Studio Pierrot, the production company behind some of anime’s biggest titles like Naruto, Bleach, and Tokyo Ghoul, has premiered a brand-new show this April called Magical Sisters LuluttoLilly. The series marks the studio’s return to a genre they helped shape decades ago, coming 28 years after their last magical girl anime, Fancy Lala.

LuluttoLilly is the sixth entry in Pierrot’s Magical Girl Series, a lineup that includes their most recognized title in the genre, Magical Angel Creamy Mami. Pierrot’s magical girl shows were a major part of defining the genre during the 1980s, and the studio is now bringing that same spirit to a new generation of viewers.

In an interview with Oricon News, Yohei Fukui, anime producer at Studio Pierrot, spoke about the show’s place in the genre and what makes it distinctly a Pierrot magical girl story. Fukui noted that while the magical girl genre has changed a lot over the years, incorporating intense battles, dark storylines, and even horror elements, LuluttoLilly keeps to the studio’s original approach. The show follows a longstanding rule that has applied to all of Pierrot’s magical girl titles: no battles.

The decision to go in a gentler direction also came from within the studio itself. According to Fukui, the staff, who have spent much of their careers working on action-heavy anime, were ready for something different. “Our company has produced numerous works like Naruto and Bleach that lean heavily into battles, but this time, the producer in charge was like, I’m so tired of battles,” Fukui said, laughing.

The goal, as Fukui describes it, is to offer viewers something calming in a time when consuming media can feel overwhelming. “In the current day and age when it’s easy to get tired from informational overload, we felt that there is a need for an anime with a tender and soothing worldview. Instead of an anime that you have to watch with your eyes glued to the screen, we wanted something you can casually watch while you unwind,” he explained.

Fukui also acknowledged the weight that comes with returning to the genre after such a long gap. With LuluttoLilly being the studio’s first new magical girl title in almost 30 years, he said there is no shortage of pressure and expectations on the team. Despite that, he said the studio was committed to putting Pierrot’s version of the magical girl genre back in the spotlight. “We were also determined to show the world Pierrot’s magical girls once again, among the many magical girl works out there,” Fukui said.