Neon Genesis Evangelion anime rights and licensing: a fractured history
The landmark 1995 series has one of the most complicated rights histories in anime, with control now centered on Khara.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: The original Neon Genesis Evangelion television series was produced by Gainax and aired on TV Tokyo in 1995-1996. The Anime News Network encyclopedia lists the original copyright as Gainax / Project Eva. and TV Tokyo. Today, the franchise is controlled by Khara, the studio founded by director Hideaki Anno. The official Evangelion website now credits Khara and Project Eva. Netflix acquired worldwide streaming rights to the original series and films in 2018, and the Criterion Channel later added the series with its pre-Netflix English dub.
The original series
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a 26-episode television anime that aired from October 1995 to March 1996. It was directed by Hideaki Anno, produced by Gainax, and broadcast by TV Tokyo. The series became one of the most influential anime of the 1990s and spawned the feature films Death & Rebirth and The End of Evangelion.
Anime News Network records the original copyright as Gainax / Project Eva. and TV Tokyo. That reflects the original production arrangement, with Gainax as the animation studio and TV Tokyo as the broadcaster.
How rights moved from Gainax to Khara
In the years after the original series, director Hideaki Anno left Gainax and founded Khara. Khara took control of the Evangelion franchise and produced the Rebuild of Evangelion film tetralogy, beginning with Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone in 2007 and concluding with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time in 2021.
The official Evangelion website now lists copyright as Khara / Project Eva., Khara / EVA Production Committee, and Khara. This indicates that Khara holds the current franchise rights, although the exact transfer terms from Gainax are private.
Ownership uncertainty note: Khara is the current controller of the Evangelion franchise, but the legal path from Gainax to Khara and any remaining obligations to TV Tokyo or other original participants are not fully public.
Streaming and distribution rights
Netflix announced in November 2018 that it had acquired the worldwide streaming rights to the original Neon Genesis Evangelion series plus the films Death & Rebirth and The End of Evangelion. The titles debuted on Netflix in Spring 2019.
In 2026, the Criterion Channel announced it would stream the original series, Death & Rebirth, and The End of Evangelion starting September 1, with the pre-Netflix English dub. This showed that streaming rights can be licensed to multiple services over time and that the Netflix deal was not exclusive in perpetuity.
Major streaming rights announcements for Neon Genesis Evangelion. Availability is territory-specific and may change.| Platform / service | Territory | Note |
|---|
| Netflix | Worldwide streaming debut 2019 | Acquired rights to TV series and films |
| Criterion Channel | United States | Streaming from September 2026 with pre-Netflix dub |
Home video and music rights
North American home video history includes releases by ADV Films and later distributors. The current home video landscape is fragmented, with rights split among the original series, the films, and the Rebuild films.
Music rights are a separate layer. The original series ending theme, Fly Me to the Moon, was not included in all international versions of the Netflix release because of music licensing issues. That example shows how anime rights and music rights are often cleared separately.
What to know before licensing
Evangelion licensing requires distinguishing between the original 1995-1996 series, the 1997 films, the Rebuild films, and merchandise. Khara controls the franchise overall, but specific rights may still involve TV Tokyo, King Records, or other original committee members for particular formats or territories.
Because of the title's long history, any new licensee should verify which prior agreements remain in force in the target territory. The franchise's high profile also means that music, dub, and merchandising rights are usually negotiated separately.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Neon Genesis Evangelion?
The franchise is currently controlled by Khara, the studio founded by Hideaki Anno. The original series copyright was credited to Gainax / Project Eva. and TV Tokyo.
Where can I stream Neon Genesis Evangelion?
Netflix streamed the series and films globally starting in 2019. The Criterion Channel added the series with its earlier English dub starting in September 2026. Availability depends on territory.
Does Gainax still own Evangelion?
No. Control of the franchise moved to Khara, although the exact legal transfer terms are private.
Why is Fly Me to the Moon missing on some streams?
Music rights are cleared separately from video rights. Some international versions of the Netflix release did not include Fly Me to the Moon because of music licensing restrictions.