Eva Festival: Final Battle Filming at EVA EXTRA 30
The very first festival in the iconic "Evangelion" series, titled "EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION", has finally opened its doors today, February 21st, at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa. Just before the main crowd rushed in, a special media preview of the exhibition tour area, known as "EVA EXTRA 30", was held. It was quite a sight to see, especially since the whole area was decorated under the expert direction of creators from Studio Color. A massive statue for the anniversary was there to welcome all the visitors right at the entrance.
Exploring the Core: The Central Tower Experience
At the heart of the "EVA EXTRA 30" layout is the central tower. This isn't just a structure; it's actually the core of a unique "spatial concept" that you can only experience at this particular event. Six large LED monitors make up the tower, projecting images, logos, and various motifs from every single work in the series. All of this is paired with some very solemn background music that sets a serious mood. To make things even more immersive, countless LED bar lights are placed all around the area, and they keep changing colours to match whatever is showing on the screens. When the doors opened, you could see many people just standing there, completely lost in the visuals. It is easy to see why the ultimate guide to Evangelion: exploring the anime and manga phenomenon remains so relevant after all these years.
Interactive Content and Virtual Battlefields
There’s actually a lot more to do around that central tower than just watching. One of the biggest highlights is the "Virtual Camera Studio". They’ve basically reconfigured the actual virtual camera system used to film those intense battle scenes between Unit 01 and Unit 13 in "Shin Evangelion The Movie". Visitors can step in and take their own pictures of these battle scenes. The staff is there to give you three test shots and explain everything, so even if you aren't great with cameras, you can still take some solid photos. Once you're done, you get a receipt with a QR code to download your captured video.
A Journey Through History and Production
The festival area is packed with different zones that celebrate the legacy of the franchise. Around the tower, you will find several interesting spots:
- Anniversary Park: A nostalgic area where episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion are played on old-school CRT TVs.
- The Lounge: A place meant for cross-talk sessions and special video broadcasts featuring people who worked on the series.
- MATERIAL of EVA: This is where the real treasures are kept—original drawings from Rebuild of Evangelion and classic cels from the original TV series.
- Sign Wall: A huge wall where fans are allowed to leave their own messages and signatures.
What's even more exciting is that you can see actual autographs from the main cast members like Emi Ogata (Shinji Ikari), Megumi Hayashibara (Rei Ayanami), and Yuko Miyamura (Asuka Langley). It really makes you appreciate the ultimate guide to Evangelion: exploring the anime and manga phenomenon and the hard work that went into it.
Sponsors and the Fans Market
The sponsor area is also quite busy. Fields has brought in 38 different machines from the "Pachinko/Pachislot Evangelion Series" to display. Other big names like CASETiFY, BANDAI SPIRITS, SEGA FAVE, and Wacom are also showing off their collaboration products. Some booths are even giving away small novelty items or letting people try out hands-on exhibits. The whole "EVA EXTRA 30" area is meant to be a circular tour, but you can honestly move around freely however you like.
Lastly, if you head up to the second floor, there’s a Fans Market. This is a great place to see original fan-made works, including stuff from both pros and amateurs. You can buy things like garage kits, soft vinyl figures, and even handmade bracelets. There are even booths for Ube City and Hamamatsu City, which are running their own collab events, and a booth for the "Special Agency NERV Designated Disaster Prevention Stockpile Plan" selling disaster supplies with a NERV theme.
