Qubic Pictures is a Tokyo and U.S.-based studio known for producing “Star Wars: Visions,” “Eden,” and the upcoming “Leviathan” series on Netflix. They will host a powerhouse panel at Anime Expo 2025. The panel will explore the evolving role of producers in the age of international anime collaboration.
Justin Leach Set to Moderate an Impactful Animation Panel
Titled “The Global Producer: Making Animation Across Borders,” the panel brings together a rare lineup of cross-industry experts to discuss the creative, logistical, and cultural breakthroughs shaping the future of global animation production. Moderated by Justin Leach, this conversation will dive into the realities of producing across borders. Panelists will discuss how studios align visions, overcome language and cultural barriers, and develop pipelines that allow authentic storytelling.
Furthermore, the Western animation industry faces a period of disruption and re-evaluation. This panel offers a timely look at how cross-border production models can keep international projects viable. Qubic and its collaborators are creatively ambitious and culturally resonant in an evolving landscape increasingly interested in these kinds of stories.
Panel Details: “The Global Producer: Making Animation Across Borders”
Date & Time: July 4, 2025 | 1:45 PM – 3:05 PM
Location: Room 408AB, Anime Expo, Los Angeles Convention Center
Featured Panelists:
- Justin Leach, CEO, Qubic Pictures (Star Wars: Visions, Leviathan)
- Josh Rimes, VP of Animation Development & Production, Lucasfilm
- Yoshihiro Watanabe, Producer, Studio Orange (Trigun Stampede, BEASTARS)
- Christiano Terry, CEO, N LITE (The Chronicles of Eden)
- Arthell Isom, CEO, D’ART Shtajio (Yasuke, Star Wars: Visions)
- Will Feng, Producer, Independent (Star Wars: Visions, PROMARE, ThunderCats)
Justin Leach, CEO of Qubic Pictures, says:
As global collaborations reshape the animation industry, the producer’s role is being redefined. This panel isn’t just about what we’ve made, it’s about the models we’re building for the future. At Qubic, we’ve worked across continents, partnered with studios like Netflix, Lucasfilm, Studio Orange, Production I.G., and built pipelines that let Japanese and Western creative visions meet on equal footing. These are the conversations that move the industry forward and open doors for new kinds of storytelling.
