At Anime Expo 2026, WIT Studio and its parent Production I.G commandeered the Crypto.com Arena stage for their largest panel to date, turning the event into a celebration of past hits and a bold look ahead. President George Wada, co-founder Tetsuya Nakatake, and director Tetsurō Araki shared the spotlight with fresh footage and announcements that underscored the studio’s growing appetite for original storytelling.

The centerpiece was LONA (Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis), an original TV anime slated for spring 2027. Written by Akiko Nogi in her first original anime project and directed by Takashi Katagiri, the series follows researchers at a specialized government lab who analyze the final neural imprints of the dead to combat a terrifying new threat: attacks from humans who should no longer be alive. Original character designs come from Posuka Demizu, with a stacked crew handling everything from art direction to music.

The panel also shined a light on Candy Caries, a delightfully twisted stop-motion short series produced by WIT’s TORUKU division and already rolling out on YouTube. An English-dubbed trailer for the studio’s Netflix The One Piece remake further energized the crowd ahead of its February 2027 global debut. Wada closed by teasing Tokyo Anime Next, a new international awards initiative backed by the studio.

For a studio long associated with high-profile adaptations, the AX showcase signaled a confident step into uncharted creative territory while honoring the craftsmanship fans have come to expect.

WIT Studio Steals the Show at AX 2026 with LONA Reveal

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