On February 23, 2026, Studio Khara shocked fans by officially announcing that a brand new Evangelion anime series was in production, with the series composition and script being done by none other than Yoko Taro, the creative visionary behind the award-winning NieR franchise. Directing the series are Kazuya Tsurumaki (a figurehead in the Evangelion franchise, having directed the Rebuild tetralogy) and Toko Yatabe (worked on storyboards for Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc). Where music is concerned, Keiichi Okabe adds another key player from NieR owing to him being the primary composer and producer of the franchise. Rounding off this juggernaut of a creative backend, the anime is produced by Studio Khara (who produced the aforementioned Rebuild tetralogy) and CloverWorks (known for acclaimed anime such as Bocchi the Rock!).
While details as to what the actual story is are scarce, an official animated preview was released on the same day as the announcement. The stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack are immediately reminiscent of NieR due to the tranquil post-apocalyptic aesthetic that the franchise is renowned for. Beyond that, the focus on instruments, many of which are in various states of disrepair, hints at the plot of the new story, in what many believe could be related to past works in the franchise; the piano in particular bears an uncanny resemblance to the one played by Shinji and Kaworu in the Rebuild films.
© Khara/Project Eva/Eva Production Committee & © CloverWorks, Inc.
The trailer also gives us our first look at what can be assumed to be a new version of Eva Unit 01, due to the prominent horn and shades of purple dominating the gargantuan creature. The combination of the exposed clenched teeth and piercing eye truly make for an almost primal level of savagery; clearly, the new series won’t shy away from dark story tones fundamental to Taro’s works.
© Khara/Project Eva/Eva Production Committee & © CloverWorks, Inc.
As the project currently lacks a release date and even a title, we’re most likely in for a long wait before the new forms of Evas and their pilots bring their stories onto our screens, introducing a new generation of viewers to the franchise that began 30 years ago. Many wonder whether this new series will be able to hold a candle to what came before, but with Yoko Taro at the helm, one thing is for certain: it will most definitely be unique.
