A seminal slice of mecha anime and the medium in general, Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion has become a powerhouse franchise, enjoying cult status among Western fans and growing into a merchandising juggernaut in Japan since its debut in 1995. Evangelion is both a love letter to its genre-defining predecessors, like the Gundam and Macross franchises, and a deconstruction of their themes: teenage pilots, the emotional cost of war, and the symbiotic bond between man and machine.
Considering its cultural footprint, there’s comparatively little anime content outside of collaborations, cameos, and other crossover material. If you want to get into Evangelion, here’s how to watch all Neon Genesis Evangelion movies and TV shows in order.
Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-1996)
The original Evangelion TV series is an imperfect masterpiece and undoubtedly where everyone needs to start with the franchise. Taking place in 2015 after two devastating global events known as Impacts, 14-year-old Shinji Ikari is the latest in a batch of teen pilots summoned by his father to pilot giant robots called Evas. Their targets are Angels, interstellar beings whose attacks focus on Tokyo-3.
The mystery as to what drives these attacks, the exact nature of the Evas, and Shinji’s complex (that’s putting it mildly) relationships with his machiavellian dad, companions, and his self-esteem—fuelled by Anno’s battle with depression—provide the beating heart of a series that’s as philosophical as it is packed with high-stakes action.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (1997)
Whether it was budgetary issues or Anno’s inability to decide on a conclusion, the Evangelion TV show, unfortunately, unravels in its last two episodes, which riled up fans and critics at the time. However, the series was still successful enough for Anno to redo it as two films, released back-to-back in 1997.
The first of these is Evangelion Death (True²), the director’s cut), which is just a condensed version of the series leading up to the end portion. For this reason, if you’ve already watched the show, it’s not worth seeing unless you’re an absolute completionist. Given a choice between Death & Rebirth and the original series, the latter is a better choice to get the full Eva experience.
The End of Evangelion (1997)
Directly following Death & Rebirth, The End of Evangelion is far more conclusive and easier to digest than the show’s last two episodes; Anno’s wild experimentalism is a little more restrained to allow for more externalised action than inner character turmoil.
Featuring some of the franchise’s most iconic visuals and controversial scenes, it remains a high watermark of ‘90s animation wherein the creator’s personal feelings bleed through every cel. It is a truly unique viewing experience, even all these years later, and essential for prospective fans.
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
A decade after The End of Evangelion, Anno returned to his career-defining franchise for his second do-over: Rebuild of Evangelion. As the animator originally pitched Evangelion as OVAs (Original Video Animations, non-theatrical films) rather than a TV show, this four-film series is arguably the most streamlined version of his vision.
Released in 2007, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone retreads the show’s first six episodes, including Shinji’s wavering over whether to be a pilot or not, but with some departures from the original plot that don’t make it feel too repetitive. The addition of CG also blends seamlessly into the more traditional animated techniques.
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009)
The second in the Rebuild film series, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, came out two years after the first. Again, it mostly follows the same general thrust of the show but makes even more changes to set the next two sequels on totally new paths. As well as Shinji and fellow pilots, Asuka and Rei, being put through the physical and emotional ringer battling Angels Seven through 10, new, rambunctious pilot Mari Illustrious Makinami is added to the mix.
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)
2012’s Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo is where the Rebuild films really come into their own. Following the catastrophic ending of the second film, the third one makes a jump in time to completely reorient the story in new territory, rewarding those who’ve watched everything else up to this point. It also sets the stage for the all-important grand finale, with huge revelations and losses unfolding around Shinji, leaving him on the cusp of another cataclysmic global event.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
Delays meant that fans had to wait almost a decade for the fourth Rebuild film. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time provides Anno’s third version of his franchise’s ending. A slower-paced beginning allows time for Shinji to process everything he’s experienced thus far, leading to a showdown decades in the making to decide the future of humanity.
Though it’s not as visually unruly as The End of Evangelion, Thrice Upon a Time retains the psychological introspectiveness of the previous two Eva endings while providing much clearer—even positive—closure, more than justifying the necessity for Anno to revisit and rework the story.
Where To Watch All 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' Movies And TV Shows Online
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