![[2026] Summary of Theme Songs and Related Tracks from the Neon Genesis Evangelion Series](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/0Uhh62MUEic/maxresdefault.webp)
[2026] Summary of Theme Songs and Related Tracks from the Neon Genesis Evangelion Series
Ever since its first broadcast in 1995, the Neon Genesis Evangelion series has continued to be loved into the 2020s.
It’s a work that has etched itself deeply into many hearts not only through its story and visual expression, but also through its iconic theme songs and related tracks.
From the TV series to the theatrical films and associated works, the music has evolved with the times, melding seamlessly with the world of the series—just hearing it brings back those shocks and emotions, doesn’t it? In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of Evangelion theme songs and related tracks.
You’re sure to find a song that awakens your memories.
Please enjoy it to the very end!
[2026] Summary of Theme Songs and Related Tracks from the Neon Genesis Evangelion Series (1–10)
One Last KissNEW!Utada Hikaru
This song, which beautifully colors the afterglow of a series finale, is deeply compelling for its soft electronic sound that captures intimate, delicate emotional shifts and its theme that affirms parting not as utter despair but as the radiance of memory.
Written as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time and released in March 2021, it was later included on the album BAD Mode.
The anecdote that Hikaru Utada carefully read a nearly finished script and created the song while envisioning the final scene is also deeply moving.
It’s a masterpiece I hope people will listen to when they want to quietly soak in the end of a long story or take a new step forward while holding precious memories close.
A Cruel Angel’s ThesisNEW!Takahashi Yoko
As an anime song that represents the Heisei era, it’s a classic that almost everyone has heard at least once.
Its driving, exhilarating beat and dramatic melody intertwine exquisitely, and its grand theme evokes a prayer for young people confronting a harsh destiny.
Yoko Takahashi’s vocals—combining clarity with power—further enhance the work’s worldview.
Released as a single in October 1995, it was created as the opening theme for the TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The song has continued to be loved for many years, becoming a nationwide hit so well-known that even people who haven’t seen the anime recognize it.
Beloved across generations, it’s the perfect number for bringing everyone together and getting the crowd excited at karaoke.
Refrain of SoulsNEW!Takahashi Yoko
Let me introduce a irresistibly cool track that surges from a mysterious, atmospheric intro into an emotionally charged chorus! Despite its unusual creation process—where the lyricist reportedly wrote it after hearing only the demo and seeing just a few brief clips rather than watching most of the anime—it still captures the work’s grand worldview beautifully.
Released as a single in February 1997, it was chosen as the theme song for the anime film Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth, which opened in March of the same year.
With a title that means “refrain” in French, this song resonates through Yoko Takahashi’s powerful vocals.
The heavy orchestral sound intertwines with a pop-inflected melody, making it perfect for when you want to boost your mood.
It’s also a great pick for karaoke—grab the mic and sing your heart out!
Komm, süsser Tod ~ Come, Sweet Death, ComeNEW!ARIANNE
You can’t help but be drawn in by the beautiful piano tones.
This song deliberately sets ruinous themes like nihilism and salvation to a gentle melody and sings them out.
It was used as an insert song in a crucial scene where the world collapses in the animated film “Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion” (Air/True Heart for You).
ARIANNE’s emotionally rich vocals shape the work’s otherworldly atmosphere.
It was included on the single “THANATOS – IF I CAN’T BE YOURS -,” released in August 1997, and can also be heard on the album “THE END OF EVANGELION,” released in September of the same year.
Step a little away from everyday life and give it a listen when you want to calm your heart.
Fly Me to the MoonNEW!CLAIRE
The original song is a jazz standard, and its romantic worldview—evoking a longing for the moon and outer space—is truly captivating.
Claire’s clear, translucent vocals and the sophisticated arrangement leave a quiet afterglow.
First released as a single in October 1995 and reissued as a double A-side single in March 2003, this long-beloved piece beautifully adorned the ending of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, which aired the same year.
Offering a soothing contrast to the intense main story, it’s perfect for unwinding at the end of the day or spending a quiet moment gazing at the night sky.
On nights when you want to sink into an exquisite mood, be sure to give it a listen!
THANATOS -IF I CAN’T BE YOURS-NEW!LOREN & MASH
This song, which symbolizes the film Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion released in July 1997, is performed by LOREN & MASH, a project led by composer Shiro Sagisu and others.
Its allure lies in a weighty soundscape that evokes destructive impulses and a sense of apocalypse, with a magnificent melody that masterfully conveys the complex emotions where love and despair intertwine.
Released as a single in August 1997, it became a major hit, selling around 600,000 copies, and is also known for being reissued in May 2006 alongside Yoko Takahashi’s “Tamashii no Refrain.” This work is highly recommended for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the lingering resonance of the film or savor beautifully decadent music at leisure.
You’ll find yourself irresistibly drawn in by the refined vocals!
Beautiful WorldNEW!Utada Hikaru
It’s a track where the shimmering clarity of synths and a four-on-the-floor beat meld with a whispery vocal.
Imbued with a heartfelt wish to be loved and needed, the song suits the world of Evangelion perfectly.
Released in August 2007 as Hikaru Utada’s 19th single and used as the theme song for Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, it went on to become emblematic of the franchise, appearing in later installments with different arrangements over the end credits.
Treated as a double A-side with the Nissin Cup Noodles commercial song, it was also included on the following year’s album HEART STATION.
It’s the perfect song for moments when you feel a touch of loneliness or want to immerse yourself quietly in sound during a nighttime drive.
cherry blossoms drifting awayNEW!Utada Hikaru
The layered structure that begins with quiet piano and strings and gradually unfolds into a solid, surging band sound is truly moving.
The lyrics, themed around parting, loss, and prayer, are exquisitely crafted, resonating deeply with a sense of poignancy and fragility.
It was newly written as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, released in November 2012 while Hikaru Utada was on hiatus.
It also carries thoughts about the earthquake disaster, and later appeared on the album Fantôme, making it significant in her career.
Please give this song a listen when you want to keep moving forward despite a sense of loss, or on a quiet night when you want to reflect alone.
Please give me wingsNEW!Hayashibara Megumi
This is a celebrated cover of a beloved, generation-spanning choral classic, delivered with restrained vocals.
While the song carries the universal theme of yearning for freedom, its pairing with the film’s unsettling imagery creates a stark contrast with the original’s familiarity.
Sung by Megumi Hayashibara, the voice of Rei Ayanami, this track was included on the Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Original Soundtrack, released in July 2009, and was featured as an insert song in the film Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance.
It was later included on the album VINTAGE DENIM.
It’s a must-listen for those who wish to revisit that shocking scene or experience a well-known melody in a fresh, evocative way.
Return to primitiveness, O heartNEW!Takahashi Yoko
This track beautifully expresses the profound themes of the origins of life and rebirth, carried by a mystical sound! The vocals are both powerful and crystalline, and the more you listen, the more your heart soars.
When Yoko Takahashi’s smash-hit single “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis Refrain of Soul” was released in February 1997, this song was included as the B-side.
It was used as the image song for the hit animated film Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth.
Loved for many years, it later received an arranged version on the acclaimed album EVANGELION FINALLY.
It might be perfect for immersing yourself fully in the world of the work, or for quietly steeling your heart on a late night.
Please enjoy!