Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Firstly, this anime is a deconstruction anime. It subverts the genre of mecha animes, which are predominately story focused and action-orientated (and for young teens/children) and instead adds psychological realism of a post -war mentality. So yes, the story isn't as comprehensive and complex, but that's the point. If you haven't guessed, the anime is almost entirely character driven and where the story may seem somewhat underdeveloped, it is purposefully constructed so that a character dominated narrative can lead. The story takes place within characters and between characters, drifting away from the bigger overall scenario they find themselves in. It presents quintessential stock characters, strippingthem back to reveal deeper, more complex layers of their construction. Some characters don't change, some progress and some deteriorate in their deconstruction. No one is ultimately how they appear, and this anime really explores the idea of false appearances behind repressed identities.
The real battle happens internally, mentally and psychologically with each character through an existential, psycho-freudian lens.

The anime delves into the how internal struggles such as insecurities, mistakes, fear, and the past plague and form human nature. How the noise in our head drowns out the wider world around us and how our weaknesses and insecurities define us. It's especially poignant as the mecha-anime genre is about the birth of a hero and saving the world; in Neon Genesis Evangelion, the characters are imperfect, fighting the negative reality of who they really are and the irony behind these characters being the individuals who try to save the world. It ultimately is one of the most honest portrayals of characters, and you cannot help but grow attached to them as you begin to recognise the shared similarities between yourself and them.