Wit Studio Production Company - Attack on Titan
Wit Studio, Inc. Ltd. (株式会社ウィットスタジオ Kabushiki-gaisha Witto Sutajio) is an animation studio based in Japan and founded on June 1, 2012 by the producers of Production I.G as a subsidiary of IG Port. The studio is located in Musashino, Tokyo with George Wada and Tetsuya Nakatake, both producers of Production I.G, as current president and director of Wit Studio respectively. Even though the studio isn’t a singular organization but a subsidiary of Production I.G at the time of establishment, through one of its first projects, the Attack on Titan television anime and the movies, the studio was quick to become a significant and important
Establishment
Wit Studio was founded in the year 2012 by George Wada, a former employee of Production I.G. After establishment, it took a full year before the studio actually could release its first main works such as Hal and Attack on Titan. Tetsuya Nakatake was designated as the representative director of the studio and following him, several other former Production I.G staff members joined the new studio after its foundation. This included Kyoji Asano, Satoshi Kadowaki and Tetsuro Araki. All of whom played vital roles in the production and release of the Attack on Titan series.
This studio was founded with an initial investment of 30 million yen in capital from the mother company Production I.G, Wadar and Nakatakan. In total they are reported to own 66.6%, 21.6% and 10.0% equity in Wit Studio shares respectively.
Works
Over the years, Wit Studio has produced a variety of animation works such as television series, films, and OVAs/ONAs. In addition the studio has also worked on video games and music videos.
Here is a brief history of the works from Wit Studio to date.
Television Anime series
2013-ongoing: Attack on Titan, directed by Tetsuro Araki. It is the original series based on the Attack on Titan manga written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama.
2014-2015: Hozuki’s Coolheadeness, directed by Hiro Kaburaki. It is an adaptation from the manga of the same name by Natsumi Eguchi.
2015: The Rolling Girls, directed by Kotomi Deai. It is an original work of Wit Studio.
2015: Seraph of the End, directed by Daisuke Tokudo. It is adapted from the original manga series by Takaya Kagami.
2016: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, directed by Tetsuro Araki. It is a Wit Studio’s original work.
2017-2018: The Ancient Magus’ Bride, directed by Norihiro Naganuma. It is an anime adaptation from the manga of the same name by Kore Yamazaki.
2018: After the Rain, directed by Ayumu Watanabe. It was adapted from the homonymous manga written by Jun Mayuzuki.
2019: Kedama no Gonjirō, directed by Kenshiro Morii. This anime was co-animated with OLM, Inc.
2019: Vinland Saga, directed by Shuhei Yabuta. It is an anime adaptation from Makoto Yukimura’s manga of the same name.
2020: Great Pretender, directed by Hiro Kaburaki. It is an original work of Wit Studio.
Films
2013: Hal, by Ryōtarō Makihara. It is an original Wit Studio’s work.
2014-2015: Attack on Titan - Part 1: Crimson Bow and Arrow and Attack on Titan - Part 2: Wings of Freedom, directed by Tetsuro Araki. Both are recap films of the anime series’ first season.
2015: The Empire of Corpses, by Ryotaro Makihara. It is part of Project Itoh.
2016-2017: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - Part 1: Gathering Light and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress - Part 2: Burning Life, directed by Tetsuro Araki. It is a recap movie of the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress anime series.
2017-2018: Laughing Under the Clouds Gaiden, directed by Tetsuya Wakano. It is adapted from the manga Laughing Under the Clouds manga by Karakara Kemuri.
2018: Attack on Titan: The Roar of Awakening, directed by Tetsuro Araki and Masashi Koizuka. It is a recap film of the second season of the anime series.
2018: Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us, directed by Tetsuo Yajima. It was produced in collaboration with OLM.
2019: Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress: Unato Decisive Battle, directed by Tetsuro Araki. It is a sequel to the Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress anime series.
OVA/ONAs
2014-2015: Attack on Titan: No Regrets, directed by Tetsuro Araki. It is an adaptation of the OVA manga of the same same written by Gun Snark.
2016: Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins, directed by Kyoji Asano.
2016-2017: The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Those Awaiting a Star, directed by Norihiro Naganuma.
2017-2018: Attack on Titan: Lost Girls, directed by Tetsuro Araki and Masashi Koizuka. It is an adaptation of the Hiroshi Seko’s novel of the same name.
2019: The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil a Rún,directed by Yutaro Kubo and Satomi Tani. *The date of release and the producers are still not confirmed, but Wit Studio will animate Vampire in the Garden, an original series streaming on Netflix.
Video Games
2017: Tales of the Rays. Published by Bandai Namco and it is a mobile phone game. Wit Studio produced the opening animation and the cutscenes.
2018: Kōtetsujō no Kabaneri -Ran- Hajimaru Michiato. Published by DMM Games and it is also a mobile phone game. Wit Studio produced the opening animation.
2018: BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. Published by Arc System Works and, in this case, it is not a mobile phone game, but a console one. Wit Studio produced the opening animation as well.
Music Videos
- 2019: We’re Still Underground, by Eve. It was directed by Nobutaka Yoda.
- 2019: This World To You, by the artist Eve as well. It was also directed by Nobutaka Yoda.