Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

This review will contain spoilers. Neon Genesis is a polarizing anime; this is evident just by looking at the top reviews on this site. People love, and REALLY love NGE, or they despise it. It seems to me that both of these views are rather lopsided. NGE is not an absolute masterpiece, but it also isn't just an average or below average show. Instead it's a show with conceptual brilliance that had certain execution flaws and embellishments that were unnecessary. Story (6): The story is, on the surface level, a simple one: a teenage boy, Shinji Ikari, must pilot a mech in order to defendthe earth from powerful aliens known as angels. The story is actually far more complex, though. The origin of the angels, the relationship of Adam/Lilith to humans, and what Rei actually is all add a sense of mystery to the story, and as the tale unfurls, these mysteries are generally solved. In actuality, NGE's story is profound, and the sci-fi world Anno created is incredible. However, the story is bogged down by unnecessary symbols and references to various religions that come off as pointless. The incredible story of NGE is lost in a sea of LCL, where the actual identity of the story disappears in exchange for a confused mess. However, the greatest flaw in the story (although just a product of bad luck for the creators) is that it is incomplete. It's difficult to hold this against the anime, but the fact of the matter is that a show should not have to rely on a movie to be complete, which is what this show does. This can't be overlooked, and it has a significant impact.

Art (9): For the mid 90's, the animation is quite excellent. It isn't flawless, but the action scenes are extremely fluid. There are moments when this show is stunning.

Sound (9): Same situation as the animation.

Character (8): Oh, boy. This is the crowd splitter for NGE watchers. Some will say Shinji has the greatest character development in fiction's history. Others say he's an intolerable, whiny brat. There's an argument to be made for both sides, but I think Shinji's character sits somewhere in the middle. He is a teenager in a dire circumstance: he has no mother figure (until Misato appears), no present father, and no meaningful relationships. His sadness and whininess, hence, is justified. However, as I mentioned earlier, the show is incomplete—it isn't until the movie that viewers get to see Shinji's character fully develop and pay off. This harms the show, but doesn't take away from all the good aspects of the show's characters. Almost every character—scratch that, EVERY character—is complex and intriguing. And to the people who are annoyed by Shinji or Asuka: the point of fiction is not for the viewers to like every character personally. Rather, it is to invoke emotion effectively, which NGE definitely does.

Enjoyment (7): Despite the highs and lows listed above, this show ends up being watchable. It is difficult not to be invested in at least a few of the characters and the mystery surrounding the angels, SEELE, and NERVE is enthralling. The action is cool and tense. On the other hand, the show is often confusing and the oversaturated with silly symbols religious references. These factors harm the overall enjoyment of most viewers.

Overall (7): This show is good. It has strengths and flaws, which will have varying impacts on each viewer's enjoyment. While it is extremely influential in the pantheon of anime (and maybe media in general), NGE is not perfect. In many ways, the creators bit off more than they could chew. Due to its influence alone, it is a must watch for all serious anime fans. Each viewer's takeaway will be different—you might empathize with Shinji, hate him, or not really care at all. In any case, it must be watched.