Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Assorted Translations

Evangelion New Theatrical Edition: 3.0+1.0 Records Collection became available at the theatrical release of Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. It features final character and mecha designs from the film, cast interviews and theatrical posters.

Please note most of these translations are early and are likely to get revised. Many interviews are still undergoing translation.

See also: Resources:Evangelion Q Records Collection

Interviews

Megumi Ogata as Shinji Ikari

Translation: Pluto

On July 6, 2019, when the video of Avant 1 was announced, Ms. Ogata participated in the Japan EXPO in Paris, France.

In Paris, I was given a great role. About three weeks before, I was suddenly asked to fly to Paris. I adjusted my schedule and managed to get there, but I was the only one on the last minute flight. Others took an early flight to prepare for the show, but I flew on a midnight flight the day before the show, arrived in Paris at 4AM early in the morning that day, and left my luggage at the hotel. It was a super-forced schedule to go to [the place where the expo was held]. At that time, I was asked, "Ms. Ogata, I'm really sorry, but would you please bring the completed video to be played simultaneously all over the world?" Even though I was the last one, I wasn't worried that I had such a big role. For example, if you fell in the bathroom, you wouldn't apologize to the entire world.

If that’s the case you’re ready to say, "There are two parts to being a manager. Please bring a spare for Ms. Ogata." As expected, I’m ready. (laughs). "I have to do this. I brought it to France” and I said that “I shouldn't run away” (in Shinji's voice). I think I apologized with the manager for the other animations, saying," I can't bear that heavy of a responsibility. "However, the production team of Evangelion knew that it would be a trial and error process until the very end, and they thought that “if Ogata loses it, that's it.”(laughs). No, I can't afford to be spoiled, but if I thought about it, I was likely to be crushed by the pressure. I've been associated with "Eva" for the last 25 years, but it wasn't difficult (laughs). For 25 years, I experienced something that I couldn't experience anywhere else, but every time I talk about [Eva], all the other animation producers turn around and say, "No way? Is that true!?" (Laughs)

––What was it like to directly see the reactions of the audience in Paris?

All the overseas fans are passionate. We were enthusiastically welcomed by everyone in Paris. However, the difficult thing is that I talk through an interpreter overseas, so there is a delay between when I talk and getting it to everyone. In Paris, there was an online broadcast, so Japanese people would understand as soon as I spoke, but since it was live in Paris, it took a long time for the reaction to come back, even while thinking ”Is this okay for a show?” I was also able to do it.

––Was that the first time you saw the video?

I could only see a little bit. The Eiffel Tower was shown a lot. Anyway, it was amazing. Rather than the content, instead, I was really relieved that [the video] was delivered safely (laughs).

––How did you feel when you first read the script?

It was a long time ago that I read the script for the first time. I mean, I wanted to read in advance the scenario in the pre-planning stage before it became a completed script. That's something I've never done before ... Suddenly in the winter of 2018, Mr. Khara contacted me saying "I would like to talk about the scenario." It was the first time I was told such a thing. Voice actors rarely participate in the scenario development stage at the animation studio. Evangelion, especially, is a work that expresses the inner world of director Anno, so in the scenario meeting, I wondered what it would be like to be called on by him. I received a preliminary scenario that said, "I want you to read it when you attend the meeting," I nervously read it, and somehow I understood. Then, when I finally attended the meeting, the first thing Anno said was “I want to hear your opinion on what to do to bring back Shinji who can’t speak anymore at the end of Q”. So I asked, "Why did you ask me that in the first place!?" I don't know if it was instrumental at that time or what it meant, but he said, "Among the members of this meeting only Todoroki (Ikki) and you understand Shinji's feelings”. (laughs). So I had a little discussion with the staff about how Shinji would act.

––What did Ogata think about Shinji's comeback?

I thought that his conduct was not important and that whatever Shinji's feelings were drawn, it would work. In addition, the result of saying "If anything, this is it" has led to the depiction of some of Shinji in Part A. As an aside, after a very responsible meeting, everyone went out to eat and took a picture there. Then Anno uploaded our first “two-shot” picture I took with him the following new year's. [Two shot picture: a photograph of two people, usu. male and female] By going through that process, when I received the completed script, I knew the rough content a little earlier than everyone else in the cast.

––Did the content that you read the earlier change in the final script?

I just read it roughly, so I knew what had changed and what hadn't changed. In the first place, I didn't really see the scenario during the review stage, and I was worried that if there was a difference in the final draft after provisionally reading it, there would be a problem if it influenced my performance. I read it as if I borrowed it for a meeting, and sealed it away after that.

––How did you feel when the voice recording started?

First of all, do you have multiple scripts? I was surprised that it was the final volume. In the end, there were four parts, but at first I received two volumes, Avant and the A and B Part. The B part is very light and I thought it was like a doujinshi (laughs). The A and B parts were recorded in early 2019. At first, I recorded the A part with Kensuke (Iwanaga Judgment) and Asuka (Yuko Miyamura), but at a relatively early stage, as usual, by like, Take 30 we began to attack it intensely.

––Did Ms. Ogata have to do any retakes?

There weren't many Shinji lines in Part A, and there were many reaction ad-libs (expressions such as breathing) such as "ha" and "fu", so there weren’t many retakes. I sometimes got out of the booth and waited for the other actors to finish. I didn’t talk but I watched the two performances because I thought it would be difficult for them to do it. The C and D parts in the latter half have more lines in the performance, but I think that it was almost like recording by myself throughout the whole story, not with everyone. However, in the latter part, I was told that "Gendou and Shinji want to record together," and I did it with Fumihiko Tachiki. But at that time, when it was Mr. Tachiki’s turn to record, he recorded many takes over and over again, so I waited once more, and in the end, after our recording time was finished for the day, on the way home, I went to drink with Mr. Anno and all the main staff came. "I drank with my dad (in Shinji's voice)" (laughs)

––Were there any diagrams (illustrations) when you were recording alone?

What do you mean? I don’t know but...In any case, at the stage of recording the latter part, it was said that all of Shinji’s parts would be finished recording, except for the scenes that involve Gendo. After all, as I said, the interaction with Gendou was limited to the first few pages.

––Isn't Shinji so special?

I felt that this time Shinji played a major supporting role. In the final act, the conflicts of various characters are drawn abundantly and Shinji as a major supporting character in his line interjects by saying, “So how was it?”Is it a position like "another Shinji" that often appeared in the TV series? Often, when Shinji A shouted, "What the!?", Shinji B replied, "What does that mean? Do you think you're bad?" This time, only B (who asks) feels, and it is not Shinji who is expressing his thoughts but Gendou and Asuka. In that sense, after previously completing the story of Gendou and Asuka, maybe I wanted Shinji to speak with objectivity. This is just a guess.

––Wasn't it difficult to perform by yourself?

To be honest, I like to perform with people rather than acting alone. Obviously, it's best to perform live together. It's more fun to perform together than alone. It’s because [it’s something that] can only be created in the moment. As expected, I don't say the lines without listening to the previous lines, but I perform while listening to the voices recorded by everyone else in advance, but I think it's different from performing together in a scene. But, well, it's a work that has been done for as long as 25 years, and I think the first thing is to be able to do what the executive director wants to do. Since the actors are all veterans, I felt that they were talking with an awareness along the lines of "Ogata would say something like this."

Although it was recorded separately, it seems that everyone formed a LINE group and solidified their unity. I made it when a lot of actors unexpectedly came to the New Year's party hosted by Mr. Khara on New Year's Day 2019. It’s always busy at the launch of [a new] "Eva”, so the actors don't get together so much, but at that time, a lot of people gathered, so I created a LINE group as a contact network. At first, when I made it, I thought that everyone wouldn't actively send messages, but surprisingly, there were many people who reported on their activities. Even during the recording sessions, they would say, "I'm going to record today." Good luck! " Because we bought a lot of Eva LINE stamps, we used the stamps to say "Good luck" (laughs). It's a pity that the picture alone doesn't show up. There are many Eva stamps but unfortunately, there aren’t many “boy stamps”.

––How did you feel about meeting your old colleagues who took a year to live again in this world?

I already experienced the surprise that my acquaintances are getting older before I knew it in “Q”. At first, Shinji couldn't understand the current situation in "Q". Asuka has the same face, but why did she get scared so suddenly? Misato and her crew feel like they're getting older, but he doesn’t understand what they're saying. Black plugsuit Rei Ayanami helped him, but what can I say? And so on, there were only such questions. The reason he finally realized the current situation was when Kaoru showed Shinji the devastated scenery, saying, "This is what you did." After that, Shinji was extremely depressed ……….

––In the "Q" pamphlet, Ms. Ogata's thoughts at that time were spelled out.

During the second half of "Q" Shinji rushed just for the hope that he might return to his original state if only those spears were pulled out. As a result, his friend died in front of him and he lost his will to speak. In short, in "Q", Shinji was informed that the situation has drastically changed, but in the A part of "Shin", in the part where Shinji cannot speak, it took time for Shinji to be able to slowly understand and comprehend that 14 years had passed. That said, as I said earlier, I have never spoken about the scenes where Shinji is silent, and I haven't seen any pictures, so at this point, I've only imagined what it looks like by reading the script. When I recorded the A part, there were almost no images yet ... With normal dubbing, by actually listening to the exchanges in the previous scenes, the emotions of various people come out, and I myself can act after being moved by them. I didn't have that this time, and I had no choice but to fill in my emotions only from my imagination, so I'm still not sure if I'm performing properly, but I believe in the executive director who gave me the OK! (Laughs)

––How did you interpret the feeling of returning to the Wunder?

Overall, Shinji was kind of lonely or perhaps I should say I think Shinji manufactured a world inside his heart that he fell into where only he was left behind. Everyone is his friend, but they’re not the same friends, right? Although he treats everyone the same as before, from Shinji's point of view, they are no longer the same friends as he was back then. Everyone has been accumulating experiences for the past 14 years, and each has a different family or has put themselves in a new living environment. In short, everyone has grown up. So, they’re not the same as him anymore. The reality is that he is only 14 years old and can't return to the same place as everyone else, he is in the midst of despair, yet one step to live again in this world is to return to the Wunder. I think it was the choice to go back there. I think it's gradually becoming possible for him to swallow and accept the situation he was placed into.

–– How did you feel in your performance when Asuka told you that she had grown up first?

I know how Asuka feels. For example, when I met a classmate at a class reunion, I had grown 14 years older, and although I was 14 years older and had various life experiences in those 14 years, the boy I liked at that time [in junior high school] remained a junior high school student, both emotionally and physically, and was an adult. If you haven't grown up at all, you won't feel like you used to. I think the other boy is the same [as Shinji] as what I’m talking about.

––You really read the script thoroughly, didn’t you?

Rather than reading the script thoroughly, it's more like a long accumulation [of experience]. In the last scene of "2.0", I was so tired from recording the scene where Shinji saved Ayanami that I couldn't move, so I sat down on the floor of the studio. Then Anno-san jumped in and came into the studio with me. He sat down on the floor and took my hand and said, "Thank you for adding your experience to Shinji while still maintaining the heart of a 14 year old." He said, "You managed to do it because you haven't let go of your 14-year-old heart." I was really happy [that he said that]. Then, with "Q", [Anno said,] "This time, everyone around you has grown up. What I want you to do is to show your own loneliness of being left behind with a 14-year-old heart in this film." "If you keep feeling like when you were 14 years old, you [Ogata] personally should have a sense of discomfort with others and a feeling of loneliness that only you can fall into, so please act with that in mind." In "Shin", if anything I noticed that if I was alone, then, with this, what should be done becomes an exploration on what I should do in my own way as Shinji acts. I think that is also the part that is familiar to me now. There is a stereotypical way of thinking that "adults should be like this", especially Japanese people tend to think and say that. He has a strong sense of conformity and tends to impose things like "shouldn't it be like this" and "shouldn’t be like this for members of society", and excludes other people. When I realize that "everyone around me may be different from me," I also go through the process of finding where I should be.

––It's been 25 years since you've performed that type of role where you’ve included your inner self. Miyamura, who plays Asuka, said in an interview earlier, "Ms. Ogata, thank you very much for your hard work."

Like Shinji, I think Miyamura became Asuka because it was her. Twenty-five years ago, she was still a voice actor, and although she doesn't know it, I think she performed with her body, which was the basis of Asuka. Of course, not only Miyamura, but everyone else, I think it's a rare work in which the individuality and experiences [of the performers] are projected into their roles. I wonder if we were the "chosen children" (laughs).

––Ms. Ogata, please tell us the lines that you were most impressed with this time.

I don't really think about the lines because they just come out, but the additional line that was suddenly given to me at the time of the last recording, "Goodbye, all of Evangelion" [stood out]. I was surprised by that. I was told, "Goodbye to your current feelings," and I did it several times while thinking "Um." Gradually, I didn't know if Shinji was saying it or Megumi Ogata was saying it. When I asked, "Which will you use in the end?", I was told, "I'll decide later because they’re all good", so I don't know which [take] will be included until I see the finished product (laughs).

––Looking back on 25 years, how do you feel now?

Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to have many hits in the 90's, including "Eva". Currently, in addition to "Eva", there are series from the 90's that continue to make new works such as "Cardcaptor Sakura" and "Yu Yu Hakusho", and not only animation but also apps and games are attached to them. Many collaboration products were also made. Among them, "Eva" has continued for 25 years, although there [were times when a new Eva series wasn’t being made], above all, I continued to be involved as the main character the whole time. I'm really grateful that I was able to come into contact with such a work. How many actors can have such an experience, leaving a character that can only be projected onto their own life? I really appreciate it.

––To that extent Shinji and yourself are connected?

I don't think my acting is particularly good ... I don’t think I’m suitable as an actress in terms of my personality. Previously, when I made my second animation, "Glass Mask", I played the role of the main character, Kitajima Maya. Maya is an actor who "wears a thousand masks", but I want to be an actor who "removes masks" rather than an actor who "wears a mask". If you have a thousand pieces of armor that you have worn, then peel off a thousand pieces. Everyone is acting = wearing armor and living. But it's difficult to remove it at the right time. I want to be an actor who can convey that. You can peel it off at any time. All ages and genders can be transcended. I have thought that there is no value as an actor other than being myself. Even if the people around me grow up, I can stay 14 years old... I almost backed down many times, but fortunately, I was praised in the "new movie version" for "holding on well", and for the first time I thought "I'm glad I’m an actor". Of course, I also love other works, but maybe I was able to become a voice actor to do "Evangelion"... I don't know what it is, but I think I was able to come this far because I was able to do it with a power that cannot be seen.

Knowing that it is misunderstood, "Evangelion" itself is like another life of mine. So, at the same time as it is incredible at the end, it is strange to say "somehow it does not end", but it is a complete work, and since there is a large part that links the role to myself, as long as I am alive, I feel like I will continue to live in the story of "Evangelion". Someday, when I'm asked if "I'm going to do another world beyond the final edition, but can I still be 14 years old?", I want to be able to say "I'll do it" without hesitation. I wish I could stay as an actor who can play the heart of a 14 year old until I die.

Yuko Miyamura as Asuka Shikinami Langley

Partly translated.

Translation by anonymous Discord user.

I thought she'd end up with the main character, as she's the heroine.

[...]

Even though she does her best this hard she won't be rewarded. Whatever she does she next falls into trap. That's the kind of role she is. Poor Asuka is all alone.

[...]

Throughout the entire Eva series, I've always felt sorry for Asuka. That's what's been hurting me.

[...]

She tries so hard, but she always gets hurt so badly. That's why I always hoped that she would be happy in the end.

[...]

As for me, I want everyone to imagine Asuka's happiness in the future.

[...]

To me she's like a daughter, so my reaction was "Kensuke you bastard, when did you...!" (laugh) I was surprised, with no lead-in she was intimate with Kensuke! For example, when Asuka is heading off, Kensuke takes a picture of her [撮る]. "Wait a sec, what the hell is this scene" - I wanted to insert a tsukkomi line. Asuka also enters his room on her own accord to play games.

Akira Ishida as Kaworu Nagisa

Translator unknown

––What were your initial thoughts when you first read the script?

"You did well to finally make it this far, Shinji-kun" and "Thank you for your hard work all this time, Kaworu".

––Were there any especially strong memories you had recording for Eva since your first appearance in episode 24 of the TV series up to now?

Doing voice work for Q was the most impactful for me. I would have to record scenes over and over until I was sweating and shivering before takes were OK'd. Having Ogata-san therewith me in the studio really saved me mentally.

––Was it hard to play such a mysterious character like Kaworu? You had to say a lot of complex/abstract things.

I could never quite get used to having to say such profound lines all the time, so it's not as if I can say that was something I had no trouble with at all. But when I was given lines I couldn't understand the meaning to, I would ask (the staff) what they meant. I wasn't left in the dark to figure out his character by myself.

––Kaworu has remained an extremely popular character since his initial appearance in episode 24 of the TV Series, and he has had many fans throughout the generations. Why do you think that is?

It really is a puzzling thing, I'm not sure why myself. Because he leaves such an unforgettable/lasting impression as a character, perhaps? Or maybe a more simple reason is it's because he's a handsome young man. Though if I think about it a bit more seriously, it's because from Shinji/the audience's perspective, he is straightforward and kind. He plays an affirmative/supporting role in Shinji's life, so I think that's why so many people took a liking to him.

––How do you personally interpret the new information we learn about Kaworu in Shin?

There's not much in the way of interpretation I can add here.

Though I was pleased with the skilful way the name "Nagisa" was explained in the movie.

I always thought the Nagisa in his name was linked to the subtitle of episode 24 in the TV series, "The Final Messenger". To think from the very beginning there was always another nuance to his name...I find it amazing they waited to reveal this information from us all this time up to now.

––With Shinconcluding this 4-part Rebuild series, what are your final thoughts on the story in its entirety?

I don't think there's anyone out there that denies we live our lives by steadily and naturally growing. In the first place, it's because we hardly realize we're changing bit by bit that we're able to live such peaceful lives. Though I personally can very much relate to those who have doubts about the rightness in the decisions they make and having immediate negative reactions to any spontaneous changes that might occur in their lives. At the very least, it made me aware I'm an ultraconservative person.

Tetsuya Iwanaga as Kensuke Aida

Partly translated.

Translation by anonymous Discord user.

––Though there were many unexpected things in the film Kensuke's relationship with Asuka was particularly surprising.

Since Kensuke has been close to Asuka since middle school at first I thought he helped her out of friendship, but then Yuko Miyamura told me Asuka called Kensuke "KenKen" and she found their emotional distance suspicious. As I thought "that is true..." my suspicion before long turned into certainty... (laugh)

Shinji who is 14 years old inward and outward can't possibly save Asuka who is 14 yeard old outward yet 28 years old inward. Perhaps this means only Kensuke, who is 28 years old both inward and outward, can save her. In the seiyuu LINE group Yuko Miyamura said to me "If KenKen is going to save her please go ahead and save her". I was happy she didn't go "Eehhh, Kensuke is Asuka's partner?" instead. I'm looking forward to the premiere, wanting to see if the fans too will kindly say "I'm happy Kensuke saved her".

Miyamura audio stream Fanicon, MIYAMURA YUKO Corp

On March 20th 2021, Miyamura hosted a live stream with fans on the Fanicon platform clarifying some details of the movie and her character. This is a translated transcript of her statements. Note this is a partial transcript, as Miyamura says several things that are redundant or irrelevant.

20-40min:

Asuka is not human, so she can't live with the people of the Third Village, so she stays at Kenken's house.

For 14 years, Asuka's body did not grow, but her hair did, and she was lonely. Kenken took care of Asuka, who was lonely.

Asuka must have been very happy with Kenken's warmth.

Kenken is now in the position of Kaji-san.

Asuka was happy with Kenken's attitude. Kenken is such a great guy. Do you think that such a great guy would press for physical relations with a troubled 14 year old girl?

I don't think they had a physical relationship

When Asuka says to Shinji, "I grew up first," she doesn't mean that sexually.

Asuka said "I'm alone" (main movie). Asuka was lonely.

Kenken was watching over Asuka.

Kensuke is in the position of a father [to Asuka]

Kenken's voice actor, Mr. Iwanaga, also asked, "What? Why me?" He was surprised.

Before I knew it, Kenken came out of Asuka's stuffed toy and patted her on the head, becoming an important character, which confused the performers.

The 14 year old Shinji is different from the 28 year old Kenken.

Asuka and Kenken's relationship is not a romantic one, but a parent-child one.

When Shinji says "I think I liked Asuka", he means that he liked her at that time, even though he never came back 14 years ago.

The last scene of Adult Asuka is a love letter to Asuka fans (lol)

I felt sorry for Asuka because she was eaten three times.

At the preview, I couldn't find Asuka sitting alone on a bench in the ending station scene.

I don't know if it was Asuka who was sitting on the bench across from her or not, because I didn't see her.

1h3min~:

During dubbing when we reached the final scene Chief Director Anno and Director Tsurumaki had an explanation.

Chief Director Anno told me in the final scene there would be side by side two characters, child Asuka and a fatherly figure of whom you couldn't tell if he had KenKen's face.

If it's like this it's better to have Asuka alone, I thought.

I personally strongly think "no way KenKen is acceptable [as Asuka's partner]"

And I do believe there's no way KenKen would lay a hand on her...

About Adult Asuka (1h16min~):

I don't think the original Asuka is Soryu Asuka. I was instructed to act as Soryu and Shikinami separately.

[Asuka at] The last scene of "Shin-Eva" was not a clone.

I thought she was cute when they showed me the setting picture of Adult Asuka during the recording sessions. I told the staff, "I want this."

The fact that Asuka called him "Baka Shinji" has a special meaning to me.

About Mari's end (1h25min~)

The way Mari said "Farewell, Princess" and then ran hand in hand with Shinji was a good line for Mari-Asuka.

The way Shinji turned into an adult at the end was amazing. I thought he grew up really fast.

Explanation of the ending. Information in the script? (Video 1h 38m~)

At the end, at Ube Shinkawa station, Mari and Shinji run out and go to the real world, changing from the anime station to the live-action scenery.

Kenken didn't touch her (2h14m~):

Kenken would never touch 14 year old Asuka.

Miyamura confirms Tsrumaki was in charge for everything Asuka-related, and asks fans to create new fanworks on pixiv for her to see. - Yuko Miyamura.