With each passing day, the world is gradually becoming aware of the potential of storytelling through the animated medium. After the exemplary success of Arcane from the French animation studio Fortiche, France is back again with yet another ambitious project, Dragon Striker.
This time, they’ve shaken hands with Disney to produce their first-ever anime. The studio behind this project is, once again, a French studio, La Chouette Compagnie, which is already a huge reassurance for fans. However, what makes this project even more exciting is that some of their staff have worked on episodes of One Piece and My Hero Academia.
Your favorite anime artists are making Dragon Striker!
Despite originating from Japanese anime studios, both One Piece and My Hero Academia have established their reputations as individual franchises and have been dominating the global entertainment industry for decades. These two anime have significantly influenced Western pop culture, showcasing what animation is capable of.
So, it came as quite a shock when Charles Lefebvre, the founder of Studio Chouette, revealed that some of the team had even worked on past episodes of My Hero Academia and One Piece. To prove it, they even showed off some key poses, describing how on the show, the animators were fully in charge of their shots.
So, to work with the very artists who worked for Toei Animation and Studio Bones, it must have been a pleasure for Disney. It shows that Disney is not just playing around; they are going all in. After all, even the world now knows no one does 2D animation better than these Japanese creators.
Whether it’s with recent Netflix anime adaptations or other original works, people tend to hire Japanese artists to make their projects truly authentic. French animation studios are also engaging in this trend while maintaining their own involvement, which suggests there is still potential for further growth in the industry.
They even got Kevin Penkin for the series’ soundtracks
Those who are aware of Kevin Penkin’s godly soundtracks in anime such as Made in Abyss, Tower of God, or the recent Spice and Wolf adaptation know the man is on par with some of the best music composers in the anime media. Despite being of Australian origin, Penkin’s love for anime allowed him to work on such high-profile projects.
Now, Disney’s attempt to include Penkin for Dragon Striker‘s sound composition also went successfully. So, besides having MHA and One Piece artists now, the series looks even more promising with Penkin’s golden tracks to hear.
The first teaser look that we’ve gotten to witness for Dragon Striker is making fans even more hopeful for another legendary run for this French studio. Disney’s first-ever attempt to bring a Japanese-style anime with a Western touch may just be the next big industrial revolution in animation.
Dragon Striker is set to debut in 2026 on Disney Channel and Disney+.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
