New Evangelion Anime Short Amasses Over 2.7 Million Views in 1st 24 Hours

A Landmark Streaming Event for Evangelion Fans

Studio Khara recently delivered a highly anticipated online experience with the official streaming of the "Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening" anime short. This particular streaming event served as a celebration for the fifth anniversary of the film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time. The digital release captured immediate widespread attention from the global fanbase. The short film, which places the character Asuka at its center, first debuted at a major festival in February before its subsequent availability online.

The Short Film's Explosive Digital Debut

Upon its streaming debut on a recent Sunday, the "Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening" anime short quickly garnered an impressive viewership. Within just 24 hours of its release, the short had accumulated an astounding 2,750,058 views, with this count continuing to rise rapidly. The short also inspired significant fan engagement, collecting nearly 13,000 comments from viewers. These comments frequently featured fans reminiscing about their experiences watching the original Neon Genesis Evangelion television series during its initial run. A prominent topic of discussion among the comments centered on the short's unique premise, specifically its portrayal of two distinct versions of Asuka: Asuka Langley Soryu from the original television series and Asuka Langley Shikinami from the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. This dual appearance resonated deeply with long-time followers of the franchise.

Creative Minds Behind the Special Screening

The "Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening" was initially announced by Studio Khara in December 2025. The creation of this significant short film involved key figures from the Evangelion franchise. Series creator Hideaki Anno served in multiple crucial capacities, taking on the roles of planner, scriptwriter, and chief supervisor for the project. The direction of the short was handled by Naoyuki Asano, who previously held the position of animation director for the critically acclaimed film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time. Further artistic oversight was provided by a team of supervisors. Kazuya Tsurumaki contributed as a supervisor. Shinji Higuchi, a director and storyboard artist for Evangelion 1.0, Evangelion 2.0, Evangelion 3.0, and Evangelion 3.0+1.0, also joined the supervisory team. Ikki Todoroki, who was an assistant chief director for Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time, completed the list of supervisors, bringing extensive experience to the production.

Celebrating Evangelion's Legacy at the Festival

The "Evangelion 30th Anniversary Special Screening" first premiered as part of a larger event, the "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival. This grand celebration unfolded over a Japanese holiday weekend from February 21 to February 23. During the festival's final stage program, the staff expressed their hope and intention to release the special short film to a wider audience again in some capacity, a wish that has now come to fruition with the recent streaming. The festival itself took place at the renowned Yokohama Arena, a fitting venue for such a significant gathering of fans and creators.

Unveiling Future Endeavors and Live Performances

The "Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion" festival was not only a look back at the franchise's rich history but also a glimpse into its future. A significant announcement made during the festival was the reveal of a brand-new Evangelion series, sparking considerable excitement among attendees. Musical performances were also a highlight of the event. Yoko Takahashi, widely recognized as the singer of the iconic opening theme song for the Neon Genesis Evangelion television series, delivered a special "Eva Fes Ver." performance. This rendition was part of the upcoming "Back to Neon Genesis" concerts scheduled for this spring. The festival concluded on a Monday with a diverse array of programs. These included a preview of the Kabuki Kokyokyoku Dai Kyu-ban Evangelion stage production, which translates to Kabuki Symphony No. 9 Evangelion. The grand finale of the festival was a full screening of the film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time, providing a comprehensive closing experience for all participants. The information regarding these events and the special screening's online release was sourced directly from Studio Khara's YouTube channel.