Panty & Stocking Returns After 15 Years: Studio Trigger’s Imaishi & Wakabayashi on Reviving the Cult Classic

Panty and Stocking has, since its first episode, been unique even in the Medium of anime. Watching it feels more like you're watching a Powerpuff Girls-era Cartoon Network show rather than your standard anime, or it would if it weren't unapologetically obscene, intensely violent, and if the show's main characters didn't swear like sailors. Then it was cut off at the knees, canceled before its time. After fifteen years, and a shake-up at Studio Gainax led to the creation of Studio TRIGGER, fans, including myself, are getting the second season. I had the chance to sit down with Studio TRIGGER's Hiroyuki Imaishi and Hiromi Wakabayashi, two of the three Co-Directors of the new season, and their translator. Here's what they had to say.

"The initial plan for Panty and Stocking was to make a series where we could perpetually create."

BR. with Panty and Stocking, you guys came back to a show after over a decade. Was it challenging to get back into that headspace and, pick up that production after... Over a decade of things changing in terms of production styles and all that stuff?

HI & HW. So, we had the understanding or feeling that we were creating something a little edgy a decade ago, and to get into that same mentality and passion, it did take a bit of warming up. Over the years, more than a decade, I've felt that I've lost some of my edge due to simply getting older. So, I also understood that if we’re making New PANTY & STOCKING with GARTERBELT, I need to have that edge as well. It took me a bit to get honed back in.

BR. Obviously, with the old Panty and Stocking, you guys were cut short with the ending. Do you want New Panty and Stockings to continue beyond what's planned for this season, or are you okay with leaving it as it is at the end?

HI & HW. I've said since the old Panty and Stocking, which is about 15 years ago, that I've planned for 10 seasons plus a theatrical movie release. The initial plan for Panty and Stocking was to make a series where we could perpetually create.

BR. Given the range of Panty and Stocking and what you guys are willing to talk about and touch on, is there anything that you just would avoid? Since it seems like it's a really experimental project for you to just kind of play around with different ideas, and there's some shock value, but is there anything that you would consider too shocking to cover?

HI & HW. Our main goal is for everyone to have fun, and for that reason, even though we feel that we handle a lot of aggressive content in Panty and Stocking it is not in our interest to make personal attacks or hurt the feelings of a potential viewer.

Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is back, louder and wilder than ever. With Imaishi and Wakabayashi at the helm once again, this isn’t just a return—it’s a promise that the chaos fans fell in love with is here to stay. Buckle up, because round two has only just begun.