WIT STUDIO's Kyoji Asano Traces Seven Bears Design to Manami Hyuga
Character designer Kyoji Asano, who handled the Seven Bears designs for Odoru Daisosasen N.E.W. Run Through the Metropolis!, says the concept came from producer Chihiro Kameyama and director Katsuyuki Motohiro. Pride was designed first. The evil soul bursting from a plush toy's abdomen draws on Manami Hyuga, and Asano also describes a hidden bear-people backstory that was cut.