Yoko Taro to write scripts for new Neon Genesis Evangelion series; yoko taro named series composer
Studio Khara announced a completely new Neon Genesis Evangelion series at the EVANGELION: 30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION event in Japan, and yoko taro will handle series composition and the scripts. The change in writing duties matters now because franchise creator Hideaki Anno will not be writing the scripts for the new project.
Festival announcement: EVANGELION: 30+ Final Program on February 23
The initial report on the production was delivered at the Final Program on February 23, the final day of the EVANGELION: 30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION festival held in Japan. Studio Khara confirmed the new series is in production in collaboration with CloverWorks; the production credit is listed as Studio Khara × CloverWorks.
Yoko Taro named series composer and scriptwriter
The announcement assigns series composition and script duties to Yoko Taro. Yoko Taro is the creator of the NieR video game franchise, and coverage of the creative shake-up notes that Hideaki Anno will not be writing scripts for this new Evangelion project. The material also highlights that Yoko Taro is known for wearing a giant, unsettling moon mask and that he co-wrote the NieR: Automata anime spinoff.
Directing team centered on Kazuya Tsurumaki and Toru Yatabe
Kazuya Tsurumaki is on hand to direct episodes; he previously directed the Rebuild of Evangelion films and the recent Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime. The announcement names Toru Yatabe as a director alongside Tsurumaki; Toru Yatabe worked as an assistant director on Evangelion: 3. 0+1. 0 Thrice Upon a Time and is returning to the franchise. A trailer credit line lists directors as Kazuya Tsurumaki and Toko Yatabe in its on-screen text.
Music and creative credits point to NieR contributors
Keiichi Okabe, known for his work on the NieR franchise, is scoring the new Evangelion series. The trailer and announcement credit line groups music, writing and animation production together, listing "Written by Yoko Taro, " "Music: Keiichi Okabe, " and "Animation Production: CloverWorks x Khara. "
Plot, release timing and franchise context remain unclear
No plot details or release date have been announced for the new series; it is unclear in the provided context whether the show will be a remake of the original story, a sequel, or a spin-off. The available trailer is light on details. Coverage of Yoko Taro's past work is included to sketch possible tonal directions: NieR is described as a spin-off of the PS2 game Drakengard, and one ending of Drakengard sends a final boss from a fantasy realm to modern-day Tokyo; slaying that boss releases a virus that plagues humankind and leads to the post-apocalyptic setting of NieR. The NieR franchise is also described as having rich, complex lore that spans thousands of years and occasionally dips into a parallel universe.
Those are the confirmed credits and franchise links so far: series composition and script by Yoko Taro; direction by Kazuya Tsurumaki and Toru Yatabe; music by Keiichi Okabe; production by Studio Khara × CloverWorks. Beyond that, plot and schedule remain unknown.
