After months of teasers, GKIDS has finally revealed its long-awaited 11-disc Neon Genesis Evangelion "Ultimate Edition" box set.
The $275 package includes the original 1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, as well as the films EVANGELION: Death (True)² and The End of Evangelion. In addition to the modern English dub and the newly redone subtitles that were used in the most recent Netflix streaming release of the series, the box set will also include the classic 90's dub and subtitles that were originally produced by the now-defunct anime distributor ADV. The series will be packaged in a rigid-board box featuring art work that was previously only seen on the Japan-only Laserdisc releases of the original show. This art will also be printed on 11 12x12" art boards. The box set will also include a 156-page art book that features promotional art work from across the series' 26 year history, as well as episode credits and summaries. Finally, the Ultimate Edition will include a lanyard with ID card holder that recreates the NERV ID cards used by the characters in the show, and a paperweight modeled after Sachiel, the 3rd Angel which Shinji fights during the first episode of the show.
The Ultimate Edition can be preordered with a special pre-sale discount for $275.00 through GKIDS' online store. Fans who try to pick up the box set after the pre-order period ends on Dec. 7 will have to pay the full retail price for $349.99. Only 5000 sets of the Ultimate Edition will be made.
Neon Genesis Evangelion was originally released in 1995 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon in Japan. The series is widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed and influential anime of all time. Following two highly controversial endings, the first being the final episode of the show and the second appearing in the movie The End of Evangelion, the series received a semi-reboot, semi-sequel in the form of the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series. The last film in the series, Evangelion 3.0+1.01: Thrice Upon A Time, recently made its international debut on Amazon Prime Video. Series creator and director Hideaki Anno says that Thrice Upon A Time will be his final work on the franchise, though he has hinted that the series may continue without him at the helm.
In addition to the anime series and films, Evangelion has expanded into a multi-million dollar franchise that features multiple manga adaptations, video games, collectible figures, clothing lines, and basically every form of branded merchandise imaginable, from shaving razors to cars.
Evangelion 3.0+1.01: Thrice Upon A Time is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The previous three films in the Rebuild of Evangelion series are also streaming on the service. The original 1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, as well as its two follow-up movies, are all available for streaming on Netflix in North America.
Source: GKIDS
