EVANGELION: 2.0 Gets North American Theatrical Release

Source: Eleven Arts Entertainment press release Official Movie Site: funimation.com/evangelion (US), evangelion.co.jp (Japan)

Cinema Arts Releasing, Eleven Arts and FUNimation Entertainment are bringing EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Ha, 2009), the second of the new Evangelion films, to the big screen in theaters across North America in January 2011. Cinema Arts Releasing is a newly created distribution company specializing in releasing six to eight Asian themed theatrical features for the North American market per year. Eleven Arts is the company that has brought you such celebrated Japanese films as MEMORIES OF TOMORROW starring Ken Watanabe and Yoji Yamada’s LOVE AND HONOR. FUNimation Entertainment is known for releasing quality anime titles to the American market, and they have released such popular titles as DRAGON BALL and FULL METAL ALCHEMIST. In 2009, FUNimation handled the North American theatrical and home video release of the previous Evangelion film, EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: Jo, 2007).

EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE is the second chapter in the four part "Rebuild of Evangelion" (Evangelion Shin Gekijoban) film series by Hideaki Anno and Studio Khara, re-imagining the sci-fi animated series blockbuster NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (Shin Seiki Evangelion)— also written and directed by Anno— which first aired on Japanese television in 1995. It was one of the top 5 highest grossing Japanese films of 2009 with box office in excess of $40 million US. EVANGELION 2.0: YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE screened at Film Festivals around the world, including the 2010 Fantasia Film Festival, the 2010 SITGES Film Festival, and the 15th Lyon Asian Film Festival (France). With EVANGELION: 2.0 YOU CAN (NOT) ADVANCE the landmark anime Evangelion evolves, reaching new heights of intensity. In an explosive new story full of brutal action and primal emotion, a group of young pilots maneuver their towering, cyborg Eva Units into combat against a deadly and disturbing enemy. In the battle to prevent the apocalyptic Third Impact, Shinji Ikari (voiced by Megumi Ogata) and Rei Ayanami (Megumi Hayashibara) were forced to carry humanity’s hopes on their shoulders. Now, as the onslaught of the bizarre, monstrous Angels escalates, they find their burden shared by two new Eva pilots: the fiery Asuka Langley Shikinami (Yuko Miyamura) and the mysterious Mari Illustrious Makinami (Maaya Sakamoto). In this thrilling new experience for fans of giant robot action, the young pilots fight desperately to save mankind— and struggle to save themselves.

About Eleven Arts, Inc.

Based in Los Angeles, Eleven Arts, Inc. is a motion picture production and distribution company that brings Japanese and Asian movies to worldwide audiences as well as bringing movies from all over the world into Asia.

About FUNimation Entertainment

FUNimation Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit funimation.com.

For more information on "Rebuild of Evangelion" please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan: