Anime Expo 2025 is bringing together some of the most influential producers shaping the global animation scene today, and the powerhouse studio behind it is Qubic Pictures. Known for producing critically acclaimed works like Star Wars: Visions, Eden, and the upcoming Netflix anime Leviathan, Qubic is hosting an unmissable panel on July 4 at 1:45 PM in Room 408AB: “The Global Producer: Making Animation Across Borders.”This panel features an all-star lineup of producers with credits on some of the most buzzworthy and beloved recent animation projects:

  • Justin Leach (Qubic Pictures) — spearheaded Star Wars: Visions, executive produced Leviathan, and led Netflix’s original anime Eden
  • Josh Rimes (Lucasfilm) — VP of Animation Development & Production, key figure behind Star Wars: Visions and Lucasfilm’s animation expansion
  • Yoshihiro Watanabe (Studio Orange) — producer on Trigun Stampede and the hit BEASTARS series
  • Christiano Terry (N LITE) — CEO behind The Chronicles of Eden, blending innovative storytelling with stunning animation
  • Arthell Isom (D’ART Shtajio) — CEO and producer of Yasuke and key contributor to Star Wars: Visions
  • Will Feng (Independent Producer) — producer with credits on Star Wars: Visions, PROMARE, and ThunderCats reboot

Moderated by Qubic’s CEO Justin Leach, the conversation will explore the creative magic and challenges of producing animation across different cultures and continents. The panel will dive into how these producers align artistic visions, navigate language and cultural differences, and build cutting-edge pipelines that enable authentic storytelling on a global scale.

“Global collaboration is reshaping what it means to be a producer in anime,” says Leach. “Qubic Pictures has built bridges between Tokyo and Los Angeles, partnering with studios like Netflix, Lucasfilm, Studio Orange, and Production I.G., crafting models where Japanese and Western creative teams work side by side as equals. These conversations push the industry forward and unlock new storytelling possibilities.”

With Western animation undergoing rapid change, this panel provides a front-row seat to the models keeping international projects creative, ambitious, and culturally resonant.