‘Akira’ Creator Katsuhiro Otomo Launches His Own Studio and a New Anime Is Already in Production
Few names carry as much weight in the world of animation as Katsuhiro Otomo. The visionary artist behind ‘Akira’ has shaped the visual language of anime so profoundly that his influence can be traced through decades of science fiction storytelling, from cyberpunk aesthetics to the brooding mythology of modern action series. When Otomo moves, the industry pays attention.
Otomo first rose to prominence as a pioneer of the New Wave manga movement in the 1970s, going on to create the landmark ‘Akira’ manga in 1982 and its celebrated 1988 animated film adaptation, which remains one of the most studied and beloved works in animation history. Among his many accolades, he received the Grand Prix de la ville d’Angoulême in 2015, becoming the first manga artist ever to win the award. Despite this legendary status, his feature film output has been remarkably sparse, making any new project an event in itself.
Otomo has now announced the founding of a brand new feature animation studio called OVAL GEAR, based in Tokyo, with its first title already in production and an active hiring call out for animators and production staff. The studio was established for two distinct purposes: to pass on to a new generation the filmmaking methods and authorial sensibility Otomo has cultivated over decades, and to produce new animated works intended for global release.
OVAL GEAR launched its official website alongside the announcement, posting recruitment notices for roles including in-between animators, animation checkers, and production staff, with the recruitment notice specifically referencing the planning and production of a feature-length theatrical animation. Details about the new project itself have not yet been formally disclosed, but the visual language of the studio’s branding is already sparking significant speculation among fans and industry observers.
The logo for OVAL GEAR bears a strong resemblance to the art Sunrise unveiled for ‘Orbital Era’ in 2019, though there has been no official confirmation that the studio’s debut project is connected to that previously announced film. Otomo had originally revealed ‘Orbital Era’ at his Anime Expo panel, describing it as a space science-fiction story following the coming of age of youths on a space colony across four seasons of the year, with Otomo personally handling the original concept, screenplay, design work, and direction. The project went largely quiet after that announcement, leaving fans waiting for any sign of movement.
Otomo’s body of work beyond ‘Akira’ includes the 2004 feature ‘Steamboy’, contributions to anthology projects like ‘Memories’ and ‘Short Peace’, and collaborations on titles such as ‘Roujin Z’, ‘Spriggan’, and ‘Metropolis’. The launch of OVAL GEAR suggests that rather than partnering with an established production house, Otomo is choosing to build the infrastructure for this next chapter on his own terms, retaining full creative authority over whatever comes next.
For anime fans who have spent years wondering when the creator of one of the medium’s defining works would return with something truly new, the establishment of OVAL GEAR is the clearest signal yet that the wait may finally be coming to an end. Whether or not the new project turns out to be ‘Orbital Era’ or something entirely unexpected, the question now is whether you think Otomo working under his own banner could produce the defining anime film of this era.
