So you wanna dive into Neon Genesis Evangelion? Smart move – it's one of the most mind-blowing anime ever made. But man, figuring out where to start with this series? Total nightmare fuel. Original series, director's cut episodes, multiple movie timelines... I remember my first attempt back in college. Spent more time researching the watch order than actually watching. Wound up seeing The End of Evangelion before the TV finale like some kinda heathen. Don't be like college me.
See, the neon genesis evangelion order to watch matters big time. Get it wrong and you'll be more confused than Shinji in a parenting seminar. Get it right? Absolute revelation. After rewatching everything five times (yeah, I'm that guy), I'll save you the trouble. No fluff, no nonsense – just the clearest roadmap you'll find.
Why Evangelion's Watch Order Feels Like Solving a Rubik's Cube
Okay real talk – why's Neon Genesis Evangelion so messy? Blame creator Hideaki Anno. Dude kept changing his mind. Started with a 26-episode TV run in 1995. Budget ran out? Mental health suffering? Both? Anyway, the last two episodes got... abstract. Fans rioted. So Anno made The End of Evangelion films to replace the controversial ending. Then years later he launched the Rebuild movies – same characters, new continuity. It's like Marvel timelines but with more existential dread.
Personal beef time: Studio Khara's marketing didn't help. They released Director's Cut versions of episodes 21-24 bundled with Death(true)² which is actually just clips. Why? Who knows. Even veteran fans debate the ideal neon genesis evangelion viewing order. But after my third rewatch during lockdown (with excessive ramen), I cracked it.
The Core Evangelion Timeline Explained (No PhD Required)
First, ditch the idea of "one true order." There are two separate universes:
Original Universe Timeline
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV Series) - Episodes 1-26 (1995-1996)
- Death & Rebirth (1997) - Skip this! It's mostly recap
- The End of Evangelion (1997) - Actual finale
Rebuild Universe Timeline
- Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)
- Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009)
- Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)
- Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)
Here's where people screw up: The Rebuild movies AREN'T sequels. They're a parallel reboot starting similarly but veering wildly after 2.0. I made that mistake initially – expecting continuity between universes. Felt like showing up to a wedding in swim trunks.
The Definitive Neon Genesis Evangelion Order to Watch
After testing viewing orders on poor unsuspecting friends, here's what works best:
| Viewing Order | What to Watch | Why This Works | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential Beginner Route |
|
Preserves narrative flow while including both endings for full context. Director's Cut episodes fix pacing issues. | ~14 hours |
| Completionist Route |
|
Experience original vision first, then see Anno's reimagined universe. Prepare for tonal whiplash! | ~23 hours |
| What NOT to Do |
|
Rebuilds assume knowledge of original themes. Death is 98% recap. Both endings are necessary for full impact. | N/A |
Hot take: Skip Death & Rebirth entirely. It's a cash-grab recap movie with 10 minutes of new footage awkwardly stapled on. Netflix didn't even license it for their Evangelion drop. My DVD copy? Gathering dust next to my regret over that Hideaki Anno haircut phase.
Where to Actually Find This Stuff in 2023
Streaming options changed everything:
- Netflix - Has original series + EoE + Director's Cut episodes (episodes listed as "Version A" are original, "Version B" are Director's Cut)
- Amazon Prime - All Rebuild movies available for rent/purchase
- Blu-ray - GKIDS released gorgeous box sets but $$$ ($120-300)
Pro tip: Netflix's dub uses new voice actors. Some fans hate this. Personally? Didn't bug me after episode 2.
Breaking Down Each Evangelion Entry
Knowing what each piece contains helps avoid confusion:
Original TV Series (1995-1996)
| Block | Episodes | Key Moments | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment | 1-6 | Shinji meets Eva, iconic battles | Worldbuilding heavy |
| Character Arcs | 7-19 | Asuka's intro, human dramas | Best character writing |
| Turning Point | 20-24 (Director's Cut) | Kaworu's appearance, major deaths | Watch Director's Cut here! |
| Controversial Ending | 25-26 | Psychological introspection | Required viewing despite flaws |
Personal confession: I disliked episodes 25-26 on first watch. Felt like getting blue-balled after 24 episodes. But they grow on you – like mold or Radiohead albums.
The End of Evangelion (1997)
- Runtime: 87 minutes
- Where it fits: Alternate ending replacing episodes 25-26
- Content Warning: Graphic violence, nudity, mental breakdowns
This is where Anno channeled fan hate into art. The infamous hospital scene? Still makes me squirm. But it completes character arcs in ways the TV ending couldn't. Essential viewing, though maybe not during dinner.
Rebuild Movie Timeline Explained
The neon genesis evangelion movie order gets tricky post-2.0:
| Movie Title | Relation to Original | Tone Shift | Viewer Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone | Faithful remake of eps 1-6 | Similar | Beginner-friendly |
| 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance | Diverges after episode 19 | More action-focused | Moderate |
| 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo | Completely new story | Bleak, confusing | Expert level |
| 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time | Conclusion to Rebuilds | Hopeful, meta | Requires all context |
3.0 broke my brain. Time jump? New characters? Shinji's crippling depression dialed to 11? Took two viewings and a YouTube explainer to get it. Still not sure about the giant Rei heads.
Burning Questions About Evangelion Watch Order
Can I skip the original series and just watch Rebuild movies?
Technically yes. Should you? Heck no. Rebuilds constantly reference and subvert expectations from the original. Without that foundation, emotional moments lose impact. It's like watching Avengers: Endgame without seeing Iron Man first.
Why do people argue about watching EoE vs TV ending first?
EoE provides catharsis while the TV ending offers psychological closure. Watching TV ending first makes EoE more impactful. Reverse order ruins the surreal beauty of episodes 25-26. Do both, TV first. Trust me.
Are the Director's Cut episodes mandatory?
For episodes 21-24? Absolutely. Added scenes fix plot holes and enhance character motivations. Netflix labels them as "Version B." Original cuts feel incomplete once you've seen these.
What's the deal with Death(true)2?
Mostly recap with 10 minutes of new footage bridging to EoE. Hardcore completionists watch it before EoE. Casual viewers? Skip it. The new scenes are on YouTube if you're curious.
How different are the Rebuild movies really?
First movie: 95% identical. Second: 70% familiar. Third: Absolute chaos. Fourth: Existential therapy session. They're Anno processing his legacy through new animation tech.
Why This Order Actually Works (From Experience)
I tested watch orders on three newbie friends:
- Friend A (Original series → TV ending → EoE): "Loved how endings complemented each other"
- Friend B (EoE before TV ending): "Episodes 25-26 felt pointless after the movie"
- Friend C (Rebuilds only): "Enjoyed visuals but didn't get why people call it deep"
See? Order changes everything. The genius of Evangelion emerges from seeing Anno's evolving perspective across decades. Skip steps and you miss the conversation.
Real Talk for Rewatchers: If it's your second time through, flip the script! Try Rebuilds first, then original series. Spotting the divergences becomes a wild meta-game. Caught 37 new foreshadowing moments doing this. Might've developed a problem.
Final Checklist Before You Start
Quick reference for your journey:
- ☑ Watch episodes 1-20 original version
- ☑ Switch to Director's Cut for episodes 21-24
- ☑ Watch original TV ending (episodes 25-26)
- ☑ Experience The End of Evangelion
- ☑ Take 48-hour mental break (seriously)
- ☑ Begin Rebuild movies in numerical order
- ☑ Have existential crisis (optional but likely)
Look, finding the perfect neon genesis evangelion order to watch feels like defusing a bomb sometimes. But get it right? Pure magic. That moment when Cruel Angel's Thesis kicks in during episode 1? Chills every time. Even after all these years.
Whatever order you pick, just start. Some of us would kill to experience this madness fresh again. And when you hit episode 19? Message me. We'll need to talk.
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