Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance

In a city protected by NERV, humans face relentless assaults from monstrous Angels. To bolster defenses, the agency brings in two fresh Eva pilots to stand alongside Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami: the enigmatic Makinami Mari Illustrous and the fiercely capable Asuka Langley Shikinami. The new battles unfold in Tokyo-3 as massive Evangelions engage in high stakes clashes above the skyline. Behind the scenes, Gendo Ikari and the secretive SEELE push forward with a hidden project that pulls Rei and Shinji deeper into a mystery tied to the origins of the Evas. The film reimagines the world first introduced in the original series with sharper action, expanded mecha maneuvers, and emotional tension among the pilots without revealing future twists.

Directed by Masayuki and Kazuya Tsurumaki, produced by Studio Khara, it was released in 2009 as the second entry in the Rebuild of Evangelion.

The film earned about 44.34 million USD worldwide on a 10 million dollar budget, reflecting solid international appeal that helped propel the Rebuild project into mainstream anime conversations.

Makinami Mari Illustrous' debut as a new Eva pilot gave fans a fresh dynamic and sparked new merchandising and cosplay interest. The film refined the Evangelion world with high tempo battles and brighter visuals that influenced later installments and fan discussions.

Studio Khara produced the animation for this stage of the Rebuild saga, drawing on Hideaki Anno's original Evangelion concept rather than a manga adaptation. Notable staff include directors Masayuki and Kazuya Tsurumaki, with a score by Shirou Sagisu and character designs informed by the original series.