Eight years later, fans of Japanese animation are remembering the shocking words of Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno , who predicted the decline and eventual death of the anime industry. These statements, made in 2015, have drawn attention due to a series of recent coincidences that have perplexed many followers.
One of the most prominent facts that fans have pointed out is the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, just five years after Anno's statements. This global health crisis severely affected the anime industry, creating significant problems and critical conditions that reduced the number of animation projects that could be completed. The production and distribution of anime were hampered, which had an impact on meeting deadlines and the quality of the work carried out.
In addition, the conclusion of the tetralogy “Rebuild of Evangelion” has also been mentioned in connection with the director's words. The final film in the series, titled “Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time”, was released in 2021, and this release is considered by some fans to be part of the “decline” mentioned by Anno in his prediction. It is ironic that the director did not consider at the time that he still had a film to release, which could have influenced his perspective.
As the director's words are analyzed in light of recent events, the evolution of Anno's vision for the animation industry is highlighted. Currently, the director is reportedly turning his attention to the live-action film market, exploring new creative terrain beyond anime.
While it is uncertain how the anime industry will evolve in the coming years, Hideaki Anno's words have sparked debates and reflections on the challenges facing Japanese animation. Fans hope that this iconic industry can adapt and reinvent itself to overcome current obstacles and continue to delight audiences around the world with its creativity and animated magic.
If you are interested in the statement that Hideaki Anno made in 2015, it was the following to the Russian news outlet RIA Novosti: « Japanese animation is in decline. It has already reached its peak. After it collapses, there will probably be a new resurgence. (...) I don't think that animation will disappear, but perhaps the conditions that have existed up to now and that have led to the creation of interesting projects do not exist. (…) Japan will simply cease to be the center of world animation. Maybe within five years, Taiwan will become that center ».
Source: Yaraon!
