Wit Studio President George Wada Says The One Piece Is Scary to Adapt, but “The Excitement Is Even Greater”

Wit Studio is taking on one of the biggest challenges in modern anime with The One Piece, a new adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga that will retell the story from the beginning. While the project gives the studio an opportunity to approach the East Blue Saga with a fresh visual style, George Wada admits that adapting such a beloved franchise comes with some understandable anxiety.

Speaking with Anime News Network at Anime Expo 2026, Wada was asked whether taking on One Piece felt scary, exciting, or both. His answer made it clear that Wit Studio understands the responsibility involved, but is ultimately more excited than nervous.

George Wada Says The One Piece Is Scary, but Excitement Wins

“We’re really excited,”

Wada explained. He used the Japanese expression “waku waku” to describe the feeling before acknowledging that there is also fear and anxiety involved in taking the franchise somewhere new.

“But the excitement is even greater than that,”

Wada said. He added that this feeling is fitting because excitement and heading toward an unknown adventure are also central ideas in One Piece itself.

Wada previously described One Piece as

“one of Japan’s most precious manga”

and said he is looking forward to seeing how The One Piece reaches modern audiences. The new series is not intended to replace the existing anime but offers another way for viewers to experience Oda’s story.

Wit Studio Wants to Bring One Piece to More Viewers

The One Piece will begin with the East Blue Saga and is scheduled to premiere globally on Netflix in February 2027. According to Wit Studio, the first season will cover roughly the first 50 manga chapters across seven episodes, taking the story through Luffy’s meeting with Sanji.

The remake also gives Wit Studio the opportunity to apply the animation philosophy that has guided its work since Attack on Titan. Wada said the studio wants to pursue “forms of expression that can only be achieved through animation,” a principle he believes remains consistent across its projects.

That approach could be particularly important for The One Piece, where Wit Studio will have to balance familiarity with a distinct visual identity.

Attack on Titan Helped Shape Wit Studio

Wada also reflected on Attack on Titan, which was Wit Studio’s first project. He revealed that it was the only project considered for the newly established studio at the time, partly because he felt the manga was a perfect match for director Tetsuro Araki.

Looking back, Wada said Attack on Titan helped Japanese anime reach audiences around the world and allowed more people to recognize the strengths of Japanese animation.

Wit Studio has since grown substantially. Wada said the company went from six people to more than 300 and credited the team’s increasing ability to trust one another as an important part of that growth.

For now, The One Piece represents another major challenge for the studio. With its February 2027 Netflix premiere approaching, Wada’s comments suggest that while Wit understands the pressure surrounding the remake, the excitement inside the studio is considerably greater than the fear.