WIT STUDIO｜A New Original Anime Project LONA Premieres in Spring 2027

A New Original Anime Project ――

Original Story & Screenplay
Akiko Nogi (Unnatural, MIU404, LAST MILE)

Director
Takashi Katagiri(SPY × FAMILY Code: White)

Produced and Animated by
WIT STUDIO (Attack on Titan, SPY×FAMILY)

Premieres in Spring 2027

WIT STUDIO has announced that LONA, a brand-new original anime series created by acclaimed screenwriter Akiko Nogi (Unnatural, MIU404, LAST MILE), directed by Takashi Katagiri (SPY×FAMILY CODE: White), and produced and animated by WIT STUDIO (Attack on Titan, SPY×FAMILY), is set to premiere in Spring 2027.

Alongside the announcement, three teaser visuals, a teaser trailer and teaser commercial previews have also been unveiled, offering fans their first glimpse into the series' mysterious world.

◆Acclaimed Creative Team Assembles for LONA, Premiering in Spring 2027

LONA, a brand-new original television anime series, is officially set to premiere in Spring 2027.

The series is conceived and written by acclaimed screenwriter Akiko Nogi, whose credits include the award-winning crime dramas Unnatural and MIU404, as well as the blockbuster film LAST MILE. Known for her nuanced portrayals of individuals and contemporary society, Nogi turns her attention to the field of neuroscience in LONA, crafting a near-future story centered on a new duo navigating an evolving world.

Animation planning and production will be handled by WIT STUDIO, the acclaimed animation studio behind globally celebrated titles such as Attack on Titan and SPY×FAMILY.

Directing the series is Takashi Katagiri, who garnered international attention with his feature directorial debut, SPY×FAMILY Code: White. Original character designs are provided by renowned manga artist and illustrator Posuka Demizu, best known as the artist behind the internationally successful series The Promised Neverland. The score will be composed by Hiroko Sébu, whose emotionally resonant and genre-spanning works have enhanced numerous live-action films. Serving as animation producer is Kazuki Yamanaka, whose previous credits include global hits such as SPY×FAMILY and Bubble.

Bringing together leading creators from across multiple creative disciplines, LONA represents WIT STUDIO's latest ambitious original production. As the lead company overseeing both project development and animation production, the studio aims to deliver a wholly new experience for audiences worldwide.

◆Three Teaser Visuals and Two Promotional Videos, Including a Teaser
Trailer and Teaser Commercials, Have Been Revealed

Today, the complete set of three teaser visuals was unveiled via the official X accounts of WIT STUDIO (@WIT_STUDIO), original creator and screenwriter Akiko Nogi (@nog_ak), and the series' official account (@LONA_animation).

The teaser visual released by WIT STUDIO focuses on Sango, one of the two main protagonists and a researcher at LONA. Reflected in her eyes is Ao, another researcher at the institute, hinting at the connection between the two characters.

The visual shared by Akiko Nogi's official account showcases the Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis (LONA), the neuroscience research facility at the heart of the series. Packed with meticulously crafted details, the artwork invites viewers to speculate about the mysteries, characters, and events that may unfold throughout the story.

The series' official LONA account also revealed a visual featuring a mysterious object believed to hold significant importance within the story. Just what this enigmatic element signifies remains a mystery, heightening anticipation for future announcements.

Alongside the official announcement, two promotional videos offering an early glimpse into the world of LONA were unveiled.

The first is a teaser commercial showcasing the series' near-future setting, which draws inspiration from the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility operated by the RIKEN(Institute of Physical and Chemical Research) in Harima Science Garden City, Japan.

The second is a teaser trailer featuring the series' protagonists, Ao and Sango, as they confront the lingering thoughts and unresolved emotions left behind by the deceased. The video also marks the first appearance of the characters in animated form, offering viewers an initial taste of LONA's neuroscience adventure.

With Akiko Nogi's intricately crafted storytelling and WIT STUDIO's signature visual artistry, LONA brings together some of the most acclaimed creators working in Japanese animation today. As an all-new original television anime series set to premiere in Spring 2027, further details on the project will be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates as LONA continues its journey toward its highly anticipated debut.

Akiko Nogi
Akiko Nogi is an award-winning Japanese screenwriter best known for the acclaimed dramas Unnatural and MIU404, as well as the feature film LAST MILE. Her work has also received international recognition, including nominations for the Golden Nymph Awards at the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival for FENCE and for Best Writing at the 50th Annie Awards for her screenplay adaptation of INU-OH.

Comment from Akiko Nogi (Original Story & Screenplay)
“With the immensely talented Director Takashi Katagiri, the energetic producer Kazuki Yamanaka, the unwavering support of President George Wada, and the entire WIT STUDIO team, we have finally reached this point. Since 2020, we have spent an overwhelming amount of time developing and refining the project alongside an incredible number of staff members. Through this process, I have come to truly appreciate the immense dedication and effort required to create an animated series.

Driven by a desire to explore forms of expression possible only through animation, we have set our story against the backdrop of a large-scale synchrotron radiation facility—a place I have long been fascinated by—as we take on the mysteries of the brain and the world around us. Stay alive!”

Takashi Katagiri
Takashi Katagiri is an animation director and episode director affiliated with WIT STUDIO. He has contributed to numerous productions, including Hello WeGo!, Great Pretender, and Bubble. Katagiri served as assistant director on the television anime series SPY×FAMILY before making his feature directorial debut with SPY×FAMILY Code: White.

Comment from Takashi Katagiri (Director) "Something happened that I never imagined I would experience in my lifetime: I had the opportunity to bring an anime screenplay written by Akiko Nogi to the screen.

I know many fans have quietly hoped to see that happen someday. I was one of them. I still remember the excitement I felt when I first read the script as vividly as if it were yesterday.

And honestly, I'm a little envious of everyone who will be watching this series for the first time. You'll get to experience the same feeling I had when I first encountered this story.

LONA is truly something special. We can't wait to share it with you, so please stay tuned and look forward to its premiere!"

WIT STUDIO

Founded in June 2012, WIT STUDIO is a Japanese animation production company renowned for globally acclaimed hit series such as Attack on Titan and SPY×FAMILY. The studio has also actively developed original animated works, including Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress and GREAT PRETENDER.

In 2026, WIT STUDIO launched new television anime productions including Agents of the Four Seasons: Dance of Spring,Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 3: Adopted Daughter of an Archduke, and Candy Caries. Looking ahead, the studio is also preparing for the 2027 release of THE ONE PIECE.

LONA

■INTRODUCTION
Original TV Anime Series by Akiko Nogi and Takashi Katagiri Premieres in Spring 2027!

Director Takashi Katagiri who attracted attention with the theatrical release of SPY×FAMILY Code: White has teamed up with Akiko Nogi, screenwriter of numerous hit titles such as Unnatural, MIU404, and The Last Mile, to produce the original TV anime LONA.

Posuka Demizu, the acclaimed manga artist and illustrator famous for The Promised Neverland, will be in charge of the original character designs. A star-studded team of top creators from across various media has assembled for the project, including Hiroko Sébu, who has composed music for countless films. Animation production will be handled by WIT STUDIO, the studio behind Attack on Titan and SPY×FAMILY. Kazuki Yamanaka, known for his work on SPY×FAMILY and Bubble, will serve as the animation producer. WIT STUDIO will take the helm as production committee, overseeing both the planning and production of the anime.

A neuroscience adventure series depicting researchers confronting their world by connecting with the unresolved emotions left behind by the deceased.

■STORY

A broken world in the not-so distant future. Humanity is facing a new incident.

"We're being attacked by humans who should be dead."

The government has decided to request a specialized organization to deal with this situation. The Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis, commonly known as "LONA." Researcher Ao and her apprentice Sango will try to get to the bottom of the mystery by analyzing the brains of the dead.

What do people think of, and what do they leave behind before they die? Countless memories engraved in the neural circuits. What did they see in those deep depths?

■STAFF
Original Story & Screenplay : Akiko Nogi
Director : Takashi Katagiri
Original Character Design : Posuka Demizu
Character Design : Yūdai Iino
Sub-Character Design : Ayumi Yamada, Keisuke Ōkura
Image Design : syo5
Art Setting & Mechanical Design : Satoshi Takabatake, Kazushi Fujii
Art Director : Yumiko Kuga
CG Director : Shigenori Hirozumi
Directors of Photography : Kentarō Minegishi, Miori Miyagi
Editor : Kiyoshi Hirose (editz)
Color Design : Kanami Tanaka
Sound Director : Shōji Hata
Music : Hiroko Sébu
Animation Producer : Kazuki Yamanaka
Planning & Animation Production : WIT STUDIO

■CAST
Ao : Minako Kotobuki
Sango : Anna Nagase
Mugen : Fūka Izumi

■Premieres in Spring 2027
■Copyright ©WIT STUDIO/LONA COMMITTEE
■LONA official website https://LONA-animation.com/
■LONA official X account https://x.com/LONA_animation
■WIT STUDIO Offcial X account(@WIT_STUDIO) https://x.com/WIT_STUDIO
■WIT STUDIO Offcial YouTube https://www.YouTube.com/@witstudio3461

#LONA
©WIT STUDIO/LONA COMMITTEE