Kadokawa releases an Evangelion artbook with 208 pages by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto

Kadokawa published the Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Artbook EVANGELION [Limited Edition] on November 10, 2026, a 208-page volume collecting decades of illustrations by the franchise's original character designer. The artbook arrives as part of the celebrations for the anime's 30th anniversary and is priced at 17,600 yen, about 110 dollars.

Sadamoto defined the look of Neon Genesis Evangelion before the series premiered in 1995. He also created the manga adaptation, which began serialization before the anime and offered a different take on Shinji Ikari and his relationship with the rest of the cast. His versions of Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, and Kaworu Nagisa remain the image anyone associates with the franchise, more than three decades later.

Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Artbook EVANGELION [Limited Edition].essential-japan.com

What the limited edition includes

The book comes in a large B4 format, meant to appreciate the illustrations in more detail than in their original appearances. The case has a metallic finish inspired by the snowy landscape of the final chapter of Sadamoto's manga, and the cover shows Shinji walking through the snow.

Along with the artbook, 15 reproductions of original illustrations are included, each approximately 31 x 24.6 cm. There are also four miniature shikishi with new drawings of Shinji, Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu made by Sadamoto specifically for this collection.

The edition was announced earlier this year with the promise of covering Sadamoto's work on the original anime, the manga, and later projects.

Illustrations by Sadamoto collected in the Evangelion limited edition.essential-japan.com

An anniversary with more fronts open

This artbook is not the only 30th anniversary project. The EVANGELION:30+ festival brought together concerts, exhibitions, and the first official Eva Kabuki performance over three days. The ALL OF EVANGELION exhibition, with original cels and production materials from the 1995 anime and the Rebuild films, opened in Tokyo in late 2025 and can now be seen in Osaka.

The limited edition is available in Japanese bookstores and in Kadokawa's official store. Those who buy through the store receive three A4 clear files with Sadamoto art while supplies last.

Would you pay 110 dollars for 208 pages of Sadamoto, or will you wait to see if something more affordable comes out? Tell us in the comments.