GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to 'Evangelion:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time'
NEW YORK (June 17, 2022) – GKIDS, the acclaimed producer and distributor of animation for adult and family audiences, announced it has acquired North American theatrical, home video, and EST rights to the capstone finale film EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME. The highly anticipated fourth and final installment of the new theatrical “Rebuild” editions of the EVANGELION franchise, EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME was released in Japanese theaters in 2021, where it was a critical and box office success, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year with ¥10.28 billion (~$85 million) in local box office. GKIDS plans to release the anticipated film in theaters in late 2022, marking the first time EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME will be available in theaters in North America since its domestic release. A release on home entertainment platforms will follow, with dates to be announced.
Created by Hideaki Anno, the NEON GENESIS EVANGELION franchise is considered one of the most influential animated sagas of all time. Since the 1995 premiere of the original television series, the story of teenager Shinji Ikari has remained one of the most iconic titles in animation history, and a global pop culture phenomenon.
Following the conclusion of the beloved 1995 television show, the legendary project received new life as the Evangelion movie series. The theatrical film series began with EVANGELION:1.11 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE (2007), followed by EVANGELION:2.22 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (2009), EVANGELION:3.33 YOU CAN (NOT) REDO (2012), and culminating in the finale EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME.
Last year, GKIDS released the original twenty-six episode television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, as well as the films EVANGELION:DEATH (TRUE)2 and THE END OF EVANGELION on Blu-ray and digital download-to-own for the first time in North America. GKIDS also handles North American distribution for creator Hideaki Anno's prior series, Nadia - The Secret of Blue Water.
“GKIDS is honored to represent the epic conclusion of a story over 25 years in the making,” said GKIDS President David Jesteadt. “Like with so many others, EVANGELION was critical in expanding my idea of what animation could be, and I look forward to joining other fans in theaters to celebrate the end of the saga with EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME.”
Chief Director: Hideaki Anno
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki, Katsuichi Nakayama, Mahiro Maeda
Screenwriter: Hideaki Anno
Studio: khara, Inc.
Country: Japan
Runtime: 155 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Synopsis
From legendary director Hideaki Anno, EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth and final installment of the REBUILD OF EVANGELION films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made EVANGELION a global pop culture phenomenon.
Misato and her anti-NERV group Wille arrive at Paris, a city now red from core-ization. Crew from the flagship Wunder land on a containment tower. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. When a horde of NERV Evas appear, Mari's improved Eva Unit 8 must intercept. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei (Provisional Name) wander about Japan.
About GKIDS
GKIDS is the producer and distributor of award-winning feature animation for both adult and family audiences. Since 2010, the company has scored an astounding 12 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominations with The Secret of Kells in 2010, A Cat in Paris and CHiCO & Rita in 2012, Ernest & Celestine in 2014, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya and Song of the Sea in 2015, Boy and the World and When Marnie Was There in 2016, My Life as a Zucchini in 2017, The Breadwinner in 2018, Mirai in 2019, and Wolfwalkers in 2021. GKIDS handles North American distribution for the famed Studio Ghibli library of films, one of the world's most coveted animation collections with titles Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and others; as well as the critically acclaimed television series, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. Also, GKIDS is the founder and host of ANIMATION IS FILM, the annual LA-based film festival which embraces the highest aspirations of animation as a cinematic art form, and is a vocal advocate for filmmakers who push the boundaries of the medium to its fullest range of artistic expressions. www.GKIDS.com
GKIDS.com/EVANGELION