read from polygon:
This announcement came during Evangelion’s 30th anniversary event, during which fans were also able to see an exclusive short film revolving around the character Asuka Langley Soryu. Studio Khara and CloverWorks are involved in the production of the new series, alongside Rebuild of Evangelion director Kazuya Tsurumaki, who also helmed the 12-episode Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Taro’s lifelong fascination with Evangelion is no secret, as the eccentric video game director has described Nier as a “retelling” of Anno’s enduring work. “Everything I make is influenced by Evangelion,” Taro told Square Enix last year, further cementing his love for gut-wrenching storylines that lean towards abject existentialism.
While the upcoming Evangelion series will inevitably build upon the franchise’s astonishing 30-year legacy, Taro and Tsurumaki have their work cut out for them. The immediate concerns are obvious: Evangelion has always been inseparable from Anno’s personal legacy, including his lifelong struggles and creative obsessions. A more pressing doubt arises from the ending of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, which effectively shatters the cyclical nature of the saga, with our protagonist, Shinji Ikari, rewriting the world. This “neon genesis,” or new beginning, occurs after Shinji is spared the burden of sacrifice to recreate the world without Evas. This allows characters like Mari Makinami and Kaworu Nagisa to live in a world without pain, and the franchise's various child soldiers get to grow up and live happy lives together. This is an incredibly cathartic way to close out a story that has been shaped by the alienation of its characters; Shinji and his friends are able to transcend fate to taste true freedom.
This announcement came during Evangelion’s 30th anniversary event, during which fans were also able to see an exclusive short film revolving around the character Asuka Langley Soryu. Studio Khara and CloverWorks are involved in the production of the new series, alongside Rebuild of Evangelion director Kazuya Tsurumaki, who also helmed the 12-episode Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Taro’s lifelong fascination with Evangelion is no secret, as the eccentric video game director has described Nier as a “retelling” of Anno’s enduring work. “Everything I make is influenced by Evangelion,” Taro told Square Enix last year, further cementing his love for gut-wrenching storylines that lean towards abject existentialism.
While the upcoming Evangelion series will inevitably build upon the franchise’s astonishing 30-year legacy, Taro and Tsurumaki have their work cut out for them. The immediate concerns are obvious: Evangelion has always been inseparable from Anno’s personal legacy, including his lifelong struggles and creative obsessions. A more pressing doubt arises from the ending of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, which effectively shatters the cyclical nature of the saga, with our protagonist, Shinji Ikari, rewriting the world. This “neon genesis,” or new beginning, occurs after Shinji is spared the burden of sacrifice to recreate the world without Evas. This allows characters like Mari Makinami and Kaworu Nagisa to live in a world without pain, and the franchise's various child soldiers get to grow up and live happy lives together. This is an incredibly cathartic way to close out a story that has been shaped by the alienation of its characters; Shinji and his friends are able to transcend fate to taste true freedom.
