With February 23rd being the fifth anniversary of the NieR: Automata series, it was a given that fans would be getting more than a few new surprises. But fans got the biggest surprise so far out of the gate, as social media began spreading a minimalist teaser trailer for a NieR: Automata anime.
Though some fans may want to use the trailer to search for clues, the NieR franchise has been tight-lipped as far as extra details for the time being. So far, all that has really been gleaned from the trailer is that animation studio Aniplex will be working on the project. While it’s been quite a while since fans have seen an Aniplex production working solo, the studio has kept itself busy working with other studios and franchises such as Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and The Promised Neverland. More information is sure to be forthcoming on the anime’s official website, which released this statement concerning the announcement of the anime:
The popular action RPG game NieR: Automata, which was released by Square Enix on February 23, 2017 and has sold over 6 million units worldwide. We announced the decision to make a TV animation in NieR: Automata 5th Anniversary Live Broadcast which was delivered today, just 5 years after its release. 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.
So far, it looks as if the synopsis for the anime will largely follow that of the video game. The game, which was released in 2017, reached critical acclaim for its complex, heartwrenching story and soundtrack. A Game of the Year Edition was released in 2019, and a prequel NieR: Replicant as well as a spin-off NieR: Re(in)carnation was released in 2021. While the game is considered a must-play, there’s no telling if a new player would find the gameplay as compelling as the story alone. I suppose the only question for new players is to ask if they want their hearts broken now or later.
Source: NieR: Automata Anime Website
