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Must-See Art and Cultural Hotspots in Japan

Art Festivals & Events

HIDEAKI ANNO EXHIBITION

Anno Hideaki ’s latest film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time, which he directed, was a blockbuster success with a box office of over 10 billion yen. This exhibition showcases the director’s past works, including those he was involved in during his time as an animator. It also includes his latest works as a director and producer, and delves into the secrets of his creative processes. The exhibition showcases for the first time, a wide variety of Anno’s production materials – valuable original drawings and miniatures of anime and tokusatsu works, which were the origin of his work, as well as original notes and illustrations, scripts, settings, image sketches, storyboards, layouts and key animation from his early years to the present.

『Tough Tire!』
©H.ANNO
『Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind』
© 1984 Studio Ghibli・H
『NADIA THE SECRET OF BLUE WATER』
©NHK・NEP
『NEON GENESIS EVANGELION』
©khara/Project Eva.
『Shin Godzilla』
©TOHO CO.,LTD.

In addition to a video installation that allows visitors to intuitively grasp the cultural perspectives of the history of anime or tokusatsu (special effects) works, the exhibition showcases exposed exhibits such as tokusatsu miniatures displayed instead of in glass showcases, and visitors can see and learn the actual texture of the art objects.

In Nagano Exhibition, new materials from "Shin Kamen Rider" and artworks of "The Diary of Ochibi-san" are additionally exhibited.

Many of the exhibits have English explanatory panels along with Japanese texts, and visitors who do not understand Japanese still can enjoy them.

The exhibition also introduces the activities of Anime Tokusatsu Archive Centre (ATAC) which started by Anno, and Sukagawa Tokusatsu Archives Center, through explanatory panels.

Along with the merchandise products especially made for this exhibition, the shop at the venue sells the items only sold at the Nagano venue and the items planned and developed from the activities accomplished by ATAC.

[ Past ] The Origins of Hideaki Anno and the Works He Admires

Exhibits a collection of precious paraphernalia from manga, anime and special effects movies such as Ultraman, Kamen Rider, Space Battleship Yamato and Mobile Suit Gundam, which Hideaki Anno has loved and admired since his early days. Here you will also vicariously experience the works made by Hideaki Anno, as he revisits the visual works that he loves and admires, through a gigantic 10 ft tall by 49 ft wide LED screen.(* Specifications may differ depending on the venue)

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[ Present ] Tracing the Steps from His Amateur Years to the Present

Follows the trajectory from his obscure amateur years to his sweeping the world with Neon Genesis Evangelion and his record-setting Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time, which garnished a box office of over 10 billion yen. It also retraces several decades of his creative work through never-before-seen materials, reaching at what Hideaki Anno envisioned and gave life to, and explores the zeal which he poured into making his movies and the trial-and-error processes involved.

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[ Future ] Archive for Future Generations

Showcases projects started by Hideaki Anno for future generations to take on, such as Anime Tokusatsu Archive Centre(ATAC), based on his wish that anime and special effects movies should continue even after the demise of the current torchbearers. It also introduces his latest works including Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider, through larger-than-life statues and other arts.

Tokyo venue image