Evangelion Releases New Official Artbook Celebrating the Artist Behind Its Iconic Characters

A huge new Evangelion artbook celebrating the work of original character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto has officially been released, bringing together decades of illustrations from one of anime’s most influential franchises.

The new “Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Artbook EVANGELION [Limited Edition]” is a special 208-page collection published by KADOKAWA, bringing together Sadamoto’s illustrations from across the series alongside exclusive artwork and bonus prints.

Yoshiyuki Sadamoto played a major role in establishing the original appearance of Neon Genesis Evangelion, serving as the character designer for the groundbreaking 1995 anime and its subsequent theatrical adaptations.

He also created the official manga adaptation, which began serialization before the anime premiered and offered an alternative interpretation of Shinji Ikari’s story and relationships with the other characters.

His illustrations of Shinji, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, and Kaworu Nagisa helped establish the visual identity of Evangelion, with his artwork remaining popular more than 30 years after the anime’s original broadcast.

Sadamoto’s illustrations have also inspired several recent figures, including new 1/7 scale releases of Rei and Asuka from Good Smile Company based directly on his artwork.

The new artbook was first announced earlier this year, with KADOKAWA promising an extensive collection covering Sadamoto’s contributions to Evangelion across the original anime, manga, and subsequent projects.

It features 208 pages in a large B4 format, allowing fans to appreciate Sadamoto’s illustrations in considerably greater detail than their original appearances.

The limited edition is presented in a specially designed metallic-finish box inspired by the snowy scenery from the final chapter of Sadamoto’s Evangelion manga, while the book’s cover shows Shinji walking through the snow.

Alongside the artbook, KADOKAWA has included 15 high-quality reproductions of Sadamoto’s original illustrations, each measuring approximately 31 x 24.6 cm.

Four miniature shikishi art boards are also included, featuring new illustrations of Shinji, Rei, Asuka and Kaworu created by Sadamoto specifically for the collection.

The artbook is another addition to Evangelion’s 30th anniversary celebrations, which have included the three-day EVANGELION:30+ festival featuring concerts, exhibitions and the franchise’s first official Eva Kabuki performance.

Another major anniversary project is the ALL OF EVANGELION exhibition, which brings together original animation cels and production materials from the 1995 anime and the Rebuild of Evangelion movies and is currently being held in Osaka after first opening in late 2025 in Tokyo.

The “Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Artbook EVANGELION [Limited Edition]” was officially released in Japan on November 10, 2026, priced at ¥17,600 (approximately $110 USD / £83 GBP).

The artbook is now available through Japanese bookstores and KADOKAWA’s official online store, where purchases also include three exclusive A4 clear files featuring Sadamoto’s artwork while supplies last.

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