[2026] Summary of Theme Songs and Related Tracks from the Neon Genesis Evangelion Series

Beautiful WorldUtada Hikaru

Utada Hikaru「Beautiful World」　Directed by Tsurumaki Kazuya

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 awayUtada Hikaru

Hikaru Utada “Sakura Nagashi” Music Video (4K UPGRADE)

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 wingsHayashibara Megumi

Please give me wings

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.

Everything you’ve ever dreamedARIANNE

Everything You’ve Ever Dreamed – Arianne

A gem of a number passed down as a legendary, never-released vocal track! Its worldview—depicting an extreme state where personal loneliness and the boundaries between self and others collapse—blends beautifully with a clear, translucent singing voice.

This song embodies a duality of emotion: the fulfillment of a wish and the experience of loss.

Although it was produced as an insert song for the film The End of Evangelion (Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion), it went unused, with vocals performed by Arianne.

It was later included on the album Refrain of Evangelion, released in July 2003, and has continued to be cherished by fans ever since.

Give it a listen when you want to face the feelings deep within your heart or bask in the work’s lingering afterglow!

Voyager ~ Gravestone Without a DateHayashibara Megumi

VOYAGER ~ A Gravestone Without a Date

This song delicately portrays loneliness on a grand scale and the lingering warmth of memories that transcend time.

It was released as a single by Yumi Matsutoya in February 1984 and is known as the theme song for the film “Goodbye Jupiter.” Later, it was featured as an in-film song in the movie “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time,” released in March 2021, and included on the album “Shiro SAGISU Music from ‘SHIN EVANGELION.’” In this piece, Megumi Hayashibara’s vocals—she plays a pivotal role in the Evangelion series—and Shiro SAGISU’s arrangement blend beautifully.

The deep afterglow, which seems to accompany the sense of finality of a long-running story, slowly seeps into your heart.

When you want to quietly reflect on precious memories, why not give it a listen?

Goodbye for today.Hayashibara Megumi

Goodbye for today.

This number is a cover of a classic choral piece beloved by many, arranged in a somewhat impersonal, quiet style.

Its simple melody about parting, friendship, and the wish to meet again takes on a heartrending yet cruel resonance when tied to the work’s worldview.

The track was included on the album “Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance Original Soundtrack,” released in July 2009.

Used as an insert song in the anime film “Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance,” it appears during a shocking mid-film scene and left a deep impact on audiences.

In this piece, Megumi Hayashibara—voice actor and singer who plays the main character Rei Ayanami—delivers a restrained, matter-of-fact vocal performance.

Recommended for moments when you want to calm your mind or to carefully recall the film’s unforgettable scenes.

Happiness smells like sinTakahashi Yoko

Happiness smells like sin

Produced as an image song for the TV anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, this track delves deeply into the inner conflicts humans carry and the pain born of purity.

Its central theme—echoing the series’ core—that seeking someone and hurting someone are inseparable is exquisitely conveyed through Yoko Takahashi’s lustrous vocals.

The jazzy, mature arrangement is irresistible as well.

The song was included on the album NEON GENESIS EVANGELION III, released in May 1996.

It was later re-included on the album EVANGELION FLASHBACK, released in October 2025, and continues to be loved today.

It’s a perfect piece for those drawn to the work’s profound psychological portrayals, or for a quiet night’s listening.