17 
1 
Download MP3 
A Cruel Angel's Thesis was released in 1995 as the opening theme for Neon Genesis Evangelion, performed by Yoko Takahashi and written for the TV anime's debut. As Evangelion became a defining series of its era, the song outlived the broadcast and became shorthand for classic anime itself. Clips circulate in edits, rankings and memes alongside other instantly recognisable themes like Giorno's Theme, and fans use this short excerpt as an immediate signal of drama, nostalgia and a serious anime moment arriving.
About this sound
A short clip of A Cruel Angel's Thesis, the iconic opening theme from Neon Genesis Evangelion, used for dramatic anime reveals and nostalgic edits.
This is the soaring vocal hook from A Cruel Angel's Thesis, the opening theme to Neon Genesis Evangelion sung by Yoko Takahashi. The clip captures the bright, urgent chorus with its driving pop arrangement and unmistakable Japanese vocals, instantly recognisable to anime fans. It starts with energy rather than building slowly, so even a few seconds feel like the beginning of something huge and emotional. Dropped into a video, it turns an ordinary moment heroic, nostalgic and slightly over the top, which is exactly why creators use it for dramatic entrances and reveals.
