“We used anime on the set, and it was like, ‘Where are we going to find someone who can do all these designs [of NOMAD] and make it look like anime?'” Edwards explained before adding: “We moved heaven and earth to make that happen.” Part of that involved finding animators to come in at the 11th hour to actually put together the anime based on the NOMAD ship that appears in the Film. “These great animators came in at the last minute and got the film over the finish line,” Edwards said.

Speaking further, the filmmaker, whose credits also include 2014’s “Godzilla” and the low-budget “Monsters,” revealed that he wasn’t even sure if anyone would notice the anime on a first watch. He also explained that the films of Joe Dante (“Gremlins,” “The Howling”) were an influence when it came to this particular creative choice.

“I was like, ‘Is anyone even going to notice this?’ I thought it was something you’d have to watch two or three times to go, ‘Wait a minute. That’s the stuff in the world.’ But yeah, I love all that stuff. I mean, my favorite moments are in Joe Dante films where they’ve got a TV on in the corner of the room, and something very scary and terrible is happening over here, but the music’s like a Warner Bros. cartoon or something. I love that kind of contrast.”

Edwards, in addition to directing, penned the screenplay for “The Creator” alongside Chris Weitz (“Rogue One,” “Cinderella”). The cast also includes John David Washington (“Tenet”), Gemma Chan (“Eternals”), Ken Watanabe (“Godzilla”), Sturgill Simpson (“The Hunt”), and Allison Janney (“I, Tonya”).

“The Creator” is set to hit theaters on September 29, 2023.