Written by: Chahat R.S. Rathour - 24018, Grade IX
Posted on: 16 January, 2023
This, by any means, is not a review. Rather, it’s just my personal opinion or just some simple thoughts on Evangelion’s ending, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. And of course, there’s going to be a lot of spoilers, for the main series and as well as the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. Thrice Upon A Time is a Japanese science fiction film co-directed, written and produced by the one and only Hideaki Anno. Anno is the man responsible for the whole series of Evangelion and has earned a fair amount of love, hate and respect from fans all over the world for his work on Eva. Produced by Studio Khara, Thrice Upon A Time is the fourth and final film in the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, part of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. Even though the “Rebuild” series started out as remakes of the original series, it diverted into telling stories of their own. Although somewhat connected to the main plot, the “Rebuild” series do have the “originality”. It was shown as if the film series was a completely different story that moved the past events of the show into a completely unexplored new territory. Thrice Upon A Time brings the long-delayed, highly anticipated tetralogy to a close with a bold, messy, uplifting and emotional film that expands complements upon what came before, while giving fans a fitting and a remarkable close not only to the film series but also the whole “Evangelion” series.
Evangelion throughout the years has had people confused, emotional while also spreading entertainment and empathy from its amazing works. As a person who has completed this series and continued the journey from the first step, I could say why people have had this in their hearts, maintaining its position as one of their favorites. I remember the first time watching Evangelion. It was mysterious. It bewildered me, my thoughts and emotions were puzzled everywhere while it also perplexed my imaginations. The whole saga of children, angels and giant mecha-robots ‘Evas’ threw my whole imagination of the show. After even rewatching the show multiple times, I thought it was merely nothing more than a simple mecha show about kids fighting enemies. No, it was something more. It had something even greater. It wasn’t just any mecha show having kids with absurd superpowers using it to defend themselves and the world. Thrice Upon A Time is a show that reflected me. It made me relate to the characters. How the characters learned about each other, their life, learned how to grow together and also accepting themselves for who they are. It made me know and learn about mental health issues. The problems one has at their teen age, their puberty. Not everything has a perfect solution and yeah, it’s fine. You just learn to live with it. Eva was a passionate way for one man to lay his raw emotions and ideas out there. It’s a story about a broken man and his journey to solace or simply comfort. Thrice Upon A Time does really feel like a story that Anno wanted to tell all those years ago. This is a story that is consistent with everything that came before, while also justifying its existence by adding something essential to this franchise, closure. It’s a rebuild that comments and enhances the experience of watching “Neon Genesis Evangelion” while telling a compelling story of its own. Where many franchises end with a wave of nostalgia meant to leave fans craving for more, this movie ends with a reaffirming wish to go out into the world and not look back.
Evangelion is probably a series that will stick with me for the rest of my life, but growing up and moving out of Eva isn’t so difficult. The whole series made me feel things that I never felt. The raw emotions sent by Anno roaring throughout myself made me realize who I really was, who I really am and who I really will be. Thrice Upon A Time is Hideaki Anno providing closure not only to himself or the series, but also to every and any one who had been a part of the journey throughout the last 26 years of its release. Although I had just recently completed the series, the nostalgia that wasn’t supposed to hit, had struck me. Evangelion is finally finished and may it never come back. Goodbye and thank you to all of Evangelion, and also to all the children who grew up with the series, a big congratulations.
