Overview
EVANGELION:3.0 (-46h) matters as a compact piece of connective storytelling rather than a standalone replacement for a feature. This finished 11-minute OVA provides new footage set before Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, with Midori Kitakami at its center. Its short runtime makes it an unusually focused addition to the Evangelion experience, offering a glimpse of the people and pressures surrounding a larger science-fiction conflict without asking the viewer to commit to another full-length film.
The appeal is in its concentrated mood and unusual balance of intensity and personality. Survival, post-apocalyptic tension, mecha action, and super-robot spectacle give the episode a sharp genre identity, while its female protagonist and flashes of dancing suggest a more personal and playful texture than a purely military interlude. It is best approached as a brisk companion work for viewers already interested in the Rebuild setting, especially those who enjoy supplementary material that adds atmosphere and perspective. Newcomers can appreciate its concise presentation and action-oriented premise, but the prequel framing and place in the Evangelion timeline make it more approachable after Evangelion: 3.0 than as a first introduction.
Synopsis
EVANGELION:3.0 (-46h) is an 11-minute anime OVA set before the events of Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo. It focuses on Midori Kitakami, placing her in the post-apocalyptic world that frames this period of the Evangelion story. With its emphasis on survival, science-fiction action, and super-robot spectacle, the episode offers a brief character-centered view of life under conditions shaped by catastrophe.
Midori is the central figure, and the people and forces around her form the immediate context for her struggle. Rather than presenting a separate full-length adventure, the OVA concentrates on a narrow episode in the lead-up to the larger film, using Midori’s perspective to show the tension between ordinary human concerns and the dangerous reality surrounding Evangelion operations. Its primary conflict comes from trying to endure and act within a damaged world where mecha warfare and the aftermath of disaster remain inseparable from daily life. The short format keeps the focus on atmosphere, character presence, and a contained burst of action, while leaving the major developments of Evangelion: 3.0 unexplained.
Trailer
Should You Watch It?
Watch it if you enjoy
- Watch if you already follow the Rebuild of Evangelion films and want added context before Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.
- Choose it for a brisk blend of survival tension, mecha action, and a character-focused view of Midori Kitakami.
It may not suit you if
- It may not suit newcomers seeking a self-contained Evangelion story, since it is a prequel companion to a larger film continuity.
- Its 11-minute runtime delivers a contained glimpse rather than a full-length adventure or replacement for the main films.
The primary starting work is a single OVA, so watching it in full is the natural Volluble Test Drive.
Why It Connects With Audiences
Why people love it
- Viewers may enjoy its concentrated atmosphere of post-apocalyptic pressure and science-fiction action.
- Midori’s perspective and touches of personality, including dancing, give the supplementary story a more personal texture than a purely military interlude.
Common criticisms
- The short format may leave limited room for broader character development or sustained world-building.
- Because it functions as bonus footage, its appeal depends on interest in the Rebuild setting and its place before Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo.
Volluble DNA
A quick profile of the title’s dominant storytelling ingredients.
Characters and Voice Actors5 characters
Midori Kitakami
Main character- Japanese: Mariya Ise
Asuka Langley Souryuu
Supporting character- Japanese: Yuuko Miyamura
Sumire Nagara
Supporting character- Japanese: Sayaka Oohara
Hideki Tama
Supporting character- Japanese: Anri Katsu
Mari Makinami Illustrious
Background character- Japanese: Maaya Sakamoto
Production and Staff26 credits
View all 14 additional credits
Production Background
EVANGELION:3.0 (-46h) is an original anime OVA rather than an adaptation of a manga or other published source. The one-episode production runs for approximately 11 minutes and functions as a prequel to Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, presenting events set before that film and focusing on Midori Kitakami. Its production is tied directly to the Rebuild of Evangelion film project. The related feature was written and chief-directed by Hideaki Anno and produced by Studio Khara, establishing the studio and creative context in which this short was released.
The short was not introduced as a standalone theatrical feature. It was created as new bonus footage for the Blu-ray and DVD release of EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME, where it appeared alongside other supplemental material connected to the Rebuild films. The home-video package listed EVANGELION:3.0 (-46h) among its newly produced special videos, giving the OVA a release path through the concluding film's physical edition rather than a separate cinema run. Its release date was March 8, 2023, and the release was described as marking the second anniversary of the initial theatrical release of Shin Evangelion Movie. As a compact, character-focused prequel, the OVA expands the setting around Evangelion: 3.0 without functioning as a remake or replacement for that feature.
Franchise Context
EVANGELION:3.0 (-46h) is a short OVA set before Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, the third film in the four-part Rebuild of Evangelion series. It is therefore a prequel and supplementary entry rather than the beginning of the franchise or a remake of the original television series. Its focus on Midori Kitakami places the story alongside the established film continuity while expanding events that precede the third installment.
The OVA is new anime footage associated with the home-video release of Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time, the concluding Rebuild film. It was included among the release's bonus features, alongside other material connected with the Rebuild project. As a single, 11-minute episode, this entry functions as a compact side story and context piece for the later film sequence, not as a standalone franchise or a separate adaptation. Viewers looking for the main narrative should treat it as an optional companion to Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo and the wider Rebuild continuity.
Where This Fits in Neon Genesis Evangelion
A spoiler-light guide to where this exact work fits within the broader Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise.
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Step 1
For the clearest Rebuild of Evangelion setup, watch the earlier entries in the film sequence before starting this short OVA.
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Step 2
Place EVANGELION:3.0 (-46h) immediately before Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, since it is a prequel to that film.
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Step 3
Continue with Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, followed by Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.
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Step 4
This 11-minute OVA is optional bonus material rather than a replacement for the main films, and can be skipped without losing the core viewing path.
Franchise Path
- Optional Rebuild companion: watch this short OVA immediately before Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, which it precedes in the film continuity.
After You Finish
Continue with
- Continue with Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, then complete the Rebuild sequence with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.
Community Verdict
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