Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion
Evangelion review Evangelion is a unique piece of art in the anime industry, it’s an allegory that function on 4 distinct levels. It can be enjoyed as a sci-fi adventure, it’s a bleak satire of the mecha genre, a coming of age parable and a discourse on confronting loneliness and uncertainty in the adult world. What makes it unique from other animations is the way it handles the characters and provides an insight on their inner struggles on a emotional ,psychological and subconscious level. The first thing that stands out is the name of the show itself which reveals its leaning towardsreligion on a thematic level. The name it’s from the Greek language meaning “Gospel of the New Genesis”, giving the audience the perception that it’s connected to Christianity. As we go further in the story we find out many aspects from the Kabbalah ( The Tree of Life) and Gnosticism(The fall of Sophia and her involvement in the creation of material world symbolized by big Rei) Door of Guf(chamber of unborn souls) from the Judaic lore who play a important role in the lore of Evangelion.
The strongest symbolism in the series is found in a common place called Nerv headquarters portrayed by the two pyramidal architecture . It’s upright pyramid who represents the male principle and the inverse pyramid representing the female principle. In the scheme grand of things this makes sense after all the story in Evangelion culminates as Adam and Lilith come in contact with each other.
Other noticeable thing across the series is the frequent use of the crosses . They are 5 different types used: the Latin Cross, the Greek cross ,Cross of tau ,Cross of Loraine and the inverted cross. As the director and staff stated the crosses don’t have a certain meaning other than for the aesthetic visuals.
As mentioned earlier Evangelion’s main strong point is not in the religious symbolism and lore but the characters. The characters relationships and interactions across the series along with the identity theme is explored making the central focus of the story in Evangelion. A natural and realistic approach in each situation is used giving the characters a tone of realism where the viewer can relate to them. On a metaphorical content it’s like a mirror where the audience notices his past mistakes and interactions that made their identity as a individual .
The characters in Evangelion can’t be described by simple words , the anime explores all their inner struggles and interactions with other people on a psychological level , physical level and emotional level using different metaphors , moral, famous philosophy lines and through their fights with the angels by piloting the Eva units.
The identity of each character is questioned across the series using different methods and style of approach . For our 3 main characters Rei, Asuka and Shinji they must fight the angels in the Eva units portraying their fear , courage and psychological breakdown . This helps with their characterization but this is just a small part of what Evangelion offers to it’s audience.
We deep further into the human interactions and relationships , and the anime questions the moral break line between Misato and Shinji as mother and son always going from a sexual approach to a family one. This is the result of Misato’s psychological mental state and past trauma where she lingers for her father .
We have Ritsuko who never found affection from her mother and she always finds comfort in the arms of Ikari Gendo letting him used her as he pleases. The story progresses and the morals turn into a philosophy lesson about children who hate their own parents but subconsciously follow in their footsteps and work.
As opening every door to a room the characterization goes deep for each character and we are presented their past trauma , fears, hatred until we reach the last room the most deep and terrifying memory that leads to their mental breakdown.
Evangelion is again a unique show because of its main character Shinji. Imbued with many character flaws that prove his undoing, he is the opposite of the idealistic heroes . While a idealistic hero is what many of us aspire to be , Shinji is the representative of the audience realizations , the flaws we recognized in ourselves. A fascinating concept that Evangelion uses is the A.T. field or absolute terror field. The AT Field is a beautiful metaphor because it taps into something very real. We all put up walls around our emotions, it’s the only way to guard yourself from the hurt out there in the world. You have to steel yourself to survive in a world where people aren’t always nice, and don’t always care what you feel.
What makes this show a true epitome that stands above all anime is the two different endings that our main character Shinji experience. In the tv series he is questioned about his identity and finds what he lacks and overcomes his fear of being hated and hurt by others through a positive psychological breakdown during the Instrumentality project. He ends up in the center of a crowd with a smile on his face in a row of applause accepting the Instrumentaly project . In the Eoe movie he is put through a lot of pain and traumatic past experiences and ends up rejecting the Instrumentality project. All is well portrayed with the apocalyptic scenery around him and the last scene where he chokes Asuka.
Evangelion is an anime that every detail and aspects is used to portray the human race . From the eva units who are made to look closer to the humans having different symbolic characteristics similar to us like the Entry plug(throne of the soul) umbilical cord and the A.T field to the fight with the angels. Each encounter reveals more about the angels and the way they adapt to understand our human mind and heart until the last one who takes a human form.
Another reference would be the two seeds that created life on earth Adam(progenitor for angels the white moon) and Lilith(progenitor of humans the black moon) . All of these aspects and references are used for the foundation of the plot and exploring the themes in Evangelion thus leading to the fabulous characterization and human relationships interactions provided for the story to its audience.
A masterpiece of the 90’s that lead to many discussions in different domains including the academic ones after it’s release in Japan and started many religious controverse across the sea