Neon Genesis Evangelion may very well be the most discussed and analyzed anime series in history. Since its original airing just over 30 years ago, some fans have debated one another about the show’s deeply personal and philosophical themes, many others have fiercely debated the best ‘ship’ in the series, and others have missed the point entirely, begging for guidance from others in the series’ fan base.
However, each little subsection of Evangelion‘s devoted following has come head-to-head on one subject: the series’ many endings. Since the airing of 1995’s Neon Genesis Evangelion, the series has ended on a number of different occasions in a number of different ways, and every fan across the globe is likely to have a different opinion about those finales. In 2026, another ending was quietly added to the pile.
Evangelion celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year in style, holding a celebratory multi-week event in Tokyo. It was at that event that the series revealed yet another conclusion, and it may very well be its best to date.
Evangelion’s 30th Anniversary Short Film Is Its Brightest Ending Yet
The Short Finally Gave Asuka Her Own Satisfying Conclusion
At the Evangelion:30 event in Tokyo, series creator Hideaki Anno took to the stage and introduced an all-new short film he claimed to have only finished that very same morning. It would be his final contribution to the franchise, and one that was meant to only be shown to visitors of the event. Predictably, low-quality recordings of the short film quickly hit the internet, and before long, Studio Khara relented and uploaded the project to its official YouTube channel.
The short film shifts its focus from Shinji to Asuka, and follows her perspective during Instrumentality, allowing both the original Asuka Langley Soryu and the rebuild’s Asuka Shikinami Langley into the spotlight. Much of the short takes on a comedic tone, with iconic original scenes recreated to feature Asuka in the leading role, until the moving, final interaction between the Second and Third Children sees Asuka take her future into her own hands, as The End of Evangelion‘s “Komm Süsser Tod” begins playing in the background.
Hideaki Anno’s influence on the anime industry can not be overemphasized, and this time, his warnings on anime’s future should be taken seriously.
The short film is by far the brightest end to Evangelion yet, and it finally gives Asuka a satisfying conclusion of her own after three decades of the pilot being mercilessly thrown into the fire of Shinji’s personal baggage and drama. It’s a fitting end for the series’ most confident and outgoing character, and a must-watch for fans of the franchise who haven’t yet seen it.
Evangelion’s Most Recent Ending Will Not Be Its Last
Evangelion Will Return in an All-New Anime Series Written by Nier’s Yoko Taro
Shockingly, Evangelion‘s latest ending was not the most surprising reveal of the franchise’s 30th anniversary event. A short time after the film’s screening, an all-new Evangelion anime written by Nier creator Yoko Taro was announced. Very few details have been shared at this time, but given Evangelion‘s influence on Yoko Taro’s work, there may be no more suited person to take over the driver’s seat. Whether the series’ iconic cast returns once more remains to be seen, but regardless of what comes next for Evangelion, the upcoming anime will mark a new era without Hideaki Anno at the helm.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most successful anime franchises of all-time, and the division surrounding its many endings has only fueled its ongoing popularity more than three decades on from its premiere. The series’ latest ending quietly arrived this past March, and its many references make it one that long-time fans will not want to miss.
- Release Date
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1995 – 1996
- Network
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TV Tokyo
- Directors
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Keiichi Sugiyama, Masahiko Otsuka, Tensai Okamura, Shoichi Masuo, Minoru Ohara, Seiji Mizushima, Tetsuya Watanabe, Ken Ando
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Megumi Ogata
Shinji Ikari (voice)
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Kotono Mitsuishi
Misato Katsuragi (voice)
