As die-hard franchise fans already know, Hideaki Anno’s Neon Genesis Evangelion is making a comeback with a new anime from Yoko Taro, the creator of Nier and Nier: Automata. This announcement was made during Evangelion’s 30th anniversary event, where enthused attendees were also treated to an exclusive short film about Evangelion Unit-02 pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu. At the time, there was little hope that the Asuka short would be made available to the public, especially with Studio Khara cracking down on bootleg copies circulating online. That said, there’s reason to rejoice for those who missed out on the event exclusive, as it is currently available to watch on Studio Khara’s official YouTube channel.

The 14-minute, 26-second short is accompanied by a lengthy message on the event website. It opens with sincere thanks to everyone who attended the 30th anniversary event, and the acknowledgment that the studio had always “hoped to deliver it to audiences again in some form.” This leads up to the official announcement of the short being available on Khara’s YouTube channel from March 8 onward, as the date coincides with the fifth anniversary of Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, the final film in the Rebuild of Evangelion tetralogy. The message ends with the reiteration that the team has been “making significant efforts to address the spread of illegally recorded and leaked footage of this work on social media.”

The short itself revolves around Asuka Soryu and her Rebuild of Evangelion universe counterpart, Asuka Shikinami Langley. The two stand on a lit stage, conversing about their traumatic experiences, while the “Asuka Strikes!” theme plays in the background. Soryu rightfully demands her happy ending, and Shikinami suggests sleeping, as waking up might lead to a change in her story. This begins various “what-if” scenarios, allowing Soryu to cycle through the possible futures within her reach. The short echoes the franchise’s overarching themes of radical self-acceptance, where escapism is rejected in favor of a grounded reality steeped in suffering.

The Asuka short allows the character to to choose her own ending, which is essential within the context of her saga and the many endings of Evangelion. Here’s hoping that Taro’s upcoming version will be able to justify its neon genesis and add a meaningful chapter to the franchise’s mythos.