Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

This is it. This is the big one. This is quite possibly the most controversial anime of all time. Not only that, but it is also likely that no other anime has created such a monumental (third) impact on the medium as a whole (except possibly Akira). This... Is... Neon Genesis Evangelion. Though when examining the every individual aspect of the show, the series may seem flawed. However, when one looks at the series as a whole, the absolute perfection that is Neon Genesis Evangelion shines through. The one of the most important aspects of NGE is its story. NGE serves as a deconstruction of themecha genre, choosing to focus on the mentality of those who pilot the Eva units, as well as the people in command of procedures and operations. The first part of the series is fairly standard for the genre with it usually introducing a new Angel (the monstrous enemy of mankind) each week for the pilots and command to find a new way to beat it. Though the series has a more depressive tone than its contemporaries, nothing seems out of the ordinary for the genre. However this changes with a big reveal at the end of episode 15, and by a complete tonal shift in episode 16 that is solidified by episode 18. From here, the show turns almost completely into the psychological narrative the series is now known for, which is one of its best parts. However, there are still flaws to the story. There are many cases of events not being thoroughly explained, which can lead to some confusion when trying to follow the story. There are also many cases of many plot points never being described at all, or never reaching a conclusion. Though this may help the series to maintain its longevity, it can be unsatisfying to not have the closure. There are also some minor plot holes, though nothing that ruins the overall story. Ultimately, the flaws of the story do little to diminish the series as a whole.

The production value of NGE’s animation is also another notable aspect, though perhaps its least appealing. Animation involving the series mechs is always crisp and has a constant standard of quality. As the series names take, this would be only just. The same cannot be said for the animation of general character interactions. As many already know, Gainax (series producers) struggled to properly balance their budget throughout the series. This mostly reflects in their character animation. Corners were cut especially for dialogue, as many characters deliver their lines either with their mouths covered, or off screen. This does make the series feel rather cheaply done at times. However, one thing is rather odd about this laziness with animation: it can occasionally work in the series favor. Some scenes were enhanced by this lack of animation quality. An awkward scene between 2 characters in episode 3. is suddenly extended longer than it should be, making the audience feel awkward is well. A scene of dramatic tension in episode 24 is elongated, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats for over a minute. Then there's the ending to the series… but more on that later. So though many scenes do fall flat, others actually obtain unprecedented success from low quality.

The series audio quality is mostly great, and the music is a real treat. One cannot mention NGE without talking of the series superb opening, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis”, which sits on many anime fans’ favorite openings list (it’s number 1 on mine). The song handles each of its transitions perfectly, starting with an eerie chorus, to upbeat trumpets, then builds up into the rest of the song. Perhaps the most impressive transition it makes is how it morphs from coinciding with the series, to contrasting it by the end. The ending theme is a cover of “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra. Though it is catchy, the “engrish” can be annoying. The singer also switches, and not all share the same level of high quality. The rest of the music for the series is very well done. The instrumentals are all high quality, and help to enhance each scene. “Decisive Battle” creates the rush of preparations to stop the oncoming threat, while “Rei I” creates the creepy image of a seemingly empty character. Best of all is “Thanatos”, which is really a testament to the series. It starts with depressing music of the violin (at least I think it's the violin. I don't music), then is completely uplifted by the flute into a hopeful tune,m. This really speaks to the series tone as a whole, almost as if the song itself is saying no matter how bleak life seems to be, there will always be hope. The only thing that bothers me on the soundtrack is cicadas. Often times in outdoors scenes, a track is played of cicadas chirping in the background. There are a lot of outside scenes, meaning a lot of cicada chirping, which annoys me. As for the Japanese voice actors, they all did extremely well for their roles, and were able to perfectly deliver the characters’ emotions. I haven't watched the English dub, but I've heard that it is pretty low quality.

Finally, the most important part of Neon Genesis Evangelion, without a doubt, is its characters. The Eva pilots consist of Shinji (main character), Rei, and Asuka, and other important characters include Misato and Gendo. Shinji Ikari is the depressed main character of this series, and his depression results from the absence of his mother since childhood, and the neglect of his father, Gendo. Along with depression, Shinji has also developed Hedgehog’s dilemma and a severe aversion to pain. Because of this, Shinji struggle to develop meaningful relations with others, as he both fears hurting them, and being hurt by them. This only continues to feed his depression. Perhaps the most interesting feature that sets Shinji apart from other anime protagonists is his inability to grow as a person. Because of this, many people often dislike Shinji and see him as a pathetic weakling. However, this is what actually makes him such a compelling character. More importantly, it makes him a HUMAN character. People aren't superhumans that can do anything, and people don't always move on from their problems, and Shinji embodies that perfectly. Next is Rei Ayanami, the (best girl) cold, seemingly empty shell of a person. She has basically created her own character archetype through her generally silent and emotionless demeanor. Rei and her origins remain an enigma throughout most of the story. The only thing that is known about her is that she has a very close relationship with Gendo, and is willing to do anything for him, even at the cost of her own well being and her life. However, though it is very subtle, Rei begins to change due to her interactions with Shinji. She begins to shift what bonds she had with Gendo to him, and slowly begins to wonder what her own true purpose is. The reveal of what she actually is gives a reasoning to her strong ties with Shinji and Gendo, as well as to her emotionless nature. Saying anymore would be spoilers, so I'll end the (best girl) Rei discussion here. Asuka Langley Soryu is the third and final Eva pilot. She is definitely the most lively of the pilots (although there's not much competition), but also the most narcissistic and arrogant. She is brash, always wanting to do things her own way, and craves constant praise for her actions. She wants nothing more to receive special treatment and attention for everything she does. However, this spawns from a massive skeleton in her closet, which reveals her actions to seem more childish than originally perceived. Because of her past, she requires praise in order to feel a sense of self worth and fulfillment. However, as she begins to realize that Shinji is becoming more successful than she is, she begins to lose her confidence, which leads to her downfall. Miss to, though not carrying the weight of the pilots, is the one who really holds everything together. Like everyone else already mentioned, she has her own personal problems (Electra complex). However, Misato does her best to try to hide these for the well being of the other pilots (even if she must often resort to her alcoholism to do so). Like Asuka, she is also a strong female character, and finds herself in leadership roles when things take a turn for the worst. She is also not afraid to speak her mind to her pilots when they are careless, nor is she afraid to try to help them through their life problems. Gendo is another very interesting character, and my personal favorite. As the audience knows, he has no relationship with his son whatsoever, and has no desire to bond with him. Gendo’s has one sole purpose in his life, and will do anything in his power to obtain his goal, even if that means manipulating others. In this regard, Gendo is actually much like his son, as neither him nor Shinji demonstrate the ability to move on with their lives. Though the series originally presents Gendo negatively, it actually begins to build him up as a better person than we preconceive. Even Shinji starts to see some good in his father, before these notions are completely torn to shreds again. The last characters worth mentioning are the Eva’s themselves. Though they do seemingly little more than hold the pilots, they actually each reflect their pilots. Eva-00 is blue, representing Rei’s calm, but cold personality, and its single eye shows that Rei is only viewing life by the single aspect of serving Gendo. Meanwhile, Eva-02 is red, showing Asuka’s brash, arrogant personality, and the 4 eyes show how Asuka tries to take on as many challenges as possible, even though that this many viewpoints may cloud her visions. Finally, Eva-01 is purple, which is a fusion of red and blue, symbolizing Shinji’s own inner turmoil that prevents him from really being collected like Rei or confident like Asuka. It's 2 eyes show it's humanity, while also the inhumanity of what happens to the pilot.

Usually I wouldn't focus on the ending in a review, as I don't think an entire day should be judged by the quality of its sunset. However, NGE’s is worth mentioning, if only for the controversy surrounding it. It is true that Gainax ran out of funds for the last 2 episodes, and that its art style doesn't really reflect the series. It is understandable if those looking for a secure ending would be disappointed. However, as I “briefly” mentioned before, the characters are the most important part of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Since the last 2 episodes stand as a psychological breakdown of the characters, I think it actually works very well as an ending. However, if you want true closure, then watch the alternate/parallel ending to the series, “End of Evangelion” (though that might not give you complete closure either).

To conclude, Neon Genesis Evangelion is far from perfect. Pacing, plot, animation, and several other issues are present throughout the shows 26 episodes. However, every piece, whether it's as broken as the characters’ lives or as perfect as Gendo’s pose, created the closest thing to a perfect anime that the world has ever seen. However, whether you think you'll love the series or hate it, you NEED to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion. It is a right of passage for all anime fans. To quote Fuyutsuki, “Your truth can be changed simply by the way you accept it. That's how fragile the truth for a human is”. That is basically what this series is. Now it's your turn to watch it, and form your own truth on Neon Genesis Evangelion.