News

Appleseed's Aramaki Helms 'Evangelion:Another Impact' Short

Japan Animator Expo, the project of weekly anime shorts from Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara and the media company Dwango, announced the 12th animated short, titled "evangelion:Another Impact (Confidential)," on Monday. The full short will premiere on Friday, February 6, and Niconico is streaming a trailer.

The website describes the story:

Another time, another place.
An activation test of a decisive weapon was underway.
With its development and operational trials shrouded in complete secrecy, the Another Number - Unit Null, suddenly breaks free of human control and goes berserk.

For what purpose was Another Number - Unit Null created?

The story of an Evangelion's activation, rampage and howling in another world.

Shinji Aramaki (CG versions of Appleseed, Captain Harlock) directed the short, and Atsushi Takeuchi (Appleseed, Ghost in the Shell, Moldiver, Psycho-Pass, The Sky Crawlers, Yukikaze) is credited with "Another EVA Design." Masaru Matsumoto (Appleseed Alpha) served as CGI director.

The computer animation studio Sola Digital Arts (Appleseed Alpha, Saint Seiya: Legend of Sanctuary, Starship Troopers: Invasion) and Steve N' Steven, the advertising animation firm founded by Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex director Kenji Kamiyama, produced the short.

Another Japan Animator Expo short, "until You come to me," also featured new Evangelion footage. The previous 11 shorts in the project include:

• "Otaro Maijo and Kazuya Tsurumaki's "The Dragon Dentist"
• Azuma Tani's "Hill Climb Girl"
• A music video titled "ME!ME!ME!" featuring the musician Teddyloid (Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt) and rapper daoko
• Akira Honma's "Carnage"
• Yoshikazu Yasuhiko & Ichirō Itano's "Collection of Key Animation Films" from Mobile Suit Gundam
• Takeshi Honda and Mahiro Maeda's "20min Walk From Nishi-Ogikubo Station, 2 Bedrooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, 2mos Deposit, No Pets Allowed"
• Tadashi Hiramatsu and Khara's "until you come to me"
• Akemi Hayashi's "Tomorrow from there"
• Akira Amemiya's "Gridman: Boys Invent Great Hero"
• Takashi Horiuchi and Masahiro Emoto's "Yamadeloid"
• Yasuhiro Yoshiura, Studio Rikka, and Trigger's "Power Plant No.33"

Anno himself is serving as executive producer of the entire project initiative with Dwango President Nobuo Kawakami, and he also designed the image character mascot "(Tor)-kun." Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki created the title logo, and fellow Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki colored it. The shorts mostly feature the voice talent of Ranma ½ and Cowboy Bebop co-stars Kouichi Yamadera and Megumi Hayashibara.

One new short will stream every week for a planned total of 30 shorts, ranging from original projects and spinoffs to promotional videos and music videos. The episodes will be streamed for free via a dedicated iOS/Android app and on the web. There are no plans for a commercial release at this stage.