Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genisis Evangelion (NGE) is one of the most influential anime franchises. Its almost unskippable opening song, Cruel Angel Thesis, is arguably the most recognizable upbeat song in the industry. However, the psychological and sci-fi mecha anime's avant-garde style may shun some audiences. I am not sure if I have a slightly less impressive experience if I watched this when I was younger, but viewing the series as an adult hits different. NGE contains many Freudian psychoanalysis elements and surreal symbolisms that leave the audience scratching their heads. However, once you get the hang of their psychological themes, you realize that the characters represent our variedbrokenness. Inside each of us is a Shinji, an Asuka, a Rei, or a Misato who hates oneself based on other people's disapproval. In one way or another, a viewer of NGE may resonate with each character because we felt down, useless, and misunderstood for once in our life.

NGE's iconic ending is confusing, as it should be. It is almost like a therapy session that may trigger a viewer's traumatic memory. However, I did not mind the seemingly-derailed story because the show's main strength is not a grand mind-blowing plot but the scenes of emotional outbursts that reecho our internal struggles. Thus, is it not a show that requires overthinking and frame-by-frame analysis, but the openness of mind and heart, allowing oneself to be vulnerable. In the end, NGE is an anime to be felt rather than comprehended. It is like watching a long dream with random images we could not understand, but we can develop personal meanings based on our free interpretation.