Before Wit Studio became known for Attack on Titan, Vinland Saga, Ranking of Kings, and SPY x FAMILY, the studio was a newly established team facing the challenge of making its first production. According to president George Wada, there was never much debate about which series should launch the studio.
Speaking with Anime News Network at Anime Expo 2026, Wada revealed that Attack on Titan was the only project considered for Wit Studio’s first anime. The decision helped establish the studio’s identity and eventually connected its work with audiences around the world.
Attack on Titan Was the Only Choice for Wit Studio
Wada explained that he believed Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan manga was an ideal match for director Tetsuro Araki. Wit Studio had only just been established, and Wada saw a connection between the studio’s own situation and the story of humanity confronting seemingly impossible obstacles.
“I felt that the story of our new animation studio and the story of Attack on Titan were somehow in sync with each other,”
Wada said during the interview.
When asked directly whether Attack on Titan was simply the first project Wit Studio considered or whether other possibilities were discussed, Wada gave a remarkably straightforward answer:
“It was the only one.”
That choice proved significant. Wada said he believed the story’s themes could resonate internationally, particularly its idea of people needing to venture beyond familiar boundaries to gain something new.
Wada Credits Attack on Titan With Helping Anime Go Global
Looking back nearly 14 years later, Wada admitted that nobody at the newly formed studio expected Attack on Titan to become the global phenomenon it eventually became.
He specifically described the series as significant because it helped
“Japanese anime spread around the world”
and gave international audiences a greater understanding of what Japanese animation could accomplish.
The success also shaped the creative philosophy Wit Studio continues to follow. Wada said the studio wants to pursue
“forms of expression that can only be achieved through animation,”
a principle that has remained consistent from Attack on Titan through its upcoming The One Piece adaptation.
Wit Studio Has Grown From Six People to More Than 300
Wada also discussed how Wit Studio has changed since its Attack on Titan beginnings. The studio started with just six people and has since grown to more than 300.
According to Wada, learning to trust and respect the ideas of other creators has played an important role in that growth. He believes the team’s strength comes from understanding that nobody can think or work exactly like another person.
That philosophy will now be tested again with The One Piece, which Wit Studio is preparing for release in February 2027. Wada acknowledged that adapting one of Japan’s most beloved manga comes with some fear and anxiety, but said the excitement is ultimately greater.
For Wit Studio, the journey that began with Attack on Titan is now leading to another massive franchise. The studio’s first project may have been a single choice, but its global impact helped shape the company that exists today.
