What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedNeon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth
Hideaki Anno · Film · 2026
If you loved Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, start with Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth across media.
You crave the way Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth forces you to confront the fragile boundary between individual identity and collective existential collapse.
Start with the source
The source
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Series · 1995
Adaptation
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Film · 1997
Adaptation
EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²
Film · 2026
Books on the same thread
Annihilation
Jeff VanderMeer · Book · 2014
Explores: Environmental Collapse, Exploration, Identity.
Like the psychological unraveling in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, this novel explores how the environment mirrors internal trauma, stripping away the self until only haunting memories remain.
The Sickness Unto Death
Søren Kierkegaard · Book · 2013
Explores: Despair, Faith, Self-Deception.
Kierkegaard provides the philosophical backbone for the despair found in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, dissecting the religious and psychological isolation inherent to the human condition.
涼宮ハルヒシリーズ (Haruhi Suzumiya Series)
Nagaru Tanigawa · Book · 2003
Explores: Existentialism, Reality Bending, God Complex.
This series captures the meta-narrative experimentation seen in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, blurring the lines between reality and the artificial roles characters are forced to inhabit.
Life After Life
Raymond Moody · Book · 1975
Explores: Death and Dying, Consciousness, Spirituality.
These investigations into consciousness and the afterlife echo the spiritual and metaphysical inquiries that define the final, mind-bending sequences of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth.
Series on the same thread
Death Note
Series · 2006
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, God Complex, Justice vs. Evil.
The intense moral ambiguity and god-like power struggles in this story mirror the high-stakes internal conflicts that plague the protagonists of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth.
Serial Experiments Lain
Series · 1998
Explores: Existentialism, Identity Crisis, Technological Singularity.
Much like Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, this experimental series uses digital isolation and hallucination to explore the fragmentation of identity and the fragility of the human psyche.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Series · 2006
Explores: Rebellion, Oppression, Political Intrigue.
This narrative mirrors the political and military backdrop of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, focusing on how personal trauma drives a revolutionary quest against oppressive, all-encompassing systems.
Devilman Crybaby
Go Nagai · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth: Apocalyptic Anime.
The apocalyptic body horror here resonates with the visceral, transformative violence found in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth, highlighting the inevitable loss of humanity during catastrophic events.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Realignment
The Realignment · Podcast · 2026
Explores: institutional change, populism, technological disruption.
If Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth hit, The Realignment shares the thread.
The Cast Nexa Show
Cast Nexa · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Artificial intelligence, Future trends, Entrepreneurship.
If Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth hit, The Cast Nexa Show shares the thread.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth the same as the original television series?
No. Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth is not the 1995 television series. Death consists of clips from the original show, while Rebirth was intended to be a re-worked ending, though it ultimately became the first half of the first part of The End of Evangelion.
What order should I watch Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth in relation to The End of Evangelion?
Since Rebirth is essentially the first half of the first part of The End of Evangelion, watching Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth serves as a precursor to the 1997 film. You should view it before The End of Evangelion to understand the intended re-worked ending.
How does Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth relate to EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)²?
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth contains the original Death segment, which was later refined into EVANGELION: DEATH (TRUE)². While Death and Rebirth includes the Rebirth portion as a precursor to The End of Evangelion, the later release focuses specifically on the revised compilation of the series clips.
Should I watch Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth before The End of Evangelion?
Yes. Because Rebirth represents the first half of the first part of The End of Evangelion, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth acts as a lead-in to the 1997 film. It provides context for the re-worked ending that was originally planned for the conclusion of the series.