The fans could finally see the end of Evangelion, and the satisfaction was worth waiting for 8 years. Here’s why.

Simon Kagaya, for JAPAN Forward

On March 8, Studio Khara, which is known for its legendary animation series Evangelion, released the final film of the saga in Japan. This is the fourth film of Rebuild of Evangelion, a remake of the TV animation series, “Neon Genesis Evangelion”, which was aired in Japan from 1995 to 1996.

The box office revenue from its first day was more than $800 million U.S. dollars and it was seen by more than five hundred thousand people. Given that this film was an anime and released on a Monday, these numbers are extraordinary.

What is Evangelion?

Originally, the story was a TV anime series by Hideaki Anno, broadcast in Japan under the title “Neon Genesis Evangelion”. It ran in 26 installments from October 1995 to May 1996.

The hero, Shinji Ikari, 14 years old, is suddenly forced to pilot one of the gigantic humanoid war machines called Evangelion to defeat the unknown creatures called Angels in order to save humans.

The story, its innovative visual expression, dramatic production, and spin off projects have attracted not only anime watchers and subculture aficionados, but also ordinary people.

How Are Fans and Audience Reacting?

Without spoiling the film for those who have yet to see it, I can say that fans who have seen the final film are very satisfied. The final film puts an end to the quarter-century Evangelion saga, giving fans what they have wanted for more than two decades.

On the first day, many theaters were fully booked by the passionate fans. In some theaters, there was a lot of applause for a long time when the movie ended.

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