Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion // Reaction and Discussion
Added 2026-01-03 21:37:54 +0000 UTC*KONA UPDATE!: hi everyone! we got back super late from the emergency Vet last night. Kona has been put on a few different medications and a 24-hour watch to see if his symptoms improve. So far so good and he is acting like his normal self! We are so sorry for the wait, but we hope you enjoy! ^.^
Comments
Would be great to see yas watch the rebuilds, as for a watch order they just go 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone, 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance, 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo , and 3.00+1.00 Thrice Upon A Time (movie 4).
tyler
2026-01-23 21:16:51 +0000 UTCRebuild series is worth watching, for the animation alone; the Ramiel fight is insanely well animated in the rebuild, and it also offers another interesting, yet more fictional, alternate ending
Sovereign
2026-01-15 05:45:37 +0000 UTCI disagree. I like the movies and I think that the ending specifically elevates the entire franchise. Also, I wouldn't want them to take too much time before watching Rebuild because the knowledge they currently have after watching the original is definitely helpfull when watching Rebuild. I remember I was extremely confused and lost when watching Rebuild for the first time because I hadn't watched the OG in so long.
Noctislolig
2026-01-11 03:49:47 +0000 UTCCosplayers of live-action scene are real voice actors. I went to concert of Aska's voice actor around the time The End of Evangelion. She "Yuko Miyamura" was my idol. Now she works as sound director of animation also.
jijy
2026-01-10 08:09:02 +0000 UTCThank you
Someone
2026-01-10 05:58:10 +0000 UTCPlease, do watch the rebuilds!
Martín Ontiveros
2026-01-10 02:24:15 +0000 UTC(Sorry if this is hard to understand as it's translated using AI) I always enjoy watching your videos. I'm 28 years old and have been an Evangelion fan for 13 years. As I'm Japanese, when I first saw Evangelion I could only understand the religious aspects through knowledge. Your analysis, based on Christian values, was very relatable and good. In addition to your analysis, your honest reactions reminded me of the shock I felt when I first saw Evangelion, and it made me feel really good. If you'd like, please also check out the four theatrical films (序, 破, Q, シン). I highly recommend them.
おりおん
2026-01-09 23:50:54 +0000 UTCI know it not your usual fair but if y’all have the time I’d love to see you guys react to Heated Rivalry!
Chris Pyre
2026-01-08 14:52:01 +0000 UTCalso consider Gunbuster and Diebuster. Gunbuster was made by Gainax and directed by Anno before Evangelion. It's a 6 episode mecha that is a classic of the genre, and also a masterpiece. The sequel, Diebuster, was also made by Gainax years after Evangelion, and directed by Tsurumaki, who directed the fist half of the End of Evangelion. It's also a masterpiece, and revolutionized the genre. Both are 6 episodes long, easy to watch, and peak anime.
Alexander Fitz
2026-01-08 06:41:05 +0000 UTCI agree! The rebuilds might seem unnecesary at first glance but they expand and eventually conclude evangelion nicely. Just watching the OG series and the end movie feels very incomplete.
David Rios
2026-01-08 06:31:36 +0000 UTCIt's important to note that this movie was almost entirely hand-painted, and is arguably the height of artistic achievement, probably the most important work of art of the 20th century, if not of all time... Which the mainstream art world is slow to recognize because they haven't accepted that hand-painted sequential art is fine art, and much more powerful than any form of art that came prior. The Rebuild films do not exist in that tier of achievement. They are wonderful, they're great entertainment, they're a must-watch. but, they do not approach the masterpiece status of EoE. Consider the ending scene of EoE, with the crucified Evas, Shinji choking Asuka on the beach, "kimochi warui," and the cut to silence.... that's just raw emotion and soul. The Rebuild films don't give you that level of intensity, that's a once-in-a-million masterpiece. But, some of the greatest scenes in the Evangelion franchise happen in the Rebuild movies. The soundtrack is unbelievable... and Eva 3 is an avant-garde masterpiece like EoE, in fact, it's the closest thing to an EoE experience you can get. I just think it falls apart in the final film, which you'll find a lot of controversy with online between people who love the storytelling, and people who hate it. Same for Eva 3, like EoE, it is highly controversial. Only recently are a lot of people reassessing it and realizing what it did for the franchise. Overall, the Rebuild films aren't really canon to the original series/EoE. That's a self-contained and completed story. But, the Rebuild films are canon to the franchise, and have their own relationship with the original story.
Alexander Fitz
2026-01-08 06:30:51 +0000 UTCDefinetly do REbuilds, but I will say take your time, le this OG sereies and EoE settle in and take movies slowly, like one in every other month
pelaajaJM
2026-01-07 20:47:37 +0000 UTCok so i think what the episode ending is and take this with a grain of salt, because its been a long time ,and i might be misremembering, it is that shinji is accepting instrumentality project and the EOE is shinji rejecting it. so yes, you are right they are basically concurrent possibilities of the end of the story. PS you're both so smart :D
Daniel Borrego
2026-01-06 20:41:23 +0000 UTCYou should watch this to better understand the TV series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fduVKdHRP0o
Terry
2026-01-06 03:49:39 +0000 UTCcongratulations.
Wu Li
2026-01-05 13:29:57 +0000 UTCI assume they will watch it eventually but idk when haha So if someone is reading this them or mod, throw in Arcane S2 aswell, would like an update about that one too
Vladi
2026-01-05 10:24:44 +0000 UTCSorry for obnoxiously asking this on a different series I just don't know where else there's any chance of reaching them since they said someone will take a look through the comments for them... Are there any plans on the CSM movie? Just soon - never approximation?
hm
2026-01-05 10:02:30 +0000 UTCGo on with the Rebuild movies. Be sure to go with the latest versions of them tho. Evangelion 1.11 You are (not) alone Evangelion 2.22 You can (not) avance Evangelion 3.33 You can (not) redo Evangelion 3.0+1.01 Thrice upon a time Good luck! They are controversial but if you are a true Evangelion fan definitely a must see!
Cesar Alvarez
2026-01-05 07:06:53 +0000 UTCThis is the most speechless I’ve ever seen you guys during a reaction and I get it lol Rebuilds are worth it but honestly you might need time to sit with the OG series before jumping into them But would not complain if they show up soon Also this movie fucked me up hard the first time I saw it…I thought since I made it through the series I would be fine but no
SecondCityKyle
2026-01-05 06:18:49 +0000 UTCThe second, as much as it has scenes that mirror the original throughout most of its runtime, is where many of the deviations really begin; RoE is already fairly thematically different from the original by that point. People generally like the second one a lot but it left a bad taste in my mouth, in spite of the pretty animated sequences and a few decent character moments. Either way, there are evidently many people who do take away a lot of positive things from RoE, and for that reason it doesn't really hurt to try it out. Though I would also second the TTGL and FLCL recs before RoE.
snow
2026-01-05 06:04:37 +0000 UTCThe rebuild movies are amazing! Please watch them when you guys have time.
ting yu lai
2026-01-05 03:35:28 +0000 UTCThe rebuild movies are a must and great! Especially the final one
Cosmic Ghidorah
2026-01-05 02:37:10 +0000 UTCTrust me, you're not one of the few. The haters (even though they are entitled to their opinions) are just excessively vocal!
lilrigbus
2026-01-05 02:15:43 +0000 UTC너무 재밌다. 리메이크 제발 봐주세요. 그리고 토론이 너무 재밌어요. 리메이크는 감독의 정서적 성장이 돋보여서 진짜 흥미로워요. 리메이크의 마지막편에 대해서는 스타워즈9편과 같이 복합적인 평가가 있지만 꼭 직접 봐주세요.
_ _
2026-01-05 01:25:31 +0000 UTCI might be one of the few that really like the Rebuilds movie. I just hope they watch it, new year wish.
Mati D.
2026-01-05 01:23:23 +0000 UTCThe Rebuild movies have quite a complicated story behind them. They started as a "refined Eva" and ended up being a thematical conclusion for the whole franchise. They are much less well crafted than the series, but I think it's OK to go into them, if you approach them keeping in mind that, just as the original series was the reflection of Hideaki Anno life situation in the 90s, the Rebuilds (especially the final movie) are the reflection of his life outlook in the 2000s
Dracus
2026-01-05 00:14:17 +0000 UTCThe same artistic vision of selling more toys. Most of the staff of the original never laid a finger on the Rebuilds, Anno isn't the sole creator of this series either.
Desolane
2026-01-04 23:12:05 +0000 UTCHonestly, don't bother watching the rebuilds right now. They're not as good and it feels like it's way too soon to get into those. Maybe at a later time.
PiinkFIoydd
2026-01-04 22:37:12 +0000 UTCYes, watch the rebuild series.
Nicolas Santacruz
2026-01-04 21:21:54 +0000 UTCThem watching the OG FLCL would be great since it's only a few episodes long.
Meow_Lin
2026-01-04 19:06:17 +0000 UTCAs you can tell from the other comments, the other movies are a bit controversial. You should watch them, but wait a bit longer before you do. It's better to let the series digest first, and it will help you view them as a separate entity. I also agree with the other comments suggesting the other works by this studio (Gainax), like Gurren Lagann and FLCL. There's also Gunbuster, a six-episode series by the same director before he made Evangelion.
timpkmn89
2026-01-04 18:48:54 +0000 UTCTalk about complete and utter hyperbole lol. We get it, you don't like them but jesus.
Meow_Lin
2026-01-04 17:49:50 +0000 UTCThe Rebuild movies are commercial drivel devoid of any logic and heart, selling cardboard copies of these characters you grew to like in the original. Not only do they repeat the same themes in a worse and heavily dumbed down way, they also disregard the message of EVA entirely and replace it with philosophy you could find on the back of a self-help magazine. It's the worst kind of artistic sellout. Watch them out of curiosity, if you want, but I would recommend against it, especially when coming fresh off the masterpiece that is the original work.
Desolane
2026-01-04 17:08:41 +0000 UTCMy thoughts on the rebuild movies: I watched them all recently, once. I absolutely wish I had never seen them, in particular the last one. I could rant forever about why I hate it so deeply, but I'll stop myself. The first two follow the show very closely. The third deviates completely. The fourth, I feel, tries to appologize for the original Eva existing? And then, in the second half, ruins everything that was good about Eva. As much as I loved your commentary on Evangelion, I will not get anywhere near those movies again. Someone on letterboxed said they are "grafitti on Evangelion", and I agree. Someone else recommended Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and I heartily agree: that show is the natural follow-up to and evolution of Evangelion. It's certainly not as deep, but it kicks ass. I also want to mention FLCL (or "Fooly Cooly") as a great chaser to Eva; made by the same studio, sometimes satirizing Eva, and also being about growing up, while having an entirely different vibe. It's unique, and a must-see at some point. (Only six episodes!)
Linus Lindholm
2026-01-04 14:20:03 +0000 UTCThis has been the greatest reaction series I've ever seen. <3 Your commentary has been so sincere, intelligent and creative. Thank you so much. I first watched Evangelion as a 16-year-old, and it permanently altered my brain chemistry. I've rewatched the whole thing at least ten times since then, and I'm still nailed to my chair on every rewatch. Similarly, I've been nailed to my chair every saturday morning lately to watch you react to and comment on it. There are still more insights to be made about the show for me, and some important ones have come from you. Important case in point: the clasping of the hands near the end of the movie, that Anna talked about so beautifully. I hadn't considered it so important before. Now it hit me that it's connected to the recurring motif of hands as a representation of Will in Eva. We often see Shinji's hand open and hesitating when he's uncertain and lost, and clenching into a fist when he's decisive and purposeful. But a closed fist also means violence. The killing of Kaworu in episode 24 is important here; Shinji closes his Eva's fist to kill Kaworu, and we cut to the Eva's open hand with blood on it. Breaking a hand or arm means taking away someone's agency; see the first angel fight in episode 2, Asuka's fight in episode 19, and the moment Rei turns on Gendo in the movie. Also, by the beginning of the movie, Shinji has lost so much of his will that Misato literally has to *drag him by the hand* to get him to fight. With Shinji spending so much time in the binary of either the open hand (feeling lost, running away from others) or the closed fist (fighting for survival), him finally making the conscious decision to *clasp someone's hand* is... Yeah. I'm also sorry to report that this motif very much connects to the opening scene with Asuka in the hospital. Yeah, you made me realize it, so now you have to see it too.
Linus Lindholm
2026-01-04 14:19:24 +0000 UTCSecond this for fansub choice. Baws/McBalls has some good releases, might as well commit.
Gordon Weaver
2026-01-04 14:11:44 +0000 UTCDon't worry, Ben. I've watched this show (and EoE) over a dozen times, most often when showing it to other people. It absolutely is filled with things that enrich it on second watch. You guys are really something special. You see through to the essence of everything in this movie (and the series) and don't get hung up on the "shocking" moments, instead truly understanding why they're there. This is the only series of yours I've watched, but I had high hopes early on that you'd both get a ton out of it, and it certainly seems like you have. Thank you for the best reaction to this series I've ever seen. Oh, and definitely watch the Rebuilds.
chroipahtz
2026-01-04 12:33:15 +0000 UTCit feels so exhausting... having to learn a whole history lesson about the production and director and the culture happening around it, just to be able to watch and understand the movies lol
Nut Kon
2026-01-04 12:30:44 +0000 UTCAs much as I would love to see your reactions to the Rebuilds, there's another Mecha show by the same studio that is almost as legendary as Evangelion, namely: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. It has some similar themes as NGE but it is flipped on it's head in terms of excecution.
David van Bemmelen
2026-01-04 12:00:55 +0000 UTCI'll chime in as another resounding YES vote. There's plenty of comments that already describe the strangeness of these films, in particular how the majority of the first two films cover things we've already seen, only to then go in a very different direction. There are however, still very much worth seeing, as some aspects of the later movies wouldn't make sense without them. There's also some incredible world-building that wasn't in the original series.
Do The Manta Ray
2026-01-04 11:15:26 +0000 UTCWould love for you guys to watch the remaining four films. Just for some clarification on what these Rebuild films are: Evangelion 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007) Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009) Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) These are called the "rebuild" films, because they were originally intended to be a reboot of the series with renewed animation, but they evolved into a new story. As such, the first film is simply a rehash of the first 7 episodes, and then the story begins to deviate significantly going forward. There is some confusion as to why some versions of these films are called Evangelion 1.11 or 3.33 and so forth. Those are just editions of the films that tweaked the animation or added new scenes after the theatrical releases. There are a couple of other films that were released in the 90s; one of them is called Death(True), I believe. These are just compilation films of the original series for people who wanted a quick recap before End of Eva was released; no need to watch those. Hope this helps! Edit: I should also add that the same Director and Writers made these films; so it's not like Star Wars where the baton was passed on. It's all part of the same artistic vision.
lilrigbus
2026-01-04 10:31:23 +0000 UTCHi, Ben and Anna: As a fan who started watching Evangelion during its original airing 30 years ago, I recommend watching the 4 Rebuild of Evangelion Movies but not right away. This is because the Rebuild Movies mainly serve to provide emotional closure rather than thematic elevation; jumping into them immediately after finishing End of Evangelion will be rubbing yourselves of reflective breathing room and doing yourselves a disservice. You see, after the original series (and EoE) came out, Evangelion became a cultural phenomenon in Japan and amongst its global fandom. Different iterations of mangas, novels, video games, and more have come into existence over the decades to add to the story’s settings or simply to extend the IP’s shelf life. For instance, slice-of-school-life narratives featuring the Eva protagonists that Anna mentions do exist in multiple media formats. Nevertheless, the 26 original episodes and the End of Evangelion movie you just finished are thematically and narratively self-contained. The “experience,” as Ben describes, fully conveys the director’s intended message and covers the relevant plot points. I won’t spoil any plot, but the 4 Rebuild Movies, in my opinion, exist more as reboots rather than remakes or true sequels. Granted, treating them as technical sequels to the original show is possible, but narrative coherence is never the most integral part of a work as meta as Evangelion. Where the 4 Rebuild Movies truly shine are as a technical demonstration of what Evangelion can look like with modern technology and as a cathartic discourse between a more optimistic Director Anno and a more mature but still passionate audience, who may or may not own Asuka keycaps or have consumed multiple Evangelion media. What I’m saying is that the ideal audience for the Rebuild Movies are fans who have had some time to reach a certain inner equilibrium (whether it’s a state of indifference, obsession, anger, or joy) after the Evangelion experience. I understand you don’t want to wait a year to react to the new movies, but “in two weeks” might be a little too soon in my humblest opinion. I will recommend watching the Rebuild Movies the same way you might approach meeting up with a first love when you are both a little older and have the capacity to work through some emotional baggage with maturity and civility. A mere fortnight after the breakup probably isn’t enough. Maybe give it a few months? Regardless of your decision, I think your reactions and discussions are thoughtful and poignant. You have definitely been in the right headspace for the show. Best of luck and thank you! Sincerely yours, Leo
Leo Liu
2026-01-04 10:26:25 +0000 UTCHello, Autosave! First of all, I'm glad to hear that your precious family, Kona-chan, is recovering well. Now, I've seen your reactions to the movie "EOE". (As with my last comment on episode 26, I'll be commenting without spoilers) Here in Japan, many people were shocked by "Come back to reality!" inserted live-action shot and legendary Asuka's "disgusting" ending of EOE. However, the more impactful a work, the more it influences viewers and creators, and leaves a lasting mark on the viewers' hearts and cultural history. The impact of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" was so great and shocking that similar works were mass-produced. And because so many people wanted a sequel, another films was subsequently made (Rebuild of Evangelion, commonly known as the "New Theatrical Edition" tetralogy). I believe you two plan to watch these 4 films after EOE, but given the historical background/cultural history in which they were made, as well as the content and tone of the works, I "strongly recommend" watching the first two as a set and the last two as a set as well, rather than watching the four films separately. The first 2 movies in the new series (1st movie "Jo: Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone" and 2nd "Ha: Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance") were made in the late 2000s, during a time when the "Sekai-kei" style, pioneered by Evangelion, was dominant in Japanese subculture. The story from the TV version has been rebuilt using new, modern animation and CGI, but new characters have been added and there are important changes to the setting and story development. These 2 movies in particular have a lot to offer in terms of discovering the "differences," big or small, from the TV version, so I recommend watching them while your memory of the TV version is still fresh. The last 2 movies in the new series (3rd movie "Q: Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo" and 4th "Shin Evangelion: Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time") were released in 2012 and 2021. While these films deviate from the TV series, they also link to the previous film (EOE), and attempt to resolve the problems Shinji and his friends face from a modern perspective while retrieving many of the loose ends scattered since the TV series. I won't go into the details, but I feel vibes from EOE in 3.0, and from the TV series in 3.0+1.0. Since there was a nine-year gap between the release of the 3rd and final 4th film, some might argue that you should wait a sufficient amount of time after watching the 3rd film before watching the final one, but I don't recommend that. It's because I think it would be stressful, leaving you wanting to know what happens next! As I said at the beginning, I recommend watching the 1st and 2nd films together, and the 3rd and 4th films together. With these 4 new movies (Rebuild of Evangelion), Neon Genesis Evangelion's long journey spanning a quarter century has finally come to an end. There were many difficulties along the way, both in the story and in the production, but "all's well that ends well." I hope you enjoy it all the way to the end. One more thing: When EOE was made in 1997, another movie completely different from the TV version was being planned. Director Anno revealed in 2014 that this "phantom film" was similar to "Attack on Titan". The film was cancelled due to Anno's exhaustion from EOE. Plots That Didn't Get Filmed: Humanity has almost entirely perished, and everyone is trapped within the walls. There's a single bridge, and that's the only way out. The walls are protected by an AT field, and outside are the Angels. Historical Background/Cultural history, "Sekai-kei and Nichijo-kei": While subsequent "Sekai-kei" works following Evangelion included works with loops such as "Madoka Magica, 2011" and "Re:Zero (novel), 2012," a style called "Nichijou-kei" also emerged, depicting an anti "Sekai-kei" world of mundane everyday life. A representative example of this is "K-ON!, 2009", about a student girl band. While the story itself is not complex, it delicately depicts everyday human relationships and emotional fluctuations. ("K-On!" director, Naoko Yamada later directed "A Silent Voice, 2016" and "The Colors Within, 2024" in "Nichijo-kei" style.) I think that the final 4th film (3.0+1.0) is a hybrid of "Sekai-kei" and "Nichijou-kei" styles. PS: After you've finished watching the new 4 movies (Rebuild of Evangelion), be sure to also check out "Chainsaw Man" movie (Reze Arc). It's already available to stream outside of Japan. You'll get a taste of the seriousness of the MAPPA production team, who worked on "Attack on Titan: The Final Season". Also, the long-awaited 2nd season of "Freiren" (production by MADHOUSE) will begin in Japan on January 16th. I'm looking forward to seeing your reactions to it. PS+: Since Ben and Anna mentioned their beloved dog Kona-chan, I'll add a little note: My handle name, "Taro and Jiro", come from the names of the second most famous dogs in Japanese history (if you're interested, check out the 1983 Japanese film "Antarctica" - the film also has a fantastic soundtrack by Vangelis). The leading actor in this film is Takakura Ken, an actor who is Momo's (from the anime "Dandadan") favorite. Oh, and the most famous dog in Japan is, of course, "Hachikō", the dog at Shibuya Station. See you!
Taro and Jiro
2026-01-04 09:42:01 +0000 UTCSecond final out of three , good job ! Now one last final to go ! Keep it up
Lorenzo Natalucci
2026-01-04 09:16:27 +0000 UTCI unashamedly own one of the aforementioned Asuka themed razors. It's the most ridiculous piece of Eva merch I own (therefore my favorite) and I'm saying that with a life size Pen² plushie sitting on my couch rn. 10/10 do not regret.
TheRealDarnellM
2026-01-04 08:22:29 +0000 UTCI'd definitely recommend watching the Rebuilds. Eva's my favorite franchise, and it holds a very special place in my heart, so I do have a bias, but... It's 100% worth it. I rewatch Eva every few years and it's kinda wild how different it hits now, versus 25 years ago... And I think that's maybe the point of the rebuilds. They're Eva but with Hideaki Anno being older and with a (slightly) more mature perspective. Still absolutely unhinged tho. Thanks for the great reaction and analysis!
TheRealDarnellM
2026-01-04 08:17:10 +0000 UTCWatch the rebuilds
Giancarlo Hernández
2026-01-04 07:41:03 +0000 UTCRegarding fansub releases: The first three Rebuild movies are under Baws, not McBalls (same dude, just different tag). For the final Rebuild movie, 3.0+1.0, you guys should watch Some-Stuffs, as Baws didn't do a release for it.
rheed_
2026-01-04 07:24:14 +0000 UTCGlad to hear the doggo's fine. You should definitely watch the 'Rebuild of Evangelion' movies. As should I, since I haven't seen them again since around when they came out. Thanks for watching this Masterpiece! It's been very awesome revisiting it with you! And happy new year! May 2026 be very kind to you and yours!
VS
2026-01-04 06:45:55 +0000 UTCDefinitely watch the Rebuilds! I think it will only enhance your experience with the original series and with the franchise as a whole! It definitely did for me when I first watched Neon Genesis Evangelion and the Rebuilds for the first time this time last year!
Gestrid
2026-01-04 05:28:52 +0000 UTCIt's my personal belief that these episodes (25, 26, 25', and 26') happen concurrently. 25 and 26 are part of what happen in Shinji's psyche in 26'. Edit: The ' is important, BTW. It denotes a different version of a previously-made episode. A few other previous episodes had them, but most of the changes made amounted to only new scenes being added or some minor scenes being changed or removed in order to tell a better story. These last four episodes (25 and 26, and 25' and 26') are the only set of episodes that are *completely* different, so, for that reason, 25' and 26' don't replace 25 and 26 in most re-releases of the show. (25' and 26' are, as you may have guessed, collectively referred to as the movie "End of Evangelion.)
Gestrid
2026-01-04 05:01:49 +0000 UTCThis article analyzes what happened within this episode (movie). It's in Japanese, so translation is needed, but it's written chronologically and is easy to understand—highly recommended. https://sameeiga.blog.fc2.com/blog-entry-20.html
yamada
2026-01-04 04:56:16 +0000 UTCIt's not concurrent, no - people have tried for 30 years to figure out how to reconcile the two endings, but they're just too different. They of course inform each other, and watching Episodes 25 and 26 helps you understand what's going on in EoE, but EoE tells a variation of the story, not a different perspective of the things happening in the end of the TV show. For example, in the TV ending, Rei goes along with Gendo, and Instrumentality commences as it should, while in EoE, Rei rejects Gendo and things go off the rails, hence the chaotic quasi-Instrumentality we get in EoE. There's more, but that's the gist of it, so Ben's intuition was correct here.^^ Edit: The live action actors of Rei, Asuka and Misato are the voice actresses themselves.^^ As for the movies: Death & Rebirth is a recap of the show + an early version of the first half of EoE; it's not a must watch, it's mostly interesting if you're into movie making, as it does some neat edits and so on. The New Theatrical version (the movies, often known as the Rebuilds in the West) is a series of four movies, and there's no special watchorder or anything you need to keep in mind. Just watch them in order, and you're fine. I'd personally give myself some time to digest the original before jumping in, however.
Derantor Kiarig
2026-01-04 04:42:39 +0000 UTCDefnitly do watch the Rebuild films as they close out the animated universe for Neon Genesis Evangelion and if you guys ever decide to read the mangas and novels, there's those as well...along with video games......and shaving ads and toy lines that all connect but to understand how that works, all you gotta do is watch the Rebuilds! This year we're going to be getting another short animated film which no one really knows what it's going to be about!
Meow_Lin
2026-01-04 03:27:24 +0000 UTCPlease watch the movies
anonymous42
2026-01-04 03:23:15 +0000 UTCGotta watch rebuilds and now you have to watch the eva full opening music video
Darian04
2026-01-04 03:00:40 +0000 UTCPLEASE. WATCH. THE. REBUILDS.
Tomm Hulett
2026-01-04 02:51:30 +0000 UTCGlad Kona's doing okay! This is my favourite movie of all time. Seeing two people be as passionate about this series as a whole as I am has been one of my favourite experiences. I live in a part of the world where a show like this is something that is really hard to share with other people becuase of the general mindset and atmosphere but I have been able to express and share in the love of this franchise with different people online and this is one of those outlets. I think about certain lines and scenes from this movie on an everyday basis and it's sincerely hard not to. When I first watched Evangelion, I was in a realy rough place dealing with depression, and feeling the creator's influence in the show so strongly, as this is clearly a grand vision with little to no compromise, was satisfying to me on a deeply personal level. This made me feel seen in a way nothing else ever has and I'm sure ever will. It has actively made me want to be a better communicator in my life, actively seeking ways to open up in conversation and participate more socially in general. While I still have a lot of walls up and feel uncomfortable opening up in a lot of situations, this franchise among other things have made me want to put in the effort to try to be better and to value myself and attain some form of happiness where I can find it instead of wallowing in misery and feeling sorry for myself. I am so happy I got to witness the journey you guys had with the show and how much you appreciated it on every level. I would recommend the rebuilds even though I personally was not much of a fan of them, they do hold an interesting place in my mind as a current reflection of the creator's mental state being in a much better place which is great to see though I think it makes for a weaker story and impact unfortunately. Wish you guys the best!
Jonathan Stephney
2026-01-04 02:48:54 +0000 UTCthis is only my 3rd viewing of this, even though im older and my first watch was in like 2003ish... overwhelming and crazy 💜💚
nycReaching
2026-01-04 02:31:08 +0000 UTCThe original plans were for a longer live action scene, there was even a trailer of it, check them out: Trailer:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx58a5yfihI Sequence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBAoPrWlCDw BTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLyPNje8oiw
Felipe Campos
2026-01-04 02:25:43 +0000 UTC...kimochi warui.
Kayin, the one and only
2026-01-04 02:00:47 +0000 UTCLeft speechless, I love it. And I guess you got your ancient aliens Ben, are you happy? lmao An interesting detail: The voice actor for Unit 01 has always been the same VA as Yui, all of the screams and howls since episode 1 have been by her. Looking forward to the rebuilds. PS, if you need help getting a copy of the movies just let me know and I'll give you a direct link. I have a huge archive of anime.
Quill6653
2026-01-04 01:38:13 +0000 UTCPlease do the rebuilds!
Tharakaos
2026-01-04 01:23:24 +0000 UTCGreat way to put it. I really love how metaphorically it represents humanity and its urge for human connection knowing very well the suffering thats come with it. So basically we are dealing with Evangelion throughout our life on each human connection basis trying to understand ourselves in the process. One needs to have very thoughtful and deep human understanding to love this show and still not understand it fully which is the fun part of interpretation of abstract art like this show.
Deepraj
2026-01-04 00:58:54 +0000 UTCWhat an experience and a great reaction/review of this goated movie! I higly recommend Ben and Anna to watch the 4 Rebuild movies especially the payoff in the final one (made for all EVA fans) Also looking how deep you guys analyse a show especially the metaphysical aspect of this show, I would love you guys to watch "Orb: On the movements of the Earth" which came out end of 2024 and finished on 2025 (kind off went unnoticed but is an underrated gem of a series)
Deepraj
2026-01-04 00:51:06 +0000 UTCIt was a beautiful journey, thank you for sharing it with us. I've been a fan of Eva for over 25 years and have seen it hundreds of times, but this is the first time that, watching the series through someone else's eyes, I feel like I'm seeing it for the very first time. I highly recommend the live-action short film that accompanies this movie.
Yaeru
2026-01-04 00:17:52 +0000 UTCsubscribed to your patreon just for this lol
Bartolomeu Pimentao
2026-01-04 00:15:27 +0000 UTCGlad to hear Kona is doing better. While unrelated to this series, as an FYI in case they are unaware, there are 3 series they have watched previously - JJK, Frieren and Oshi No Ko - with new seasons starting in January 2026.
John Titor (name subject to change)
2026-01-03 23:55:05 +0000 UTCI think you guys would love the rebuilds/movies, hopefully we get those sometime
miles
2026-01-03 23:55:01 +0000 UTCThe 4 Rebuild Movies should be watched yes. Also, you now kinda get why Evangelion, more than 30 years since release, is still one of the -if not THE most- debated show ever. As I already said, I spent hours, days of my life thinking about it, interpreting, reading theories, plunging into scientific, philosophic topics to understand better. It's, to me, the very definition of Stendhal Effect : the vertigo you feel in front of a work of art. You cant really tell why, but you KNOW it's too big for you in a way. You know how some people spend their LIVES dedicated to a single painting ? Well I do think Evangelion is one of the anime where this could happen and it being... legit Evangelion, the fake shonen where you're lured to believed its about huge cool robots, incredible animation and music, and characters but.... it wasnt It's the work of a life And when you think you've seen it all with the show, The End of Evangelion show you such a larger scope. You can watch HOURS and HOURS of fans interpreting, analyzing the show and realize how many details are hidden -sometime in plain sight- the WHOLE show. It's probably, to my opinion, the anime which needs the most dedication to enjoy it. I studied litterature in my country, and once a teacher told me that one of the issue in litterature is overreading. Sometimes there is no hidden messages when the author told you a table is table, but also that the trick is that.... if you dont overread everything, how can you know if you missed the hidden message. Evangelion is hidden message on hidden message on clear message on hidden message It has so many layers, visually, storywise, in the way the voice actors talked (And after years of studies of japanese with a private teacher, I can tell you I do not understand Eva now as I did in the past) Also, after all of that... Misato Katsuragi, I'll always love you :p
Camska
2026-01-03 23:51:35 +0000 UTCThere is 4 more movies. The Rebuilds they call them. It serves as both a reboot while also not if that makes sense. It mainly tells its own story after the 2nd movie. Definitely worth a watch and would probably do pretty good if you guys wish to do so.
Saturnbruh
2026-01-03 23:43:19 +0000 UTCI really recommend watching and reacting to the 4 movies, the Evangelion experience can't really be considered complete without them. About the order it's pretty simple: 1.11, 2.22, 3.33, then 3.0+1.0 (so basically the chronological order of release). They are really amazing movies
Intercapedine
2026-01-03 23:42:10 +0000 UTCThe 4 Rebuild Movies are technically part of the "Evangelion Series", so even if you dont record it, you should watch it. Lots of additional information on whats going on in there. "Rebuild of Evangelion 1.11" / "2.22" / "3.33" and "3.0+1.0"
Sadia
2026-01-03 23:34:37 +0000 UTCI think the rebuild movies are worth the watch. It's.... hard to say too much without spoilers.
Neil Gossell
2026-01-03 23:25:13 +0000 UTCThey talk about twoards the end ; )
Neil Gossell
2026-01-03 23:24:12 +0000 UTCAs of now you've watched the most important and substantial part of Evangelion. If you want to keep going with Eva you can proceed with : -The Alternate Live Action Sequence that was cut from the film (about 12 minutes) -Rebuild of Evangelion (4 films)
Pascal Maumejean
2026-01-03 23:05:04 +0000 UTCAre they going to see the rebuild?
Leonardo Penazzi
2026-01-03 23:03:53 +0000 UTCI wasnt lucky enough to see this movie in Japan back then, but my best friend's wife is Japanese and did. She told me that there was a pause (hence the two parts) and when she first saw it, the entire theatre was in absolute SHOCK. In less than 5 minutes you lose Misato, Asuka, Ritsuko, the entire NERV... in a level of violence the show never portrayed. She told me she felt SICK and traumatized. Some people even left without seeing the second part.
Camska
2026-01-03 23:01:34 +0000 UTCoh shit here we go!!!!!!!! oh and this was basically made because so many people didnt like the original clip show ending. so they are both the ending in a way. this is just the more traditional narrative type.
Daniel Borrego
2026-01-03 21:58:19 +0000 UTCKONA <3 also my favourite movie of all time thank you for this reaction i love u <3
circumambient
2026-01-03 21:44:45 +0000 UTCLONG LIVE KONA
Demonfoxkurama
2026-01-03 21:40:33 +0000 UTCHappy to hear the pup is gettin better!
2rs2cs2ds
2026-01-03 21:39:41 +0000 UTCGlad Kona is doing ok!
Balurion
2026-01-03 21:39:38 +0000 UTC
