What’s with all of the remakes? Kanon is almost here (27 days and counting!), a new Kiminozo project is in the works, Shuffle (of all things) is getting a Director’s Cut, and now, more Neon Genesis Evangelion?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t say Evangelion is special to me as an anime fan - it’s sort of what got me rolling in the wrong direction, after all - but it’s been several years since I last watched the show, and will likely be just as many years yet before I watch it again. Out of sight, out of mind. Still, I can’t help but feel a little excited about this announcement.

I’ve always gotten a kick out of Shinji’s “alternate reality” from the end of the TV series, which was later expanded upon in the Girlfriend of Steel manga and games, a clever repurposing of the Eva franchise that I’ve always hoped to see animated at some point. Unfortunately, GAINAX never delivered on that front, and instead milked their cash cow with one remastered release of the original series after another - something that never really interested me, to be honest, since I’ve always thought the budget, arthouse, “splice the film together with duct tape” feel of the original production is a big part of what makes Eva special. Now, however, GAINAX is promising new material, giving me new hope the Girlfriend of Steel continuity may finally be animated in some form.

Or not. It’s not clear at this point what GAINAX intends to do. Will these new films take place in the original continuity? Will it be the Girlfriend of Steel continuity? Some amalgamation of the two? Something entirely different? I don’t know. Deep down, however, I think I’ll be satisfied no matter what continuity they choose. Even after all these years, I feel the Eva universe and the characters who call it home deserve a second look. My fondest memories of Eva are found within.

Of course, if this new project is indeed an expansion on the original continuity, I offer my condolences to all of the Eva fanboys out there who thought they finally had the show figured out.