Hideaki Anno delivered an emotional message at Neon Genesis Evangelion’s 30th anniversary, thanking the fans, longtime collaborators, and his wife, who has supported him for more than 20 years.
Evangelion’s 30th anniversary event ran for three days in Yokohama, Japan, bringing together voice actors, production staff, and fans to mark 30 years since the anime made its debut.
The final stage program featured appearances from voice actors, a Kabuki play themed around Eva, and announced that Nier: Automata’s Yoko Taro would be leading the brand new Evangelion series.
Alongside the exciting festivities, Eva creator Hideaki Anno also reflected on how far the franchise has come since its 1995 debut.
Eva creator thanks fans, staff, and his wife
“Evangelion has become things I never even imagined at the time, like rakugo and kabuki, and I’m deeply moved,” he said via Japanese outlet Oricon News. “I truly feel it has become a happy work. Or perhaps it was a happy work from the very beginning.”
He went on to credit both the production teams and the fanbase for sustaining the series across three decades.
“It is thanks to the many staff members who have supported it, and above all, the fans who have continued to support it even further, that Evangelion has grown to this point. Thank you very much.”
Anno also addressed longtime collaborator Kazuya Tsurumaki, who directed multiple entries in the Rebuild of Evangelion film series and has worked alongside him on the franchise for decades.
“He could have gone independent and created his own works many times over, but he stayed with my projects,” Anno said. “I’m grateful that he devoted his talent to a work called Evangelion.”
After thanking staff and collaborators, Anno closed on a personal note, expressing gratitude to his wife of more than 20 years.
“I have nothing but gratitude for the staff and the fans, but the person I want to thank last is my wife, who has supported me for more than 20 years. Thank you.”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms ending rewrite completely changes Dunk & Egg’s story in Season 2