The "Evangelion" series is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary on October 4, 2025.
To commemorate this milestone year, "EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025" made its North American debut with performances in Toronto, Dallas, and Los Angeles!
In this article, we bring you the official report from the "EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025" performance at the Hollywood Dolby Theatre, which took place on August 31, 2025 (Japan time).
<The following content is quoted from the official information>
Yoko Takahashi Performs Live! Footage Arrives from the Concert - 3,300 Los Angeles Fans Go Wild with Standing Ovation!
The "EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025," which has been selling out every performance in Japan, held its first overseas concert in Seoul, Korea, this June. This August, under the baton of Thanapol Setabrahmana, the tour visited three North American cities, with the grand finale taking place on Saturday, August 30th, at the iconic Dolby Theatre in the heart of Hollywood, Los Angeles - the very venue that hosts the Academy Awards. The event drew a full house of about 3,300 attendees.
The "EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025" features a collection of beloved tracks from the "Evangelion" series, performed by a wind orchestra. The venue was packed with passionate fans, some in Evangelion cosplay, others shouting "Evangelion!" and "Yoko Takahashi!" even before the show began, their excitement was palpable. The merchandise area was so popular that the queue stretched up to the second floor of the venue.
Greeted by thunderous applause and cheers from the devoted audience, the concert kicked off with "Soul's Refrain," the theme song from the 1997 film "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth" and one of the most iconic tracks in the Evangelion series. Yoko Takahashi, dressed in an elegant black ensemble, delivered a powerful performance, her voice soaring as the audience joined in for a massive sing-along, instantly transporting everyone into the world of Evangelion.
The orchestra then launched into a series of fan-favorite instrumentals, including the thrilling "ANGEL ATTACK," which plays during the mysterious enemy Angels' appearances, and "EVA-01," the crucial theme introducing Evangelion Unit 01.
Takahashi returned to the stage to perform "TENSIONS," a song that heightens the pre-battle anticipation, further electrifying the already charged atmosphere. The concert continued with beautiful renditions of "Rei I," which poignantly expresses Rei's loneliness and ethereal presence, "THANATOS," symbolizing Evangelion's profound themes, and "Fly Me to the Moon," the iconic ending theme from the TV series "Neon Genesis Evangelion." The combination of the orchestra's performance and Takahashi's beautiful vocals filled the venue, captivating the audience throughout the night.
As the Evangelion series approaches its 30th anniversary in 2025, the first "EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025" North American tour will take place. During the MC segment, Yoko Takahashi reflected on her 30-year journey with the franchise:
"Back in 1995, I never dreamed I'd be singing 'A Cruel Angel's Thesis' for this long. At first, I was surprised by how popular the anime became. During the broadcast, I was often asked about the ending, which left me feeling bewildered. The impact was so great that at times I felt like I was carrying a cross."
She continued, "These 30 years have blessed me with encounters with so many wonderful people. Meeting this song and this work has been a gift from heaven, and I'm truly grateful for it." Her words conveyed the passionate feelings she's nurtured for the Evangelion series over the decades.
Regarding the classic "Soul's Refrain," Takahashi shared a behind-the-scenes story: "The lyrics weren't finalized until the day of recording. They were faxed to the studio, and the staff had to quickly write them into the sheet music before I sang." The fans in the audience were captivated by her words, listening intently to these rare insights.
The performance was a multimedia experience, with iconic scenes from Evangelion playing on a back screen during the musical numbers. The conductor provided commentary on how the music fits into specific scenes from the anime. There was even audience participation, with questions like "Team Rei or Team Asuka?" thrown out to the crowd, creating a call-and-response atmosphere. When asked about her favorite character, Takahashi answered "Shinji Ikari," earning enthusiastic applause from the audience. The entire event was brimming with Evangelion love.
Takahashi then performed "psycho" and "the path" from "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time" in her operatic voice. The concert culminated with a grandiose arrangement of "What if? 2022," accompanied by scenes from the movie. The combination of the orchestra's performance and Takahashi's vocals moved the entire venue, resulting in a standing ovation and thunderous, unending applause.
For the encore, they performed "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," the theme song from "Neon Genesis Evangelion," in a unique wind orchestra arrangement. As soon as the intro began, the audience erupted in applause and cheers. The breathtaking performance led to a standing ovation from all 3,300 attendees!
Amidst the thunderous applause, Yoko Takahashi herself delivered Misato Katsuragi's iconic line, "Service, service!" This was a cue for the orchestra to play the timeless "Next Episode Preview (F02)" music. With the audience's cheers still echoing, the "EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025" in Los Angeles came to a close.
The Los Angeles audience was a mix of die-hard fans who grew up with "Evangelion" and newcomers who recently discovered its appeal. The atmosphere was charged with various expressions of Eva love, with some fans even moved to tears. Comments like "I had goosebumps the entire time," "I cried multiple times hearing Takahashi-san sing," and "It was simply awe-inspiring and touched my heart" were heard as the excited crowd dispersed after an unforgettable finale.
Looking ahead, Japan is preparing for "EVANGELION:30+;30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION," a grand three-day event at Yokohama Arena in February 2026, marking the culmination of the 30th-anniversary celebrations. Fans can look forward to the continued expansion of the "Evangelion" series, not just in Japan but worldwide.
Concert Highlight Footage
"EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025" Los Angeles Dolby Theatre Performance Overview
Venue: Dolby Theatre
Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Attendance: Approximately 3,300 people
*Setlist includes 20 songs (including encores)
"Prior to the 'EVANGELION WIND SYMPHONY 2025,' a performance was held in North America, specifically in New York..."
Yoko Takahashi Wows Anime NYC! Leading Fans in A Massive "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" Chorus
Anime NYC 2025, a celebration of Japanese pop culture, took place from August 21st to 24th (local time) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The event, which attracted around 140,000 attendees, featured numerous companies involved in anime, manga, games, and related merchandise. As part of the festivities, a special stage event titled "EVANGELION 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL LIVE" was held on August 22nd, featuring Yoko Takahashi. The electrifying performance drew an audience of about 2,000 fans, marking Takahashi's first live performance in America in over a decade.
As anticipation built, the venue darkened following Takahashi's introduction. A special opening movie featuring the 30th-anniversary logo and battle scenes of Evangelion Unit-01 kicked off the show. Takahashi made her entrance as Unit-01 broke through an A.T. Field, opening with "TENSIONS -welcome to the stage," an arrangement of the iconic Evangelion background music "EM20." The stage backdrop showcased animated visuals of the 30th-anniversary logo.
The early set included powerful renditions of "Kokoro yo Genshi ni Modore 2020" (Soul, Return to Your Origin 2020) and "Tamashii no Refrain" (Soul's Refrain), the theme song from "Evangelion: Death and Rebirth," which immediately heightened the crowd's enthusiasm. As the venue reached a fever pitch, Takahashi delivered a soulful performance of the 2020 version of "Fly Me to the Moon," a jazz standard that also served as the ending theme for the TV anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion."
During the MC segment, Takahashi addressed the audience entirely in English. She spoke for about five minutes, sharing her journey as a singer, her encounter with "Neon Genesis Evangelion," and her feelings over the years. The crowd responded with applause and cheers. She concluded by saying, "I'm truly delighted to meet you all here in my beloved New York. I'll sing with all my heart and soul, filled with love and prayers. I hope my love reaches each one of you! Thank you all!!! Please enjoy the show to the fullest!!" With that, the live performance entered its second half.
The performance kicked off with "The Scent of Happiness is Sin," originally released on the 1996 CD "NEON GENESIS EVANGELION III," followed by "What if?," a track born from the soundtrack of the 2021 film "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time." Next came "Red Moon" from the 2019 mini-album "EVANGELION EXTREME." Takahashi invited the audience to dance along, saying, "Would you like to dance with me?" as dancers taught the choreography, further energizing the crowd.
The electrifying sound of "Final Call" came next, leading to the finale - Takahashi's signature song and the opening theme of the TV anime "Neon Genesis Evangelion," "A Cruel Angel's Thesis." From the first notes, the audience erupted in a massive sing-along, bringing the excitement to its peak.
This event, which condensed 30 years of the franchise into an hour-long live performance, beautifully demonstrated how music can unite people across borders. It served as a fitting grand finale to the celebration, leaving fans with unforgettable memories of their shared passion for Evangelion.
Anime NYC 2025 "EVANGELION 30th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL LIVE" Overview
Venue: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
Expected Attendance: Approximately 2,000 people
*Setlist will feature 9 songs
About The "Evangelion" Series
"Neon Genesis Evangelion," which aired as a TV series in 1995, became a social phenomenon in Japan. In 2007, the series was rebooted as the "Evangelion New Theatrical Edition" with Hideaki Anno as the creator, scriptwriter, and chief director. The first three films in this series - "1.0 You Are (Not) Alone," "2.0 You Can (Not) Advance," and "3.0 You Can (Not) Redo" - were huge box office successes.
The franchise has consistently attracted new fans and gained support from a wide range of audiences. "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time" is the fourth and final installment of the New Theatrical Edition series. Released on March 8, 2021, it grossed 10.28 billion yen with 6.73 million viewers. It is currently available for streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. The "Evangelion" series will celebrate its 30th anniversary on October 4, 2025.
About Yoko Takahashi
Yoko Takahashi made her major debut as a solo artist in 1991 with "P.S. I miss you," winning the Japan Record Awards for Best New Artist and the Cable Radio Awards for Best New Artist. Her most famous works are "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," the opening theme for "Neon Genesis Evangelion" (1995), and "Soul's Refrain," the theme song for "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth" (1997). These songs continue to sell well to this day, with cumulative sales of about 1.75 million copies, 7 million downloads, and 120 million streams.
Throughout her career, Takahashi has released 30 singles, 12 albums, and 8 best-of albums. From 2018, she has performed in the Evangelion World Tour in cities such as Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Taiwan, and Moscow. In 2023, she held her first solo concert themed around the "Evangelion" series at Zepp Shinjuku (TOKYO). In November 2024, she will hold her first solo performance in Guangzhou, China.
In 2025, Takahashi will be active both in Japan and internationally, with numerous media appearances in Japan, performances at Evangelion Wind Symphony concerts in Korea and North America, and a solo tour in China. She is a talented singer who continues to perform energetically both at home and abroad.
On October 29 this year, the "Evangelion" series 30th anniversary commemorative album "EVANGELION FLASHBACK" will be released.
©khara
*Some parts of this text have been translated using machine translation
