Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

It's impossible to put into words the success Neon Genesis Evangelion has seen. Beyond its innovative storytelling and popularization of widespread tropes, its influence is unmatched. The track it took almost seems predictive of today's anime scene from themes to characters. Why, oh why, must this be the one of the anime that is controversial? If only everyone saw this arthouse as a holy grail of the medium as I did. Eva precedes its reputation. Its troubled nature, its arrogant tone, its repugnant atmosphere are much more than anyone could have bargained for just by seeing someone call it "pretentious garbage" online. I came intothe show a nonbeliever, skeptic of its worth, prepared to call it another run in the mill psychological anime, the fact that Eva was one of the fathers of psychological in anime completely slipping my mind. I was just that invested in calling it mediocre or even bad.

But I ended up loving everything I saw. Even its worst aspects became so intriguingly artistic. If there was a reason to hate Eva, it'd be for all the reasons I adored it.

*Spoilers Ahead*

Story: 10
Neon Genesis Evangelion offers an interesting dichotomy between genius and generic. Surely the 'villain of the week' aspect was generic but what they represented was greater than the premise by itself. The angels aren't just typical "I want to end the world!" villains. They offer a closer inspection at the self, their silhouettes so strangely humane yet so strangely divine. Their understanding of humanity, and as an extension, us, not only make them more dreadful than a typical villain but also begins to ask the question "why are we killing the angels?" A question that can be shrugged off as easily as Asuka does it, but the introduction of Kaworu proves my point. What does humanity ultimately mean and what dictates it? The deep and storied history intertwined with what we see on the screen offers no breathing room, a constant machine keeping you at the tip of your toes and mouths centimeters away from gaping open from the most recent twist or predicament. Filler is used as a way to develop characters with subtlety by Eva. The dread we feel from the angels and the dread we feel from seeing the characters struggle are so far apart in concept yet so alike. And when the story focuses on the characters, might I add with a overwhelmingly smooth and natural transition, the story becomes gritty, the darker tones finally revealing the true nature of the show. The lore remains interesting to discover more of, piece together, discuss, and understand. The ending is so twisted and grotesque but it revels in its abhorrence by offering a deep and sophisticated therapy session for both the viewer, characters, and Hideaki Anno himself. Its self-gratifying for him, evidently shown by how raw the emotions were. The passion of the ending, honestly the whole story throughout, is symbolic of what Eva truly is. Not a show about flaunting its action and excitement but a show about human emotions. But I'm not going to give a category a 10/10 just for the passion of the creator. Its hard not to also love the artistic direction of the dread the show exudes with almost everything. Its even harder to not cherish the artistic direction of its experimental nature and tone.

Art: 10
Whilst the art style is typical of the 90's, Eva continues to set itself apart from its peers with the usage of bright neon colors that contrasted grim, dark backgrounds. Illustrious sights fill up a good portion of the show with so many scenes worth taking pictures of or just taking in as eye candy. The perpetual screen changing and cinematography further emphasize just how beautiful this anime looks. The designs of the angels are so otherworldly with each abomination leaving me in childish wonder of "how did they come up with that?" or "I don't even want to think about what's next". The main character, Ikari Shinji with an arguably basic design and Asuka, while being a bit promiscuous (some would even label it pedo-bait), is still within the realm of realism plays into the main narrative. The serenity of the hospital scenes and plenty of shots referencing classic paintings help Eva feel like a piece of art. The animation isn't magically good but definitely serviceable, at times the slower movement working towards breathless tension and down to earth action sequences.

Sound: 10
Evangelion has a great soundtrack. More than the poppy opening, Eva offers memorable tunes such as 'Angel Attack' and 'Marking Time, Waiting For Death'. The sound design for the angels aid their image as divine creatures. The audiovisuals for Neon Genesis Evangelion is nothing short of amazing.

Character: 10
The characters in this show are dealt with such delicate care, each of them with grueling backgrounds that justify their current states. What's even more lovely is how their current behaviors are so akin to how humans in real life act. Shinji's need for attention, Asuka's rejection of others, Rei's purposelessness, the teenagers represent more than adolescence and juvenile messages. They are in every one of us, showing how we reject others and push them away, effectively "escaping". They are champions of exaggerated realism that when we apply to ourselves, we see a shocking truth. Shinji in particular is a vessel for many teenagers who watch the show but his revelation that he has never tried to understand anyone while being caught up in his self-pity not only taught me a valuable life lesson but was just so masterfully executed. Every side character is equally as investable. The show lures you in by humanizing the entire cast whether it be everyday life at the NERV headquarters or Misato's at home antics, the cast is lovable and whilst not relatable for their situations, definitely relatable for their behaviors. I don't feel like I'm watching this show for entertainment. I feel like I AM the characters or at the worst, alongside the characters offering them advice and sharing their perplexing revelations. It's this beautiful dynamic of relating to the characters that really makes the show feel so heavy and dark. Not the gruesome action or low-end gore but a disturbing look inside our deepest desires and our most flawed traits. Whether we are talking about Shinji seeing Asuka as a tool of affection rather than a person (which is further expanded upon ever greater in EoE) or Rei's development into a free-willing person yet somehow still feeling so locked up in Gendo's grip, there is no denying Evangelion has the greatest cast ever seen in anime, to me anyway.

Enjoyment: 10
Evangelion is experimental with the focus on mental health, derailing from shonen in the manner they did, and the infamous ending. But Evangelion is so much more than just a show that broke boundaries. It set the standard of character development, one that has yet to be broken by anything I have watched thus far. It's so twisted and yet it glues my eye to the screen. I love its rawness. I love its psychology. I love almost everything about it.

Overall, I almost feel wrong giving anything else a 10/10 because it would downplay the importance this show played in my lifetime. From my teenage years to now, THIS is the show that I knew I would forever cherish for what it taught me, for what it showed me, and for how enjoyable it was.

Anime like this stand the test of time. In a decade from now, it will be as relevant as ever. It is the basis on which I rank other shows. "Has it touched me the same way Evangelion did?" And if it's close, then maybe, just maybe it's a 10. There is nothing that speaks about the self like Evangelion has while maintaining this freakishly artistic direction. I've always wondered how Hideaki Anno balanced this fresh and creative storyline with interesting, compelling narratives. Maybe he is just a genius. Eh, I'll say he is.

Wonderful, dark, twisted, charming, and alluring. Like a serial killer that lures you to his car but instead of murdering you, he attempts to teach you how to love yourself. The whole journey is great and the destination even greater.

Definitely a 10/10.