Anime review: Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo

Warning: This review includes some spoiler content for anyone who has not viewed Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance, and includes some minor spoilers regarding the plot of the beginning of Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo. While I generally try my best to avoid including any spoiler content in my reviews, the nature of the Evangelion films makes this difficult. Evangelion 3.0 is especially tricky to review in a manner that does the film justice, due to how different a direction it travels in comparison to the previous films or the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series.

Fourteen years have passed since Shinji Ikari initiated Third Impact and Kaworu Nagisa subsequently intervened with his own Evangelion Mk 06, halting the process. Evangelion 3.0 opens with Asuka and Mari piloting their own Evas in pursuit of Shinji and Unit 01, who are in orbit above Earth and headed planetside in a cross-shaped container. After one very exciting open scene, the group descends through the atmosphere as Kaworu watches on. Shortly thereafter, Shinji awakens onboard the Wunder, the flagship of an anti-NERV organization known as Wille. After Wille engages and defeats some enemy forces, Shinji comes face-to-face with Asuka. Glad that she is alive, Shinji asks her what has happened to Rei. Asuka, who is less-than-ecstatic to see Shinji, informs him that she does not know where Ayanami is, which Misato follows up by implying that Rei is dead. Convinced that he was successful in rescuing her during the Third Impact, Shinji begs for someone to explain what exactly is going on, but his time with these familiar faces is cut short, as Evangelion Unit 00 attacks the Wunder with the goal of retrieving Shinji. Though Misato orders Shinji to remain on board the Wunder, going so far as to threaten his life, Shinji leaves with Ayanami and the forces of Wille are ordered not to pursue.

Shinji's story in Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo is very much one of a stranger in a strange land. At times, it carries a similar tone as Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone or even the early episodes of the original anime series, wherein Shinji was scared and confused about what all these foreign pressures being thrust upon him meant and why he was chosen to be a protector of all mankind. But in Evangelion 3.0, Shinji's confusion arises from his fourteen-year absence. The moment he returns to the world, he is caught up in a power struggle, and there is little time for anyone to explain to him just what is going on. Asuka and Misato blame him for the current state of the world, while Rei seems to have completely forgotten the dynamic of her relationship with Shinji. Gendo appears before Shinji only briefly to inform him of NERV's plan to build a new Evangelion, and thus Shinji finds Kaworu the only person he can confide in.

Evangelion 3.0 spends less time showing off spectacular battle sequences than the previous installment, in favor of character and plot development. Asuka, Shinji, and Kaworu are easily the three most prominent cast members this time around, though Rei's unfamiliarity with people and habits is of relative significance to Shinji's wrestling with his inner self. The film does well to answer some major questions left lingering from You Can (Not) Advance. A couple of subplots from the original series are revisited and reworked to fit the Rebuild of Evangelion storyline. Religious tones are more specific, with themes of penance for sins and coping with loss taking center stage. Evangelion 3.0 is a much darker film than the two that preceded it, and its second half treads a path that echoes End of Evangelion in certain respects.

When the Evas do enter combat, they look even better than during their last outing, and it is really impressive how the animation team manages to work in so much detail to every scene while keeping everything so clean and visually captivating. The design of Mari's Evangelion Unit 08, the Wunder, and even some of the updated character designs are quite adventurous. Meanwhile, the soundtrack is intense and carries a different feel from those used in the previous films. It is largely comprised of brand new songs, all of which fit the mood of the film very well, from scenes where Shinji and Kaworu are playing the piano to segments where events prior to the film are explained. And of course, the classic Eva battle themes see a few new renditions, with the occasional inclusion of a heavy electric guitar part.

Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo zooms in on a very specific place and time in the storyline of this new film series. Whereas Evangelion 1.0 and 2.0 consolidated events most Evangelion fans were familiar with, 3.0 has to slow down and bridge gaps. While it may not answer every burning question fans have about this new film series' story, it does well to set in motion an endgame. By the film's conclusion, viewers should get a sense that there a clear goal in mind for the fourth film's plot, even if we don't know exactly how Hideaki Anno and his team intend to let it play out.

My rating: 9 (out of 10)

Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo fan-made trailer

A fan-made trailer for the next installment in the Rebuild of Evangelion film tetralogy was uploaded by YouTube user SicknessMaggot66. I think the choice of music is quite appropriate, given the tone throughout both the series and the film. This video has actually been out for a couple of days now, but I simply neglected to post it here. Much of the footage is recap from the end of Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance, but there is some new footage from a trailer that ran this Fall that strikes me as pretty cool. I'm quite intruiged to find out why Asuka is flipping around in space, and how her Evangelion Unit 02 got repaired. Also, does anyone else think the new Evangelion Unit 08 bears a striking resemblance to Unit 01, except with different colors, a slightly different horn, and a visor piece? October 13th cannot come soon enough, but I'm glad that Anno and company are taking their time to perfect Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo before its theatrical debut.

Funimation trailer for Rebuild of Evangelion 2.22: You Can [Not] Advance

Funimation released a trailer for Rebuild of Evangelion 2.22: You Can [Not] Advance on Hulu a few weeks ago, which is attached below. The English voice actors have also been confirmed, with Tiffany Grant reprising her role as Asuka, Trina Nishimura playing Mari, and J. Michael Tatum playing Kaji.

Evangelion 2.22 US release date announced

This news is about a week old now, and I simply forgot to post and update on my blog concerning said news. It's official - Rebuild of Evangelion 2.22: You Can [Not] Advance will be released in the US on March 29, 2011. For those confused as to what the difference between the 2.0 and 2.22 versions of You Can [Not] Advance entail, 2.0 was the theatrical release while 2.22 is the DVD release. Japan never had a DVD release of 2.0, only one of 2.22, which is going to be the same situation when the DVD is released stateside in March. All of this information comes from Evageeks.org (a site which I would highly recommend to Evangelion fans).

Funimation announces rights to three films

Just a brief update, but exciting news nonetheless. Funimation has announced that they have acquired the rights to Evangelion 2.22, the DVD release version of Rebuild of Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance. Rebuild 2.0 is, in my opinion, easily the best of the Evangelion films released thus far and I can't wait to add it to my collection. As for the actual release date, nothing has been specified other than the fact that it will be a 2011 release. This isn't terribly surprising news, since Funimation put a lot of focus on Axis Powers: Hetalia as their major Fall 2010 release. Considering how things like this tend to work out, I'd wager Rebuild 2.22 will hit US store shelves around late Spring or early Summer 2011.

Speaking of Axis Powers: Hetalia, season two has been confirmed for an October 12 release, following approximately one month after the US release of season one. Funimation has subsequently acquired the rights to dub and distribute the Axis Powers: Hetalia film Paint it White. No news yet on Hetalia World Series, but as the third season is still running in Japan at present I imagine Paint it White is Funimation's way of tiding fans over until then.

Finally, the film Summer Wars has also been acquired by Funimation. I have heard very positive things about this film, though I must admit I know rather little about the plot at present. Summer Wars is from the same team behind The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Madhouse Studios, responsible for the animation and production on works such as Paranoia Agent, Paprika, and Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust.

Anime review: Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0: You Are [Not] Alone

Neon Genesis Evangelion has been heralded as one of the greatest anime of all time. Its religious symbolism, psycho-analysis, and memorable characters fueled a story that changed the way viewers took to the entertainment medium. It is no surprise that many were a bit pretentious when the new Rebuild of Evangelion films were announced as a four-part reimagining and sequel series. The original is a staple of the anime culture, and while it can never be replaced, Rebuild of Evangelion promises to be a fitting sequel series with some much-needed updates and intriguing plot variation.

Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0: You Are [Not] Alone covers the first six episodes of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion and explores Shinji’s new life in Tokyo-III. Fans of the original anime will be very familiar with the events that unfold, as Rebuild 1.0 strays very little from the original story. There are a few inclusions from later episodes, such as the appearance of the Angel Lilith. Much like the original show, Rebuild 1.0 tries to maintain plenty of action sequences while explaining the backstories of the various characters. There are also some humorous bits sprinkled in, such as Shinji’s first meeting with PenPen and Misato’s conversation with Ritsuko when she first decides to take Shinji in as a roommate. Overall, this film focuses more heavily on the action and keeps the story largely centered around Shinji, though Rei and Misato get a fair share of the focus as well. Much of this is done for the sake of time, as Rebuild 1.0 is one hour and forty minutes long.


Oddly enough, while the original Neon Genesis Evangelion spent much of its early episodes focusing on the characters and their various interactions with one another, Rebuild 1.0 shifts more towards the Angels and their looming threat to mankind. Because of this, important segments of the story, such as Shinji’s uneasy relationship with his father, are glossed over very briefly. As this is Shinji’s story at its core, Rei plays second string in Rebuild 1.0, which is unfortunate, as her two most prominent scenes are the flashback where Gendo rescues her from a berserk EVA Unit 00 and her protection of Shinji during Operation Yashima. Even Misato receives a greater focus than Rei, constantly reinforcing Shinji to do a good job.

As far as the fight sequences are concerned, Sachiel and Shamshel receive a fairly straightforward copy of what they did in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Ramiel, however, is changed significantly. This Angel is still a floating octahedron, but is now able to shift its body into various geometric forms. A spinning array of crystals around the core provides a defensive parameter from NERV’s missiles, while a massive star shape provides Ramiel with a heavy laser that can fire great distances to attack EVA Units 01 and 00. Because of these changes, Ramiel and Operation Yashima take up a large portion of the second half of the film.


The animation in Rebuild 1.0 is beautiful, combining the traditional look of the original series with digital coloring and animation. The digital content is not overdone and doesn’t stand out a great deal, but that’s not a bad thing. The soundtrack is a major revamp of that of the original series. Shiro Sagisu has outdone himself, including more electric guitar during tense fight scenes, calm and mysterious piano parts during Rei-centric parts, and the ever-prominent violin pieces to convey Shinji’s emotions. Many pieces include choir parts, which aids the Biblical themes. While I still prefer the Japanese voice actors, the English voice actors have improved since their work on the original series and sound more fitting to their characters.

Rebuild 1.0: You Are [Not] Alone feels a little bit rushed, but Anno and his team could have done far worse with the story’s pacing. For returning fans, the characters pretty much all fit the same roles and attitudes they did in Neon Genesis Evangelion. For newcomers to the franchise, however, some may find there to be too little focus on Gendo, Ritsuko, Touji, and Kensuke. Overall, Rebuild 1.0 sets up well for a reimagining/sequel, though some more variation in the story could have been beneficial.

My Rating: 7.75 (out of 10)

Anime review: Rebuild of Evangelion 2.0: You Can [Not] Advance

Earlier this year I watched the first of the new Rebuild of Evangelion films, titled Rebuild 1.0: You Are [Not] Alone. The film essentially combined the first six episodes of the original series into one 90-minute film, with updated animation and some slight alterations to the storyline. I enjoyed Rebuild 1.0, but it felt like it was lacking in certain areas. The battle with Ramiel was absolutely fantastic and the characters and environments were simply breathtaking in their new renderings. But Rebuild 1.0 felt rushed and didn’t develop the characters a whole lot. I hoped that Anno and his team would deliver a little bit more with the next installment, and what came out of their hard labor was an absolutely fantastic and mind-blowing sequel.

Rebuild 2.0: You Can [Not] Advance encompasses the events of episodes eight through eighteen of the original anime and includes five angels. Three of the angels return from the original show, while two are new additions. In Rebuild 1.0, Sachiel is designated the fourth angel, as opposed to the original show in which he was known as the third angel. This time, the third angel is an unnamed snake-like skeletal being who invades a branch of NERV (possibly located in the UK). The third angel is chased down by the newest character, Makinami Mari Illustrious in EVA Unit 05. This new EVA, known as the provisional unit, sports four legs with wheels attached in place of feet. Its hands are replaced by a lance and a clamp.

For the introduction of Asuka, another new angel is introduced, this time resembling a giant walking clock. EVA Unit 02 air drops into Tokyo-3 and propels itself towards the angel via thrusters on the rear of its shoulders. One of my few complaints with Rebuild 2.0 lies in this scene, being that the two new angels are basically thrown in as plot devices to introduce the characters of Mari and Asuka. These angels only use the typical beam attack and are both taken down fairly quickly.

The new angels aside, the returning ones have received some special treatment. Bardiel still takes over EVA Unit 03, but this time sprouts four elongated arms. Zeruel bears the same skeletal face as before, but now has a plethora of bandage-like appendages on his body which can be reformatted from arms to whips to a cape of sorts. Sahaquiel, formerly a giant orange eye in the sky, is now a black and rainbow-colored enitiy stretching miles across and carrying a humanoid body within his massive exterior. While Sahaquiel might have seemed a tad silly back in 1995, the new scene leading up to the three EVAs battling him is tense and powerful.

As far as characters go, Kaji and Misato rekindle their relationship from their college days, while Shinji is caught between Rei and Asuka. Rei begins to understand the fact that she is not entirely human much earlier in the Rebuild films, and starts to form a strong friendship with Shinji. She even attempts to ease the relationship between Shinji and Gendo by inviting them to a dinner she plans to cook. Asuka still thinks she is the best pilot, but is not as annoying or bratty as in the original anime. She confides in Misato that, while she doesn’t get along much with others, she thinks perhaps she can at least try to get along with the other pilots. Asuka teases Shinji, but this time it is more out of the fact that she has started developing romantic feelings for him, however small they may be. Touji and Kensuke, though not pivotal characters, are absolutely hilarious and ring closer to their manga counterparts than their appearances in the original anime. Gendo is mostly the same, however there are times when he is caught off guard or seems surprised, such as when Shinji requests Unit 01 to combat Zeruel.

The battle sequences for this film are incredible and nothing seems repetitive. The environments are incredibly varied, something that I think surpasses the original anime. The soundtrack pays homage to that of the original anime, but is a truly epic score in its own regard and each song fits its respective sequence perfectly. The film stays true to the anime enough that newcomers will be able to follow it and veterans will feel some level of nostalgia. At the same time, there is a lot of new material and different plot twists that will deviate from the original story greatly. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however, it will likely cause Rebuild 3.0 and 4.0 to be far more original.

Anno has promised fans a completely new ending to the Rebuild franchise, different from both episode twenty-six of the anime and the End of Evangelion film. Personally, I thought that End of Evangelion was the better of the two original endings. But taking into account the events of Rebuild 2.0, I am truly excited for the new finale.

Rebuild 2.0 is perfect for returning fans or newcomers. It has a lot of extended action sequences, and the characters are far more deep than they were in Rebuild 1.0. The film packs a lot of material into one hour and forty minutes, but none of it seems rushed. In short, Rebuild 2.0: You Can [Not] Advance is the best Evangelion film thus far. I would definitely suggest you watch Rebuild 1.0 before indulging in Rebuild 2.0, but if you get the chance to watch it, You Can [Not] Advance is well worth your time.

My Rating: 9.75 (out of 10)