View source for A Cruel Angel's Thesis

{{short description|Theme song of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = A Cruel Angel's Thesis
| cover      = Zankoku na Tenshi no These Fly Me to the Moon.jpg
| alt        =
| caption    = Original anime edition cover of "Zankoku na tenshi no tēze"/"[[Fly Me to the Moon]]"
| type       = single
| artist     = [[Yoko Takahashi]]
| album      = [[Neon Genesis Evangelion (soundtrack)|Neon Genesis Evangelion]]
| language   = Japanese
| A-side     = [[Fly Me to the Moon]]
| released   = {{Start date|1995|10|25}}
| recorded   = 1995
| studio     =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[J-pop]]|[[disco]]|}}
| length     = 4:05
| label      = [[Starchild (label)|Starchild]]
| composer   = Hidetoshi Satō
| lyricist   = [[Neko Oikawa]]
| producer   = Toshiyuki Ōmori
| prev_title = Moonlight Epicurian
| prev_year  = 1994
| next_title = Meguriai
| next_year  = 1996
| misc         = {{External music video
 | type        = single
 | header      = Music videos
 | 1           = {{YouTube|o6wtDPVkKqI|"The Cruel Angel's Thesis"}}
}}
}}
{{nihongo|"'''The Cruel Angel's Thesis'''"|残酷な天使のテーゼ|Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze}},<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|url=https://www.evastore2.jp/news-tokyo-01/2020/08/21825/|title=【新商品：「EVA BG～BACKGROUND OF EVANGELION～×YOKO TAKAHASHI」コラボTシャツが3ヶ月連続リリース決定！】(2020.08.21更新)|publisher=Evangelion Store|date=21 August 2020|access-date=12 December 2021|archive-date=12 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212153905/https://www.evastore2.jp/news-tokyo-01/2020/08/21825/|url-status=live}}</ref> also known as "'''A Cruel Angel's Thesis'''",{{efn|The official music video translates the title with the article "The", while the use of "A" is common among both Japanese and English publications.}} is a [[J-pop]] song performed by Japanese singer [[Yoko Takahashi]]. Toshiyuki Ōmori and Hidetoshi Satō composed the song, while [[Neko Oikawa]] wrote the lyrics. It was written for the opening theme of the [[anime]] television series ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', and was released as a [[A-side and B-side|double-A-sided single]] with "[[Fly Me to the Moon]]", the show's closing theme, on October 25, 1995. "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was also included in the [[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion|series' soundtrack releases]] and Takahashi's albums.

The song had a positive reception from music critics and audiences; it later became one of the most famous Japanese [[anisong]]s, songs specially created for anime series. Years after the show's first airing, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" has remained a popular Japanese [[karaoke]] song, winning popularity polls and awards. On the Internet, along with its official video, the song gained further fame through covers and parodies, becoming one of the most famous theme songs in the history of animation.

==Background and recording==
{{listen
|header = Opening and theme song for the TV series.
|filename = Evangelion_-_Cruel_Angels_Thesis.ogg
|title = ''Cruel Angel's Thesis''
|description = "Cruel Angel's Thesis" as sung by Yoko Takahashi.
|format = [[ogg]]
|pos = right
}}

During the production of ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', the show's director [[Hideaki Anno]] suggested using an existing piece of [[classical music]] as the series' opening theme. He first chose the [[Polovtsian Dances]] from the opera ''[[Prince Igor]]'' by [[Russia]]n composer [[Aleksander Borodin]].<ref name=Bientot/> [[TV Tokyo]] rejected the proposal, judging such a piece unsuitable for the show; a classical composition from ''Prince Igor'' would have been, according to the producers, "unclear".<ref name="Refrain">{{Cite book |date=2003 |title=Refrain of Evangelion Booklet |publisher=[[NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan]] |language=ja|chapter=残酷な天使のテーゼ}}</ref> ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' production studio [[Gainax]] then contacted Hidetoshi Satō and Toshiyuki Ōmori to write an original piece in place of the soundtrack's main composer [[Shiro Sagisu]]. Although not officially credited, Toshimichi Ōtsuki, a member of King Records and the official producer of the animated series, coordinated production. During the demo stage Ōtsuki requested a melody with a "crispy notching style".<ref name="Refrain" />

Singer [[Yoko Takahashi]], who was already known for singing Japanese television themes, was contacted for the recording; at the time of the recording of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", Takahashi had not seen the anime and was not given any information about it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-07-13/interview-cruel-angel-thesis-singer-yoko-takahashi/.90386 |title=Interview: Cruel Angel's Thesis singer Yoko Takahashi |author=Zac Bertschy |website=[[Anime News Network]] |date=13 July 2015 |access-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901152703/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-07-13/interview-cruel-angel-thesis-singer-yoko-takahashi/.90386 |archive-date=1 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://interview.utamap.com/review_2009/20090511_takahashiyouko/takahashiyouko_1.html |title=高橋洋子 |date=11 May 2009 |language=ja |access-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093718/http://interview.utamap.com/review_2009/20090511_takahashiyouko/takahashiyouko_1.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ōmori finished the arrangement, albeit roughly, and Takahashi established a temporary track by singing the melody with only the syllable "la".<ref name="Wrigley">{{Cite web |url=http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa/ |title='A Cruel Angel's Thesis' took just two hours to write says Evangelion lyricist Neko Oikawa |author=Fan Wrigley |date=8 January 2015 |access-date=7 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731152542/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/01/08/a-cruel-angels-thesis-took-just-two-hours-to-write-says-evangelion-lyricist-neko-oikawa/ |archive-date=31 July 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Once the final lyrics were ready, Takahashi, then almost thirty years old, was asked to adopt a childlike tone of voice. When she received a [[demo (music)|demo]] of the base to rehearse with, Takahashi found the song difficult because of both Oikawa's chosen language register and the song's fast [[tempo]].<ref name="Takahashi">{{Cite web |url=https://akiba-souken.com/article/40399/ |title=「残酷な天使のテーゼ」は天からのギフト——「新世紀エヴァンゲリオン」NETFLIXでのTVシリーズ全話＆旧劇場版・配信記念！ 高橋洋子（歌手）インタビュー！ |date=17 June 2019 |language=ja |access-date=7 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618062907/https://akiba-souken.com/article/40399/ |archive-date=18 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Evangelion Finally Booklet|date=2020|publisher=Milan Record|chapter=Interview: Yoko Takahashi}}</ref> A male backing choir was originally planned but was later deleted by Anno to emphasize the concept of "motherhood" on the recording.<ref name="Refrain" />

==Composition and lyrics==
[[File:1831 Schlesinger Philosoph Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Hegel anagoria.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.8|The German philosophical term ''These'' used in the lyrics has been used, among others, by [[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel]]]]

[[Neko Oikawa]] was given the task of writing the lyrics; Ōtsuki instructed her to write something "philosophical" and to use complicated language.<ref name="Oikawa">{{Cite web |url=https://otapol.com/2016/08/post-7899.html |title=「残酷な天使のテーゼ」の作詞・及川眠子、『エヴァ』での儲けは6億円!? 作詞の裏事情を赤裸々に語る!! |date=26 August 2016 |language=ja |access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025115958/https://otapol.com/2016/08/post-7899.html |archive-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> She focused on the key concepts of "mother", "boys and girls of fourteen" and "an adult woman".<ref>{{harvp|Oikawa|2018 |p=149}}</ref> Oikawa, following the directives, completed the song in two hours, after having received few details of the anime and without having met Hidetoshi Satō.<ref name="Wrigley" /> Oikawa and her manager watched the show's first two extant episodes and a document presenting the project.<ref name="Wrigley" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://getnews.jp/archives/764301 |title=驚愕！ 作詞家が明かす名曲『残酷な天使のテーゼ』のシンプルすぎる誕生秘話 |date=12 January 2015 |language=ja |access-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914031313/http://getnews.jp/archives/764301 |archive-date=14 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The author had in mind the figure of a mother who does not want her son to become an adult, and wrote ambiguous lyrics with an abundance of [[stylistic device]]s.<ref>{{harvp|Oikawa|2018 |pp=152-153}}</ref> The song begins with the voice of a woman who advises a young man to behave like an [[angel]] without mercy, encouraging him with the cry of {{nihongo|''shin wa ni nare''|神話になれ||{{lit}} "become a myth"}}. For the woman, the boy is still innocent and naive; he looks at her, smiles and says nothing, and she gently invites him to rest. The woman, reassuring him their meeting was chosen by [[fate]], says; "On your back you have feathers that will carry you into the future".<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=26 |page=23 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref>

For the title, Oikawa used the German word {{nihongo|''These''|テーゼ||{{lit}} "thesis"}}. [[Yahoo! Japan]] has noted the concept of ''[[thesis antithesis synthesis|These]]'' has been used, among others, by [[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel]], philosopher and exponent of [[German idealism]].<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|publisher=Yahoo! Japan|date=9 May 2021|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/667ccfdb3cf546563f7f8e9d779e816baa9cbc29|title=「テーゼ」「パトス」って？ アニソンに登場する、意味を知らない謎単語|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=9 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509012535/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/667ccfdb3cf546563f7f8e9d779e816baa9cbc29|url-status=live}}</ref> Oikawa also took inspiration from the manga {{nihongo|''[[A Cruel God Reigns]]''| 残酷な神が支配する|Zankoku na kami ga shihai suru}},<ref name=Bientot/> which was written by [[Moto Hagio]] and was being published at the time, and inserted the term {{nihongo|''tenshi''|天使|}}, which usually refers to the angels of [[Christianity]].<ref>{{harvp|Horn|2013 |pp= 371-373}}</ref> An additional religious reference, the verse {{nihongo|"Watashi wa sō jiyū o shiru tame no baiburu"|私はそう自由を知るためのバイブル}} ("This is the [[Bible]] with which you will learn what freedom is"), was added to the lyrics. At first, she thought of ending the song with the motto {{nihongo|"''kyōki ni nare''"|凶器になれ||{{lit|become a weapon}}}}, which can also be translated as "become crazy" if written with [[kanji]] {{nihongo|狂気||kyōki|{{lit|crazy}}}}, but the proposal was shelved<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n2.html |title=「残酷な天使のテーゼ」歌詞、「神話になれ」は当初「凶器になれ」だった...作詞家・及川眠子さん |date=28 December 2016 |language=ja |access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612162151/https://www.sankei.com/west/news/161228/wst1612280011-n2.html |archive-date=12 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> under the advice of TV Tokyo, which requested a change to "''shin wa ni nare''" ("become a myth").<ref>{{harvp|Oikawa|2018 |p=150}}.</ref> The ending with an imperative remained, keeping the idea of an adult addressing a young boy.<ref>{{harvp|Oikawa|2018 |p=156}}.</ref> According to [[Comic Book Resources]]'s Devin Meenan, the lyrics could refer to [[Yui Ikari]], mother of protagonist [[Shinji Ikari|Shinji]] who protects him during the events of the series, or [[Misato Katsuragi]], his superior who encourages him "to come out of his shell".<ref>{{cite web|author=Devin Meenan|url=https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-saddest-happiest-musical-themes/|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|title=5 Saddest Musical Themes In Neon Genesis Evangelion (& 5 Happiest)|date=June 2021|access-date=8 October 2021|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603091357/https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-saddest-happiest-musical-themes/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kotono Mitsuishi]], Misato's Japanese voice actress, gave a similar interpretation; in an interview, Mitsuishi stated that the lyric {{nihongo|"Even if I never become a goddess, I will go on"|女神なんてなれないまま私は生きる|Megami nante narenai mama watashi wa ikiru|}} "pierced" her heart, believing "that was Misato's voice".<ref>{{Cite book |date=1997 |title=Death & Rebirth Program Book |language=ja |publisher=Gainax |chapter=出演者コメント}}</ref>

An interlude chorus with the words {{nihongo|''faria''|ファリアー|}} and {{nihongo|''setameso''|セタメソー}} was also included in the song; the interlude's lyrics are not from an existing language and were created by arranger Toshiyuki Ōmori. The chorus was sung by Ōmori, Takahashi, and her brother Gō Takahashi.<ref>{{harvp|Takahashi|2021|p=151}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Hashimoto|2018|p=169}}</ref> When asked about their meaning, Ōmori stated that "the words suddenly came down from the sky" during the writing.<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|url=https://www.j-cast.com/2022/05/20437715.html|publisher=J-Cast|date=20 May 2022|title=「残酷な天使のテーゼ」四半世紀越し「新事実」 コーラス内容に衝撃「エヴァには謎がありすぎる」|access-date=5 September 2024}}</ref>

==Release==
On October 25, 1995, "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was released as a single in two versions: in the first one, with a cover price of {{Yen|1,049}}, it was accompanied by a song by Takahashi entitled {{nihongo|"Tsuki no meikyū"|月の迷宮||{{lit.}} ("Moon's labyrinth")}};<ref name=OriconZankoku>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/142144/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426022230/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/142144/1/ |archive-date=26 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> the second version, with a cover price of {{Yen|961}} yen, includes "[[Fly Me to the Moon]]" performed by Claire Littley, the show's closing theme song.<ref name=OriconZankoku2>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/352554/products/142146/1/ |title=高橋洋子, CLAIRE |website=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=14 December 2020 |archive-date=11 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811124620/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/352554/products/142146/1/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The second version was reissued on March 26, 2003, for the release of the Renewal Edition of ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''.<ref name=OriconZankoku3>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/352554/products/503585/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ/FLY ME TO THE MOON |website=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=8 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811124614/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/352554/products/503585/1/ |archive-date=11 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was also included on albums dedicated to the anime soundtracks, starting with ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Neon Genesis Evangelion|Neon Genesis Evangelion I]]'', released on November 22, 1995; in the following ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Neon Genesis Evangelion II|Neon Genesis Evangelion II]]'', released on February 16, 1996, the shorter "TV Size Version", which was used for broadcast by TV Tokyo, was also included.<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=1 |pages=30–31 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref>

The song was included in other releases, such as the special box set ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#The Day of Second Impact|The Day of Second Impact]]'' (September 13, 2000),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-13/happy-second-impact |title=Happy Second Impact! |website=[[Anime News Network]] |date=13 September 2000 |access-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101144234/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-13/happy-second-impact |archive-date=1 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Neon Genesis Evangelion: S² Works|Neon Genesis Evangelion: S² Works]]'' (December 4, 1998), ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Refrain of Evangelion|Refrain of Evangelion]]'' (May 23, 2003),<ref name=Album/> ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Neon Genesis Evangelion Decade|Neon Genesis Evangelion Decade]]'' (November 26, 2005),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/258 |title=NEON GENESIS EVANGELION DECADE （音楽CD） |language=ja |access-date=8 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020205038/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/258 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''A. T. EVA01 Reference'' CD (December 21, 2007),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/evangelion/audio-technica.html |title=ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版 |language=ja |access-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160614004612/http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/evangelion/audio-technica.html |archive-date=14 June 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Shin Godzilla vs Evangelion Symphony|Shin Godzilla vs Evangelion Symphony]]'' (December 27, 2017),<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|url=https://kingeshop.jp/shop/g/gKICA-2522/|title=シン・ゴジラ対エヴァンゲリオン交響楽【通常盤】|publisher=King Records|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/709986/products/1257108/1/|title=シン・ゴジラ対エヴァンゲリオン交響楽|publisher=Oricon|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Evangelion Finally|Evangelion Finally]]'' (October 2020),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://app.famitsu.com/20200330_1613914/ |title=『エヴァンゲリオン』ヴォーカル楽曲セレクションCD『EVANGELION FINALLY』の店舗オリジナル購入特典が公開 |date=30 March 2020 |language=ja |access-date=23 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604010922/https://app.famitsu.com/20200330_1613914/ |archive-date=4 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion#Neon Genesis Evangelion Soundtrack 25th Anniversary Box|Neon Genesis Evangelion Soundtrack 25th Anniversary Box]]'', a box containing several versions of the theme song.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1592997192 |title=『エヴァンゲリオン』シリーズ25周年アニバーサリー企画CD「NEON GENESIS EVANGELION SOUNDTRACK 25th ANNIVERSARY BOX」ジャケ写・試聴動画公開！ |date=24 June 2020 |language=ja |access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708063540/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1592997192 |archive-date=8 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> The track was later included on unrelated compilations, such as the ''Star Child Selection'' (28 January 2000),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/177979 |title=スターチャイルドＳＥＬＥＣＴＩＯＮ 音楽編～ＴＶ作品集～ |website=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511011410/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/177979 |archive-date=11 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> various ''Super Robot Tamashii'' anthologies<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/187982 |title=スーパーロボット魂２００３"春の陣" |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611195221/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/187982 |archive-date=11 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/107774/products/533317/1/ |title=スーパーロボット魂 ザ・ベスト Vol.3～リアルロボ編～ |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231750/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/107774/products/533317/1/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=BSCH000030033 |title=スーパーロボット魂 BEST＆LIVE ［ガールズ編］ |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231731/https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?site=S&cd=BSCH000030033 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20834 |title=スーパーロボット魂 ノンストップ・ミックス ＶＯＬ４［ガールズ編］ |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222164003/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20834 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?cd=BSCH000030093 |title=スーパーロボット魂 ノンストップ・ミックスVOL.4 [ガールズ編] |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231734/https://www.sonymusicshop.jp/m/item/itemShw.php?cd=BSCH000030093 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> in various mixes,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34397/products/610268/1/ |title=スーパーロボット魂 主題歌ベストコレクション2 |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231757/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34397/products/610268/1/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20797 |title=スーパーロボット魂ＢＥＳＴ＆ＬＩＶＥ ［ガールズ編２］ |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522061006/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20797 |archive-date=22 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/180663 |title=スーパーロボットライブ リクエスト・ベスト |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163954/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/180663 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/cd/CdTop.php?cd=SPC01695178 |title=スーパーロボットライブ リクエスト・ベスト |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231758/https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/cd/CdTop.php?cd=SPC01695178 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20809 |title=スーパーロボット魂 リアルロボ・ソングコレクション |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128191938/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20809 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20823 |title=ＴＨＥ ＢＥＳＴ！！ スーパーロボット魂 ガールズ・ベストコレクション |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128203540/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/20823 |archive-date=28 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''pop'n music 12 Iroha AC CS pop'n music 10'' (13 April 2005),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/67810/products/587724/1/ |title=pop'n music 12 いろは AC CS pop'n music 10 |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231757/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/67810/products/587724/1/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Kids Song★Hit Paradise!'' (26 September 2008),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/183586 |title=キッズソング★ヒットパラダイス！ まんまるスマイル・崖の上のポニョ |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231747/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/183586 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Brass Band Koushien 3'' (27 February 2008),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/braban-koshien/products/uicz-4199/ |title=ブラバン!甲子園 3 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828024154/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/braban-koshien/products/uicz-4199/ |archive-date=28 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Nekoism 〜 Neko Oikawa Sakuhin-shū'' (21 February 2018).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/581357 |title=ネコイズム～及川眠子作品集 |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025005659/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/581357 |archive-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Reception==
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 2em; font-size: 85%; background:#white; color:black; width:30em; max-width: 30%;" cellspacing="5"
| style="text-align: left;" |
[''Evangelion''] began to spread around the world faster than I could have imagined. ... During the Evangelion World Tour, people of all ethnicities started singing in Japanese with me. People from all over the world are all singing in a big chorus. This is very moving. As I have always said, anisongs are the best passport to cross national borders. And, day by day, I realize that ''Evangelion'' is just one of those works that have this power.
|-
| style="text-align: right;" |Yōko Takahashi<ref name=Takahashi/>
|}

"The Cruel Angel's Thesis" enjoyed long-lasting success and frequently appeared in popularity polls even decades after the first airing of ''Evangelion''.<ref name=an/><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=14 March 2021|url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c8814a26a095788d230c0927bc589edd09d976a6|title=【エヴァンゲリオン】あなたが一番好きな歴代主題歌は？|date=11 March 2021|archive-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311120620/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/c8814a26a095788d230c0927bc589edd09d976a6|url-status=live}}</ref> It is considered one of the best and most iconic theme songs of the ''[[otaku]]'' subculture,<ref name=pe/><ref name=ev>{{Cite web |url=https://anime.everyeye.it/articoli/speciale-da-dragon-ball-evangelion-migliori-opening-degli-anime-42983.html |title=Da Dragon Ball a Evangelion: le migliori opening degli anime |author=Salvatore Cardone |date=9 March 2019 |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231752/https://anime.everyeye.it/articoli/speciale-da-dragon-ball-evangelion-migliori-opening-degli-anime-42983.html |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live|language=it}}</ref> finding renewed popularity with the release of the ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' theatrical tetralogy.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-25/songs-from-evangelion-other-anime-win-jasrac-awards |title=Songs From Evangelion, Other Anime Win JASRAC Awards |publisher=Anime News Network |date=25 May 2011|access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110527172158/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-25/songs-from-evangelion-other-anime-win-jasrac-awards |archive-date=27 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996 and 1997, after the first broadcast of ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was elected best theme song of the moment in the [[Anime Grand Prix]], an annual poll conducted by the magazine ''[[Animage]]''; in the second year, it got more than twice as many votes as the second-placed song, ''Give a Reason'' by [[Megumi Hayashibara]].<ref name="an">{{Cite web |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1996.html |title=第18回アニメグランプリ ［1996年5月号］ |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014172959/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1996.html |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1997.html |title=第19回アニメグランプリ ［1997年6月号］ |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173011/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1997.html |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a 2002 poll on the most-unforgettable songs in the history of Japanese animation, conducted by [[TV Asahi]], the song was placed 55th;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.motobayashi.net/karaoke/song100.html |title=『忘れられないアニメソングベスト100』 2002.7.28 テレビ朝日 |language=ja |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191836/http://www.motobayashi.net/karaoke/song100.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> it later reached 18th place in the same channel's ranking of best anime songs produced during and after the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/013.html |title=年代別もう一度聞きたいアニメソング ベスト６０ |language=ja |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313011736/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/013.html |archive-date=13 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/backnum_index.html |title=年代別もう一度聞きたいアニメソング |language=ja |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040217164235/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/backnum_index.html |archive-date=17 February 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2016, the song was ranked top in a poll of the favorite anisongs of the 1990s by [[Anime News Network]] users and one of the best-ever anisongs in a poll of almost 7,000 people by ''CD & DL Data'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2016-10-15/.107546 |title=7 Magical Girls that Fandom Forgot |publisher=Anime News Network |date=15 October 2016|access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026002613/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-list/2016-10-15/.107546 |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-08-31/cruel-angel-thesis-maintains-its-top-spot-as-fav-anisong/.105934 |title=Cruel Angel's Thesis Maintains Its Top Spot as Fav Anisong |publisher=Anime News Network |date=31 August 2016|access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026004118/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-08-31/cruel-angel-thesis-maintains-its-top-spot-as-fav-anisong/.105934 |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Japanese website Anime Anime asked its users which cartoon soundtracks they would like as their national anthem; "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" took third place.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://animeanime.jp/article/2018/08/12/39396.html |title=2018年、国歌にしたいアニソンは？ 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」を超える人気を集めたのは...【「君が代」記念日】 |date=12 August 2018 |language=ja |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026003452/https://animeanime.jp/article/2018/08/12/39396.html |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, it came second in a survey of the most-sung titles by the female audience on the website Merumo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.merumo.ne.jp/article/genre/8793783 |title=女子が好きなアニメソングランキング発表 / カラオケ定番『残酷な天使のテーゼ』は何位!? |date=5 July 2019 |language=ja |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026003447/https://news.merumo.ne.jp/article/genre/8793783 |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
Critics positively received "The Cruel Angel's Thesis". Casey Baseel of Sora News and Ederlyn Peralta of [[Comic Book Resources]] described it as one of the most iconic anime songs.<ref name=pe>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/from-akira-to-cowboy-bebop-animes-most-iconic-soundtracks/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |title=From Akira to Cowboy Bebop, Anime's Most Iconic Soundtracks |author=Ederlyn Peralta|date=9 August 2020 |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231747/https://www.cbr.com/from-akira-to-cowboy-bebop-animes-most-iconic-soundtracks/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://soranews24.com/2017/01/24/anime-song-fitness-video-series-kicks-off-with-exercise-routine-for-the-evangelion-theme%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/ |title=Anime song fitness video series kicks off with exercise routine for the Evangelion theme【Video】 |date=24 January 2017 |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024174721/https://soranews24.com/2017/01/24/anime-song-fitness-video-series-kicks-off-with-exercise-routine-for-the-evangelion-theme%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Comic Book Resources' Eduardo Luquin praised its tone, writing, "{{sp}}'Cruel Angel's Thesis' is a hype train that starts the trippy trip to the destinations known as philosophy, religion, and teenage angst. Like a starting shot at the start of the race, it implores the watcher to go headlong into the show and try to take in everything ''Evangelion'' has to offer."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/funny-evangelion-memes/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |title=10 Hilarious Evangelion Memes Only True Fans Will Understand |author=Edoardo Luquin |date=11 October 2019|access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112001605/https://www.cbr.com/funny-evangelion-memes/ |archive-date=12 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

For Lauren Orsini of ''[[Forbes]]'', the song is "instantly catchy".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenorsini/2019/06/25/5-reasons-you-should-still-watch-evangelion-in-2019/#41e88a87398c |title=5 Reasons You Should Still Watch 'Evangelion' In 2019 |author=Lauren Orsini |website=[[Forbes]] |date=25 June 2019|access-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231754/https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenorsini/2019/06/25/5-reasons-you-should-still-watch-evangelion-in-2019/#41e88a87398c |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Matt Fagaly of [[Crunchyroll]] and Tom Pinchuk of [[Geek & Sundry]] praised the contrast between the dark, pessimistic themes of its parent series and the song's lighthearted tone.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-feature/2020/05/16-1/anime-opening-songs-guaranteed-to-lift-your-spirits |title=Anime Opening Songs Guaranteed to Lift Your Spirits |author=Matt Fagaly |date=16 May 2020 |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718064655/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-feature/2020/05/16-1/anime-opening-songs-guaranteed-to-lift-your-spirits |archive-date=18 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://geekandsundry.com/your-top-5-fav-anime-intros-of-all-time-forever-and-ever/ |title=The Best Anime Intros of All Time, As Chosen By You |date=30 March 2016 |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025235549/https://geekandsundry.com/your-top-5-fav-anime-intros-of-all-time-forever-and-ever/ |archive-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This view was echoed by the Anime-Planet website, which said, "It's a great piece of music, which is quite rare for anime openings these days".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a390.html |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Review|access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410002057/http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a390.html |archive-date=10 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Upon the anime's release on [[Netflix]], the theme song was again analyzed and reviewed. David Levesley of ''[[Gentlemen's Quarterly]]'' described it as an "exceptional" song<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix |title=Netflix just added one of the greatest sci-fi TV shows of all time |author=David Levesley |date=21 June 2019 |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815023122/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix |archive-date=15 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> while Junichi Tsukagoshi of Animate Times called it "a holy chant that everyone knows".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1594605915 |title=【アニソンの歴史を振り返る1995年編】TVアニメ『新世紀エヴァンゲリオン』高橋洋子「残酷な天使のテーゼ」【連載vol.69】 |author=Junichi Tsukagoshi |date=13 July 2020 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917050216/https://www.animatetimes.com/news/details.php?id=1594605915 |archive-date=17 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Italian writer Laura Mucci of Everyeye.it called it "a curious element of cultural folklore", "a kind of Japanese counterpart to [the Italian] [[Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song)|Nel blu, dipinto di blu]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.everyeye.it/articoli/recensione-taiko-tatsujin-drum-session-rullo-tamburi-ed-subito-festa-39869.html |title=Taiko no Tatsujin Drum Session Recensione: Rullo di tamburi ed è subito festa |author=Laura Mucci |date=17 July 2018 |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215192219/https://www.everyeye.it/articoli/recensione-taiko-tatsujin-drum-session-rullo-tamburi-ed-subito-festa-39869.html |archive-date=15 December 2019 |url-status=live|language=it}}</ref> Comic Book Resources similarly ranked "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" as the best theme song of the 1990s and the third-most beautiful of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-opening-themes-all-time-ranked/ |title=15 Best Anime Opening Themes of All Time, Ranked |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=13 May 2020 |access-date=21 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525102417/https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-opening-themes-all-time-ranked/ |archive-date=25 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-openings-90s-ranked/ |title=10 Best Anime Openings Of The 90s, Ranked |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=23 February 2020 |access-date=21 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311213947/https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-openings-90s-ranked/ |archive-date=11 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Legacy===
"The Cruel Angel's Thesis" has been described by the website Sora News as an "unqualified hit" that transcended anime fandom,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://soranews24.com/2014/11/21/stand-back-kids-64-year-old-enka-singer-aki-yashiro-completely-nails-cover-of-evangelion-theme/ |title=Stand back, kids! 64-year-old enka singer Aki Yashiro completely nails cover of Evangelion theme |date=21 November 2014 |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025230920/https://soranews24.com/2014/11/21/stand-back-kids-64-year-old-enka-singer-aki-yashiro-completely-nails-cover-of-evangelion-theme/ |archive-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and by Crunchyroll's
Kara Dennison as "one of the most recognizable [themes] in anime history".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=16 December 2021|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/08/18/cruel-angels-thesis-writers-reunite-for-new-jojo-theme|title="Cruel Angel's Thesis" Writers Reunite for New JoJo Theme|date=19 August 2018|publisher=Crunchyroll|archive-date=16 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216224945/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/08/18/cruel-angels-thesis-writers-reunite-for-new-jojo-theme|url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the years, the song spawned memes and parody edits.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.geek.com/tech/the-best-evangelion-op-parodies-of-all-time-1667183/ |title=The Best 'Evangelion' OP Parodies of All Time |date=22 June 2019 |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929130441/https://www.geek.com/tech/the-best-evangelion-op-parodies-of-all-time-1667183/ |archive-date=29 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/neon-genesis-evangelion-timeless-overrated-comparison-anime/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion: 5 Ways It's A Timeless Anime (& 5 Ways It's Overrated) |author=Daniel Kurland |date=28 June 2020|access-date=5 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630032349/https://www.cbr.com/neon-genesis-evangelion-timeless-overrated-comparison-anime/ |archive-date=30 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Music anime douga]] (MAD) began to circulate on websites, with tribute video clips aimed at recreating the song's music and video; according to Comic Book Resources's Angelo Delos Trinos, it has been "endlessly covered and edited more so than anything from the actual anime. Even anime newcomers who have yet to watch anything from ''Evangelion'' are already familiar with its opening because of its undying online presence".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=12 October 2021|url=https://www.cbr.com/anime-songs-soundtrack-more-famous-than-show/|title=10 Iconic Anime Songs That Are More Famous Than Their Anime|date=26 August 2021|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-date=21 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021054918/https://www.cbr.com/anime-songs-soundtrack-more-famous-than-show/|url-status=live}}</ref> Through the years, these parodies spread on the web and the music video continued to be homaged by Internet users<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[Comic Book Resources]]|url=https://www.cbr.com/unskippable-openings-shonen-anime-ranked/|title=10 Unskippable Openings In Shonen Anime, Ranked|date=21 March 2021|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=28 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028170456/https://www.cbr.com/unskippable-openings-shonen-anime-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|url=https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-opening-ever/|title=What Is the Best Anime Opening of All Time?|date=22 September 2021|access-date=12 October 2021|archive-date=6 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006094834/https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-opening-ever/|url-status=live}}</ref> through remixes, [[Mashup (music)|mash-up]]s, and covers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vox.com/2019/6/21/18683621/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix-release-explained |title=8 things to know about Neon Genesis Evangelion, the legendary anime now streaming on Netflix |date=21 June 2019|access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807040814/https://www.vox.com/2019/6/21/18683621/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix-release-explained |archive-date=7 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://soranews24.com/2020/06/17/japanese-gravure-idol-strips-down-plays-drums-to-anime-hits%E3%80%90videos%E3%80%91/ |title=Japanese gravure idol strips down, plays drums to anime hits【Videos】 |date=17 June 2020 |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802095948/https://soranews24.com/2020/06/17/japanese-gravure-idol-strips-down-plays-drums-to-anime-hits%e3%80%90videos%e3%80%91/ |archive-date=2 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://br.ign.com/anime/80888/news/aberturas-de-attack-on-titan-e-evangelion-sao-reproduzidas-em-calculadoras |title=Aberturas de Attack on Titan e Evangelion são reproduzidas em calculadoras |date=31 March 2020 |language=pt |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616200832/https://br.ign.com/anime/80888/news/aberturas-de-attack-on-titan-e-evangelion-sao-reproduzidas-em-calculadoras |archive-date=16 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, a [[Twitter]] user combined the song with a video clip of [[LMFAO]]'s "[[Party Rock Anthem]]"; the parody video went viral and "Party Rock Anthem" also became a meme with dozens of variations on several social media platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lmfao-party-rock-anthem-meme-735242/ |title=The 'Party Rock Anthem' Meme Will Enrich Your Life |author=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=9 October 2018 |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024151031/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lmfao-party-rock-anthem-meme-735242/ |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/lmfao-party-rock-anthem-bpm-mashup/ |title="Party Rock Anthem" colliding with our favorite scene anthems is everything we need |author=Whitney Shoemaker |publisher=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |date=7 October 2018|access-date=14 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805133032/https://www.altpress.com/features/lmfao-party-rock-anthem-bpm-mashup/ |archive-date=5 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022 Japanese voice actress and singer [[Aina Aiba]] named the ''Evangelion'' opening as one of the anime songs that "changed her life" and introduced her to singing.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2232995/full/ | script-title=ja:人気声優の人生を変えたアニソンは? ミルキィホームズやハルヒ、エヴァなど続々 | trans-title=What are the anime songs that changed the lives of popular voice actors? From ''Milky Holmes'' to ''Haruhi'' to ''Eva'', one after another | language=ja | work=[[Oricon]] | date=8 April 2022 | accessdate=7 January 2024 | archive-date=3 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203220852/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2232995/full/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|url=https://mantan-web.jp/article/20220428dog00m200000000c.html|title=カラオケ戦隊声優ジャー：徳井青空ら出演声優が"人生を変えたアニソン"語る（コメント全文）|publisher=Mantan Web| date=28 April 2022 | access-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220501005655/https://mantan-web.jp/article/20220428dog00m200000000c.html|archive-date=1 May 2022}}</ref>

====Merchandise and other uses====
[[File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 521-7002 inside Evangelion cockpit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|"The Cruel Angel's Thesis" has been used for announcements and features of the 500 ''Type Eva'', a [[Shinkansen 500 Series]] train entirely dedicated to the series<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://soranews24.com/2015/10/20/get-in-the-bullet-train-shinji-the-evangelion-shinkansen-is-here-%E3%80%90videos%E3%80%91/|title=Get in the bullet train, Shinji! The Evangelion Shinkansen is here 【Videos】|date= 20 October 2015|access-date=24 October 2019}}</ref>]]

"A Cruel Angel's Thesis" was used in ''Evangelion''-inspired video games and ''[[pachinko]]'' machines.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/06/19/newly-edited-the-cruel-angels-thesis-music-video-hd-version-now-streamed |title=Newly-Edited "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" Music Video HD Version Now Streamed |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024142612/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/06/19/newly-edited-the-cruel-angels-thesis-music-video-hd-version-now-streamed |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In August 1997, the Japanese magazine ''[[June (magazine)|June]]'', specialized in ''[[shonen-ai]]'' homoerotic manga and anime, issued a volume entitled {{nihongo|''Zankoku na tenshi no yō ni''|残酷な天使のように||{{lit|Like a cruel angel}}}}, the title of which is taken from the first verse of the theme song.<ref>{{cite book|first=Carl Gustav |last=Horn|chapter=Eight books from Evangelion|publisher=Viz Media|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion|volume=8|isbn=978-1-59116-415-9|date=2004}}</ref> In 2014, [[Sony]] released a special [[Digital Audio Tape|DAT]] [[walkman]] about the series in homage to the one used by Shinji's character; included in the package was a card from the Japanese music store Mora that allowed customers to download the original version of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" in Sony Stores in [[Ginza]], [[Nagoya]], and [[Osaka]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-04-19/shinji-tape-player-gets-a-tech-upgrade-with-new-sony-walkman-f |title=Shinji's Tape Player Gets A Tech Upgrade With New Sony Walkman F |publisher=Anime News Network |date=19 April 2014 |access-date=7 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061311/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-04-19/shinji-tape-player-gets-a-tech-upgrade-with-new-sony-walkman-f |archive-date=8 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the first airing of the anime, a [[musical road]] playing the song was built in [[Hakone]], near which the series' fictional city Tokyo-3 is located; through jolts caused by grooves in the asphalt, a person driving at an optimal speed of {{Convert|40|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} could hear the song along a scenic route at [[Lake Ashi]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://soranews24.com/2015/04/13/hear-the-evangelion-theme-song-as-you-drive-over-hakones-ashinoko-skyline-musical-road/ |title=Hear the Evangelion theme song as you drive over Hakone's Ashinoko Skyline "musical road" |date=13 April 2015|access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024174718/https://soranews24.com/2015/04/13/hear-the-evangelion-theme-song-as-you-drive-over-hakones-ashinoko-skyline-musical-road/ |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, Evastore, an official store entirely dedicated to the series, advertised the release of the single in a restored digital format and produced new ''Evangelion''-related merchandise, such as t-shirts,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/7828 |title=EVASTORE オフィシャル版 新世紀エヴァンゲリオンOPENING Tシャツ/白 |language=ja |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804170513/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/7828 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11560 |title=EVASTOREオリジナル マキシシングル初号機バックプリントTシャツ（摩砂雪イラスト） |language=ja |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920033422/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11560 |archive-date=20 September 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> posters,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11561 |title=EVASTOREオリジナル マキシシングル初号機タペストリー（摩砂雪イラスト） |language=ja |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118082108/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11561 |url-status=live}}</ref> and metallic postcards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11562 |title=EVASTOREオリジナル マキシシングル初号機メタルポストカード・クリアファイルセット（摩砂雪イラスト） |language=ja |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-date=18 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118073918/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11562 |url-status=live}}</ref> On May 5 of the same year, the piece was included in an official cross-over episode between ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and the animated series ''[[Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/evangelion-shinkalion-crossover/|title=Evangelion Is NOT for Children, But One Japanese Kids Show Begs to Differ|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date=3 March 2021|access-date=24 October 2019 }}</ref> On December 26, Takahashi performed "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" at the opening of an ''[[izakaya]]'' club dedicated to the series;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/11/09/share-a-drink-with-mom-at-the-evangelion-pub |title=Share a Drink with Mom at the Evangelion Pub |author=Kara Dennison |date=9 November 2018|access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231840/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2018/11/09/share-a-drink-with-mom-at-the-evangelion-pub |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> a drink named "Zankoku na tenshi no these" was also released.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/307877 |title=エヴァ酒場開店「ゲンドウ豆のさつま揚げ」「見知らぬ、天丼」と豊富なメニュー |date=14 November 2018 |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113123555/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/307877 |archive-date=13 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, in conjunction with the anime's launch on Netflix, Japanese singer [[Toshi (musician)|Toshi]] performed the song during a performance of the ice-skating show ''[[Fantasy on Ice]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2019/06/18-1/skaters-dance-like-they-want-to-win-in-evangelion-routine |title=Skaters Dance Like They Want to Win in Evangelion Routine |date=19 June 2019|access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024140757/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2019/06/18-1/skaters-dance-like-they-want-to-win-in-evangelion-routine |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> American wrestler [[Dio Maddin]], a fan of ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', named one of his final moves "Cruel Angel's Thesis" after the song.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/wwe-wrestler-finishing-move-neon-genesis-evangelion-brennan-williams-anime/|title=WWE Wrestler Names Finishing Move After Neon Genesis Evangelion|publisher=ComicBook|date=25 June 2019|access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref> In 2020, an ''Evangelion''-themed event was held at the [[Tokyo Sky Tree]], during which the video of the song was shown at the tower's observatory; the event ran until May of the following year.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=13 December 2020|url=https://soranews24.com/2020/12/03/evangelion-taking-over-tokyo-skytree-just-in-time-for-christmas/|title=Evangelion taking over Tokyo Skytree just in time for Christmas|date=3 December 2020|author=Casey Baseel|archive-date=14 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214181659/https://soranews24.com/2020/12/03/evangelion-taking-over-tokyo-skytree-just-in-time-for-christmas/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=14 March 2021|url=https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000129.000041446.html|title=映画『シン・エヴァンゲリオン劇場版』公開記念 「EVANGELION トウキョウスカイツリー(R)計画」の開催期間を５月３１日（月）まで延長！|date=8 March 2021|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308074857/https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000129.000041446.html|url-status=live}}</ref> "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was also used in an episode of ''[[Seiyu's Life!]]''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2015/summer/seiyu-life/.89906 |title=Seiyu's Life |publisher=Anime News Network |date=7 July 2015 |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103062912/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/preview-guide/2015/summer/seiyu-life/.89906 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and homaged in other animated series, such as ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler]]'',<ref>{{cite web |access-date=25 October 2021|url=https://www.cbr.com/anime-neon-genesis-evangelion-references-homage-tribute/|title=10 Anime That Referenced Neon Genesis Evangelion|date=16 September 2021|first=Angelo|last=Delos Trinos|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|archive-date=25 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925040139/https://www.cbr.com/anime-neon-genesis-evangelion-references-homage-tribute/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''[[Regular Show]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-04-10/neon-genesis-evangelion-opening-parodied-on-regular-show/.86964 |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Opening Parodied on Regular Show |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=10 April 2015|access-date=7 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207165658/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-04-10/neon-genesis-evangelion-opening-parodied-on-regular-show/.86964 |archive-date=7 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Commercial performance==
[[File:CR EVANGELION X.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9| "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" grossed about thirty million yen annually for twenty years from ''pachinko'' machines]]

In Japan, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" gained popularity,<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2013/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110152113/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2013/|archive-date=10 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2014/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214151736/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2014/|archive-date=14 February 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2015/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201163705/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2015/|archive-date=1 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2016/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021184340/http://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2016/|archive-date=21 October 2017}}</ref> remaining for years in the [[Oricon Karaoke Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2017/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620102141/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2017/|archive-date=20 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2018/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924201348/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2018/|archive-date=24 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2021|publisher=Oricon|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2019/|title=年間 カラオケランキング|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223024929/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ko/y/2019/|archive-date=23 December 2019}}</ref> The original version of the song was released as a single on October 25, 1995, and charted twenty-two times on the weekly [[Oricon]] charts, peaking at number twenty-seven.<ref name="Oricon">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/142144/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ/高橋洋子 |publisher=[[Oricon]] |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430060329/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/142144/1/ |archive-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was later re-released together with Claire's cover of "Fly Me to the Moon" and stayed on the chart for sixty-one weeks.<ref name="Oricon2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/142146/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ/高橋洋子，ＣＬＡＩＲＥ |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021172447/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/142146/1/ |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1997, shortly after the end of the anime's first airing and the release of the movie ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth]]'', "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" was awarded the gold and diamond record (named "Million" in Japan),<ref>See [[#Certifications|Certifications]].</ref> while the edition with "Fly Me to the Moon" was certified platinum.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/riaj/open/open-record!file?fid=801 |title=THE RECORD - 日本レコード協会 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |language=ja|access-date=27 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617043539/http://www.riaj.or.jp/riaj/open/open-record!file?fid=801 |archive-date=17 June 2018 |page=9 |url-status=live}}</ref> The 2003 version stayed on the chart for nine weeks.<ref name="Oricon3">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ／ＦＬＹ ＭＥ ＴＯ ＴＨＥ ＭＯＯＮ/高橋洋子，ＣＬＡＩＲＥ |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021182411/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/503585/1/ |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A remix done in 2009 was also successful; in June and July of that year, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" became the most popular anisong of the period,<ref>{{cite book|date=June 2009|page=131|title=Newtype|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|date=July 2009|page=135|title=Newtype|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten}}</ref> appeared for fourteen weeks on the Oricon charts, and reached number twenty-two.<ref name="Oricon4">{{Cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/808028/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ２００９ ＶＥＲＳＩＯＮ/高橋洋子 |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430042608/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/808028/1/ |archive-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Sales of the various versions collectively sold more than one million copies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/pdf/issue/industry/RIAJ2015.pdf |title=Statistic Trends |publisher=RIAJ |language=ja |access-date=27 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808111910/https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/pdf/issue/industry/RIAJ2015.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2007/08/26/20070826org00m200002000c.html |title=特集：ヱヴァ、新生 新劇場版、庵野は何を目指すのか？ |date=26 August 2007 |language=ja |access-date=27 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707092937/http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2007/08/26/20070826org00m200002000c.html |archive-date=7 July 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2011, fifteen years after its debut, the [[Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers]] honored the song by placing it first in the JASRAC Awards, a special ranking of the most-profitable royalty pieces in Japanese music, calculated among other things through digital sales, ''pachinko'', and [[karaoke]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2011.html |title=2011年JASRAC賞 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」が金賞を受賞 |language=ja |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226192940/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2011.html |archive-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-30/weekly-wrapup-22/5-28/5 |title=Weekly Wrapup 22/5 - 28/5 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=29 May 2011 |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226202555/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-05-30/weekly-wrapup-22/5-28/5 |archive-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The song had already appeared on the charts in previous years: in 2008 it peaked at number seven,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2008_country.html |title=国内作品分配額ベスト10(金・銀・銅賞関連) |language=ja |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913084318/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2008_country.html |archive-date=13 September 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> number eight in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2009_country.html |title=国内作品分配額ベスト10(金・銀・銅賞関連) |language=ja |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120528150512/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2009_country.html |archive-date=28 May 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and number three in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2010_country.html |title=国内作品分配額ベスト10(金・銀・銅賞関連) |language=ja |access-date=8 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019232238/http://www.jasrac.or.jp/profile/prize/2010_country.html |archive-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2012, "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" was certified three-times platinum by the [[Recording Industry Association of Japan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicman.co.jp/business/13092 |title=レコ協、5月度着うた等有料音楽配信認定を公表 |date=20 June 2012 |language=ja |access-date=6 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008151046/https://www.musicman.co.jp/business/13092 |archive-date=8 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its popularity in karaoke and ''pachinko'' machines enriched writer Neko Oikawa, who in 2015 said she had earned more than {{Yen|100 million}} in royalties from "A Cruel Angel's Thesis";<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/09/16/evangelion-theme-song-lyricist-talks-about-her-annual-royalties-buying-caves-in-turkey/ |title=Evangelion theme song lyricist talks about her annual royalties, buying caves in Turkey |author=Krista Rogers |newspaper=Soranews24 -Japan News- |date=16 September 2015 |access-date=18 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918085629/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/09/16/evangelion-theme-song-lyricist-talks-about-her-annual-royalties-buying-caves-in-turkey/ |archive-date=18 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''pachinko'' machines proved particularly lucrative, grossing at least {{Yen|30 million}} per year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-09-12/evangelion-theme-song-writer-makes-over-hundred-million-yen-in-royalties/.92844 |title=Evangelion Theme Song Writer Makes Over Hundred Million Yen in Royalties |author=Eric Stimson |publisher=Anime News Network |date=12 September 2015 |access-date=18 September 2015 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150918181930/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-09-12/evangelion-theme-song-writer-makes-over-hundred-million-yen-in-royalties/.92844 |archive-date=18 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

"A Cruel Angel's Thesis" remains one of the most popular songs in Japanese karaoke. In 2013, it placed third in a Koebu.com poll about the favorite karaoke songs by voice actors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-12-27/2013-best-vas-anime-games-and-karaoke-songs-chosen-by-voice-actors |title=2013's Best VAs, Anime, Games, and Karaoke Songs Chosen by Voice Actors |publisher=Anime News Network |date=27 December 2013 |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226195722/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-12-27/2013-best-vas-anime-games-and-karaoke-songs-chosen-by-voice-actors |archive-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, the company [[Joysound]] placed it at number one on its list of the year's most-popular anime theme songs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-03-20/attack-on-titan-theme-ranks-no.2-karaoke-song |title=Attack on Titan Theme Ranks #2 Karaoke Song |publisher=Anime News Network |date=20 March 2014 |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025185029/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-03-20/attack-on-titan-theme-ranks-no.2-karaoke-song |archive-date=25 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The song reappeared among the twenty most-sung songs of the first half of that same year,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-06-13/frozen-let-it-go-ranks-in-top-karaoke-anisongs-for-1st-half-of-2014/.75456 |title=Frozen's 'Let it Go' Ranks in Top Karaoke AniSongs for 1st Half of 2014 |publisher=Anime News Network |date=13 June 2014 |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205050549/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-06-13/frozen-let-it-go-ranks-in-top-karaoke-anisongs-for-1st-half-of-2014/.75456 |archive-date=5 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/ranking2014/index.htm#ranking05 |title=1位高橋洋子 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」 |language=ja |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025093049/http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/ranking2014/index.htm#ranking05 |archive-date=25 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and also appeared on previous charts; in 2007, it peaked at number twenty,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000036297 |title=2007年カラオケ事情を振り返る ～2007年楽曲別ランキング～ |date=10 December 2007 |language=ja |access-date=20 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923212853/http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000036297 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> in 2009 at number two,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/2009ranking/index.htm |title=特集：注目特集！年間ランキング (2009年JOYSOUND年間ランキング) |date=4 December 2009 |language=ja |access-date=20 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414094027/http://joysound.com/ex/st/special/feature/2009ranking/index.htm |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in the first week of June 2013 at number six.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-06-10/attack-on-titan-opening-song-tops-japan-karaoke-chart |title=Attack on Titan's Opening Song Tops Japan's Karaoke Chart |publisher=Anime News Network |date=10 June 2013 |access-date=28 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226193244/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-06-10/attack-on-titan-opening-song-tops-japan-karaoke-chart |archive-date=26 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> A similar result was recorded in 2015, when it took first place in a Charapedia's poll of about 10,000 fans' favorite karaoke songs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2015/01/25/10000-otaku-poll-names-favorite-anime-song-to-karaoke |title=10,000 Otaku Poll Names Favorite Anime Song to Karaoke |date=26 January 2015 |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026001721/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2015/01/25/10000-otaku-poll-names-favorite-anime-song-to-karaoke |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In March of that year, the website Nico Nico News asked more than 300 adults which animated theme song was the most annoying and whose songs they were most sick of hearing, and "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" won 40.6% of the votes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-03-25/japanese-karaoke-goers-are-tired-of-hearing-cruel-angel-thesis/.86369 |title=Japanese Karaoke Goers Are Tired of Hearing Cruel Angel's Thesis |author=Lynzee Loveridge |publisher=[[Anime News Network]] |date=25 March 2015|access-date=18 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916041759/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-03-25/japanese-karaoke-goers-are-tired-of-hearing-cruel-angel-thesis/.86369 |archive-date=16 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/03/26/six-anime-songs-people-are-sick-of-hearing-at-karaoke-according-to-new-poll/ |title=Six anime songs people are sick of hearing at karaoke, according to new poll |author=Casey Baseel |date=26 March 2015 |access-date=18 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923004541/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2015/03/26/six-anime-songs-people-are-sick-of-hearing-at-karaoke-according-to-new-poll/ |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.joysound.com/web/s/karaoke/contents/ranking/2017 |title=2017年JOYSOUNDカラオケ上半期ランキング |language=ja |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625180400/https://www.joysound.com/web/s/karaoke/contents/ranking/2017 |archive-date=25 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> 2019,<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8545099/kenshi-yonezu-lemon-japan-most-popular-karaoke-song-see-list |title=Kenshi Yonezu's 'Lemon' is Japan's Most-Popular Karaoke Song: See Top 10 List |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=30 November 2019 |access-date=6 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706112944/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/8545099/kenshi-yonezu-lemon-japan-most-popular-karaoke-song-see-list |archive-date=6 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://animeanime.jp/article/2019/11/07/49497.html |title="ヒトカラで熱唱したいアニソン"といえば？ 社会人1,000人に調査！ 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」抑えた1位は... |date=7 November 2019 |language=ja |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212051206/https://animeanime.jp/article/2019/11/07/49497.html |archive-date=12 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and 2020, it again listed among the ten most-popular songs on Joysound's Japanese karaoke popularity polls and in Karatetsu's charts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.karatetsu.com/ranking/total/2019 |title=2019年カラ鉄年間カラオケランキング TOP10,000ツイッターでシェアする |language=ja |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409071139/https://www.karatetsu.com/ranking/total/2019 |archive-date=9 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.karatetsu.com/ranking/index.php |title=月間カラオケランキング TOP1,000 ツイッターでシェアする |language=ja |access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804202854/https://www.karatetsu.com/ranking/index.php |archive-date=4 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> On February 18, 2017, [[NHK|NHK BS Premium]] broadcast a live program entitled "Countdown Live Anisong Best 100!", in which the single was ranked eighth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/anime100/anison/rank.html |title=^ "アニソンベスト100！結果発表 - ニッポンアニメ100" |language=ja |access-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220012245/http://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/anime100/anison/rank.html |archive-date=20 February 2017}}</ref> Joysound listed it as the most-played song in karaoke in the [[Heisei period]], the previous thirty years of Japanese history,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2019/03/02/evangelion-op-song-a-cruel-angels-thesis-tops-japans-karaoke-ranking-of-heisei-period |title=Evangelion OP Song "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" Tops Japan's Karaoke Ranking of Heisei Period |date=2 March 2019 |language=ja |access-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026003840/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2019/03/02/evangelion-op-song-a-cruel-angels-thesis-tops-japans-karaoke-ranking-of-heisei-period |archive-date=26 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the second-most-sung anisong of the first half of 2020, after [[LiSA (Japanese musician, born 1987)|LiSA]]'s "[[Gurenge]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/27ce16f1bf07b6db5c4e92024a4951e804921bc0 |title=「鬼滅の刃」LiSAの主題歌"紅蓮華"、圏外から総合2位へ大躍進！"20年カラオケ上半期ランキング"JOYSOUND発表 |date=8 July 2020 |language=ja |access-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712201642/https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/27ce16f1bf07b6db5c4e92024a4951e804921bc0 |archive-date=12 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Music video==
===Development and release===
For "The Cruel Angel's Thesis", [[Gainax]] made a ninety-second opening video that was animated by [[Takeshi Honda (animator)|Takeshi Honda]] and Shinya Hasegawa.<ref name=Bientot/><ref>{{Cite book|title=Groundwork of EVANGELION |date=2000 |publisher=Gainax |language=ja |volume=1 |page=217 |isbn=978-4-903713-00-7}}</ref> The production took some time; it was still unfinished in July 1995, when the first two episodes were premiered at the company's second festival.<ref>{{harvp|Takeda|2005|pp=161-162}}</ref> The music video was completed in September of the same year,<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatralical VHS Box Booklet|language=ja|publisher=King Amusement Creative|date=1997}}</ref> shortly before the anime premiered on TV Tokyo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2011-house |title=Interviewing translator Michael House |date=11 November 2011 |access-date=17 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824175245/https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2011-house |archive-date=24 August 2020 |url-status=live|last1=House |first1=Michael}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |date=2021 |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Blue Ray Ultimate Edition Encyclopedia |chapter=History 1993-1999}}</ref> The video consists of approximately 2,160 frames divided into eighty-four scenes, averaging one sequence per second.<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=1|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|page=15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Platinum Booklet |chapter=Opening |publisher=[[ADV Manga|ADV]] |date=2004}}</ref> Gainax staff attempted to create a [[retro]] effect, paying homage to and imitating theme songs from previous works.<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=1|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|page=8}}</ref> Hideaki Anno's name appears in large letters in the video's last few seconds, and is seemingly cut off by Eva-01's arms, emphasizing the director's strong imprint on every aspect of the series.<ref>{{harvp|Morikawa|1997 |p=44}}</ref><ref name="Mainichi">{{Cite book|author1=Kei Watanabe |author2=Daichi Nakagawa |author3=Tsunehiro Uno |date=8 May 2006 |title=Evangelion Special: Phenomenon to Legacy |publisher=[[Mainichi Shinbun]] |language=ja}}</ref>

A second video for the song's full version was released for the 2003 home video edition of the series named ''Renewal of Evangelion''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2018/6/19/newly-edited-the-cruel-angels-thesis-music-video-hd-version-now-streamed |title=Newly-Edited "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" Music Video HD Version Now Streamed |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref> The new video was directed by Masayuki,<ref>{{cite book|title=Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|year=2005|language=ja|pages=122–123}}</ref> The full video is different from the one for the television broadcast and includes images from the [[director's cut]] of the episodes and scenes from the film ''[[The End of Evangelion]]'' (1997). It also includes captions with white characters on a black background, written and coordinated by Hideaki Anno.<ref>From the OP CREW, DVD "01 TEST-TYPE" of the Renewal Edition.</ref> The video was released in [[High definition video|high definition]] on King Records' official [[YouTube]] channel on June 20, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/06/neon-genesis-evangelion-theme-gets-an-official-hd-music-video/ |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Theme Gets An Official HD Music Video |date=21 June 2018 |access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025194238/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2018/06/neon-genesis-evangelion-theme-gets-an-official-hd-music-video/ |archive-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to writer Virginie Nebbia, Anno probably took inspiration from the opening credits of the series [[UFO (British TV series)|''UFO'']], the Japanese series ''[[Key Hunter]]'' and the directional style of [[Akio Jissoji]], which made a frenetic editing of the ''[[Ultraman]]'' episodes he directed for the ''Ultraman'' movie (1979).<ref name=Bientot>{{harvp|Nebbia|2023|loc=Chap. 1: Bientôt la diffusion}}</ref>

===Synopsis and cultural references===
{{multiple image
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 | footer = In the official video there are, in order of appearance, the image of a [[cherub]] and two [[Tree of life (Kabbalah)|trees of life]]: the first is taken from ''Utriusque Cosmi, maiores scilicet et minores, metaphysica, physica atque technica Historia'' by [[Robert Fludd]],<ref>{{harvp|Morikawa|1997 |p=97}}</ref> the second from ''[[Oedipus Aegyptiacus]]'' by [[Athanasius Kircher]].<ref>{{harvp|Morikawa|1997 |p=39}}</ref> The last frame instead depicts a text similar to the ''[[Liber Razielis Archangeli]]''
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The video of the television version of "A Cruel Angel's thesis" contains several cultural references, most notably to [[Christianity]] and [[Judaism]]. In the opening frames, a bright blue dot appears and expands like a drop of water surrounded by a circle of the same color. The image, according to the script, represents the beginning of the universe;<ref name="Cast">{{Cite book|title=EVA友の会 |chapter=CASTから一声|volume=14|language=ja}}</ref> according to critic Mario Pasqualini, the symbol could refer to the relationship between God and Creation, which some philosophers compared to the relationship between a point and a circumference.<ref>{{cite web|language=it|author=Mario Pasqualini|url=http://www.dimensionefumetto.it/evangelion-3-01-0-thrice-upon-a-time-cera-tre-volte-lamore/|title=Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time – C'era tre volte l'amore|date=8 March 2021|access-date=11 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309033623/http://www.dimensionefumetto.it/evangelion-3-01-0-thrice-upon-a-time-cera-tre-volte-lamore/|archive-date=9 March 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the point of light, a figure with twelve wings on a red background, similar to some representations of [[cherub]]ic angels, appears.<ref name="Cast"/><ref>{{harvp|Morikawa|1997 |p=127}}</ref> This is followed by a celestial flame, which refers to the concept of the [[soul]] or "life breath" and which plays a role in the series.<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=17|page=23|publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=8|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|page=17}}</ref> The image also depicts the first light seen by a newborn child.<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=7|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|page=49}}</ref> Further religious symbolism consists of a dual depiction of the [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] [[Tree of life (Kabbalah)|tree of life]],{{sfn|Glossary|1998|pp=41-42}}<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ortega|first=Mariana|year=2007|title=My Father, He Killed Me; My Mother, She Ate Me: Self, Desire, Engendering, and the Mother in Neon Genesis Evangelion|journal=Mechademia|volume=2|page=220|isbn=978-0-8166-5266-2|doi=10.1353/mec.0.0010|s2cid=120554645}}</ref> in reference to the series' Human Instrumentality Project,<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=1 |page=28 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> a plan for the evolution of humanity pursued by the character of [[Gendo Ikari]]. Academic Fabio Bartoli noticed that the Tree of Life crosses Misato Katsuragi's body in the video,{{sfn|Bartoli|2008|p=31}} suggesting that Misato herself was the guinea pig in [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Adam|Adam]]'s contact experiment that caused the Second Impact in the series.{{sfn|Bartoli|2008|p=30}} Writers Sellées and Hernàndez-Péres also noticed that the ''[[sephirot]]'' represent "types of human behavior"; consequently, the Tree suggests both religion and psychology, "thus bringing together the two main thematic readings of the series".{{sfn|Sellés de Lucas|Hernández-Pérez|2024|p=228}} They compared the Angel with twelve eyes to the traditional depiction of [[book of Ezekiel|Ezekiel]] [[tetramorph]]. The figure has also "bird-like features" and resembles the Angel [[Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Sachiel|Sachiel]].{{sfn|Sellés de Lucas|Hernández-Pérez|2024|p=230}}

In the latter part, a frame of [[Rei Ayanami]] touching a window is glimpsed,<ref>{{cite book|author=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto|title=Der Mond|publisher=Viz Media|date=2001|page=114|isbn=1-56931-546-9}}</ref> with a close-up of her eye as she blinks. Writer Dennis Redmond compared Rei's eye to a similar image used by director [[Krzysztof Kieślowski]] in the film ''[[Three Colours: Blue|Blue]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite book | first=Dennis|last=Redmond|title=The World is Watching: Video as Multinational Aesthetics, 1968–1995|date=2004|publisher=Southern Illinois University Press|isbn=0-8093-2535-7|page=126}}</ref> Alternating on the screen are images of Eva-01's hand covered in blood and 01 unleashing twelve wings of light, along with white captions on a black background and ''vice versa'', maps, pencil sketches, a drawing depicting [[Kaworu Nagisa]],<ref>{{cite book|chapter=庵野 秀明 - Part II|date=1997|title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオン残酷な天使のように|publisher=Magazine Magazine|isbn=4-906011-25-X}}</ref> portraits of Misato Katsuragi, [[Ryōji Kaji]] and [[Ritsuko Akagi]],{{sfn|Bartoli|2008|p=32}} the first Angel Adam, and a luminous red sphere. For the light wings of 01, the authors took inspiration from the Christian figure of [[Lucifer]], a fallen angel who is said to have twelve wings.<ref name=Cast/> The twelve wings also represent a reference to Ryo Asuka from [[Go Nagai]]'s manga ''[[Devilman]]''.<ref>{{cite book |first=Oizumi |last=Sanenari |date= 1997|title= Anno Hideaki Sukidzo Evangerion |publisher= Ōta Shuppan|isbn= 4-87233-315-2|language=ja|page=97}}</ref> The video ends with a text written, according to the official storyboards, in {{nihongo|"angelic characters"|天使の文字|tenshi no moji}}; according to Anno, it represents the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]].<ref>{{cite book|date= 2009 |title=The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A|publisher=[[Glénat Editions]]|page=3|isbn=978-2-7234-7120-6}}</ref> According to the {{nihongo|''Evangelion Glossary''|エヴァンゲリオン用語事典 |Evangerion Yougo Jiten}} by Yahata Shoten the writing is similar to the angel writings of Kabbalistic texts.{{sfn|Glossary|1998|p=56}} Víctor Sellés de Lucas and Manuel Hernández-Pérez similarly noticed that the first glyph closely resembles the [[kanji]] for {{nihongo|heaven|天|ten}}, which is also the first kanji in {{nihongo|angel|天使|tenshi}}. According to them, this probably alludes to the various angelic languages developed within the occult Western tradition, as the set of glyphs employed resembles the language that [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] consigned in his ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy|De Occulta Philosophia]]''.{{sfn|Sellés de Lucas|Hernández-Pérez|2024|pp=230-231}} ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''{{'}} manga English editor Carl Gustav Horn also compared the calligraphy of the characters to the ''[[Sefer Raziel HaMalakh]]'', a [[grimoire]] of [[Practical Kabbalah]].<ref name="horn">{{cite web|url=http://www.stanford.edu/~fenn/eva/eva2.html|title=Speaking Once as They Return: Gainax's ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' - Part 2|last=Horn|first=Carl G|access-date=7 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228184523/http://www.stanford.edu/~fenn/eva/eva2.html|archive-date=28 December 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Reception===
The video clip for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" received praise from audiences and critics. According to ''Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide'', written by Martin Foster and Kazuhisa Fujie, some viewers were at first confused by seeing the theme song, but after the series' conclusion they noticed that "everything that appeared in the story had been highlighted, flagged or hinted at in the opening sequence".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Fujie|first1=Kazuhisa|last2=Foster|first2=Martin|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide|year=2004|publisher=DH Publishing, Inc.|location=United States|isbn=0-9745961-4-0|page=74}}</ref> ''Newtype'' magazine praised the video, calling it "excellent" and appreciating the large amount of sequences.<ref>{{cite book|title=Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|year=2005|language=ja|pages=24–25}}</ref> For Nick Valdez of [[ComicBook.com]], the video is "chock full of memorable imagery" and "one of the coolest trips down memory lane".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/neon-genesis-evangelion-cruel-angel-thesis-video-hd/ |title='Neon Genesis Evangelion' Releases New 'Cruel Angel Thesis' Video |author=Nick Valdez |date=23 June 2018|access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231808/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/neon-genesis-evangelion-cruel-angel-thesis-video-hd/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Live performances==
[[File:Yoko Takahashi performing at Japan Expo 2019 Paris2.png|thumb|upright=1|Singer Yoko Takahashi during a live performance]]

In 2015, Takahashi sang "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" at the [[Anime Expo]] in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/news/latest/2015/6/20/anime-expo-to-celebrate-20th-anniversary-of-neon-genesis-evangelion-with-theme-song-singer-yoko-takahashi|title=Anime Expo to Celebrate 20th Anniversary of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" with Theme Song Singer Yoko Takahashi|date=10 July 2015 |access-date=2 August 2020 |publisher=Crunchyroll}}</ref> and in 2017 she performed it during Billboard Live in [[Tokyo]], receiving a warm reception from the audience.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/51265/2 |title=まらしぃ 高橋洋子と「残酷な天使のテーゼ」をサプライズ披露。『PiaNoFace』リリース・ライブ最終ステージをレポート |publisher=Billboard Japan |date=23 May 2017 |language=ja |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101155454/http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/51265/2 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> On June 20, 2018, she performed the song during the Evangelion World Tour, which was organized to promote the song's re-release with restored and remastered audio along with "Tamashii no rufuran",<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11389 |title=「残酷な天使のテーゼ／魂のルフラン 」 高橋洋子（Maxiシングル） |language=ja |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621130951/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/11389 |archive-date=21 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> on stages in Japan, France, and Hong Kong.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-05-19/yoko-takahashi-evangelion-songs-get-new-single-release-international-tour/.131737 |title=Yoko Takahashi's Evangelion Songs Get New Single Release, International Tour |publisher=Anime News Network |date=19 May 2019 |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031205914/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-05-19/yoko-takahashi-evangelion-songs-get-new-single-release-international-tour/.131737 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2019, Takahashi performed at the [[Japan Expo]] in [[Paris]], singing songs from the ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' soundtrack just before an official preview of the film ''Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190706/dyo/00m/200/045000c |title=劇場版新作で「本当に終わるようです」 シンジ役・緒方恵美が言及 |date=6 July 2019 |language=ja |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822201910/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20190706/dyo/00m/200/045000c |archive-date=22 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and in conjunction with the anime's release on Netflix. To mark the occasion, all of ''Neon Genesis Evangelion I'', including "Zankoku na tenshi no these", was added to [[Spotify]] on June 21.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://blog.screenweek.it/2019/06/evangelion-la-colonna-sonora-ufficiale-online-manca-fly-me-to-the-moon-di-claire-690098.php/ |title=Evangelion – La colonna sonora ufficiale online, manca Fly me to the moon di CLAIRE |author=Marlen Vazzoler |date=25 June 2019 |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231736/https://blog.screenweek.it/2019/06/evangelion-la-colonna-sonora-ufficiale-online-manca-fly-me-to-the-moon-di-claire-690098.php/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live|language=it}}</ref>

In 2020, an event dedicated to ''Evangelion''{{'s}} Operation Yashima was announced in [[Hakone]], a city where the show's fictional city Tokyo-3 is located.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://odawara-hakone.keizai.biz/headline/3270/ |title=芦ノ湖に響き渡れ エヴァ主題歌「残酷な天使のテーゼ」 高橋洋子湖上ライブ |date=15 January 2020 |language=ja |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223144352/https://odawara-hakone.keizai.biz/headline/3270/ |archive-date=23 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://issuu.com/jyxyer/docs/vol._specialedition_eva1_en |title=Hakone sans-façon vol.Special Edition - Evangelion EN Il |date=10 January 2020|access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231800/https://issuu.com/jyxyer/docs/vol._specialedition_eva1_en |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eva-hakone.com/en/ |title=エヴァンゲリオン×箱根 2020（公式）|access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813233827/https://eva-hakone.com/en/ |archive-date=13 August 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During the event, held on March 28 and May 23, a live performance of Takahashi's "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" was planned, but the dates were postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://eva-hakone.com/en/event04.html |title=Yoko Takahashi's Special Concert on Ashino-ko |access-date=2 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511044400/https://eva-hakone.com/en/event04.html |archive-date=11 May 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 3 of the same year, Takahashi took part in the unveiling of a reproduction of Eva-01 at Toei Kyoto Studio Park in [[Ukyō-ku]], singing "Zankoku na tenshi no these" on the palm of the humanoid's hand.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=11 March 2021|url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/34751983|title=Kyoto film studio attraction offers chance to 'pilot' Evangelion robot|author=Yuki Shibata|date=27 October 2020|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725053827/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/photo/34751983|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Remixes and other versions==
For "[[Take Care of Yourself (Neon Genesis Evangelion)|Take Care of Yourself]]", the anime's last episode, Sagisu rearranged the song's accompaniment into the instrumentals "The Heady Feeling of Freedom" and "Good, or Don't Be", arranged for piano, electric piano, acoustic guitar, violins, and cellos.<ref name=Refrain/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/neon-genesis-evangelion-vol-3-mw0000415193 |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 3 |website=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[All Media Network]] |access-date=8 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509070742/http://www.allmusic.com/album/neon-genesis-evangelion-vol-3-mw0000415193 |archive-date=9 May 2013 |url-status=live}} Sono disponibili degli estratti.</ref> Remixes of the single were added to ''[[Dancemania]]'' compilations. The Shihori version was included in the albums ''Dancemania Summer Story 2008'' (25 June 2008),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64361.htm |title=『 夏物語2008 』 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113231912/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64361.htm |archive-date=13 November 2010}}</ref> ''Wa-euro Best'' (5 August 2009),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64376.htm |title=『和ユーロベスト』 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728151808/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64376.htm |archive-date=28 July 2009}}</ref> ''Dancemania Summer Story 2009'' (10 June 2009),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64373.htm |title=『夏物語2009』 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608135415/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64373.htm |archive-date=8 June 2009}}</ref> ''Best of Wa-euro Best'' (21 July 2010),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64388.htm |title=『プレミア・ユーロ -ベスト･オブ･和ユーロベスト-』 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125020853/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64388.htm |archive-date=25 November 2010}}</ref> the Mint version in ''Himetra Best'' (14 May 2008),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/tranceparadise/disco/tocp64358.htm |title=『 姫トラ・ベスト 』 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702075956/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/tranceparadise/disco/tocp64358.htm |archive-date=2 July 2008}}</ref> and ''Himetra Anime*Mix'' (21 January 2009),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/tranceparadise/disco/tocp64368.htm |title=『 姫トラ あにめ★みっくす！』 |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217202414/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/tranceparadise/disco/tocp64368.htm |archive-date=17 February 2009}}</ref> while a version by Diana Gross was included in the compilation ''Him Trace 3''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/TOCP-64350 |title=Various - Hime Trance 3 |website=CDJapan |language=ja |access-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231803/https://www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/TOCP-64350 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Other remixes were later included in the ''Dancemania Speed''' compilations ''Anime Speed'' (25 May 2005),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tower.jp/item/2493788/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A1SPEED |title=アニメ Speed |language=ja |access-date=30 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231803/https://tower.jp/item/2493788/%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8B%E3%83%A1SPEED |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Anime Speed Newtype Edition'' (19 July 2006),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/jp/album/animation-speed-newtype-edition/879500773 |title=アニメ Speed Newtype Edition |language=ja |access-date=30 November 2020 }}</ref> ''Happy Speed'' (18 April 2007),<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64336.htm |title=ハッピー・スピード ベスト・オブ・ダンスマニア スピード・ギガ |language=ja |access-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707195157/http://www.emimusic.jp/dancemania/dancemania/disco/tocp64336.htm |archive-date=7 July 2007}}</ref> and ''Himetra Speed'' (30 July 2008).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/52027/products/768792/1/ |title=姫トラ・スピード |language=ja |access-date=30 November 2020 |publisher=Oricon}}</ref>

Other versions were included in Takahashi's albums; the arrangement of the original single was copyrighted by King Records, so for legal reasons the record companies that released Takahashi's works had to rely on other arrangements.<ref name="Intervista">{{Cite web |url=https://natalie.mu/music/pp/takahashiyoko04 |title=高橋洋子「EVANGELION EXTREME」インタビュー |date=22 May 2019 |language=ja |access-date=8 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531134642/https://natalie.mu/music/pp/takahashiyoko04 |archive-date=31 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> A "Version '96" was added to the album ''Best Pieces'', released on February 10, 1999,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1359/ |title=Best Pieces |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713191939/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1359/ |archive-date=13 July 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and then included in ''Super Value Yoko Takahashi'', released on February 19, 2001 by [[Universal Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/209955 |title=スーパー・バリュー 高橋洋子 |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163717/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/209955 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/umck-8005/ |title=スーパー・バリュー/高橋洋子 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418103149/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/umck-8005/ |archive-date=18 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In ''～refrain～The songs were inspired by Evangelion'' (November 6, 1997), a remix named "Ambivalence Mix" and an instrumental version titled ''Epilogue de these'' edited by Tony Orly were added.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-refrain-the-songs-were-inspired-by-evangelion/1197110841&usg=ALkJrhj3lQ_bxGt-GDoNdKtTy_7EVLSV-w |title=「新世紀エヴァンゲリオン」～refrain(ルフラン) ザ・ソング・ワー・インスパイアード・バイ"エヴァンゲリオン" フィーチャリング・高橋洋子 |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231802/https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/-refrain-the-songs-were-inspired-by-evangelion/1197110841%26usg%3DALkJrhj3lQ_bxGt-GDoNdKtTy_7EVLSV-w |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://king-cr.jp/artist/takahashi/discography/ |title=Discography |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806163644/http://king-cr.jp/artist/takahashi/discography/ |archive-date=6 August 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> A new version of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" titled "Remix for Peace" was also produced in 1999 and included on Takahashi's album ''Best Pieces II'', which was released on February 10 of that year;<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1626/ |title=BEST PIECES 2 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813162413/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1626/ |archive-date=13 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/148501/1/ |title=BEST PIECES II |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512153709/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/148501/1/ |archive-date=12 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> as well as Takahashi's hit collections such as ''Yoko Takahashi Best 10'' (January 17, 2007),<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-9080/ |title=高橋洋子 ベスト10 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193220/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-9080/ |archive-date=14 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''Yoko Takahashi Essential Best'' (December 19, 2007)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-9143/ |title=高橋洋子エッセンシャル・ベスト |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714193242/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-9143/ |archive-date=14 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Golden☆Best Yoko Takahashi'', multiple versions of which were released on February 25, 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/uicz-6055/ |title=ゴールデン☆ベスト 高橋洋子 |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516221148/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/uicz-6055/ |archive-date=16 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> December 5, 2012,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/992436/1/ |title=ゴールデン☆ベスト 高橋洋子[スペシャル・プライス] |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231803/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/992436/1/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and December 5, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/p/upcy-9287/ |title=ゴールデン☆ベスト 高橋洋子 [スペシャル・プライス] |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005192541/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/p/upcy-9287/ |archive-date=5 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> An additional remix, "Harmonia Version", was added to ''LI-La'', another album by the performer,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/ktcr-1454/|title=Li-La |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020}}</ref> that was later reissued in ''Li-La +3'', which was released on October 2, 2013, along with the "Remix for Peace".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-6765/ |title=Li-La +3 [SHM-CD] |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712165811/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-6765/ |archive-date=12 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:EitetsuHayashi2001-05.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Eitetsu Hayashi]], arranger for the "Matsuri Spirit" version]]

In 2005, a new version of the song, again with Takahashi on vocals and forty-seven seconds longer than the original, was recorded for the tenth anniversary of the series. The new version, named "10th Anniversary Edition",<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/neon-genesis-evangelion-decade/4105081457 |title=NEON GENESIS EVANGELION DECADE |language=ja |access-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903151551/https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/neon-genesis-evangelion-decade/4105081457 |archive-date=3 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> was included as the twelfth track in ''Neon Genesis Evangelion Decade''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34397/products/618286/1/ |title=NEON GENESIS EVANGELION DECADE |publisher=Oricon |language=ja |access-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810153259/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34397/products/618286/1/ |archive-date=10 August 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/-/9779 |title=『新世紀エヴァンゲリオン』放送10周年記念盤登場！新録もあり |date=15 September 2005 |language=ja |access-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903151553/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/-/9779 |archive-date=3 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, Takahashi recorded new versions of "Zankoku na tenshi no these" and "Fly Me to the Moon", which were included in a single released on May 13. The songs were produced in conjunction with the presentation of a ''pachinko'' series on ''Evangelion'' named {{nihongo|''CR Shinseiki Evangelion: Saigo no shisha''|ＣＲ新世紀エヴァンゲリオン ～最後のシ者～||{{lit|CR New Century Evangelion: The Last Messenger}}}}; a cover designed by Takeshi Honda was used for the album.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/248 |title=「残酷な天使のテーゼ 2009 VERSION」 高橋洋子 （Maxiシングル） 【通常仕様】 |language=ja |access-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705165910/https://www.evastore.jp/products/detail/248 |archive-date=5 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The 2009 version was included in Takahashi's ''20th century Boys & Girls'' collection, released on June 23 of the following year,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/185405 |title=２０ｔｈ ｃｅｎｔｕｒｙ Ｂｏｙｓ ＆ Ｇｉｒｌｓ ～２０世紀少年少女～ |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222163702/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/185405 |archive-date=22 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and, ten years later, in the mini-album ''Evangelion Extreme'', which was released by King Amusement Creative and includes the tracks used in the pachislots dedicated to the series.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-03-19/evangelion-pachislot-game-themes-get-mini-album/.144695 |title=Evangelion Pachislot Game Themes Get Mini-Album |publisher=Anime News Network |date=19 March 2019|access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403103436/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-03-19/evangelion-pachislot-game-themes-get-mini-album/.144695 |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Takahashi recorded a new version of the composition named "2015 Version" in a single live session<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20150422-20th_takahashi/ |title=高橋洋子が蘇らせる20世紀の名曲たち - カヴァーアルバム第二弾「20th century Boys & Girls II」 |date=22 April 2015 |language=ja |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231736/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20150422-20th_takahashi/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> with acoustic guitar accompaniment for her thirteenth studio album ''20th century Boys & Girls II'', which was released on April 22, 2015, by King Records.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.kingrecords.co.jp/cs/g/gKICS-3187/ |title=20th century Boys & Girls II |language=ja |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231802/https://www.kingrecords.co.jp/cs/g/gKICS-3187/ |archive-date=12 December 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Two years later, a new arrangement titled "2017 Version" was included in the anthology ''Yoko Sings Forever'' (March 22, 2017);<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-7259/ |title=YOKO Sings Forever |publisher=Universal Music Japan |language=ja |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522195109/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/takahashi-yoko/products/upcy-7259/ |archive-date=22 May 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> the recording was done live with piano by Marashii and organ by [[Satoshi Takebe]].<ref name="Intervista" /> At first, a single titled "Zankoku na tenshi no these ~ Tamashii no rufuran" was planned but not included in the final version.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/46804/2 |title=シンゴジラVSエヴァ！？ 高橋洋子×鷺巣詩郎によるコラボシングル発売決定 |publisher=Billboard Japan |date=27 January 2017 |language=ja |access-date=16 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713165414/http://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/46804/2 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2019, "Zankoku na tenshi no these" was also used in the strategy video game ''[[The Battle Cats]]'';<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://app.famitsu.com/20200625_1659233/ |title=『にゃんこ大戦争』×『エヴァンゲリオン』復刻コラボが開始！"残酷な天使のテーゼ"にゃ"Ver"の復刻アレンジがWEBで公開中 |date=25 June 2020 |language=ja |access-date=12 July 2020 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603083327/https://app.famitsu.com/20200625_1659233/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Takahashi sang only the word {{nihongo|''nya''|にゃ|}}, a Japanese onomatopoeia of meow.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-07-17/nyanko-daisenso-mobile-game-asks-what-if-evangelion-was-just-cats/.148823 |title=Nyanko Daisenso Mobile Game Asks 'What If Evangelion Was Just Cats'? |publisher=Anime News Network |date=17 July 2019 |access-date=24 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929133356/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-07-17/nyanko-daisenso-mobile-game-asks-what-if-evangelion-was-just-cats/.148823 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Devin Meenan|url=https://soranews24.com/2021/01/25/all-words-in-evangelion-theme-replaced-by-cat-meow-in-official-remake-by-original-singer%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/|title=All words in Evangelion theme replaced by cat meow in official remake by original singer【Video】|access-date=21 July 2021|archive-date=21 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721111818/https://soranews24.com/2021/01/25/all-words-in-evangelion-theme-replaced-by-cat-meow-in-official-remake-by-original-singer%E3%80%90video%E3%80%91/|url-status=live}}</ref> The version was later uploaded to Oricon and MaiDiGiTV YouTube channels, and both videos gained more than one million views.<ref>{{Cite video |title=高橋洋子が"にゃ"だけで歌う「残酷な天使のテーゼ」 三石琴乃がナレ 「にゃんこ大戦争」×「エヴァンゲリオン 」コラボCM公開 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQbadSVXqXg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/NQbadSVXqXg |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|access-date=12 July 2020 |language=ja}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite video |title=高橋洋子が「残酷な天使のテーゼ」を"にゃ"だけで歌う！ 『エヴァンゲリオン』x『にゃんこ大戦争』コラボCM・イントロ篇＆サビ篇 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHI6fn5oVSo |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/ZHI6fn5oVSo |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|access-date=12 July 2020 |publisher=Oricon |language=ja}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the same year, [[Eitetsu Hayashi]] produced a new arrangement of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" stylistically close to Japanese traditional music and mainly made with [[taiko]] instruments; it was premiered on King Amusement Creative's official YouTube channel as "Zankoku na tenshi no these: Matsuri Spirit" and was fully released on July 24 of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-06-21/evangelion-cruel-angel-thesis-gets-new-taiko-drum-arrangement-in-july/.148123 |title=Evangelion's 'Cruel Angel's Thesis' Gets New Taiko Drum Arrangement in July |publisher=Anime News Network |date=21 June 2019 |language=ja |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621173227/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-06-21/evangelion-cruel-angel-thesis-gets-new-taiko-drum-arrangement-in-july/.148123 |archive-date=21 June 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Chinese broadcaster [[Shenzhen TV]] acquired ''Evangelion'' for a [[Chinese language|Chinese-language]] dubbing; the first translation was not approved by the [[National Radio and Television Administration]], a ministerial agency under the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China]], so the series was translated and dubbed again, removing the contents that were considered inappropriate for a young audience and the theme song was renamed ''Měilì tiānshǐ de xíngdòng gānglǐng'' (美丽天使的行动纲领, {{lit}} "The beautiful angel's plan of action"), also known as ''Yǒnggǎn de shàonián'' (勇敢的少年, {{lit}} "The brave boy").<ref>{{cite book|language=zh|editor=中国动画学会, 北京大学文化产业研究院|publisher=中国科学技术出版社|date=2011|title= 中国动画企业发展报告 第1版|isbn=978-7-5046-5848-7 |pages=97–98}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=zh|access-date=24 April 2021|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/221709116_215220|title= 18岁以前，你记忆最深的那十部霓虹动画片 |website=[[Sohu]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310025510/http://www.sohu.com/a/221709116_215220|archive-date=10 March 2019}}</ref> The anime was then broadcast between 1999 and 2001.<ref>{{cite web|language=zh|access-date=24 April 2021|url=http://www.199it.com/archives/295511.html?from=timeline|title=你的青春我不懂 二次元审美时代已经到来|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310015006/http://www.199it.com/archives/295511.html?from=timeline|archive-date=10 March 2019}}</ref>

==Cover versions==
{{Multiple image
| footer = Japanese artists covered the song, including [[Toshi (musician)|Toshi]], [[Shoko Nakagawa]], [[Aya Hirano]] and [[Masami Okui]]
| width1 = 144
| image1 = Toshi tearth.jpg
| width2 = 144
| image2 = 中川翔子さんが銀河連邦大統領補佐官に就任＠相模原 9011730622 (4).jpg
| width3 = 144
| image3 = FanimeCon 2019 126 (47956046478).jpg
| width4 = 144
| image4 = JAM Project 20081031 Chibi Japan Expo 069.jpg
}}

In 1996, the fourth album of the soundtracks of the series, ''[[Music of Neon Genesis Evangelion|Neon Genesis Evangelion Addition]]'', was released; the album included a track named "Zankoku na tenshi no these (Director's Edit. Version II)", lasting 4:04 minutes and sung by [[Kotono Mitsuishi]], [[Megumi Hayashibara]], and [[Yūko Miyamura]], voice actresses of the three major female characters of the show, respectively: [[Misato Katsuragi]], [[Rei Ayanami]] and [[Asuka Langley Soryu|Asuka Sōryū Langley]]. On 30 March 2001, the album ''The Birthday of Rei Ayanami'' was released; among the tracks was a cover of "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" performed by Hayashibara.<ref name="Album">{{Cite web|title=Shinseiki Evangelion|url=http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/evangelion/online.html|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=26 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326141120/http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/evangelion/online.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The song was added to ''[[bertemu]]'', the artist's seventh album, released on November 1, 1996,<ref>{{Cite web|title=bertemu|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/254338/products/140395/1/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023110530/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/254338/products/140395/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> and as a bonus track on ''Center Color'', her eleventh, released on January 7, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ｃｅｎｔｅｒ ｃｏｌｏｒ|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/179022|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510014629/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/179022|url-status=live}}</ref> Hayashibara stated while singing "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" she thought of the scene in which Rei smiles for the first time at Shinji Ikari in the film version of ''Eva''.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=July 2001|title=歴代作品人気|magazine=Animedia|publisher=Gakken|language=ja}}</ref>

[[Megumi Ogata]], Shinji's voice actress, performed the song during her concerts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 June 2020|title=Megumi Ogata's No-Audience Live Set to be Live-Streamed Worldwide at 16:00 on June 6 (JST)|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2020/06/02-1/megumi-ogatas-no-audience-live-set-to-be-live-streamed-worldwide-at-1600-on-june-6-jst|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=29 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200629024321/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2020/06/02-1/megumi-ogatas-no-audience-live-set-to-be-live-streamed-worldwide-at-1600-on-june-6-jst|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Live[em:ou]in TOKIO to HONG KONG|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/217211/products/203874/1/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231842/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/217211/products/203874/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Junko Iwao]], the Japanese voice actress of [[List of Neon Genesis Evangelion characters|Hikari Horaki]], also recorded her [[bossa nova]] version of the song for her album ''Anime On Bossa'', which was released on January 30, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|title=残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/199357/lyrics/I065896/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231851/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/199357/lyrics/I065896/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other artists have recorded covers of "A Cruel Angel's Thesis", including [[Shoko Nakagawa|Shōko Nakagawa]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=しょこたん☆かばー〜アニソンに恋をして|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/704539/1/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=26 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130426032346/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/704539/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[MIQ (vocalist)|MIQ]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=ROBONATION SUPER LIVE '97 Summer|url=https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/cd/CdTop.php?cd=SPB00213271|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231852/https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/cd/CdTop.php?cd=SPB00213271|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Yoko Ishida|Yōko Ishida]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=19 July 2004|title=Anime Expo - Main Events|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2004/anime-expo/16|website=Anime News Network|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=8 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508153753/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/convention/2004/anime-expo/16|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Masami Okui]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=マサミコブシ|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/195021/products/506112/1/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826214832/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/195021/products/506112/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Shizuka Itō]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ|url=https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/music/MusicTop.php?music=158669|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231842/https://music.oricon.co.jp/php/music/MusicTop.php?music=158669|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mikuni Shimokawa]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Review～下川みくに 青春アニソンカバーアルバム～|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/196359/products/523424/1/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924113951/http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/196359/products/523424/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Toshi (musician)|Toshi]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 October 2019|title=Toshl、カヴァー・アルバム第2弾をリリース 「残酷な天使のテーゼ」を先行配信|url=https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/toshi/83816|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=24 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024234938/https://www.cdjournal.com/main/news/toshi/83816|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Aya Hirano]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 May 2017|title=Aya Hirano Wows TV Hosts With 'Cruel Angel Thesis' Performance|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-05-06/aya-hirano-wows-tv-hosts-with-cruel-angel-thesis-performance/.115747|website=Anime News Network|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=30 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191030164830/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-05-06/aya-hirano-wows-tv-hosts-with-cruel-angel-thesis-performance/.115747|url-status=live}}</ref> Arlie Ray,<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 March 2019|title=このアニソンを聴け〜アニオタが選んだこの10曲〜|url=https://www.kkbox.com/jp/ja/column/showbiz-0-1539-1.html|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231913/https://www.kkbox.com/jp/ja/column/showbiz-0-1539-1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Ryō Horikawa]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/250410/lyrics/I185556/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231853/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/250410/lyrics/I185556/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Chihiro Yonekura]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞 米倉千尋|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/248598/lyrics/I072280/|newspaper=Oricon News|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=10 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710223430/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/248598/lyrics/I072280/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Akina Nakamori]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/45201|title=中森明菜「残酷な天使のテーゼ」などカヴァー曲の歌唱映像が続々配信|publisher=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref> [[Maya Sakura]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞 さくらまや|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/466193/lyrics/I154811/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231907/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/466193/lyrics/I154811/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Konomi Suzuki]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=8 July 2017|title=Performances at Anisong World Matsuri's Japan Super Live at Anime Expo|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2017-07-08/performances-at-anisong-world-matsuri-japan-super-live-at-anime-expo/.118564|website=Anime News Network|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=5 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105132740/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2017-07-08/performances-at-anisong-world-matsuri-japan-super-live-at-anime-expo/.118564|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kikuko Inoue]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=アニメロディナイト|url=https://mora.jp/package/43000004/PCCG-00882/|publisher=Mora|access-date=11 October 2021}}</ref> and [[Natsuki Katō]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 February 2010|title=DAM CHANNEL5周年記念イベントで、加藤夏希「残酷な天使のテーゼ」熱唱|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000058199|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231858/https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000058199|url-status=live}}</ref> Music groups, both Japanese and foreign, also performed the song, including [[Animetal]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 October 2011|title=Animetal Usa x Evangelion|url=http://www.animeclick.it/news/30199-animetal-usa-x-evangelion|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924102312/http://www.animeclick.it/news/30199-animetal-usa-x-evangelion|url-status=live|language=it}}</ref> Anipunk,<ref>{{Cite web|title=逆襲のアニパンク|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34361/products/57413/1/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231859/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/34361/products/57413/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Globe (band)|Globe]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 September 2015|title=globe「残酷な天使のテーゼ」EDMカバー話題のマーク・パンサー DJプレイシーン初公開「ラップはしてません」|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/31874/2|access-date=11 October 2021|language=ja}}</ref> [[Move (Japanese band)|Move]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞 m.o.v.e|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/27646/lyrics/I111066/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231904/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/27646/lyrics/I111066/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Flow (Japanese band)|Flow]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 July 2012|title=FLOW「エウレカAO」新OP曲シングルにナカコーRemix|url=https://natalie.mu/music/news/72759|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=25 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025205727/https://natalie.mu/music/news/72759|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Glay]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=28 August 2019|title=意外なアーティストがカバーしていた「有名曲」ランキング|url=https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/16992935/|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=20 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120012402/https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/16992935/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 August 2011|title=GLAY、記念ライブでサプライズ 嵐やエヴァをカバー|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2000340/full/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=14 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714024200/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2000340/full/|url-status=live}}</ref> Glory Gospel Singers,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Kara Dennison|date=29 October 2016|title=New York Gospel Choir Performs "Cruel Angel's Thesis" on Japanese Talent Show|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2016/10/29-1/new-york-gospel-choir-performs-cruel-angels-thesis-on-japanese-talent-show|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=11 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511014917/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2016/10/29-1/new-york-gospel-choir-performs-cruel-angels-thesis-on-japanese-talent-show|url-status=live}}</ref> Anime That Jazz!,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mora.jp/package/43000011/4560168250571/|title=EVENING!|publisher=Mora|access-date=11 October 2021|language=ja}}</ref> [[MAX (band)|Max]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=残酷な天使のテーゼの歌詞 MAX|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/15910/lyrics/I111844/|website=Oricon|language=ja|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212231853/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/15910/lyrics/I111844/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Roselia, a band from the media franchise ''[[BanG Dream!]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2nd Album「Wahl」|url=https://bang-dream.com/discographies/1692|website=BanG Dream!|language=ja|access-date=2021-10-12|archive-date=2020-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608044957/https://bang-dream.com/discographies/1692|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Track listings==
Original version: {{start date|1995|10|25}};<ref name=OriconZankoku/> All tracks performed by [[Yoko Takahashi]].

{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = ''Zankoku na tenshi no tēze''
| length1 = 4:03
| title2 = {{nihongo|''Tsuki no Meikyū''|月の迷宮||"Labyrinth of the Moon"}}
| length2 = 5:42
| title3 = ''Zankoku na tenshi no tēze'' (Original Karaoke)
| length3 = 4:03
| title4 = ''Tsuki no meikyū'' (Original Karaoke)
| length4 = 5:42
| all_writing =
| total_length =
| lyrics1 = [[Neko Oikawa]]
| music1 = Hidetoshi Satō
| extra_column = Arrangement
| extra1 = Toshiyuki Ōmori
| music3 = Satō
| extra3 = Ōmori
}}
{{Clear}}

;"Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze/Fly Me to the Moon": {{start date|1995|10|25}}<ref name=OriconZankoku2/>

{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Zankoku na tenshi no tēze
| length1 = 4:03
| title2 = [[Fly Me to the Moon]]
| length2 = 4:31
| all_writing =
| total_length =
| writer1 = {{hlist|Neko Oikawa|Hidetoshi Satō|Toshiyuki Ōmori}}
| writer2 = [[Bart Howard]]
| extra_column = Artist
| extra1 = Yoko Takahashi
| extra2 = Claire
}}
{{Clear}}
;"''Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze''/Fly Me to the Moon" (10th Anniversary Renewal): {{start date|2003|03|26}}.<ref name=OriconZankoku3/> All tracks performed by Yoko Takahashi, except where noted.

{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Zankoku na Tenshi no tēze
| length1 = 4:03
| title2 = Fly Me to the Moon
| length2 = 4:32
| title3 = Zankoku na tenshi no tēze (Off Vocal version)
| length3 = 4:03
| title4 = Fly Me to the Moon (Off Vocal version)
| length4 = 4:32
| title5 = Zankoku na Tenshi no tēze" (Director's edit version)
| length5 = 4:03
| all_writing =
| total_length =
| writer1 = {{hlist|Neko Oikawa|Hidetoshi Satō|Toshiyuki Ōmori}}
| writer3 = {{hlist|Satō|Ōmori}}
| writer5 = {{hlist|Oikawa|Satō|Ōmori}}
| writer2 = Bart Howard
| writer4 = Howard
| extra_column = Artist
| extra2 = Claire
| extra4 = Claire
}}
{{Clear}}
;"''Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze'' 2009 version": {{start date|2009|05|13}};<ref name="Oricon4"/> All tracks performed by Yoko Takahashi.

{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Zankoku na tenshi no tēze 2009 Version
| note1 =
| length1 = 4:26
| title2 = Fly Me to the Moon 2009 Version
| note2 =
| length2 = 4:32
| title3 = One Little Wish
| length3 = 5:00
| title4 = Zankoku na tenshi no tēze 2009 Version (off vocal)
| length4 = 4:26
| title5 = Fly Me to the Moon 2009 Version (off vocal)
| note5 =
| length5 = 4:32
| title6 = One Little Wish (off vocal)
| note6 =
| length6 = 5:01
| all_writing =
| total_length =
| writer1 = {{hlist|Neko Oikawa|Hidetoshi Satō|Toshiyuki Ōmori}}
| writer2 = Bart Howard
| writer4 = {{hlist|Satō|Ōmori}}
| writer5 = Howard
}}

;"Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze/Tamashī no Rufuran": {{start date|2018|06|20}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/586824 |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ／魂のルフラン |publisher=Billboard Japan |language=ja |access-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025005533/http://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/586824 |archive-date=25 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze
| length1 = 4:07
| title2 = Tamashī no Rufuran
| length2 = 5:14
| title3 = Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze Off Vocal Ver.
| length3 = 4:06
| title4 = Tamashī no Rufuran Off Vocal Ver.
| length4 = 5:09
| all_writing =
| total_length =
| lyrics1 = Neko Oikawa
| music1 = Hidetoshi Satō
| extra_column = Arrangement
| extra1 = Toshiyuki Ōmori
| music3 = Satō
| extra3 = Ōmori
}}
{{Clear}}

;"Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze Matsuri Spirit": {{start date|2019|07|24}}

{{track listing
| headline = Track listing
| title1 = Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze Matsuri Spirit
| length1 = 4:36
| title2 = Zankoku na Tenshi no Tēze Matsuri Spirit Off Vocal Ver.
| length2 = 5:14
| all_writing =
| total_length =
| all_music = Hidetoshi Satō. All tracks are arranged by Toshiyuki Ōmori
| lyrics1 = Neko Oikawa
}}
{{Clear}}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+Weekly chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (1995)
! scope="col" | Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref name=Oricon/>
| 27
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+Weekly chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis/Fly Me to the Moon"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (1995)
! scope="col" | Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref name=Oricon2/>
| 17
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+Weekly chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis/Fly Me to the Moon" (10th Anniversary Renewal)
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (2003)
! scope="col" | Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref name=Oricon3/>
| 41
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+Weekly chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis" (2009 Version)
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (2009)
! scope="col" | Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref name=Oricon4/>
| 22
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+Weekly chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis/Tamashii no Rufuran"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (2018)
! scope="col" | Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/1275603/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ/魂のルフラン |language=ja |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026032204/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/1275603/1/ |archive-date=26 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| 36
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
|+Weekly chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis Matsuri Spirit"
|-
! scope="col" | Chart (2019)
! scope="col" | Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/1325417/1/ |title=残酷な天使のテーゼ MATSURI SPIRIT |language=ja |access-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023034859/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/207507/products/1325417/1/ |archive-date=23 October 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| 142
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1995 year-end chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis"
|-
! Chart (1995)
! Position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan (Oricon)<ref name="sub">{{cite web |script-title=ja:オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp |publisher=Oricon |accessdate=2021-02-04 |language=ja |archive-date=2011-07-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716064722/http://ranking.oricon.co.jp/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
| 191
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1996 year-end chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis"
|-
! Chart (1996)
! Position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan (Oricon)<ref name="sub"/>
| 161
|}
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+1997 year-end chart performance for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis"
|-
! Chart (1997)
! Position
|-
! scope="row" | Japan (Oricon)<ref name="sub"/>
| 156
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sale certifications for "The Cruel Angel's Thesis"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yoko Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=1995|relmonth=10|relday=25|certyear=1997|certmonth=5|access-date=2021-07-19|domestic=true|refname=Certification1|note={{noitalic|(Physical)}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yoko Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ|award=Million|type=ringtone|digital=true|relyear=2003|relmonth=10|relday=25|certyear=2010|certmonth=6|access-date=2021-07-19|note={{noitalic|(Ringtone downloads)}}|refname=Certification2}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yoko Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ|award=Million|type=single|relyear=2007|relmonth=7|relday=11|digital=true|certyear=2014|certmonth=1|access-date=2021-07-19|salesamount=|refname=Certification3|note={{noitalic|(Full song downloads)}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yoko Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ／Fly Me To The Moon|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=1995|relmonth=10|relday=25|certyear=1997|certmonth=4|domestic=true|access-date=2021-07-19|refname=Certification6|note=The Cruel Angel's Thesis/Fly Me to the Moon {{noitalic|(Physical)}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yoko Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ 2009 Version|award=Gold|type=ringtone|digital=true|relyear=2009|relmonth=4|relday=5|certyear=2011|certmonth=5|access-date=2021-07-19|refname=Certification7|note=The Cruel Angel's Thesis 2009 Version {{noitalic|(Full length ringtone)}}}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Yoko Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ (Directors Edit Version)|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2007|relmonth=7|relday=18|certyear=2014|certmonth=5|access-date=2021-07-19|digital=true|refname=Certification8|note=The Cruel Angel's Thesis (Directors Edit Version) {{noitalic|(Full song downloads)}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

===References===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |first=Kaichiro|last= Morikawa |title=The Evangelion Style |date=1997 |publisher=Daisan Shokan |language=ja |isbn=4-8074-9718-9}}
* {{cite book| title = エヴァンゲリオン用語事典 第2版| date = 1998| publisher = 八幡書店| language = ja| isbn= 978-4-89350-327-5| ref = {{harvid|Glossary|1998}}}}
* {{Cite book |first=Yasuhiro |last=Takeda|title=The Notenki Memoirs - Studio Gainax and the Man Who Created Evangelion |date=2005 |publisher=[[A.D. Vision|ADV Manga]] |isbn=1-4139-0234-0}}
* {{cite journal|last=Bartoli|first=Fabio|url=http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/040108/06-Antrocom.pdf|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion e la Kabbalah: dal Tempo di dolore al Tempo Benedetto|year=2008|journal=Antrocom|volume=4|issue=1|page=34|access-date=18 April 2020|language=it|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422065644/http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/040108/06-Antrocom.pdf|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |first=Carl Gustav|last= Horn |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 Edition |date=2013 |publisher=[[Viz Media]]|volume=3 |chapter=Behold the Angels of God descending|isbn=978-1-4215-5362-7}}
* {{Cite book|first=Neko|last= Oikawa |title=ネコの手も貸したい 及川眠子流作詞術 |date=2018 |publisher=Ritter Music |language=ja |isbn=978-4-8456-3267-1}}
* {{Cite journal|first=Manabu |last=Hashimoto|title=高橋洋子×大森俊之スペシャル対談|journal=Newtype|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|date=2018|language=ja|volume=34|issue=7}}
* {{Cite book|first=Yōko |last=Takahashi|title=残酷な天使のテーゼ」「魂のルフラン」をだれよりも上手に歌えるようになる本 : 高橋洋子のヴォーカル・レッスン|language=ja|date=2021|publisher= Rittor Music|isbn=978-4-8456-3586-3}}
* {{cite book |last1=Nebbia |first1=Virginie |title=La Saga Evangelion: L'oeuvre d'une vie |language=fr |publisher=Third Editions |date=2023 |isbn=978-2-3778-4430-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TT7aEAAAQBAJ |access-date=2023-10-25 |archive-date=2023-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025081027/https://books.google.it/books?id=TT7aEAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=it#v=onepage&q&f=false#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Sellés de Lucas|first1=Victor|last2=Hernández-Pérez|first2=Manuel|title=Exegesis and authorial agency through Judeo-Christian iconography in Japanese anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995-97) as an open work|journal=Imafronte|issue=31|pages=224–237|publisher=Universidad de Murcia|date=2024}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{MusicBrainz work|id=343dbbe6-d9ce-3853-8d8d-230734c0424f|name=残酷な天使のテーゼ (A Cruel Angel’s Thesis)}}

{{Neon Genesis Evangelion}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruel Angel's Thesis}}
[[Category:1995 singles]]
[[Category:1995 songs]]
[[Category:Animated series theme songs]]
[[Category:King Records (Japan) singles]]
[[Category:Neon Genesis Evangelion songs]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Neko Oikawa]]
[[Category:Songs written for animated films]]
[[Category:Film and television memes]]