The hype for New Panty & Stocking was absolutely wild at Anime Expo 2025! In a round table interview the awesome team behind the iconic series dished out some fresh details on its big comeback. From how they're updating the art to the creative freedom driving its return, the discussion gave us all a cool look at how this beloved anime is getting revamped for today.
Please note, questions or responses may have been paraphrased for clarity as some of their meaning may have been lost in translation.
Panty & Stocking's character design is notably inspired by Western cartoons, especially The Powerpuff Girls. What do you enjoy most about designing and animating characters in this specific style, compared to other projects at Trigger?
Hiroyuki Imaishi: Our style isn't just from Powerpuff Girls; we developed it 14 years ago by looking at many other cartoons. The other big influence, of course, is anime. Since we're in Japan, we watch a lot of it, and I think that's really what added to the show's unique charm.
The original Panty & Stocking was heavily inspired by American adult animation from the early 2000s. Considering the long time that has passed, has the creative team drawn any new inspiration from more recent Western animated shows for the upcoming project?
Hiromi Wakabayashi: To be honest, we haven't drawn new inspiration from the US at all. But surprisingly, we're not pulling from Japanese anime either.
Over the past ten years, we've met so many different people, and it's these real-life experiences that truly influence the show. We've traveled overseas a lot during that time, encountering all sorts of individuals and situations. Those experiences are what will impact New Panty & Stocking the most.
How do you anticipate New Panty & Stocking will both differ from and stay true to the original?
HW: When it comes to the design and worldview, the core of New Panty & Stocking has truly stayed the same. The biggest change is our studio itself. We used to work under Gainax, and now we're newly Studio Trigger. Over the past fourteen years, both the studio and our staff have grown considerably.
Many people who were once just fans and viewers of the original show are now part of our team, and we've brought in some new voice actors as well. All these new individuals have infused the show with fresh expression. What absolutely hasn't changed, though, is our fundamental motivation: the desire to create a really fun and silly anime.
There are a lot of returning musical credits for this new season, but there's also a lot of new names. What are your goals for this new season with regards to music and how are these new staff part of fulfilling those goals?
HW: For the music this season, Taku Takahashi from M-Flo is our producer. He's been instrumental in bringing together some of today's hottest artists, who are helping us explore genres we haven't touched on before.
Hiroyuki Imaishi specifically requested more songs with vocals, so you'll definitely be hearing a lot more of those.
What anime tropes do you feel are currently underused in storytelling, and which would you most like to see explored more often?
All: Just like the original Panty & Stocking, the new season will feature a blend of CG, traditional animation, and live-action elements. As for other new things I'm excited about, you'll just have to watch and see!
Imaishi San, could you describe how it felt returning to direct Panty & Stocking after 15 years since its original debut and could you walk us through any challenges you encountered bringing this series to modern audiences today?
HI: It's taken 15 years to get to this point, but I honestly wanted to do this much earlier. I've had a strong desire to revisit it, and the fans' voices have been incredibly loud during that time, which I really wanted to respond to.
This is my first time directing a sequel, and it's definitely been a challenge. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners was my first original series, so moving to a sequel is new territory. My main goal is to ensure I don't disappoint the fans, and most importantly, to keep the show just as ridiculous as the original.
Given Hiroyuki Wakabayashi's 2016 comment about having six seasons' worth of material for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, can we anticipate more seasons after the completion of Season 2?
HW: I don't see New Panty & Stocking as just a six-season show; I want it to go on forever. That's precisely how I developed it—I envisioned it as an endless series from the very beginning. Ultimately, its future depends on the fans and their reactions. Even back then, I mentioned there could be six seasons and a film, and I even know the film's title already! As Director Imaishi often reminds me, it's not entirely up to us, unfortunately.
As key creatives for Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, how has your collaboration evolved over the years, and how do your individual creative roles uniquely shape the series?
SK: Speaking from our dual roles, after working together on a massive list of projects—from Panty & Stocking and Kill la Kill to Animator Expo, Space Patrol Luluco, Promare, Star Wars: Visions, and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners—our collaboration has evolved tremendously.
Our conversations have become incredibly fast, and communication is much quicker. There's significantly less friction in our creative discussions, which is fantastic. Whenever a new idea comes up, we can instantly grasp its implications, almost like we're thinking three times faster. The sheer speed and efficiency of our communication have been the biggest improvements over the years.
Given that 15-year hiatus and how eagerly awaited this sequel has been, did you feel any pressure from the fans, and if so, how did you manage it?
HW: Honestly, we don't feel any pressure or nervousness at all. Even before our massive presentation the other day to 7,000 people in the theater, we were all just sleepy and relaxed—there was absolutely no tension. In fact, we didn't even prepare the final materials until that very morning!
Can you tell us about a specific reference or easter egg you've slipped into the new season that fans should really keep an eye out for?
HW: We've actually packed in an incredible number of Easter eggs—so many, in fact, that it's "like the egg section at the supermarket." Viewers will be practically "squishing them as they walk by!" Seriously, there are so many little details. We even think there are small plot moments and hints from the previous season that fans still haven't discovered!
You've been the art director for diverse projects like Promare, Space Patrol Luluco, and Star Wars: Visions - The Twins. How does your experience on Panty & Stocking as art director compare to those roles?
SK: The art style is quite similar to the first season of Panty & Stocking. We've deliberately kept the character designs unchanged, but you will notice some differences in color.
Before Gurren Lagann, our animation process had a more standard approach with less precise control over color. However, with the first season of Panty & Stocking, that was the first time we gained significantly more command over our color palette. Our experiences on various projects since then, leading up to this season, have profoundly influenced how we prioritize and approach color. We've specifically focused on making changes in that area.
Given that much of Panty & Stocking's original concept reportedly stemmed from a post-Gurren Lagann trip, did a similar creative gathering or brainstorming session—perhaps involving new staff—spark a lot of ideas for this revival series?
HW: You're absolutely right! The first season of Panty & Stocking was born from a very casual environment, with us all drinking after working on Gurren Lagann. For the new season, however, the creative process was entirely different. We found ourselves in a closed-off, white meeting room with an extremely tight schedule, surrounded by compliance officers in suits—a very stiff and high-pressure environment.
It's actually quite crazy that we were able to create such a show under those conditions, in a rigid boardroom setting. I think you'll all understand. Over the past 15 years, we've had the opportunity to work with companies like Disney, Pixar, and Lucasfilm. We've learned a tremendous amount, and that experience has led us to operate within this new, highly compliant, and incredibly pressured environment. That's precisely how we created the first episode of New Panty & Stocking.
When you see it, you might even think, "Wow, if they weren't so constrained, what kind of episode would they have made?" That's exactly how I'd like you to enjoy the new season.
Given Panty & Stocking's renowned genre-blending art direction, will the revival introduce any new styles, mediums, or experimental elements?
SK: In Panty & Stocking, it's less about the overall style blending genres and more about how the characters themselves actually blend together. Panty, in particular, adapts quite easily to different contexts and characters.
Given how over the top and bulker the original series was, has it been a challenge to match and exceed the first season.
HW: Personally, I thought the intensity of New Panty & Stocking was actually easier for people to watch. However, surprisingly, creators who were fans of the first season have told me it's "worse" and "harder to watch." Believe it or not, we actually pumped the brakes quite a bit in the first episode of New Panty & Stocking. So, when they say it's "much worse," I'm actually quite relieved to hear that!
The original series was infamous for its significant twist ending, and that's naturally prompted a lot of questions about the upcoming season. You've also mentioned how this has been a project the team wanted to revisit for a long time. So, since the first season concluded, how has the idea for Panty & Stocking evolved? Is this exactly what you envisioned 15 years ago, or has it become something entirely different?
HW: With the original Panty & Stocking, we really weren't overthinking anything. We had no grand plans; we just thought, "Let's create this funny, joke ending," and then people surprisingly took it quite seriously. We always knew we'd figure out the continuation later.
Typically, when crafting a series, you map out character development and have a clear destination for the story. But Panty & Stocking operates differently. We focus intensely on just one episode, one part of the story at a time. This approach gives Panty & Stocking immense possibility because we can simply push the narrative to a certain point, and then in the next episode, take it wherever we want, introducing any new idea that comes to mind.
One crucial point I want to make very clear is that while everyone is calling this "Season 2," we've never truly thought of it that way. This is New Panty & Stocking. It's not simply a continuation of the original; it's something entirely new. I just want to be sure that's understood.
SK: I don't really have a specific message for the fans, except that I truly don't want them to overthink anything.
HW: For those 20 to 30 minutes, I just hope audiences can forget everything and laugh like an idiot. We want it to be a weekly fun escape where you can simply enjoy the moment and then, once it's over, forget what you've even watched.
HI: While my colleagues have already expressed our hopes for the audience, I'll just add this: we approach making this show with extreme seriousness, but we genuinely hope viewers take it very unseriously. In Japan, there's a tradition of watching TV quite formally, sitting upright and attentive. However, for Panty & Stocking, I envision you sprawled on the couch, munching on snacks, perhaps with a drink, casually scrolling on your phone. Just let go of everything and enjoy the show lightheartedly. We want you to forget everything while you're watching, and forget it all again once it's over.
HW: We really want audiences to know that this is pure entertainment. While much anime recently has been considered art, and that's great, our collaborative enjoyment comes from simply making something entertaining. That's what we want to offer audiences today.
So, there's no need to think deeply about Panty & Stocking. We've noticed a trend in anime where viewers meticulously ponder what might happen next, but you won't find that here. We've approached this show exactly the same way we did 15 years ago, so, frankly, your brain isn't really involved!
New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt will begin streaming on Prime Video July 9.
Follow Hiroyuki Imaishi, Hiromi Wakabayashi, and Shigeto Koyama on twitter:
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