Square Enix and Aniplex have confirmed via a new promotional trailer that NieR Automata Ver 1.1a anime will premiere on the Tokyo MX, Tochigi TV, Gunma TV, and BS11 channels on January 7 at 10:00 a.m. EST local time. It will also be available domestically through Bandai, Hulu, and Prime Video.
There will be a special live-streamed program on December 28 to provide new information about the upcoming TV adaptation. The publisher debuted the finale trailer of the NieR Automata anime before its launch, highlighting some action sequences with protagonists 2B and 9S. Additionally, the short trailer commences with the announcement of new staff members that will join the production team. Shun Tacbibana, Masaki Inada, Takahiro Kawakoshi, 2D Artist Mie Hirega, and Art Director Horifumi Sakagami are included among the newly-announced staff members.
As seen in the trailer above, the anime version of NieR Automata will stay true to its source material, with a new plot that introduces a dystopian world where humanity became extinct by mechanical beings from another world. Although the latest video focuses on dialogue and cinematics rather than showing the two protagonists in action, 2B and 9S will likely be as hostile as they are in the game. The anime is being directed by A1-Studios and Ryouji Masuyama, who is also in charge of the project's composition along with Yoko Taro.
NieR Automata Version 1.1a anime is based on Platinum Games' critically-acclaimed action RPG game, which tells the story of android 2B, 9S, and A2 and their journey to take back the planet from powerful machines. Humanity has been driven from the Earth by invaders. However, resistance continues with the force of Androids, who will fight in a machine-driven dystopia. As the anime follows the same general plot, it will introduce a gloomy world where sub-events take a crucial role in the story progression. Jun Nakagi, who previously worked on AoT, Blue Exorcist, and Digimon anime series', is serving as character designer and chief animation director while MONACA is composing the music.
As for the cast members, Yui Ishikawa, best known as Mikasa Ackerman on AoT, will be the voice for 2B, while Natsuki Hanae from Demon Slayer will play 9S. The anime's cast also includes Hiroki Yasumoto as Pod 042, Kaoru Akiyama as Pod 153, and Chiaki Kanou as Commander.