The popular action RPG, NieR: Automata, will finally receive an anime adaption. An announcement on February 23 during the NieR: Automata 5th Anniversary Live Broadcast confirmed the decision regarding a TV animation production.
The producer is confirmed to be Aniplex, but the announcement did not specify which animation studio is producing the NieR: Automata anime. Some rumors from anime news leakers have suggested Studio A-1 Pictures of Sword Art Online and 86 anime fame could be the studio, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
On the official website, a translation from the original Japanese statement claims the following:
“NieR: Automata is an action RPG produced by Square Enix and developed by PlatinumGames.
The stage is a distant future in which human beings are routing to the moon in front of the overwhelming force of machine life forms that aliens unleash. 2B belonging to the newly organized android unit Yorha will put himself into a fierce battle to recapture the earth.
Along with the lifting of the ban on this information, we have released a newly drawn animation visual and a trailer to announce the decision to animate”
While that isn’t much to go on, Aniplex of America also tweeted about the upcoming TV anime production, meaning that it will likely receive a worldwide release. And given how well-received the game was by gamers across the globe, this scenario seems plausible.
A brief history of the game
Platinum Games developed the NieR: Automata game. The same developer was responsible for the fan-favorite action hack and slash series Bayonetta, which received an anime adaption in 2013 — Bayonetta: Bloody Fate.
However, NieR: Automata is a sequel to Nier, developed by an entirely different studio — Cavia. And Nier is also a spinoff of Cavia’s Drakengard action RPGs, a series heavy on hack and slash gameplay mechanics.
Square Enix published both Nier and NieR: Automata. Square Enix is well-known for its bestselling JRPGs, such as the Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy series. Both series have also received anime adaptations, with Dragon Quest: Your Story released in 2019, a 3D CGI anime directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin The Third: The First), Ryuichi Yagi, and Makoto Hanafusa.
What is NieR: Automata about?
NieR: Automata sets itself up as a Zelda-like adventure game, but with a far more bizarre, darker, and intriguing story. The story is broken up into chapters and sub-chapters, which follow the exploits of the three main characters: 2B, 9S, and A2. These androids combat the remnants of a past civilization and otherworldly entities, which cause the main cast to question their own motivations.
Set on earth in 11945 AD and featuring a post-apocalyptic open-world, NieR: Automata seems like the ideal candidate for a TV anime adaptation.
Unfortunately, there are no details surrounding the production studio, main staff, voice cast, and release dates. But as soon as we know, we’ll keep you informed about the latest developments concerning this game to anime adaptation. Stay tuned!