‘Evangelion’ 30th Anniversary Reveals Brand-New Anime Series
A new “Evangelion” anime series is officially in production, marking it one of the biggest announcements tied to the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebration in Japan. The new anime was revealed during the final program of EVANGELION:30+, whose organizers also confirmed that several key creatives associated with the franchise are also working on the new anime series.
Yoko Taro and Kazuya Tsurumaki Lead Creative Team on New “Evangelion” Anime
According to the official announcement, the new “Evangelion” anime will be produced at Studio Khara and CloverWorks. Series script and composition are being handled by Yoko Taro, best known for his work on the “NieR” gaming franchise. The direction, on the other hand, is credited to Kazuya Tsurumaki and Toko Yatabe, who have attracted significant attention from the fandom.
Tsurumaki is closely associated with the “Evangelion” franchise; he’s one of the most recognizable creatives, apart from the franchise creator Hideaki Anno. The involvement of Yoko Taro also drew immediate attention, as he’s widely known for writing stories that blend existential themes, emotional instability, and fractured identity, all of which have been associated with “Evangelion.”
What Do We Know About the New “Evangelion” Anime?
Tsurumaki and Taro’s involvement is significant because it signals to the fandom that the new series isn’t a detached reboot, but a new franchise entry developed by the franchise veterans. Sadly, that doesn’t actually reveal anything concrete about the new series. In fact, many of the project’s most important details remain unknown at the time being.
The new “Evangelion” series still lacks an official title, a release date, and a plot summary. Even the cast list is still unknown, or deliberately kept “under the rug.” However, known details, like the involvement of key franchise figures, suggest that the new series is likely to continue Evangelion’s long-standing interest in physiological and psychological storytelling.
With everything said, all information should be taken with a grain of salt, as a precaution against disappointment. Apart from the initial announcement, no other details have been made public. This makes it nearly impossible to define the upcoming anime series as either a continuation, a retelling, or something more standalone in the Evangelion franchise.
For now, the announcement of the new anime series in the “Evangelion” franchise establishes that the new series is in production, with a prominent creative team helming the development. And for a franchise that spent three decades being revisited, reinterpreted, and discussed, this alone is enough to make the new anime series one of the most highly anticipated upcoming anime projects.
New “Evangelion” Short Anime Screened at the 30th Anniversary Event
Apart from announcing the production of a new “Evangelion” anime, the 30th anniversary event also featured an event-exclusive screening of a new 13-minute short animation. The short centered around Asuka (one of the main characters), and plays with alternate possibilities and glimpses of different outcomes, including at least one scenario where Asuka and Shinji end up together.
The short garnered plenty of attention, and guests and attendees started filming the screening using their smart devices. However, given that the short was meant to be event-exclusive and not content for online circulation, event organizers emphasized that unauthorized recording and reposting of the material was strictly prohibited. They even warned attendees that violations could lead to legal action.
It had been, originally, confirmed by Hideaki Anno that, given its event-only nature, the short would not receive a digital release on streaming or any additional screening elsewhere, but had since been changed due to leaks of the short film being released online. And as for the new series, until Studio Khara releases more information, no other details, apart from what’s listed here, are known by the public. So, while “Evangelion” is moving forward as a franchise, the new series remains more of an outlined production, rather than a concrete project, at least for the time being.
However, there’s no doubt that those involved with the project will share more details regarding the new series as the development progresses.
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