Teamfight Tactics Set 15: K.O. Coliseum takes inspiration from classic anime tournament arcs, and it even has a theme song performed by the Japanese artist ASCA. To better understand the creative direction behind this anime-inspired set, we spoke with Jonathan Santoro (Creative Director, Publishing for Teamfight Tactics). You can also check out our interviews with Game Director Peter Whalen and ASCA.
In this interview, Jonathan discusses the vision for K.O. Coliseum, the collaboration with ASCA, and how the cinematic style connects with both the game’s competitive nature and its community.
Q: Set 15’s anime tournament arc theme marks one of TFT’s most stylistically committed releases yet. What creative gap or player need did you see this theme filling, and how did it allow the team to do something different with how TFT presents itself?
A: We know there’s a big overlap between TFT players and anime enthusiasts, presenting an opportunity to create a truly immersive and exciting experience for players to love and appreciate. The anime tournament arc theme allowed us to push the boundaries of TFT’s visual and thematic presentation. It enabled us to infuse the game with dynamic energy, vibrant aesthetics, and epic storytelling elements characteristic of popular anime series. This theme also gave us the chance to include familiar champions in fresh, anime-inspired ways, adding a new layer of excitement for our players. By fully committing to this style, we were able to create a cohesive and engaging experience that resonates with both TFT veterans and anime fans alike, and most powerfully when they’re one in the same.
Q: The cinematic blends anime openings with fighting game flair. What were your key visual and tonal priorities in developing that style? Were there specific genre conventions you wanted to lean into or intentionally subvert?
A: Our primary goal was to capture the essence of high-energy anime openings while incorporating the teamfight dynamics of TFT. We leaned into several anime conventions, such as dynamic character introductions, fast-paced action sequences, vibrant color palettes, silly hijinks and familial relationships. We also wanted to evoke the excitement of fighting anime intros while showcasing each champion’s unique personality and abilities.
We subverted some expectations by blending these common anime elements with TFT’s strategic gameplay. Instead of focusing solely on the typical one-on-one battles, or ensemble cast, we highlighted the synergies between champions and the tactical nature of team composition. This allowed us to develop the visual style to honor anime traditions while staying true to TFT’s core identity.
Q: How did you land on ASCA as the artist for the cinematic track? Was there something specific about her voice, background, or audience that aligned with K.O. Coliseum’s goals?
A: ASCA was a perfect fit for K.O. Coliseum due to her experience in creating powerful and emotive anime opening themes. Her voice has a unique blend of energy and depth that resonates with the dramatic and exciting nature of tournament arcs. Additionally, ASCA’s background in performing for popular anime series aligns well with our goal of creating an authentic anime experience within TFT.
Her existing fanbase in the anime community also provided an opportunity to bridge the gap between dedicated anime fans and TFT players. ASCA’s style and reputation helped us create a soundtrack that not only enhances the K.O. Coliseum experience but also feels genuinely rooted in anime culture.
Q: Was music part of the plan from the beginning, or did it evolve as the creative vision came together? How did the presence of an original song shape other publishing elements like editing, pacing, or campaign rollout?
A: Music was integral to our vision from the early stages of development. We recognized that an original theme song is a crucial element of the anime experience, particularly for opening sequences. As the creative vision for K.O. Coliseum evolved, the importance of the music grew, becoming a central pillar of our thematic approach.
The decision to use “Fighter!!” as an original song significantly influenced our editing and pacing choices for the cinematic. We synced key visual moments with the song’s crescendos and rhythmic changes, creating the most impactful and memorable experience possible. In terms of our campaign rollout, the song became a powerful tool for building anticipation. We teased snippets of the track in our promotional materials, using it to set the tone for the entire set and create buzz within the community.
Q: With a full cinematic, original music, and anime-specific branding, this launch seemingly targeted cultural relevance almost as much as gameplay. What metrics or community signals told you there was space for TFT to engage this deeply with anime fandom?
A: Our decision to deeply engage with anime fandom was based on several factors. First, we observed a significant overlap between our player base and anime enthusiasts through community surveys and social media engagement, (not to mention the viewing habits of a large percentage of our team). We also noticed an increasing trend of players requesting anime-inspired content and skins in our feedback channels and the player responses to many anime-themed content releases in the past.
Q: TFT’s sets have no fixed narrative, but still manage to convey tone and worldbuilding. How do you and your team define success in storytelling for a game that leaves much of the lore to interpretation?
A: For us, successful storytelling in TFT is about creating a rich, evocative atmosphere that sparks players’ imaginations. We focus on providing strong thematic elements, visual cues, and character designs that suggest a larger world without explicitly defining every detail. Success is measured by how well players engage with and expand upon the themes we immerse them in.
We look at community discussions, fan art, and player-created narratives as indicators of success. When players are inspired to fill in the gaps and create their own stories within the set’s framework, we know we’ve succeeded in providing a compelling foundation. But most importantly, we gauge success by how well the theme enhances the gameplay experience, making matches feel more immersive and exciting.
Q: How early was that synergy between competitive play and thematic content planned, and how did it influence the timing and structure of your publishing rollout?
A: The synergy between competitive play and thematic content was a core consideration from the early stages of K.O. Coliseum’s development. We recognized that the tournament arc theme naturally aligns with TFT’s competitive nature, allowing us to create a seamless blend of narrative and gameplay.
This synergy influenced our publishing rollout significantly. We structured our reveal schedule to mirror the buildup of excitement you’d see in an anime tournament arc. This meant gradually introducing champions and mechanics, building anticipation for the “main event” – the set’s full release.
Q: K.O. Coliseum was a global creative production, animation, music, writing, localization. What were the biggest alignment challenges in coordinating across teams and regions while preserving the anime tone?
A: One of our main challenges was ensuring consistency in the anime aesthetic and tone across all elements of the production. Each team and region brought their own interpretation and cultural understanding of anime, which sometimes led to differing visions.
To address this, we established clear style guides and reference materials early in the process. We also held regular cross-team alignment meetings to ensure everyone was moving in the same direction. For localization, we worked closely with regional teams to preserve cultural nuances and anime-specific references while maintaining the core thematic elements.
Q: The set reimagines iconic League champions as anime archetypes. How did you collaborate with the dev and art teams to reframe these characters without losing what makes them recognizable to longtime players?
A: Our approach involved close collaboration between the creative, dev, and art teams from the outset. The team starts by identifying the core personality traits and visual elements that make each champion instantly recognizable. Then, brainstorm how these traits could be expressed through various anime archetypes and cast the champions accordingly.
Q: TFT’s last two sets have been cyberpunk and anime, suggesting an expanding creative ambition. Is the team now thinking about each set as a broader pop culture moment? What does that shift open up for future releases?
A: Most importantly, we want our creative approach to resonate with our players. But the way we bring thematics to players is increasingly an opportunity to create a broader pop culture moment. This shift allows us to tap into rich thematic veins that resonate with our players on multiple levels, not just as a game but as a complete player experience.
This approach opens up exciting possibilities for future releases. We can explore diverse genres, aesthetics, and cultural fandoms, creating unique and immersive experiences with each set. It allows us to potentially collaborate with artists, creators, and partners from various fields, enriching the TFT player experience.
Huge thanks to Jonathan Santoro for sharing his insights on the creative vision behind K.O. Coliseum, and to Riot Games for accommodating this interview. Teamfight Tactics Set 15 is live on PBE and launches July 30 for PC and mobile.
For more on Set 15, you can also read our interviews with Game Director Peter Whalen and ASCA.
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