'Neon Genesis Evangelion' Releases New 'Cruel Angel Thesis' Video

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most influential anime to release in the last few decades, as its popularity changed the way science fiction stories were told through the medium.

Not only was it chock full of memorable imagery, the series' theme song is still one of the most popular anime theme songs among fans. So this official video combining the series' imagery with its theme song, Shiro Sagisu's "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," is one of the coolest trips down memory lane.

Despite its darker tone and theme, Neon Genesis Evangelion has become one of the most fruitful properties when it comes to merchandising. Recent examples include a bullet train bearing the images of the characters, and even a full fashion line based on the styles of the series. Those are just the recent examples too as the series has been put on everything from napkin and tissue dispensers to razor blades.

Although the fourth movie has been in development for quite some time, fans haven't had many updates on it as the years pass and pile up. But there has been some hope as the studio behind the project, Studio Khara, recently updated fans on the film with a confirmation that the film was still in the works.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a psychological drama by way of giant monster versus mech anime. The franchise debuted as a television series in 1995-1996 with two films following in 1997. Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth is an one-part drastically abridged retelling of the first 24 episodes of the television series, and one part new animation. The End of Evangelion, the second film, would incorporate some of Death & Rebirth's original animation and offer an alternate take on the original series' controversial final two episodes.

The series follows Shinji Ikari, who is recruited by his father to pilot the giant mech Evangelion in the fight against giant monsters known as Angels in the futuristic city of Tokyo-3. But Shinji is unwilling to bear this huge responsibility and is often conflicted about taking part in a war he was dragged into. This conflict of emotions leads to many introspective episodes that cover the range of religious, philosophical, and existential concepts.

This has also meant that series fans have eventually made a joke out of Shinji's refusal to pilot with the often uttered, "Get in the robot, Shinji." The series itself is known for its first abrupt finale during its first broadcast run featuring a complete collapse of its world.