More than five decades after one of anime’s most influential science-fiction series first aired, its legacy is returning to the screen under the guidance of a director who credits it with shaping his career. Hideaki Anno, the visionary creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, will direct Space Battleship Yamato √2199, a new animated film produced by his own Studio Khara in collaboration with Production I.G., the studio announced this week through its official website and X profile.
The reveal arrives 52 years after Space Battleship Yamato debuted in Japan in October 1974, where it later became known to American audiences as Star Blazers. The project marks the first-ever collaboration between Studio Khara and Production I.G., uniting two of anime’s most respected production houses on a franchise that has defined an entire genre.
A Franchise That Shaped a Creator
Anno’s involvement with Space Battleship Yamato stretches back to at least 2024, when he briefly referenced being part of a project within the franchise during an event marking the series’ 50th anniversary. On that occasion, he reflected on how deeply the original work had influenced his artistic sensibilities.
“Without this work, anime would have been in a different form than it is today.”
Hideaki Anno
In a recent interview for Monthly Newtype, Anno expanded on his vision for the new film, explaining that he aims to “create a Yamato that embodies our prayers and wishes for both the next generation and our own.” The statement suggests a project steeped in reverence for the source material while reaching toward future audiences.
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