Home Anime Evangelion Creator Hideaki Anno Joins Production I.G as Board Member Starting August 2026

Evangelion Creator Hideaki Anno Joins Production I.G as Board Member Starting August 2026

In a move sure to send ripples across the anime industry, Production I.G has officially announced that Hideaki Anno, the legendary creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, will join its board of directors starting August 21, 2026.

This strategic appointment strengthens ties between two of Japan’s most influential creative powerhouses—Studio Khara, which Anno founded in 2006, and Production I.G, known for groundbreaking titles like Ghost in the Shell, Psycho-Pass, and Kaiju No. 8. Khara has also confirmed the news on its official channels.

What This Means for the Anime Industry

Anno’s addition to the board isn’t just symbolic. It signals a deeper collaboration between storytelling giants in Japan’s animation sector. His track record is massive: from Evangelion’s genre-defining psychological depth to his reimagining of Japanese icons like Shin Godzilla, Shin Ultraman, and Shin Kamen Rider.

His creative leadership will likely influence Production I.G’s future projects—not just creatively but strategically. Industry insiders expect his impact to reach not only anime, but also live-action adaptations and multimedia crossovers.

Also joining the board is Tomonori Tanaka, a director at East Group Holdings Inc., reinforcing Production I.G’s focus on diversified growth.

Why Anno? Why Now?

With IG Port (Production I.G’s parent company) forging new alliances—including a major business deal with Sanrio—this is a moment of transformation. Merging Signal.MD into Production I.G and strengthening shareholder connections with giants like Dentsu, NTT Docomo, and now Sanrio, positions IG Port for the next wave of anime globalization.

Anno’s presence, known for pushing boundaries, could be the catalyst that shapes Production I.G’s identity in this evolving media landscape.

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dentsu evangelion hideaki anno kaiju no 8 neon genesis evangelion ntt docomo production ig psycho pass sanrio shin godzilla shin kamen rider shin ultraman studio khara tomonori tanaka

Sai T.

Sai is a social media manager and senior web content creator who spends his days juggling game research, deadlines, and the usual existential crisis. When he isn’t crafting content that hopefully goes viral, he’s a dedicated single parent doing his best to navigate work life balance. And in the rare moments when free time actually appears, he’s usually found with his two dogs, who are fully convinced they’re the ones in charge.