The work of visionary director Hideaki Anno will take center stage at this year's Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF).

For the 27th edition of the event, which opens Oct. 23, around 50 films by the 54-year-old animator and director will be assembled in a section of TIFF titled "The World of Hideaki Anno," including his best known work, "Neon Genesis Evangelion" — one of Japan's most popular anime series from the 1990s.

The lineup will also feature the "Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water" anime series, live-action films "Love & Pop" (1998) and "Cutie Honey" (2004), short films, commercials and student films. Many of the works will be subtitled in English.

The decision to showcase Anno's work is part of TIFF's wider focus on animation this year, echoing the government's push to promote local anime and manga through its "Cool Japan" initiative. Even the closing film at the festival, live-action horror film "Parasyte," is an adaptation of a manga titled "Kiseijuu." That manga will also provide the source material for a televised anime series that will debut the same month the festival opens.

TIFF is expected to announce more information on specific films that will be screened as part of "The World of Hideaki Anno" in late August, followed by a list of all of this year's featured films, released in September.

Anno is currently working on "Evangelion 4.0 Final," which is reportedly set for release next year.