Hideaki Anno is currently the CEO of Khara Inc., but became known as the director of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. He now reveals how he approaches series and what other animation studios should adhere to. And in doing so, you will come out short.
What is Hideaki Anno known for? Hideaki Anno was the director of Neon Genesis Evangelion. At that time, he was still working at the animation studio Gainax, which has not produced any anime since 2015. Recently, the studio was closed. Anno, who was no longer working for the studio at the time, wrote emotional farewell words.
His current company worked on animated films related to Evangelion and was involved in Kaiju No.8 and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Therefore, he was able to gain a lot of experience in the anime industry in recent years and has had a successful career, as the decline of Gainax happened only after his departure.
The director now reveals to Forbes Japan how he approaches his series. And most of you are completely ignored in the process.
Animes should only focus on Japan
What does he do differently with Animes? According to him, Japanese animation studios think too quickly of the West. For viewers in Europe, other things need to be considered than in Japan, which has to do with culture or applicable laws. But Anno does not care. For him, the language barriers are not a problem, but rather the way people think:
I focus on what resonates well and entertains in Japan, and if I’m lucky, I’m happy when it also resonates abroad. […] A work consisting of Japanese thoughts is hard to understand if it is not in Japanese. Film has visual and musical elements, therefore I believe there are fewer language barriers than in other areas. But the dialogues are still in Japanese, and it is a drama about people whose emotions are based on Japanese ways of thinking.
He also asks the audience in the West to adapt to Animes, not the other way around. As another example, he cites the animation studio Ghibli. Anno believes that Hayao Miyazaki does not think about foreign markets at all.
What do fans in the West think about it? Users in Reddit can completely understand it. Many believe that a director should not cater to them or others. One should approach things with passion rather than creating something cynically just to please a specific audience.
This is also reflected in Neon Genesis Evangelion. The anime originated from the director’s fear that the world would end in a nuclear catastrophe in the 20th century. The anime became one of the most famous series from Japan.
MeinMMO editor Jasmin has no interest in mechs. She does not tolerate the gigantic robots in Animes and prefers to turn away. MeinMMO demon Cortyn’s theory: Had she seen Neon Genesis Evangelion, that would not be the case – I tolerate many crazy things in Animes, but in one thing, I draw a clear line.
