“Evangelion” movie/anime series viewing order, synopsis commentary | Isekai2nd

The “Evangelion'' series began with the TV anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion'' that aired in 1995, and has expanded to many works, including the movie version and “Evangelion: New Theatrical Version.''

The depth of its worldview and the innovativeness of its visual expressions continue to fascinate many fans. However, there are many works, and many people feel that they do not know in what order they should watch them.

In this article, we will explain the recommended viewing order and the differences between each series in an easy-to-understand manner even for those who are new to the series. We hope this will help you find the “Eva Entrance” that is perfect for you.

What is the “Eva” series?

Director Hideaki Anno's masterpiece “Neon Genesis Evangelion'' began as a TV anime in 1995, and since then, movie versions and new series have been produced one after another. What's unique about it is that it not only features action scenes featuring robots called “Eva” (something like that), but also explores the psychological depictions of the characters and philosophical themes.

Although it was a time when fewer people enjoyed animation than today, it is a work that will remain in the history of anime, causing a social phenomenon.

List of “Eva” series works

TV anime

“Neon Genesis Evangelion” (26 episodes in total)

Old movie series

“Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatrical Edition Shito Shinsei” (March 1997)
・DEATH: TV anime compilation REBIRTH: 2-part new part

“Neon Genesis Evangelion Movie Air/My Heart to You” (July 1997)
・Episode 25 “Air” and Episode 26 “My Heart to You”

“Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatrical Edition DEATH (TRUE) 2/Air/My Heart to You” (March 1998)
・A work that combines “DEATH (TRUE) 2'' (TV anime compilation) and “Air/My Heart to You''.

New movie series

“Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Introduction” (2007)
〈EVANGELION:1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE.〉

“Evangelion: New Theatrical Version: Destruction” (2009)
〈EVANGELION:2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE.〉

“Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Q” (2012)
〈EVANGELION:3.0 YOU CAN (NOT) REDO.〉

“Shin Evangelion Theatrical Version 𝄇” (March 2021)
〈EVANGELION:3.0+1.0THRICE UPON A TIME〉

Recommended viewing order

If you want to fully enjoy the story, we recommend watching them in the order below (in order of release). Or, you can watch the “New Theatrical Version” series first. Currently, it is easy to see because it is similar to the image where goods are being sold or campaigns are being held. As for the story, there have been a lot of changes, so if you're hooked on the “New Theatrical Version,” be sure to check out the TV anime and old theatrical version as well!

1 “Neon Genesis Evangelion”
2 “Neon Genesis Evangelion Movie Air/Sincerely for You”
*(You can also use “Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatrical Edition DEATH (TRUE) 2/Air/Sincerely for You”)

3 “Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Introduction”
4 “Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Destruction”
5 “Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Q”
6 “Shin Evangelion Theatrical Version 𝄇”

What is the difference between the old series and the new movie version?

Although many aspects remain basically the same, the harsh production, harsh story and dialogue, and original drawings from the old series are attractive. The ending is also drastically different, and you can directly feel the theme and message that director Anno and his staff put into it at the time.

Even in the “New Theatrical Version'' series, the good tempo and extravagant productions are still alive and well. From “Prologue'' to “Ha'', you can enjoy the story with completely new visuals while following the story of the old series, but from the end of “Ha'', “Q'', a completely new episode opens.

The last work, “Shin Evangelion Theatrical Version 𝄇'', is a work that summarizes the series that was created after trial and error.

Related works

Manga version “Neon Genesis Evangelion” (Yoshiyuki Sadamoto)
Novel “Evangelion ANIMA” (Takuma Kageyama, Ikuto Yamashita)
game works
Pachinko/pachislot works

And so on

Synopsis and overview of each work

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Synopsis

Year 2015. “Apostles” with various special abilities have attacked New Tokyo City 3. The main character, Shinji Ikari, is selected to pilot the Evangelion, a humanoid decisive battle weapon that is the only means for humanity to fight against the “Apostles”. Now, the battle that will determine the fate of humanity begins. What is the true identity of the “apostle”? What will be the fate of the boys and humanity?

cast

Shinji Ikari: Emi Ogata
Misato Katsuragi: Kotono Mitsuishi
Ritsuko Akagi: Yuriko Yamaguchi
Rei Ayanami: Megumi Hayashibara
Asuka Langley Soryu: Yuko Miyamura
Gendo Ikari: Fumihiko Tachiki
Kouzou Fuyutsuki: Genmu Kiyokawa
Makoto Hinata: Hiro Yuuki
Maya Ibuki: Miki Nagasawa
Shigeru Aoba: Taketo Koyasu
Ryoji Kaji: Koichi Yamadera
Kiel Lorenz: Mugito
Touji Suzuhara: Tomokazu Seki
Kensuke Aida: Tetsuya Iwanaga
Hikari Horaki: Junko Iwao
Kaworu Nagisa: Akira Ishida
Naoko Akagi: Mika Doi

(C) GAINAX・Color/Project Eva.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatrical Edition Shito Shinsei

Neon Genesis Evangelion Movie Air/My Heart to You

Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Introduction

Synopsis

It was released on September 1, 2007, and serves as the prologue of the four-part series.
This work is based on episodes 1 to 6 of the TV series.
The opportunity for 14-year-old Shinji to begin fighting against unknown hostile entities called “Apostles'' on the general-purpose humanoid decisive battle weapon, Android Evangelion, and…
The process of recognizing familiar things such as one's own life, friends, and city is retold with a careful touch and reconstructed as a single film.
The climax is “Operation Yashima,'' which depicts a national-scale operation.
This is a major project that gathers electricity from all over Japan to a single point in Hakone and uses it as the activation energy for the positron cannon that Shinji's first EVA unit aims at. An apostle who repeatedly transforms and attacks at will, trying to invade NERV headquarters.
When the fate of all humanity rests on his shoulders, what grows in Shinji's heart…

cast

Shinji Ikari: Emi Ogata
Rei Ayanami: Megumi Hayashibara
Misato Katsuragi: Kotono Mitsuishi
Ritsuko Akagi: Yuriko Yamaguchi
Gendo Ikari: Fumihiko Tachiki
Kouzou Fuyutsuki: Genmu Kiyokawa
Shikinami Asuka Langley: Yuko Miyamura
Makinami Mari Illustrious: Maaya Sakamoto
Ryoji Kaji: Koichi Yamadera
Kaworu Nagisa: Akira Ishida
Maya Ibuki: Miki Nagasawa
Shigeru Aoba: Taketo Koyasu
Makoto Hinata: Yukihiro
Touji Suzuhara: Tomokazu Seki
Kensuke Aida: Tetsuya Iwanaga
Hikari Horaki: Junko Iwao
Kiel Lorenz: Mugito

(C) Color

Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Destruction

Synopsis

Shinji Ikari chooses to fight on his own by riding the general-purpose humanoid decisive battle weapon Evangelion.
The story of a 14-year-old boy who is entrusted with a great destiny begins to enter unknown territory.
Asuka, the heroine who is equally popular with Rei Ayanami, will be participating in Evangelion Unit 02.
In addition, a fascinating new heroine, Mari, will appear.
The battle between the mysterious enemy “Apostle” and the EVA series will be fought with the participation of New Evangelion Temporary Unit 5.
It escalates even more violently.
Battle scenes that no one has ever seen unfold one after another on the screen.
The excitement of an amazing spectacle leads to an unknown story.
A new EVA legend that dares to start from the same starting point as the TV series.
From this second stage, new elements are added and the main points of the story change significantly.
What is the true picture of the “New Theatrical Version'' that emerges from this?

cast

Shinji Ikari: Emi Ogata
Rei Ayanami: Megumi Hayashibara
Misato Katsuragi: Kotono Mitsuishi
Ritsuko Akagi: Yuriko Yamaguchi
Gendo Ikari: Fumihiko Tachiki
Kouzou Fuyutsuki: Genmu Kiyokawa
Shikinami Asuka Langley: Yuko Miyamura
Makinami Mari Illustrious: Maaya Sakamoto
Ryoji Kaji: Koichi Yamadera
Kaworu Nagisa: Akira Ishida
Maya Ibuki: Miki Nagasawa
Shigeru Aoba: Taketo Koyasu
Makoto Hinata: Yukihiro
Touji Suzuhara: Tomokazu Seki
Kensuke Aida: Tetsuya Iwanaga
Hikari Horaki: Junko Iwao
Kiel Lorenz: Mugito

(C) Color

Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Q

Synopsis

Asuka's EVA Kai No. 2 and Mali's EVA No. 8 were conducting a “US operation” in geostationary satellite orbit.
The mission is to capture Unit-01 and Shinji after a fierce battle with the disc-shaped EVA Mark.04.
When Shinji finally wakes up, he finds unexpected acquaintances in front of him.
14 years have passed there, and former NERV employees such as Misato and Ritsuko…
With the addition of a new crew, he formed the anti-Nerf organization “Ville”.
“Ville” activated the battleship AAA Wunder and repelled the attacking EVA Mark.04 swarm.
Shinji was the only one who was able to revive from Unit-01, and Rei Ayanami was never found.
However, EVA Mark.09 launches a surprise attack to recapture Shinji, and upon hearing Rei's voice, Shinji leaves Wunder and heads to NERV headquarters.
Shinji is instructed by Gendo to board EVA Unit 13.
Guided by a mysterious boy, Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji sees the transformed land and is told what happened.
After rescuing Ray, a “near third impact” occurred, causing tremendous damage to the Earth.

cast

Shinji Ikari: Emi Ogata
Rei Ayanami: Megumi Hayashibara
Misato Katsuragi: Kotono Mitsuishi
Ritsuko Akagi: Yuriko Yamaguchi
Gendo Ikari: Fumihiko Tachiki
Kouzou Fuyutsuki: Genmu Kiyokawa
Shikinami Asuka Langley: Yuko Miyamura
Makinami Mari Illustrious: Maaya Sakamoto
Ryoji Kaji: Koichi Yamadera
Kaworu Nagisa: Akira Ishida
Maya Ibuki: Miki Nagasawa
Shigeru Aoba: Taketo Koyasu
Makoto Hinata: Yukihiro
Touji Suzuhara: Tomokazu Seki
Kensuke Aida: Tetsuya Iwanaga
Hikari Horaki: Junko Iwao
Kiel Lorenz: Mugito
Kouji Takao: Akio Otsuka
Sakura Suzuhara: Miyuki Sawashiro
Nagara Violet: Sayaka Ohara
Midori Kitakami: Mariya Ise
Hideki Tama: Anri Katsu

(C) Color

Shin Evangelion Theatrical Version:||

Synopsis

The fourth and final part of the new theatrical series. The anti-Nerv organization Ville, led by Misato, was in the old city of Paris, which was dyed red by the coreization. A selection team descends from the flagship AAA Wunder and attaches itself to the remaining sealing pillar. The workable time for the restoration operation is only 720 seconds. While carrying out a desperate mission, NERV's EVAs approached in large numbers, and Mari's EVA Kai No. 8 began to intercept them. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Ayanami Rei (tentative name) are wandering across the land of Japan…

cast

Shinji Ikari: Emi Ogata
Rei Ayanami: Megumi Hayashibara
Shikinami Asuka Langley: Yuko Miyamura
Makinami Mari Illustrious: Maaya Sakamoto
Misato Katsuragi: Kotono Mitsuishi
Ritsuko Akagi: Yuriko Yamaguchi
Kaworu Nagisa: Akira Ishida
Gendo Ikari: Fumihiko Tachiki
Kouzou Fuyutsuki: Genmu Kiyokawa
Touji Suzuhara: Tomokazu Seki
Kensuke Aida: Tetsuya Iwanaga
Hikari Suzuhara: Junko Iwao
Maya Ibuki: Miki Nagasawa
Shigeru Aoba: Taketo Koyasu
Makoto Hinata: Yukihiro
Kouji Takao: Akio Otsuka
Sakura Suzuhara: Miyuki Sawashiro
Nagara Violet: Sayaka Ohara
Midori Kitakami: Mariya Ise
Hideki Tama: Anri Katsu
Ryoji Kaji: Koichi Yamadera
Ryoji Kaji (boy): Koki Uchiyama
Yui Ikari: Megumi Hayashibara
Shinji Ikari (adult): Ryunosuke Kamiki

(C) Color