This article contains spoilers for Jujutsu Kaisen.
When it comes to popular new Shonen series, Jujutsu Kaisen is definitely the biggest out there at the moment. Ever since the first season of the show dropped in 2021, it's been quite a hit, and it’s only going to get more intense as the anime gets its third season, featuring its most heated arc yet, the Culling Game. Sadly, Gojo, JJK’s most popular character, is currently sealed. This means that, in JJK Season 3, fans might not even see Gojo in the present timeline.
That said, fans can instead look forward to another character making his big debut in the same year as JJK Season 3, and that's Qifrey from the Witch Hat Atelier series. Comparisons between Qifrey and Gojo have always been rampant, and while they do have similarities, they are both their own character with intricacies that make the fans love them. That said, both are fan favorites in their respective series, and it's quite easy to see why. Fans finally got a better look at Qifrey through the new Witch Hat Atelier trailer, and they're excited to see him in action.
Gojo's Replacement Qifrey Is Making His Anime Debut In The Witch Hat Atelier Anime
Witch Hat Atelier is one of the most anticipated anime adaptations slated for 2026, and fans have been waiting years for it to finally come out. Witch Hat Atelier is a seinen manga that started serialization almost ten years ago, in 2016, and it’s definitely overdue for an anime.
The story of Witch Hat Atelier has captivated many, and it follows the adventures of the main character Coco, a young girl on the path to becoming a witch to reverse the spell she accidentally put on her mother.
While Coco is the protagonist and main focus, she isn’t the only interesting character this series has to offer. Qifrey is another fan favorite character in this series. Qifrey is a male witch who takes Coco under his wing as his new apprentice, among other girls as well. Fans know Qifrey to be the main mentor figure in the story, which is quite similar to Gojo from Jujutsu Kaisen.
Not only does he help his apprentices develop their capacities, but he is also always there to protect them from harm, which is, once again, quite similar to Gojo. Qifrey will be one of the very first characters fans meet in the show, and he will definitely grow exponentially in popularity when the anime releases.
Qifrey And Gojo Are Similar Characters But Still Have Their Differences
Witch Hat Atelier has always been a popular manga, but recent news about its anime adaptation has already done wonders to introduce it to a far larger audience than ever before. Of course, fans can't tell much from just a trailer, but it's quite clear for everyone to see that Qifrey is extremely similar to Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen.
In part, this is definitely down to Qifrey’s appearance. Qifrey, just like Gojo, is a tall and white haired man with captivating blue eyes. But even beyond that, there are other similarities. Both Qifrey and Gojo are some of the strongest of their verse, and they both take on the role of mentor and protector for the younger characters they take care of.
But no matter how many allies you have around you, when you die, you'll be alone.— Gojo Satoru
However, all of this doesn’t mean that the two are the exact same. Their personalities, for example, are pretty distinct. It is possible that Qifrey even inspired Gojo in some ways. After all, Qifrey actually came first, a few years before Gojo Satoru. Qifrey made his first appearance in the Witch Hat Atelier manga in 2016, while Gojo was first introduced in JJK’s manga in 2018. In other words, Qifrey is not a Gojo copy, as many would try to say.
When Will Witch Hat Atelier Season 1 And Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Come Out?
Fans are definitely excited for the Witch Hat Atelier series to finally receive its anime adaptation. This anime was supposed to come out in 2025, but due to some production issues, the studio chose to postpone it and work on improving the quality, which was a wise decision. The wait is finally coming to an end, as Witch Hat Atelier is coming in April 2026. While an exact release date has yet to be announced, fans will get more information soon enough.
I’ve always been a nice guy who cares for my students. — Gojo Satoru
Meanwhile, Jujutsu Kaisen will also have a huge release in 2026. Indeed, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is just months away now, and it might just be the most anticipated anime of 2026. Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 already has a release date, and it’s set to premiere on January 8, 2026, a few months before Witch Hat Atelier.