Asuka Langley Soryu finally gets the ending she deserves
As die-hard fans of the franchise already know, Hideaki Anno Neon Genesis Evangelion is returning with a new anime from Yoko Taro, the creator of nier and Nier: Automata. This announcement was made during Evangelion’s 30th anniversary event, where enthusiastic attendees were also treated to an exclusive short film about Evangelion Unit-02 pilot Asuka Langley Soryu. At the time, there was little hope that Asuka’s short would be available to the public, especially with Studio Khara cracking down on pirated copies circulating online. That said, there’s reason to be happy for those who missed out on the event exclusive, as it’s currently available to watch on Studio Khara’s official YouTube channel.
The 14-minute, 26-second short is accompanied by an extensive message on the event’s website. It begins with a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended the 30th anniversary event and an acknowledgment that the studio had always “hoped to bring it back to the public in some form.” This leads to the official announcement that the short will be available on Khara’s YouTube channel starting March 8, as the date coincides with the fifth anniversary of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Three times once, the final film in the Reconstruction of Evangelion tetralogy. The message ends with the reiteration that the team has been “making significant efforts to address the spread of illegally recorded and leaked footage of this work on social media.”
The short itself revolves around Asuka Soryu and her Reconstruction of Evangelion universe counterpart, Asuka Shikinami Langley. The two stand on a lit stage, talking about their traumatic experiences, while “Asuka Strikes!” The theme plays in the background. Soryu rightly demands her happy ending and Shikinami suggests sleeping, as waking up could cause a change in her story. This initiates several “what if” scenarios, allowing Soryu to cycle through the possible futures available to him. The short echoes the franchise’s overarching themes of radical self-acceptance, where escapism is rejected in favor of a grounded reality imbued with suffering.
Asuka’s short allows the character to choose her own ending, which is essential within the context of her saga and the many endings of Evangelion. Here’s hoping the next version of Taro can justify its neon genesis and add a meaningful chapter to the franchise’s mythos.
Soruce: polygon.com