One of the newest established anime studios in the industry, Studio Wit was formed in 2012 by George Wada, formerly a producer at Production I.G. Studio Wit would go on to release its first televised anime just a year later -- the landmark Attack on Titan.
However, although AoT may be Wit’s best-known production to date, the studio has produced a dozen or so other shows so far, a handful of which are just as striking, and/or arguably far less overrated. From both historical and futuristic sci-fi action to fantasy, drama and even slice-of-life romance, Studio Wit has something to offer just about any viewer.
The Ancient Magus' Bride/Mahoutsukai no Yome (2017-18)
Chise Hiyori, a 15-year-old Japanese girl, has given up on living any kind of happy life when she is abandoned by her family and sold in chains at an auction. However, her buyer -- a mysterious ‘masked’ figure -- turns out to be a reclusive magician named Elias Ainsworth who lives in rural England, in a picturesque cottage surrounded by fairies and all other manner of fairytale-like creatures. As Elias’ apprentice, Chise’s life is about to change forever.
It’s almost a shame that the plot of The Ancient Magus' Bride moves so fast; as thrilling as its more dramatic scenes are, the series truly shines when it’s given the chance to showcase its more ‘mundane’ slice-of-life scenes, especially those that involve not only Chise and Elias but also Ruth, Silky/Silver and others. Nonetheless, the anime is undoubtedly unique, and in its quieter moments, also highly poignant.
After the Rain/Koi wa Ameagari no You ni (2018)
Akira Tachibana is a self-contained high school student and former track runner, who has since retired from her sport despite her immense talent due to a major foot injury. After taking a part-time job at a family restaurant, she develops feelings for the restaurant’s manager -- a kindly yet far older man named Masami Kondou.
Viewers who are leery of watching a romance with such a large age gap and a potentially predatory relationship needn’t fear -- After the Rain’s characters are both complex and genuinely likable, and Kondou spends much of the series completely oblivious to Akira’s intense yet entirely one-sided crush. Moreover, the storytelling is all about showing rather than telling, and is backed up by vibrant, sophisticated artwork that really helps to sell the anime. Less a love story than a coming-of-age one, After the Rain is a surprisingly subtle but still incredibly heartfelt title that definitely deserves a look.
Vinland Saga (2019)
A historical action/adventure series set primarily in 1013 AD England, Vinland Saga follows the exploits of Thorfinn, a teenager who becomes part of a band of cutthroat warriors after the murder of his father. Bloody drama and political intrigue abound as the story involves several real-life historical figures such as Thorfinn Karlsefni, Leif Erikson and Cnut the Great.
Vinland Saga isn’t just for those who went through a Viking phase as kids -- in fact, despite being an action/adventure piece, the anime gets extremely dark at points and doesn’t spare any of its characters from their unforgiving setting or frequently grisly events surrounding them. That said, the tone is usually well balanced, and there’s an impressive amount of attention paid to the everyday social and cultural aspects of the story, which greatly adds to its gritty realism.
Great Pretender (2020)
Makoto "Edamame" Edamura is a small-time conman in Japan, living a life of smooth-talking, pick-pocketing crime -- that is, until he runs into Laurent Thierry, a seemingly naïve tourist who turns out to be a fellow conman and criminal mastermind. After being conned by Laurent himself, Makoto is dragged to Los Angeles, where he agrees to accompany him so they can determine which of them is the better scammer.
Taking place in various cities around the globe, Great Pretender is a vibrant and vivacious series that’s never afraid of upping the ante to create absolute spectacles of its individual stories. Veering sharply between humor, drama and action, Great Pretender does best when it sticks to its comedy -- although that certainly doesn’t mean the show is all laughs and no heart. While its first story arc is easily its strongest, the anime is an infectiously fun title all-around, and absolutely not to be missed by viewers who tend to enjoy heist stories.
Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song (2021)
In a world where AI are not only commonplace but a necessary component of modern society, an AI songstress named Diva performs every day at a theme park, programmed with the mission to “make people happy” through her singing. However, when another AI called Matsumoto suddenly appears, claiming to be from 100 years in the future where AIs have begun to violently eradicate humanity, Diva is convinced into helping him prevent such a future from eventuating.
Vivy opens with a bang and takes viewers on a wild ride through multiple time-skips and major world events, but its pacing is largely spot-on, progressing fast enough to keep viewers invested while not sacrificing character development. While not necessarily unique in terms of story, the series is deep enough to remain intriguing throughout its run, aided by some excellent voice acting and perhaps a surprising amount of depth given the show’s action-packed nature.
