The world premiere of Leviathan took place Friday evening in Petree Hall at Anime Expo 2025, featuring an exclusive screening and behind-the-scenes panel led by co-producers Qubic Pictures and Studio Orange. The event showcased the series’ first episode ahead of its global Netflix debut on July 10, followed by an in-depth conversation about the international collaboration behind the production.
Justin Leach and Yoshihiro “Nabe” Watanabe opened the panel, followed by a special message from director Christophe Ferreira. Fans were then treated to the exclusive screening. Audience reactions reflected deep immersion, with audible gasps, laughs, and applause punctuating key emotional and action-driven moments, signaling the momentum the series will build as it unfolds.
After the premiere, Leach and Watanabe revealed that Qubic developed the series over five years, with Studio Orange joining three years into the process. From the beginning, both studios prioritized honoring the source material while reimagining it as a true global collaboration. “One of the most important parts of this journey was making sure we were telling the story right,” said Leach. “And that meant staying true to the spirit of the original while building something for a global audience.”
Rather than using a traditional Western production model where tasks are delegated across teams, Qubic took a more integrated approach, inviting Studio Orange to collaborate directly on the story development from the outset. “It helps that we’re not just exchanging scripts or storyboards over email,” Nabe added.
The panel also explored the visual contrast between the show’s two central factions: the industrial Clankers and the bioengineered Beasties, each brought to life with distinct aesthetics. Ferreira grounded each fictional nation in real-world visual references, drawing inspiration from Scotland, Istanbul, Paris, and New York to create layered, believable environments.
At the heart of Leviathan are two young characters from opposing sides of the conflict, a fugitive prince and a girl in disguise, whose journey aboard the living airship Leviathan forms the emotional core of the series. The creators emphasized their focus on character development and casting, which includes top-tier voice talent such as Ayumu Murase (Haikyu!!) and Natsumi Fujiwara (Spy x Family). The original score by Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi features additional compositions from legendary Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke). “Music is 50 percent of the show if not more,” Leach shared, emphasizing its impact on tone and storytelling.
To close the panel, the team shared exclusive production frames from future episodes, offering fans a sneak peek at what lies ahead. “It’s very meaningful to come here and share what we’ve been working on,” said Leach in closing. “Leviathan has always been about bridging worlds, and that’s exactly how we’ve built this series.”
Leviathan’s full 12-episode season will stream exclusively on Netflix starting July 10, 2025, inviting viewers worldwide to dive into this thrilling steampunk adventure.
Qubic Pictures
Qubic Pictures is an international animation production company dedicated to bridging Japanese and Western storytelling. With offices in New York and Tokyo, Qubic fosters long-term creative partnerships across Japan and North America, bringing together world-class talent to develop groundbreaking animated content.
Qubic is known for pioneering cross-cultural collaborations and industry firsts, including introducing crowdfunding to the anime industry with Masaaki Yuasa’s Kick-Heart and launching Eden, Netflix’s first wholly owned original anime series, based on an original pitch by Qubic. The company has collaborated with top creators and studios on projects that span genres and borders, including Star Wars: Visions, Eden, and Leviathan.
With a focus on craftsmanship, innovation, and global storytelling, Qubic Pictures continues to produce bold, unforgettable anime that resonates with audiences around the world.
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