laser modules in a single desktop machine.
How Does This Work?
The main selling point of the Falcon T1 is its modular design. Instead of buying separate machines for different materials, users can swap between five laser modules in about 15 seconds without tools.
Each module is designed for a specific type of work. The 20W Fiber Laser is intended for deep engraving on materials like stainless steel, aluminum, and hardwood. If you’re working primarily with metals and need things like color marking or deeper engravings, the 60W MOPA Laser is designed for materials such as titanium, gold, silver, brass, and copper.
For more traditional maker projects, the 20W and 40W Diode Lasers can cut and engrave wood, acrylic, MDF, leather, ceramics, and bamboo. Meanwhile, the 5W UV Laser focuses on transparent materials such as glass, crystal, and acrylic, opening up possibilities that standard diode lasers typically struggle with.
In practical terms, this means you could engrave a custom design on a metal nameplate and switch modules, then cut a wooden display stand for it with the same machine. According to Creality, building a similar setup using dedicated machines could easily cost over $20,000, whereas the Falcon T1 starts at $2,249.
Finally, to help you not blow your eyes out, the T1 has Class 1 laser safety certification and a fully enclosed design. Additional safeguards include automatic shutdown when the lid is opened, flame detection systems, airflow monitoring, an emergency stop button, and a laser key lock.
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#Creality #Falcon #Combines #Laser #Engravers #Machine
At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion.
Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater.
io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most.
Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up.
io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward.
Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why?
Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese.
Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps?
Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion!
Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.
At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion.
Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater.
io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most.
Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up.
io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward.
Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why?
Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese.
Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps?
Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion!
Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.
#Witch #Hat #Atelier #Creator #Coco #Star #Anime #Exceeded #ExpectationsAnime,Anime Expo,Bug Films,Kamome Shirahama,Witch Hat Atelier">‘Witch Hat Atelier’ Creator, Coco Star on How the Anime Exceeded Expectations
At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion.
Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater.
io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most.
Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up.
io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward.
Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why?
Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese.
Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps?
Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion!
Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here.
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Using a three-armed spacecraft to lift a satellite 150 miles higher into orbit is challenging enough, but the speed with which Katalyst pulled the mission together makes it even more impressive. NASA required the company to rush the job because Swift would be too low to save by October. $30 million and nine months later, help is on the way for the $500 million Swift.
Using a three-armed spacecraft to lift a satellite 150 miles higher into orbit is challenging enough, but the speed with which Katalyst pulled the mission together makes it even more impressive. NASA required the company to rush the job because Swift would be too low to save by October. $30 million and nine months later, help is on the way for the $500 million Swift.
#NASA #launched #emergency #mission #stop #Swift #Observatory #crashing #EarthNews,Science,Space">NASA launched an emergency mission to stop the Swift Observatory from crashing to Earth
The Swift Observatory was launched in 2004, but recent solar storms have pushed its orbit lower, and it’s in danger of burning up in Earth’s atmosphere as soon as this year. To try and stave off its demise, NASA has enlisted Katalyst Space Technologies. The company’s Link spacecraft launched Friday with the goal of intercepting Swift, which has no propulsion system, and boosting its orbit back to its original position. Right now, Swift is circling at an altitude of 224 miles, and Link is aiming to raise that by about 150 miles.
Using a three-armed spacecraft to lift a satellite 150 miles higher into orbit is challenging enough, but the speed with which Katalyst pulled the mission together makes it even more impressive. NASA required the company to rush the job because Swift would be too low to save by October. $30 million and nine months later, help is on the way for the $500 million Swift.
![‘Witch Hat Atelier’ Creator, Coco Star on How the Anime Exceeded Expectations
As far as contemporary anime is concerned, the “big three” fantasy series have finally been christened, thanks to the wondrous arrival of the last in its holy trinity on Crunchyroll: Bug Films’ absolutely magical adaptation of Kamome Shirahama‘s beloved manga, Witch Hat Atelier. At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion. Kamome Shirahama’s Brushbuddy. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSGVFk9w5qA[/embed] Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9URbx38AIY[/embed] io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most. Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up. io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward. Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA1sPU4F1n4[/embed] io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why? Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese. Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu0qoRHqDt8[/embed] io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps? Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion! Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
Witch Hat Atelier is streaming on Crunchyroll, and season two is in production. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Witch #Hat #Atelier #Creator #Coco #Star #Anime #Exceeded #ExpectationsAnime,Anime Expo,Bug Films,Kamome Shirahama,Witch Hat Atelier](https://gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/07/kamome-shirahama-witch-hat-atelier.jpg "‘Witch Hat Atelier’ Creator, Coco Star on How the Anime Exceeded Expectations
As far as contemporary anime is concerned, the “big three” fantasy series have finally been christened, thanks to the wondrous arrival of the last in its holy trinity on Crunchyroll: Bug Films’ absolutely magical adaptation of Kamome Shirahama‘s beloved manga, Witch Hat Atelier. At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion. Kamome Shirahama’s Brushbuddy. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSGVFk9w5qA[/embed] Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9URbx38AIY[/embed] io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most. Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up. io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward. Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA1sPU4F1n4[/embed] io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why? Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese. Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu0qoRHqDt8[/embed] io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps? Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion! Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
Witch Hat Atelier is streaming on Crunchyroll, and season two is in production. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Witch #Hat #Atelier #Creator #Coco #Star #Anime #Exceeded #ExpectationsAnime,Anime Expo,Bug Films,Kamome Shirahama,Witch Hat Atelier")
![‘Witch Hat Atelier’ Creator, Coco Star on How the Anime Exceeded Expectations
As far as contemporary anime is concerned, the “big three” fantasy series have finally been christened, thanks to the wondrous arrival of the last in its holy trinity on Crunchyroll: Bug Films’ absolutely magical adaptation of Kamome Shirahama‘s beloved manga, Witch Hat Atelier. At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion. Kamome Shirahama’s Brushbuddy. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSGVFk9w5qA[/embed] Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9URbx38AIY[/embed] io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most. Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up. io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward. Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA1sPU4F1n4[/embed] io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why? Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese. Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu0qoRHqDt8[/embed] io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps? Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion! Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
Witch Hat Atelier is streaming on Crunchyroll, and season two is in production. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Witch #Hat #Atelier #Creator #Coco #Star #Anime #Exceeded #ExpectationsAnime,Anime Expo,Bug Films,Kamome Shirahama,Witch Hat Atelier](https://i0.wp.com/gizmodo.com/app/uploads/2026/07/kamome-shirahama-witch-hat-atelier.jpg?ssl=1 "‘Witch Hat Atelier’ Creator, Coco Star on How the Anime Exceeded Expectations
As far as contemporary anime is concerned, the “big three” fantasy series have finally been christened, thanks to the wondrous arrival of the last in its holy trinity on Crunchyroll: Bug Films’ absolutely magical adaptation of Kamome Shirahama‘s beloved manga, Witch Hat Atelier. At Anime Expo 2026, io9 got to speak with Shirahama and Coco’s Japanese voice actor, Rena Motomura, about how Bug Films utilized its production delay to deliver an adaptation that honored, and occasionally outshone, the artistry of its source material, what keeps the anime community’s newly adopted daughter so optimistic in an insane world, and whether Pointed Cap witches or Brimmed Caps have the best sense of fashion. Kamome Shirahama’s Brushbuddy. © Isaiah Colbert/io9 Isaiah Colbert, io9: During the anime’s delay, Bug Films announced that certain scenes needed additional time and attention, hoping the anime would be as big as The Lord of the Rings for anime fans. What scenes from this season exceeded your expectations?
Rena Motomura: There are so many scenes that exceeded my expectations. But in episode one, at the end, when Coco’s screaming, “Mom,” and then Qifrey takes her up into the sky as the magic is being triggered, they’re skyward and having that moment together—I saw a bit of it in the teaser—but when I saw it in the anime episode, it made me so emotional. I saw exactly how my sensei’s world was being brought to life in anime form, and how the frames were coming together to tell this story. That’s when I knew with great conviction that we were going to have something really special on our hands.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSGVFk9w5qA[/embed] Kamome Shirahama: This was really talked about a lot, but episode five, for me personally, when I saw it, I was super wowed. It made me really feel like I was watching a film in the theater. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9URbx38AIY[/embed] io9: Shirahama‑sensei, your live‑tweeting during the broadcast has delighted fans—especially when you pose questions about characters as if you didn’t write them. Which aspects of the anime were your favorites to see realized on screen—and for Motomura‑san, which scenes were the most memorable or rewarding for you to record as Coco?
Shirahama: Yeah, for sure. There’s things that you can see in the anime that the manga doesn’t contain—certain elements that make the world more expansive, more brilliant, more rich, and colored. Those are the things I was looking forward to the most. Motomura: For me, it’s the last scene in the dragon maze when Coco has this realization that her actions have put everyone into danger and she’s tearing up, saying, “I’m really sorry that this happened.” Up until that point, she’s been really cheerful. Really sort of outgoing. But then you realize that deep inside her heart, she’s been carrying a lot of this anxiety and worry that’s just piling up. As I was playing the character through the scene, it reminded me of how, through episodes one to three, there must have been a lot of internal thoughts—a lot of anxiety and worry. And that part I empathize with. I started tearing up doing the scene. And even when I look back on it now, I start tearing up. io9: For many, Coco embodies hope and determination, even when the world around her feels overwhelming or insane. How does each of you interpret the way her character maintains that sense of glowing optimism, and what does she represent to you within the story?
Shirahama: Coco’s greatest motivation is her love for magic. Even when she faces situations that are fearful or scary, she knows that’s not all there is to magic. And she knows that there’s hope. And she holds on to that hope as her core belief. And that’s what moves her forward. Motomura: Coco has this enormous admiration for magic. I think as long as she holds on to that admiration, she’ll be able to keep moving forward. In the story, I believe her existence is like the mast of a ship. She is a very certain presence in the story, and deep inside her heart—at her core—she holds on to this admiration for magic that’s going to carry everything forward.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA1sPU4F1n4[/embed] io9: This season introduced a variety of intricate, hand-drawn spells. Of the spells featured so far, which one stands out as your personal favorite, and why? Motomura: For me, it’s the very first spell that Coco came up with for herself—the straight arrow that carries her up into the sky in her time of need as she’s flying upwards. I really felt like this spell was an embodiment of her personality. In this moment, she has nothing. She has no skills, no knowledge, nothing. But she has to do something. So she comes up with this spell to help her get out of a tough situation. The name, too, is super cute. I believe Shirahama-sensei named it 空すっ飛び (sorasuttobi/Skysoaring Seal) in Japanese. Shirahama: For me, it’s the spell that Qifrey casts in episode six when they’re trying to have a picnic in the rain, so he creates this bubble where the rain can’t touch them. I’m so jealous because we get a lot of rain in Japan, and I feel like that would be a great spell to have when you have to walk your dog in the rain.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu0qoRHqDt8[/embed] io9: If you had to choose—based on fashion alone, no morals at play—would you see yourselves more as the Pointed Cap witches in Witch Hat Atelier or one of the Brimmed Caps? Motomura: Oh! That’s a very difficult question. But personally, I have a bit of an ambition for the Brimmed Caps because ever since I was a child, I thought those kinds of hats were very cool. And then when I came into the world of Witch Hat Atelier, the fact that they cover their face so they can practice forbidden magic, I was like, “Oh, that is so cool.” I know that, morally speaking, as Coco, it’s a questionable answer. But I really like the Brimmed Caps…just as fashion! Shirahama: (Laughs) I feel like the Brimmed Caps might be more popular in a place like California, where you guys get so much sun. For me, personally, I really like the silhouette of the Pointed Caps, so I prefer those.
Witch Hat Atelier is streaming on Crunchyroll, and season two is in production. io9 is on the ground at Anime Expo 2026. We’ll be bringing you updates on all the biggest panels, screenings, and announcements, plus exclusive one-on-one interviews with the people behind some of the best and most popular anime around. You can check out all of io9’s Anime Expo coverage here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. #Witch #Hat #Atelier #Creator #Coco #Star #Anime #Exceeded #ExpectationsAnime,Anime Expo,Bug Films,Kamome Shirahama,Witch Hat Atelier")
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