Witch Hat Atelier Episode 11 Review: The Second Test Begins at Last

Witch Hat Atelier Episode 11 Review: As the spotlight shifts to another young witch, Richeh’s hidden feelings begin to surface. Meanwhile, a new challenge puts the Richeh’s and Agott’s skills to the test.

Witch Hat Atelier Episode 11 Review

Who was the focus of this episode?

This anime does not rely on just one or two main characters, and that became apparent after all these episodes had been released. In the previous episode, we saw the conflict within Tartah, and this time, it was Richeh.

What is up with Richeh?

From the very beginning, Richeh came off as an aloof and disinterested character who cared about others, but also tried to keep a low profile. She did not chase glory in the magic field like Agott, and her relationship with magic is a bit different from what Agott has. Early on, we realise that she does not really like others’ magic. Apparently, she wants to live upon her own magic that she develops. Other than that, she is also not very fond of magical spells.

Did Coco become better at magic?

In the beginning, Coco and Qifrey discuss magic and how Coco can be better at it. Qifrey tells her how her straight lines are very good, and she is particularly great at drawing them. He also tells her that her mastery lies in spells that she comes up with randomly, rather than memorised ones. This makes Coco very excited that there is something she is particularly good at.

How does Coco find out about Richeh’s secret place?

While chasing a distraught Richeh, Coco lands in her secret place that can be accessed through magic. Here, Richeh spends her time alone and even showcases something that she created out of her own magic. Coco complements her on this, and she grows closer to Richeh than she was before.

Later, we also see that Richeh had a big sister with whom she was very close; however, that sister had to leave. Possibly, this was the reason Richeh hated certain magic.  

Do we get to see the beginning of the second phase of the exam for the witches?

Yes, the second phase of the exams begins in this episode, and we learn about the important rules and regulations. A proctor clarifies that, like a knight, a witch must protect a designated person. Then they will have to escort them safely through a cave. The Cave is shaped like a serpent and is very complicated to navigate. There is another important rule: others must not see the witches cast a spell.

How can the participants begin the exam?

Here, they were given a kind of magical cloak that could hide them while casting their spells. This makes the situation far more difficult as they will have to draw magic under the cloak.

Does Coco participate in the exam?

No, Coco does not participate in the exam as she is way too new for this. However, Richeh and Agott take part, and soon they realise just how difficult it is.

What worked here?

Richeh is an interesting character to focus on, as we have not seen much of her. It would be interesting to see why he hates certain spells so much. Other than that, we did not go into much depth story-wise.