Shin Evangelion the Movie" will be distributed exclusively on Prime Video in Japan from August 13 (Fri.)! Comments from Hideaki Anno and others!

Amazon Prime Video will exclusively distribute "Shin Evangelion the Movie" for Prime members starting Friday, August 13, 2021. The film will be available in more than 240 countries and regions, including Japan. This will be Prime Video's first DTS release of a major Japanese anime franchise outside of Japan.
(*DTS = Direct to Stream, direct distribution of theatrical films)

⇒Amazon Prime Video introduces July's anime lineup, including "Memoirs of Vanitas" and "Hamefura X"!

⇒[ Movie Review] We talk about it without spoilers! Akiba Research Institute editors have seen "Shin Evangelion the Movie"!

Set in a world where a global catastrophe called "Second Impact" has occurred, the film is about the epic battle between the Android Evangelion (Eva), a general-purpose humanoid battle weapon, and mysterious life forms known as "apostles". The TV series "Neon Genesis Evangelion," which began airing in 1995, is an anime blockbuster that depicts characters full of individuality through unprecedented battles and a story that delves into the very foundations of human existence. The beautiful design and colors, and the deep drama that unfolds with emotionally rich expressions shocked many viewers, and even after the broadcast, there were various opinions, both online and in real life, regarding the interpretation of the story.

This work, which is said to have revolutionized the Japanese animation industry in the 1990s, triggered a huge "Eva" boom not only in Japan but throughout the world, and 26 years after its birth, it still reigns as a milestone in science fiction anime blockbusters. It has become a pop culture icon that transcends the boundaries of anime and exerts great influence.

The "Evangelion" series, including "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Movie," was born in 2007 as a new "Evangelion," neither a renewal, remake nor sequel to "Neon Genesis Evangelion. The first three films, "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Introduction" (2007), "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Destruction" (2009), and "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Q" (2012), were all big hits, attracting enthusiastic young fans who had not seen the TV series when it was first broadcast, and evolving with the times.

The fourth and final film in the series, "Shin Evangelion the Movie," which will soon finish its run in theaters, will be distributed exclusively in Japan on Prime Video from August 13 (Fri.).

This is a chance to watch the four-part film in one sitting! EVANGLION 3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME" version to be distributed

The film, which opened in theaters on March 8 this year, has been a big hit since its opening day, and its total box-office revenue to date has exceeded 10.15 billion yen, making it the most-watched film among those released in Japan in 2021 (as of July 18, 2021, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha). Overseas, where the distribution of the film was decided earlier, "Variety," "DEADLINE," and other prominent media covered the news of the decision to distribute the film on Prime Video. and "DEADLINE". Many fans in Japan who got this information also expressed their desire for the distribution in Japan.

In addition, it has been announced that Hideaki Anno, the film's executive director, will participate in the "Comic-Con@Home" online event at the San Diego Comic-Con, a pop culture festival that will be broadcast on July 23 (Friday) LA time, drawing even more attention from around the world.

EVANGELION: 3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME Trailer

The latest "EVANGELION 3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME" version will be distributed on Prime Video, with further adjustments made to the feature film during its theatrical release. This is a rare opportunity to watch all four films at once, including "Shin Evangelion the Movie" along with ":Introduction", ":Break", and ":Q", which are already available exclusively on Prime Video in Japan. This is a unique opportunity for those who have seen the films in theaters and those who have not yet seen them to enjoy a new "Eva" experience.

Comments from Amazon Prime Video and Hideaki Anno

Takashi Kodama, General Manager of Amazon Prime Video's Content Business Division, commented on the distribution decision as follows.

Japanese animation has originality and deep drama that cannot be found anywhere else. It transcends ideas and values and fascinates people all over the world. We have long paid great attention to "Evangelion," which has brought about a major innovation in animation. With "Shin Evangelion the Movie" being a huge hit in Japan and fans around the world eagerly awaiting the film, we are very pleased to be able to bring "Shin Evangelion the Movie" to the world. We hope you will enjoy all four "Rebuild of Evangelion" movies, including the previous one, during your summer vacation."

Hideaki Anno, creator of Evangelion and the film's original idea, screenplay, and general director, also commented on the worldwide distribution of the film, including Japan, as follows

I would like to thank all Eva fans overseas for your continued support.
And thank you very much for your patience. With the difficulty of providing theatrical releases due to the Corona disaster, we wondered what would be the best way to deliver the film to our overseas fans as quickly as possible. After much deliberation, we decided to distribute the film worldwide on Amazon Prime Video. On behalf of the production staff, we hope that you will enjoy watching the film on the big screen as much as possible. Please wait a little longer for the release of the film.

Outline of the four-part film

■"Shin Evangelion the Movie" EVANGELION: 3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME
(28 languages subtitled / 10 languages dubbed)
The fourth and concluding part of the new theatrical series. The anti-Nerf organization Ville, led by Misato, is in the old city of Paris, which has been dyed red by coring. A select team descends from the flagship AAA Wunder and attaches itself to the remaining sealing columns. The restoration operation can be completed in only 720 seconds. During the execution of the decisive operation, NERV's EVAs approach in a large swarm, and Mari's Kai-8 begins to intercept them.
Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Ayanami Rei (tentative name) were wandering the land of Japan. ......

Planning, Original Story, Screenplay, General Director: Hideaki Anno Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki, Katsuichi Nakayama, Mahiro Maeda
Voices: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Yuko Miyamura, Maaya Sakamoto, Kotono Mitsuishi, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Akira Ishida, Fumihiko Tachiki, Motomu Kiyokawa
Tomokazu Seki, Tetsuya Iwanaga, Junko Iwao, Miki Nagasawa, Takehito Koyasu, Hiro Yuki, Akio Otsuka, Miyuki Sawashiro, Sayaka Ohara, Mariya Ise, Anri Katsu
Koichi Yamadera, Koki Uchiyama, Ryunosuke Kamiki
Production: Color Production: Studio Color

Distribution: August 13, 2021 (Friday) Exclusive distribution on Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video Movie Page: #

Rebuild of Evangelion: Introduction"
(28 languages subtitled / 10 languages dubbed)
The fate of the human race is in the hands of the NERV, a special agency. 14-year-old Shinji Ikari is taken to the NERV headquarters, where he is given the chance to board the first Evangelion aircraft. Shinji Ikari, a 14-year-old boy, is taken to the NERV headquarters, where he is forced to board the first Evangelion and fight the apostles.
Shinji does as he is told and boards the first Evangelion and defeats the apostles. He and the pilot of Eva Zero, Ayanami Rei, are assigned to intercept the apostles, but the sixth apostle soon attacks, inflicting heavy damage on the first plane. Misato Katsuragi plans "Operation Yashima," a plan to gather all of Japan's electric power in one place and destroy the Apostles with the positron cannon of the first model. What will be the fate of mankind?

Original Story, Screenplay, General Director: Hideaki Anno Director: Yuki Masa, Kazuya Tsurumaki
Cast: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Kotono Mitsuishi, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Fumihiko Tachiki, Motomu Kiyokawa
Production: Color Production: Studio Color

Distribution: Available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video Movies Page: #

Evangelion: The Movie
(28 languages subtitled / 10 languages dubbed)
Makinami Mari Illustrious defeats the third apostle unearthed at NERV's base in the North Pole, Betania Base, using Eva Temporary Unit 5. Meanwhile, Shikinami Asuka Langley and Eva Unit 2 arrive in Japan and destroy the seventh apostle. The eighth apostle flies in from satellite orbit and attacks Nerf headquarters, and the three Evas work together to counter the apostle.
However, Eva Unit 3, which is being tested for activation, is taken over by the 9th Apostle. Shinji, who has gone to intercept it, is horrified to learn that it is Asuka who rides inside. Gendo switches the control of the first unit to a dummy system and begins a battle with Unit 3...

Original Story, Screenplay, General Director: Hideaki Anno Director: Yuki Masago, Kazuya Tsurumaki
Cast: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Yuko Miyamura, Maaya Sakamoto, Kotono Mitsuishi, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Koichi Yamadera, Akira Ishida, Fumihiko Tachiki, Motomu Kiyokawa,
Nagasawa Miki, Koyasu Takehito, Yuki Hiro, Seki Tomokazu, Iwanaga Tetsuya, Iwao Junko, Mugito
Production: Color Production: Studio Color

Distribution: Available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video Movies Page: #

Evangelion: Q"
(28 languages subtitled / 10 languages dubbed)
Shinji wakes up after 14 years and finds himself on the battleship AAA Wunder of the anti-Nerf organization "Ville", formed by Misato and other former Nerf personnel with new crew members. Shinji was found alone on the first plane, without Ayanami Rei. However, Shinji hears Rei's voice from the EVA Mark.09, which is sent to raid the ship to recover Shinji, and leaves the Wunder for NERV.
There, guided by Kaworu Nagisa, Shinji sees the earth transformed and learns that his rescue of Rei triggered the "Near Third Impact," which caused extensive damage to the earth.

Original Story, Screenplay, General Director: Hideaki Anno Director: Yuki Masa, Masahiro Maeda, Kazuya Tsurumaki
Cast: Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, Yuko Miyamura, Maaya Sakamoto, Kotono Mitsuishi, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Akira Ishida, Fumihiko Tachiki, Motomu Kiyokawa, Miki Nagasawa, Takehito Koyasu, Hiro Yuuki, Mugito, Akio Otsuka, Miyuki Sawashiro, Sayaka Ohara, Mariya Ise, Anri Katsu
Production: Color Production: Studio Color

Distribution: Available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video
Prime Video Movies Page: #