Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Movie, 1997, The original, Set in Tokyo-3
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion is #2 of 6 in release order and #2 of 6 in chronological order in the Evangelion.
The story
SEELE orders an all-out attack on NERV, aiming to destroy the Evas before Gendo can advance his own plans for the Human Instrumentality Project. Shinji is pushed to the limits of his sanity as he is forced to decide the fate of humanity.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion recap
This film replaces the final two episodes of the series. After Kaworu's death, Shinji is catatonic, and Asuka lies comatose in hospital, where Shinji, desperate for help, commits a shameful act over her unconscious body. SEELE orders the Japanese army to seize NERV headquarters, and soldiers slaughter the staff. Misato rescues Shinji and is fatally shot while sending him to Unit-01, kissing him goodbye. Asuka, trapped in Unit-02 at the bottom of a lake, realises her mother's soul is inside her Eva, wakes and destroys the army's forces. Then nine white mass-production Evas descend and tear Unit-02 apart while Shinji watches, too late.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion ending explained
Rei rejects Gendo, merges with Lilith and becomes a giant, and Unit-01, with Shinji inside, is used to begin Third Impact. Humanity dissolves into orange liquid. Inside Instrumentality, Shinji decides he would rather live with the pain of other people than lose himself, and undoes it. He wakes on a red beach beside Asuka, chokes her, then breaks down when she touches his face. She says, "How disgusting." The original story ends there.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene; the credits play partway through the film, before the final act.
Where to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion is streaming on Netflix in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.1/10, Rotten Tomatoes 92%, MyAnimeList 8.57
Where it fits
- Release order: after Neon Genesis Evangelion, before Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.
- Chronological order: after Neon Genesis Evangelion, before Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.
What to watch before Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995), which Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997) continues.
Cast
- Megumi Ogata as Shinji Ikari (voice)
- Megumi Hayashibara as Rei Ayanami / Yui Ikari (voice)
- Kotono Mitsuishi as Misato Katsuragi (voice)
- Yuko Miyamura as Asuka Langley Soryu (voice)
- Fumihiko Tachiki as Gendo Ikari (voice)
- Miki Nagasawa as Maya Ibuki (voice)
- Takehito Koyasu as Shigeru Aoba (voice)
- Hiro Yuuki as Makoto Hyouga (voice)
- Yuriko Yamaguchi as Ritsuko Akagi (voice)
- Motomu Kiyokawa as Kozo Fuyutsuki (voice)
- Akira Ishida as Kaworu Nagisa (voice)
- Mugihito as Keel Lorenz (voice)
Directed by Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki.