Nier: Automata is one of the most highly anticipated new anime series in recent memory. Both fans of the original game and anime lovers alike are on the edge of their seats waiting for more news, with some already predicting the series will become an instant classic. For all the newcomers out there curious of what Nier: Automata is all about -- and fans who'd like a quick refresher -- here is everything you need to know before the anime arrives.
The Nier: Automata video game was first released on PlayStation 4 and PC in 2017, published by Square Enix and developed by PlatinumGames. The game was directed and co-written by the legendary (and famously eccentric) Yoko Taro. Taro is known for his work on the Drakengard series and a generally off-kilter writing style, which can veer from the hilarious to the deeply disturbing and back again. He is also known for his commitment to rarely showing his face in public, often wearing a moon-like mask during interviews.
Nier: Automata was the sequel to 2010's Nier -- which was a spinoff of the Drakengard franchise itself -- and it is set many years after one of the original Drakengard's endings. Nier and Nier: Automata both got excellent reviews as gamers praised their unique stories and heavy subversions of expected tropes.
Automata features many different gameplay styles on top of the usual action RPG elements, keeping players on their toes and making the experience highly memorable. The game was also praised for its branching narrative and numerous different endings, many of which intersect in fascinating ways, making Nier: Automata stand out among its contemporaries.
The story is set thousands of years after the original Nier, in 11945 AD. The world is in ruins after a race of space-faring machines has invaded and taken over large swathes of the planet. This invasion has forced humans to abandon Earth, taking refuge on the Moon. Now the world is locked in a proxy war as people from Bunker, a reconnaissance base orbiting Earth, send man-made androids called YoRHa down to Earth to fight back against the machines. These YoRHa androids are specially designed for this war; while on Earth, they are tasked with performing missions and aiding other pre-YoRHa human-made androids who remain on the planet, acting as a resistance force.
Nier: Automata's narrative follows two of these YoRHa units. The protagonist, controlled by the player, is the iconic and feminine 2B, a calm and focused combat droid. She is accompanied by 9S, a male-looking scanner robot who acts as her reconnaissance and support in the field. However, while 2B is firm and collected, 9S displays more emotion.
While on this mission, the pair will see many unusual things and find that the battle isn't as simple or straightforward in nature as they first thought. They'll also meet many people on this adventure, including several highly memorable androids, each with their own view on the conflict.
It is easy to see why gamers and anime fans alike are so excited about the newly announced Nier: Automata anime. Yoko Taro's excellent writing and uniquely creative approach, mixed with the game's fascinating setting and complex plot, make it seem perfect for an adaptation that will delight longtime Nier fans and newbies alike.