Hideaki Anno

Hideaki Anno is globally renowned as the creator and director of the legendary mecha anime franchise *Neon Genesis Evangelion*, which premiered in 1995. The series revolutionized the anime industry with its heavy psychological themes, religious symbolism, and deep exploration of depression. He eventually concluded the story decades later with the *Rebuild of Evangelion* film tetralogy.

Yes, Anno was a founding member of the iconic anime studio Gainax in 1984, alongside other notable creators like Hiroyuki Yamaga. Before founding the studio, he gained fame in the industry for his breathtaking animation work on the opening short film for Daicon IV. After his acrimonious departure from Gainax in 2006, he founded his own independent studio, Studio Khara.

In addition to his prolific anime career, Anno has successfully transitioned into directing live-action Japanese cinema. He co-directed the highly acclaimed 2016 film *Shin Godzilla* alongside Shinji Higuchi, reinventing the famous monster for a modern audience. He has since directed massive blockbuster hits, including 2022's *Shin Ultraman* and 2023's *Shin Kamen Rider*.

During the production of the original *Neon Genesis Evangelion* series in 1995, Anno suffered a severe, four-year-long bout of clinical depression that heavily influenced his work. The intense pressure of producing the anime on a grueling weekly schedule caused him to fundamentally change the direction of the show halfway through. He channeled his own mental health struggles directly into the character of Shinji Ikari.