Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
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"The Eva series? It's been completed?" |
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Rebuild of Evangelion movie series |
Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:破 Evangelion Shin Gekijōban: Ha, "Evangelion New Theatrical Version: Breakup") is the second film in the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series. It will premiere in Japan on June 27, 2009. As of March 14, 2009, two trailers have been released, along with a poster revealing key terms and names from the movie in chronological order.
The movie will introduce Asuka Langley Shikinami (formerly "Soryu", and now with the rank of Captain), Ryoji Kaji, and the new character Mari, along with Eva-02, Eva-03, Eva-05, and Eva-06. A combination of familiar (to NGE veterans) and newly-designed Angels will appear over the course of the film. New locations (such as Betania Base and Tabgha Base) will also feature.
Eva 2.0 will depart from the original much more extensively than 1.0, with a greater emphasis on new material, although little is known about the plot at this time. Elements from several TV episodes seem to be present in some form, namely Episodes 08, 12, 15, 17, 18, and 19.
Angels
Based on the scant available information (namely poster key words and the trailers), the film appears to feature five Angels, including at least one that is original to Rebuild. In the order of possible appearance:
- A new Angel. It possesses a stylized "skull" face vaguely reminiscent of Zeruel and a narrow body with what looks like a long, skeletal tail. A cut in the trailer shows it advancing through a dark corridor resembling the one Eva-05 uses in the preview from Eva 1.0, and its large eye sockets are shown lighting up (i.e. to set off an explosion). It will probably fight Eva-05 at Bethania Base.
- A new (?) Angel, seen only via two stilt-like "legs" walking on the ocean. When a "foot" touches the water, an A.T. Field-like projection spreads out and causes what appears to be instant frosting. (Low quality image.) The destroyed warship seen in the same frame implies that the Angel is incredibly large. The spindly "legs" have invited much comparison with Matarael, although the leg proportions/spacing and walking pattern are so different (Matarael's walk) that a vast design overhaul would be implicated. It will probably replace Gaghiel as an opponent for Eva-02's debut battle. (The new S-Type Equipment may be intended to deal with the issue of the Angel's size.)
- Sahaquiel (?). The trailer contains multiple cuts for a scene based directly on the Sahaquiel-"catching" operation from Episode 12, most directly based on the preexisting material, none actually depicting the involved Angel. Another cut, probably depicting the "N2 Aerial Depth Charge from Satellite Orbit" described in the poster, shows an assemblage of spacecraft over Earth attacking something obscured completely by a rapidly fluctuating, Ireul-like "multicellular" A.T. Field. Sahaquiel has possibly been redesigned, hence the current "air of secrecy"; more information is required.
- Bardiel. A "possessed" Eva-03 is seen in cuts implying a similar role in Eva 2.0 as in the original show, including destruction by Eva-01 under the influence of the dummy system. As Bardiel itself is not depicted in any of the available footage, that a parasite Angel is still responsible for the incident is, for now, only an educated guess.
- Zeruel. Its brief appearance in the trailer indicates that the design of the face has been changed slightly. The inclusion of the keyword "Predation" on the poster implies that Zeruel will suffer a similar fate as in NGE.
Trailer Summaries
Preview
A preview following the credits of Eva 1.0, structured the same as the "Next Episode Previews" in Neon Genesis Evangelion, complete with the same musical theme, voice-over by Misato, and promise of more fan service.
It opens with an introduction to the Evas scheduled to appear: The "provisional" Eva-05 on an underground rail, Eva-02 being air-dropped (outfitted with the new "S-type Equipment"), Eva-04's explosion, Eva-03 (infected by Bardiel), and Eva-06 descending from the Moon. The text "ADAMS" and a cryptic image of several ghostly, vaguely humanoid figures are flashed on the screen. The text "LILIN+?" then appears, followed by several shots of the "human" cast: Kaji and Gendo (as seen at the end of Episode 08); Misato slapping Ritsuko (recycled from Episode 16); Asuka, Rei, and Shinji (from the Zeruel battle in 19); and Kaworu (smiling against a dusky sky). Finally, the new character Mari is seen from behind, looking up at multiple giant glowing pink crucifixes, followed by a close-up of her face, a fleeing flock of birds reflected in her glasses.
Theatrical Trailer
Released in Japanese cinemas on March 14, 2009, set to "FLY ME TO THE MOON (IN OTHER WORDS) 2007 MIX" by Hikaru Utada (same as 1.0's theatrical trailer). This summary is based upon the two low-quality camera recordings (which both lack the very beginning), combined with reports from those who saw the trailer in person. Several familiar scenes are indicated, including: the Evas during the operation to "catch" Sahaquiel (although Sahaquiel itself is not depicted), Shinji and Gendo visiting Yui's "grave", Eva-03/Bardiel's attack and subsequent destruction, and Zeruel's attack. Some kind of maritime event is also implicated.
It opens with several shots of the Evas:
- A berserk Eva-01 roaring (not present in camera recordings).
- Eva-05 seen from the front, with visor and pylons glowing.
- Eva-01 rearing back to punch (presumably Eva-03's head).
- Eva-00 leaping in mid-sprint. Probably from the "Sahaquiel run". The color scheme is unchanged from 1.0, and no pylons have been added -- i.e., no upgrade.
- Eva-02 running while paired weapons emerge from the pylons.
- Eva-01's foot touching off the ground (from Sahaquiel run).
- Eva-01 unleashing her A.T. Field (in preparation to catch Sahaquiel).
Several character shots follow:
- Shinji wearing a shirt with two stripes across the front, hanging onto a railing, talking to someone. Probably on a ship. The strange structures behind him have a logo on them (Not clear, but possibly the new Nerv logo).
- Misato, with a dusky sky in the background, smiling and talking.
- Asuka in plugsuit, standing on top of ?Eva-02, with hands on hips. Followed by a closeup of Asuka talking with an intense expression.
- Rei sitting in her dimly-lit apartment, speaking.
- Gendo with VTOL in background. (Presumably being picked up from Yui's grave site.)
- A flustered-looking Ritsuko.
- Shinji in dimly-lit environs, wearing SDAT earbuds, hoisting himself off the floor.
Several "environmental" shots follow, including:
- A railway track switching lanes.
- School girls ascending a building's exterior staircase, with a male student in the foreground leaning against a railing.
- Tokyo-3 in the mist.
- A flock of crows aggregated on telephone pole wires. (Corresponds to a shot from Episode 18.) A streetlight attached to the pole turns on.
- A space vehicle, apparently above the Moon's surface.
- Buildings rising up from the ground.
- People on a crosswalk over several train tracks.
- Tokyo-3's array of mirror buildings.
- A train emerging from a subterranean tunnel.
Several action shots follow:
- Enigmatic shot of two stilt-like "legs" walking across the ocean. When a "foot" touches the water, an A.T. Field-like projection spreads out and causes what appears to be instant frosting. (Low quality image.) This has been compared to Matarael, although the walking pattern is completely different. (Matarael's walk.) Possibly the "new Angel".
- Eva-03 descending from a jump, seen from below. The shot ends with a super-closeup of the Eva's eye.
- Scene set in space(Earth with red oceans visible), showing what look like satellites/spacecraft/space stations facing off against a "multicellular" A.T. Field with explosions across the surface. Possibly part of the Sahaquiel battle (The Angel itself is not visible amidst the A.T. Field and explosions).
- Closeup of a previously unseen Angel's face, unleashing a blast via eyes.
- A row of tanks (firing, or being hit by said blast?).
- Eva-01 running through a city (Sahaquiel sprint).
- Eva-05 in dark environs (possibly fighting the new Angel and being pushed back violently by launching one of her weapons).
- Missile silo.
- Eva-02 holding up Sahaquiel's A.T. Field. At the end of the cut, she rapidly draws her knee up (as if mid-kick).
- Zeruel, unleashing a cross-blast.
- A ship being consumed by a giant spout of water (i.e., exploding?).
- Giant explosion between two hills in the distance, with a reddish dome and a large halo.
- Red fluid flooding a town or city. (Possibly the dissolved body of an Angel.)
It closes with more character shots:
- Shinji seen from the side, with the red ocean behind him and a flooded settlement at the horizon.
- A girl in a plugsuit rearing up and rapidly looking to one side. She is sitting in some kind of cockpit, face obscured by a giant helmet and plugsuit outfitted with various cables. The helmet has a red visor with "EVANGELION-05" written across it. (Possibly Mari.)
- Asuka sitting in front of an aquarium, picking up a small electronic device.
- Gendo and Fuyutsuki standing near one another. Location unclear.
- Kaworu, gazing "adorably" towards the camera while the Earth pans behind him (Heading towards Earth on a spacecraft/Eva-06?)
- Toji and Kensuke chattering in the classroom. Shinji is standing nearby and looks away (at Rei?).
- Kaji leaning back, smoking a cigarette. Possibly on a ship, same as Shinji earlier.
- Misato hoisting herself off her car.
- Asuka laying on a futon. She rolls over to one side and looks at something.
- Rei sitting alone at school.
- Aerial shot of Shinji standing at his mother's grave, presumably watching Gendo fly away. He walks off-camera and 2.0's title comes onscreen, thus ending 2.0's theatrical trailer much the same as 1.0's ended.
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