After the release of the fourth Rebuild of Evangelion movie, it seemed that the series was officially over, but that might not be the case. In a recent interview, series creator Hideaki Anno hinted at potential plans for a new Evangelion anime.
The Asahi Shimbun newspaper recently shared an interview with Anno. There, he mentioned what the future may hold for the iconic franchise.
Anno did not specifically mention that an anime is in the works, or even in pre-production. He did mention that the franchise is open for new projects, albeit with one key difference from the previous ones.
Evangelion Creator Addresses Plans for Future Projects
Hideaki Anno is no doubt one of the most influential directors in the anime industry. This is thanks to his iconic work Neon Genesis Evangelion.
When the first TV anime was released in 1998, the series was critically acclaimed in Japan and internationally, with praise given to the show’s in-depth themes and complex characters.
While the show’s final two episodes were divisive, Anno directed The End of Evangelion, which served as a more in-depth ending for the series.
Anno returned to the franchise with the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series, which served as a remake of the original but with lots of changes to the story.
It took over a decade, but the series was finally completed in 2021, more than a decade after the first film.
Given its definitive ending, it seemed that the fourth movie would effectively be the last major anime project in the franchise.
This might not be the case anymore, as Anno shared in a recent Asahi Shimbun interview that there may be plans for another Evangelion franchise project.
He didn’t detail any specifics, though he did state that a new project will likely be helmed by someone else who will be given a lot of freedom.
Anno also reiterated that while there are no strict plans yet, the door is open for future projects in the series.
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Rebuild of Evangelion already has an ending that is arguably more definitive than the original TV anime.
Given this, it’s likely that if a new anime ever gets produced, it won’t be a sequel to Rebuild or the original series. After all, Shinji’s choices in both versions effectively close the door for a sequel featuring the iconic EVAs.
A prequel is a likelier option, or maybe even another alternative version of the story. After all, there have been many manga spinoffs in the franchise that featured unique takes on the series’ story and world.
What would you like to see from a new Evangelion anime? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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