Orange Anime Productions Are Connected: From Land of the Lustrous to Leviathan

At Anime Expo 2025, animation studio Orange gave fans a rare look behind the scenes of their creative process. Led by producer Yoshihiro Watanabe, the panel explored the deep ways in which Orange anime productions are connected, using past experiences to enhance current and future projects. The session featured exclusive previews from Leviathan, their upcoming anime, and behind-the-scenes stories from BEASTARS, Land of the Lustrous, and Trigun Stampede.

The topic of a sequel to Land of the Lustrous quickly came up when Watanabe showed a visual from the anime. He responded, “I get asked this every time. It’s not decided yet, but many of the original animators are still with us. If the opportunity comes, we’d love to do it.”

The Shared DNA of Orange’s Work

Watanabe also introduced Eiji Inomoto, the studio’s chief CG director and a key figure behind Orange’s visual identity. “If you’ve seen Phos moving in a certain way, that’s Inomoto’s animation. He’s played over 40 roles in BEASTARS,” Watanabe shared.

Throughout the panel, Watanabe emphasized that Orange anime productions are connected through shared techniques, technological advancements, and team collaboration. While each series has its unique world and story, the foundation often comes from past experiences.

He used BEASTARS as a case study, explaining how animators analyzed the muscular structure of humans, dogs, and wolves to achieve realistic yet stylized character designs. Despite having existing 3D models, more facial controls had to be added to express a wider range of emotions. Even the smallest assets — like a simple stool — are given detailed attention.

One short 2-to-3-minute scene from BEASTARS required six months of work by six people, showcasing how much effort goes into their process.

Leviathan: The Next Evolution of Orange’s Animation

Leviathan, Orange’s latest original project, was another major highlight. Watanabe welcomed Justin Leach, Executive Producer at Qubic Pictures, to help present the anime. According to the pair, Leviathan has been in development for five years, with Watanabe involved for the last three.

They shared early concept art and model designs, giving fans a taste of the vast new world they’re building.

Watanabe explained that Land of the Lustrous laid the groundwork for much of what Leviathan is accomplishing. At the time, Orange lacked the tools to animate mouths effectively, so characters’ mouths were hand-drawn over 3D models. That limitation led to the creation of Automorph, a tool that streamlined facial animation.

Still, technology alone isn’t enough. Animators manually fine-tune scenes to maintain natural expression, as some camera angles are still difficult to render due to software constraints. As tools evolve, so does the quality of their storytelling.

From Trigun to Leviathan: Building Continuity Across Projects

Watanabe reinforced the studio’s philosophy that Orange anime productions are connected — not just artistically, but structurally. What the team learns in one series carries over to the next. Elements refined in Leviathan will influence their upcoming project, Trigun Stargaze.

While no official announcements were made, Watanabe teased the crowd with a behind-the-scenes photo of animation director Shunsuke Aoki carrying a mysterious box. “They’re working on something Trigun-related right now. Imagine what’s in the box,” he said with a smile.

Studio Orange’s approach proves that innovation doesn’t start from scratch — it evolves from experience. From Land of the Lustrous to Leviathan, the thread of growth is unmistakable.

via Você Sabia Anime