“Abandoned teen Shinji must pilot giant Eva to fight Angels, confronting trauma and father's hidden agenda.”
Neon Genesis Evangelion
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Abandoned teen Shinji must pilot giant Eva to fight Angels, confronting trauma and father's hidden agenda.
Fifteen years after a cataclysmic event known as the Second Impact, the world faces a new threat: monstrous celestial beings called Angels invade Tokyo-3 one by one. Mankind is unable to defend themselves against the Angels despite utilizing their most advanced munitions and military tactics. The only hope for human salvation rests in the hands of NERV, a mysterious organization led by the cold Gendou Ikari. NERV operates giant humanoid robots dubbed "Evangelions" to combat the Angels with state-of-the-art advanced weaponry and protective barriers known as Absolute Terror Fields. Years after being abandoned by his father, Shinji Ikari, Gendou's 14-year-old son, returns to Tokyo-3. Shinji undergoes a perpetual internal battle against the deeply buried trauma caused by the loss of his mother and the emotional neglect he suffered at the hands of his father. Terrified to open himself up to another, Shinji's life is forever changed upon meeting 29-year-old Misato Katsuragi, a high-ranking NERV officer who shows him a free-spirited maternal kindness he has never experienced. A devastating Angel attack forces Shinji into action as Gendou reveals his true motive for inviting his son back to Tokyo-3: Shinji is the only child capable of efficiently piloting Evangelion Unit-01, a new robot that synchronizes with his biometrics. Despite the brutal psychological trauma brought about by piloting an Evangelion, Shinji defends Tokyo-3 against the angelic threat, oblivious to his father's dark machinations.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 500 sampled reviews of 820
What 500 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 2.80 · split reception
6.1 pts
Recommenders 9.0 · others 2.9
↓ 2.78
Running avg · Apr 2007 → Apr 2026
- 8 “I love this anime for its compelling, twisted characters and the immense pressure placed on Shinji, which makes for a gripping experience. While the series can feel repetitive at times and the...”
- 7 “The art style is utterly awesome, and I really enjoyed the characters, especially Misato and Kaworu, as well as the movies. However, the series was difficult to follow, as I understood less with...”
- 7 “The animation is beautiful and the scenes are good starting from episode 4. However, the first three episodes feel senseless and the action is underwhelming. My overall impression is mixed as the...”
Watch Order & Related
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See all credits →Production slate
- Format 26 × 24′ eps × min
- Total runtime 10h 24m all episodes
- Aired Oct 1995 – Mar 1996 Fall 1995
- Source Tv media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-0021 catalog
Produced by
- TV Tokyo Producer
- Kadokawa Shoten Producer
- Nihon Ad Systems Producer
- Audio Tanaka Producer