WhenNeon Genesis Evangelioncreator Hideki Anno set himself out to remake his animemagnum opus, he could have hardly imagined how long it would take for theRebuild of Evangelionto get to the finish line. But now, afterits latest COVID-related delay, Studio Khara has confirmedEvangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timewill premiere in Japan next week.
Anno always imagined theRebuild of Evangelionfilm series as an opportunity to rewrite his story without the technological and budget limitations he faced in the early ’90s, as was seen in 2007 with theEvangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone. However, due to both personal issues and other work commitments, the time between each entry’s release broadened to the point where3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timewill finally make its debut almost eight and half years after the third installment,3.0 you’re able to (Not) Redo.
RELATED:10 Must Watch Anime For Survival Horror Fans
In an update posted on the officialEvangelionwebsite and Twitter account, it was announced that3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timeis now confirmed to release in theaters all over Japan next Monday, March 8. The news was shared alongside a new 30-second preview of the film posted on Studio Khara’s YouTube channel, which briefly shows Shinji looking as gloomy as always, while Asuka and Mari seem to be in the middle of yet another apocalyptic battle.
Evangelion3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time’srelease will include IMAX, MX4D, and 4DX screenings in Japanese theaters and will also feature a special IMAX run at the box office for3.0 You Can (Not) Redo. As an added bonus, the first 3 million fans who go watch the movie will get a special complimentary Asuka illustration leaflet designed by animation director Atsushi Nishikiori.
While3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timewas pushed back from its January 23 due to preventive measures taken by Japanese authorities, their handling of the pandemic since the start of the year has even allowed forSuper Nintendo World to open its doorsto visitors, so unless literal world-threatening angels invade Earth, nothing should stop it now.
Despite the much-improved visuals in theRebuild of Evangelionseries, the previous three movies have not received as much praise as the original series partly due to the plot changes and new characters it introduced. When Anno decided to redoEvangelion, he did it partly because of what he considered to be an overall decline in quality and artistic themes explored the anime industry, so once3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timeis out there, viewers will be able to make a better judgment of how these four films truly compare toNeon Genesis Evangelionand its amazing theme songthat stills dominates Japanese karaokes to this day.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Timewill be released on July 20, 2025.
MORE:Pokemon: 10 Hoenn Locations That Show Up In The Anime But Not The Games
