Facts / Neon Genesis Evangelion

5 Neon Genesis Evangelion Facts You Probably Didn't Know

Warships, karaoke, and the most debated ending in anime.

新世紀エヴァンゲリオン · Since 1995 · Gainax · Hideaki Anno

1. Its characters are named after warships

   Many names come from Japanese naval vessels: Katsuragi, Akagi, Ayanami and Soryu. Asuka's middle name Langley comes from a US aircraft carrier.

2. Its theme song is a karaoke juggernaut

   "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" by Yoko Takahashi has stayed near the top of Japanese karaoke rankings for decades and is one of the highest-earning songs in JASRAC royalty reports.

3. The ending got a do-over movie

   The famously abstract final two TV episodes were followed by The End of Evangelion in 1997, which retold the ending.

4. The remakes took 14 years

   The Rebuild of Evangelion films ran from 2007 to 2021, ending with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

5. Anno also directed Shin Godzilla

   Hideaki Anno co-directed the 2016 film Shin Godzilla, and wrote Shin Ultraman and directed Shin Kamen Rider afterward.

More facts

• Sailor MoonA pharmacist, a power couple, and the planets.5
• Cowboy BebopJazz, bounty hunters, and a broadcast that was cut short.5
• Anime HistoryFacts about how the whole medium came to be.5