Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

There is a reason Eva is considered anime's masterpiece. It is probably the most dedicated character study in the medium, and it uses its in depth analysis of its relatable characters to present sentiments that are intrinsic to the human condition. At first it presents the typical aspects of the mecha genre as a fun power fantasy. However, the focus quickly shifts as our our heroes are crushed by feelings of doubt, loneliness, and self-hate, mirroring the fears we all hold in our hearts. While these feelings stem from their past experiences, they are worsened by the pressures of being the bulwark between mankind andits encroaching doom at the hands of enigmatic otherworldy beings. In this sense, Eva is something of a deconstruction of the genre, ultimately caring more about people's psychology than depicting big robots fighting bigger monsters. Despite the story being one regarding an inconcievably dire existential threat to humanity, it is grounded because it is almost impossible for an honest viewer to not see pieces of themselves in our flawed heroes. All coming age stories dwell on the doubts of their adoloscent protagonists, but Eva looks at these characters in such an empathetic way that it transcends the regular trappings of those sorts of stories and offers a look at people in general. I can't think of another story that manages to simultaneously be so grandiose, and yet so dedicated to the feelings of individuals. Although its opinion of people can often be grim in comparison to that of most other stories, it comes across mostly as genuine, rather than purely cynical. While its pacing may be slow, and its plot tough to follow, Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most ambitious and rewarding pieces of fiction ever created.

*Note: Also the OP is magnificent.