Evangelion 30th Anniversary Festival Opens as 15 Cast Members Reunite

The Evangelion 30th Anniversary pageant has formally begun, celebrating three a long time of the enduring anime franchise. The occasion titled EVANGELION 30+ 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION opened in the present day on the twenty first at Yokohama Arena, the place it would run via the twenty third. On the primary day, 15 friends together with voice actors Megumi Ogata, Megumi Hayashibara, and Yuko Miyamura, together with director Hideaki Anno, took the stage to thunderous applause from followers.

Following a reside efficiency of the theme track A Cruel Angel’s Thesis by Yoko Takahashi, the solid appeared earlier than an viewers crammed with followers waving cross formed penlights impressed by imagery from the collection. Ogata regarded out on the venue and joked concerning the overwhelming sight, saying she was stunned by the extreme shapes of the lights, evaluating them humorously to gravestones standing in every single place. She added, “From those who watched the series 30 years ago to those who recently became fans, I am so happy we can celebrate together. Thank you for 30 years.”

Hayashibara mirrored on the size of the three day occasion, saying it made her understand simply how vital Evangelion has been in anime historical past. She expressed pleasure at reuniting with fellow solid members who hardly ever collect collectively, whereas additionally acknowledging those that couldn’t attend and senior colleagues who proceed to observe over the franchise.

During the discuss phase, Hayashibara shared a memorable fan interplay. Despite being a self-proclaimed meat lover, she as soon as mentioned the road “I do not eat meat,” which led somebody near her to comment, “You are not Rei Ayanami.” She admitted it shocked her on the time, however now she remembers it fondly.

The occasion additionally featured playful exchanges of well-known traces from the collection. After Kotono Mitsuishi opened with “Service, service” in reference to her character Misato Katsuragi, Fumihiko Tachiki and Koichi Yamadera adopted with traces related to the franchise, drawing laughter and applause from the gang.

When requested about recollections from the earliest recording periods, Akira Ishida mirrored that he wished he had commented extra enthusiastically concerning the opening theme on the time. He joked about feeling not sure methods to current himself when becoming a member of a manufacturing whose world had already been firmly established. Ogata responded with Shinji Ikari’s well-known line, “I think you should smile,” prompting heat laughter from the viewers.

Yuko Miyamura spoke a couple of highly effective scene involving Asuka Langley Soryu, admitting there are moments she nonetheless finds too painful to rewatch. She recalled Asuka’s decided cry about understanding the that means of the AT Field, adopted by a devastating flip of occasions. Anno quipped that the sequence was dealt with by Kazuya Tsurumaki, drawing extra laughter.

Introducing himself as the chief director of Evangelion, Anno acquired resounding applause. I’ve expressed deep gratitude {that a} tv collection created 30 years in the past might develop right into a franchise able to internet hosting such a big scale celebration. He additionally paid tribute to the late Motomu Kiyokawa, noting it was the one remorse that he couldn’t be current.

Regarding the 30 yr milestone, Anno humbly remarked that as a creator he focuses on giving his all in each second. He revealed that he had been working till 6 am on a model new quick anime venture associated to the franchise and had not slept. Confidently, I’ve assured followers that the brand new work is shaping as much as be one thing thrilling and requested them to sit up for it.

Additional stage members included Maaya Sakamoto, Yuriko Yamaguchi, Tetsuya Iwanaga, Junko Iwao, Miki Nagasawa, and Yuki Hiro.

The anniversary pageant commemorates 30 years for the reason that 1995 tv broadcast of Neon Genesis Evangelion. As the fruits of ongoing anniversary tasks persevering with via 2025, the occasion provides exhibitions, stage applications, merchandise, screenings of a brand new quick anime, and even the primary kabuki adaptation of Evangelion. It is designed as a grand celebration for the followers who’ve supported the collection over three a long time.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is about in a world attacked by mysterious beings identified as Angels. The story follows teenage pilots who function the multipurpose humanoid weapon Evangelion as humanity’s final line of protection. The authentic tv collection aired from 1995 to 1996. Beginning in 2007, the franchise relaunched with the Rebuild of Evangelion movie collection. The movies Evangelion 1.0 You Are Not Alone, Evangelion 2.0 You Can Advance, and Evangelion 3.0 You Can Redo have been main hits, culminating within the 2021 finale Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, which surpassed 10 billion yen on the Japanese field workplace.

Source: ORICON NEWS