It was announced on June 28th that a new original TV anime series, "LONA," based on an original story and script by Akiko Nogi , the screenwriter known for dramas such as "Unnatural" and "MIU404," and the film "Last Mile," is in production and will begin airing in the spring of 2027. On June 20th, a countdown for a "mysterious new anime" began on a special website leading up to 4 PM on June 28th, which had already generated buzz, and it has now been revealed that this anime is "LONA."
Nogi has previously worked on the screenplay for the 2022 animated film "Inu-Oh," but this will be her first time handling the original concept and screenplay for a television anime. Takashi Katagiri , who directed the animated film " Spy × Family Code: White, " will direct, and WIT STUDIO, known for " Attack on Titan" and "SPY×FAMILY," will produce the animation.
While Nogi has consistently depicted humanity and society in her works, in "LONA" she chose "neuroscience" as her theme. In a slightly futuristic, broken world, people face a new incident: they are attacked by people who should be dead. The government entrusts the Brain Neuro-Optical Analysis Laboratory (LONA) with dealing with this situation. Researcher Ao and apprentice Sango approach the mystery by analyzing the brains of the deceased. A buddy duo takes action in this near-future setting.
Top creators have come together for this project, with manga artist Posuka Demizu, known for "The Promised Neverland," providing the original character designs, and Hiroko Sebu, who has composed music for numerous films, handling the music. WIT STUDIO is in charge of both planning and animation production as the executive member of the production committee. Minako Kotobuki will play Ao, a researcher at LONA, Anna Nagase will play Sango, an apprentice researcher, and Fuka Izumi will play Mugen, a mascot who works at the LONA facility.
Nogi said, "With the overflowing talent of Director Katagiri, the vitality of Producer Yamanaka (Kazuki), the trustworthy President Wada (Takeshi), and WIT STUDIO, I've finally made it this far with this reliable team." She added, "The total number of meetings and working hours since 2020 has been enormous, enough to make me sick, and the number of staff is enormous. I'm experiencing not just awe, but terror at how incredibly difficult it is to make an anime. We want to create expressions that only anime can achieve! So, we're challenging the brain and the world, set in the large synchrotron radiation facility that I've always admired. Stay alive. Please look forward to it!"
On June 28th, WIT STUDIO, Nogi-san, and the anime's official X account released a countdown-style teaser visual. There were three types in total: a visual depicting coral with a blue reflection in its eyes, a visual of LONA, and a visual depicting "a certain object" that holds the key to the story. A teaser commercial depicting a near-future setting modeled after SPring-8 at the RIKEN Institute in Harima Science Park City, Hyogo Prefecture, and a teaser PV featuring Ao and coral were also released on YouTube.
◇Staff (titles omitted)
Original Story & Screenplay: Akiko Nogi Nogi▽Director: Takashi Katagiri ▽Original Character Design: Posuka Demizu▽Character Design: Yudai Iino▽Sub-Character Design: Ayumi Yamada, Keisuke Okura▽Image Design: syo5▽Art Setting & Mechanical Design: Satoshi Takabatake, Kazushi Fujii▽Art Director: Yumiko Kuga▽3DCG Director: Shigenori Hirozumi▽Director of Photography: Kentaro Minegishi, Miori Miyagi▽Editing: Kiyoshi Hirose (editz)▽Color Design: Kanami Tanaka▽Sound Director: Shoji Hata▽Music: Yuko Sebu▽Animation Producer: Kazuki Yamanaka▽Planning & Animation Production: WIT STUDIO
◇Cast (titles omitted)
Blue: Minako Kotobuki ▽Coral: Anna Nagase▽Infinity: Fuka Izumi
◇Comment from Akiko Nogi, the original story writer and screenwriter
With the overflowing talent of Director Katagiri, the vitality of Producer Yamanaka, the trustworthy President Wada, and WIT STUDIO, we have finally made it this far with this formidable team. The total number of meetings and working hours since 2020 has been nauseatingly enormous, and the number of staff members is enormous. Making anime is truly awe-inspiring, even terrifying. We aim to create expressions that only anime can achieve! With the setting of a large synchrotron radiation facility, which I have always dreamed of, we will challenge the brain and the world. Stay alive. Stay tuned!
◇Comments from Director Takashi Katagiri
Something that only happens once in a lifetime has happened. We've been able to make an anime based on a script by Ms. Nogi. I think many people had a faint hope that this would happen. I was one of them. I remember the excitement I felt when I first read the script as if it were yesterday. And I'm envious of all of you who will be watching this anime from now on. You'll all be able to have the same experience I did! LONA is interesting. Please look forward to it!
◇Comment from Posuka Demizu, the original character designer
I approached this project with the goal of creating characters who truly live and feel like they're here. Exploring the characters' inner lives while designing them was challenging, but it allowed me to become deeply immersed in the project. Initially, I was amazed by the world-building, and I couldn't stop reading the script from the very beginning!
◇Comment from character designer Yudai Iino
I was truly surprised when I was asked to work on LONA as a character designer. At the same time, I was worried about whether I could handle it. However, as I got to know the work better, I became more positive. Please give LONA your support.
◇Comment from musician Hiroko Sebu
In recent years, I've been personally deeply impressed by the fascinating expressive power of animation, and I've been wanting to do more music for animation. Then, at the Academy Awards ceremony, Ms. Nogi invited me to work on this project. What a wonderful coincidence! Surrounded by everyone at WIT STUDIO, Director Katagiri, and others who are simply enjoying the creative process, I'm having an absolutely fantastic time!
◇Comment from animation producer Kazuki Yamanaka
Six years have already passed since the project was launched in 2020. We started out wondering how we were going to turn this into a film, but we've had so many meetings and so much back and forth. It's finally taking shape, and we're almost ready to show it to everyone. Production is still in full swing. Led by Katagiri-kun and Iino-san, we're working hard every day, thinking and challenging ourselves to live up to Nogi-san's scriptwriting power. Thankfully, we have a lot of reliable and creative staff members. We're confident that we can deliver this to you with this amazing production team! Just 10 more months!!! Please wait!!!
◇Comment from Takeshi Wada, President and CEO of WIT STUDIO
So many people have come together for the story written by Akiko Nogi. The story begins with people trying to solve big mysteries by analyzing very small things, a story born from interviews at SPring-8 in Harima, Hyogo Prefecture. Each and every frame that is gradually completed exceeds my expectations and I am amazed every day, thinking, "This is so good!" To celebrate WIT STUDIO's 15th anniversary, we bring you the original television animation "LONA"!
◇Comment from Minako Kotobuki, who plays the role of Ao
I'm Minako Kotobuki, and I'll be playing the role of Ao. I'm also one of the people who were drawn to "LONA." During the audition, I was deeply moved by the passionate and warm message I received from director Katagiri and scriptwriter Nogi about their commitment to this project. It's an original work, and I was touched to see how much everyone respects each other and works together towards the same goal. Now that the voice recording has begun, I'm happy to be a part of this team. I hope you'll join the "LONA" team too.
◇Comment from Anna Nagase, who plays the role of Sango
When I first read the project proposal at the audition, I was drawn in by the words "brain," "thoughts of the dead," and "bright light," and I was immediately captivated by the world of the story. I remember feeling excited with anticipation for this unknown tale. When I learned that Akiko Nogi was the original creator and screenwriter, my desire to participate grew even stronger, and I gave my all at the audition. I am so happy to be able to play Sango. I myself am very much looking forward to seeing what fate awaits Sango in the future. I hope you all look forward to it as well!
◇Comment from Fuka Izumi, who plays the role of Mugen
I'm Fuka Izumi, and I'll be voicing Mugen. Mugen! Just who is he...?! He's big and cute! The story is exciting and intriguing, and it's a tale woven by people connecting with each other in a world where "something" seems to be at play, and the developments that will surely arise because of that "something"... I'm really looking forward to creating this work together with top creators and for everyone to see it! Thank you!
