Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

NGE is a hard anime to rate - but I accept this challenge. What starts off as an action mech/drama transitions into a psychological horror in the second half of the series. I've heard some refer to the genre as a deconstruction of mech anime but I don't think that's entirely accurate either. These kind of half-way transitions are a lot more common in anime nowadays but I would say back in 1995 this kind of thing probably hasn't been done very often. It gives you a good amount of time to grow attached to likeable characters before completely destroying them. Ithink it's absolutely the reason people still talk about it and it really leaves you wondering about the meaning of everything and feeling depressed, so I guess it's doing something right. I can see why this anime gets talked about a lot despite not being something I would see as having mainstream appeal. It's no masterpiece, more like a beautiful mess.

Overall I just wish the ending(s) was more satisfying, and that maybe Shinji's character development meant more in the long run. In both attempts to end the series I just don't feel that sense of closure even if I listen to a billion theories explaining it. Not looking for a 'happy' end, but just something that feels more grounded with the rest of the show. Maybe they'll get it right the 3rd time when rebuild finishes up. If you're not a fan of being psychologically tormented, the rebuilds (EVA movies) may be more your speed. But then I think you'll miss some of the allure of what made NGE infamous.