Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, kimi ni (1997)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Directors:

Hideaki Anno
Kazuya Tsurumaki

Writers:

Hideaki Anno (writer)
Shinji Higuchi (writer)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Drama | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

...Do you really want to stay here?

Plot:

Concurrent theatrical ending of the TV series "Shin Seiki Evangelion" (1995).

Plot Keywords:

Childhood Memory | Splatter | Depression | Surrealism | Despair

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Megumi Ogata	...	Shinji Ikari (voice)
Megumi Hayashibara	...	Rei Ayanami / Yui Ikari (voice)
Yûko Miyamura	...	Asuka Langley Sôryû (voice)
Kotono Mitsuishi	...	Misato Katsuragi (voice)
Yuriko Yamaguchi	...	Ritsuko Akagi (voice)
Fumihiko Tachiki	...	Gendô Ikari (voice)
Akira Ishida	...	Kaworu Nagisa (voice)
Motomu Kiyokawa	...	Kôzô Fuyutsuki (voice)
Mugihito	...	Keel Lorentz (voice)
Takehito Koyasu	...	Shigeru Aoba (voice)
Hiro Yuuki	...	Makoto Hyûga (voice)
Miki Nagasawa	...	Maya Ibuki (voice)
Spike Spencer	...	Shinji Ikari (voice: English version)
Amanda Winn Lee	...	Rei Ayanami / Yui Ikari (voice: English version) (as Amanda Winn)
Tiffany Grant	...	Asuka Langley Sohryuu (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (USA)
New Century Evangelion Theatrical Edition: Air/Sincerely Yours (Japan) (literal English title)
The End of Evangelion: Episode 25': Love is Destructive/One More Final: I Need You (Japan: English title)

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-15 | Italy:T (DVD rating) | Finland:K-15 (original rating) | Canada:18A (DVD rating) (2007) | South Korea:18 (cable rating) | Japan:R-15 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:15 | Germany:16

Company:

Gainax

Trivia:

According to Misato, the computer screen she is viewing near the beginning of the film is a file which reveals the truth of Second Impact. In reality (from what is legible) it is nothing but a short bio on Gainax and its films.

Quotes:

Shinji Ikari: No-one understands me.
Rei Ayanami: You never understood anything.
Shinji Ikari: I thought this was supposed to be a world without pain and without uncertainty.
Rei Ayanami: That's because you thought that everyone else felt the same as you do.
Shinji Ikari: You betrayed me! You betrayed my feelings!
Rei Ayanami: You misunderstood from the very beginning. You just believed what you wanted to believe.
Shinji Ikari: Nobody wants me, so they can all just die.
Rei Ayanami: Then what is your hand for?
Shinji Ikari: Nobody cares whether I live or die. Nothing will change... so they can all just die...
Rei Ayanami: Then what is your heart for?
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Gekido no showashi: Okinawa kessen (1971)

Soundtrack:

II Air (Orchestral Suite in D Major, BWV. 1068)

A true classical ending to a groundbreaking series

Neon Genesis Evangelion was a animated series that was never seen before by any one, i.e its amazing storyline which spans further then all that was seen in the series, great and interesting characters (finally, we don't get to see a all round tough guy here) and great mecha fights. However, one thing that disappointed me was the ending to the series, but thankfully, The End Of Evangelion changed all that.

The Alternate ending sees the preparation of the Third Impact. I won't spoil the story as it is really confusing for those who have not seen the series (which is extremely highly adviced). Here, all questions are answered but for a price, something completely unexpected.

With this, director Anno isn't doing the anime which heros live, all is well (like hmm...well...Pokemon for instance), Neon Genesis Death/Rebirth is extremely dark and the ending surpasses that of Akira. This is a great change and sets up for a unexpected climax.

Unlike the final episode of the series, this one has some of the most memorable mecha fights, sure if you thought Shinji eating the Angel alive was something wait till you see Asuka battling the EVA series, this is memorable stuff here, and the ending to this battle can be quite disturbing for some.

The expansive story ends here, and everything that is answered keeps the audience awake, the innovation with the religious references are well done, who'd thought that a cartoon about robots would explain why robots are shapped in the way they are.

Overall, a true memorable classic for a science-fiction series, however, do not start but start with the series, its safer there before you move on to here.