Japanese animation studio Polygon Pictures has revealed that it will be producing the new Star Wars Resistance series, which was unveiled last week by Lucasfilm and is due to premiere on the Disney Channel in the US this autumn.

While Lucasfim had already announced that the latest Star Wars cartoon series would be anime-inspired, the identity of the show’s animators was not unveiled until today. Specialising in 3D CG animation, Tokyo-based Polygon Pictures has previously worked on episodes of the Emmy-winning Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Other credits include 2017 sci-fi film Blame!, supernatural drama Ajin: Demi-Human and Studio Ghibli collaboration Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter.

Created by Lucasfilm Animation veteran Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels), the upcoming Star Wars Resistance is set before Star Wars: The Force Awakens and follows Kazuda Xiono, a young pilot recruited by the Resistance and tasked with a top-secret mission to spy on the growing threat of the First Order. The series will also feature existing characters such as BB-8, Poe Dameron and Captain Phasma.

“The idea for Star Wars Resistance came out of my interest in World War II aircraft and fighter pilots,” said Filoni. “My grandfather was a pilot and my uncle flew and restored planes, so that’s been a big influence on me. There’s a long history of high-speed racing in Star Wars, and I think we’ve captured that sense of excitement in an anime-inspired style, which is something the entire team has been wanting to do for a long time.”