This is an original Japanese B2 prize poster from 1996–1997, officially licensed for SEGA’s arcade prize poster series, commonly associated with Poster Heroes / Poster Dream.
Featuring Asuka Langley Soryu from Neon Genesis Evangelion, this is a highly desirable period piece from the original Evangelion boom. It is not a standard retail poster, but an arcade prize issue, produced for SEGA’s amusement-market distribution at a time when Evangelion had become one of the defining anime phenomena of the 1990s.
Most importantly, this example is printed on a metallic / holographic foil paper stock, creating a reflective rainbow effect when viewed under light. This rare material variant gives the poster a striking display presence and makes it especially sought after among Evangelion collectors.
The image
The poster features a bright and confident portrait of Asuka Langley Soryu, leaning forward and looking directly upward toward the viewer. Her expression is playful but self-assured, capturing the bold personality that made Asuka one of the most recognisable characters in the series.
The illustration shows her with her distinctive auburn hair and red interface headsets, set against a shimmering metallic background. The contrast between the clean character artwork and the reflective foil surface gives the image an unusually vivid, jewel-like quality.
The artwork is by Shinya Hasegawa, an important animator associated with the original Neon Genesis Evangelion television series. This illustration originally appeared in Kadokawa Shoten’s Monthly Newtype, adding further pedigree to the image.
Design details
Across the top, the title NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is printed in large black serif lettering. The overall layout is bold but clean, allowing the foil background and central Asuka artwork to dominate the composition.
The lower-left credit area identifies the image source and artist:
初出 角川書店月刊ニュータイプ
Originally published in Kadokawa Shoten’s Monthly Newtype
原画 長谷川 眞也
Original illustration by Shinya Hasegawa
The lower-right corner carries the SEGA logo and official Evangelion copyright information: ©GAINAX / Project Eva.・テレビ東京・NAS.
The metallic foil variant
This poster is especially desirable because of its reflective metallic / holographic foil construction. The surface catches light in shifting colours, producing a rainbow spectrum across the background and giving the poster a far more dramatic appearance than ordinary paper-stock examples.
Because these prize posters were distributed through arcade and amusement channels rather than conventional retail sale, and because foil variants were more delicate and prone to handling wear, surviving examples in strong condition are increasingly difficult to source.
Collector significance
This is a strong collector-grade Evangelion piece with several important attributes:
Officially licensed SEGA prize poster
Original 1996–1997 period issue
Rare metallic / holographic foil variant
Asuka Langley Soryu subject
Artwork by Shinya Hasegawa
Monthly Newtype image origin
B2 display format
It has strong appeal to collectors of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Asuka Langley Soryu, SEGA arcade prize material, 1990s anime ephemera, and Japanese holographic / special-material posters.
Condition
Excellent condition. Please review the photographs carefully, as they show the exact poster for sale.
The poster presents beautifully, with strong colour, bright reflective foil effect, clean character artwork, and excellent overall display impact. Minor signs of age and handling may be visible, consistent with the delicate metallic stock and original period production, but this is a very attractive surviving example.
This is an original Japanese SEGA prize poster from 1996–1997.
It is not a reproduction or reprint.
It is over 25 years old.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
