With Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time making its debut on Amazon Prime Video, people are wondering if you need to see the other films and the original series before they watch it. After all, just the title alone is enough to make those unfamiliar with the franchise wonder where it fits into things. Since this film is the end of the Rebuild of Evangelion series and ostensibly the franchise itself, now is an excellent time to experience one of the most influential works to ever come out of Japan, and we’ll go into what viewers should watch before seeing Evangelion 3.0+1.0 below.
Do I need to watch the other Evangelion movies and the anime before Evangelion 3.0+1.0?
Since Evangelion 3.0+1.0 is the fourth film in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, watching the previous three first is essential. Evangelion can be surreal and confusing, and it’s not a series that handholds its audience. Those who want to have any clue what is going on in Evangelion 3.0+1.0 must watch:
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone (aka Evangelion 1.11)Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (aka Evangelion 2.22)
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (aka Evangelion 3.33)
The confusing part for most people will be whether they need to watch the Evangelion anime series before Rebuild of Evangelion. Unfortunately, that’s a more complicated question than one would think.
Personally, we would include the Neon Evangelion Genesis anime and the alternate ending, End of Evangelion, along with the other movies in our watch order to prep for 3.0+1.0. However, the Rebuild of Evangelion series does start with a retelling of the first part of the anime in 1.0, but then veers way off course in 2.0.
Viewers will better appreciate the series and the changes that come with Rebuild by watching the original anime, but in a pinch, watching just the movies will suffice. These will also be available to stream for the first time on Amazon Prime Video.
