Shinji gets a second chance, and the film burns it all down anyway. The animation doesn't just look better than the original, it rewrites what Eva pilots suffering actually looks like, frame by frame. This is what happens when a director decides the story you thought you knew was only the setup for something far more cruel.

Humanity's war against the monstrous Angels intensifies, and the burden once carried by young Eva pilots Shinji and Rei grows heavier as the apocalyptic Third Impact draws closer. Two new pilots join them: the fiery Asuka and the mysterious Mari. Together the four take their giant Evangelion units into desperate combat against escalating attacks, with NERV leading humanity's defense. As hidden truths begin to surface, the question becomes whether the greatest danger is the Angels or humanity itself. This film, a mecha action drama with a psychological edge, exists in several versions, including an original theatrical cut and a later home video release with new scenes.