WIT Studio Reveals Original TV Anime 'LONA' for Spring 2027
This marks the first original TV anime from screenwriter Akiko Nogi, known for live-action hits, and pairs her with the director of a major theatrical anime and a studio that has built a reputation for high-profile adaptations.
Reporting from 6 sources: Eiga Natalie, Comic Natalie, Denfaminicogamer, Cinema Today, and 2 more.
WIT Studio announced a new original television anime, 'LONA', on June 28. The series is set to premiere in spring 2027. The original concept and screenplay are by Akiko Nogi, known for the dramas 'Unnatural' and 'MIU404' and the film 'Last Mile'. Takashi Katagiri, director of 'SPY×FAMILY CODE: White', is directing. Posuka Demizu, the artist of 'The Promised Neverland', provides original character designs. The story is a brain science adventure set in a near-future world where people are attacked by the dead. The government tasks a specialized organization, the Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis (LONA), with investigating. Researcher Ao and trainee Sango analyze the brains of the deceased to solve the mystery. The facility is modeled after the SPring-8 synchrotron at RIKEN in Hyogo Prefecture. The main cast includes Minako Kotobuki as Ao, Anna Nagase as Sango, and Fuka Izumi as the mascot Mugen. Music is by Yuko Shibuya. Animation producer Kazuki Yamanaka, who worked on 'SPY×FAMILY' and 'Bubble', leads production. Three teaser visuals and two trailer videos were released alongside the announcement.
The project began development in 2020, animation producer Kazuki Yamanaka said, adding that production is still in full swing with 10 months until broadcast. Yamanaka described the team as "strong and creative" and said they "think and challenge ourselves daily to not lose to Nogi-san's script power."
WIT Studio president Joji Wada noted the series arrives in the studio's 15th year. He said each completed piece of footage "surpasses my imagination" and that he is "amazed daily."
Nogi said the total meeting and work time since 2020 has been "nauseatingly enormous" and that she is "experiencing fear beyond awe at how hard it is to make anime." The facility in the story is modeled after the SPring-8 synchrotron at RIKEN in Hyogo Prefecture, a location Nogi said she "always admired."
Director Takashi Katagiri called the collaboration "a once-in-a-lifetime thing" and said he remembers "the emotion when I first read the script like it was yesterday." Posuka Demizu said she "couldn't stop reading the script from the start" and worked "to create characters that feel alive and living here."
Music composer Yuko Shibuya said Nogi invited her to the project at the Academy Awards ceremony. Shibuya said she had been thinking she "wanted to do more animation music" and called the timing "a wonderful coincidence."
Voice actress Minako Kotobuki said recording has started. Anna Nagase said she was "drawn to the words 'brain,' 'thoughts of the dead,' and 'strong light'" during the audition. Fuka Izumi described her character Mugen as "big and cute" and said the story "tickles my curiosity."
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 6 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Eiga Natalie 野木亜紀子×WIT STUDIO×片桐崇による完全新作TVアニメ「LONA」来春放送、脳科学がモチーフに
- Comic Natalie WIT STUDIOオリジナルアニメ「LONA」来年春放送、キャラ原案は出水ぽすか
- Denfaminicogamer 野木亜紀子氏が原案・脚本のオリジナルTVアニメ『LONA』が2027年春に放送決定！WIT STUDIOがアニメーション制作を担当
- Cinema Today 野木亜紀子が原案・脚本、TVアニメ「LONA」2027年春放送！『SPY×FAMILY』監督＆ WIT STUDIOとタッグ
- KAI-YOU 野木亜紀子 原案／脚本のオリジナルアニメ『LONA』2027年春放送 WIT STUDIO制作、監督は片桐崇
- Anime Corner WIT STUDIO Announces Original TV Anime LONA for Spring 2027, Reveals Staff, Cast, and First Trailer