30 years after its debut on Japanese TV in 1995, Neon Genesis Evangelion remains one of the most recognizable and influential anime of all time. Although the franchise officially concluded in 2021 with the film Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, the series continues to thrive. Just this week, Japan unveiled a new six-meter-tall Evangelion Unit-01 statue as part of a local government tourism campaign. Yet despite its decades-long popularity, one aspect has always perplexed both hardcore fans and casual viewers alike: the original ending of the TV series.