A Cruel Angel's Thesis is the anime opening for the ages.
The iconic theme song from Neon Genesis Evangelion has officially surpassed 1,000 weeks on Japan’s karaoke charts, marking over 19 years of chart presence.
According to Oricon’s latest weekly rankings, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”, which was performed by Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi, ranked third on 4 May 2026, securing the milestone.
Why is “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” still charting?
Despite debuting in 1995, Evangelion remains one of anime’s most influential titles, with continued collaborations and projects keeping the franchise relevant decades later.
The song itself, written by Neko Oikawa and composed by Toshiyuki Omori and Hidetoshi Sato, is known for its uplifting, energetic melody, blaring trumpets, and catchy chorus–making it an unforgettable earworm even in the 30 years after the dark, gritty, and philosophical series finished airing.
“A Cruel Angel's Thesis” first broke into the karaoke Top 10 in 2008, and has accumulated over 14 years within the Top 10 alone.
What did Yoko Takahashi say?
Yoko Takahashi commented on the achievement, crediting the song’s success to the combined impact of the series, its creators, and the dedicated Evangelion fanbase.
“I think this record is a result of the wonderful work of Evangelion, including Director Anno, the power of the actors, and the power of the song. I think it's a gift from heaven.” she said in an interview with Oricon. "This record exists because of all of you who have sung it! Please continue to enjoy 'A Cruel Angel's Thesis' at karaoke."
What's next for Evangelion?
Although Neon Genesis Evangelion has concluded its story with the Rebuild series of animated movies, the franchise is gearing up for a new anime that was confirmed to be in production in February.
The project, teased as the franchise's “Next Genesis” also unveiled its preliminary staff, headlined by acclaimed game director Yoko Taro, of Square Enix's Nier series, as the series' scriptwriter and script supervisor.
The project is the latest addition in over four years, and is also the third anime series within the franchise's timeline since the premiere of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion back in 1995.
The anime project, which is yet to unveil its title, will be helmed by directors Kazuya Tsurumaki, who worked on the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series, and Toko Yabe, who acted as assistant director in the Evangelion: 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon A Time. Keiichi Okabe, who composed the soundtrack for both the Nier game and anime franchise, will compose the music. Production will be done in collaboration between Anno's Studio Khara, and CloverWorks.