Amazon has announced it will be bringing all four Rebuild of Evangelion films to Prime Video on August 13, and this will include the long-awaited fourth chapter – Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time. Released in Japan earlier this year after several delays, some caused by the pandemic and others predating it, the wait for the next film on Western shores is nearing a decade. Now the story is coming to an end, and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.
I’ve spent most of my teenage and adult life watching this series of films unfold, waiting for the inevitable conclusion and theorising about how exactly Hideaki Anno intends to end this strange, surreal take on the iconic animated universe. It’s been an experience – one of frustration, amazement, and investment in a property that has had an untold cultural impact since its inception.
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Knowing all of this is finally drawing to a close, at least in the narrative sense, is leaving a bittersweet taste in my mouth. I expected the final film to still be months or even years away from a Western release, especially given the controversy surrounding its production and the fact we’re currently in the midst of a pandemic. But it seems Amazon has struck up a deal to put all four Rebuild films onto its streaming platform. I still haven’t forgiven Netflix for screwing up the subtitles, so perhaps we’re better for this new development. Either way, I’m equal parts anxious and excited for the arrival of Thrice Upon A Time.
Evangelion:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME on Prime Video on August 13th in over 240 countries and territories excluding Japan.https://t.co/aiuIGY1sH1
For details, please see the announcement here: https://t.co/JOj58lqJB3#shineva #Evangelion pic.twitter.com/vXMiCHasCa— エヴァンゲリオン公式 (@evangelion_co) July 1, 2021
I don’t have the slightest idea what the film is about. I know it’s a direct continuation of Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, but that picture was such an unexpected subversion of canonical events and character dynamics that trying to depict exactly where this fourth installment is going would be a fool’s errand. I’ve surrendered myself to that defeat, opting instead to go in unaware and accept whatever wondrous nonsense Hideaki Anno has prepared for me. I’m confident it will be excellent, judging by Japanese reviews and the oodles of fanart that keep pouring onto my social media feeds. It seems white plugsuits are now a thing, but beyond that, everything remains a mystery. In a landscape of popular culture so heavily dominated by spoilers and discussion, it’s refreshing to have one of the biggest anime films in years met with such silence. Not due to a lack of popularity, but because fans seem to realise we’ve been waiting decades to see this story through, and that anticipation should be treated with a degree of respect.
If you aren’t familiar with Rebuild of Evangelion, it is a filmic retelling of Neon Genesis Evangelion, an animated series that first premiered in 1995 that has since become one of the biggest fictional properties of all time. It went on to influence anime, films, and games such as Pacific Rim, Nier, Final Fantasy 7, and so many more. Its influence can’t be overstated, so when Hideaki Anno announced he would be revisiting the original story after so long, expectations were almost immeasurable.
The first film arrived in 2007, and was a fairly standard retelling of the series’ first handful of episodes. It had to shorten some events and put aside character development in favour of visual spectacle, but it assumes prior knowledge in a similar manner to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, so you’re just strapping in for a primer before stuff starts to get really wild. The second film is where things begin to deviate from the original timeline, aiming to frame the narrative in a way that isn’t afraid to change major events, even if it means hurtling us forward in time with little knowledge of what’s happening, who people are, or where on Earth it could possibly go from here. That’s the beauty of it – Hideaki Anno’s willingness to take us on a journey where the destination feels impossible to figure out, with each new step of convolution only furthering our investment in it all.
I won’t spoil exactly where Evangelion 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0 go, since it’s worth experiencing for yourself, even for new fans who might consider this series to be near impenetrable. It isn’t, but expect to be equally confused and heartbroken with everything it has to offer.
Thrice Upon A Time will be heartbreaking to an even greater degree, partly because it’s the last chance for these characters to experience a happy ending. Shinji Ikari, Asuka Langley Soryu, and Rei Ayanami have often been defined by their own suffering, child soldiers who have been forced to bear the brunt of adult responsibilities that their guardians are too incompetent to handle themselves. Many of their arcs are reflective of Hideaki Anno’s own struggles with depression, which only cements the likelihood of happiness for these teenagers as we inch towards the final film. 1997’s End of Evangelion was a statement of frustration, one that Anno used to turn the expectations of fans against them with a conclusive story that placed death at the forefront. There was no room for happiness, but with Rebuild of Evangelion, there is light shining through the darkness – it’s offering a hand to pull these people through to something better despite the world before them already being lost.
Shinji Ikari’s journey – one of queer discovery, parental pressure, and the weight of expectations that would drown even the most hardened of individuals – is nearing its end. Given that I’ve developed alongside him over the years and formed my own cynical views of the world, it will be strange to no longer have that accompaniment to guide me. I’ll survive, and I’ll be better for the lessons Neon Genesis Evangelion and its library of films have taught me, even if leaving them behind will be harder than I ever expected. Just let these kids be happy – they deserve that much after all they’ve been through.
