Akira Creator Katsuhiro Otomo Establishes His Own Animation Studio "Oval Gear"
The living legend of the anime world, Katsuhiro Otomo, has taken a giant step to carry his vision into the future. With an official announcement made on May 11, 2026, it was revealed that the master director has founded a new Tokyo-based animation studio called Oval Gear. The most exciting news from the studio is that its first feature-length film project is already in production. Although the name of the project is being kept a secret for now, the studio has already begun searching for experienced animators and production staff.
The founding purpose of Oval Gear is not just to produce new films; it is also to pass on the artistic language and technical methods that Otomo has meticulously developed over decades to the younger generation. The statement from the studio noted that the primary goal is "to instill Otomo's unique sensibility into a new generation of artists and to create original productions that will reach audiences worldwide." With this move, the 72-year-old director aims to transform his legacy in the anime industry into a permanent corporate structure.
The most discussed topic among fans is whether this new studio has any connection to the Orbital Era project, which was announced in 2019 but has been silent for a long time. The fact that the visuals used on the official Oval Gear website and social media accounts bear a strong resemblance to the concept designs of Orbital Era strengthens this possibility. Additionally, there is great curiosity about whether the new Akira anime series promised in 2019 will be revived under the roof of this new studio.
Katsuhiro Otomo turned the cyberpunk genre and Japanese animation into a global phenomenon with the 1988 film Akira. Known for his obsessive attention to detail, the director, who also directed the 2004 film Steamboy
