Rebuild of Evangelion

Rebuild of Evangelion (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版[?], "Evangerion Shin Gekijōban", Officially: Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition) is a series of four movies by the creators of Neon Genesis Evangelion, which form an alternate retelling of the original TV series. "Rebuild of Evangelion" constitutes a separate continuity from the continuity of the original TV series and associated movies, Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion. The first film in the series was released in Japan on September 1, 2007; the second on June 27, 2009; and the third on November 17, 2012. The fourth and final film was released in Japan on March 8, 2021.

Production History

Anno initially began work on Rebuild films in the fall of 2002, spending nearly six months on pre-production before being delayed by various other projects such as the Live-Action Cutie Honey film, Re: Cutie Honey OVAs etc[1] In the December 2006 issue of Newtype, Anno revealed he was happy to finally recreate Eva "as he wanted it to be" in the beginning and that he was no longer constrained by technological and budget limitations.[2]

The release schedule of the Rebuild films has experienced many delays, with the first film pushed from its original summer release date to fall 2007, and the second film's release date shifted from 2008 to summer 2009. The third film, initially announced as a simultaneous release with Evangelion: Final in the summer of 2008,[3] was released in fall 2012.

In 2012, the final film was briefly listed on Khara's website for a 2013 release.[4] In October 2014, Anno announced that due to other commitments, which was later revealed to be his involvement with Shin Godzilla,[5] the film would be further delayed to an unknown date.

In 2019 the final film, now called Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, was scheduled for a June 27, 2020 release date but received two delays due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] It was released on March 8, 2021.[7] Anno had planned to make a new Evangelion story since 2000[Source needed] and wanted to open-up the franchise in the future to new creators, but 3.0+1.0 was intended to be his final Evangelion work.[8][9]

Storyline

“Rebuild of Evangelion” was originally presented as an alternate retelling of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion: the first three movies were intended to be an “alternate retelling” of the series, while the fourth and final film is promised to be an entirely new, alternate ending to the series.

Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone adapts the first arc of the anime, ending with Operation Yashima, originally shown in Episode 6. Despite the great similarities, some differences are notable, like the introduction of Lilith and a mysterious apparition of Kaworu on the moon.

Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance continues the story of Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone. While replicating many scenes and plot elements from the original series, the film also introduces new ones, including newly designed creatures and new characters, such as Mari Illustrious Makinami. The first half of the film adapts "Action Arc": episodes 08 through 12. The second half adapts the primary conflicts of 18, and 19, while incorporating material up through 23, with an entirely new conclusion, starting the event known as Near-Third Impact. Asuka is introduced in this movie bearing a new surname, and some differences from her past incarnation.

Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo has shy connections with Episode 24 and the beginning of End of Evangelion. In it, a time-skip is established from the last film, taking place 14 years after previous events. A new organization called Wille is introduced and described as a Nerv rival. New types of Evas are introduced, as well as new characters such as Sakura Suzuhara, Toji's sister. Kaworu has a major role in this film, as does Mari.

Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time concludes the story. In it are presented some connections with End of Evangelion and some remarkable scenes from the original show. It shows the final conflict between Nerv and Wille, as well as between Gendo and Shinji, revealing some major points of the plot. Unlike the three previous movies, the title of this movie is rendered in Katakana as "Evangelion" in the same manner as the TV series. Starting with "Shin", just like Anno's involved live-action titles like Shin Godzilla or Shin Ultraman. The previous three movies had Katakana that spelled "Wevangeliwon". Thus marking a break with the previous structure and being a completely new piece.