Evangelion Creator Contests Anime's Westernization - Players For Life | Gaming News, Reviews & Creative Media Hub

Key Takeaways

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Hideaki Anno, the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, emphasizes creating content domestically and not altering it for global audiences.
Anno believes that Japanese anime, deeply rooted in Japanese culture, can resonate internationally due to universal intentions and nuances within narratives.
Anno is confident that audiences should adapt to domestic productions, viewing movies as a one-way format that cannot accommodate viewer preferences.
The global demand for Japanese content has significantly increased over the past decade, reaching approximately 5.8 trillion yen (roughly 371 million USD) in 2023, highlighting international interest in domestically-produced works.

Anno on Homegrown Creativity: Evangelion’s Success Unaltered by Global Appeal

Hideaki Anno, director and one of the main creators of Neon Genesis Evangelion, believes that rather than animators tailoring content to global audiences, those audiences should adapt to the work. He feels that despite the increasing global reach of anime and related business ventures, studios are not consciously altering their creative approach. In an interview with Forbes Japan, shared by Automaton Media, Anno stated, “Personally, I’ve never done anything with foreign audiences in mind. I can only create domestically. Production companies are quick to tell us to think about foreign markets, but that’s not my goal.” He elaborated, “My stance is simple: first, it needs to be a work well-received and considered interesting in Japan. If people abroad also find it interesting, I’m grateful.” He cited Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time as an example, explaining that he financed the film independently and created it without considering foreign audiences to avoid external interference.

Anno’s Perspective on Global Appeal vs. Cultural Roots in Japanese Animation

Anno argues that creating with non-Japanese audiences in mind presents unique challenges for Japanese studios, whose creative process is deeply rooted in Japanese culture and thinking. While film transcends some language barriers through visual and auditory elements, script lines and character development—infused with uniquely Japanese sentiments and perspectives—remain inherently tied to their cultural origin. Despite this, Anno is confident that such works can resonate internationally because audiences can grasp the intentions and nuances within narratives created through a Japanese creative process. However, he maintains that he will never adapt his work to cater to an audience, stating, “I’m sorry, but the audience must adapt.” Anno argues that films differ from video games, where player feedback can influence changes. Movies, he asserts, are a “one-way format” that cannot accommodate viewer content preferences. He believes that “audiences must trust creators on what’s interesting, and there’s no issue with maintaining domestic production.” He points to Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki as examples of creators who have maintained a domestic production focus without prioritizing foreign markets, adding that businessmen and executives can manage the promotion of films abroad.

Anno’s Reflections on Global Growth of Japanese Animation in Forbes Japan Interview (Dec 2025)

Anno shared these insights during the Forbes Japan interview on December 26, 2025. This perspective comes as the global demand for Japanese content has nearly tripled over the past decade, reaching approximately 5.8 trillion yen (roughly 371 million USD) in 2023, highlighting the increasing international interest in domestically-produced Japanese works. While the interview offered these broader insights, the initial blog post, dated December 18, 2020, focused primarily on Anno’s creative philosophy.

In Case You Missed It

In other thrilling gaming news, Ahmed Hassan has just unleashed an exciting revelation with his latest post, “Evangelion: Δ Cross Reflections Announced”. Published on September 5th, this article explores the captivating announcement of Pixelity’s upcoming VR and AR game adaptation of Neon Genesis Evangelion. As a fledgling NERV pilot, you’ll traverse through the first 11 episodes, rubbing shoulders with beloved characters and confronting formidable foes in this highly immersive experience that harmoniously blends fresh elements with the original anime. While we eagerly await release date and platform announcements, be sure to sign up for demo updates here Evangelion: Δ Cross Reflections Announced.