Neon Genesis Evangelion Is Coming to Criterion Channel in September
Neon Genesis Evangelion, director Hideaki Anno’s landmark anime series, is coming to Criterion Channel on September 1, 2026. The groundbreaking 1995-1996 series will be joined by the feature films The End of Evangelion (1997) and Evangelion Death (True)² (1998), marking a significant addition to Criterion’s collection of culturally important media.
The series is set in a post-apocalyptic world where teenagers pilot giant artificial humanoids known as Evangelions to defend humanity from mysterious beings called Angels. The narrative arc transforms from high-stakes mecha action into a deeply introspective exploration of identity, trauma, loneliness, and human connection, establishing the series as a boundary-pushing work that has profoundly influenced anime and pop culture for nearly three decades.
This release on Criterion Channel represents a major distribution milestone for the franchise, bringing the complete theatrical and series experience to a premium streaming platform known for preserving and presenting significant works across cinema and media. For both longtime fans and newcomers, this September debut offers an opportunity to experience one of anime’s most celebrated and discussed works on a dedicated platform committed to restoration and accessibility.