The End of Evangelion

The End of Evangelion is a 1997 Japanese animated science fiction film that serves as an alternate ending to the television series Neon Genesis Evangelion.

The End of Evangelion is a 1997 Japanese animated science fiction film that serves as an alternate ending to the television series Neon Genesis Evangelion. It depicts the conflict between NERV and SEELE and the escalation of the Human Instrumentality Project, while following Shinji Ikari and other main characters through the series’ final events. The film is part of the internationally influential Evangelion franchise and is widely discussed by Canadian anime audiences, distributors, streamers, and critics as a landmark title in Japanese animation.

Plot

The film follows the final conflict between NERV and SEELE as the Human Instrumentality Project is carried out on competing terms. Its story focuses on Shinji Ikari, Asuka, Rei, and Misato during the collapse of the world as depicted in the Evangelion continuity. The plot takes place after episode 24 of Neon Genesis Evangelion and presents an alternate ending to the television series’ final two episodes, centering on SEELE’s attack on NERV and the Human Instrumentality Project.

Relation to the television series

The End of Evangelion is commonly described as an alternate or revised ending to Neon Genesis Evangelion, replacing or reframing the final television episodes with a more explicit depiction of events occurring in the physical world. The film is split into two parts commonly referred to as "25'" and "26'", corresponding to the episode numbers of the original series that it replaces.

Release and reception

The film premiered in Japan on 19 July 1997 and later became regarded as a cult work. French-language coverage notes that it initially received a mixed response but later won the Animage Anime Grand Prix and gained classic status. The film is part of the internationally influential Evangelion franchise and is widely discussed by Canadian anime audiences as a landmark title.