After 30 Years, Evangelion Drops a Surprise 13-Minute Anime Short
If you thought Neon Genesis Evangelion was done surprising the anime world after Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), think again. The franchise is gearing up for an exciting new 13-minute short anime in celebration of its 30th anniversary and yes, you read that right: Evangelion is back with fresh visuals and creator involvement that fans didn’t know they needed.
Studio Khara has announced an original short animation titled “Evangelion Broadcast 30th Anniversary Special Performance” created exclusively for the EVANGELION:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion festival in Japan. This mini-masterpiece clocks in at about 13 minutes and will make its debut at Yokohama Arena from February 21–23, 2026.
Here’s the twist: this isn’t just another streaming announcement or teaser. This short will be screened once per day during the event, making it a rare treat for attendees, talk about FOMO for global fans!
The most exciting part? The original Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno is deeply involved. He’s credited with:
- Planning
- Scriptwriting
- General supervision
This means the brains behind the iconic psychological anime is shaping this new piece himself.
Leading the direction is Naoyuki Asano, who has strong Evangelion credentials thanks to his animation direction work on Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. Veteran collaborators like Kazuya Tsurumaki, Shinji Higuchi, and Ikki Todoroki are also serving in supervisory roles.
Okay, hosting a short anime might not sound like the event of the decade if you don’t watch giant robots or metaphor-heavy monologues before breakfast. But Evangelion isn’t just any anime. It revolutionized the genre in 1995, blending mecha action with psychological depth and philosophical questions that made audiences say “Wait… what?” more than once.
This new short gives fans a nostalgic yet fresh experience. Plus, seeing Anno return — even for a brief piece — is like discovering a hidden bonus track on your favorite album.
The EVANGELION:30+ event isn’t a one-trick Ange-sorry, Evangelion. It also includes:
- Kabuki-style live performance
- Exhibitions of rare materials
- Music performances and fan markets
If anime festivals were theme parks, this one would be the rides + behind-the-scenes tour package.
Evangelion fans have reason to celebrate. A brand-new 13-minute short anime, helmed by Hideaki Anno and longtime collaborators, is set to premiere at a major anniversary event in February 2026, a perfect reason to dust off your EVA merch and maybe schedule a trip to Yokohama.
