Rumors pointing to aNier Automataanime have been confirmed in the most resounding way possible, after a new take on the franchise was announced during the game’s recent fifth anniversary livestream with a short teaser trailer.
Despite barely giving away any information, the 30-second footage reveals that theNier Automataanime will be an Aniplex production, the same studio behind other massive franchises such asFullmetal Alchemist,Sword Art Online, andDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, as well as theFate/Grand Orderseries of games, although no specific animation studio was linked to the project. This news comes off the back of recent statements fromNiercreator Yoko Taro, saying the games are mostly done unless he’s offered the right monetary incentives.
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As for the teaser video, it really doesn’t show much, as there’s nothing resembling an estimated release date. However, it does feature some nice 2B and Pod 042 artwork that should be the basis for whatever style and vision are chosen for the finished product. The cryptic nature of the teaser, posted both on Aniplex’s English account and the officialNier Automataanimeone, is very much on-brand for aNierfranchise that often takes full advantage of interactive storytelling.
The description posted on YouTube details a very familiar setting for anyone who’s playedNier Automata. The description reads, “The stage is a far future where humanity is defeated by the moon in front of the overwhelming force of ‘mechanical life forms’….” If this sounds all too familiar, it’s because it is, though there is no clear indication of how much of a direct adaptation of the game’s plot this will be.
Characters like 2B, 9S, A2, and Emil were written by Taro to exist within an interactive medium, so despite initial impressions,Nier Automata’sanime debut will be most likely be defined by how well writers can translate those moments to passive entertainment. WhileNieR Replicantcan claim being the better game, it’s clear these titles are among the best JRPGs to be released in recent years and that reputation is largely down to the captivating stories Taro wrote for these Androids.
NieR Automata, and the franchise as a whole, are games about challenging one’s preconceptions about finding meaning in life and what it means to be human, a feat it accomplishes by dragging the player through fights with robots named after prominent philosophical figures, all of which could be harder to pull off in linear animation. Luckily, there’s never been a better time togo out and play Nier Automata on Steamto catch up with events.
