Legendary Final Fantasy Artist Discusses New Anime and Hand-Drawn Art
Originally published Jul 8, 2026
By James Galizio · Kotaku
AI-generated summary based on Kotaku · Aggregated by GamingCurve · Human-reviewed and approved on Jul 8, 2026
Key points
- Yoshitaka Amano is leading a new anime project called ZAN, created entirely with hand-drawn animation.
- The project features veteran animators and artists, many over 60 years old, emphasizing traditional techniques.
- A new production company in Los Angeles will develop Amano's IP into an international brand, with ZAN set for a 2028 or later release.
Yoshitaka Amano, renowned for his work on Final Fantasy, is leading a new anime project called ZAN, which is being created entirely by hand-drawn animation. The project, based on an artbook published in 2013, features a team of veteran animators and artists, many over 60 years old. A short pilot film was shown at Anime Expo 2026, highlighting the team's commitment to traditional hand-drawn techniques. Amano also announced the formation of a new production company in Los Angeles to develop his intellectual property into an international brand. The ZAN series is slated for a 2028 or later release, with additional unannounced projects in development.
Read the original story: Kotaku — by James Galizio