Why Evangelion’s 30th Anniversary Put Yoko Taro at the Center of a New Series From Studio Khara and CloverWorks
The 30th anniversary presentation in Japan has reshuffled Evangelion’s creative deck—most notably by handing series composition and scripts to yoko taro, the creator of NieR. That move, confirmed at the EVANGELION: 30+ Final Program on February 23, signals a deliberate shift in voice during a milestone moment for the franchise; the announcement pairs established Evangelion talent with creatives best known for the odd, layered narratives of NieR and related works.
Yoko Taro's appointment at a milestone moment
This is a contextual rewind: the decision to name Yoko Taro as the series composer and scriptwriter landed at the franchise's 30th anniversary event, not as a quiet hire. The timing suggests the production is framing the new series as part of a longer, anniversary-era strategy rather than a routine continuation. Yoko Taro’s creative history—his work on NieR and his ties to earlier game material—changes the baseline expectation for tone and structure without telling us a single plot point.
Event details and the credited team
The announcement came during the EVANGELION: 30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION event in Japan, at the Final Program on February 23 (Mon. Holiday). The production credits stated that series composition and script work will be handled by Yoko Taro. Directors named in the initial notices include Kazuya Tsurumaki plus name variants appearing in coverage as Toko Yatabe, Toru Yatabe, and Toru Yatable; one entry notes that Toru Yatable worked as an assistant director on Evangelion: 3. 0+1. 0 Thrice Upon a Time. Kazuya Tsurumaki is identified as directing episodes and is also credited with directing the Rebuild of Evangelion films and the recent Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime. Music for the new series is being handled by Keiichi Okabe, who is associated with the NieR franchise. Production is listed as a collaboration between Studio Khara and CloverWorks. Franchise creator Hideaki Anno will not be writing the scripts for this new series. There is a trailer tied to the announcement, but it is light on plot details; the plot and release date remain unknown, and it is unclear whether this will be a remake, a sequel, or a spin-off in the style of Petit Eva: Evangelion@School.
How NieR, Drakengard and a moon mask feed the expectations
NieR’s reputation for layered, sometimes nonlinear storytelling is explicitly part of the context here: the NieR franchise is described as having rich and complex lore, with a story spanning thousands of years and occasional detours into parallel universes. The lineage matters because NieR itself is a spin-off of the PS2 game Drakengard; one Drakengard ending transports a final boss to modern-day Tokyo, and the slaying of that beast releases a virus that goes on to plague humankind, giving rise to NieR’s post-apocalyptic setting. Those plot mechanics were offered as an example of the creative DNA Yoko Taro brings. The announcement material also notes that Yoko Taro wears a giant, rather unsettling moon mask, and that he co-wrote the NieR: Automata anime spinoff. Composer Keiichi Okabe’s involvement ties the scoring to NieR’s sound profile, further linking the new Evangelion’s creative package to that franchise’s aesthetic.
Unknowns, early signals, and what can confirm the next moves
Here’s the part that matters: the credits and timing tell us who will shape the new Evangelion, but not what the story will be. The trailer exists but is light on details, and the production announcement does not include a release date. The real question now is whether the pairing of Evangelion veterans and Yoko Taro’s game-rooted sensibilities will produce a reinterpretation, a continuation, or a tonal detour. Early signals that would clarify direction include a plot synopsis, episode routing, or a dated release slate—none of which were provided at the Final Program on February 23.
- Series composition and scripts: Yoko Taro
- Directors named: Kazuya Tsurumaki; names appearing in notices include Toko Yatabe, Toru Yatabe, and Toru Yatable (the latter credited elsewhere as an assistant director on Evangelion: 3. 0+1. 0 Thrice Upon a Time)
- Music: Keiichi Okabe (from the NieR franchise)
- Production: Studio Khara × CloverWorks
- Franchise creator Hideaki Anno will not be writing scripts
- Trailer released but light on details; plot and release date remain unknown
What’s easy to miss is that multiple name variants for one credited director appear in the initial coverage; those variants are included here rather than reconciled, because the provided context lists them distinctly and does not resolve which is definitive. That uncertainty matters when tracking individual credits in a high-profile production.
Quick Q& A
Who is writing the new Evangelion series? yoko taro is credited with series composition and scripts.
When and where was this announced? The news arrived at the EVANGELION: 30+ Final Program on February 23 in Japan.
What remains unclear? The plot, the release date, and whether the series will be a remake, sequel, or spin-off are all unclear; the trailer released alongside the announcement offers few concrete details.
Expect further clarifying announcements if the production releases a full synopsis, episode breakdown, or a dated schedule; until then, creative credits and anniversary timing are the clearest signals we have.
