angel's thesis meaning

Zankoku na Tenshi no These

" Zankoku na Tenshi no These "  (残酷な天使のテーゼ, Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze ? , " A Cruel Angel's Thesis ") is the theme song of the popular anime TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion performed by Yoko Takahashi . It is used as the opening to the series, and two instrumental versions of it are played in the final episode, " Take care of yourself. " These are "The Heady Feeling of Freedom" and "Good, or Don't Be", scored for violin, piano, and guitar. "The Heady Feeling of Freedom" is a somber and reflective piece for bowed strings and guitar, while "Good, or Don't Be" is played to a light piano and guitar tone. A similar version can also be heard during the intermission between the two parts of Evangelion: Death and Rebirth .

The single was released on 25 October 1995 within the "Zankoku na Tenshi no These" (Single) with the catalog number KIDA-116 and it also reached a peak at rank 17 in the Oricon album database, appearing in the ranks 61 times.

Unlike what is commonly assumed, this song was written without any involvement from the series' creators. [1] Anno originally wanted to use an excerpt from Borodin's Polovtsian Dances in the opening, but the producers did not approve of this and instead decided to use a J-Pop song, which eventually resulted in the creation of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis". The lyricist, Neko Oikama, had next to no knowledge of the series. Oikama simply skimmed through a proposal of it (possibly Neon Genesis Evangelion Proposal ) and watched unfinished versions of two episodes on fast forward, only serving to broadly "fit" the anime after the fact. [2] [3] [4] Oikama took inspiration for the title from the manga A Cruel God Reigns . [5] She said the lyrics "become a legend" were originally "become a weapon". She was orientated that the series was "difficult and philosphical". Oikama described it as: "older women", "mothers" and "14-year-old boys and girls", and decided to make it about the perspective of a mother when her child "leaves the nest". [6] The original song included a male chorus, which was cut at director Hideaki Anno 's request in order to "emphasize maternal affection". [7] The writing process for Episode:01 took as long as six months, [8] and the opening sequence was not yet finished. [9] [10] Singer Yoko Takahashi was also brought in relatively haphazardly and had no knowledge of the series either, and would only see the opening featuring her voice when it aired on TV. [11] She had also first met Anno on the day of recording. [12]

• 1.1 TV Size
• 1.2 Full Size
• 4 External Links
• 5 References

TV Size [ ]

Full Size [ ]

[13]

• During the instrumental break in the middle of the song, a chorus can be heard singing. The lyrics to the chorus are not in Japanese, nor in any other recognizable language. According to the January 1996 issue of Newtype magazine, the lyrics can be phonetically transliterated into Japanese as 「ファリィア。セタ(or セパ）メッソ。ファリィア。トゥスェ」 "Fariya. Seta (or sepa) messo. Fariya. Tuse" , and they are supposedly written in an untranslated language passed down from ancient times. One could entertain the possibility that they are written in the same language as that of the Dead Sea Scrolls . [14]
• American rapper Kanye West WP sampled this song in his unreleased song "Evangelica". Fellow rapper Albe Back later released the song on 13 October 2022. [15]

See Also [ ]

• " Zankoku na Tenshi no These 2009 VERSION "
• " Zankoku na Tenshi no These MATSURI SPIRIT "

External Links [ ]

• 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」MUSIC VIDEO（HDver.）/Zankoku na Tenshi no Te-ze“The Cruel Angel's Thesis” at King Records' YouTube channel

References [ ]

• ↑ "Producer Ootsuki said he allowed Anno to do whatever he wanted in the anime except for the theme music. Ootsuki was particular about the theme and handled the music staff by himself. No anime staff, even Anno, met the music staff, he said." - Yuko Miyamura, BS AnimeYAWA
• ↑ “My manager got the job, we had a quick meeting lasting about 30 minutes, skim-read the proposal and watched two episodes on fast-forward. And with that I was told ‘so, yeah, just write whatever you want!’, and finished the song [lyrics] in about two hours. Sorry to burst your bubble, guys!” https://soranews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa
• ↑ "I hadn't watch Eva and wrote it in 2 hours. I don't even know what the story is or who is fighting who." https://twitter.com/otakucalendarjp/status/1356542049751687171
• ↑ She also professed that she did not know much about Neon Genesis Evangelion when she first wrote the song, and she still has not watched the series. "It's a finished job, so [I'm] not really [interested]," she said. When she wrote the song, the anime had not been finished yet and she only had the proposal and the first two or three minutes to go by. "It wasn't even colored. I wrote the song, and my job was done. I wrote it in about two hours." - https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-02-03/lyricist-neko-oikawa-shares-how-she-was-scammed-out-of-her-evangelion-royalty-money/.169084
• ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160830224921/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11939169
• ↑ https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n1.html
• ↑ Refrain of Evangelion OST Booklet , 2003
• ↑ 2nd JUNE interview
• ↑ Notenki Memoirs
• ↑ According to Hidenori Matsubara during the Animazement 2015 convention, "the song was created before they even got done with animation for the opening theme. Strangely enough, the song managed to go along with the opening animation."
• ↑ Yoko Takahashi Performs Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” to Excited Crowd at Anime Expo 2015 in LA
• ↑ —When was your first meeting with Mr. Anno? "It was on the day of recording. As I said earlier, when I entered the studio before anyone else to get ready, even while I couldn't afford, a man dressed in black and wearing sandals suddenly appeared. I didn't know who it was, but I just said hi, and he was actually Mr. Anno (Hideaki). It was a shocking encounter (laughs)." - Yoko Takahashi: EVANGELION FINALLY (2020)
• ↑ https://www.animelyrics.com/anime/eva/ngetnshi.jis
• ↑ http://www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~yato/eva/ura.htm
• ↑ https://genius.com/Al-be-back-evangelica-lyrics

• 2 Rei Ayanami
• 3 Kaworu Nagisa

A Cruel Angel's Thesis

A Cruel Angel's Thesis is the opening theme song for the series Neon Genesis Evangelion , composed by Hidetoshi Sato and sung by Yoko Takahashi . The lyrics are by Neko Oikawa while the arrangement is by Toshiyuki Omori. The song also has the distinction of taking first place in the JASRAC Awards. [1]

This song was written with relatively limited involvement from Hideaki Anno and the production staff, being handled by producer Toshimichi Otsuki . [2] Anno originally wanted to use an excerpt from Borodin's Polovtsian Dances in the opening, but the producers did not approve of this and instead decided to use a J-Pop song, which eventually resulted in the creation of this song by Neko Oikawa.

Oikawa apparently had very little knowledge of the show, which was under production at the time with the episodes not having been colored. According to tweets and interviews, Oikawa went through a proposal of the show (possibly Neon Genesis Evangelion Proposal ) and watched two unfinished episodes on fast-forward, only serving to broadly "fit" the anime after the fact [3] [4] The writing process for Episode 01 took as long as six months, [5] and the opening sequence was not yet finished. [6] [7] The original song included a male chorus, which was cut at director Hideaki Anno's request in order to "emphasize maternal affection". [8]

Oikawa states that she took inspiration for the title from the manga A Cruel God Reigns . [9] Among other statements, Oikawa said the lyrics "become a legend" were originally "become a weapon" and that she decided to make the song about the perspective of a mother when her child "leaves the nest." [10] Singer Yoko Takahashi was also brought in relatively haphazardly and had no knowledge of the series, and would only see the opening featuring her voice when it aired on TV. [11] She had also first met Anno on the day of recording. [12]

Original Japanese Lyrics: Neko Oikawa

Translation Notes

1 This was translated by Takayama Miyuki and these are the translator's notes:

• young boy, become the legend! : The word "shinwa" actually means "myth" ("legend" would be "densetsu"), but I think it sounds better as "legend."
• with surging, hot pathos : "Atsui" (hot) can also mean "intense, passionate." "Pathos" is "the quality or power in life or art of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion; pity; suffering; sorrow."
• Embracing this sky [universe] and shining : "Sora" (sky) is the reading given for the kanji for "uchuu" (universe).
• has any meaning : The kanji used for the "a" in "aeta" is not the normal kanji used in "au" (to meet). It's the first kanji in "ouse" (encounter, tryst) and has more of a connotation of meeting by fate or being brought together by fate, not just meeting. (Interestingly, a dictionary I have gives the meaning of "au," when written with this kanji, as "to meet (with drama or pathos)")
• for learning freedom : The "watashi wa sou" is probably "watashi wa sou omou." And "bible" in this case isn't referring to *the* Bible. "Bible" can also mean "guide book, how-to book, a book valued for its use as a reference," like in "a handyman's bible," or "a bird-watcher's bible."

2 This is the translation found on the U.S. release of Evangelion by ADV.

3 The instrumental section contains chanted non-Japanese lyrics in Yoko Takahashi 's version and a few others, while other versions of the song have a purely instrumental section. The January 1996 issue of Newtype magazine transcribed Takahashi's lyrics in this section as "Fariya. Seta(or sepa) messo. Fariya. Tuse." which they speculate is from the fictional language of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Alternatively, an EvaGeeks forum discussion suggests that the lyrics may be "Faria? Será mesmo? Faria? Eu sei!" which is in the Portuguese language. Since the word "Faria" is usually used in a similar way as the English word "would", those lines could be interpreted as someone doubting something or someone else. There has never been any official information on the actual lyrics or their meaning, if any.

• ↑ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-25/songs-from-evangelion-other-anime-win-jasrac-awards
• ↑ From the animania blog report on the March 28, 2005 NHK Anime Yawa talk show (translation by animania) - Otsuki said he allowed Anno to do whatever he wanted in the anime except for the theme music. Otsuki was particular about the theme and handled the music staff by himself, going as far as to claim that no anime staff, even Anno, met the music staff (apparently contradicted by Oikawa's statements). - Yuko Miyamura, BS AnimeYAWA
• ↑ “My manager got the job, we had a quick meeting lasting about 30 minutes, skim-read the proposal and watched two episodes on fast-forward. And with that I was told ‘so, yeah, just write whatever you want!’, and finished the song [lyrics] in about two hours. Sorry to burst your bubble, guys!” http://soranews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa
• ↑ "It wasn't even colored. I wrote the song, and my job was done. I wrote it in about two hours." Anime News Network interview with Neko Oikawa
• ↑ 2nd JUNE interview
• ↑ Notenki Memoirs
• ↑ According to Hidenori Matsubara during the Animazement 2015 convention, "the song was created before they even got done with animation for the opening theme. Strangely enough, the song manage to go along with the opening animation."
• ↑ Refrain of Evangelion OST Booklet, 2003.
• ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20160830224921/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/11939169
• ↑ https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n1.html
• ↑ Yoko Takahashi Performs Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” to Excited Crowd at Anime Expo 2015 in LA
• ↑ —When was your first meeting with Mr. Anno? "It was on the day of recording. As I said earlier, when I entered the studio before anyone else to get ready, even while I couldn't afford, a man dressed in black and wearing sandals suddenly appeared. I didn't know who it was, but I just said hi, and he was actually Mr. Anno (Hideaki). It was a shocking encounter (laughs)." - Yoko Takahashi: EVANGELION FINALLY (2020)

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• A Cruel Angel's Thesis

A Cruel Angel's Thesis Explained

, [1] also known as " A Cruel Angel's Thesis ", is a J-pop song performed by Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi . Toshiyuki Ōmori and Hidetoshi Satō composed the song, while Neko Oikawa wrote the lyrics. It was written for the opening theme of the anime television series Neon Genesis Evangelion , and was released as a double-A-sided single with " Fly Me to the Moon ", the show's closing theme, on October 25, 1995. "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was also included in the series' soundtrack releases and Takahashi's albums.

The song had a positive reception from music critics and audiences; it later became one of the most famous Japanese anisong s, songs specially created for anime series. Years after the show's first airing, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" has remained a popular Japanese karaoke song, winning popularity polls and awards. On the Internet, along with its official video, the song gained further fame through covers and parodies, becoming one of the most famous theme songs in the history of animation.

Background and recording

During the production of Neon Genesis Evangelion , the show's director Hideaki Anno suggested using an existing piece of classical music as the series' opening theme. He first chose the Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor by Russian composer Aleksander Borodin . TV Tokyo rejected the proposal, judging such a piece unsuitable for the show; a classical composition from Prince Igor would have been, according to the producers, "unclear". [2] Neon Genesis Evangelion production studio Gainax then contacted Hidetoshi Satō and Toshiyuki Ōmori to write an original piece in place of the soundtrack's main composer Shiro Sagisu . Although not officially credited, Toshimichi Ōtsuki, a member of King Records and the official producer of the animated series, coordinated production. During the demo stage Ōtsuki requested a melody with a "crispy notching style".

Singer Yoko Takahashi , who was already known for singing Japanese television themes, was contacted for the recording; at the time of the recording of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", Takahashi had not seen the anime and was not given any information about it. [3] [4] Ōmori finished the arrangement, albeit roughly, and Takahashi established a temporary track by singing the melody with only the syllable "la". [5] Once the final lyrics were ready, Takahashi, then almost thirty years old, was asked to adopt a childlike tone of voice. When she received a demo of the base to rehearse with, Takahashi found the song difficult because of both Oikawa's chosen language register and the song's fast tempo . [6] [7] A male backing choir was originally planned but was later deleted by Anno to emphasize the concept of "motherhood" on the recording.

Composition and lyrics

Neko Oikawa was given the task of writing the lyrics; Ōtsuki instructed her to write something "philosophical" and to use complicated language. [8] She focused on the key concepts of "mother", "boys and girls of fourteen" and "an adult woman". Oikawa, following the directives, completed the song in two hours, after having received few details of the anime and without having met Hidetoshi Satō. Oikawa and her manager watched the show's first two extant episodes and a document presenting the project. [9] The author had in mind the figure of a mother who does not want her son to become an adult, and wrote ambiguous lyrics with an abundance of stylistic device s. The song begins with the voice of a woman who advises a young man to behave like an angel without mercy, encouraging him with the cry of . For the woman, the boy is still innocent and naive; he looks at her, smiles and says nothing, and she gently invites him to rest. The woman, reassuring him their meeting was chosen by fate , says; "On your back you have feathers that will carry you into the future". [10]

For the title, Oikawa used the German word . Yahoo! Japan has noted the concept of These has been used, among others, by Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel , philosopher and exponent of German idealism . [11] Oikawa also took inspiration from the manga, which was written by Moto Hagio and was being published at the time, and inserted the term, which usually refers to the angels of Christianity . An additional religious reference, the verse ("This is the Bible with which you will learn what freedom is"), was added to the lyrics. At first, she thought of ending the song with the motto, which can also be translated as "become crazy" if written with kanji , but the proposal was shelved [12] under the advice of TV Tokyo, which requested a change to " shin wa ni nare " ("become a myth"). [13] The ending with an imperative remained, keeping the idea of an adult addressing a young boy. [14] According to Comic Book Resources 's Devin Meenan, the lyrics could refer to Yui Ikari, mother of protagonist Shinji who protects him during the events of the series, or Misato Katsuragi , his superior who encourages him "to come out of his shell". [15] Kotono Mitsuishi , Misato's Japanese voice actress, gave a similar interpretation; in an interview, Mitsuishi stated that the lyric "pierced" her heart, believing "that was Misato's voice". [16]

An interlude chorus with the words and was also included in the song; the interlude's lyrics are not from an existing language and were created by arranger Toshiyuki Ōmori. The chorus was sung by Ōmori, Takahashi, and her brother Gō Takahashi.

On October 25, 1995, "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was released as a single in two versions: in the first one, with a cover price of, it was accompanied by a song by Takahashi entitled ; [17] the second version, with a cover price of yen, includes " Fly Me to the Moon " performed by Claire Littley, the show's closing theme song. [18] The second version was reissued on March 26, 2003, for the release of the Renewal Edition of Neon Genesis Evangelion . [19] "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was also included on albums dedicated to the anime soundtracks, starting with Neon Genesis Evangelion I , released on November 22, 1995; in the following Neon Genesis Evangelion II , released on February 16, 1996, the shorter "TV Size Version", which was used for broadcast by TV Tokyo, was also included. [20]

The song was included in other releases, such as the special box set The Day of Second Impact (September 13, 2000), [21] Neon Genesis Evangelion: S² Works (December 4, 1998), Refrain of Evangelion (May 23, 2003), Neon Genesis Evangelion Decade (November 26, 2005), [22] A. T. EVA01 Reference CD (December 21, 2007), [23] Shin Godzilla vs Evangelion Symphony (December 27, 2017), [24] [25] Evangelion Finally (October 2020), [26] and Neon Genesis Evangelion Soundtrack 25th Anniversary Box , a box containing several versions of the theme song. [27] The track was later included on unrelated compilations, such as the Star Child Selection (28 January 2000), [28] various Super Robot Tamashii anthologies [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] in various mixes, [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] pop'n music 12 Iroha AC CS pop'n music 10 (13 April 2005), [40] Kids Song★Hit Paradise! (26 September 2008), [41] Brass Band Koushien 3 (27 February 2008), [42] and Nekoism 〜 Neko Oikawa Sakuhin-shū (21 February 2018). [43]

"The Cruel Angel's Thesis" enjoyed long-lasting success and frequently appeared in popularity polls even decades after the first airing of Evangelion . [44] It is considered one of the best and most iconic theme songs of the otaku subculture, [45] finding renewed popularity with the release of the Rebuild of Evangelion theatrical tetralogy. [46] In 1996 and 1997, after the first broadcast of Neon Genesis Evangelion , "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was elected best theme song of the moment in the Anime Grand Prix , an annual poll conducted by the magazine Animage ; in the second year, it got more than twice as many votes as the second-placed song, Give a Reason by Megumi Hayashibara . [47] [48]

In a 2002 poll on the most-unforgettable songs in the history of Japanese animation, conducted by TV Asahi , the song was placed 55th; [49] it later reached 18th place in the same channel's ranking of best anime songs produced during and after the 1990s. [50] [51] In 2016, the song was ranked top in a poll of the favorite anisongs of the 1990s by Anime News Network users and one of the best-ever anisongs in a poll of almost 7,000 people by CD & DL Data magazine. [52] [53] In 2018, Japanese website Anime Anime asked its users which cartoon soundtracks they would like as their national anthem; "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" took third place. [54] The following year, it came second in a survey of the most-sung titles by the female audience on the website Merumo. [55]

Critical reception

Critics positively received "The Cruel Angel's Thesis". Casey Baseel of Sora News and Ederlyn Peralta of Comic Book Resources described it as one of the most iconic anime songs. [56] [57] Comic Book Resources' Eduardo Luquin praised its tone, writing, "'Cruel Angel's Thesis' is a hype train that starts the trippy trip to the destinations known as philosophy, religion, and teenage angst. Like a starting shot at the start of the race, it implores the watcher to go headlong into the show and try to take in everything Evangelion has to offer." [58]

For Lauren Orsini of Forbes , the song is "instantly catchy". [59] Matt Fagaly of Crunchyroll and Tom Pinchuk of Geek & Sundry praised the contrast between the dark, pessimistic themes of its parent series and the song's lighthearted tone. [60] [61] This view was echoed by the Anime-Planet website, which said, "It's a great piece of music, which is quite rare for anime openings these days". [62] Upon the anime's release on Netflix, the theme song was again analyzed and reviewed. David Levesley of Gentlemen's Quarterly described it as an "exceptional" song [63] while Junichi Tsukagoshi of Animate Times called it "a holy chant that everyone knows". [64] Italian writer Laura Mucci of Everyeye.it called it "a curious element of cultural folklore", "a kind of Japanese counterpart to [the Italian] Nel blu, dipinto di blu ". [65] Comic Book Resources similarly ranked "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" as the best theme song of the 1990s and the third-most beautiful of all time. [66] [67]

"The Cruel Angel's Thesis" has been described by the website Sora News as an "unqualified hit" that transcended anime fandom, [68] and by Crunchyroll'sKara Dennison as "one of the most recognizable [themes] in anime history". [69] Throughout the years, the song spawned memes and parody edits. [70] [71] Music anime douga (MAD) began to circulate on websites, with tribute video clips aimed at recreating the song's music and video; according to Comic Book Resources's Angelo Delos Trinos, it has been "endlessly covered and edited more so than anything from the actual anime. Even anime newcomers who have yet to watch anything from Evangelion are already familiar with its opening because of its undying online presence". [72] Through the years, these parodies spread on the web and the music video continued to be homaged by Internet users [73] [74] through remixes, mash-up s, and covers. [75] [76] [77] In 2018, a Twitter user combined the song with a video clip of LMFAO 's " Party Rock Anthem "; the parody video went viral and "Party Rock Anthem" also became a meme with dozens of variations on several social media platforms. [78] [79] In 2022 Japanese voice actress and singer Aina Aiba named the Evangelion opening as one of the anime songs that "changed her life" and introduced her to singing. [80] [81]

Merchandise and other uses

"A Cruel Angel's Thesis" was used in Evangelion -inspired video games and pachinko machines. [82] In August 1997, the Japanese magazine June , specialized in homoerotic manga and anime (shonen-ai), issued a volume entitled, the title of which is taken from the first verse of the theme song. [83] In 2014, Sony released a special DAT walkman about the series in homage to the one used by Shinji's character; included in the package was a card from the Japanese music store Mora that allowed customers to download the original version of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" in Sony Stores in Ginza , Nagoya , and Osaka . [84] The following year, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the first airing of the anime, a musical road playing the song was built in Hakone , near which the series' fictional city Tokyo-3 is located; through jolts caused by grooves in the asphalt, a person driving at an optimal speed of 40km/h could hear the song along a scenic route at Lake Ashi . [85]

In 2018, Evastore, an official store entirely dedicated to the series, advertised the release of the single in a restored digital format and produced new Evangelion -related merchandise, such as t-shirts, [86] [87] posters, [88] and metallic postcards. [89] On May 5 of the same year, the piece was included in an official cross-over episode between Neon Genesis Evangelion and the animated series Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion . [90] On December 26, Takahashi performed "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" at the opening of an izakaya club dedicated to the series; [91] a drink named "Zankoku na tenshi no these" was also released. [92] In 2019, in conjunction with the anime's launch on Netflix, Japanese singer Toshi performed the song during a performance of the ice-skating show Fantasy on Ice . [93] American wrestler Dio Maddin , a fan of Neon Genesis Evangelion , named one of his final moves "Cruel Angel's Thesis" after the song. [94] In 2020, an Evangelion -themed event was held at the Tokyo Sky Tree , during which the video of the song was shown at the tower's observatory; the event ran until May of the following year. [95] [96] "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was also used in an episode of Seiyu's Life! [97] and homaged in other animated series, such as Hayate the Combat Butler , [98] and Regular Show . [99]

Commercial performance

In Japan, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" gained popularity, [100] [101] [102] [103] remaining for years in the Oricon Karaoke Chart . [104] [105] [106] The original version of the song was released as a single on October 25, 1995, and charted twenty-two times on the weekly Oricon charts, peaking at number twenty-seven. [107] It was later re-released together with Claire's cover of "Fly Me to the Moon" and stayed on the chart for sixty-one weeks. [108] In 1997, shortly after the end of the anime's first airing and the release of the movie , "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" was awarded the gold and diamond record (named "Million" in Japan), [109] while the edition with "Fly Me to the Moon" was certified platinum. [110] The 2003 version stayed on the chart for nine weeks. [111] A remix done in 2009 was also successful; in June and July of that year, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" became the most popular anisong of the period, [112] [113] appeared for fourteen weeks on the Oricon charts, and reached number twenty-two. [114] Sales of the various versions collectively sold more than one million copies. [115] [116]

In 2011, fifteen years after its debut, the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers honored the song by placing it first in the JASRAC Awards, a special ranking of the most-profitable royalty pieces in Japanese music, calculated among other things through digital sales, pachinko , and karaoke . [117] [118] The song had already appeared on the charts in previous years: in 2008 it peaked at number seven, [119] number eight in 2009, [120] and number three in 2007. [121] In May 2012, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan . [122] Its popularity in karaoke and pachinko machines enriched writer Neko Oikawa, who in 2015 said she had earned more than in royalties from "A Cruel Angel's Thesis"; [123] pachinko machines proved particularly lucrative, grossing at least per year. [124]

"A Cruel Angel's Thesis" remains one of the most popular songs in Japanese karaoke. In 2013, it placed third in a Koebu.com poll about the favorite karaoke songs by voice actors. [125] In 2014, the company Joysound placed it at number one on its list of the year's most-popular anime theme songs. [126] The song reappeared among the twenty most-sung songs of the first half of that same year, [127] [128] and also appeared on previous charts; in 2007, it peaked at number twenty, [129] in 2009 at number two, [130] and in the first week of June 2013 at number six. [131] A similar result was recorded in 2015, when it took first place in a Charapedia's poll of about 10,000 fans' favorite karaoke songs. [132] In March of that year, the website Nico Nico News asked more than 300 adults which animated theme song was the most annoying and whose songs they were most sick of hearing, and "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" won 40.6% of the votes. [133] [134] In 2017, [135] 2019, [136] [137] and 2020, it again listed among the ten most-popular songs on Joysound's Japanese karaoke popularity polls and in Karatetsu's charts. [138] [139] On February 18, 2017, NHK BS Premium broadcast a live program entitled "Countdown Live Anisong Best 100!", in which the single was ranked eighth. [140] Joysound listed it as the most-played song in karaoke in the Heisei period , the previous thirty years of Japanese history, [141] and the second-most-sung anisong of the first half of 2020, after LiSA 's " Gurenge ". [142]

Music video

Development and release.

For "The Cruel Angel's Thesis", Gainax made a ninety-second opening video that was animated by Takeshi Honda and Shinya Hasegawa. [143] The production took some time; it was still unfinished in July 1995, when the first two episodes were premiered at the company's second festival. The music video was completed in September of the same year, shortly before the anime premiered on TV Tokyo. [144] The video consists of approximately 2,160 frames divided into eighty-four scenes, averaging one sequence per second. [145] [146] Gainax staff attempted to create a retro effect, paying homage to and imitating theme songs from previous works. [147] Hideaki Anno's name appears in large letters in the video's last few seconds, and is seemingly cut off by Eva-01's arms, emphasizing the director's strong imprint on every aspect of the series. [148]

A second video for the song's full version was released for the 2003 home video edition of the series named Renewal of Evangelion . [149] The new video was directed by Masayuki, [150] The full video is different from the one for the television broadcast and includes images from the director's cut of the episodes and scenes from the film The End of Evangelion (1997). It also includes captions with white characters on a black background, written and coordinated by Hideaki Anno. [151] The video was released in high definition on King Records' official YouTube channel on June 20, 2018. [152]

Synopsis and cultural references

The video of the television version of "A Cruel Angel's thesis" contains several cultural references, most notably to Christianity and Judaism. In the opening frames, a bright blue dot appears and expands like a drop of water surrounded by a circle of the same color. The image, according to the script, represents the beginning of the universe; [153] according to critic Mario Pasqualini, the symbol could refer to the relationship between God and Creation, which some philosophers compared to the relationship between a point and a circumference. [154]

After the point of light, a figure with twelve wings on a red background, similar to some representations of cherub ic angels, appears. [153] This is followed by a celestial flame, which refers to the concept of the soul or "life breath" and which plays a role in the series. [155] [156] The image also depicts the first light seen by a newborn child. [157] Further religious symbolism consists of a dual depiction of the Kabbalistic tree of life , [158] [159] in reference to the series' Human Instrumentality Project, [160] a plan for the evolution of humanity pursued by the character of Gendo Ikari.

In the latter part, a frame of Rei Ayanami touching a window is glimpsed, [161] with a close-up of her eye as she blinks. This device has been compared by writer Dennis Redmond to a similar image used by director Krzysztof Kieślowski in the film Blue (1993). [162] Alternating on the screen are images of Eva-01's hand covered in blood and 01 unleashing twelve wings of light, along with white captions on a black background and vice versa , maps, pencil sketches, a drawing depicting Kaworu Nagisa , [163] portraits of Misato Katsuragi, Ryōji Kaji and Ritsuko Akagi , the first Angel Adam, and a luminous red sphere. For the light wings of 01, the authors took inspiration from the Christian figure of Lucifer , a fallen angel who, according to traditional iconography, has twelve wings. [153]

The video ends with a text written, according to the official storyboards, in angelic characters; according to Anno, it represents the Dead Sea Scrolls . [164] Neon Genesis Evangelion manga English editor Carl Gustav Horn also compared the calligraphy of the characters to the Sefer Raziel HaMalakh , a Kabbalistic grimoire of Practical Kabbalah . [165]

The video clip for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" received praise from audiences and critics. According to Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide , written by Martin Foster and Kazuhisa Fujie, some viewers were at first confused by seeing the theme song, but after the series' conclusion they noticed that "everything that appeared in the story had been highlighted, flagged or hinted at in the opening sequence". [166] Newtype magazine praised the video, calling it "excellent" and appreciating the large amount of sequences. [167] For Nick Valdez of ComicBook.com , the video is "chock full of memorable imagery" and "one of the coolest trips down memory lane". [168]

Live performances

In 2015, Takahashi sang "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California, [169] and in 2017 she performed it during Billboard Live in Tokyo , receiving a warm reception from the audience. [170] On June 20, 2018, she performed the song during the Evangelion World Tour, which was organized to promote the song's re-release with restored and remastered audio along with "Tamashii no rufuran", [171] on stages in Japan, France, and Hong Kong. [172] In June 2019, Takahashi performed at the Japan Expo in Paris , singing songs from the Neon Genesis Evangelion soundtrack just before an official preview of the film Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 [173] and in conjunction with the anime's release on Netflix. To mark the occasion, all of Neon Genesis Evangelion I , including "Zankoku na tenshi no these", was added to Spotify on June 21. [174]

In 2020, an event dedicated to Evangelion Operation Yashima was announced in Hakone , a city where the show's fictional city Tokyo-3 is located. [175] [176] [177] During the event, held on March 28 and May 23, a live performance of Takahashi's "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was planned, but the dates were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic . [178] On October 3 of the same year, Takahashi took part in the unveiling of a reproduction of Eva-01 at Toei Kyoto Studio Park in Ukyō-ku , singing "Zankoku na tenshi no these" on the palm of the humanoid's hand. [179]

Remixes and other versions

For " Take Care of Yourself ", the anime's last episode, Sagisu rearranged the song's accompaniment into the instrumentals "The Heady Feeling of Freedom" and "Good, or Don't Be", arranged for piano, electric piano, acoustic guitar, violins, and cellos. [2] [180] Remixes of the single were added to Dancemania compilations. The Shihori version was included in the albums Dancemania Summer Story 2008 (25 June 2008), [181] Wa-euro Best (5 August 2009), [182] Dancemania Summer Story 2009 (10 June 2009), [183] Best of Wa-euro Best (21 July 2010), [184] the Mint version in Himetra Best (14 May 2008), [185] and Himetra Anime*Mix (21 January 2009), [186] while a version by Diana Gross was included in the compilation Him Trace 3 . [187] Other remixes were later included in the Dancemania Speed compilations Anime Speed (25 May 2005), [188] Anime Speed Newtype Edition (19 July 2006), [189] Happy Speed (18 April 2007), [190] and Himetra Speed (30 July 2008). [191]

Other versions were included in Takahashi's albums; the arrangement of the original single was copyrighted by King Records, so for legal reasons the record companies that released Takahashi's works had to rely on other arrangements. [192] A "Version '96" was added to the album Best Pieces , released on February 10, 1999, [193] and then included in Super Value Yoko Takahashi , released on February 19, 2001 by Universal Music . [194] [195] In ～refrain～The songs were inspired by Evangelion (November 6, 1997), a remix named "Ambivalence Mix" and an instrumental version titled Epilogue de these edited by Tony Orly were added. [196] [197] A new version of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" titled "Remix for Peace" was also produced in 1999 and included on Takahashi's album Best Pieces II , which was released on February 10 of that year; [198] [199] as well as Takahashi's hit collections such as Yoko Takahashi Best 10 (January 17, 2007), [200] Yoko Takahashi Essential Best (December 19, 2007) [201] and Golden☆Best Yoko Takahashi , multiple versions of which were released on February 25, 2004, [202] December 5, 2012, [203] and December 5, 2018. [204] An additional remix, "Harmonia Version", was added to LI-La , another album by the performer, [205] that was later reissued in Li-La +3 , which was released on October 2, 2013, along with the "Remix for Peace". [206]

In 2005, a new version of the song, again with Takahashi on vocals and forty-seven seconds longer than the original, was recorded for the tenth anniversary of the series. The new version, named "10th Anniversary Edition", [207] was included as the twelfth track in Neon Genesis Evangelion Decade . [208] [209] In 2009, Takahashi recorded new versions of "Zankoku na tenshi no these" and "Fly Me to the Moon", which were included in a single released on May 13. The songs were produced in conjunction with the presentation of a pachinko series on Evangelion named ; a cover designed by Takeshi Honda was used for the album. [210] The 2009 version was included in Takahashi's 20th century Boys & Girls collection, released on June 23 of the following year, [211] and, ten years later, in the mini-album Evangelion Extreme , which was released by King Amusement Creative and includes the tracks used in the pachislots dedicated to the series. [212]

In 2015, Takahashi recorded a new version of the composition named "2015 Version" in a single live session [213] with acoustic guitar accompaniment for her thirteenth studio album 20th century Boys & Girls II , which was released on April 22, 2015, by King Records. [214] Two years later, a new arrangement titled "2017 Version" was included in the anthology Yoko Sings Forever (March 22, 2017); [215] the recording was done live with piano by Marashii and organ by Satoshi Takebe . At first, a single titled "Zankoku na tenshi no these ~ Tamashii no rufuran" was planned but not included in the final version. [216] In July 2019, "Zankoku na tenshi no these" was also used in the strategy video game The Battle Cats ; [217] Takahashi sang only the word, a Japanese onomatopoeia of meow. [218] [219] The version was later uploaded to Oricon and MaiDiGiTV YouTube channels, and both videos gained more than one million views. [220] [221] In the same year, Eitetsu Hayashi produced a new arrangement of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" stylistically close to Japanese traditional music and mainly made with taiko instruments; it was premiered on King Amusement Creative's official YouTube channel as "Zankoku na tenshi no these: Matsuri Spirit" and was fully released on July 24 of the same year. [222]

The Chinese broadcaster Shenzhen TV acquired Evangelion for a Chinese-language dubbing; the first translation was not approved by the National Radio and Television Administration , a ministerial agency under the State Council of the People's Republic of China , so the series was translated and dubbed again, removing the contents that were considered inappropriate for a young audience and the theme song was renamed Měilì tiānshǐ de xíngdòng gānglǐng (美丽天使的行动纲领, "The beautiful angel's plan of action"), also known as Yǒnggǎn de shàonián (勇敢的少年, "The brave boy"). [223] [224] The anime was then broadcast between 1999 and 2001. [225]

Cover versions

In 1996, the fourth album of the soundtracks of the series, Neon Genesis Evangelion Addition , was released; the album included a track named "Zankoku na tenshi no these (Director's Edit. Version II)", lasting 4:04 minutes and sung by Kotono Mitsuishi , Megumi Hayashibara , and Yūko Miyamura , voice actresses of the three major female characters of the show, respectively: Misato Katsuragi , Rei Ayanami and Asuka Sōryū Langley . On 30 March 2001, the album The Birthday of Rei Ayanami was released; among the tracks was a cover of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" performed by Hayashibara. [226] The song was added to bertemu , the artist's seventh album, released on November 1, 1996, [227] and as a bonus track on Center Color , her eleventh, released on January 7, 2004. [228] Hayashibara stated while singing "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" she thought of the scene in which Rei smiles for the first time at Shinji Ikari in the film version of Eva . [229]

Megumi Ogata , Shinji's voice actress, performed the song during her concerts. [230] [231] Junko Iwao , the Japanese voice actress of Hikari Horaki, also recorded her bossa nova version of the song for her album Anime On Bossa , which was released on January 30, 2008. [232]

Other artists have recorded covers of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", including Shōko Nakagawa , [233] MIQ , [234] Yōko Ishida , [235] Masami Okui , [236] Shizuka Itō , [237] Mikuni Shimokawa , [238] Toshi , [239] Aya Hirano , [240] Arlie Ray, [241] Ryō Horikawa , [242] Chihiro Yonekura , [243] Akina Nakamori , [244] Maya Sakura , [245] Konomi Suzuki , [246] Kikuko Inoue, [247] and Natsuki Katō . [248] Music groups, both Japanese and foreign, also performed the song, including Animetal , [249] Anipunk, [250] Globe , [251] Move , [252] Flow , [253] Glay , [254] [255] Glory Gospel Singers, [256] Anime That Jazz!, [257] Max , [258] and Roselia, a band from the media franchise BanG Dream! . [259]

Track listings

Original version: ; [17] All tracks performed by Yoko Takahashi .

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Bibliography.

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Notes and References

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• Web site: 7 Magical Girls that Fandom Forgot . Anime News Network . 15 October 2016. 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026002613/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2016-10-15/.107546 . 26 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: Cruel Angel's Thesis Maintains Its Top Spot as Fav Anisong . Anime News Network . 31 August 2016. 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026004118/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-08-31/cruel-angel-thesis-maintains-its-top-spot-as-fav-anisong/.105934 . 26 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: 2018年、国歌にしたいアニソンは？ 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」を超える人気を集めたのは...【「君が代」記念日】 . 12 August 2018 . ja . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026003452/https://animeanime.jp/article/2018/08/12/39396.html . 26 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: 女子が好きなアニメソングランキング発表 / カラオケ定番『残酷な天使のテーゼ』は何位!? . 5 July 2019 . ja . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026003447/https://news.merumo.ne.jp/article/genre/8793783 . 26 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: From Akira to Cowboy Bebop, Anime's Most Iconic Soundtracks . . Ederlyn Peralta. 9 August 2020 . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231747/https://www.cbr.com/from-akira-to-cowboy-bebop-animes-most-iconic-soundtracks/ . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: Anime song fitness video series kicks off with exercise routine for the Evangelion theme【Video】 . 24 January 2017 . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024174721/https://soranews24.com/2017/01/24/anime-song-fitness-video-series-kicks-off-with-exercise-routine-for-the-evangelion-theme%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ . 24 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: 10 Hilarious Evangelion Memes Only True Fans Will Understand . . Edoardo Luquin . 11 October 2019. 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112001605/https://www.cbr.com/funny-evangelion-memes/ . 12 November 2020 . live.
• Web site: 5 Reasons You Should Still Watch 'Evangelion' In 2019 . Lauren Orsini . . 25 June 2019. 30 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231754/https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenorsini/2019/06/25/5-reasons-you-should-still-watch-evangelion-in-2019/#41e88a87398c . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: Anime Opening Songs Guaranteed to Lift Your Spirits . Matt Fagaly . 16 May 2020 . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200718064655/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-feature/2020/05/16-1/anime-opening-songs-guaranteed-to-lift-your-spirits . 18 July 2020 . live.
• Web site: The Best Anime Intros of All Time, As Chosen By You . 30 March 2016 . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191025235549/https://geekandsundry.com/your-top-5-fav-anime-intros-of-all-time-forever-and-ever/ . 25 October 2019 . dead.
• Web site: Neon Genesis Evangelion Review . 9 November 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080410002057/http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a390.html . 10 April 2008 . dead.
• Web site: Netflix just added one of the greatest sci-fi TV shows of all time . David Levesley . 21 June 2019 . 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200815023122/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix . 15 August 2020 . live.
• Web site: 【アニソンの歴史を振り返る1995年編】TVアニメ『新世紀エヴァンゲリオン』高橋洋子「残酷な天使のテーゼ」【連載vol.69】 . Junichi Tsukagoshi . 13 July 2020 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200917050216/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1594605915 . 17 September 2020 . live.
• Web site: Taiko no Tatsujin Drum Session Recensione: Rullo di tamburi ed è subito festa . Laura Mucci . 17 July 2018 . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191215192219/https://www.everyeye.it/articoli/recensione-taiko-tatsujin-drum-session-rullo-tamburi-ed-subito-festa-39869.html . 15 December 2019 . live. it.
• Web site: 15 Best Anime Opening Themes of All Time, Ranked . . 13 May 2020 . 21 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200525102417/https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-opening-themes-all-time-ranked/ . 25 May 2020 . live.
• Web site: 10 Best Anime Openings Of The 90s, Ranked . . 23 February 2020 . 21 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200311213947/https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-openings-90s-ranked/ . 11 March 2020 . live.
• Web site: Stand back, kids! 64-year-old enka singer Aki Yashiro completely nails cover of Evangelion theme . 21 November 2014 . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191025230920/https://soranews24.com/2014/11/21/stand-back-kids-64-year-old-enka-singer-aki-yashiro-completely-nails-cover-of-evangelion-theme/ . 25 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: 16 December 2021. "Cruel Angel's Thesis" Writers Reunite for New JoJo Theme . 19 August 2018. Crunchyroll. 16 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211216224945/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/08/18/cruel-angels-thesis-writers-reunite-for-new-jojo-theme. live.
• Web site: The Best 'Evangelion' OP Parodies of All Time . 22 June 2019 . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190929130441/https://www.geek.com/tech/the-best-evangelion-op-parodies-of-all-time-1667183/ . 29 September 2019 . live.
• Web site: Neon Genesis Evangelion: 5 Ways It's A Timeless Anime (& 5 Ways It's Overrated) . . Daniel Kurland . 28 June 2020. 5 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200630032349/https://www.cbr.com/neon-genesis-evangelion-timeless-overrated-comparison-anime/ . 30 June 2020 . live.
• Web site: 12 October 2021. 10 Iconic Anime Songs That Are More Famous Than Their Anime . 26 August 2021. Comic Book Resources . 21 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021054918/https://www.cbr.com/anime-songs-soundtrack-more-famous-than-show/. live.
• Web site: Comic Book Resources . 10 Unskippable Openings In Shonen Anime, Ranked . 21 March 2021. 12 October 2021. 28 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170456/https://www.cbr.com/unskippable-openings-shonen-anime-ranked/. live.
• Web site: Comic Book Resources . What Is the Best Anime Opening of All Time? . 22 September 2021. 12 October 2021. 6 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006094834/https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-opening-ever/. live.
• Web site: 8 things to know about Neon Genesis Evangelion, the legendary anime now streaming on Netflix . 21 June 2019. 25 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190807040814/https://www.vox.com/2019/6/21/18683621/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix-release-explained . 7 August 2019 . live.
• Web site: Japanese gravure idol strips down, plays drums to anime hits【Videos】 . 17 June 2020 . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200802095948/https://soranews24.com/2020/06/17/japanese-gravure-idol-strips-down-plays-drums-to-anime-hits%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/ . 2 August 2020 . live.
• Web site: Aberturas de Attack on Titan e Evangelion são reproduzidas em calculadoras . 31 March 2020 . pt . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200616200832/https://br.ign.com/anime/80888/news/aberturas-de-attack-on-titan-e-evangelion-sao-reproduzidas-em-calculadoras . 16 June 2020 . live.
• Web site: The 'Party Rock Anthem' Meme Will Enrich Your Life . Christian Hoard . . 9 October 2018 . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024151031/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lmfao-party-rock-anthem-meme-735242/ . 24 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: "Party Rock Anthem" colliding with our favorite scene anthems is everything we need . Whitney Shoemaker . . 7 October 2018. 14 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805133032/https://www.altpress.com/features/lmfao-party-rock-anthem-bpm-mashup/ . 5 August 2020 . live.
• News: https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2232995/full/ . ja:人気声優の人生を変えたアニソンは? ミルキィホームズやハルヒ、エヴァなど続々 . What are the anime songs that changed the lives of popular voice actors? From Milky Holmes to Haruhi to Eva , one after another . ja . . 8 April 2022 . 7 January 2024 . 3 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231203220852/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2232995/full/ . live .
• Web site: ja. カラオケ戦隊声優ジャー：徳井青空ら出演声優が"人生を変えたアニソン"語る（コメント全文） . Mantan Web. 28 April 2022 . 7 January 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20220501005655/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20220428dog00m200000000c.html. 1 May 2022.
• Web site: Newly-Edited "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" Music Video HD Version Now Streamed . 20 June 2018 . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024142612/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/06/19/newly-edited-the-cruel-angels-thesis-music-video-hd-version-now-streamed . 24 October 2019 . live.
• Book: Horn, Carl Gustav . Eight books from Evangelion. Viz Media. Neon Genesis Evangelion. 8. 978-1-59116-415-9. 2004.
• Web site: Shinji's Tape Player Gets A Tech Upgrade With New Sony Walkman F . Anime News Network . 19 April 2014 . 7 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061311/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-04-19/shinji-tape-player-gets-a-tech-upgrade-with-new-sony-walkman-f . 8 October 2018 . live.
• Web site: Hear the Evangelion theme song as you drive over Hakone's Ashinoko Skyline "musical road" . 13 April 2015. 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024174718/https://soranews24.com/2015/04/13/hear-the-evangelion-theme-song-as-you-drive-over-hakones-ashinoko-skyline-musical-road/ . 24 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: EVASTORE オフィシャル版 新世紀エヴァンゲリオンOPENING Tシャツ/白 . ja . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804170513/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/7828 . 4 August 2020 . live.
• Web site: EVASTOREオリジナル マキシシングル初号機バックプリントTシャツ（摩砂雪イラスト） . ja . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200920033422/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11560 . 20 September 2020 . live.
• Web site: EVASTOREオリジナル マキシシングル初号機タペストリー（摩砂雪イラスト） . ja . 24 October 2019 . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118082108/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11561 . live.
• Web site: EVASTOREオリジナル マキシシングル初号機メタルポストカード・クリアファイルセット（摩砂雪イラスト） . ja . 24 October 2019 . 18 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210118073918/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11562 . live.
• Web site: Evangelion Is NOT for Children, But One Japanese Kids Show Begs to Differ . Comic Book Resources. 3 March 2021. 24 October 2019 .
• Web site: Share a Drink with Mom at the Evangelion Pub . Kara Dennison . 9 November 2018. 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231840/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/11/09/share-a-drink-with-mom-at-the-evangelion-pub . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: エヴァ酒場開店「ゲンドウ豆のさつま揚げ」「見知らぬ、天丼」と豊富なメニュー . 14 November 2018 . ja . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201113123555/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/307877 . 13 November 2020 . live.
• Web site: Skaters Dance Like They Want to Win in Evangelion Routine . 19 June 2019. 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191024140757/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2019/06/18-1/skaters-dance-like-they-want-to-win-in-evangelion-routine . 24 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: WWE Wrestler Names Finishing Move After Neon Genesis Evangelion . ComicBook. 25 June 2019. 15 December 2020.
• Web site: 13 December 2020. Evangelion taking over Tokyo Skytree just in time for Christmas . 3 December 2020. Casey Baseel. 14 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214181659/https://soranews24.com/2020/12/03/evangelion-taking-over-tokyo-skytree-just-in-time-for-christmas/. live.
• Web site: ja. 14 March 2021. 映画『シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版』公開記念 「EVANGELION トウキョウスカイツリー(R)計画」の開催期間を５月３１日（月）まで延長！ . 8 March 2021. 8 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308074857/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000129.000041446.html. live.
• Web site: Seiyu's Life . Anime News Network . 7 July 2015 . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201103062912/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2015/summer/seiyu-life/.89906 . 3 November 2020 . live.
• Web site: 25 October 2021. 10 Anime That Referenced Neon Genesis Evangelion . 16 September 2021. Angelo. Delos Trinos. Comic Book Resources . 25 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210925040139/https://www.cbr.com/anime-neon-genesis-evangelion-references-homage-tribute/. live.
• Web site: Neon Genesis Evangelion Opening Parodied on Regular Show . . 10 April 2015. 7 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181207165658/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-04-10/neon-genesis-evangelion-opening-parodied-on-regular-show/.86964 . 7 December 2018 . live.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20141110152113/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2013/. 10 November 2014.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20150214151736/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2014/. 14 February 2015.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20160201163705/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2015/. 1 February 2016.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20171021184340/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2016/. 21 October 2017.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20180620102141/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2017/. 20 June 2018.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20190924201348/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2018/. 24 September 2019.
• Web site: ja. 17 October 2021. Oricon. 年間 カラオケランキング . https://web.archive.org/web/20191223024929/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2019/. 23 December 2019.
• Web site: 残酷な天使のテーゼ/高橋洋子 . . ja . 27 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130430060329/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/142144/1/ . 30 April 2013 . dead.
• Web site: 残酷な天使のテーゼ/高橋洋子，ＣＬＡＩＲＥ . Oricon . ja . 27 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021172447/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/142146/1/ . 21 October 2012 . dead.
• See Certifications .
• Web site: THE RECORD - 日本レコード協会 . Recording Industry Association of Japan . ja. 27 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180617043539/http://www.riaj.or.jp/riaj/open/open-record!file?fid=801 . 17 June 2018 . 9 . live.
• Web site: 残酷な天使のテーゼ／ＦＬＹ ＭＥ ＴＯ ＴＨＥ ＭＯＯＮ/高橋洋子，ＣＬＡＩＲＥ . Oricon . ja . 27 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021182411/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/503585/1/ . 21 October 2012 . dead.
• Book: June 2009. 131. Newtype. Kadokawa Shoten.
• Book: July 2009. 135. Newtype. Kadokawa Shoten.
• Web site: 残酷な天使のテーゼ２００９ ＶＥＲＳＩＯＮ/高橋洋子 . Oricon . ja . 27 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130430042608/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/808028/1/ . 30 April 2013 . dead.
• Web site: Statistic Trends . RIAJ . ja . 27 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190808111910/https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/pdf/issue/industry/RIAJ2015.pdf . 8 August 2019 . live.
• Web site: 特集：ヱヴァ、新生 新劇場版、庵野は何を目指すのか？ . 26 August 2007 . ja . 27 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090707092937/http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2007/08/26/20070826org00m200002000c.html . 7 July 2009 . dead.
• Web site: 2011年JASRAC賞 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」が金賞を受賞 . ja . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226192940/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2011.html . 26 December 2014 . live.
• Web site: Weekly Wrapup 22/5 - 28/5 . Anime News Network . 29 May 2011 . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226202555/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-30/weekly-wrapup-22/5-28/5 . 26 December 2014 . live.
• Web site: 国内作品分配額ベスト10(金・銀・銅賞関連) . ja . 8 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110913084318/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2008_country.html . 13 September 2011 . live.
• Web site: 国内作品分配額ベスト10(金・銀・銅賞関連) . ja . 8 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120528150512/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2009_country.html . 28 May 2012 . live.
• Web site: 国内作品分配額ベスト10(金・銀・銅賞関連) . ja . 8 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121019232238/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2010_country.html . 19 October 2012 . live.
• Web site: レコ協、5月度着うた等有料音楽配信認定を公表 . 20 June 2012 . ja . 6 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201008151046/https://www.musicman.co.jp/business/13092 . 8 October 2020 . live.
• News: Evangelion theme song lyricist talks about her annual royalties, buying caves in Turkey . Krista Rogers . Soranews24 -Japan News- . 16 September 2015 . 18 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150918085629/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/09/16/evangelion-theme-song-lyricist-talks-about-her-annual-royalties-buying-caves-in-turkey/ . 18 September 2015 . live.
• Web site: Evangelion Theme Song Writer Makes Over Hundred Million Yen in Royalties . Eric Stimson . Anime News Network . 12 September 2015 . 18 September 2015 . https://archive.today/20150918181930/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-09-12/evangelion-theme-song-writer-makes-over-hundred-million-yen-in-royalties/.92844 . 18 September 2015 . live.
• Web site: 2013's Best VAs, Anime, Games, and Karaoke Songs Chosen by Voice Actors . Anime News Network . 27 December 2013 . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226195722/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-12-27/2013-best-vas-anime-games-and-karaoke-songs-chosen-by-voice-actors . 26 December 2014 . live.
• Web site: Attack on Titan Theme Ranks #2 Karaoke Song . Anime News Network . 20 March 2014 . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141025185029/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-03-20/attack-on-titan-theme-ranks-no.2-karaoke-song . 25 October 2014 . live.
• Web site: Frozen's 'Let it Go' Ranks in Top Karaoke AniSongs for 1st Half of 2014 . Anime News Network . 13 June 2014 . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141205050549/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-06-13/frozen-let-it-go-ranks-in-top-karaoke-anisongs-for-1st-half-of-2014/.75456 . 5 December 2014 . live.
• Web site: 1位高橋洋子 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」 . ja . 28 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141025093049/http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/ranking2014/index.htm#ranking05 . 25 October 2014 . dead.
• Web site: 2007年カラオケ事情を振り返る ～2007年楽曲別ランキング～ . 10 December 2007 . ja . 20 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923212853/http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000036297 . 23 September 2015 . live.
• Web site: 特集：注目特集！年間ランキング (2009年JOYSOUND年間ランキング) . 4 December 2009 . ja . 20 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100414094027/http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/2009ranking/index.htm . 14 April 2010 . dead.
• Web site: Attack on Titan's Opening Song Tops Japan's Karaoke Chart . Anime News Network . 10 June 2013 . 28 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141226193244/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-06-10/attack-on-titan-opening-song-tops-japan-karaoke-chart . 26 December 2014 . live.
• Web site: 10,000 Otaku Poll Names Favorite Anime Song to Karaoke . 26 January 2015 . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026001721/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2015/01/25/10000-otaku-poll-names-favorite-anime-song-to-karaoke . 26 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: Japanese Karaoke Goers Are Tired of Hearing Cruel Angel's Thesis . Lynzee Loveridge . . 25 March 2015. 18 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150916041759/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-03-25/japanese-karaoke-goers-are-tired-of-hearing-cruel-angel-thesis/.86369 . 16 September 2015 . live.
• Web site: Six anime songs people are sick of hearing at karaoke, according to new poll . Casey Baseel . 26 March 2015 . 18 September 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923004541/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/03/26/six-anime-songs-people-are-sick-of-hearing-at-karaoke-according-to-new-poll/ . 23 September 2015 . live.
• Web site: 2017年JOYSOUNDカラオケ上半期ランキング . ja . 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170625180400/https://www.joysound.com/web/s/karaoke/contents/ranking/2017 . 25 June 2017 . live.
• Kenshi Yonezu's 'Lemon' is Japan's Most-Popular Karaoke Song: See Top 10 List . . 30 November 2019 . 6 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200706112944/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8545099/kenshi-yonezu-lemon-japan-most-popular-karaoke-song-see-list . 6 July 2020 . live.
• Web site: "ヒトカラで熱唱したいアニソン"といえば？ 社会人1,000人に調査！ 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」抑えた1位は... . 7 November 2019 . ja . 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191212051206/https://animeanime.jp/article/2019/11/07/49497.html . 12 December 2019 . live.
• Web site: 2019年カラ鉄年間カラオケランキング TOP10,000ツイッターでシェアする . ja . 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200409071139/https://www.karatetsu.com/ranking/total/2019 . 9 April 2020 . live.
• Web site: 月間カラオケランキング TOP1,000 ツイッターでシェアする . ja . 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200804202854/https://www.karatetsu.com/ranking/index.php . 4 August 2020 . live.
• Web site: ^ "アニソンベスト100！結果発表 - ニッポンアニメ100" . ja . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170220012245/http://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/anime100/anison/rank.html . 20 February 2017.
• Web site: Evangelion OP Song "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" Tops Japan's Karaoke Ranking of Heisei Period . 2 March 2019 . ja . 26 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191026003840/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2019/03/02/evangelion-op-song-a-cruel-angels-thesis-tops-japans-karaoke-ranking-of-heisei-period . 26 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: 「鬼滅の刃」LiSAの主題歌"紅蓮華"、圏外から総合2位へ大躍進！"20年カラオケ上半期ランキング"JOYSOUND発表 . 8 July 2020 . ja . 12 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200712201642/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/27ce16f1bf07b6db5c4e92024a4951e804921bc0 . 12 July 2020 . live.
• Book: Groundwork of EVANGELION . 2000 . Gainax . ja . 1 . 217 . 978-4-903713-00-7.
• Web site: Interviewing translator Michael House . 11 November 2011 . 17 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20200824175245/https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2011-house . 24 August 2020 . live. House . Michael.
• Book: Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book. 1. ja. Kadokawa Shoten . 15.
• Book: Platinum Booklet . Opening . . 2004.
• Book: Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book. 1. ja. Kadokawa Shoten . 8.
• Book: Kei Watanabe . Daichi Nakagawa . Tsunehiro Uno . 8 May 2006 . Evangelion Special: Phenomenon to Legacy . . ja.
• Web site: Newly-Edited "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" Music Video HD Version Now Streamed . 20 June 2018 . 25 October 2019.
• Book: Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン. Kadokawa Shoten. 2005. ja. 122–123.
• From the OP CREW, DVD "01 TEST-TYPE" of the Renewal Edition.
• Web site: Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme Gets An Official HD Music Video . 21 June 2018 . 25 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191025194238/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/06/neon-genesis-evangelion-theme-gets-an-official-hd-music-video/ . 25 October 2019 . live.
• Book: EVA友の会 . CASTから一声. 14. ja.
• Web site: it. Mario Pasqualini. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time – C'era tre volte l'amore . 8 March 2021. 11 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210309033623/http://www.dimensionefumetto.it/evangelion-3-01-0-thrice-upon-a-time-cera-tre-volte-lamore/. 9 March 2021. live.
• Book: Evangelion Chronicle . 17. 23. Sony Magazines . ja.
• Book: Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book. 8. ja. Kadokawa Shoten . 17.
• Book: Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book. 7. ja. Kadokawa Shoten . 49.
• Bartoli. Fabio. Neon Genesis Evangelion e la Kabbalah: dal Tempo di dolore al Tempo Benedetto . 2008. Antrocom. 4. 1. 34. 18 April 2020. it. 22 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180422065644/http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/040108/06-Antrocom.pdf. live.
• Ortega. Mariana. 2007. My Father, He Killed Me; My Mother, She Ate Me: Self, Desire, Engendering, and the Mother in Neon Genesis Evangelion. Mechademia. 2. 220. 978-0-8166-5266-2. 10.1353/mec.0.0010. 120554645.
• Book: Evangelion Chronicle . 1 . 28 . Sony Magazines . ja.
• Book: Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. Der Mond. Viz Media. 2001. 114. 1-56931-546-9.
• Book: Redmond, Dennis. The World is Watching: Video as Multinational Aesthetics, 1968–1995. 2004. Southern Illinois University Press. 0-8093-2535-7. 126.
• Book: 庵野 秀明 - Part II. 1997. 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン残酷な天使のように. Magazine Magazine. 4-906011-25-X.
• Book: 2009 . The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A. Glénat Editions . 3. 978-2-7234-7120-6.
• Web site: Speaking Once as They Return: Gainax's Neon Genesis Evangelion - Part 2 . Horn. Carl G. 7 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20111228184523/http://www.stanford.edu/~fenn/eva/eva2.html. 28 December 2011. dead.
• Book: Fujie. Kazuhisa. Foster. Martin. Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide. 2004. DH Publishing, Inc.. United States. 0-9745961-4-0. 74.
• Book: Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン. Kadokawa Shoten. 2005. ja. 24–25.
• Web site: 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' Releases New 'Cruel Angel Thesis' Video . Nick Valdez . 23 June 2018. 14 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231808/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/neon-genesis-evangelion-cruel-angel-thesis-video-hd/ . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: Anime Expo to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" with Theme Song Singer Yoko Takahashi . 10 July 2015 . 2 August 2020 . Crunchyroll.
• Web site: まらしぃ 高橋洋子と「残酷な天使のテーゼ」をサプライズ披露。『PiaNoFace』リリース・ライブ最終ステージをレポート . Billboard Japan . 23 May 2017 . ja . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191101155454/http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/51265/2 . 1 November 2019 . live.
• Web site: 「残酷な天使のテーゼ／魂のルフラン 」 高橋洋子（Maxiシングル） . ja . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190621130951/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11389 . 21 June 2019 . live.
• Web site: Yoko Takahashi's Evangelion Songs Get New Single Release, International Tour . Anime News Network . 19 May 2019 . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191031205914/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-05-19/yoko-takahashi-evangelion-songs-get-new-single-release-international-tour/.131737 . 31 October 2019 . live.
• Web site: 劇場版新作で「本当に終わるようです」 シンジ役・緒方恵美が言及 . 6 July 2019 . ja . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190822201910/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190706/dyo/00m/200/045000c . 22 August 2019 . dead.
• Web site: Evangelion – La colonna sonora ufficiale online, manca Fly me to the moon di CLAIRE . Marlen Vazzoler . 25 June 2019 . 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231736/https://blog.screenweek.it/2019/06/evangelion-la-colonna-sonora-ufficiale-online-manca-fly-me-to-the-moon-di-claire-690098.php/ . 12 December 2020 . live. it.
• Web site: 芦ノ湖に響き渡れ エヴァ主題歌「残酷な天使のテーゼ」 高橋洋子湖上ライブ . 15 January 2020 . ja . 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200223144352/https://odawara-hakone.keizai.biz/headline/3270/ . 23 February 2020 . live.
• Web site: Hakone sans-façon vol.Special Edition - Evangelion EN Il . 10 January 2020. 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231800/https://issuu.com/jyxyer/docs/vol._specialedition_eva1_en . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: エヴァンゲリオン×箱根 2020（公式） . 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200813233827/https://eva-hakone.com/en/ . 13 August 2020 . dead.
• Web site: Yoko Takahashi's Special Concert on Ashino-ko . 2 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200511044400/https://eva-hakone.com/en/event04.html . 11 May 2020 . dead.
• Web site: 11 March 2021. Kyoto film studio attraction offers chance to 'pilot' Evangelion robot . Yuki Shibata. 27 October 2020. 25 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210725053827/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/34751983. live.
• Web site: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 3 . . . 8 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130509070742/http://www.allmusic.com/album/neon-genesis-evangelion-vol-3-mw0000415193 . 9 May 2013 . live. Sono disponibili degli estratti.
• Web site: 『 夏物語2008 』 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101113231912/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64361.htm . 13 November 2010.
• Web site: 『和ユーロベスト』 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090728151808/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64376.htm . 28 July 2009.
• Web site: 『夏物語2009』 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090608135415/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64373.htm . 8 June 2009.
• Web site: 『プレミア・ユーロ -ベスト･オブ･和ユーロベスト-』 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101125020853/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64388.htm . 25 November 2010.
• Web site: 『 姫トラ・ベスト 』 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080702075956/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/tranceparadise/disco/tocp64358.htm . 2 July 2008.
• Web site: 『 姫トラ あにめ★みっくす！』 . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090217202414/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/tranceparadise/disco/tocp64368.htm . 17 February 2009.
• Web site: Various - Hime Trance 3 . CDJapan . ja . 30 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231803/https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/TOCP-64350 . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: アニメ Speed . ja . 30 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231803/https://tower.jp/item/2493788/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A1SPEED . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: アニメ Speed Newtype Edition . ja . 30 November 2020 .
• Web site: ハッピー・スピード ベスト・オブ・ダンスマニア スピード・ギガ . ja . 29 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070707195157/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64336.htm . 7 July 2007.
• Web site: 姫トラ・スピード . ja . 30 November 2020 . Oricon.
• Web site: 高橋洋子「EVANGELION EXTREME」インタビュー . 22 May 2019 . ja . 8 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190531134642/https://natalie.mu/music/pp/takahashiyoko04 . 31 May 2019 . live.
• Web site: Best Pieces . Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200713191939/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1359/ . 13 July 2020 . live.
• Web site: スーパー・バリュー 高橋洋子 . Billboard Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163717/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/209955 . 22 February 2020 . live.
• Web site: スーパー・バリュー/高橋洋子 . Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160418103149/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/umck-8005/ . 18 April 2016 . live.
• Web site: 「新世紀エヴァンゲリオン」～refrain(ルフラン) ザ・ソング・ワー・インスパイアード・バイ"エヴァンゲリオン" フィーチャリング・高橋洋子 . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231802/https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-refrain-the-songs-were-inspired-by-evangelion/1197110841%26usg%3DALkJrhj3lQ_bxGt-GDoNdKtTy_7EVLSV-w . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: Discography . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200806163644/http://king-cr.jp/artist/takahashi/discography/ . 6 August 2020 . live.
• Web site: BEST PIECES 2 . Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190813162413/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1626/ . 13 August 2019 . live.
• Web site: BEST PIECES II . Oricon . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190512153709/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/148501/1/ . 12 May 2019 . live.
• Web site: 高橋洋子 ベスト10 . Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193220/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-9080/ . 14 July 2018 . live.
• Web site: 高橋洋子エッセンシャル・ベスト . Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193242/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-9143/ . 14 July 2018 . live.
• Web site: ゴールデン☆ベスト 高橋洋子 . Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160516221148/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/uicz-6055/ . 16 May 2016 . live.
• Web site: ゴールデン☆ベスト 高橋洋子[スペシャル・プライス] ]. Oricon . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231803/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/992436/1/ . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: ゴールデン☆ベスト 高橋洋子 [スペシャル・プライス] ]. Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201005192541/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/p/upcy-9287/ . 5 October 2020 . live.
• Web site: Li-La . ja . 9 August 2020.
• Web site: Li-La +3 [SHM-CD] ]. Universal Music Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190712165811/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-6765/ . 12 July 2019 . live.
• Web site: NEON GENESIS EVANGELION DECADE . ja . 6 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903151551/https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/neon-genesis-evangelion-decade/4105081457 . 3 September 2019 . live.
• Web site: NEON GENESIS EVANGELION DECADE . Oricon . ja . 6 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190810153259/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34397/products/618286/1/ . 10 August 2019 . live.
• Web site: 『新世紀エヴァンゲリオン』放送10周年記念盤登場！新録もあり . 15 September 2005 . ja . 6 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903151553/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/-/9779 . 3 September 2019 . live.
• Web site: 「残酷な天使のテーゼ 2009 VERSION」 高橋洋子 （Maxiシングル） 【通常仕様】 . ja . 8 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190705165910/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/248 . 5 July 2019 . live.
• Web site: ２０ｔｈ ｃｅｎｔｕｒｙ Ｂｏｙｓ ＆ Ｇｉｒｌｓ ～２０世紀少年少女～ . Billboard Japan . ja . 9 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163702/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/185405 . 22 February 2020 . live.
• Web site: Evangelion Pachislot Game Themes Get Mini-Album . Anime News Network . 19 March 2019. 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190403103436/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-03-19/evangelion-pachislot-game-themes-get-mini-album/.144695 . 3 April 2019 . live.
• Web site: 高橋洋子が蘇らせる20世紀の名曲たち - カヴァーアルバム第二弾「20th century Boys & Girls II」 . 22 April 2015 . ja . 16 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231736/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20150422-20th_takahashi/ . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: 20th century Boys & Girls II . ja . 16 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231802/https://www.kingrecords.co.jp/cs/g/gKICS-3187/ . 12 December 2020 . live.
• Web site: YOKO Sings Forever . Universal Music Japan . ja . 16 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200522195109/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-7259/ . 22 May 2020 . live.
• Web site: シンゴジラVSエヴァ！？ 高橋洋子×鷺巣詩郎によるコラボシングル発売決定 . Billboard Japan . 27 January 2017 . ja . 16 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190713165414/http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/46804/2 . 13 July 2019 . live.
• Web site: 『にゃんこ大戦争』×『エヴァンゲリオン』復刻コラボが開始！"残酷な天使のテーゼ"にゃ"Ver"の復刻アレンジがWEBで公開中 . 25 June 2020 . ja . 12 July 2020 . 3 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210603083327/https://app.famitsu.com/20200625_1659233/ . live.
• Web site: Nyanko Daisenso Mobile Game Asks 'What If Evangelion Was Just Cats'? . Anime News Network . 17 July 2019 . 24 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190929133356/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-07-17/nyanko-daisenso-mobile-game-asks-what-if-evangelion-was-just-cats/.148823 . 29 September 2019 . live.
• Web site: Devin Meenan. All words in Evangelion theme replaced by cat meow in official remake by original singer【Video】 . 21 July 2021. 21 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210721111818/https://soranews24.com/2021/01/25/all-words-in-evangelion-theme-replaced-by-cat-meow-in-official-remake-by-original-singer%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/. live.
• 高橋洋子が"にゃ"だけで歌う「残酷な天使のテーゼ」 三石琴乃がナレ 「にゃんこ大戦争」×「エヴァンゲリオン 」コラボCM公開 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/NQbadSVXqXg . 2021-12-13 . live. 12 July 2020 . ja.
• 高橋洋子が「残酷な天使のテーゼ」を"にゃ"だけで歌う！ 『エヴァンゲリオン』x『にゃんこ大戦争』コラボCM・イントロ篇＆サビ篇 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/ZHI6fn5oVSo . 2021-12-13 . live. 12 July 2020 . Oricon . ja.
• Web site: Evangelion's 'Cruel Angel's Thesis' Gets New Taiko Drum Arrangement in July . Anime News Network . 21 June 2019 . ja . 31 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190621173227/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-06-21/evangelion-cruel-angel-thesis-gets-new-taiko-drum-arrangement-in-july/.148123 . 21 June 2019 . live.
• Book: zh. 中国动画学会, 北京大学文化产业研究院. 中国科学技术出版社. 2011. 中国动画企业发展报告 第1版. 978-7-5046-5848-7 . 97–98.
• Web site: zh. 24 April 2021. 18岁以前，你记忆最深的那十部霓虹动画片 . Sohu . https://web.archive.org/web/20190310025510/http://www.sohu.com/a/221709116_215220. 10 March 2019.
• Web site: zh. 24 April 2021. 你的青春我不懂 二次元审美时代已经到来 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190310015006/http://www.199it.com/archives/295511.html?from=timeline. 10 March 2019.
• Web site: Shinseiki Evangelion . ja. 11 October 2021. 26 March 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100326141120/http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/evangelion/online.html. live.
• Web site: bertemu . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 23 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201023110530/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/254338/products/140395/1/. live.
• Web site: ｃｅｎｔｅｒ ｃｏｌｏｒ . Billboard Japan. ja. 11 October 2021. 10 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190510014629/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/179022. live.
• July 2001. 歴代作品人気. Animedia. Gakken. ja.
• Web site: 3 June 2020. Megumi Ogata's No-Audience Live Set to be Live-Streamed Worldwide at 16:00 on June 6 (JST) . 11 October 2021. 29 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200629024321/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2020/06/02-1/megumi-ogatas-no-audience-live-set-to-be-live-streamed-worldwide-at-1600-on-june-6-jst. live.
• Web site: Live[em:ou] in TOKIO to HONG KONG]. Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 12 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231842/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/217211/products/203874/1/. live.
• Web site: 残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞 . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 12 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231851/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/199357/lyrics/I065896/. live.
• Web site: しょこたん☆かばー〜アニソンに恋をして . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 26 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130426032346/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/704539/1/. live.
• Web site: ROBONATION SUPER LIVE '97 Summer . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 12 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231852/https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/cd/CdTop.php?cd=SPB00213271. live.
• Web site: 19 July 2004. Anime Expo - Main Events . Anime News Network. 11 October 2021. 8 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190508153753/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2004/anime-expo/16. live.
• Web site: マサミコブシ . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 26 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160826214832/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/195021/products/506112/1/. live.
• Web site: 残酷な天使のテーゼ . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 12 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231842/https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/music/MusicTop.php?music=158669. live.
• Web site: Review～下川みくに 青春アニソンカバーアルバム～ . Oricon. ja. 11 October 2021. 24 September 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160924113951/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/196359/products/523424/1/. live.
• Web site: 10 October 2019. Toshl、カヴァー・アルバム第2弾をリリース 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」を先行配信 . ja. 11 October 2021. 24 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191024234938/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/toshi/83816. live.
• Web site: 6 May 2017. Aya Hirano Wows TV Hosts With 'Cruel Angel Thesis' Performance . Anime News Network. 11 October 2021. 30 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030164830/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-05-06/aya-hirano-wows-tv-hosts-with-cruel-angel-thesis-performance/.115747. live.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from the Wikipedia article " A Cruel Angel's Thesis ".

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The Meaning Behind The Song: Cruel Angel’s Thesis (From ”Neon Genesis Evangelion”) by AmaLee

Introduction

I am a huge fan of anime and its unique ability to capture emotions and tell compelling stories. One song that has always held a special place in my heart is “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” from the anime series “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” AmaLee’s English cover of this iconic song brings a whole new depth to its meaning and captures the essence of the original Japanese version by Yoko Takahashi.

Table of Contents

Unmasking the Lyrics

The lyrics of “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” are poetic and thought-provoking. They take the listener on a journey of self-discovery, hope, and the realization that sometimes, life can be cruel. Let’s dive deeper into the meaning behind these soul-stirring words.

The song starts with a powerful refrain, “Like an angel with cruel and merciless intent, Go forth, young boy, and you’ll become a legend.” It sets the tone for the entire song, hinting at the struggles and challenges that await the protagonist. It inspires the listener to keep moving forward, despite the cruelty that may come their way.

In the first verse, the lyrics paint a picture of a vast sky waiting to be explored. It symbolizes the limitless possibilities that lie ahead for the young boy. The line, “You’re looking at me, make it all that you see, Content and we’re merely smiling” reflects the innocence and optimism of youth. It reminds the listener to cherish the present moment and find contentment in the smallest of things.

The chorus serves as a powerful reminder of the underlying theme of the song. It reveals that the journey the protagonist is embarking on was predetermined from the start, like a “Cruel Angel’s Thesis.” It implies that destiny has a greater plan for the young boy, and he must follow a unique path to fulfill his true potential.

Already know this song's meaning? Watch this video to see 30 popular songs where everyone gets the meaning WRONG!

As the song progresses into the second verse, it delves into the complexities of relationships and the bittersweet nature of love. The lines, “If there is meaning in two people meeting, then maybe we’re doing this right, within this trial, that might be the bible – the way that we’ll both reach the light” highlight the importance of human connections and the value they bring to our lives.

The bridge of the song acknowledges the limitations of being human. It recognizes that, despite the protagonist’s strength and determination, they are still susceptible to vulnerability and shortcomings. The lyrics, “I’m still only human, the goddess you need can (not) be me” convey a sense of acceptance and humility.

The song concludes with a final refrain, emphasizing the protagonist’s journey towards becoming a legend. It reiterates that their radiance shines brighter than the stars and encourages them to seize the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the world.

AmaLee’s Interpretation

AmaLee’s English cover of “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” beautifully captures the emotions and essence of the original song. Her heartfelt performance adds a layer of vulnerability and relatability to the lyrics, allowing listeners to connect with the song on a deeper level.

As an avid listener of AmaLee’s covers, I have always appreciated her ability to bring new life to familiar songs. Her rendition of “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” maintains the integrity of the original while infusing it with her unique style. It is a testament to her talent and passion for creating music that resonates with fans of all genres.

“Cruel Angel’s Thesis” is more than just an opening theme for an anime series. It is an anthem for resilience, determination, and the pursuit of one’s destinies. AmaLee’s English cover breathes new life into the song, allowing a wider audience to experience its profound message.

Whether you’re a fan of anime or not, this song transcends its origin and speaks directly to the human experience. Its universal themes of hope, struggle, and self-discovery resonate with listeners from all walks of life. “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” reminds us that even in the face of adversity, we have the power to become legends in our own right. So, go forth, young boys and girls, and embrace your journey towards becoming a legend.

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