Rebuild of Evangelion

Rebuild of Evangelion is a tetralogy of animated films based on the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. It is being produced by Studio Khara in partnership with Gainax. Hideaki Anno wrote the first movie and will be the general director and manager for the entire project. Kazuya Tsurumaki and Masayuki will direct the movies, while Yoshiyuki Sadamoto will provide character designs and Ikuto Yamashita will provide mechanical designs.

In 2006, Gainax confirmed that Rebuild of Evangelion will consist of four films. The first three will be an alternate retelling of the TV series, featuring new scenes, settings, backgrounds, characters, and newly available 3D CG technology, and the fourth film will present a completely new conclusion to the story. Another stated intention of the films is for it to make Evangelion much more understandable and accessible to non-fans than the original TV series and movies were.

Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone

Release Date: September 1, 2007
Running Time: 98 minutes

The film is largely an adaptation of episodes 1 through 6 of the original Evangelion television series. While some events are portrayed exactly the same way, often using the same storyboards from the television show, albeit newly redrawn; other events unfold differently, using new storyboards and/or 3D computer animation. Most notably, the fifth angel Ramiel (now renumbered as the sixth Angel), and the fight against it, has gone through a complete redesign.

Shinji Ikari arrives in Tokyo-3, sent for by his father Gendo. As he wanders about town, he is caught in the crossfire between the U.N. army and the fourth Angel (third in the original version), Sachiel. Rescued by Lieutenant Colonel Misato Katsuragi, Shinji is brought to NERV Headquarters and is guilted by Gendo, who turns out to be Supreme Commander of NERV, into piloting Evangelion Unit-01 against Sachiel when its primary pilot, the mysterious Rei Ayanami, is too injured to pilot. After the initial fight, Shinji is taken in by Misato as her new housemate and enrolled in middle school. The film portrays Shinji's attempts to settle in with his newfound life alongside Misato, Rei and the other characters while continuing to defend Tokyo-3 and the world from the coming Angels as the new pilot of Unit-01.

In the final scene, a naked Kaworu Nagisa is awakened by SEELE on the barren surface of the Moon. He engages in a brief, cryptic conversation with a SEELE monolith, saying that 'the third one' has not changed and that he looks forward to meeting Shinji.

Kaworu's coffin is flanked on each side by four open tombs on the left and four unopened tombs on the right. In front of him is an unknown white giant who resembles Lilith and wears the purple SEELE 'Seven-eyes-of-God' mask seen in the original series and is surrounded by construction and scaffolding.

Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance

Release Date: Summer 2009
Running Time: Unknown

The second film of the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy is scheduled to open in Japan in the summer of 2009. Little conclusive information is available, aside from the trailer featured following the first film which included:

• The launch of the provisional Unit 05.
• The adoption of Unit 02 and its pilot Asuka. This is shown in an air-drop sequence.
• The disappearance of Unit 04.
• The forced activation testing of Unit 03. Sequences featuring Unit 03 as Bardiel.
• A newly-designed Unit 06 and its unnamed pilot fly down from the Moon.
• Ghostly floating humanoid entities as yet unidentified in the series, with haloes over their heads, along with the words 'Adams' and 'Lilin+?' flashing between them.
• Kaji briefly appears.
• A sequence between Misato and Ritsuko from the battle with Leliel.
• Asuka will be featured in this part. Scene is from when she fights Zeruel in front of the Geofront in the original series.
• A sequence featuring Shinji from the battle with Zeruel, suggesting that the film will lead all the way to or past the events of episode 19 of the original series.
• A sequence featuring Kaworu.
• A newly introduced female character with brown hair and glasses, staring at cross-shapes in the sky.
• Misato's narration finishes the trailer with her frequent sign-off phrase from the TV previews, promising 'and of course, more fanservice!'

Evangelion: 3.0

Release Date: Unknown
Running Time: Unknown

Not much is yet known about the third film of the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy. It is supposed to be released alongside the fourth film Evangelion: Final.

Evangelion: Final

Release Date: Unknown
Running Time: Unknown

Not much is yet known about the fourth film of the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy. It is supposed to be released alongside the third film Evangelion: 3.0.

Where to Buy

• Not yet available in North America