Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Shinseki Evangelion...the franchise has never ceased to amaze me. Abstract in meaning, never truly arriving at a concrete ending as typical of most anime, it is more a modern art rendition than an anime. Everything is up to the viewer's own interpretation, rather than a spoon fed story as of norm. Though at times the viewer may feel frustrated, at the end of it all one can feel the totality of the meaning the director wanted to convey. The main character, a typical, self loathing introvert, is more than perfect for the role, as he is more human, more self hating and misunderstood, a sterlingexample of the children of modern times. One can interpret the franchise (though it was more focused at the endings of the anime and The End) as a journey of self understanding, as a social and psychological trip to lands unknown: the hearts of others. Each character was crafted such that in their perfection they too shared the common trait of personal weakness, be it love, or trauma, or the more humane trivialities. The music utilized, at first, bizarre, was in tune with the mood of the anime, from the melodies of Bach to the catchy rhythm of J-pop of the time. Though not from the era, this viewer can feel a slight nostalgia when watching, the sounds and visuals of old overwhelming the senses, a brief flashback not of my own. The art, as expected from the era was not as stunning as modern anime series, but the Eva's designs were ahead of their time, a stark contrast to the blocky mechas of the time. The future tech as seen at the time were a picture of how the future looked like at the time. Character wise, it was refreshing to see that it lacked the overwhelming fan service of current works, and developed its characters thoroughly, showing both strengths and weaknesses, making one question the pros and cons, and even the pros and cons themselves, of each action they make. In conclusion, if one can look past the overwhelming frustration at the story, the ever, ever, maddening actions of each character (especially Shinji) it is indeed, a work of art that leaves one satisfied.