On Monday, August 31, 2026, Waterras Common Hall in Tokyo hosts a seminar titled "Experience Design That Moves Hearts — Lessons From EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION, BASSDRUM on the Passion Born From Planning × Technology," organized by Born Digital.
Applying Lessons From EVANGELION:30+；, the Evangelion Series' First-Ever Fes Event, to Any Project That Builds an Experience
This is an in-person event; it will not be held online.
EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION, the Evangelion series' first-ever fes event, ran for three days at Yokohama Arena in February 2026 to a hugely successful reception.
At this seminar, BASSDRUM — which joined the project from its earliest planning stages and led technical direction throughout, from idea generation and spatial simulation to on-the-day equipment selection and sound setup — takes the stage alongside khara to look back on how EVANGELION:30+； came together.
The talk also covers how various software was used, starting with TouchDesigner, which BASSDRUM relies on day to day, through to Unreal Engine and Blender for building the event's simulator. It's a recommended session for anyone involved in experience design for events and beyond.
Dune Studio / Masashige Akeda
Dune Studio / Masashige Akeda
Event Background and Purpose
Rather than simply retelling behind-the-scenes stories, this seminar uses EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION as a case study to unpack when and how planning and technology come together — and how that connection changes the quality of an experience and the outcome of a project.
The ideas shared go beyond entertainment events, extending to any project that builds an "experience" — commercial facilities, exhibitions and museums, brand experiences, large-scale promotions, and more.
The session also covers how BASSDRUM's technical director moved beyond the role of a simple "technical lead," engaging the whole project, and the care behind the decisions he made to turn the space itself into a cohesive experience. The content is recommended for working technologists as well.
Event Schedule
- 5:30 PM — Doors open, registration begins
- 6:00 PM — Opening remarks (10 min)
- 6:10 PM — Part 1 | Planning & Concept: How EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION Came to Be (45 min)
- 7:00 PM — Part 2 | Content Production: How the Virtual Camera Studio Was Designed (30 min)
- 7:30 PM — Part 3 | The Details: The Technology That Makes the Experience Work (30 min)
- 8:15 PM — Networking reception
- 9:30 PM — Event ends
A model of Yokohama Arena built in Blender
The simulator screen built after importing into Unreal Engine
Speakers
BASSDRUM
The world's first technical director collective. Working across creative and technology disciplines, BASSDRUM leads projects from a technical standpoint across a wide range of fields, from planning and developing experiential facilities to new business and product development. The studio joined EVANGELION:30+； from its planning stages, overseeing the technical side of realizing the spatial experience at Yokohama Arena by handling direction, design, and on-site implementation as a single, continuous process.
Shogo Tsurii
Born in 1986 in Osaka Prefecture. Affiliated with khara Inc.
Tsurii made his debut as a 3D animator on 龍の歯医者, then worked on titles including 電光超人グリッドマン, おばけちゃん, I can Friday by day!, and 宇宙パトロールルル子 before serving as 3D director on DARLING in the FRANXX.
He went on to work as a motion graphics designer on Promare, and as CGI lead animator, previz cameraman, and action-part cameraman on Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. He also served as visual director, storyboard artist, and visual development artist on THE iDOLM@STER Series Concept Movie 2021 "VOY@GER."
In recent years he has worked as CGI lead animator on Shin Kamen Rider, director on オチビサン, and visual director on SUGAR SUGAR RUNE Les deux sorcières, and took part as one of the overall directors of EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION, the Evangelion series' first 30th-anniversary fes event.
Yosuke Chiai
Born in 1990 in Kyoto Prefecture. Designer and visual artist.
In recent years, Chiai has served as visual development director on Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX and took part as one of the overall directors of EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION, the Evangelion series' first 30th-anniversary fes event. He also directed the Central Tower, the spatial staging installation in the event's "EVA EXTRA 30" exhibition area.
Event Overview
| Event name | Experience Design That Moves Hearts — Lessons From EVANGELION:30+； 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION, BASSDRUM on the Passion Born From Planning × Technology |
| Date & time | Monday, August 31, 2026, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM (doors open 5:30 PM) |
| Venue | Waterras Common Hall Address: 2-101 Kanda-Awajicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo |
| Cost | Free, application required |
| Capacity | 40 (a lottery will be held if applications exceed capacity) |
| Application deadline | Friday, August 28, 3:00 PM (lottery results will be sent the same day) |
| Organizer | Born Digital |
Full event details and applications: https://www.borndigital.co.jp/seminar/0831_evafesbass/
