Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme Reaches 100 Million Streams Milestone
The iconic opening theme for the 1995-1996 television anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, titled “The Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” has reached a significant milestone in digital streaming history.
According to the latest weekly streaming rankings from Oricon News, the track has officially surpassed 100 million cumulative streams.
The original version of the song was performed by singer Yoko Takahashi and released under King Records’ Star Child label as her eleventh CD single on October 25, 1995.
Nearly three decades after its initial debut, the track is widely regarded as one of the most significant anime songs in Japanese history and remains a staple on national karaoke charts.
The song’s digital presence saw a major boost in July 2018 when a double A-side maxi single was released alongside “Soul’s Refrain,” the theme song for the 1997 film Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth.
To coincide with that 2018 release, an updated high-definition music video was uploaded to the official KING RECORDS YouTube channel.
This music video was re-edited by Masayuki and features a compilation of footage from the original TV series and the 1997 cinematic conclusion The End of Evangelion.
As of November 21, 2024, the HD music video has garnered over 128 million views, further cementing the enduring legacy of the franchise.
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