The long-awaited NieR: Automata anime adaptation finally got some exciting updates during the 2022 Aniplex Online Fest, with the very first trailer being released as well as a confirmed release date of January 2023.
The big announcement revealed the first visuals for fan-favorite characters, 2B and 9S. Fans finally get to see how these two characters will be portrayed in the NieR: Automata anime adaptation. While the trailer didn't give much away in terms of what will actually be included in the anime, it teased viewers with short scenes of 2B and 9S as well as key locations that are found throughout the video game.
The news of a Nier: Automata anime adaption broke back in February 2022 during the Nier: Automata 5th anniversary stream. Since then, there's been hardly any updates until now. The only information that was given at the time was that the anime would feature 2B, A2, and 9S. Even Yoko Taro was confused why it had taken so long for an anime adaptation to be made, with Nier fans eagerly awaiting any form of adaption of their favorite video game.
The voice actors were finally confirmed during the announcement alongside the exhilarating teaser trailer. Hatsuki Hanae, who voiced Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is the voice actor for 9S, whereas Yui Ishikawa, who voiced Violet in Violet Evergarden will be the voice actor for 2B. This is exciting news for those patiently awaiting the NieR: Automata anime adaption, with immensely talented voice actors on the roster and A-1 Pictures producing the series. A-1 Pictures are well known for working on popular anime shows such as Sword Art Online, Erased, and Love Is War.
The name of the anime series was also revealed as NieR: Automata Version 1.1a, with Yoko Taro explaining that the storyline will differ from the original story found in the video game. This is due to the fact that the story for the NieR: Automata video game was made purely from a video game standpoint, and Yoko Taro feels as if copying the entire storyline would be dull. This means fans of the popular video game will get to experience a brand new story within the NieR: Automata universe, which has somewhat divided the fanbase. Many fans are cautious about the anime announcement in general, mainly due to the worries of the series not doing the video game justice. NieR: Automata is an award-winning open-world video game, after all, so it's no surprise that fans are keeping their expectations low for now.
It isn't yet known whether the storyline will be classed as canon or not, but with the anime adaptation story being detached from the NieR: Automata video game, it doesn't seem likely. The prospect of a brand-new take on the NieR: Automata world is pretty thrilling, expanding the possibilities within the post-apocalyptic world and delving into the secrets of the Bunker. While there hasn't been any hints on what exactly the story will be, Yoko Taro will surely be eager to announce more when the time comes.
With Yoko Taro directly working on the production of the anime, it's bound to be another heart-wrenching storyline that will capture the hearts of long-time fans of the Nier series and brand-new viewers. The anime adaption will surely bring a whole new audience to NieR: Automata and the other installments within the Nier franchise.
Fans will have to keep their eyes out for any new announcements or updates about NieR: Automata Version 1.1a in the near future, with the series releasing in January 2023, there's probably still a few more teasers under their belt. It'll be fantastic if viewers get to see a wider shot of the environments, and some scenes with any additional characters, especially since A2 wasn't featured in the most recent trailer, with no news of who will be voicing the character yet.
Source: Anime News Network