Studio Khara is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a toast—literally. The anime studio posted an original illustration by board director Kazuya Tsurumaki featuring Evangelion's Rei Ayanami holding a drink, accompanied by the caption "20th Anniversary." The cheeky timing plays on Japan's legal drinking age of 20.

Founder and president Hideaki Anno marked the milestone with a message reflecting on the studio's journey. "What began as a company with just the president, one employee, and one advisor in a small office in a multi-tenant building in Nishi-Shinjuku has grown into a company that owns its own studio, has produced numerous works, and continues to create new ones to this day," Anno wrote. He concluded by thanking fans and supporters while expressing confidence in the studio's future, stating, "We will continue working hard towards our 25th and 30th anniversaries."

Established on May 17, 2006, Studio Khara has become a powerhouse in anime production under Anno's leadership. The studio is best known for producing the four Evangelion Rebuild films—1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, and 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time—which reimagined the original series for theatrical audiences. Beyond Evangelion, Khara has also worked on projects like Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX.

The studio shows no signs of slowing down. Studio Khara is currently in production on an untitled Space Battleship Yamato film and a new Evangelion project, both expected in coming years. The anniversary message suggests the studio is positioning itself for sustained growth and continued creative output.

Anno's words highlight how far Khara has come from its humble beginnings as a scrappy three-person operation. The transition from renting shared office space to owning its own studio building represents not just business growth, but creative autonomy—allowing the studio to pursue ambitious projects on its own terms. For anime fans, that independence has proven crucial to Studio Khara's ability to realize Anno's distinctive vision across multiple franchises.