A three-disc UK Special Edition bringing together both of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion theatrical films in a single Manga Entertainment release.
Release Date
21 March 2005
Format
3 × DVD
Region
UK / PAL / Region 2
Publisher
Manga Entertainment
Barcode
5022366425444
Edition
Special Edition
Running Time
Approx. 202 minutes
Classification
BBFC 15
Significance
A substantial UK physical-media edition of the original Evangelion theatrical conclusion, combining Death & Rebirth and The End of Evangelion in one presentation set.
Summary
Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth + The End of Evangelion – Special Edition is a UK DVD collection of the two films produced as part of the conclusion to the original Neon Genesis Evangelion television series.
Death & Rebirth revisits material from the television series before introducing material connected with its theatrical conclusion. The End of Evangelion presents an alternative and considerably expanded treatment of the events corresponding to the television series’ final episodes, and became one of the most important works associated with the original Evangelion era.
This Manga Entertainment edition packages the films together as a three-disc set, with English and Japanese audio options, subtitles and supplementary material. It represents Evangelion’s early-2000s UK home-video history, before later remastered DVD and Blu-ray presentations made the films available in substantially different editions.
Release & Version Details
This is the UK PAL Special Edition distributed by Manga Entertainment. The packaging carries a 2004 copyright date for the package design, while the set itself was released during the UK DVD era of Evangelion.
The edition contains three DVDs housed within an illustrated outer slipcase. It also includes two large fold-out poster inserts, each dedicated to one of the films. The Death & Rebirth poster uses the ensemble artwork also associated with the outer packaging, while The End of Evangelion poster depicts Shinji and Asuka before the giant image of Rei, accompanied by the tagline “The Fate of Destruction is the Joy of Rebirth.”
These fold-out inserts form an important part of the original Special Edition package and help distinguish a complete copy from examples consisting only of the discs and cases.
The barcode identifying this UK edition is 5022366425444.
Why It’s Significant
The set preserves an important stage in the history of Evangelion outside Japan. Manga Entertainment was responsible for bringing the two original theatrical films to English-speaking home-video audiences at a time when the television series and films were licensed separately.
It is also representative of the elaborate DVD releases common during the early-to-mid-2000s anime market. Rather than presenting the films as basic individual discs, the Special Edition combines both works with supplementary material and dedicated presentation packaging.
For Evangelion preservation specifically, editions such as this document how the franchise was translated, dubbed, packaged and presented to British audiences before the later HD remasters and subsequent international licensing arrangements.
Preservation Notes
A complete example should retain the outer slipcase, internal DVD packaging, all three DVDs and both large fold-out poster inserts.
The outer slipcase is particularly susceptible to edge rubbing, corner wear, creasing and surface scuffing. The posters are also vulnerable to wear along their original factory folds, particularly where the horizontal and vertical creases intersect. Because they are removable paper components, they may also be absent from second-hand copies.
The 5022366425444 barcode, Manga Entertainment branding, PAL and Region 2 markings and BBFC 15 classification provide useful identifiers for distinguishing the UK Special Edition.
Trivia & Interesting Facts
- Death & Rebirth and The End of Evangelion were originally released theatrically in Japan in 1997.
- The End of Evangelion expands upon and reinterprets the conclusion of the original 26-episode television series.
- The UK Special Edition contains three DVDs rather than simply packaging the two films as a two-disc set.
- The packaging itself carries a 2004 copyright notice despite the set’s documented 2005 UK release.
- The edition predates the modern Blu-ray presentations of the original Evangelion series and films by many years, making it representative of the franchise’s DVD-era distribution in Britain.
About the Snows Mini Preservation Project
This item has been documented as part of the Snows Mini Preservation Project, an ongoing effort to preserve and catalogue physical media. Our aim is to record releases, variations and their historical significance for collectors and future enthusiasts. Most items featured in the project form part of our archive and may not be for sale.
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