'Akira' creator Katsuhiro Otomo launches new studio as 'Orbital Era' anime moves forward

Katsuhiro Otomo, the creator of Akira, has launched a new animation studio that appears to hint at progress on his long-awaited anime film Orbital Era.

The new company, called Oval Gear, recently launched its official website, which includes imagery linked to Orbital Era, a project first announced in 2019.

While the site does not directly confirm a production update, its homepage banner features a cosmonaut character associated with the previously revealed film.

Otomo originally announced that he would write and direct Orbital Era with animation studio Sunrise attached to the project. Since then, very little information about the film has been released publicly.

The About section on the Oval Gear website outlines the studio’s creative goals and future plans. The page states, “This studio was established with the aim of passing on the visual expression and authorship that Katsuhiro Otomo has cultivated over many years to the next generation, and to disseminate new animation works to the world.”

The website also includes a recruitment section for job openings, suggesting that the studio is actively hiring staff for upcoming productions. According to the site, Oval Gear is currently working on a new anime project and plans to release more information in the near future.

Anime fans have closely followed developments around Orbital Era since its announcement, particularly because Otomo has not directed a major anime feature in more than a decade. His last credited anime release was the opening short for the 2013 anthology film Short Peace.

Otomo remains best known for Akira, the manga series published between 1982 and 1990. He later wrote and directed the 1988 animated adaptation, which became one of the most influential anime films worldwide.

The launch of Oval Gear has now renewed speculation among fans that Orbital Era could finally move closer to production after years of limited updates.