Yoko Taro lost his iconic Nier mask and somehow found a more cursed replacement

Nier Automata's Yoko Taro lost his iconic mask in Los Angeles, leading him to replace it with a truly cursed choice.

The last weekend saw 2023's Anime Expo take place in LA, and Nier Automata director Yoko Taro was there to take part in a panel. Taro would usually don his now-iconic mask of Nier series character Emil for such a public appearance, but according to the panel attendee just below, he managed to lose the mask while out drinking around LA.

this was yoko taro in his new mask he picked out at an LA costume store after it was lost at a bar (complete with slideshow pictures of the whole endeavor) https://t.co/QOaOiFX5wm pic.twitter.com/lEMYWgiBNTJuly 3, 2023

Hey, losing an obnoxiously large mask happens to the best of us, and Taro was forced to adapt on the fly. What he picked out was something genuinely awful though - a mask of what looks to be a stereotypical Irish leprechaun from a costume store in LA.

Apparently, the entire feat was accompanied by a slideshow of Taro's escapades around LA, which probably would've been put together real sharpish by the panel. Everyone on that panel is having a decidedly "normal one," as the kids would say, with the obvious exception of Taro, as always.

Does this mean that somewhere in LA there's someone with a gigantic mask of Emil cutting about? It's entirely possible.

Aside from directing Nier Automata, Taro also has an active hand in its anime adaptation, which was the first to postpone its ongoing run earlier this year due to COVID-19. Good news, though - the Nier Automata anime will resume broadcasting later this month in July, showcasing the last four episodes.

Check out our guide to the best anime if you're after something to fill the Nier Automata-shaped hole in your schedule.

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.