History Anime / RebuildOfEvangelion

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Fast forward to 2007: Hideaki Anno is {{happily married}}, as rich as StevenSpielberg, and arguably more respected than ever before by virtue of having created what could damn well be considered the most popular and influential anime franchise of ''the past decade.'' So, he decides to revisit the work that made him famous -- only without the depression influencing the story -- and makes plans to re-tell the story of the ''Evangelion'' saga by giving his ByronicHero cast a second chance ([[PeggySue literally]] [[EpilepticTrees or figuratively]]), making them somewhat more emotionally stable, and actually giving them hope and light at the end of the tunnel. A massive theatrical budget doesn't hurt, either.

Thus begins the salvation of Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley [[AlternateUniverse Shikinami]] in the four-film saga known as '''''Rebuild of Evangelion''''', directed by KazuyaTsurumaki of ''{{Anime/FLCL}}'' fame. Two of the films have already been released; the third film is scheduled to be released on November 17, 2012, and the final film will be released in 2013.

* ''Evangelion: 1.0 Jo (Beginning)''

* AscendedExtra: Kaworu started out as a MonsterOfTheWeek in the Anime -- an unusually significant one, granted, but a one-shot character nonetheless -- and became an infamous EnsembleDarkhorse. In ''Rebuild'', he gets to have his existence foreshadowed in the first film [[spoiler:and gets to be a [[BigDamnHeroes Big Damn Hero]]/[[BigDamnVillains Villain]] at the end of the second]].

* {{Badass}}:

** Considering all the Angels are [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TokyoIsTheCenterOfTheUniverse attacking Japan]], it's probably better for the safety of the world that they have more Evas than not.

* CataclysmBackstory: As in the original series, the Second Impact is a very well-done example of this trope.

* {{Creepy|Doll}} HandPuppet: In something of a parallel ([[MythologyGag or antithesis]]?) to the main series, Asuka keeps (and talks to) a hand puppet that vaguely resembles herself. "ASUKA" is even written on its dress.

* EldritchAbomination: The technology behind the films has finally evolved to the point where the Angels have graduated from the freaky {{kaiju}} of the television series into truly mind-shattering, [[AlienGeometries reality-defying]] fiends. They routinely exist simultaneously in multiple states of matter, flicker in and out of our dimension, and fiddle with the variables of E=mc[[superscript:2]] like a child playing with Lincoln Logs.

* FunWithSubtitles: In one translation, while lots of TechnoBabble is floating around, there are too many voices at once, so all we read is BALLSBALLSBALLS.

* GatlingGood: Shinji uses one against Shamshel.

* HighSpeedMissileDodge: Asuka does this in her debut battle, dodging a multitude of projectiles fired by an Angel.

* MrExposition: While she was already fairly good with [[MindScrewdriver explaining what the hell was going on]] in the original series, Ritsuko Akagi's role has arguably been reduced to this in ''Rebuild'' due to her being DemotedToExtra.

** Give ''2.0'''s version of [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOUYltDtsG0 The Beast]] a listen. (It plays as the contaminated [[spoiler:Unit-03]] attacks.) In the background, there's a bit of [[OminousLatinChanting ominous chanting]]. Some may argue that it's a pointless addition. You wouldn't notice it at first, since the syllables are spaced out, but they're chanting "hallelujah". Consider that [[spoiler:Asuka's inside 03]]. [[MindRape Definitely rings a few bells,]] [[FridgeBrilliance doesn't it?]]

* ShipSinking: Considering what Rei says when she tries to use an N2 mine on Zeurel [[spoiler:("I'll make it so Ikari never has to pilot again.")]] and just how far Shinji later goes [[spoiler:to save Rei]] in his fight with Zeruel in ''2.0'', some may think this.
* ShoutOut

** In ''2.0'', we're shown the image of [[http://dl.dropbox.com/u/948715/Evangelion/vlcsnap-2010-05-25-06h38m45s143.png a building that looks quite similar to Naota's house]]. It helps that there's a Vespa parked nearby.

** Misato's cell phone ring is one of the early roars/flight noises for the classic Kaiju [[{{Godzilla}} King Ghidorah]], and has then been re-used for various aliens through the 60s and 70s.

** The red ocean at the beginning; it's a result of Second Impact in ''Rebuild'', but it distinctly mirrors the red/orange ocean from ''End of Evangelion''.

** Mari's voice actress -- the reknowned MaayaSakamoto -- is actually fairly fluent with English and ''finally'' gets to show it off for a major production.

** The songs that play in background music in certain fight scenes had surprisingly good English as well.

* VictoryIsBoring: Discussed between Misato and Ritsuko during Shinji, Rei, and Asuka's Eva-test.

* AWorldwidePunomenon: As noted in IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming, "Q" has multiple meanings in Japanese. Starting with the obvious, "Q" is used as a substitute for "kyu" [[hottip:*:Quickening]], which indicates a faster-paced storyline than the previous. When used literally in Japanese, "Q" [[hottip:*:Decision]] is used as an abbreviation. ''[[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic Both]]'' definitions are [[ShoutOut extremely climatic points]] present in the original series and ''EndOfEvangelion''. [[FridgeBrilliance In fact]], the former was used for the final two episodes of the series, and the latter was [[MindScrew mostly based around]] Shinji's decision for saving the world.

Thus begins the salvation of Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley [[AlternateUniverse Shikinami]] in the four-film saga known as '''''Rebuild of Evangelion''''', directed by KazuyaTsurumaki of ''{{Anime/FLCL}}'' fame. Two of the films have already been released; the third film is scheduled to be released on the November 17th of 2012, and the final film will be released in 2013.

While ''Rebuild'' is by no means LighterAndSofter (the NightmareFuel remains just as soul-shattering in its intensity and horror as the original, if not more), if the tone of the second movie's ending holds true, this retelling promises '''not''' to be the suicide fuel that the original ''Evangelion'' was. ''Rebuild'' can best be characterized as the original staying on its medication: ultimately no happier than before, but a hell of a lot more stable.

* EldritchAbomination: The technology behind the films has finally evolved to the point where the Angels have graduated from the freaky {{kaiju}} of the television series into truly [[NightmareFuel mind-shattering]], [[AlienGeometries reality-defying]] fiends. They routinely exist simultaneously in multiple states of matter, flicker in and out of our dimension, and fiddle with the variables of E=mc[[superscript:2]] like a child playing with Lincoln Logs.

* KidsRock: Two examples in ''2.0'': "Give Me Wings" (''Tsubasa o Kudasai'') and "Goodbye to These Days" (''Kyou no Hi wa Sayounara''). This either comes of as [[NightmareFuel incredibly creepy]], [[TearJerker heartachingly tragic]], or [[{{Narm}} hilariously inappropriate]].

** Then, cue the Tenth Angel. What happens when TheJuggernaut [[TookALevelInBadass Takes A Few Levels In Badass]]? '''[[OhCrap Zer]][[NightmareFuel uel]]'''. What happens when Shinji starts playing UnstoppableRage even better than Unit-01? [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Thi]][[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming rd]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Im]][[NightmareFuel pa]][[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt ct.]]
** And then, finally, [[BigDamnHeroes Kaw]][[DynamicEntry oru]].

Thus begins the salvation of Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley [[AlternateUniverse Shikinami]] in the four-film saga known as '''''Rebuild of Evangelion''''', directed by KazuyaTsurumaki of ''{{Anime/FLCL}}'' fame. Two of the films have already been released; the third film is scheduled to be released in fall 2012, and the final film will be released in 2013.

* [[NoodlePeople Noodle Cyborgs]]: You may notice in this new version of Eva that along with redesigns of several of the Angels, the Evas are alot more stringy looking than they were in the original series [[hottip:*:Such as when Unit 03 goes berserk or when Mari takes control of Unit 02 and uses its Beast Form.]]

* OfficialCouple: Seemingly, [[spoiler:Shinji and Rei]] as of ''Rebuild 2.0.'' '''Seemingly.''' Remember, ''Evangelion'' is a franchise that has never exactly been nice to this trope, and Shinji still doesn't know [[spoiler:that Rei was partially made from his mother's DNA]].

** Here's one to ''StarTrek'', of all things. When Shinji gets his temporary ID card early in ''1.0'', "NCC-1701A" can clearly be seen on it.

* Eyecatch: Each film contain one around the midpoint, showcasing the film's English name, in the same way the episodes of the original show did.

** When we recall that "Evangelion" can be translated as "Gospel", "Q" [[GeniusBonus also evokes]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q_source the Q Document]], a hypothesized source of the Gospels.

** On this note: [[spoiler:when it came to the original Unit 03 fight in the TV series, a lot of people's reaction to the fight with Unit 03 was [[FridgeLogic "Well, why the hell didn't Shinji think to at least grapple with it and prevent it from choking him, he didn't have to just give up"]]. Come ''2.0'', Shinji does in fact manage to pry Unit 03's hands off of 01's neck and for a moment it seems he can at least fight it to a standstill... and then Unit 03 ''sprouts two more arms'', allowing it to pin 01's arms and strangle it at the same time, leaving Shinji ''properly'' helpless.]]

** Oddly, a scene ''like'' the trailer one was included in the final movie... one that just showed her looking at the city at dusk as a flock of birds flew away from the city center. [[TrappedByMountainLions It seems to serve no purpose other than being brief eye candy now.]]

** May just be AlternateCharacterInterpretation, but Gendo [[spoiler:seems awfully insistent about why he activated the dummy plug. "You would have died." Either he's just playing the situation, or [[IDidWhatIHadToDo he's doing what must be done to keep his promise to Yui and to save his son]].]]

** Mari's voice actress--the reknowned MaayaSakamoto--is actually fairly fluent with English and ''finally'' gets to show it off for a major production.

** The songs that play in background music in certain fight scenes had surprisingly good English as well. This troper found this even more surprising because he initially thought that they were sung in ''Latin!''

While ''Rebuild'' is by no means LighterAndSofter (the NightmareFuel remains just as soul-shattering in its intensity and horror as the original, if not more), if the tone of the second movie's ending holds true, this retelling promises '''not''' to be the suicide fuel that the original ''Evangelion'' was. ''Rebuild'' can best be characterized as the original staying on its medication: ultimately no happier than before, but a hell of a lot less unstable.

* FourIsDeath
** The film series seems as though it will consist of four full-length features (rather than the originally-proposed 3), and [[ApocalypseHow considering how]] [[EndOfEvangelion the original ended]], this may not be too wild a theory [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt as to what's gonna happen...]]
** And just like in the original series, Unit-04 blows Nevada clean off the map during its activation test.

* GenerationXerox
** Meta example: Hideaki Anno's career seems to mirror Yoshiyuki Tomino's; deep in depression, they spend a decade making dark, cynical works (''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' and ''Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon'' being respective prime examples) and then, roughly a decade later and having cast off their depression, they go back to create less darker and cynical versions of their previous works (''Rebuild of Evangelion'' and the ''ZetaGundam'' movies).
** Some fans [[EpilepticTrees have theorized]] that the cast is an in-universe example, either figuratively or literally.
* GenreSavvy / NoFourthWall
** [[spoiler:A certain Mr. Nagisa has been dropping a lot of hints that he's either been peeking at the script, or somehow remembers the events of the original series. His intervention to stop Third Impact in particular seems oddly well-timed.[[/spoiler]]
* TheGhost: Averted; for the first time in franchise history, [[http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa305/secondgryphon/Sketches/EVA/Screencaps/r2-19-Sister.jpg we see Toji's little sister in one of the most grin-inducing moments]] in ''Evangelion'' history.
* GlowingEyesOfDoom: [[spoiler:Mari (green)]] and [[spoiler:Shinji (red)]] at the end of ''2.0'', though it barely does [[spoiler:Mari]] any good.
* {{Gorn}}
** [[spoiler:Eva-01 tearing Eva-03 to shreds]] in ''2.0'' pretty much tops everything the original series and ''End of Evangelion'' had to offer in this department. And that's saying a ''lot''.
** The first battle of the new series ends in Unit-01 [[ItMakesSenseInContext walking calmly through a rain of blood so immense]] [[EverythingsBetterWithRainbows it forms a rainbow]]. It may not be brutally gory, but it's beautiful gore.
** Each time an Angel is killed (exception of Ramiel), it bursts into an ocean of blood and gore.
* GratuitousEnglish
** In ''2.0'', Mari, the European NERV officers, and even Kaji speak English in a couple of scenes. While the grammar and structure is pretty good all around, Kaji's accent is ''[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN9GiMFWKPE absolutely awful]]''. It's ''much'' simpler to translate the Japanese subtitles of his English dialogue. The English-speaking NERV commander's baffled expression is unintentionally hilarious, as if he's thinking "Who is this guy, and what the devil is he saying?" Considering that other characters appear to be able to speak fluent English it might have been intentional. Either that or Kaji's VA just really can't speak English.
** The whole "First Child''ren''" thing from the series is totally averted here, since they decided to just go with equivalent Japanese phrases. However, as detailed above, Kaji does say "Third Angels" one time instead.
** The Bethany Base sequence also has Gratuitous ''Russian'' on all the displays, making it very unclear just where the hell it is. [[spoiler:It's in the North Pole, under European Control.]] It's not only labels on displays but also a very quiet Russian voice translating everything that is said while Mari connects to Eva, and it's actually [[SurprisinglyGoodEnglish surprisingly good]].

* [[spoiler:LoveEpiphany]]: Well, in a sense. [[spoiler:Rei describes to Asuka her feelings towards Shinji, which Asuka realizes is love.]] In short, the wrong person has the epiphany.

** While certainly not an extra, [[spoiler:Asuka]] also seems to lose quite a bit of an importance, even in [[spoiler:her absorption of Toji's major plot point]]. [[spoiler:She's]] only a major factor for about half of ''Evangelion 2.0'', at which point [[spoiler:[[PutOnABus she falls into a coma]]]]. Of course, [[spoiler:she'll]] still be present in ''Eva 3.0'' by all appearances, but all the same, her role seems fairly small considering to that in the TV series, even considering her late entrance (which was also true in the TV series, of course).

While ''Rebuild'' is by no means LighterAndSofter (the HighOctaneNightmareFuel remains just as soul-shattering in its intensity and horror as the original, if not more), if the tone of the second movie's ending holds true, this retelling promises '''not''' to be the suicide fuel that the original ''Evangelion'' was. ''Rebuild'' can best be characterized as the original staying on its medication: ultimately no happier than before, but a hell of a lot less unstable.

* KidsRock: Two examples in ''2.0'': "Give Me Wings" (''Tsubasa o Kudasai'') and "Goodbye to These Days" (''Kyou no Hi wa Sayounara''). This either comes of as [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel incredibly creepy]], [[TearJerker heartachingly tragic]], or [[{{Narm}} hilariously inappropriate]].

** Then, cue the Tenth Angel. What happens when TheJuggernaut [[TookALevelInBadass Takes A Few Levels In Badass]]? '''[[OhCrap Zer]][[HighOctaneNightmareFuel uel]]'''. What happens when Shinji starts playing UnstoppableRage even better than Unit-01? [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Thi]][[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming rd]] [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Im]][[HighOctaneNightmareFuel pa]][[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt ct.]]

'''If you choose to continue reading, [[IncrediblyLamePun you can (not) avoid being spoiled]]. YouHaveBeenWarned.'''

** Stilt-Angel's theme sounds plucked right out of ''{{Manga/Bleach}}'' (another soundtrack by Shirow Sagisu).

* ScheduleSlip: Boy howdy. For one thing, the tetralogy was supposed to have been concluded in ''2009''. According to a Summer 2011 interview with one of Gainax's animators, ''3.0'' hadn't even entered ''pre-production'' by then. Now it's slated for release in fall 2012. God knows how long 4.0 will take.
* SchizoTech: Rotary phones and Shinji's tape player exist harmoniously alongside modern laptops and cell phones. The Tape Player is said to be his father's, and it's one of Shinji's last possessions from him [[spoiler:(indeed, Shinji throws it away later when he rejects his father's orders, so he might have kept it as a keepsake rather than it being a common item)]]. Rotary phones require much less power than push button phones (being mechanically powered), and in the resource scarce world after the Second Impact, that would make them useful.

** After Unit-1 goes berserk in 1.0, Shinji can be seen wearing [[{{Anime/FLCL}} Naota's]] 90 Degree shirt.
** In ''2.0'', we're shown the image of [[http://dl.dropbox.com/u/948715/Evangelion/vlcsnap-2010-05-25-06h38m45s143.png a building that looks quite similar to Naota's house.]] It helps that there's a Vespa parked nearby.

* ThemeNaming: the same as the original series, with a partial change (Asuka lost a carrier in her full name).

* WhamEpisode: The second half of ''2.0'' has [[spoiler:Asuka and Unit-3 being mauled (she survives, but is comatose) and Rei being eaten by Zeruel. Shinji then completely gives up on reality, life and himself by becoming ridiculously powerful with his EVA's AT Field. Furthermore, he decides to start the Third Impact to save Rei. It's only with the intervention of Kaworu that the apocalypse is averted, and even then most of the Evangelion Units have been demolished while there are still more Angels to come, with both Shinji and Rei trapped inside EVA-01.]] Given that this is Eva, 3.0 and Final will probably have moments of their own.
* [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic What Do You Mean, It's Not Symbolic?]]: An ''Evangelion'' tradition, well-represented.

** Beginning at the start of 1.0, with ''Sachiel''. For one thing, the standard military hits the opening Angel with LOTS MoreDakka than in the original, and we get a better look at how destructive the N2 Mine is. None of it works. And we also get a shot of the Angel levitating briefly, something it couldn't do before. Finally, although this is more backhanded, Sachiel vs. Eva Unit-01. Yes, Unit-01 still [[CurbStompBattle Curb Stomps]] him. The difference, is that the sequence takes noticeably ''longer'' than it did in the series. Even if Sachiel can't hope to win, he can still [[VillainousValor last a bit longer than before]].

* EldritchAbomination: The technology behind the films has finally evolved to the point where the Angels have graduated from the freaky {{kaiju}} of the television series into truly [[NightmareFuel mind-shattering]], [[AlienGeometries reality-defying]] fiends. They routinely exist simultaneously in multiple states of matter, flicker in and out of our dimension, and fiddle with the variables of E=mc
like a child playing with Lincoln Logs.

** [[spoiler:A certain Mr. Nagisa has been dropping a lot of hints that he's either been peeking at the script, or somehow remembers the events of the original series. His intervention to stop Third Impact in particular seems oddly well-timed.

* HotBlooded: Despite the naysayers, Asuka still has some pretty fiery blood coursing through her veins. And Mari... well, let's just say that she would fit into the cast of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' pretty neatly. To say nothing of Shinji channeling Simon the Digger, [[Anime/GunBuster Noriko]] and even some [[{{Anime/FLCL}} Naota]] in ''2.0''.

* LighterAndSofter: Not that it doesn't have some decidedly dark moments, but so far ''Rebuild'' is most definitely this in comparison to the original series -- the characters angst less and not as emotionally crippled while still having the same base problems as before, and they aren't subjected to quite as much trauma and MindRape that they are in the original (not yet, anyway). Not that being less dark than ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' is particularly difficult.

* TheMissingFaction: [[RuleOfSeven EVA-07]]. Units-00 through 06 are present and accounted for, as is [[spoiler:Unit-08 as of Rebuil 3.0]], but there has yet to be a canoical Unit-07.

* MrExposition: While she was already fairly good with [[MindScrewdriver explaining what the hell was going on]] in the original series, Ritsuko Akagi's role has arguably been reduced to this in ''Rebuild'' due to her [[DemotedToExtra demotion to extra]].
* MsFanservice: ''Rebuild'', being a film series that no child can accidentally see allows Anno to bring-on-the-sexy by the '''truckload''' this time. Rei, Misato and '''especially''' Asuka get a LOT more screentime in extremely {{Nosebleed}} provoking poses and (lack of) clothing. However, they have really stiff new competition in the new Ms. ForeignFanservice, Mari Illustrious Makinami.

** If you watch carefully, you'll notice that [[spoiler:Shinji's SDAT skips to track ''27'', which it never did in the TV show]], just before ''2.0'' goes completely OffTheRails. Even lampshaded by [[spoiler:Shinji's finding it odd.]]

** Sahaqiel's redesign has him looking sort of like [[spoiler:a combination of Matariel and Leliel, neither of whom made an appearance in the movie, before turning into something that more closely resembles his old GiantEyeOfDoom form.]]

* OfficialCouple: Seemingly, [[spoiler: Shinji and Rei]] as of ''Rebuild 2.0.'' '''Seemingly.''' Remember, ''Evangelion'' is a franchise that has never exactly been nice to this trope, and Shinji still doesn't know [[spoiler:that Rei was partially made from his mother's DNA.]]
* OminousLatinChanting: At first impression the music that accompanies angel battles seem to be this, but they're actually in grammatically correct English.

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: That doll Asuka has with her in ''2.0''? [[MythologyGag That's the same one from the original series]], complete with "ASUKA" labeled on it. For some reason, she kept it, even though it was an indirect relation to ''mother's death''. But that's not the main point: AllThereInTheManual states that Asuka talks to it whenever she feels OOC (i.e., [[{{Tsundere}} not her]] FieryRedhead, {{Jerkass}} side, but her ShrinkingViolet side). Considering the direction of ''Rebuild'', that doll may have an entirely new meaning.

Fast forward to 2007: Hideaki Anno is {{happily married}} -- not to mention that he is both as rich as StevenSpielberg and arguably more respected than ever before, by virtue of having created what could damn well be considered the most popular and influential anime franchise of ''the past decade.'' Anno decides to revisit the work that made him famous -- only without the depression influencing the story -- and makes plans to re-tell the story of the ''Evangelion'' saga by giving his ByronicHero cast a second chance ([[PeggySue literally]] [[EpilepticTrees or figuratively]]), making them somewhat more emotionally stable, and actually giving them hope and light at the end of the tunnel. (It doesn't hurt that he's got a massive theatrical budget to help him out.)