Anime Fantasy

Netflix to Stream Evangelion Series, Death & Rebirth, End of Evangelion Films Next Spring

Netflix announced during its Anime Lineup Presentation event on Tuesday that it will begin streaming Hideaki Anno and Gainax's Neon Genesis Evangelion television anime, as well as the Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth and Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion films, next spring globally. Netflix's announcement does not mention if the original English dub from the ADV Films release will be included.

Netflix describes the anime:

A.D. 2015. Tokyo 3 is under attack by powerful creatures known as the Angels. The protagonist, Shinji Ikari, is chosen to pilot the Humanoid Decisive Weapon Evangelion -- the only way for humanity to fight against the Angels. The battle for the fate of humanity starts now. What exactly are the Angels? What fate awaits the young pilots and humanity itself?

The original anime and films are some of the most influential and critically acclaimed works in the history of the medium, but has long remained out of print and unavailable in North America. ADV Films' last release of the anime was the "Platinum Edition" DVDs in 2004 and 2005. The company shut down in 2009.

The franchise has inspired numerous spinoffs, merchandise, and collaborations. Anno, the director of the anime, founded Studio Khara in 2006. He and the studio began producing a new tetralogy of films titled Rebuild of Evangelion, which reinterprets the events in the series. The tetralogy began with Evangelion: 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone in 2007, followed by Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance and Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo in 2009 and 2012, respectively. Shin Evangelion Gekijō-ban :|| (Evangelion: 3.0+1.0), the final film, is currently in production.

Source: Press release