Neon Genesis Evangelion is a true classic among anime. Here, you will find out in what order to best watch this dramatic science fiction adventure.
Despite nearly three decades, Neon Genesis Evangelion remains extremely popular. The series has also inspired several films that expand the franchise. For newcomers, this can make it difficult to keep track. In this post, we will reveal the best order to enjoy Hideaki Anno’s science fiction anime.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Order of the Main Story
Neon Genesis Evangelion premiered in 1995 as a standalone series. Unlike many other anime, the story is not based on a manga or novel. All subsequent films reference the 26-episode series, which is why we recommend starting with it.
Since the ending of the anime series was heavily criticized by both fans and the media, the creators decided to produce two feature films to provide an alternate ending. These films are titled Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion and Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth. The latter, however, is merely a summary of the series and does not necessarily need to be watched.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (1997)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Films in Chronological Order
A few years after the original series, Hideaki Anno and his team brought new life to the Evangelion franchise. With Rebuild of Evangelion, the story of the original series is retold. This film series began in 2007 and concluded in 2021. The titles of the films clearly indicate their order:
- Evangelion: 1.11 – You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
- Evangelion: 2.22 – You Can (Not) Advance (2009)
- Evangelion: 3.33 – You Can (Not) Redo (2012)
- Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 (2021)
Whether this film series is part of the anime canon is hotly debated among fans. While the first part of the famous series closely resembles the original, the story diverges from the second part onward, taking a completely new direction with the third part. Therefore, you can enjoy the film series even after watching the original series.