Netflix turned Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan into an anime, coming in July

Netflix has announced the premiere date for Leviathan, the upcoming anime adaptation of the bestselling steampunk novel series by Uglies author Scott Westerfeld. 

Set in an alternate version of 1914, Leviathan explores a world on the brink of war, where mechanized war machines clash with genetically engineered beasts. The story follows a runaway prince, Aleksandar, and a daring girl disguised as a boy, Deryn, as they wind up aboard a living airship that could alter the fate of history.

A joint production between Qubic Pictures (Eden, Star Wars: Visions) and the renowned Studio Orange (BEASTARS, Trigun Stampede), Leviathan represents a fusion of Western narrative depth and Japanese animation craftsmanship, according to Netflix. 

The series also boasts a standout musical lineup, with a cinematic score composed by Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi (Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045, Metal Gear Solid 4), and original songs from legendary composer Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke), adding a bit of pedigree to the project. The Japanese voice cast features Ayumu Murase as Prince Alek and Natsumi Fujiwara as Deryn Sharp. 

Fans can look forward to more details during a full press event on June 6, which will outline plans for Leviathan’s world premiere screening and a special panel at Anime Expo. The event will include appearances by the creative teams behind the series from both Qubic Pictures and Studio Orange.

This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into adapting Scott Westerfeld’s work — the streamer recently brought Uglies to the screen as a live-action feature, though it struggled to capture the essence of the original novel. With Leviathan, fans hope the anime adaptation will deliver a more faithful, compelling interpretation.

Leviathan will debut worldwide on July 10 on Netflix.