Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth

Main Plot

"Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth" is a two-part film that revisits and expands upon the story of the original "Neon Genesis Evangelion" anime series. The first part, "Death," serves as a condensed retelling of the series, focusing on the psychological and emotional struggles of the main characters as they pilot giant mechs called Evangelions to protect humanity from mysterious beings known as Angels. Through a series of flashbacks and re-edited scenes, it delves into their complex relationships and personal traumas. The second part, "Rebirth," begins to unfold new material that sets the stage for the series' conclusion. It introduces new conflicts and deepens the overarching narrative, hinting at the impending climax and the ultimate fate of the characters. The film combines intense action sequences with introspective moments, maintaining the series' signature blend of mecha battles and psychological drama. "Death & Rebirth" serves as both a recap and a bridge, leading into the final resolution of the story.

Characters

• Megumi Ogata voices Shinji Ikari, the protagonist who pilots the Evangelion Unit-01 to protect humanity from mysterious beings called Angels.
• Megumi Hayashibara voices Rei Ayanami, a mysterious pilot of the Evangelion Unit-00, crucial to the series' exploration of identity, emotion, and human connection.
• Yûko Miyamura voices Asuka Langley Soryu, a fiery and skilled Eva pilot whose complex personality and struggles significantly impact the series' psychological and emotional depth.

Ending Explained

"Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth," directed by Hideaki Anno, Ken Andô, and Naoyasu Habu, is a two-part film that serves as a retelling and expansion of the original "Neon Genesis Evangelion" series. The "Death" segment is a recap of the first 24 episodes, while "Rebirth" begins the story's conclusion, which is later completed in "The End of Evangelion." In "Rebirth," the narrative picks up with the climactic events following the series' penultimate episode. Nerv, the organization responsible for defending Earth from mysterious beings known as Angels, faces an existential threat from SEELE, a secretive group aiming to initiate the Human Instrumentality Project. This project seeks to merge all human souls into a single consciousness, ostensibly to eliminate human suffering. The film ends on a cliffhanger, with SEELE launching an all-out assault on Nerv headquarters. Asuka Langley Soryu, one of the Evangelion pilots, is seen preparing for battle in her Evangelion Unit-02. The tension escalates as the film concludes abruptly, setting the stage for the resolution in "The End of Evangelion," where the fate of humanity and the true nature of the Instrumentality Project are ultimately revealed.