Evangelion Director to Reboot Classic Sci-Fi Anime

In October 1974, one of the most influential anime and sci-fi series of all time aired for the first time in Japan: Space Battleship Yamato, known in the United States as Star Blazers. Now, 52 years after the anime debut, a legendary anime creator known for his visionary contribution to sci-fi joins the Space Battleship Yamato franchise.

Hideaki Anno, the creator of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, will direct an anime movie titled Space Battleship Yamato √2199. Studio Khara produces the film in collaboration with Production I.G. This project follows other recent Yamato news, including the 2024 release of the first in a series of seven remake films titled Be Forever Yamato: Rebel 3199. Hideaki Anno takes a different direction from those remake movies.

A new Space Battleship Yamato movie is coming from the creator of Evangelion

Announced through an official website and an X profile, Space Battleship Yamato √2199 marks the first collaboration between Studio Khara and Production I.G. During a 2024 event held for the 50th anniversary of the series, Hideaki Anno briefly mentioned his involvement in a new Yamato project. On that occasion, Hideaki Anno stated how influential Space Battleship Yamato had been in shaping his taste and career: “Without this work, anime would have been in a different form than it is today.” In a recent interview for Monthly Newtype, Hideaki Anno mentioned that he aims to “create a Yamato that embodies our prayers and wishes for both the next generation and our own.”

The original Space Battleship Yamato anime was created by Yoshinobu Nishizaki and mangaka Leiji Matsumoto (Galaxy Express 999). Set in the year 2199, Earth is at war with the alien race of the Gamilons, who have poisoned the planet with radiation. The distressed Earth Defense Force finds a message from another peaceful alien civilization urging Earthlings to travel to planet Iscandar to receive help and save their home. Using plans for a light-speed engine sent by the aliens, the Earth Defense Force repurposes the World War II-era Japanese battleship Yamato into a space vessel. The Yamato crew then embarks on a dangerous trip across the stars.

Space Battleship Yamato proved that anime was not exclusively aimed at children and could tell stories of war, sacrifice, and survival. It preceded Mobile Suit Gundam by five years, marking a shift in the industry whose influences persist today. Twenty years later, Hideaki Anno directed Neon Genesis Evangelion, which had a similar effect as anime grew into a global form of entertainment and audiences worldwide encountered its more mature themes.

Studio Khara also recently produced Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, where Hideaki Anno worked on the screenplay. For Space Battleship Yamato √2199, Hideaki Anno will co-direct with Yutaka Izubuchi, who previously worked on Space Battleship Yamato 2199. The movie is currently in production, and producers have not announced a release date.

Source: Polygon