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Special Features
Rebuild of Evangelion: 1.01 (Shiro Sagisu Version, Joseph-Maurice Ravel Version)
"Angel of Doom" Promotional Music Video
News Flashes
Movie Previews:
Preview 1 - Color-corrected version
Beautiful World Version 2
Beautiful World Version 2A
Beautiful World Version 2B
"Angel of Doom" Promotional Music Video
News Flashes
Movie Previews:
Preview 1 - Color-corrected version
Beautiful World Version 2
Beautiful World Version 2A
Beautiful World Version 2B
Editorial Reviews
Additional Features
The blu-ray edition of You Are (Not) Alone makes it clear why Hideaki Anno has returned to his watershed tale Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) yet again. He's "rebuilding" Evangelion as he initially envisioned it, unconstrained by technological and budgetary limits, and the new visuals eclipse the broadcast series. In the original program, the Angel Ramiel was a flat blue tetrahedron; the clarity of the Blu-ray images showcases the reflections and refractions in its glassy surface. When that Angel blasts most of a small mountain into lava, the searing yellows and whites convey a sense of intense heat. The subtle palette created with computer coloring systems enables Anno to energize emotional moments between characters through the more effective use of light and shadow. Evangelion 1.11 contains about two minutes of additional material missing from the earlier Evangelion: 1.01, including some expository dialogue. When Shinji meets Misato, she explains that he has just seen one of the Angels, then gets them lost in the labyrinth of NERV headquarters. The color has been adjusted in some scenes that viewers of the earlier release complained were too dark to see clearly. The second disc contains extras not included in the initial release. "Rebuild of Evangelion" juxtaposes the often-sketchy storyboards with new CG footage of the skyscrapers of New Tokyo III rising from their silos, as well as other high-tech effects at various stages of completion. One version of "Rebuild" is incongruously set to Ravel's Bolero; the low strings and percussion of Shiru Sagisu's score make a more effective counterpoint. Four trailers play to a new arrangement of "Fly Me to the Moon" and three to the J-pop tune "Beautiful World." Although some otaku will want to keep their discs of the original series with its haunting theme song, "The Thesis of a Cruel Angel," the Blu-ray of Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone is a must-have for anyone interested in anime. (Rated PG-13: violence, nudity, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon
Product Description
The stunning rebuild of the anime masterpiece is now extended and enhanced with never before seen new animation and 266 visual and audio improvements.
Tokyo-3 still stands after most of civilization was decimated in the Second Impact. Now the city endures the ceaseless onslaught of the deadly Angels, bizarre creatures bent on eradicating the human race. To combat this strange and ruthless enemy, the government agency NERV constructs a fleet of towering humanoid machines – the Evas – and Shinji Ikari is called into action, reluctantly taking his place at the controls of Eva Unit 01.
Living a life of loneliness and questioning his existence, Shinji struggles to accept responsibility for mankind’s battle for survival in this visually striking rebuild of one of the most important anime of all time. Shinji will fight the Angels alongside the only person who might understand his plight – Rei Ayanami, the elusive and frail pilot of Eva Unit 00. In this film experience not to be missed, Shinji and Rei will struggle to learn a simple truth: when carrying the burden of humanity’s survival on your shoulders, you are not alone.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
341 of 358 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Like many fans out there, you're probably wondering what in the world the 1.11 rebuild of Evangelion is considering the 1.01 release is barely four months old. While FUNimation has confirmed that 1.01 was the beginning of four rebuilt feature film releases, 1.11 isn't the second one but rather 1.01 again with some of its lighting (lack thereof) issues addressed, the addition of 2-minutes of new scenes and a second disc including a bunch of extra material.
Hard facts first: The release is comprised of a two-disc set, with the feature presentation now coming in at comes in at 100-minutes with an appropriate PG-13 rating due to animated action, violence and some ambiguous nudity.
Language options are standard sub & dub fair, which means the viewer is given the option of running the original Japanese dialog track or an English dub, either of which is presented in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. The option to turn on English subtitles exists for either language choice as well.
Extras are quite robust and occupy the entire second disc. Included: Rebuild of Evangelion: 1.01 (Shiro Sagisu Version, Joseph-Maurice Ravel Version), "Angel of Doom" Promotional Music Video, News Flashes, Movie Previews: Preview 1 - Color-corrected version, Beautiful World Version 2, Beautiful World Version 2A, and Beautiful World Version 2B.
The story, while straightforward enough in presentation, has been the source of case studies, web-site devotion, even college thesis throughout the years and hence could never be summarized accurately (with dignity) here. However, to reduce it all down to its most basic levels, a young boy by the name of Shinji is thrust into a world beyond comprehension once an attacking "Angel" comes to town. It turns out that Shinji is one of few individuals in the world who possesses the rare ability to pilot the massive synthetic beings/ weapons known as Evangelions.
Reluctantly he allows himself to submit to the whirlwind of life-changing experiences associated with becoming an Evangelion pilot and makes some new friends and discovers more about his own past in the process. Working for a top-secret, underground (literally) organization known as NERV, Shingi's life as an average 14-year-old is forever lost to the reality that his destiny is to be the one to save all of mankind from imminent doom.
So here it is precisely twelve years since this very material graced Japanese movie screens, you may rightfully be wondering what it is that FUNimation is releasing here. The answer is a bit complex, but I'll do my best to set it straight.
Way back in October of 1995, the animated television series Neon Genesis Evangelion made its television debut in Japan. Two years later the work was "rebuilt" into a theatrical release that essentially spliced together the key moments of the tale into a larger, single effort. The mission was a success but kind of like what George Lucas has done with his Star Wars franchise, the creators behind the property always felt as though the technology available at the time wasn't quite where they would have liked it to be to accurately present the tale visually. Hence in 2007, the material was revisited once more, this time not simply remastering from the original film stock, but rather breaking the material down into its raw form so as to correct and readjust even the smallest imperfections such as animation density and errant particles as a result of using film. It was not so much an exercise of splicing new CGI effects and eye-candy into the original material as it was about using modern animation methods to perfect the look and feel of the original material. As an added bonus the CG elements allow for visual flair that was, at the time, quite impossible to achieve.
Hence that brings us back to this, the 1.11 release, which is the second official North American release of this rebuilt movie series (it is scheduled to be presented in 4 parts total, with the third and fourth parts being released together). Obviously, part 1.11 represents the introduction to the story.
If the timeline appears confusing, rest assured that sorting it all out is by no means a prerequisite to enjoying the film. It starts quickly with very little time spent establishing back-story and sweeps the viewer into a truly unique world where the precision and color pallet of modern computer generated animation melds seamlessly with the unique look of hand-drawn cells of yesteryear.
Plot wise, the tale is brisk and wonderfully entertaining with battle sequence on the absolute grandest scale broken up by moments of genuine character-development and emotional attachment. Perhaps the greatest of these being the sexual tension that exists between the lead characters or the appearances of the enigmatic father of young Shinji.
Fans, detractors, and scholars alike have gone to great lengths in drawing parallels and comparisons to Evangelion's symbolism throughout the years and yet agreement to or even knowledge of these theories is by no means necessary to come away from the film with satisfaction.
In fact, it has actually surprised me in revisiting this film (which is actually made up of the first six episodes of the original television series) at how much of an influence Evangelion has had over subsequent Giant Robot anime franchises like RahXephon and Aquarion. The show is rife with familiar archetypes such as the young boy being thrust into the role of humanity's savior, the biomechanical weaponry/ interfaces, the enigmatic villains that refuse to reveal their intentions, the impassive corporation behind it all, and the dysfunctional family structure that makes the antagonist question his very purpose of existence. Evnagelion is essentially the framework from which all others have followed.
The direction is simply wonderful with the structure of the film being more an endless succession of perfectly framed scenes than a random display of visuals. The voice acting is also quite notable whether you choose to enjoy the original Japanese dialog track (which is spectacular by the way) or the freshly dubbed English track featuring the talents of some of FUNimation's finest performers. Either option represents the perfect accompaniment to the impeccable visual work.
In all this release marks the beginning of a franchise that has been deserving of revalidation for quite some time. The approach taken with rebuilding the film from the basic elements must surely have been quite an undertaking for all involved but I can attest that the finished product simply oozes with hints of the level of perfectionism sought out in the process. Amazing things are truly possible when such a revered and definitive property receives the loving caress of modern technology's capabilities. Considering the asking price of the new build isn't much higher than the extra-feature-less 1.01 release, this is the recommended choice.
Hard facts first: The release is comprised of a two-disc set, with the feature presentation now coming in at comes in at 100-minutes with an appropriate PG-13 rating due to animated action, violence and some ambiguous nudity.
Language options are standard sub & dub fair, which means the viewer is given the option of running the original Japanese dialog track or an English dub, either of which is presented in Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound. The option to turn on English subtitles exists for either language choice as well.
Extras are quite robust and occupy the entire second disc. Included: Rebuild of Evangelion: 1.01 (Shiro Sagisu Version, Joseph-Maurice Ravel Version), "Angel of Doom" Promotional Music Video, News Flashes, Movie Previews: Preview 1 - Color-corrected version, Beautiful World Version 2, Beautiful World Version 2A, and Beautiful World Version 2B.
The story, while straightforward enough in presentation, has been the source of case studies, web-site devotion, even college thesis throughout the years and hence could never be summarized accurately (with dignity) here. However, to reduce it all down to its most basic levels, a young boy by the name of Shinji is thrust into a world beyond comprehension once an attacking "Angel" comes to town. It turns out that Shinji is one of few individuals in the world who possesses the rare ability to pilot the massive synthetic beings/ weapons known as Evangelions.
Reluctantly he allows himself to submit to the whirlwind of life-changing experiences associated with becoming an Evangelion pilot and makes some new friends and discovers more about his own past in the process. Working for a top-secret, underground (literally) organization known as NERV, Shingi's life as an average 14-year-old is forever lost to the reality that his destiny is to be the one to save all of mankind from imminent doom.
So here it is precisely twelve years since this very material graced Japanese movie screens, you may rightfully be wondering what it is that FUNimation is releasing here. The answer is a bit complex, but I'll do my best to set it straight.
Way back in October of 1995, the animated television series Neon Genesis Evangelion made its television debut in Japan. Two years later the work was "rebuilt" into a theatrical release that essentially spliced together the key moments of the tale into a larger, single effort. The mission was a success but kind of like what George Lucas has done with his Star Wars franchise, the creators behind the property always felt as though the technology available at the time wasn't quite where they would have liked it to be to accurately present the tale visually. Hence in 2007, the material was revisited once more, this time not simply remastering from the original film stock, but rather breaking the material down into its raw form so as to correct and readjust even the smallest imperfections such as animation density and errant particles as a result of using film. It was not so much an exercise of splicing new CGI effects and eye-candy into the original material as it was about using modern animation methods to perfect the look and feel of the original material. As an added bonus the CG elements allow for visual flair that was, at the time, quite impossible to achieve.
Hence that brings us back to this, the 1.11 release, which is the second official North American release of this rebuilt movie series (it is scheduled to be presented in 4 parts total, with the third and fourth parts being released together). Obviously, part 1.11 represents the introduction to the story.
If the timeline appears confusing, rest assured that sorting it all out is by no means a prerequisite to enjoying the film. It starts quickly with very little time spent establishing back-story and sweeps the viewer into a truly unique world where the precision and color pallet of modern computer generated animation melds seamlessly with the unique look of hand-drawn cells of yesteryear.
Plot wise, the tale is brisk and wonderfully entertaining with battle sequence on the absolute grandest scale broken up by moments of genuine character-development and emotional attachment. Perhaps the greatest of these being the sexual tension that exists between the lead characters or the appearances of the enigmatic father of young Shinji.
Fans, detractors, and scholars alike have gone to great lengths in drawing parallels and comparisons to Evangelion's symbolism throughout the years and yet agreement to or even knowledge of these theories is by no means necessary to come away from the film with satisfaction.
In fact, it has actually surprised me in revisiting this film (which is actually made up of the first six episodes of the original television series) at how much of an influence Evangelion has had over subsequent Giant Robot anime franchises like RahXephon and Aquarion. The show is rife with familiar archetypes such as the young boy being thrust into the role of humanity's savior, the biomechanical weaponry/ interfaces, the enigmatic villains that refuse to reveal their intentions, the impassive corporation behind it all, and the dysfunctional family structure that makes the antagonist question his very purpose of existence. Evnagelion is essentially the framework from which all others have followed.
The direction is simply wonderful with the structure of the film being more an endless succession of perfectly framed scenes than a random display of visuals. The voice acting is also quite notable whether you choose to enjoy the original Japanese dialog track (which is spectacular by the way) or the freshly dubbed English track featuring the talents of some of FUNimation's finest performers. Either option represents the perfect accompaniment to the impeccable visual work.
In all this release marks the beginning of a franchise that has been deserving of revalidation for quite some time. The approach taken with rebuilding the film from the basic elements must surely have been quite an undertaking for all involved but I can attest that the finished product simply oozes with hints of the level of perfectionism sought out in the process. Amazing things are truly possible when such a revered and definitive property receives the loving caress of modern technology's capabilities. Considering the asking price of the new build isn't much higher than the extra-feature-less 1.01 release, this is the recommended choice.
59 of 63 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
In 2006, Japanese fans and anime fans of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" received exciting news that in the Summer of 2007, the first of four Evangelion films based on the anime television series would be released in theaters. According to news reports, Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno watched the series from beginning to end and wanted to fix up a lot of questions and debates that fans had over the television series and most importantly, incorporate today's new CG technology for the film versions. Even furthering the excitement is that the original crew and cast have signed on to work on the new film.
So, with mass promotion in Japan, "Evangelion 1.01 - You Are (Not) Alone" became the #1 film in Japan making over $14.6 million (US), surpassing "The End of Evangelion" which brought in $14.5 million (US). A limited edition DVD was released in Japan in 2008 which came with a script, music videos and an "Explanation of Evangelion" feature and needless to say, fans paid dearly for this limited edition DVD release (only 300,000 were made). A Blu-ray and DVD release titled "Evangelion 1.11' which included a re-transfer of the film plus three additional minutes was released in May 2009 and is currently the best selling Blu-ray release in Japan and now the Blu-ray and DVD release of "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" has been released in the US.
With many Americans waiting for "Evangelion 1.11' Blu-ray release, suffice to say, the film was released with a very short run at limited theaters and made over $100,000 and was screened at the anime convention Anime Expo in 2009 with great fanfare.
"Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is a film that takes the first six episodes of the TV series and features new animation and CG and a few different storyline details of certain characters but for the most part, creator Hideaki Anno made sure the film was faithful to the anime series. The major difference between "Evangelion 1.01' and "Evangelion 1.11' is that the latter includes three minutes of extra footage (spread out during the first 15 minutes of the film) and scenes that were darker can now be seen much better. Also, the Blu-ray edition boasts video and audio in HD and also comes with special features which 1.01 on DVD was barebones.
VIDEO:
"Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is featured in 1080p High Definition. I had the opportunity to compare the Blu-ray to the 1.01 DVD release from FUNimation Entertainment from last fall and I can tell you right now that this Blu-ray looks fantastic. Detail is much more apparent and the vibrancy of the colors of the film literally pop onscreen. The CG animation is top notch and overall, Gainax definitely went all out in creating a fantastic anime full of detail, vibrant colors and staying faithful to the anime series but making sure everything is updated and looks amazing.
The DVD looks good but the main difference was that 1.01 was taken from a 35mm film transfer while the Blu-ray release was taken from the original High Definition digital file. Not to say that the two look like night and day but there is a significant difference in terms of how vibrant and sharper the animation looks on Blu-ray. "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" looks absolutely beautiful!
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
As for audio, I know how I was appreciative of the Dolby Digital 5.1 for "Evangelion 1.01 - You Are (Not) Alone" but for "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone", you get a Dolby TrueHD 6.1 English and Japanese lossless soundtrack and there are MAJOR differences between the lossless soundtrack and its DVD counterpart. On lossless, there is good use of the various channels for this film. From hearing the music and main character vocal coming from the center and front channels, you will then hear the loudspeakers through the surround channels and then the rear surround channels carry audio that is different. For example, in one scene in which Shinji is asking out of his mecha, you hear the main characters and vocals through the center and front channels, loud speakers and musical instruments on the surround and on the rear surround channel, you hear Shinji screaming in agony behind you.
There is a huge difference between the lossless audio track and the Dolby Digital 5.1 track from the DVD. Personally, the lossless audio is just phenomenal, how it is so immersive and envelops the soundscape from all directions was fantastic. And I am so happy to find out that the Japanese audio track is lossless as well. Something that fans have wanted from anime on Blu-ray!
As for the dubbing, personally, I have never listened to the original ADV Films English dubs, so I can't comment on how the newer voice dubs are with the original but from what I hear from friends and have read, fans were more than grateful for the English voice dubbing for "Evangelion 1.01'. As for the Japanese voice acting, I've always felt the voice acting was solid. Both tracks are similar for the most part in terms of audio featured on a certain channel but I did notice that the Japanese lossless track took advantage of the space. For example, in the beginning you will see Shinji, his father and the scientist in a large open space. In the Japanese lossless audio track, the sense of emptiness in that area and the echoing can be heard quite well on the lossless Japanese audio track. But I also feel that the English dub was a slight more louder than its Japanese counterpart. So overall, both lossless audio soundtracks are well-done.
As for subtitles, the subtitles on the Blu-ray are in English only.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" contains the following special features:
* Rebuild of Evangelion 1.01 - (15:14) This segment features two versions of the pre-rendered 3D compared to the final cut. The two versions are the Shiro Sagisu Version and the Joseph-Maurice Ravel Version and both music are different from one another but the segment is the same.
* Angel of Doom Promotion - (2:20) A music montage video from scenes taken from the film.
* News Flasher - (:55) Text teasers for "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone).
* Movie Previews - The movie previews contain the Preview 1 (Color Corrected Version), three versions of the "Fly Me to the Moon" and three versions of the "Beautiful World" themes (sung by Hikaru Utada).
* FUNimation Entertainment Trailers
JUDGMENT CALL:
When I first heard that the rebuild of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" would take place and that these new films would be based on the television series, I wasn't so surprised because the series is so popular that it would definitely generate an extreme amount of money for GAINAX. But one thing that I was not looking forward and what drove me crazy about the TV series was the character of Shinji Ikari. Back in the mid-90's, I can easily remember how his whining really tested my patience and looking back, he was such an anti-hero, mainly because he was "emo" most of the time. Always negative, always in a bit of depression and funk as he always felt people didn't care about him (and yes, I know that Hideaki Anno was clinically depressed when he was creating this film and parts of show was based on his depression) but it did get on my nerves at the time.
But here we are nearly 15 years later and watching "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" and after it was all done, I was excited and hoping the second film would come out stateside very soon. Yes, Shinji still whines and is still depressed but the fact is the film is structured a bit differently from the anime TV series and somehow, the pacing is much easier to take for the viewer with the film version and felt that the screenplay for the first film, the quality of the animation and artistic backgrounds and the music all worked together fantastically.
In a way, some part of me wants to rewatch first six episodes of the television series to find out the key differences (it's been 14 years and I can't recall too much from the television series except certain key scenes and the final episodes) were but personally, I found myself happy and content with this film that I look forward to seeing how Anno and the GAINAX crew tweak the next three films (and I can't wait until the final film). But for the most part, I felt that the film, the voice acting, the animation, the art and everything else about the film was well done and fantastic.
As for the Blu-ray release, this release was just fantastic. I felt the Eva 1.01 DVD release was good but after watching this Blu-ray release, "Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is just fantastic and just an overall exciting release. Fantastic picture quality, as well as phenomenal lossless Japanese audio.
As for the PG-13 rating, yes, "Evangelion 1.11' has its share of violence and nudity, so this is not a series that you want to have your little kids around watching at all. But overall, in the end, it was great to see Evangelion again but this time with the much improved reboot. Nearly 15-years-later, it was definitely great to see Evangelion again but this time in a film sporting newer animation, CG, artwork and a solid screenplay and soundtrack. But most importantly, done in the way that the director Hideaki Anno had wanted but also what the fans have wanted as well. And after I watched the film, I can tell you that I loved it! The action, the drama is still intact. Things may be a little different but still, fans of the original series will definitely enjoy this film release.
"Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is in the top 3 for best anime release on Blu-ray. This release is absolutely fantastic and I definitely recommend this film in HD!
So, with mass promotion in Japan, "Evangelion 1.01 - You Are (Not) Alone" became the #1 film in Japan making over $14.6 million (US), surpassing "The End of Evangelion" which brought in $14.5 million (US). A limited edition DVD was released in Japan in 2008 which came with a script, music videos and an "Explanation of Evangelion" feature and needless to say, fans paid dearly for this limited edition DVD release (only 300,000 were made). A Blu-ray and DVD release titled "Evangelion 1.11' which included a re-transfer of the film plus three additional minutes was released in May 2009 and is currently the best selling Blu-ray release in Japan and now the Blu-ray and DVD release of "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" has been released in the US.
With many Americans waiting for "Evangelion 1.11' Blu-ray release, suffice to say, the film was released with a very short run at limited theaters and made over $100,000 and was screened at the anime convention Anime Expo in 2009 with great fanfare.
"Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is a film that takes the first six episodes of the TV series and features new animation and CG and a few different storyline details of certain characters but for the most part, creator Hideaki Anno made sure the film was faithful to the anime series. The major difference between "Evangelion 1.01' and "Evangelion 1.11' is that the latter includes three minutes of extra footage (spread out during the first 15 minutes of the film) and scenes that were darker can now be seen much better. Also, the Blu-ray edition boasts video and audio in HD and also comes with special features which 1.01 on DVD was barebones.
VIDEO:
"Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is featured in 1080p High Definition. I had the opportunity to compare the Blu-ray to the 1.01 DVD release from FUNimation Entertainment from last fall and I can tell you right now that this Blu-ray looks fantastic. Detail is much more apparent and the vibrancy of the colors of the film literally pop onscreen. The CG animation is top notch and overall, Gainax definitely went all out in creating a fantastic anime full of detail, vibrant colors and staying faithful to the anime series but making sure everything is updated and looks amazing.
The DVD looks good but the main difference was that 1.01 was taken from a 35mm film transfer while the Blu-ray release was taken from the original High Definition digital file. Not to say that the two look like night and day but there is a significant difference in terms of how vibrant and sharper the animation looks on Blu-ray. "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" looks absolutely beautiful!
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
As for audio, I know how I was appreciative of the Dolby Digital 5.1 for "Evangelion 1.01 - You Are (Not) Alone" but for "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone", you get a Dolby TrueHD 6.1 English and Japanese lossless soundtrack and there are MAJOR differences between the lossless soundtrack and its DVD counterpart. On lossless, there is good use of the various channels for this film. From hearing the music and main character vocal coming from the center and front channels, you will then hear the loudspeakers through the surround channels and then the rear surround channels carry audio that is different. For example, in one scene in which Shinji is asking out of his mecha, you hear the main characters and vocals through the center and front channels, loud speakers and musical instruments on the surround and on the rear surround channel, you hear Shinji screaming in agony behind you.
There is a huge difference between the lossless audio track and the Dolby Digital 5.1 track from the DVD. Personally, the lossless audio is just phenomenal, how it is so immersive and envelops the soundscape from all directions was fantastic. And I am so happy to find out that the Japanese audio track is lossless as well. Something that fans have wanted from anime on Blu-ray!
As for the dubbing, personally, I have never listened to the original ADV Films English dubs, so I can't comment on how the newer voice dubs are with the original but from what I hear from friends and have read, fans were more than grateful for the English voice dubbing for "Evangelion 1.01'. As for the Japanese voice acting, I've always felt the voice acting was solid. Both tracks are similar for the most part in terms of audio featured on a certain channel but I did notice that the Japanese lossless track took advantage of the space. For example, in the beginning you will see Shinji, his father and the scientist in a large open space. In the Japanese lossless audio track, the sense of emptiness in that area and the echoing can be heard quite well on the lossless Japanese audio track. But I also feel that the English dub was a slight more louder than its Japanese counterpart. So overall, both lossless audio soundtracks are well-done.
As for subtitles, the subtitles on the Blu-ray are in English only.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" contains the following special features:
* Rebuild of Evangelion 1.01 - (15:14) This segment features two versions of the pre-rendered 3D compared to the final cut. The two versions are the Shiro Sagisu Version and the Joseph-Maurice Ravel Version and both music are different from one another but the segment is the same.
* Angel of Doom Promotion - (2:20) A music montage video from scenes taken from the film.
* News Flasher - (:55) Text teasers for "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone).
* Movie Previews - The movie previews contain the Preview 1 (Color Corrected Version), three versions of the "Fly Me to the Moon" and three versions of the "Beautiful World" themes (sung by Hikaru Utada).
* FUNimation Entertainment Trailers
JUDGMENT CALL:
When I first heard that the rebuild of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" would take place and that these new films would be based on the television series, I wasn't so surprised because the series is so popular that it would definitely generate an extreme amount of money for GAINAX. But one thing that I was not looking forward and what drove me crazy about the TV series was the character of Shinji Ikari. Back in the mid-90's, I can easily remember how his whining really tested my patience and looking back, he was such an anti-hero, mainly because he was "emo" most of the time. Always negative, always in a bit of depression and funk as he always felt people didn't care about him (and yes, I know that Hideaki Anno was clinically depressed when he was creating this film and parts of show was based on his depression) but it did get on my nerves at the time.
But here we are nearly 15 years later and watching "Evangelion 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" and after it was all done, I was excited and hoping the second film would come out stateside very soon. Yes, Shinji still whines and is still depressed but the fact is the film is structured a bit differently from the anime TV series and somehow, the pacing is much easier to take for the viewer with the film version and felt that the screenplay for the first film, the quality of the animation and artistic backgrounds and the music all worked together fantastically.
In a way, some part of me wants to rewatch first six episodes of the television series to find out the key differences (it's been 14 years and I can't recall too much from the television series except certain key scenes and the final episodes) were but personally, I found myself happy and content with this film that I look forward to seeing how Anno and the GAINAX crew tweak the next three films (and I can't wait until the final film). But for the most part, I felt that the film, the voice acting, the animation, the art and everything else about the film was well done and fantastic.
As for the Blu-ray release, this release was just fantastic. I felt the Eva 1.01 DVD release was good but after watching this Blu-ray release, "Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is just fantastic and just an overall exciting release. Fantastic picture quality, as well as phenomenal lossless Japanese audio.
As for the PG-13 rating, yes, "Evangelion 1.11' has its share of violence and nudity, so this is not a series that you want to have your little kids around watching at all. But overall, in the end, it was great to see Evangelion again but this time with the much improved reboot. Nearly 15-years-later, it was definitely great to see Evangelion again but this time in a film sporting newer animation, CG, artwork and a solid screenplay and soundtrack. But most importantly, done in the way that the director Hideaki Anno had wanted but also what the fans have wanted as well. And after I watched the film, I can tell you that I loved it! The action, the drama is still intact. Things may be a little different but still, fans of the original series will definitely enjoy this film release.
"Evangelion: 1.11 - You Are (Not) Alone" is in the top 3 for best anime release on Blu-ray. This release is absolutely fantastic and I definitely recommend this film in HD!
47 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've been a big fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion for many years. I've watched all the original series (and barely made it out alive from 25-26) and absolutely love The End of Evangelion. When I found out they were remaking the series, I was both excited and concerned, but it turns out my fears were alleviated when I finally got to see Evangelion: You Are (Not) Alone.
Gainax took the first few episodes of the series, cleaned up the story, and redrew all the art, amazingly integrated CGI (especially compared to its poor modern usage in anime) and used a movie budget to make something that looks GOOD to watch in 1080p. If you're as big an Eva fan as I am, or even if you just liked some of the series, I'd definitely recommend Evangelion 1.11. They've changed enough of it to flow better in a straight 110 minutes of run time and I didn't want to stop watching for a second.
Now, the real question begins: When will 2.11 escape to the United States?
Gainax took the first few episodes of the series, cleaned up the story, and redrew all the art, amazingly integrated CGI (especially compared to its poor modern usage in anime) and used a movie budget to make something that looks GOOD to watch in 1080p. If you're as big an Eva fan as I am, or even if you just liked some of the series, I'd definitely recommend Evangelion 1.11. They've changed enough of it to flow better in a straight 110 minutes of run time and I didn't want to stop watching for a second.
Now, the real question begins: When will 2.11 escape to the United States?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
4 Stars
Great Anime and great purchase if you are a fan of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series. A must see take on the classic epic.
Published 3 days ago by 3hc
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome movie!
Evangelion is one of the best anime's out there. It's a great formula unlike other cliche animes out there which is a plus! Can't wait for 3.33 :D
Published 7 days ago by MassShadows
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really well done!
Even though I have seen some of the original episodes. The movie compiled all the necessary battles and characters enough to get you hooked. Look forward to the next one.
Published 8 days ago by Lin Li, Cheng
5.0 out of 5 stars
AMAZING!
If you love Evangelion ,then you just cant miss this one! People will always find flaws on everything, but simply put, if you don't what it for some of the "accuracy"... Read more
Published 12 days ago by Jorge Azofeifa Castillo
5.0 out of 5 stars
great series!! all time favorite
this series is all time the best anime series you can watch.. awsum it has every area of fun action sadness .. it has it all its good to go back and watch the old ones... Read more
Published 16 days ago by E. Tarrant
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great remake of the original
Evangelion is the first out of four movies for the remake of the Evangelion T.V. series. The animation is great but there was a moment in the anime that seemed a bit lazy, but... Read more
Published 18 days ago by Oscar Aguilar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!!
This exceeded my expectations of what anime is. I really loved the somewhat retelling of the show but its also a stand alone series. I can't wait for more.
Published 22 days ago by Ken Allison
3.0 out of 5 stars
An OK start to the Rebuild Of Evangelion film series...
I like Evangelion 1.11, but I wouldn't say it is fantastic. The second film in the Rebuild Of Evangelion series is much better. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Sundheim
1.0 out of 5 stars
What happened to the subitltes!
I stupidly didn't check this in the dvd player when I got, and so discovered the subtitles problem when it was too late to return the dvd. BE WARNED! Read more
Published 1 month ago by fersakyn
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is one of the best anime seris of the 90's
Evangelion 1.11 you are not alone was a great movie the best way to view is in bluray
the plot of the story is simple 14 year old Shinji Ikari is called by his father... Read more
the plot of the story is simple 14 year old Shinji Ikari is called by his father... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dave
