Now I understand why people say this is the anime of animes. First don't watch this anime if you're not mature or 18+. There's also some epileptic and tripping parts that should be warned before watching. This is one of the darkest, most depressing and disturbing anime I've seen. After half episodes it becomes the real thing (hate,nudity,tools,betrayals for each character). The characters are likeable, the drawings are good and music is amazing, you can really see it's a 90's anime. But holy the Story is fkd up and disturbing. The last 2 episodes can be skipped if you don't want to see the perspective of Shinji. I agree that this is overrated but it's a great anime, that I don't recommend to children but adults.
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enricoshapka3 February 2021
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ozkr-9475525 June 2020The last two original episodes are art, perfectly Could be museum pieces.
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Tweekums2 March 2020This anime series is set fifteen years after a global disaster known as the Second Impact. It is centred on fourteen year old Shinji Ikari; he is summoned to the city of Tokyo-3 where he learns he has been chosen to pilot 'Evangelion Unit One'; to all intents and purposes a giant robot with biological components which can only be synchronised with pilots of a certain age. In Unit One Shinji will have to battle strange beings that have been dubbed 'Angels' whose arrival was foretold in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Shinji's job isn't helped by the fact that the Eva Project is run by his estranged father who seems more interested in Rei Ayanami, the slightly mysterious pilot of Eva Unit Zero. As the attacks continue a third pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu. Shinji always had issues but this work takes an emotional and psychological toll on him.
One might expect this to be an exciting 'fighting robot' series but it quickly descends into existential angst and depression... a very interesting twist that I'm sure viewers who watched this series when it was new would have been shocked by. The central story is full of religious symbolism but it isn't overtly religious in a way that might offend or irritate viewers. The characters aren't that likeable; many, especially Shinji, come across as whiny and others, notably his father, as unpleasant and bullying. Things gets distinctly strange towards the end with two final episodes that are likely to leave some viewers exasperated; others will find this only adds to the sense that this series is something different. Normally I watch anime in Japanese with subtitles but as the dub was available on Netflix I watched that and thought the English voice cast did a solid job. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anime fans; it may show its age at times but it is still solid and had effects on many later series. -
ttornak31 July 2005I'm not an anime fan. I tried this because of the reviews it gathered and after watching this I checked out other anime-titles. I couldn't have been more disappointed. No other anime even tried to approach the quality of this series.
The series start off simple enough. A boy is 'chosen' to fight big monsters in a robot. However, the monsters seem to be less important than the troubles the people face fighting them.
Although Shinji is no coward by any standard, he's a very troubled person. He hates himself and his father. He needs people around him but they are a constant source of pain. He's a loner, but he doesn't like it much.
Not a single major character is one-dimensional. Rei is a bit of an enigma, but you could imagine how this very intelligent girl would develop into someone resembling Ritsuko. Asuka is the brass, loud and overconfident girl who's smarter than she appears. Misato seems to be an emotional shut-in but she tries to enjoy life to the fullest. Ritsuko seems perfect at first, an intelligent career woman who's reliable and self-sufficient. And definitely last is Gendo, the commander : cold and focused, dealing with the threat as well as the constant verbal attacks of the Seele-members. Any major character could be analyzed as they grow throughout the series.
The first 15 episodes could be considered semi-light fare. Enjoyable and although there are several hints dropped along the way, nothing really gets out of hand too far. The series grow however, and after the 15th episode, the masks are taken off one by one, and it's not a pretty sight.
By the end of it all, the series have asked immortal questions like what are we, why are we here and is life worth all the pain that goes with it. For once these questions don't sound trite as the characters have a very good reason for asking.
Disturbing through the fate and behaviour of it's protagonists, stripping away all illusions about what men are and the horrors we are capable of, the series still manage to retain sympathy for it's characters and a spark of hope for mankind.
The series are not perfect. There's some fan-service,corny moments and situations that don't seem logical, especially in the first part of the series. But the many layers and genuine characters more than make up for it. In this case, the endresult outweigh the sum of it's part tremendously.
There are 101 reasons why the series have become how they are now. Production problems (time and money), Hidalgo's personal situation, the fans, the critics and so on. You can find socio-economic, theological and psychological analysis of this work. All very well written, interesting and equally valid. Whatever interests you, this series can make you think and hopefully feel.
I've only given 3 movies a 10. This is one of them. The rating is for the series+the movie. Powerful and unique. -
When I started this show, I thought it would be like other animes with giant robots but I was wrong. It is one of the most beautiful and amazing shows I've ever seen, as the title says.the last two episodes are ones people will tell you to skip, but their worth the watch. They dive into shinji's psyche and show the feelings of the creator of the anime, Hideaki Anno. The depression he went through really shows in these episodes, as he projects them through the character of shinji. Learning the lesson of self acceptance at the end is very heartwarming and makes me want to be a better person, and learn from the mistakes of shinji. This has been my review of Neon Genesis Evangelion. And To those who finished the show, I have one thing to tell you: congratulations!
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medeirosvn23 February 2021This is the best and most devastating anime of all time
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Achyut_Prashast_Singh29 August 2020Wow. I just finished binge watching the series and I don't know what to feel right now. This quintessential anime series has left me with an experience of a lifetime. It is a perfect blend of mecha action and human emotion. The animation is definitely top notch, but it's the storytelling that's the real hero of this series.
I could feel the tension from the first episode itself. The way the makers dealt with the three kids is plausible. I personally related a lot to Shinji Ikari and felt he was a lot like me. There were times where I cared a lot for both Rei and Asuka, given what all they had to go through. That being said, almost half of the series is somewhere between serious and lighthearted in terms of tone. It's the other half that starts to get intense with every episode and just hits the thinking viewer in the feels. I could feel like the last few episodes were directly talking to me. Yes, the same few episodes which are considered controversial for some reason.
But aside from that, the show is highly entertaining, hands down. The humor is hilarious wherever it's present, and the mecha action is really cool or maybe even the finest I've seen yet. Some episodes are bound to leave you depressed, so better be prepared. Neon Genesis Evangelion is an unprecedented victory of sheer imagination and storytelling. For me, it's a perfect one as it both entertained and made me think. I can't thank the makers of this psychological sci-fi action anime enough, as a lot of dialogue has provided solutions to problems I have personally encountered and still encounter in life. -
TheMediaGuru2424 June 2020This anime is the second best anime I have watched, yes it gets very complex towards the end and personally I don't think the ending is amazing (unlike End of Evangelion).
The 26 episodes are great although at the start the show just seems like a standard mech vs creature show it gradually becomes a complex and much more interesting show. Episode 25 and 26 aren't necessarily bad I just don't find them as interesting as the other episodes, it is very vague, yes it works better after you watch End of Evangelion but you shouldn't have to rely on a movie which was released later to like the final episodes of a show.
The characters are where this show is at it's best. All complex and sympathetic apart from a few which you will hate in a good way. Asuka is my favorite character in the show. After watching Asuka's episode of her backstory I couldn't help but love this character, once again her character arc ends abruptly but with End of Evangelion it fixes that. Shinji is also an amazing and deeply flawed protagonist, he is very passive and never finds out massive plot points like some other protagonist might. It is very interesting and something we have rarely seen since. Rei is great as well but she needed more time with Shinji to make her arc more satisfying because she does disappear into the background for a few episodes.
The Soundtrack is amazing, it has classics and my favorite opening theme with Cruel Angels Thesis, almost every anime fan will have either heard or seen the opening.
This anime definitely won't appeal to everyone and can be hard to recommend in my opinion but definitely give it a try, who knows maybe you will get glued to the screen and binge it like I did. -
Absolute masterpiece (in my opinion). Shinji as a character is a fantastic portrayal of depression, isolation, escapism etc. And shows his struggles in a way where you can still relate to him. The final two episodes were absolutely incredible and even made me question myself as a person. Overall, it is not for everyone. Many people found this anime quite boring (and I can agree, it was slow at some parts, not to mention the unnecessary fanservice lol) but I really recommend it if you are looking for an interesting, thought-provoking anime.
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umuts-2952817 January 2021One of the things that makes evangelion so good is that many of the great concepts in the series are pushed aside and only focus on the final message after a certain point.This is not a risk that everyone can take.
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Gainax's staggeringly ambitious, 26-episode series NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is declared as one of the most compelling Anime productions of all time. It also happens to be one of most controversial. On one side of the coin are a bunch of loyal, unbending followers that idolize the show. On the other are a group of naysayers who say otherwise. As far as my views of EVANGELION are concerned, I fall somewhere in the middle. In many ways, the show is indeed brilliant and thought provoking--something rarely seen in any animated production, American or Japanese. At the same time, however, there are elements of EVANGELION that rub me the wrong way.
The show, set in post-apocalyptic Tokyo-3, involves alien-like monsters known as "Angels" that continually threaten the metropolis. Only psychologically messed up teenagers -- who include introverted Shinji Ikari, enigmatic Rei Ayanami, and mean-spirited Asuka Langley Sohryu -- stand a chance against them. They do this by piloting their Evangelions -- giant, superpowerful, robot-like fighters. In charge of the whole thing is Misato Katsuragi, a tough, no-nonsense woman who cares for the children while dealing with her own issues. Also calling the shots is Shinji's cold, unsympathetic father, Gendo Ikari, Shinji's cold, unlovable father, who seems to have an agenda of his own, although we're not entirely clear about what it is. And then there is the matter over whether the real threat in Tokyo-3 is in the presence of the Angels or an even more ominous organization, known as SEELE, which is occasionally seen as a group of tabloids with numbers.
As mentioned, there are many aspects of EVANGELION that are good and bad. The technical aspects of this show are impressive -- particularly the dramatic and emotionally charged battles between the EVAs and the grotesquely designed angels; a sense of mystery and intrigue exudes from its complex storyline. As a matter of fact, the show is at its best when it focuses on the conflict between the Angels and the human race. Furthermore, even though a majority of the characters are basically unlikable (save perhaps, for Misato), director Anno does dedicate some episodes delving into their tormented pasts. This is often done in surreal, bizarre, "dream" like sequences involving kaleidoscopic imagery and inner thoughts. Also interesting (and sometimes disorienting) is the use of classical music for several episodes toward the end, notably Handel's "Messiah" and Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony.
It has been widely touted that the characters of EVANGELION are some of the most complex, socially washed out beings ever committed to Anime. On one level, it provides for some intriguing interactions, from Shinji's estranged relationships with both his father and the bitchy Asuka to Misato's own fractured love affair with her off again on again beau, Kaji. The character development becomes gradually less intriguing, however, as each episode exorcises the same angst-ridden issues over and over again, with little to no resolution. In the surprisingly grim and violent latter half of the series, the characters all head into a downward spiral. At the same time, EVANGELION starts to become less intriguing (if sometimes confusing) and turns messy, almost to the point of being totally incomprehensible. Questions that viewers are likely to have about the plot are never answered, and some later episodes have scenes in which absolutely nothing happens that last too long.
Another problem with EVANGELION is its ending or rather, lack thereof. While Gainax's previous TV show, NADIA, took a wrong turn at the midpoint, it did get recover for its last episodes and delivered a strong, if too short conclusion. Here, however, the story simply falls apart. The final two episodes, which are very much played out like extensive therapy sessions, eschew both action and coherency in favor of deconstructing the protagonists' minds. In doing so, it makes the mistake of underwhelming the audience. There are some interesting artistic styles, like Shinji being drawn as a sketch in deep space, but even this potentially experimental approach is compromised by the lack of a structure for a compelling conclusion.
In spite of its faults, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is still worth watching for many reasons. Its impressively directed action sequences, intriguing mysteries, and in-depth character studies have been seldom matched in others of its kind.
The English dub, provided by Industrial Smoke & Mirrors in the mid '90s, like the show, tends to receive polarized reaction. The dub follows the script fairly well, and the acting is mostly emotionally sound (if at times too melodramatic). On the flipside, it is somewhat disappointing that the young protagonists don't sound like children--especially after ADV's dub for NADIA impressed me with their use of actual child actors. Fortunately, the whole dub is carried by Alison Keith's terrific turn as Misato--she brings a lot of sassiness and instant likability to the character. Her performance *sells* the dub as a whole even when the script becomes confusing in places.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION will certainly not win over converts beyond a certain age -- as mentioned, its complicated and sometimes too angst-ridden plot is more likely to appeal to adolescents. As an ambitious and daring exercise in bringing Anime to wider audiences, however, its remarkable in how it achieved that goal. -
coppa-7356826 May 2021Although I'm not an animation fan, watching Neon Genesis Evangelion is amazing experience for me. Especially, the final two episodes are really stunning and heartwarming.
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kevinxirau2 August 2019"Neon Genesis Evangelion", Hideaki Anno's magnum opus and a reflection of his depression at the time. Long have I heard of this legendary anime, but never felt the drive in giving it a try until recently. Is it worth it? Well, yes but in some ways no.
Plot: Years after the apocalyptic event known as the 2nd Impact, the story concerns Shinji Ikari, a lonely boy who is suddenly summoned by his neglectful father Gendo, the head of the group called NERV. The reason: to pilot a mech called an Evangelion (Eva for short) to combat unusual creatures called Angels alongside brash Asuka and stoic Rei. Despite considerable reservations and low self-esteem, he agrees, going on a journey involving giant-sized battles, unnerving revelations, and a dive into others' inner demons.
On the surface, this seems like a standard action series, but it's really a character study filled with religious parallels, psychological analyses, and sexual elements. Most of the major characters suffer from some shortcoming and have different ways of coping. My favorite is Misato, a woman who is both head of operations against Angels and Shinji's caretaker/mother figure; she shares common ground with him, is a risk taker, and has relatable flaws. Shinji, though, is a divisive figure as your enjoyment of the show depends on how much you invest in or even tolerate him. Having "hedgehog's dilemma" among others, he hesitates on things from fighting to getting close to anyone. While at times understandable, it does try one's patience (he's more tolerable after the first few episodes). There are scenes that offer levity with light-hearted moments, which I appreciate. While sometimes short, the battles alone are worth a watch with cool strategies, gruesome bloody violence, and a pantheon of monstrous Angels whose designs are as alien as their origins and motives. Outside the fights, though, the animation tends to be minimalistic. In fact, many scenes involve still shots that go on for too long, which bugged me. There's also no real explanation of why the Evas have to be piloted by 14-year olds and some side characters are written out in a way that doesn't feel conclusive.
"Evangelion" has two endings. First, the show's last 2 episodes are an abstract mind trip where the staff literally ran out of money and scraped together. The second is the movie "End of Evangelion", which is more grand and decisive, but also VERY trippy. Analyses from other people helped me understand the film, but it's not satisfying entertainment-wise. I'm curious about the remake "Rebuild of Evangelion", but that's for another time. While not for everyone, the anime certainly earned its reputation. -
tuomas_gimli16 October 2012Neon Genesis Evangelion is hailed as one of the greatest animes ever. As a mix of monster vs. Mecha action, character-driven psychological drama and conspiracy thriller, there's certainly plenty to delve into. Too bad the different elements never truly match with each other, and the result is possibly the grandmother of all "mixed bags".
There are very many aspects of Evangelion to like, or at least to admire. The ambition of the series is unquestionable, telling a story which starts out as fairly simple mecha action, but then turning into something far more sinister and grand. The designs of the Angels and Evas are still very imaginative and original and each battle provides a different scenario. The Angels are among one of the most genuinely alien-feeling creatures I've seen in fiction overall. The boldness it takes to put the characters into such dark places as they are in the end is very admirable, as the second season provides disturbing imagery all the way through. The characters are fairly deep with complex relationships, and the scenario of humanity trying to survive, but possibly heading double-time towards extinction is interesting. And the effort it must have taken to put together a story with so many different elements deserves a clapping.
But where to begin with the problems, which sadly far outweigh the good elements?
-The tone is very inconsistent, starting out with a mysterious feel with some heavy drama and then settling into a comfortable, fairly light-hearted monster-action period. During the second season the series plunges all the way into thorough unpleasantness before finally crapping out altogether and being left wallowing in psychedelic imagery and dialogue.
-With such a grand story to tell, Evangelion should be a series with absolutely zero filler, yet there are at least three to five episodes out of 26 which have no relevance at all in terms of the main story
-Nearly all the characters are almost completely unlikable. Despite this probably being one of the main points, as the series turns into full- fledged tragedy during the last 10 or so episodes, they seem neither to feel genuine sympathy for each other nor really care much about anything other than themselves. Character traits which are introduced as quirks or comedic elements (like Misato's drinking) later become sources of self-loathing and disgust. One particular central character and their own subplot is squandered so badly in terms of dramatic potential it's almost insulting.
-The animation quality sees a steep drop after episode 19. This was later somewhat redeemed in the director's cut versions, but the lack of budget towards the end is still painfully obvious. Many scenes feature little more than static images with voiceovers, and at times feel more like a power point presentation instead of animation.- There are dozens of oddities and illogicalities that constantly have the viewer thinking "How did they do that?". For example, we never see how the various parts of NERV HQ are placed in relation to each other. For all we know, all the various rooms and halls could exist entirely in small pocket dimensions of their own.
-Despite their heavy presence, the biblical imagery and names are pure surface, and nowadays feel pretentious rather than original. You could replace all the names with Godzilla, Mothra, King Kong and such and it'd still be the same story.
-A large amount of screen time is taken up by meaningless techno-babble, which serves next to no purpose. There are also some weird dialogues and monologues that pop out of nowhere and seem to have been written by someone tripping on acid. The infamous last 2 episodes are so full of esoteric philosophical mush that it feels like a completely different series. Whether this was the creator's intention or not I won't theorize on, it simply doesn't work.
-The very heavy presence of angst both teen and mature can be quite grating, even for a series about psychological problems and mental breakdown. Even the adult characters fall into the pit of constant self-loathing towards the end.
-Despite it being constantly referred to and being one of the central plot elements of the entire series, the Human Instrumentality Project never seems to be what's driving the story. Also the vast amount of lore involving the Second Impact, SEELE and NERV is almost all dumped into a single episode, instead of being slowly unearthed. It could have been used to create mystery, but as it stands it creates merely confusion and dissatisfaction.
To list more would be just nit-picking, but there are plenty more. The end result is a series that is at times excellent, but most of the time just irritating or dull to watch.
Recommendation: Evangelion is possibly one of the most divisive works of fiction ever created. Anyone who hasn't seen this series but has an interest in it should watch it just to form an opinion of their own. -
Arnold-1016 March 2000Well, what can I say about a series that's as absolutely mind-blowing as the 26 episodes and two movies that make up Neon Genesis Evangelion? This is, quite simply, a masterpiece. What starts out as a simple "save the world" mecha story evolves into a shocking and powerful psychological drama full of conspiracy, dysfunctional characters, and some of the most harrowingly emotional and painful fight scenes ever. Don't let the first several episodes fool you- they're entertaining enough, but the power of the series remains hidden.
When I popped in the first video, I was excited to see a new anime, but otherwise pretty relaxed. By the end of episode 18 or so, my heart was racing, and I was nearly in tears. It never let up after that. This is not just an anime. This is an experience. -
Lain66626 February 2020This artistic masterpiece is far superior to any anime or any animation that was made in the 1990s. It can easily hold up today.
This anime is about a boy who is 'forced' to pilot a mecha after an Angel attack. With Nerv's mecha or as they are called Evangelion, they fight these strange monsters.
This series is more than just your typical mecha anime. It is about loneliness and the meaning of life and lies. The animation is visually appealing. This is a must watch for anyone, anime fan or not,. -
Neon Genesis Evangelion. One of the most controversial and influential sci-fi anime of all time. Even more than 15 years after its release in Japan and at least a decade since it was released and dubbed in English in America, it still manages to resonate and astound anime audiences with its story, characters and the impact that its had on multiple genres outside of anime.
Now this is a difficult anime series to review because of how complicated the story gets as it goes on. I'll make the basic synopsis as simple as I can without spoiling: The year is 2015 and the world is invaded by celestial beings known as "Angels", 15 years prior to the beginning of the series, an event caused by the Angels known as "Second Impact" devastated the world and reduced the human population by half. In order to combat the Angels, the Japanese government created NERV to combat the Angels. NERV fights the Angels with the Evangelion Units AKA EVA Units who are piloted by select few teenagers.
The basic synopsis sounds like any other mech anime and it is for at least the first 14 episodes but after that, it gets more complicated and the plot takes many twists and turns deconstructing the tropes and conventions for the mech anime genre becoming something new and refreshing which is what this series is well known for. The characters are very well written and three dimensional making them all the more relatable.
This series is written and directed by Hideaki Anno who suffered depression when he made this series and it shows in the psychology of his characters. His direction is epic for an animated TV show and has some great shots that make for good cinematography even though its animated. Also it has one of the best anime opening theme songs ever done.
Unfortunately, there was a outcry in Japan for this series being too violent for television which resulted in budget cuts which in turn resulted in the infamous final two episodes that don't end the series properly.
In my opinion, watch the first 24 episodes, then watch End of Evangelion which is the proper ending to the series which is why I only give this series a 9 out of 10 stars. -
cannabinosa10 November 2020Low budget with a lot of static scenes, jumped straight to the ending because of lack of money and time, and never explained an important part of the plot like why do the angels attack. But there it goes, the best anime ever created.
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adico-3100510 June 2021It is not worth talking about the uniqueness of the plot, since it is not unique. No matter how funny it may be, furs are, in principle, always about the same thing. Robots fight robots, here, by the way, you need to put a fat plus, since the fights are very well orchestrated, each enemy is individual, and with each one you need to conduct a different battle strategy. As a result, the enemies in front of us are not the countless number of clones pushing ahead. But the fact that people are struggling with something unknown for the sake of salvation is not new. I prefer to move on to the most delicious, namely the hidden meanings and the second bottom. For the most part, critics usually mark Shinji and begin to analyze his personality, forgetting about everyone else along the way. But, in my opinion, this is extremely wrong. It is necessary to consider all three young heroes, and not only them, but all the schoolchildren represented in Evangelion. After all, this is an anime about growing up.
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Leysritt22 September 2022In the start "Neon Genesis Evangelion" felt like another normal anime but every episode that I was watching the anime started to make less sense, till I saw the last episode then after that I watched the "Evangelion: The End of Evangelion" movie, and when I got to the end of the second part of the movie I was just sitting there looking at my screen without any words or thoughts on my mind, I was just so confused that I had to search for a video on YouTube that explains the meaning behind the whole "Evangelion Series". After I watched the video that I found, I finally understood everything about what I was watching and what "Evangelion" is, and it was at that moment I knew "Evangelion" is a great piece of work/MasterPiece/Peak Fiction that I will never forget no matter what, till the end. Something that "Evangelion" thought me is that this world can be beautiful even if it's hard and everything doesn't go your way and it just ain't it, you should never give up always look at what you can be making better or becoming better at something you want to be better with.
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Yes, Shinji, Asuka, Rei and everybody else are very complex, enjoyable and great characters, what is not enjoyable or complex is the non-stop existentialism throughout the show. It gets to the point where it's just a whiny. Asuka is the absolute worst when it comes to whininess, Shinji's wasn't that bad compared to hers. His was understandable, he learned from his mistakes and hardened himself into a stronger person, but Asuka broke, and we never really got to see her pick up the pieces, just the same whiny, boring story of I hate everybody, but I really hate myself. The sooner projection that you see in your everyday life come up from hateful people who are embittered about their choices in life, and Men does it get boring and old, quick.
The story line is not very consistent oh, and that sometimes is really janky, garbled and may as well be vomit that you drink from a straw, but for the most part it is interesting, but at the same time long, drawn out into a thin broth that is mostly water by the end. -
SquanchDaddy20 April 2021I can see why so many people either seem to love or hate this show. Its a mix of mech battles, religious symbolism and psychological drama. I wasn't able to fully appreciate some of these elements until later in the show and its not for everyone. Its a master class tragedy with a small handful of flaws IMO. I went from wanting to give it 7 stars in the 1st half to 9 stars by the time it was over. Its one you got watch yourself to really see if you'll like it or not.
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baumhenrik13 October 2020I had Neon Genesis Evangelion on my anime Watchlist ever since I first heard of it. I'm not usually a fan of giant battle robots but this one was always brought to me as something different. So I finally watched it after years. First off some things I liked the most about the show. The art style. I love the 90s characteristic anime style and NGE had some of the best artwork I've ever seen. I also liked the concept of angels and how diverse they appeared with different strengths and weaknesses. Also the philosophical approach was a hook for me. But still I feel a bit underwhelmed by the show. I wasn't quite as blown away as every other one it seems. I felt that the actual twist points all happened within 3-4 episodes. Not saying that everything else was not worth watching. Lots of words. Might come back and edit some once I thought about it more.
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Nyx_Selene21 December 2007Contrary to most other commentators, I deeply hate this series.
It starts out looking interesting, with mysterious aliens and giant robots, and I kept my hopes up until the very last episode. At the end of it, I still didn't understand what the alien attacks were all about (maybe I missed something, who knows?), and realized that I had sat through 26 episodes consisting mainly of the characters' own self-hating, selfishness and self-pitying. It actually flips between alien/robot fights and these dark, depressing blinking-on-and-off scenes where one or more characters shouts "I hate me/you/it" 10-12 times in a row.
I can't really see either Shinji or Asuka (two of the main characters) showing growth or change. (Nor can I see any of the other characters learning or growing either, for that matter.) I wanted to kick them and tell them to get a bloody life during the first episodes, and the feeling didn't change during the last ones. Shinji truly possesses the kind of helpless hopelessness that makes people angry rather than charitable, and Asuka is such an infuriating know-it-all that I wanted to smash the TV screen every time she came into view. Oh, and more than anyone else, these two hate everything, and say it veeeeeeeery often. Shinji even makes a half-assed attempt at suicide. Please, explain to me why I should give a rat's ass about this animé, when even it's characters are trying to off themselves to get out of it.
I'm otherwise a big fan of animé and manga, and never before have I disliked one so much. I read that the series creator/writer wrote this while suffering from a depression, and I can believe that; it made me depressed to watch it. Is that the aim of this series? I'm honestly asking. Is it designed to make the viewer confused and annoyed? And if suffering from a depression, why just not write a book or biography about it, instead of mixing it up with aliens and mecha's? This alien war plot, as far as I could tell, lead to absolutely nowhere.
Finally, since I'm truly fascinated by how many people claim to love this patchwork of dead-end plots, I can't help but wonder how many of them actually find it good, and how many say they do because they've been told it is. -
Whether you enjoy the world of anime or not this is an experience you must have before you die. Nothing else in the world is like it. For the sake of your personal experience I cannot tell you much about it and here's why. The first 20 some episodes you are immersed in the semi-futuristic world of Tokyo 3 and the characters are developed beautifully, some of the best character development I've ever witnessed. You get a very very good feel for the world and the situation they live in, only to have that blown away in the final episodes. Please for the sake of yourself watch this, from the start, you will not regret it.
Hideaki Anno has conceived of a story more important to my life than any other.
Hideaki Anno is pure genius.