NieR: Automata fans will be disappointed to hear that Crunchyroll's anime series has been hit with another COVID-related delay that will keep the show on hiatus indefinitely, as no dates were given for episode 9’s release.
Since its premiere in early January, this is the second time that Nier: Automata Ver1.1a has been put on hold after the anime went on a similar break just three weeks into its 24-episode count, allegedly due to COVID-19 affecting the production process. Last time around, it took a month for the NieR: Automata anime to get back on track, although the news and repeated motives behind this delay have done little to inspire confidence from the show’s viewers.
In a nearly identical statement to January’s posts, the official Nier: Automata Ver1.1a Twitter accounts, in Japanese and English, confirmed via the Council of Humanity that all chapters, including number 9 and beyond, will be pushed back “due to the impact of COVID-19 on production.” The announcement invites fans to lookout for future updates on the anime’s official channels. The notification comes within the week that Crunchyroll released Nier: Automata's English-dubbed episodes.
Episodes 7 and 8 featured the show’s reveal of A2, whom 2B and 9S encounter for the first time while joining Pascal on a special rescue mission. However, the anime is showing more of NieR: Automata's backstory in that regard. This delay was not met with the same type of reaction as the last one. Instead, many fans call attention to how rare it is for any production in 2023 to blame any scheduling issues on the pandemic.
The first delay coincided with the Japanese government's plans to downgrade the severity of COVID-19 outbreaks to something more akin to the seasonal flu starting May 8, thus underlining how far containment strategies and handling of the disease in the country have come along in three years. Though the health of any staff members working on NieR: Automata must be given top priority, the anime has singled out itself in the entertainment industry, which has largely overcome the pandemic by now.
Some people pointed out that A-1 Pictures and Aniplex's reasons for delaying the anime intend to hide an otherwise troubled production process that has also affected other shows from the company. That said, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a has proven to be a solid adaptation for many fans of the games, so at least quality doesn’t appear to have been compromised if that were to be the case for what is one of Crunchyroll's best anime series.
NieR: Automata Ver1.1a is currently available on Crunchyroll.
Source: @NieR_A_ANIME | Twitter