Yoshitaka Amano, the legendary artist behind the iconic character designs of the Final Fantasy series, has officially entered production on a new dark-fantasy anime project titled ZAN. The announcement confirms that the project, which began as an art concept over a decade ago, is now moving forward as a full-scale animated series.
- Project: ZAN (Anime Series)
- Key Creative: Yoshitaka Amano
- Production Studio: Yoshitaka Amano Inc. (Los Angeles)
- Trailer Debut: July 3, 2026, at Anime Expo
From Art Book to Animated Series
The origins of ZAN date back to 2010 when it was first introduced as an art project titled Deva Zan. At the time, Amano produced over 300 original pieces of artwork, eventually leading to an official art book published by Dark Horse Comics in 2013. While the project was initially intended to be a 3D anime film under Amano's Studio Devaloka, the vision shifted in 2022 to transition the concept into a series.
The series will utilize a blend of Amano’s original and newly created artwork combined with hand-drawn animation. According to the official announcement, the goal is to unite veteran creators to deliver a premium work for a global audience.
A Veteran Production Team
Yoshitaka Amano Inc., a new company headquartered in Los Angeles, is overseeing the production. The team includes several industry veterans known for their work on major anime titles:
- Directors of Animation: Masashi Ikeda (Inuyasha, Gundam Wing) and Toru Toshida (Armored Trooper VOTOMS, Gundam Seed)
- Principal Animator: Moriyasu Taniguchi (Samurai Champloo, Vinland Saga)
- Series Composition: Ryosuke Takahashi (Armored Trooper VOTOMS, The Fable)
- Writer: Yuya Takashima (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, The Fable)
- Art Directors: Kunio Ogawara (Time Bokan, Mobile Suit Gundam) and Minoru Nishida (Kill Bill, Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur 2006)
The AMANO Exhibition Expansion
Beyond the anime, Amano is expanding his multisensory art exhibition, AMANO. Following successful runs in Italy and Brazil, the exhibition is slated for a wider release beginning in 2027, with plans to reach the United States, China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Japan. The experience is designed to be interactive, allowing visitors to move through both physical and digital environments. Fans attending the exhibit will also have access to limited-edition merchandise produced by the MEDICOM TOY Corporation, with operations supported by Milestone INC.
For those eager to see what Amano and his team have been working on, the teaser trailer for ZAN and a preview of the expanded AMANO exhibition are set to premiere at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles.