Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Something you need to know about me. I really don't like mecha, nor tsunderes, nor kuuderes. I picked this up with no hope of actually liking it, but I knew it was something some day or another I'd have to watch and after many many recommendations, I decided to give it a try. From the get go, I was absolutelty engrossed with this anime. Neon Genesis Evangelion doesn't focus on it's surface level characteristics. It's a human story filled with fleshed out characters living real lives in a setting wrapped in mystery and suspense. The center of the show is the humans, not the flashy fights, not themachines, not the enemies. We struggle with these people step by step, day by day, trying to make sense of the world we are thrown in. We see their conflicts, their inner struggles, the delicate relationship betwee them all. How each tries to survive with what they have, how they try to make their own place in this barren life, how they try to pursue their own type of happiness, no matter the cost.

This is accompanied by exquisite art direction and colour scheme. Not one shot feels boring as they are made unique and dynamic with clever use of shadows and tone. Animation is used to it's extreme, exploring it in ways I've never seen before. It was delightful to see just because of the style and care this series hold.

I was debating whether to give it a 10 or 9 and even though it ticked nearly all of the boxes needed to make a masterpiece, I sadly couldn't get behind many of the things echoed in the show. I did try and see it as a commentary as society, and not really supporting some beliefs the anime had, but rather a critique of them. However, it happened frequently enough for it to leave a bitter aftertaste, and ultimately, what made it drop a point.