Hideaki Anno, the creative mind behindNeon Genesis Evangelionand founder of Studio Khara, is about to take on a new challenge in his anime career. In addition to co-scriptingthis year’s hitMobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX,Anno will soon join the board of directors at Japan’s Production I.G.
Starting August 21, Anno steps in as an external director with the potential to reshape the future of anime. News of Anno’s new appointment sent waves through the anime industry. Even investors took notice, with Production I.G’s parent company seeing a rise in confidence.
But beyond the market response, this signals something deeper. It is a rare alignment of veteran vision, institutional power, and open-ended creative freedom.Anno is not just consulting. He is stepping into a seat that can shape anime’s next era.
A Career That Thrives on Reinvention and Risk
Production I.G Has Always Embraced Innovation
Hideaki Anno first emerged as an animator onHayao Miyazaki’sNausicaä of the Valley of the Windin 1984, but quickly carved his own path through works likeGunbusterandEvangelion. In 2006, he founded studio Khara to carry that legacy forward.
Over the past decade, Anno has reinvented major franchiseswithShin Godzilla,Shin Ultraman, andShin Kamen Rider, bringing his deep knowledge of otaku franchises of the past to modern storytelling.
Meanwhile, Production I.G, established in 1987, has long been associated with slick, cerebral animation. Theircatalog includesGhost in the Shell,Psycho-Pass,Haikyu!!,Ao Ashi, andKaiju No. 8. Known for their attention to detail and love of science fiction, the studio’s strengths align closely with Anno’s approach to careful world-building and mind-bending narratives.
A New Creative Alliance Is Now Forming
Could Evangelion’s Legacy Evolve Again?
It is easy to imagine Anno and I.G revisiting some of their iconic properties together. AShin Ghost in the Shell?A reimaginedPsycho-Pass? Or perhaps something completely new.Anno’s fascination with psychology, identity, and technology could lead to ambitious stories across both animated and live-action formats, especially with Khara and I.G working in sync.
Picture a new anime grounded in I.G’s aesthetic but carrying Anno’s introspective weight. Anno’s presence opens doors to concepts far beyond mere nostalgia.
Even without returning directly toEvangelion, Anno’s signature themes of alienation, resilience, and metaphysical dreadcould ripple through whatever he touches next. Picture a new anime grounded in I.G’s aesthetic but carrying Anno’s introspective weight. Or a series where design, story, and animation are integrated from the start. His presence opens doors to concepts far beyond mere nostalgia.
The Industry Reacts With Excitement
The Future of Anime Could Start Right Here
Hideaki Anno said he was “honored to accept this role” and expressed his desire “to contribute to the creative evolution of Production I.G.” A spokesperson fromthe studio described Anno as “a visionary whose insight will help shape the future of animation.”These are not just formalities. They reflect a partnership grounded in trust, ambition, and shared creative purpose.
Whether it is a new sci-fi series, a cinematic experiment, or an entirely original vision,Hideaki Anno’s arrival at Production I.G marks a turning point. These two forces are not just compatible. They are complementary. As the countdown to his board debut begins, one thing is clear. Whatever comes next will challenge expectations and expand the power of anime.
