Originally Released July 19, 1997 A.D. Tokyo.

The End of Evangelion consists of two parts like the Death & Rebirth movie. The first part actually is the "Rebirth" part of the first movie, which is shown again. The second part "Air/My purest heart for you" is the final chapter.

Air (Love Is Destructive)

Misato talks to Asuka for a last time via cellular phone and tells her to destroy the EVA series to prevent the Third Impact, before she drags Shinji along to EVA-01's hangar. Asuka takes out her full battle fury on the EVA series who seem to be superior to EVA-02 but lack the combat experience of Asuka. As Misato and Shinji arrive at the hangar-hatch, Misato is injured in a gunfight. She gives Shinji last instructions and an "adult" kiss before she parts with her last words: "We continue the next time when this all is over". Just when the hatch closes Shinji realizes that his mouth is full with Misato's blood - that there will be no next time at all.

In the meanwhile Asuka makes excellent progress - even with only 5 minutes combat time she trashes all 9 EVA series. However just as she strikes down the last EVA a longinus spear appears out of nowhere and pierces her eye. As this wasn't enough her power suppy depletes and she becomes unable to move.

Gendou and Rei head for the Terminal Dogma where Lilith hangs on the cross. There they meet Ritsuko who tries to self-destruct the NERV base but is betrayed by her own computer - Casper. Gendou, pointing his gun at her tells her how much he loved her but Ritsuko only replies: "Liar" before Gendou shoots her. Back outside Shinji finally manned EVA-01 and sees what happened to Asuka - the EVA series had revived and torn Asuka apart, eating what remained of EVA-02. Screaming in horror Shinji meets the incoming EVA series.

For You, My Pure Heart (I Need You)

Instead of attacking EVA-01 however the EVA-Series form a strange formation around it and the longinus spear appears in front of EVA-01. Soon it becomes clear - the Evangelions are forming a tree of life - the Third Impact finally began. A cataclysmic explosion engulfs Japan and parts of Korea.

In the meanwhile Gendou orders Rei to take him into Lilith, but she refuses and goes into Lilith alone - Gendou's last chance to control the Impact vaporizes. As Rei and Lilith merge a new huge creature is born, which floats towards the sky.

The new creature, who looks like a giant Rei rises and holds EVA-01 with its hands. Now the whole planet is engulfed in a multi-colored fire as all human souls leave their bodies, which dissolve into L.C.L. During this transition to the metaphysical, people's dreams merge with reality. Gendou's last words before he dissolves are "I am sorry Shinji". All the souls float towards the giant Rei and are absorbed - there will be no more strangers in the world as the new mankind will be one being.

The giant Rei begins to explain the nature of mankind's existance to Shinji. Rei points out the lack of dreams in reality and mankind's search for identity in a sea full of other strangers. She shows Shinji what it means to grow up, which also involves the longing for the opposite sex. EVA-01 (and Shinji) are the last to be absorbed by the giant Rei, but EVA-01 breaks free of Rei, leaving a gushing would on the creature, where the souls float out of Rei again. The giant creature falls apart and EVA-01 (along with the longinus spear) float away into the depths of the universe.

Shinji awakens on the beach of a desolate world. Parts of the giant creature are scattered across the landscape, which is illuminated by a strange red light. To his surprise a wounded Asuka lies beside him on the beach. He starts to strangle her again, still frustrated that she always kept refusing him. This time however Asuka doesn't hit Shinji for it but caresses him. Perhaps she has finally learned to show her feelings - indeed she feels sick doing that - her words "I feel sick" conclude the movie, which leaves this final scene open for interpretation, but it seems like Shinji and Asuka became the new Adam and Eve of a new generation of mankind (or are they just the only survivors of the Impact?).

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