A big part of the appeal of an anime is the animation. Animation is an excellent medium that sets it apart from the black and white format of manga. This is why there are more anime watchers than manga readers. Some of the best animation studios of this decade include Ufotable, CloverWorks, Madhouse, Sunrise, TMS Entertainment, MAPPA and the star of this blog, WIT Studio.
WIT Studio, Inc. is a Japanese animation company founded in 2012. The studio can be considered a grant from IG Production since IG producer George Wada is the president. Tetsuya Nakatake, another Production IG producer, works as a director for WIT. For this reason, they have no trouble finding great projects.
The WIT name itself is branding for the anime adaptation, because you just know you’ll be getting something visually stunning. Fans may not like the story, but they can never complain about the animation quality. It’s strange that it’s a grant from Production IG, a company often criticized for its works, that can start something so well.
The list below is not a ranking. These are just a few personal picks from their best works. Most are well-known shows, while others are definitely worth checking out. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
WIT Studio’s Best Works:
1. Attack on Titan
We have to start with The attack of the Titans because this show put WIT on the map. If you have read the Attack On Titan manga, you can understand how WIT enhanced the illustrations and added spectacular shots. They nailed character designs and action sequences, while moving through the streets via ODM gear. A notable feature among all of this is the amount of intensity and life that WIT was able to bring to a character’s eyes.
They even added extra scenes to make the storytelling more compelling. This is also the reason many fans were upset when the anime was picked up by MAPPA for Season 4. Creative differences were pointed out, among other reasons for the change.
This is not to say that MAPPA is doing a bad job. In fact, it’s a studio worthy of taking over the reins of such a massive series. But WIT had a charm of its own.
2. After the rain
Perhaps WIT Studio’s most underrated work is After the Rain. It won’t be surprising if many don’t know that WIT created this series. After the Rain or Koi wa Ameagari no Yō ni is an unconventional love story where a high school student named Akira Tachibana falls in love with someone much older than her. Akira was a former athletics student, but due to an injury she had to quit the team. She now works part-time in a family restaurant and falls in love with its 45-year-old manager, Masami Kondo.
The series has a unique animation style, and thanks to WIT Studio, it has become worthy of a screenshot. They were able to perfectly capture the wholesome characters and scenery and elevated the anime immensely. It’s a great watch overall.
3. Great Pretender
good suitor is a crime comedy and is a Netflix Original series. WIT did an amazing job with the animation and brought the characters to life in the best possible way. The series features gunfights, car chases, foot chases, and airplane races, all of which are fun and intense, thanks to the efforts of the animators.
One season was released, with 23 episodes in total. The episodes are categorized into cases, each having a different story with the same characters. Each case was released with a gap of one or two months on Netflix.
4. Seraph of the End
WIT Studio was able to bring in its talented animators for the adaptation of this dark fantasy series. Seraph of the end tells the story of a world plagued by vampires and other demonic creatures. Although it doesn’t stand out like other works, the animation is crisp and the characters and story are compelling. WIT Studio shines with the continuous attack sequences where the camera follows a character as they take down enemies, and they managed to bring that to this series as well.
5. Vivy: Fluorite Eye Song
Vivy: Flurorote Eye Song is another anime where WIT really showed his abilities. The story took place in a world where AI existed. The scientists concluded that AI could only be functional if given a single mission to devote their lives to. With this in mind, many robots have been designed, and among them is the main character, Diva. Diva was created as a singer who can make people happy with her songs. However, Diva’s goals change when an A.I. from 100 years in the future named Matsumoto arrives and tells her that the A.I. has hatched a plan to eradicate humanity.
Vivy has it all: interesting characters, an engaging story, action sequences, songs, and jaw-dropping animation. It should definitely be on your “to watch” list.
Also read: Vinland Saga Season 2 will be hosted by MAPPA
6. The Vinland Saga
Vinland Saga is a show that deserves to be in the ranks of The attack of the Titans but unfortunately did not receive the same publicity. WIT did a fantastic job animating this Viking story, which is also a coming of age story. It tells the story of an innocent child who is filled with revenge when his beloved father is brutally murdered in front of him. He embarks on a journey with his father’s killers, learns to fight and has the experience of a lifetime.
The story that begins in the snowy plains of Iceland, to the journey across the sea, to the mysterious place called Vinland, was a real sight to behold. WIT perfectly captured the scenes, action and emotions of the characters with their animation.
7. Ranking of kings
Ranking of Kings or Ranking Ousama is another anime that does not give off the vibe that it was animated by WIT. But it’s very appropriate to the genre it belongs to. The anime is about a little prince named Bojji who is deaf and mute. He is also seemingly naive, as he never seems to be affected by all the visible criticism he receives when he declares his dream – to become the greatest of kings.
It’s a fun and touching show to watch, and the animation and attention to detail that WIT has put together makes all the difference.
8. The Ancient Magus’ Bride
This is a romantic slice-of-life story set in a supernatural world. Japanese orphan high school student Chise Hatori decides to auction herself off in order to find a new home. She ends up being auctioned off in London to a seven-foot mage named Elias Ainsworth. He takes her on as an apprentice and decides that she will be his future wife.
The animation is just as beautiful as you can imagine, and WIT has done a fantastic job. The characters come to life in spooky, beautiful, and wonderful ways, and you’ll start wishing for more seasons. Fortunately, there are OVAs.
9. Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress
Kabaneri is a series that resembles Attack on Titan in many parts. It can also be compared to the Hollywood franchise Snowpiercer. The story takes place in a steampunk setting during the industrial revolution. A mysterious virus begins to turn humans into kabane, or corpses. Infected people are turned into zombies that can only be killed if their heart is pierced or their head is cut off. The main character Ikoma is semi-infected and becomes a kabane-human hybrid, gaining the name kabaneri. When the virus takes hold of a huge population, a group of survivors board a train called the Iron Fortress and continually on the move, stopping only for emergency supplies.
The series is filled with exhilarating action sequences and wondrous scenery and lives up to WIT. The series is a real feast for the eyes and binge-worthy. Plus, the animation will blow your mind.
10. Empire of Corpses
Unlike the others, The Empire of Corpses is a film based on novels written by Project Itoh. It’s a sci-fi adventure set in an alternate 18th century Britain. It tells the story of the resuscitation of a corpse discovered by Victor Frankenstein, but unlike the classic story of Frankenstein’s monster, here the reanimated corpse could think, feel, and speak. But his original creation is destroyed and a new device called “Necroware” is used, but it made the corpses unable to speak, feel or think. They are then used as labor by industries.
The movie has an animation similar to Kabaneri and takes you on a fantastic and terrifying journey. The main character is John Watson, who wants to resurrect a dead friend. Many historical figures appear in the story, and it’s a globe-trotting adventure that takes you to multiple locations. Animation never fails once and WIT Studio has done a wonderful job.
Also read: Dr. Stone is about to complete 5 years of publication!
