What. In. The. Blue. Hell?
The Japanese version of anime magazine NewType has set the anime world aflame with information about the new Evangelion animated project Evangelion Shin Gekijou Ban / Evangelion New Theatrical Version. Four theatrical films will be included in the umbrella imitative, which will be a distinct, purposefully more accessible, retelling of the Evangelion story.
Three of the movies are said to be Gundam style compilation films.
Creator and director of the anime Hideaki Anno will be supervising the project which be directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki (responsible for the first two episodes of the original and FLCL), with character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Eva, Nadia, FLCL, .Hack) and mecha design by Ikuto Yamashita (Eva and Yukikaze).
Various sources are saying that the first is due in summer 2007.
More information here:
The title for the new film series is "Evangelion Shin Gekijou Ban", it will consist of 4 parts (First volume, Second part, Latter part and Final story) with the first part arriving in Japanese theaters in early summer, 2007. Staff include General Supervisor: Hideaki Anno, Director: Tsurumaki Kazuya , Character Design: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Mecha Design: Ikuto Yamashita, Animation Production: Khara (Color) Studio. The scenario of the 1st part will be written by Hideaki Anno with storyboard by Shinji Higuchi. Key points of an interview in the magazine with Toshimichi Ohtsuki of King Records have also been circulating. According to that information: -The content is quite different though the time base of the story is the same as the original TV series. - It will be a remake, however, it is not a re-creation but a "new work". - The approach will be different than what Tomino-san did with the Gundam Z New Translation films, there will apparantly be a large amount of new material. - Even if the TV series has not be seen, the viewer will be able to enjoy it. Though the content becomes easy, it is not redundant to those already familiar with the series. - The technique that purposely scatters difficult words and phrases will not be used any longer. - As an antithesis to current animation industry segments, it is an attitude on the production side to pull the act in the age that started from Eva.
A few new details regarding the new Eva project, Evangelion Shin Gekijou Ban from the October, 2006 Japanese edition of Newtype Magazine: - The cover illustration featuring characters Ayanami Rei Nagisa Kaworu is by Shunji Suzuki. Suzuki had worked on the Shin Seiki Evangelion TV series as chief animator and on the End Of Evangelion movie as an animation director. Although not officially connected by name to the new project as yet, his image appearing on the Newtype cover would suggest involvement. - Images released so far depict Rei Ayanami in observably more provacative and animated moods than before. How will she change? The silent and submissively naturered character with her trademark blue hair and style made her an all time fan favorite of otaku everywhere, catapulting her to the top of the monthly Animage character poll for many, many issues. - From Toshimichi Ohtsuki's interview: Just before this new project started up director Hideaki Anno rewatched the entire original television series back to back. Ohtsuki relays that he heard Anno say for the first time: "Eva is interesting, I did not think it was so interesting (laughing)." The comment almost broght Ohtsuki to tears. - Ohtsuki goes on to say that it is true Eva has become a smash hit animation. However, it's success caused misunderstanding and disarray has arisen in the animation field because of it. An overproduction of inferrior works was caused. - Ohtsuki says the Newtype cover image featuring Rei and Kaworu symbolizes the new movie project. Japanese fans have questioned whether this is a hint at Rei And Kaworu's possibly being at the center of the new story or getting expanded focus in the course of the story of the films.
9-9-06 (8:55AM EDT)---- Further Evangelion Shin Gekijou Ban Details With Newtype's scoop out in Japan this weekend the floodgates of inquiry on the 4 new Evangelion movies have apparently opened wide. While the Newtype information is new to general public, like most print magazines the material was most likely put together several weeks to a month in advance of publication. In that time new things with story have happened and Sankei Shimbun has interesting new information on the project already. First off they mention the original 3 Eva films made 4.5 billion Yen in total at the Japanese boxoffice. The manga published by Kadokawa Shoten has exceeded 15 million copies sold over the existing 10 volumes. Videos and DVD's sold exceed 4.5 million copies and about 30 billion Yen. Total goods sales exceeds 100 billion Yen. While the overall project is being called "Evangelion Shin Gekijou Ban" as mentioned in Newtype, the individual films are being titled "REBUILD OF EVANGELION". The First Volume, REBUILD OF EVANGELION:01 is due out in early summer 2007 it will have an estimated running time of 90 minutes. The Second Part, REBUILD OF EVANGELION:02 is expected in January 2008, also with a running time of 90 minutes. The Latter Part + Last Program of the series, REBUILD OF EVANGELION:03-04 are expected in early summer (possibly June) of 2008, they will have an estimated length of 45 minutes each. Additionally, ANS has learned the 3rd part (Latter Part) (which corresponds to the events of the movies and episodes 25 and 26 of the TV series) and the 4th "Last Program" will be mostly new stories and material. Parts 1-3 will use some key animation sequences from the original TV series, with new backgrounds (settings) and music. Shinji Higuchi is confirmed on the project and has already completed a new story board for the 1st film. A good deal of 3DCG animation will be implemented. The total economic effect of the 4 new Evangelion films is estimated at around 100 billion Yen or more. Director Hideaki Anno has chosen this point in time specifically to produce the new Eva, waiting until the hype of the previous works to cooled down.
I was going to ask what was the point of this. . .
But then the last paragraph started mentioning the sales figures.
The history of Evangelion is about to get even more complex, with even more alternate versions. And that's not even taking into account the long-stalled-in-development-hell live action remake that Western studios have been talking about for years now, and that WETA are tied to for pre-production at least.
What I really want are completely fresh stories from Anno. If he needs to return to Evangelion then I'd like to see a Girlfriend of Steel anime. Or a continuation of Evangelion from the point that End of Evangelion left off, maybe with a break of thirty years or so. There are points in the story already where you can continue to put out material under the name and still have it be something new rather than a retread.
Of course, if Anno's involved then final judgement will have to be reserved until it's out. |
I ussually prefer subs but sometimes I'm just not in the mood to deal with them, or I've got a friend who's not used to reading subs, and so I'll switch over to the dubbed. EVA's dub, in my opinion, is not as bad as some. And, I think, I've heard some hardcore anime freaks saying that EVA's dub is the only decent dub out there. I mean hell, it's a shit load better then Princess Monoke. I can't even watch that dubbed.