Latest news with #ScottWesterfeld
The Review Geek
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Has Leviathan been renewed for Season 2? Here's what we know:
Renewed or Cancelled? Leviathan is the latest anime on Netflix, sporting thrills, drama and adventure across its 10 episodes. Having watched the first season in its entirety, you may be wondering if this one has been renewed or cancelled. Well, wonder no more! What is Leviathan about? Based on the novels by Scott Westerfeld, Leviathan is a steampunk anime set in an alternate 1914 at the onset of World War I, where the world is split between two technological superpowers. The Clankers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary) are pit against the Darwinists (like Britain) who engineer living creatures as weapons, including massive flying whales and airships made of bio-engineered beasts. At the heart of the story is Prince Aleksandar 'Alek', the orphaned heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now on the run after his parents' assassination. Meanwhile, Deryn Sharp, a brave Scottish girl, disguises herself as a boy to serve in the British Air Service aboard the living whale-ship Leviathan. Fate throws these two teenagers from opposite sides of the conflict together aboard the Leviathan, where they look set to change history… Has Leviathan been renewed for Season 2? At the time of writing, Leviathan has not been renewed for season 2. Generally Netflix would gauge numerous metrics before renewing a show, including how many people initially watch it and then looking at the drop-off rate. With some shows, cancellations or renewals happen quickly. Other times, it can take months before a decision over a show's future is made. So far, Leviathan has had a pretty mixed reaction online from audiences and critics alike. Given the way this show is set up, and the ending we receive, we're predicting that this will be renewed for a second season. We may be going out on a limb here, but given the recent news about Netflix's impressive anime stats, plus the fact there are two other novels to adapt, this one seems tailor-made for a multi-season arc. Completion rate is also an important point to note here too, and we do know that Netflix examine this closely with any show. It can sometimes take a while for the numbers to be collated though. However, we could be proven wrong here and there may be a massive audience for this one. For now, we'll have to wait and see what happens! What we know about season 2 so far: Barely anything is known about Leviathan season 2 at this point given Netflix haven't officially renewed or cancelled this one. Given the first season's conclusion, it does seem like it could be brought back for more drama and pick up where it left off. If Leviathan does return, expect another 10 episode season and the same style of grandiose adventure and drama from before. Until Netflix makes an official announcement, we'll keep this article updated with any new information. Would you like to see Leviathan return for a second season? What's been your favourite part of the show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Gizmodo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
How Netflix's ‘Leviathan' United Japanese Animation and Western Imagination
Leviathan, the latest collaboration between Beastars' Studio Orange and Star Wars: Visions producer Qubic Pictures, marks Netflix's entry—alongside Crunchyroll—into the realm of Western novel-to-anime adaptations, echoing a path carved by the Answer Studio's Anne Shirley. Based on Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson's 2009 steampunk alternate history of World War I (featuring mechs and living animal airships), the anime aims to go beyond a copy-paste replication of its source material. With the original creators actively involved in its production, Qubic and Orange endeavored to create an adaptation that evolves into a culturally rich, visually stunning reimagining for both old and new audiences of its fantastical story. io9 spoke with Yoshihiro Watanabe, the producer from Studio Orange, along with Justin Leach and Kat Minett from Qubic Pictures about how their collaboration to adapt Westerfeld's novel into an anime came about, the technical and artistic breakthroughs and challenges they faced in bringing the 3DCG anime to life, and whether there are plans for further projects in the world of Leviathan. Isaiah Colbert, io9: What drew Qubic Pictures and Studio Orange to adapt Leviathan's Western steampunk work into Japanese animation? Justin Leach: We were captivated by Scott Westerfeld's vivid world-building and Keith Thompson's intricate visual storytelling. Leviathan uniquely blends steampunk machinery with organic biotechnology, resonating deeply with anime's affinity for imaginative, detailed universes. The narrative's exploration of cultural exchange and identity perfectly aligns with Qubic Pictures' commitment to bridging Japanese and Western storytelling. For Studio Orange, known for pioneering cutting-edge 3D animation, Leviathan offered an exciting opportunity to showcase their distinctive visual style through the dynamic interplay of mechanical and organic aesthetics. Yoshihiro Watanabe: We were looking for the next project after Trigun Stampede at the time we were just releasing the first season of Beastars. Leviathan had wonderful and strong attractive characters that works best and also challenge new things with our storytelling and animation principles. io9: Last time Qubic spoke with io9, CEO Justin Leach mentioned that the teams collaborated with Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson on the show. What kind of input and suggestions did they bring into the anime's production to reimagine their world into the anime medium? Leach: Scott and Keith were deeply involved from the outset, offering invaluable insights into maintaining the novel's essence while adapting it into an anime format. Scott provided guidance on character depictions, narrative pacing, and character arcs to ensure emotional resonance within our adaptation. Keith's detailed visual references, encyclopedic knowledge, and original designs helped Studio Orange faithfully translate the Clanker and Darwinist aesthetics into animation, providing a strong foundation from which the studio could expand creatively while remaining true to the source material. Minett: We talked a lot with Scott and Keith in the early stages of production. They gave us a lot of advice regarding their initial inspirations and the research they did to make the books and illustrations. Scott gave us a lot of advice about the characterization and we talked a lot with Keith about the mecha and creature designs, such as what real-world elements he incorporated into designs like the Loris and the Huxley. Watanabe: From the studio side, how Scott and Keith worked with us was very encouraging as a creative ensemble. They have much respect to other creatives, bringing the best things they can to the table at the same time, very observant and precise in conducting what defines the world and characters of Leviathan. io9: Studio Orange is renowned for being one of, if not the best, animation production studios in terms of 3D animation. Leviathan features a mix of mechanical war machines and genetically engineered airships, giving the show a unique visual style compared to Orange's previous works. How did Orange approach balancing organic and industrial aesthetics in the animation design? Leach: Studio Orange aimed to create a sharp visual contrast between the Clanker and Darwinist worlds to highlight the distinct backgrounds of Alek and Sharp. For the Clankers' mechanical contraptions, Orange employed advanced 3D modeling and rigging techniques, collaborating closely with a dedicated mecha designer to meticulously integrate detailed mechanical complexity that emphasized their rigid, industrial precision. The team also worked alongside a military historian, ensuring intricate details—from buttons to military uniforms—were accurately depicted. Conversely, the Darwinist airships featured fluid, organic designs to underscore their biological and lifelike warmth. This deliberate juxtaposition between mechanical rigidity and organic fluidity not only heightened visual depth but also reinforced the narrative impact by vividly illustrating the contrasting worlds from which the characters originate. io9: What were the most significant technical or artistic challenges the team faced in bringing any of the novel's Darwinist vs. Clanker grandeur—be it the HMS Leviathan and its metal automatons or the expressive character actions of its cast—to life? Leach: A significant challenge was capturing the immense scale and intricate detailing of the HMS Leviathan in relation to the characters onboard and the various enemies Leviathan confronts throughout the series. Studio Orange developed new animation workflows to seamlessly blend dynamic interactions with subtle and nuanced emotional performances. They created an innovative system allowing animators to rotate the camera around their characters, with faces automatically adjusting to maintain a visually correct 2D anime style appearance. Artistically, portraying the grandeur of Leviathan's battles alongside intimate character-driven moments required balancing epic scale with personal narratives—an intricate yet deeply rewarding creative process. io9: Can you discuss how the team secured the collaboration with Joe Hisaishi for the original songs for Leviathan? Did his role play a pivotal role in sonically shaping the tone of the series? Leach: Collaborating with Joe Hisaishi was a dream scenario. Our team reached out early in the development process, drawn to his iconic compositions that blend emotional depth with grand thematic scales—perfect for Leviathan's rich narrative tapestry. We wanted to create a timeless, classic, and epic adventure and felt his music could serve as a vital element of the story. Joe enthusiastically embraced the vision, crafting original music that significantly shaped the series' emotional identity. His involvement was transformative, adding layers of emotional resonance that elevated pivotal scenes and the overall storytelling experience. Additionally, our composers, Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi, created their own unique, powerful, and cinematic orchestral score for the show, paying tribute to and incorporating themes created by Joe Hisaishi. Minett: The songs from Joe Hisaishi were made quite early on as they are performed by the characters within the show, so we needed to make the animation around them. From the start, the director wanted music to be a key part of the show, and the songs were windows into the characters' emotions. The music Hisaishi made fulfilled this purpose and more—setting the tone for the series. One thing in particular we wanted to achieve was to have the songs sound like they had existed for a long time as folksongs from their various cultures. We made sure period instruments and motifs were used in the creation of the songs to further enhance this point. Watanabe: Qubic brought the opportunity to work with the master, Joe Hisaishi. The music played a core element of the show's concept. In the first discussion of the music, I brought the idea of music that connects us, the one music that becomes our common language, that no matter where or who we are, it resonates with us. There is that one song, that is so influential, it makes way into every culture it crosses paths with. At times its tone and tune may change a bit so that we may not realize at first, but it connects us all. I believe that anime, animation, and music can become our common language for that moment that can connect all of us. io9: Were there any scenes or character moments that proved rewarding to adapt from the novels? Leach: Adapting the evolving relationship between protagonists Sharp and Alek proved especially rewarding. Their journey—from cautious strangers from conflicting nations to allies discovering shared humanity—captured the emotional heart of Leviathan. Visually depicting key moments, such as their initial encounters aboard the airship and pivotal battles, allowed us to fully explore their growing camaraderie and individual growth, making those adaptations deeply satisfying for both Qubic Pictures and Studio Orange. Minett: We wanted to keep the relationship between Alek and Sharp at the centre of the story, so their first meeting was an especially rewarding scene to work on. I also personally love all of the scenes with the Loris! Watanabe: There are many moments from Alek and Sharp that I cherish, especially how they realize their differences, admit one another as is, and choose the paths they continue to walk forward. When the two first meet at the cold glaciers, how their emotion and movements represents each side of warm beating Clankers and cold hard steel Darwinists, as they interact, each begin to influence the best of the elements to the other, eventually adopting those as their own Tesla's character came as a bit surprise since in the novels I did not imagine him to be as lively and fun a character as we had animated to. Hiroki Tochi, the VA of Tesla, added a much vibrant character, and hearing this, our animators had fun animating such energy that we wanted to see and hear from Tesla. io9: Should Leviathan resonate with viewers on Netflix, are there plans to adapt the rest of the trilogy into an anime series? Leach: Our series actually covers all three books; however, the richness of the Leviathan universe and depth of the trilogy's narrative are ripe for continued exploration. Should audiences respond positively—and early reactions have been encouraging—and we receive blessings from Netflix and Scott, we would be very open to creating further adventures in this fascinating world and deepening the character narratives introduced this season. Minett: When we started working on this project, it was decided that we needed to adapt all of the trilogy in one series, so we approached the project with that in mind. However, if the reception is positive and our partners are willing, we would love to see how Sharp and Alek's journey continues after the show ends— with more travel, more beasties and more mecha! Watanabe: [I] would love to hear what the viewers say after they are done with the show. io9: What do you hope audiences take away from Leviathan's story, especially with its elements touching on global conflicts within nations and young people's desire to be change makers? Leach: At its core, Leviathan explores empathy, identity, and cross-cultural understanding. We hope audiences resonate with the journey of young characters learning to see beyond national identities, discovering shared values and common humanity amidst conflict. By highlighting youthful courage and the transformative potential of mutual understanding, we aim to inspire viewers to believe in their ability to influence positive change in a divided world. Minett: Even the smallest actions can create waves of change. Leviathan is streaming on Netflix. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Leviathan' Is a Steampunk Anime Soaring With Heart, Even if Its Animation Grounds It
While anime remakes and manga adaptations, along with the occasional original project, continue to dominate the medium, a quieter trend has begun to emerge: the adaptation of Western novels. The latest addition to this movement is Scott Westerfeld's 2009 steampunk historical fiction novel, Leviathan, reimagined as a 3DCG anime by Studio Orange in partnership with Qubic Pictures of Star Wars: Visions fame. Though the 12-episode anime doesn't quite recapture the visual splendor of the studio's earlier landmarks, its deft political narrative, confident scripting, and stirring score carry it through as a prescient and worthwhile adaptation. Set in an alternate history of World War I, Leviathan's backdrop includes the added intersection of steampunk warfare and speculative sci-fi. The background tapestry of the anime features an additional conflict between 'Darwinists'—nations that wield genetically engineered beasts, such as jellyfish airships and living whale zeppelins—and 'Clankers,' industrial superpowers relying on giant mechs and futuristic machines to wage war. One half of the heart of Leviathan is Alek, a fugitive prince and heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, thrust into political exile alongside his tutors following the assassination of his father—an event that serves as the flashpoint for the global war. Naïve but well-meaning, Alek must navigate the space between royal nobility and survival under the guidance of his contrasting mentorships' tug-of-war rearing him toward warm charitability and cold pragmatism. As Europe ignites behind him, Alek travels, concealing his identity while struggling to reconcile the weight of his lineage with his inexperience with the world. The other half of Leviathan's beating heart is Deryn Sharp, a headstrong Scottish girl who pretends to be a boy so she can enlist in the British air service—not out of patriotic duty, but in pursuit of the freedom to fly the skies in a world that otherwise would deny her that liberty. When their paths converge aboard the living whale airship of the HMS Leviathan, the unlikely duo embark on a coming-of-age odyssey, deepening their bond and challenging the boundaries of their friendship-turned-Mulan-esque romance as they pursue their shared desire to take control of their destinies. Leviathan's story beautifully explores the chemistry between its characters, capturing the essence of an ensemble-driven storytelling reminiscent of series like Avatar: The Last Airbender. However, its narrative is rooted in steampunk grit rather than spiritual mysticism, and it takes some time for the show to gain its momentum. Visually, however, the series lands in a curious middle ground, where it's competent but far from arresting. Studio Orange, while no stranger to excellent CG animation with shows like The Land of the Lustrous, Beastars, and Trigun Stampede, feels unusually restrained. Leviathan feels like Orange is coloring within the lines of its source material rather than pushing against its borders. The mech and creature designs are impressively detailed on a static level, but in motion, the animation often feels hemmed in. As a result, these technical limitations make Leviathan feel like it was brought to life by video game cutscene logic that occasionally has to tighten its belt to make the magic happen rather than a fully realized, kinetic spectacle. Ironically, the most consistently striking visuals in Leviathan aren't found within its episodes but in its watercolor-style ending credits. These closing sequences showcase concept art of key moments from its concluded episodes with such vivid color, spatial depth, and expressive character work that they feel like glimpses into a more dynamic version of the show where every frame bursts with energy that its episodes only seem to hint at in retrospect. As if shooting itself in the foot, Leviathan's end credits are a bittersweet flourish that, while intended to highlight the wonder of how its anime brought its storyboards to life, underscores the pang of what could've been. Despite its visual shortcomings, Leviathan's production has notable successes. Chief among them is the quietly luminous opening and ending theme composed by the legendary Joe Hisaishi (known for works like Spirited Away and Castle in the Sky), along with a score by Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi (who have worked on Suzume, Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045, and Metal Gear Solid 4). Hisaishi's musical contributions, in particular, elevate the series with a delicate emotional resonance. His music enriches even the simplest scenes with unexpected depth and enhances battles with powerful acclaim. Notably, his opening theme, 'Paths Combine,' serves both as an overture and a musical promise, suggesting that although the show's animation may occasionally falter, its storytelling will remain strong off the muscle of Hisaishi's orchestration. While Leviathan leans on the literary strength of its source material, its narrative doesn't necessarily reinvent the wheel of sprawling historical fiction. Familiar story beats like double crosses, tragic losses, and a slow unfurling romance are all telegraphed well in advance. Yet the series finds its footing in how its characters respond to these turns with surprising intelligence and emotional sincerity, keeping things engaging. Even when it dips into dramatic irony territory—most notably as its leads keep secrets from one another—Leviathan doesn't string viewers along beyond reason. Instead, it grants each development an emotional payoff that makes even the most predictable arcs along Alek and Deryn's sprawling journey feel emotionally earned. While Leviathan may not reach the soaring heights of its titular sky whale, it maintains a steady altitude through earnest storytelling and immersive worldbuilding. In a genre often overrun by bombastic spectacle or overwrought melodrama, the series offers something quieter but no less resonant—a contemplative tale of identity, duty, and self-determination in a world bracing for collapse. What elevates it isn't just its ambition, but its willingness to admit uncertainty—a story that understands it doesn't need all the answers to be worth the journey. Whether you're a history buff drawn to a whimsical remix of WWI or a younger viewer discovering that those who shape history aren't always the ones etched into it, Leviathan offers a digestible and reflective tale that challenges the notion that power alone defines right and embraces a narrative fueled by empathy and self-determination in its stead. While imperfect, Leviathan is a heartfelt series that rises above its visual shortcomings through strong writing, a resonant thematic core, and the compelling bond between its leads, determined to forge a different path from the one laid before them by their predecessors. Leviathan premieres on Netflix July 10. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Leviathan OTT Release Date: When and where to watch the anime adaptation of Scott Westerfeld's acclaimed novel
Leviathan OTT Release Date: If you're a fan of steampunk, anime, or just love a good story with sky-faring monsters and runaway royals, mark your calendars. Leviathan, the anime adaptation of Scott Westerfeld's bestselling novel, is landing on Netflix on July 10, and it's one of the biggest anime premieres of the year. It's being crafted by some of the most respected names in the industry - Studio Orange, known for their jaw-dropping CG animation in BEASTARS and Trigun Stampede, and Qubic Pictures, the creative force behind Eden and Star Wars: Visions. Together, they're bringing Westerfeld's alternate World War I universe to life like never before with walking tanks, flying whales, and a living airship that's as much a character as the people aboard it. What's the plot of Leviathan? Set in an alternate 1914, Leviathan reimagines the start of World War I through a steampunk lens. The world is divided into two technological factions: the Darwinists, who engineer living creatures into war machines, and the Clankers, who rely on iron, gears, and diesel. At the heart of it all are Prince Aleksandar, a young heir of the Austro-Hungarian Empire forced into hiding after his parents' assassination, and Deryn Sharp, a brilliant Scottish girl who disguises herself as a boy to serve in the British Air Service. Their fates collide aboard the HMS Leviathan, a massive genetically modified whale-ship that floats across the sky as part of the British fleet. Meet the cast and crew of Leviathan Leviathan brings together an elite voice cast: Ayumu Murase (Haikyu!!, Devilman Crybaby) as Prince Aleksandar (Alek) Natsumi Fujiwara (Spy x Family, The Orbital Children) as Deryn Sharp Directed by Christophe Ferreira, Leviathan is written by Yuichiro Kido. The CG direction is being handled by heavyweights Takayuki Miyakoda, Maiko Iketani, Syunsuke Aoki, and Tadao Morohashi, with Eiji Inomoto as the CG Chief Director. The score is composed by Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi (Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, Metal Gear Solid 4), with original songs by none other than Joe Hisaishi, the legend behind Studio Ghibli classics like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.
