Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Shinji is fitted with a lethal explosive collar after being extracted from Unit 01. This collar serves as a control mechanism to ensure his compliance, placed on him by WILLE after his awakening of Unit 01 inadvertently triggered the Third Impact. The collar can be detonated remotely, effectively making Shinji a prisoner under the organization's control.

Foreshadowing: Misato warns Shinji early on that piloting any Evangelion comes at tremendous risk to his life due to the Third Impact's consequences.

• explosive collar
• Shinji
• WILLE
• compliance
• Third Impact

Rei Ayanami is revealed to be one of many clones created from the DNA of Yui Ayanami, Shinji's deceased mother. Gendo Ikari orchestrated this cloning project because Yui's consciousness was absorbed into Unit 01 during the First Impact. The Reis serve as vessels for Yui's soul and are used as pilots for Unit 01, making them essentially substitutes for the mother Shinji lost.

Foreshadowing: Kozo Fuyutsuki hints at Rei's connection to Shinji's mother during their shogi game, suggesting there are significant implications about her identity.

• Rei Ayanami
• Yui Ayanami
• clone
• Gendo Ikari
• Unit 01

The Third Impact was triggered when Shinji awoke Unit 01 fourteen years before the events of this film. His actions inadvertently caused the catastrophic event that reshaped the world, killing billions and leaving humanity on the brink of extinction. This is why WILLE exists, to prevent any further Impacts and holds Shinji responsible for the devastation.

Foreshadowing: Kaworu explains to Shinji that his awakening of Unit 01 directly caused the Third Impact, revealing the true consequence of his actions.

• Third Impact
• Unit 01
• Shinji
• catastrophe
• awakening

Kaworu Nagisa reveals he is the First Angel, existing as the original Angel created by Adam. However, after his defeat in a previous Impact, he was reborn as the Thirteenth Angel. This dual identity is central to his nature, he possesses both the original Angel's essence and serves as the final Angel in the current cycle, making him unique among all Angels.

Foreshadowing: Kaworu's revelation comes during the Fourth Impact crisis, where his transformation into the Thirteenth Angel triggers the final catastrophic events.

• Kaworu Nagisa
• First Angel
• Thirteenth Angel
• Adam
• rebirth

Kaworu takes control of Unit 13 and drives the Spears of Cassius and Longinus into its core to stop the Fourth Impact, knowing the collar he wore would kill him. He does this to save Shinji and prevent further destruction. His sacrifice represents his ultimate act of friendship and love for Shinji, choosing to end the cycle of Impacts even though it costs him his life.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Kaworu gains Shinji's trust by taking the explosive collar onto himself, demonstrating his willingness to protect Shinji at any cost.

• Kaworu sacrifice
• Fourth Impact
• Unit 13
• spears
• death

WILLE is an organization led by Captain Misato Katsuragi that is dedicated to dismantling NERV and preventing any further Impacts. They operate from the flying battleship Wunder, which is powered by Unit 01. WILLE views the Evangelion units and NERV's plans for additional Impacts as existential threats to humanity, making them enemies of both NERV and the Angels.

Foreshadowing: Misato activates Wunder to defend against NERV's forces, demonstrating WILLE's commitment to fighting both NERV and Angel threats.

• WILLE
• Misato Katsuragi
• NERV
• Wunder
• anti-Impact

Asuka Langley Shikinami and Mari Illustrious Makinami undertake a mission to retrieve Unit 01 and Shinji from Earth's orbit. Their goal is to recover the Evangelion unit, which WILLE needs as a powerful weapon against NERV and the Angels. However, the retrieval inadvertently triggers Shinji's awakening, leading to a chain of dangerous events.

Foreshadowing: During the retrieval, Asuka accidentally activates her own Evangelion, releasing attack drones that Unit 01 must neutralize.

• Unit 01
• Asuka
• Mari
• retrieval mission
• orbit

Shinji and the other Evangelion pilots have not aged because the Third Impact froze their biological aging. This is one of the consequences of the catastrophic event, leaving Shinji physically unchanged despite fourteen years passing. The Impacts fundamentally alter the pilots' relationship with time and physical development.

Foreshadowing: Misato directly warns Shinji about the dangers of piloting Evangelions in the wake of the Third Impact, referencing this unique side effect.

• Shinji aging
• Third Impact
• time
• pilots
• frozen

The Spears of Cassius and Longinus are ancient weapons of immense power used in the Hedgehog's Dilemma, a ritual meant to initiate or prevent an Impact. They are central to Gendo's plan to force humanity's evolution through another apocalyptic event. Shinji and Kaworu must retrieve these spears while piloting Unit 13, though the weapons harbor dangerous surprises that contribute to the Fourth Impact.

Foreshadowing: Gendo's directives set in motion the chain of events leading to the spears being used, triggering catastrophic consequences.

• Spears of Cassius
• Longinus
• Hedgehog's Dilemma
• Unit 13
• ancient weapons

Mark.09 begins to assert its own will and takes control of the Wunder, pursuing dominance over the vessel. This autonomous behavior occurs as the Evangelion units become increasingly self-directed during the chaotic events of the Fourth Impact. Rei struggles to contain Mark.09's rebellious actions, representing a breakdown in the control systems that NERV traditionally maintains over the Evangelions.

Foreshadowing: Rei battles to keep Mark.09 in check as it begins asserting its own volition, taking control of Wunder and threatening the entire operation.

• Mark.09
• autonomy
• Wunder
• Rei
• Evangelion control

Asuka deliberately sacrifices her Evangelion unit to destroy Mark.09's autonomous threat, which was taking control of Wunder and endangering everyone aboard. This act of heroism allows Shinji and the others a chance to survive and continue their mission. Asuka's sacrifice demonstrates her growth as a character willing to put others before herself.

Foreshadowing: In the final showdown, Asuka's sacrifice becomes necessary as Mark.09's autonomous threat spirals out of control.

• Asuka sacrifice
• Mark.09
• Wunder
• heroism
• destruction

Asuka admonishes Shinji to face his problems instead of running away from them, directly addressing his pattern of逃避 (escape) behavior that has caused repeated catastrophe. After witnessing Kaworu's death and the destruction caused by the Fourth Impact, Shinji must learn to stop fleeing from his responsibilities and the emotional pain of his choices. This lesson marks a crucial moment in Shinji's character development.

Foreshadowing: Shinji's history of running away from piloting and emotional confrontation has been a central theme throughout the Rebuild series, culminating in this moment.

• Shinji
• Asuka
• confront problems
• character growth
• lesson