Criterion Channel announces the highly anticipated premiere of Neon Genesis Evangelion on September 1st

Director Hideaki Anno’s classic anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion will premiere on the Criterion Channel on September 1. The streaming platform confirmed the arrival of the production, which is a milestone in the history of Japanese animation for subscribers.

An immersion in the acclaimed plot of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the story of Neon Genesis Evangelion follows teenagers who pilot giant Multipurpose Decisive Humanoid Weapons, known as Evangelions. The goal is to protect humanity from enigmatic beings called Angels. The plot, which begins as an intense action spectacle, deepens into an introspective exploration of themes such as identity, trauma, loneliness and the complexity of human connections, according to Criterion’s description of the groundbreaking work. “Evangelion’s” cultural importance lies in its ability to transcend the mecha genre, delivering a complex narrative that questions the human condition itself, solidifying its legacy as one of anime’s most influential works.

The Criterion Channel catalog will include the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series, released between 1995 and 1996. In addition to the episodes, the films The End of Evangelion, from 1997, and Evangelion Death (True)², from 1998, will also be available to the public.

All three titles will be presented through North American distributor GKIDS.

For fans of the work, the 26-episode series will be available in both its original Japanese version and the classic English dub, marking the first time that the latter option will be accessible on a streaming service.

Other notable animations in the Criterion Channel catalog

In addition to Neon Genesis Evangelion, the Criterion Channel offers other notable productions from the anime universe. Among the available titles, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, The Garden of Words and K-On! The Movie, expanding the options for genre enthusiasts on the platform.