Fifteen years following the devastating Second Impact, humanity faces relentless assaults from colossal entities known as Angels targeting Tokyo-3. Conventional military might proves futile against these foes, leaving survival in the hands of NERV, a clandestine group commanded by the stern Gendou Ikari. NERV deploys giant humanoid mechs called Evangelions, armed with advanced weaponry and shielded by Absolute Terror Fields, to combat the Angels. Shinji Ikari, a fourteen-year-old, returns to Tokyo-3 after years of abandonment by his father. Haunted by the loss of his mother and his father's icy demeanor, Shinji fears forming attachments. His world shifts upon meeting Misato Katsuragi, a twenty-nine-year-old high-ranking NERV officer who offers the warmth and care he has long lacked. An abrupt Angel incursion compels Shinji to act, exposing Gendou's true motive for summoning him: Shinji possesses the unique ability to synchronize with Evangelion Unit-01, a robot that responds to his biological signals. Despite the severe psychological strain of piloting an Evangelion, Shinji becomes Tokyo-3's guardian against the angelic threat, oblivious to his father's concealed agenda.

In this installment

Following the loss of a close friend, Shinji Ikari descends into emotional paralysis, rendering him unable to pilot Evangelion Unit-01. Consequently, his father, Gendou Ikari of NERV, frantically maneuvers to outwit the clandestine organization SEELE, as both factions pursue their own apocalyptic objectives. SEELE intends to merge human souls into an Evangelion unit to forge a divine being, whereas Gendou schemes to revert humanity to a primal state so he can reunite with his late wife, Yui. SEELE initiates a military assault on NERV headquarters, resulting in the deaths of numerous NERV personnel. Asuka Langley Sohryu takes the controls of Evangelion Unit-02 to battle SEELE's overwhelming forces. Amidst erupting chaos and societal collapse, Captain Misato Katsuragi searches for Shinji, who remains concealed within NERV, holding the fate of the world in their hands.

Background

Shinseiki Evangelion Movie: Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni is an alternate version of the series ending, which either supplements or replaces episodes 25 and 26, depending on how they are viewed. The movie was awarded the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize for 1997, the Japan Academy Prize for Biggest Public Sensation of the Year, and Special Audience Choice Award by the 1997 Animation Kobe.