Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth is a 1997 Japanese mecha anime film that serves as both a recap and preview for the Evangelion franchise.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン 劇場版 シト新生, Shin Seiki Evangerion Gekijō-ban: Shi to Shinsei), also romanised in Japan as Evangelion: Death and Evangelion: Rebirth, is a 1997 Japanese science fiction mecha anime film. It is the first instalment of the Neon Genesis Evangelion feature film project and consists of two parts.
The project, whose overarching title translates literally to New Era Evangelion: The Movie, was released in response to the success of the TV series and strong demand by fans for an alternate ending. Created by Anno Hideaki and produced by Gainax and Production I.G, the film was co-produced by Kadokawa Shoten, TV Tokyo, Sega, and Toei Company.
The first section, Evangelion: Death, is a recap, editing together scenes from the first 24 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion in the form of a clip show, along with additional animation created after the show’s original broadcast. The second section, Evangelion: Rebirth, consists of approximately 24 minutes of entirely new animation that would eventually form the first third of The End of Evangelion.
Synopsis
Death & Rebirth is divided into two distinct segments separated by an intermission.
Death
The first segment, lasting approximately 70 minutes, is framed by scenes of the four main Evangelion pilots—Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Sōryū, and Kaworu Nagisa—preparing for a string quartet recital. Through this framing device, the film presents a non-chronological recap of the first 24 episodes of the television series.
The compilation focuses on key character moments and revelations whilst incorporating previously unseen footage and alternative perspectives on familiar scenes. The editing emphasises the psychological development of the characters and the mysteries surrounding the Angels, NERV, and the Human Instrumentality Project.
Rebirth
The second segment, lasting approximately 27 minutes, depicts the immediate aftermath of the defeat of the final Angel. SEELE, the secret organisation behind NERV, initiates an assault on NERV Headquarters using conventional forces from the Japan Strategic Self-Defense Force and nine Mass Production Evangelions.
The segment shows the initial preparations for the Human Instrumentality Project and the invasion of the Geofront, ending with the arrival of the Mass Production Evangelions. Due to production constraints, Rebirth concluded before the story’s resolution, serving as a preview for the complete ending that would later appear in The End of Evangelion.
Development
Conception
On 26 April 1996, approximately one month after the final episode of the television series aired, the magazine Monthly Shōnen Ace announced that a remake of the final two episodes and a feature-length film would be produced. The controversial ending of the original series, which focused heavily on the internal psychological states of the characters rather than external action, had left many fans dissatisfied and demanding clarification.
Anno Hideaki initially planned to create an original video animation for the home video market. However, due to the series’ enormous success, a Japanese consortium financed the project with such substantial funding that they opted to release it theatrically instead. The consortium included Imagica, a film post-production company, and fashion companies such as Fiorucci, Americanino, and Edwin.
Production
The production of Death & Rebirth faced significant challenges from the outset. Anno initially conceived of a different story structure, with character designer Sadamoto Yoshiyuki suggesting the new film be set in winter, contrasting with the eternal summer depicted in the animated series.
Anno also considered depicting battles between Evangelions on snow-covered mountains, despite the technical difficulties such scenes would entail. In this proposed post-apocalyptic scenario, Earth would be nearly destroyed and uninhabitable, with humans living within an area protected by an AT Field barrier whilst Angels concentrated their attacks on the only bridge connecting this sanctuary to the rest of the world.
However, the production of the Rebirth segment encountered severe delays. So much material was produced that it became necessary to split the project into two separate releases. Additionally, some staff members felt overwhelmed by the demanding production schedule, leading to the indefinite postponement of the second film containing the complete new material.
Animation and Design
Death primarily utilised existing animation from the television series, though it included new transitional sequences and alternative edits of familiar scenes. The framing device of the string quartet rehearsal provided an elegant structure for the compilation whilst adding new character moments.
Rebirth featured entirely new animation, with improved production values compared to the later episodes of the television series. The segment showcased more dynamic action sequences and detailed mechanical designs, benefiting from the larger theatrical budget and the involvement of Production I.G alongside Gainax.
Music
Sagisu Shirō composed the film’s soundtrack, building upon his work from the television series. The Death segment featured classical music prominently, particularly pieces performed by the string quartet within the film’s framing device. Bach’s Suite for Unaccompanied Cello No. 1 in G major served as a recurring musical motif throughout the compilation.
The Rebirth segment concluded with “Tamashii no Refrain” (Soul’s Refrain) performed by Takahashi Yoko. A dedicated soundtrack album, Evangelion: Death, was released on 11 June 1997, reaching number one on the Oricon album charts.
Release
Theatrical release
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth was released in Japanese cinemas on 15 March 1997. The film opened in second place at the Japanese box office, just behind the opening of 101 Dalmatians. Despite mixed critical reception, the film proved commercially successful due to the enormous popularity of the television series.
Between March and October 1997, Death & Rebirth earned a distributor rental income of ¥1.1 billion, with a total gross of ¥1.87 billion. The film’s success demonstrated the viability of theatrical releases for anime properties and helped establish the market for subsequent Evangelion films.
International release
Death & Rebirth received its English-language release through Manga Entertainment rather than ADV Films, which had distributed the original television series. The English dub was recorded at The Editing Company in Houston, Texas, for returning voice actors from the original series, and PCB Productions in Los Angeles, California.
On 30 July 2002, Manga Entertainment released the film on VHS and DVD in the United States. A two-disc set containing both Death & Rebirth and The End of Evangelion was subsequently released on 26 July 2005. The English production made several creative changes to the dubbing, including alterations to sound effects that differed from the Japanese screenplay’s intentions.
Home media
The film has been re-edited and re-released multiple times since its original theatrical debut. Death (True), a second version re-edited by Masayuki, was broadcast on the Japanese satellite television channel WOWOW. This version removed some of the additional footage that had been incorporated into the feature film.
A third edit, Death (True)², was released on 7 March 1998 as part of Revival of Evangelion, which combined the refined version of Death with the complete End of Evangelion. Death (True)² has become the version most widely released in the West, being selected by Netflix and GKIDS for their distribution services and Blu-ray releases.
Reception
Critical reception
Death & Rebirth received mixed reviews from critics and audiences. Whilst fans appreciated the opportunity to revisit the series’ key moments with improved presentation, many felt that the Death segment was largely redundant for those who had already seen the television series. The non-chronological editing, whilst artistic, was criticised for potentially confusing newcomers to the franchise.
The Rebirth segment was generally better received for its high-quality animation and intense action sequences. However, its abrupt ending left many viewers frustrated, as it functioned more as an extended preview than a satisfying conclusion to the story.
Commercial success
Despite mixed critical reception, the film achieved considerable commercial success. The theatrical release demonstrated the strong market demand for Evangelion content and established the viability of anime films as major commercial releases in Japan.
The film’s success paved the way for The End of Evangelion and demonstrated that audiences were willing to pay for recap material when presented with sufficient new content and improved production values. The strong box office performance also validated the decision to move from home video to theatrical distribution.
Legacy
Death & Rebirth is now primarily viewed as a historical curiosity and marketing exercise rather than an essential part of the Evangelion canon. Most critics and fans recommend that newcomers watch the complete television series followed by The End of Evangelion, bypassing Death & Rebirth entirely.
However, the film serves as an important milestone in the history of anime theatrical releases and demonstrates the franchise’s cultural impact during the height of the “Evangelion boom” in 1990s Japan. The project also provided valuable experience for the production team in adapting television animation for theatrical presentation.
Credits
Cast
| Character | Japanese | English |
|---|---|---|
| Shinji Ikari | Ogata Megumi | Spencer Spike |
| Rei Ayanami | Hayashibara Megumi | Winn-Lee Amanda |
| Asuka Langley Sōryū | Miyamura Yūko | Grant Tiffany |
| Misato Katsuragi | Mitsuishi Kotono | Keith Allison |
| Gendō Ikari | Tachiki Fumihiko | MacAvery Tristan |
| Kaworu Nagisa | Ishida Akira | Lunde Guil |
| Ritsuko Akagi | Yamaguchi Yuriko | Ulu Sue |
Crew
- Directed by Anno Hideaki, Tsurumaki Kazuya, and Masayuki
- Written by Anno Hideaki
- Music by Sagisu Shirō
- Character design by Sadamoto Yoshiyuki
- Mechanical design by Yamashita Ikuto
- Produced by Gainax and Production I.G
External links
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth on Wikipedia
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth on IMDb
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth on Anime News Network