Evangelion theme racks up 19 years on karaoke charts in huge milestone

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Okay, so I just heard this and it blew my mind – the opening theme to Neon Genesis Evangelion, ‘A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,’ has been on the Japanese karaoke charts for over nineteen years! Seriously, that’s insane. It just proves what we all know: that song is an absolute masterpiece and everyone still loves belting it out.

Even though it first appeared on screen in 1995, Evangelion remains one of the most beloved and impactful anime series of all time. Thirty years later, Hideaki Anno’s thought-provoking show about giant robots is still inspiring exciting new collaborations and projects, keeping its legacy strong.

While Shinji’s difficult experiences piloting Unit 01 and the massive fights against the Angels are central to the story, the show’s opening sequence is equally memorable.

Yoko Takahashi’s “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” continues to be incredibly popular, recently hitting No. 3 on the Oricon karaoke charts (as of May 4, 2026). Remarkably, this brings its total time on the charts to over 19 years – a record-breaking 1,000 weeks – demonstrating the enduring appeal of this iconic anime opening theme.

Evagenlion theme spends 1,000 weeks in karaoke charts

The song, originally created by Neko Oikawa with music by Toshiyuki Omori and Hidetoshi Sato, is famous for its inspiring melody. Combined with the widespread popularity of the series it’s from, this created a hugely successful song that people still enjoy listening to today.

Despite being a karaoke favorite for over 19 years, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” first entered the Top 10 in 2008 and has remained there for more than 14 years.

As a huge fan, I was so excited to hear from Yoko Takahashi, the incredible singer behind that iconic Evangelion opening theme! She actually talked about how amazing it is that the song has become such a global phenomenon – it’s just incredible to think about!

She described the record as a beautiful combination of Director Anno’s vision, the impact of Evangelion, the talent of the cast, and a powerful song, calling it a ‘gift from heaven,’ according to Oricon.

I was so excited to hear Takahashi share some awesome singing advice! He gave some really helpful tips for anyone wanting to nail that song at karaoke, which is perfect because I’ve been wanting to try it out!

She suggested starting by practicing the song slowly with just the lyrics in front of you. Once you’re comfortable with that, try singing along with karaoke and record yourself – that way, you can easily hear areas where you need to improve.

When you start singing ‘Zankoku na,’ be sure to clearly say the ‘za’ sound. Then, maintain that energy and drive throughout the whole song, as if you’re confidently moving from one stepping stone to the next.

Takahashi expressed his gratitude to Evangelion fans for their ongoing support, and hopes that “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” remains a beloved song for many years. He encouraged fans to keep singing it at karaoke, noting that the song’s success is thanks to them.

Even though the original Evangelion anime and its Rebuild films finished years ago, a new short featuring the character Asuka was recently released to mark the show’s 30th anniversary. Plus, a completely new Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series has been officially announced, and it will be led by Yoko Taro, known for his work on Nier Automata.

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2026-05-05 16:19