Quick Impressions
Witch Hat Atelier‘s soundtrack, much like the contents of the anime itself, vacillates between the warm, lackadaisical mood and the more intense, discordant tension-filled moments. To paint this world aurally, composer Yuka Kitamura makes use of traditional instruments like the duduk, tin whistle, and bamboo flutes to draw listeners into the anime’s medieval fantasy setting.
But whether she’s successful in that endeavor depends on how you feel about the execution. The tracks on this album suitably get the job done, blending in with the visuals and action taking place on screen. Which is to say, I found Witch Hat Atelier‘s soundtrack to be atmospherically appropriate but hardly memorable.
Part of the reason is that the leitmotif prefers to stay more in the background. The opening track “Voice of Magic” takes its time to introduce its theme to listeners. The payoff is decent, with the duduk and the whistle alternating between taking charge of the melody. But when you compare it to something like Frieren, it’s not nearly as momentous in a way that would have your jaw drop in awe.
Beyond the main theme, there are a mix of cheery tracks like “Spells That Bring Happiness” that bathe your ears in quiet contentment and coziness like in “A Gentle Moment” which is warm and serene as it moves at a quiet pace at first before turning a bit jauntier. The brighter, more optimistic tracks are this album’s strong suit.
The discordant tracks… not so much. It feels a bit unfair to compare this to Frieren once more since “Zoltraak” is such a banner with its whirlwind of energy that Witch Hat Atelier‘s offerings pale in comparison. It’s hard to feel impressed by the dark and foreboding aura of “The Onslaught” or “Peril’s” discordance. The style it takes is one well trod, and it didn’t bring a whole lot to the table.