Flag Pictures recently unveiled the main cast, production team, and title for the highly anticipated “Kabuki Symphony No. 9 Evangelion,” a collaboration between Khara and Shochiku. This project is set to be a highlight of the festival celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Evangelion franchise.
The Kabuki performance will take place at the Stage Area of the “EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION” festival on its third and final day, February 23. Flag Pictures has also released the key visual for the event:
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Kabuki actors Kichitarล Kamimura, known for his roles in “Kabuki Final Fantasy X” and “Touken Ranbu,” and Sakon Onoe will star as Shinji Ikari and Kaworu Nagisa, respectively. Kazuhisa Tobe is directing and writing the script, while Kanjurล Fujima is handling the choreography. The music will be composed by Gagaku musician Fumihiko Yamada.
The “EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION” festival will be held at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa Prefecture from February 21 to 23. The event will feature an exhibition area showcasing works from Khara creators and a separate stage area for various performances. This festival is part of the ongoing celebrations for the franchise’s 30th anniversary, which has already seen the re-release of the “Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth” anime film in October.
The Evangelion franchise has a rich history of spinoffs, merchandise, and collaborations. Hideaki Anno, the director of the original anime, founded Studio Khara in 2006. The studio has produced the “Rebuild of Evangelion” tetralogy, which reinterprets the events of the series. The final film, “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time,” opened in Japan in March 2021 and was followed by an updated version, “Evangelion: 3.0+1.01: Thrice Upon A Time,” in June 2021.
The franchise has also inspired various stage plays, including “Evangelion Beyond,” which premiered in April 2023.
News Source: Animenewsnetwork.com
