The upcoming Once Upon a Witch's Death anime has cast Hina Youmiya as Sophie Hayter, with new visuals also released. The film stars Sophie and the main character, Meg, who are both participating in the 'Another World Festival', an annual event in the town of Lapis.
Additionally, the official website describes Sophie as a witch the same age as Meg. She is always calm and collected but has a weakness for food. She performs dazzling magic shows at festivals across the country. The anime is scheduled to premiere in 2025.
New image of Once Upon a Witch's Death featuring Sophie (CV: Hina Youmiya)
The anime previously revealed an image of Fine Cavendish. Studio EMT Squared is producing the anime with Atsushi Nigorikawa as director. Keiichiro Ochi is writing the script while Yukishizuku is responsible for adapting Chorefuji's character designs. The main cast includes:
Yoshino Aoyama as Meg RaspberryYoshiko Sakakibara as FaustMiharu Hanai as CarbuncleAina Suzuki as Snow OwlRumi Okubo as Fine Cavendish
Saka's novel began appearing on the Kakuyomu website in October 2019 and ended in August 2022. Kadokawa is publishing a print version with illustrations by Chorefuji. There is also a manga adaptation by Kenu Amearare.
Yen Press has licensed the novel Once Upon a Witch: The Tale of a Thousand Tears of Joy in English and they describe the story as follows:
On Meg's seventeenth birthday, she learns that she only has one more year to live. Her mentor—the Eternal Witch, Faust—explains that she is cursed and that the only way to save herself is to plant a seed of life with a thousand tears of joy. Of course, such tears do not come easily. As Meg begins her journey, she finds herself drawn into the lives of her friends and neighbors in ways she never imagined. By sharing their burdens and using her magic to comfort them, she realizes how precious those moments of connection can be even in the face of death.
Source: Official website
©Saka/KADOKAWA/Production Committee until a witch dies