Before WIT Studio was chasing Attack on Titan's ghost and Vinland Saga's patience, it made Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress — a 2016 steampunk zombie ride from Tetsuro Araki that ran hot and then went quiet. Ten years on, the crew came back.
## What dropped As part of its newly launched 10th Anniversary Project, Kabaneri released a new short titled “Mumei Ranman,” animated by WIT Studio with an original story by Araki. It reunites most of the 2016 staff and voice cast, including Sayaka Senbongi as Mumei and Tasuku Hatanaka as Ikoma.
## The short The piece follows Mumei dressing up to catch Ikoma's attention — a quiet character beat that gets interrupted when the Kotetsujo comes under Kabane attack. Haruhiko Mikimoto returns on original character design, and Hiroyuki Sawano is back on music, with the ending using “ninelie” by Aimer with chelly (EGOIST).
## Why it matters Anniversary shorts are usually merch bait — this one exists to mark a 35,000-yen Mumei Ranman scale figure. But getting Araki and Sawano in the same room for original animation is more than a figure ad; it's a studio acknowledging the fanbase never fully let go.
## The cultural close Kabaneri was always the WIT project that felt one season short of a phenomenon. A tenth-anniversary reunion won't finish the story — but it's a reminder the door isn't nailed shut.
## Sources - Anime Corner — “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Releases New Anime Short by WIT STUDIO for 10th Anniversary Project” (July 28, 2026): https://animecorner.me/kabaneri-of-the-iron-fortress-releases-new-anime-short-by-wit-studio-for-10th-anniversary-project/ - AniTrendz — “Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress Reveals Short Animation, New Figure for 10th Anniversary” (July 24, 2026): https://anitrendz.net/news/2026/07/24/kabaneri-of-the-iron-fortress-reveals-short-animation-new-figure-for-10th-anniversary/