The official account for LONA has brought its three teaser visuals together in a new post, offering another look at the characters, research facility, and central mystery of WIT STUDIO’s original anime.
The images were initially revealed on June 28, 2026, alongside the first promotional videos. LONA is scheduled to begin broadcasting in spring 2027.
Quick Summary
- Official title: LONA
- Full name: Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis
- Format: original television anime
- Genres: science fiction, mystery, drama, and neuroscience adventure
- Broadcast window: spring 2027
- Exact premiere date: not announced
- Broadcaster: not announced
- Streaming platforms: not announced
- Episode count: not announced
- Latest post: compilation of three teaser visuals
- Original visual reveal: June 28, 2026
- Scene01: Sango with Ao reflected in her eye
- Scene02: the LONA research facility
- Scene03: an unidentified object central to the story
- Main characters: Ao and Sango
- Supporting character: Mugen
- Ao: LONA researcher
- Sango: apprentice researcher
- Mugen: mascot active inside the facility
- Ao voice actor: Minako Kotobuki
- Sango voice actor: Anna Nagase
- Mugen voice actor: Fuka Izumi
- Original story and screenplay: Akiko Nogi
- Director: Takashi Katagiri
- Original character design: Posuka Demizu
- Animation character design: Yuudai Iino
- Music: Hiroko Sebu
- Animation producer: Kazuki Yamanaka
- Planning and animation production: WIT STUDIO
- Research-facility inspiration: SPring-8 in Hyogo Prefecture
- Production status: ongoing
- International license: not announced
Official Post, Teaser PV, Commercial, and Visuals
Three Images Present Different Layers of the Setting
The latest official post does not introduce a fourth visual. It brings together the three images originally released with the anime’s June announcement.
Scene01 focuses closely on Sango. Ao appears as a small reflection inside her eye, visually connecting the two researchers before their relationship has been fully explained.
Scene02 depicts the Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis. Equipment, documents, workspaces, and several people create the impression of an active scientific institution rather than a conventional military base.
Scene03 shows a hand reaching toward a luminous green space. The production team has only identified its central object as something important to the story, leaving its name and purpose unknown.
The three accompanying phrases refer to penetrating light, the LONA laboratory, and reaching into the deepest layers of memory.
Ao and Sango Analyze the Brains of the Dead
LONA takes place in a damaged world in the near future. Humanity faces a new incident in which people are attacked by humans who should already be dead.
The government asks a specialized organization—the Laboratory of Optics and Neural Analysis—to investigate.
Ao works as a researcher at LONA, while Sango serves as her apprentice. They approach the mystery by analyzing the brains of deceased people.
Their work allows them to encounter memories engraved within neural circuits. The central question is not limited to how the dead can attack the living, but extends to what people think and leave behind before death.
The official description presents LONA as a neuroscience adventure about researchers confronting their world through the unresolved feelings of the deceased.
Akiko Nogi Writes an Original Story for Animation
Akiko Nogi provides the original concept and screenplay. She is known for Japanese drama and film projects including Unnatural, MIU404, and Last Mile.
Nogi has said that development began in 2020. The project uses animation to explore ideas and imagery that would be difficult to realize through live action.
Takashi Katagiri directs the series after previously directing SPY x FAMILY CODE: White and contributing to several WIT STUDIO productions.
The original character designs come from Posuka Demizu, the illustrator of The Promised Neverland manga. Yuudai Iino adapts those concepts for animation.
Hiroko Sebu composes the music, while Kazuki Yamanaka serves as animation producer. WIT STUDIO leads both planning and animation production.
SPring-8 Inspires the Research Facility
LONA’s central facility is inspired by SPring-8, a large synchrotron-radiation complex located in Harima Science Garden City in Hyogo Prefecture.
The real facility uses high-intensity X-rays to examine matter at extremely small scales. The anime develops that scientific concept into fictional technology capable of reaching neural circuits and human memories.
The teaser commercial combines live-action footage of the facility with LONA’s futuristic imagery. The animated teaser focuses more closely on Ao, Sango, Mugen, and the process of entering layers of memory.
LONA is not a documentary about SPring-8. The real facility provides visual and scientific foundations for its fictional setting.
Three Main Cast Members Are Confirmed
Minako Kotobuki voices Ao, the LONA researcher leading the investigation.
Anna Nagase plays Sango, an apprentice who enters the world of memory beside Ao. Scene01 places her at the center of the promotional artwork.
Fuka Izumi voices Mugen, the large mascot operating inside the facility. Its true identity, abilities, and origin remain unknown.
Additional characters have not been introduced. The personal history between Ao and Sango, LONA’s complete organizational structure, and the cause of the attacks remain secret.
Why This Matters
1) The story is being created directly for animation
LONA is not adapted from a manga, novel, or game. There is no source material revealing the answers to its mystery in advance.
2) Neuroscience drives the central investigation
Memories and neural circuits are not merely visual motifs. They form the method used by the protagonists to investigate the dead.
3) Each teaser visual serves a different purpose
Scene01 emphasizes character relationships, Scene02 establishes the workplace, and Scene03 introduces the unknown depths of memory.
4) Its creative team crosses several forms of media
Akiko Nogi brings crime-drama writing experience, Posuka Demizu creates the original characters, and WIT STUDIO translates the concept into animation.
Anime Information
The important details currently known are:
- LONA is an original television anime
- it is scheduled for spring 2027
- the exact date and episode count remain unknown
- Akiko Nogi created and wrote the story
- Takashi Katagiri is directing
- WIT STUDIO handles planning and animation
- Posuka Demizu created the original character designs
- Yuudai Iino handles animation character design
- Hiroko Sebu composes the music
- the story follows Ao and Sango
- they analyze the brains of deceased people
- the world faces attacks by people who should be dead
- the LONA facility draws inspiration from SPring-8
- three teaser visuals and two promotional videos are available
- Minako Kotobuki, Anna Nagase, and Fuka Izumi lead the announced cast
- broadcasters and streaming services remain unannounced
- official details are available through the LONA anime website
- updates are published through the official LONA X account
- production information is available through WIT STUDIO
Closing
LONA’s three teaser visuals introduce its characters, scientific workplace, and the mysterious depths of human memory.
The original anime begins broadcasting in spring 2027. Its exact premiere date, additional cast, theme songs, broadcaster, streaming platforms, and episode structure remain unannounced.
- Official X — Three Teaser Visuals and Scene Descriptions
- Official Anime Website — Story, Staff, Cast, Visuals, and Spring 2027 Broadcast Window
- Official Announcement — Initial Reveal and Detailed Descriptions of the Three Teaser Visuals
- Official Announcement — Teaser PV, Teaser Commercial, and SPring-8 Inspiration
- WIT STUDIO — Official Production Credits and Story Information
- WIT STUDIO YouTube — Official LONA Teaser PV
- WIT STUDIO YouTube — Official LONA Teaser Commercial
- Animate Times — Visual Details, Creator Comments, Staff, and Cast
