Yoshitaka Amano Unveils Trailer for New Anime **ZAN** at Anime Expo 2026

Legendary Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano appeared as an honored guest at Anime Expo 2026 in Los Angeles to present the world-premiere trailer for ZAN, an original dark-fantasy anime based on his 2010 art book *Deva ZAN*. The project is being produced by Amano’s newly formed U.S.-based studio, Yoshitaka Amano Inc., and the trailer debuted on the convention floor, signaling the series’ entry into full-scale animation production.

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Amano’s studio emphasizes “hand-drawn animation, line by line, by human hands.” To realize this, he assembled a roster of veteran creators: directors Masashi Ikeda (known for *Inuyasha* and *Gundam Wing*) and Toru Yoshida (*Armored Trooper VOTOMS*, *Gundam SEED*); principal animator Moriyasu Taniguchi (*VOTOMS*, *Samurai Champloo*); series composer Ryosuke Takashi (*The Fable*); writer Yuya Takashima (*The Fable*, *Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury*); and art directors Kunio Okawara (*Time Bokan*, *Mobile Suit Gundam*) and Minoru Nishida (*Kill Bill*, *Doraemon: Nobita’s Dinosaur*). Ikegami notes that the team includes “over 30-40 people” spanning multiple generations of animators.

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In an io9 interview, Amano stressed that *ZAN* is his own original work, contrasting it with earlier adaptations such as *Angel’s Egg* and *Vampire Hunter D*. He said the project feels “a newly fresh start” while preserving the original spirit, even as “techniques and tools have changed over those 10 years.” CEO Hiroaki Ikegami explained that the animators joined the effort because they are “big fans of Amano-sensei” and wanted to create his animation. Amano reflected on the reunion of industry legends who “never worked with Amano-sensei because their studio was dedicated to other animations,” now collaborating after “20-30 years.”

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The convergence of multiple anime veterans under Amano’s hand-drawn philosophy marks a rare “band-back-together” moment, bridging the medium’s classic era with contemporary production methods. By launching *ZAN* at a major U.S. convention, Amano positions the series to reach both longtime fans and a new generation, potentially influencing future collaborations that prioritize traditional animation techniques.

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• “The techniques and tools have changed over those 10 years.” — Yoshitaka Amano, Artist

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• “Ikegami: The other creators—the animators—joined Amano-sensei because they wanted to create Amano-sensei’s animation.” — Hiroaki Ikegami, CEO, Yoshitaka Amano Inc.

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• “Amano: (Laughs) What’s interesting is that back in the day, when I was in the anime industry, they were at other studios working on other animations.” — Yoshitaka Amano, Artist

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