Godzilla and Evangelion Are Forming a New Japanese Cinematic Universe

Japanese industry giants are teaming up for a new cinematic universe based on iconic properties. Producers Toho, Toei, Khara, and Tsuburaya have announced the upcoming launch of the Shin Japan Heroes Universe, which includes representatives from the Godzilla Rug, Ultraman, Kamen Rider, and Evangelion franchises.

Toho is the company that created Godzilla, Toei is behind Kamen Rider, Tsuburaya produces Ultraman, and Khara is the animation studio founded by Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno. The founder of Tsuburaya Productions, the late tokusatsu special effects pioneer, Eiji Tsuburaya, has done effects for films in both the Godzilla and Ultraman franchises.

Toho released Anno-directed Shin Godzilla in 2016, and Anno is also directing the upcoming Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider, which look like stylish reboots. Last year’s Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time was known as Shin Evangelion Gekijouban in Japan and is listed alongside other “Shin” movies on the new Shin Japan Heroes Universe website.

So, although no new projects have been announced yet, the idea of this intersection of properties with the theme revolving around the idea of ”shin”, which means “new” in Japanese, is not must come from nowhere. However, the addition of Godzilla and Evangelion to the mix, as well as the claim of an explicit universe where IPs will interact with each other, set the stage for some unprecedented cinematic battles. It’s as if Tokyo-3 doesn’t have enough on disc without Godzilla showing up.