A fresh installment in the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime franchise has been revealed at a special event marking its 30th anniversary in Japan. Notably, the original creator, Hideaki Anno, will not be handling the scriptwriting duties for this project.
Stepping in as the new scriptwriter is Yoko Taro, renowned for developing the NieR video game series. Taro often appears publicly donning a large, eerie moon-shaped mask. The NieR storyline features intricate narratives that unfold over millennia and sometimes venture into alternate dimensions.
Returning Evangelion collaborator Kazuya Tsurumaki is set to helm the direction of certain episodes, providing continuity for dedicated viewers. His past credits include the Rebuild of Evangelion movie trilogy and the Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX series. The soundtrack will be crafted by Keiichi Okabe, a composer associated with NieR. Production responsibilities fall to Studio Khara and Cloverworks.
Details on the storyline remain scarce, leaving open possibilities such as a retelling of the classic narrative, a continuation, or an offshoot similar to the lighthearted Petit Eva: Evangelion@School. An accompanying promotional video has surfaced, though it offers minimal insights into the content.
Taro's involvement suggests potential for unexpected developments. It's noteworthy that NieR originated as an extension of the PlayStation 2 title Drakengard. In one of its various conclusions, the game's ultimate antagonist is shifted from a mythical world to contemporary Tokyo, unleashing a pathogen upon humanity that sets the stage for NieR's dystopian future.
This connection resembles a scenario where elements from a Dragon Quest adventure inadvertently spawn the horrors of a Resident Evil universe.
Taro stands out as a strong candidate to revitalize the Evangelion series with innovative approaches. Beyond that, he has prior experience in television writing, having contributed to the script of the NieR: Automata animated adaptation.