Hideaki Anno, the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, is a pillar in the Japanese anime industry. The Evangelion franchise has had an undeniable influence on Japanese pop culture, and Anno can be called a master of his craft.
Thus, his words have a certain weight to them, especially due to how long he has been in the industry. The man has seen several shifts in trends in the last few decades, and his careful observations are valuable.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Creator Narrates His Tragic Observation of Anime Consumers
In an interview with Asahi Shimbun, Hideaki Anno talked about his career and experience in the industry as well as his outlook on the future. When he was asked if he had the desire to create groundbreaking new visuals again, the Neon Genesis Evangelion creator had a shocking reply.
I don’t think so. Young people today don’t want something new. I think they would rather maintain their peace of mind with something they have seen before than feel stressed by seeing something they have never seen before.
-Hideaki Anno
Hideaki Anno then explained that he is no longer in the mainstream, so it’s fine for him to do things on the fringes. However, it’s anime series from Jump or other popular publications that are currently dealing with such issues. It is true that Shonen Jump titles like One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and others have dominated the anime industry in recent years.
These titles go along with tried and tested formulas without attempting anything new. But at the same time, people in general (including anime watchers) are simply tired beings who find comfort in things they have always known and are scared of interacting with new things. This could be the source of Anno’s grievance.
Hideaki Anno’s Comment Mirrors Hayao Miyazaki’s Criticism
Hayao Miyazaki, the founder of Studio Ghibli, has always been strict regarding his views on the anime industry. He has never been afraid of voicing out every problem that he sees in the current anime production processes. From the mass production of anime to the overwork and low pay of workers, Miyazaki has always struck the right cord.
In a television interview, Miyazaki let his audiences know how he felt about the industry at large. According to the filmmaker, one of the reasons behind anime suffering is because the industry is full of otakus. Otakus are those who are obsessed with their hobbies and indulge in them as a form of escapism from the real world.
Miyazaki claimed that because the industry is full of otakus who don’t spend time watching real people, and thus they cannot imbue it in their works. According to the director, these are humans who can’t stand looking at other humans. He then explains that animating people can be done only by those who spend time observing others.
Neon Genesis Evangelion movies are available to stream on Crunchyroll.
