“Is this a hint at Shin Yamato!?” Fans are abuzz over Director Anno Hideaki’s 64th birthday photo
He once wrote that without Space Battleship Yamato, “I wouldn’t have the life I have now.”
Published May 22, 2024 by Buzzfeed (see the original article here)
In a photo posted by his wife, manga artist Moyoko Anno, Director Anno is seen gazing at a model of Space Battleship Yamato from the stern with a serious expression. Posted May 21 on Twitter, the photo shows Director Anno gazing at a model of Space Battleship Yamato from the stern with a serious expression.
The caption reads, “The director turned 64 today. He looks like he’s having fun.”
Since 2016, Director Anno has remade past masterpieces such as Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman, and Shin Kamen Rider with his own interpretation. This photo has caused speculation among fans that Director Anno is planning to make Shin Yamato.
“Is this a hint at Shin Yamato!?”
“I want to see Director Anno’s Shin Yamato.”
“Oh! Shin Yamato is coming.”
Space Battleship Yamato is a TV anime series that aired from 1974 to 1975, as well as related manga and movies. It became a social phenomenon, and is still so popular that the theme song is sung by fans. The four theatrical versions up to Final Yamato in 1983 attracted a total of 10 million viewers. In the 2010 live-action film directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Takuya Kimura played the main character, Susumu Kodai.
Director Anno once wrote that without Yamato, “my life would not be what it is today”
In October 2023, 49 years after the series began airing, Director Anno’s company Studio Khara posted his passionate thoughts about the work.
“If I hadn’t encountered Space Battleship Yamato, I don’t think I would have the life I have today. The opening art and song were so cool! I was thrilled when the main title rose up, and the camera pulled back from the captain’s room, which was directly connected to that, and it grabbed my heart. I still feel that way now. I feel like my life was decided 49 years ago today.”
Anno’s 50th anniversary project for Space Battleship Yamato has begun
Tohokushinsha, a major video company, announced on March 30th that they would start a special project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the TV broadcast of Yamato. Anno himself requested to be involved in the planning and production. In addition to several proposed book projects, a commemorative screening event for the TV series will be held on October 6th, the anniversary of the day it first aired, and an exhibition of valuable related materials is also planned.
Was this photo posted by Moyoko Anno also related to the 50th anniversary project? Is there a secret Shin Yamato project underway? Fans will likely be anxious until the truth is revealed.