Neon Genesis Evangelion
The series sheet covers the TV series and The End of Evangelion. Rebuild’s individual films are shown in this guide.
When to watch: Use the original series → End of Evangelion block first.
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animesenseiEvangelion Watch Order: Original Series & Rebuild Movies
Follow the Evangelion watch order: 26 TV episodes, The End of Evangelion and four Rebuild films, with spoiler-free guidance on recaps and editions.
Start here
Recommended starting point
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Start with all 26 episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Watch the director’s-cut versions of episodes 21–24 if your service offers them, then The End of Evangelion. Keep episodes 25–26 in your first watch; no recap movie is required before the series.
Recommended watch order
For a first watch, complete the original TV series and The End of Evangelion, then watch the four Rebuild films in release order. Keep the TV finale rather than replacing it with a movie. Rebuild is a different telling that develops its own path, not four extra TV episodes.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
All 26 episodes; director’s cuts of 21–24 if available
Watch the original series in episode order, including its TV ending. The director’s cuts expand existing episodes; they are not extra seasons.
The End of Evangelion
The complete 1997 film
Watch after the TV series. It provides another presentation of the ending rather than being a recap or a reason to skip episodes 25–26.
Evangelion: 1.0 / 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
Rebuild film 1 of 4 — choose one version
Start the separate Rebuild telling after the original series and film. 1.0, 1.01 and 1.11 are versions of this first film.
Evangelion: 2.0 / 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance
Rebuild film 2 of 4 — choose one version
Continue after the first Rebuild film. 2.0 and 2.22 are editions of the same installment.
Evangelion: 3.0 / 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo
Rebuild film 3 of 4 — choose one version
Continue in release order. 3.0, 3.33 and 3.333 are versions of this installment, not three sequels.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 / 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time
Rebuild film 4 of 4 — choose one version
Complete the four-film Rebuild cycle. 3.0+1.0 and its revised editions are the fourth film, distinct from the third film 3.0.
How the series connect
Original series and Rebuild: two viewing blocks
The main route completes the original story first, then follows Rebuild. Early similarities do not make the later films substitutes for particular TV episodes.
Evangelion: 1.0 / 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
The first film introduces its own retelling. Later numbered editions refine the same installment.
When to watch: After The End of Evangelion in the recommended first-watch route.
Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 / 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time
The last film of the four-part Rebuild cycle; the “+1.0” in its title matters.
When to watch: After the third Rebuild film, never as a substitute for it.
Death & Rebirth and recap editions
These releases are optional for a viewer who has seen the full TV series. The complete End of Evangelion film is still the ending film in the recommended route.
Evangelion: Death & Rebirth
Death recaps the TV story, while Rebirth contains an early, incomplete presentation of part of the ending film. The later Death(true)² version is a revised recap.
When to watch: Optional after the TV series, before The End of Evangelion. You can skip it and watch the complete ending film directly.
An optional Rebuild companion short
This later home-video extra is outside the six-step main route. Finish the film cycle before exploring it on a first watch.
Evangelion: 3.0 (-46h)
A short associated with the third Rebuild film, released after the four-film cycle. It is not a fifth Rebuild film.
When to watch: After all four Rebuild films for a first watch; optional for a rewatch of the third film.
Good to know
What is the Evangelion watch order for a first watch?
Neon Genesis Evangelion, all 26 episodes → The End of Evangelion → Rebuild films 1.0/1.11 → 2.0/2.22 → 3.0/3.33 → 3.0+1.0/3.0+1.01. Pick one edition of each film.
Should I skip episodes 25 and 26 and watch End of Evangelion instead?
No. Watch the full TV series first, including episodes 25–26, then the film. This preserves both presentations without needing a spoiler-heavy explanation in advance.
Do I need Death & Rebirth or Death(true)²?
No, if you watch the full TV series. They include recap material, and Rebirth does not replace the complete End of Evangelion. They are optional before the ending film.
Are the Rebuild movies sequels to individual TV episodes?
Treat them as a separate four-film telling. Start with the first Rebuild film and follow release order rather than interleaving movies with episodes of the original series.
What do 1.11, 2.22, 3.33 and 3.0+1.01 mean?
They identify revised editions of their respective films. You need four Rebuild installments, not every decimal-numbered version. Use an available revised edition without watching its earlier cut again.
What are the Evangelion director’s-cut episodes?
Expanded versions of TV episodes 21–24. Choose those if available, then continue to episodes 25–26. They are not a separate sequel or four episodes to add to the series total.
Can I start with Rebuild instead of the TV series?
The films provide their own entry point, but this guide recommends the original TV series and The End of Evangelion first. That order gives context for the later retelling without discussing its plot surprises.
Does this route include every short or announced Evangelion project?
No. It focuses on the original series, its ending film and the completed four-film Rebuild cycle, with selected optional extras. Promotional, anniversary and announced projects are not additional required chapters of that route.
Updates
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