Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion

**SPOILER FREE REVIEW INCLUDING THE "END OF EVANGELION" MOVIE** "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The most influential anime of the 90's, and arguably of all time. This anime entirely changed the rules regarding what an animated series could convey and how it could convey it. Virtually every anime released after 1995 draws at least some inspiration from NGE, meaning that the anime industry itself would not be what it is today without the not-so-simple simple tale of a quiet boy named Shinji Ikari." -A synopsis of what everybody says about Neon Genesis Evangelion Wow. With a reputation like that, I really had no idea how to feel when Istarted watching NGE. I wanted to feel excited, but I didn't want to get my hopes up only to be disappointed; after all, there are many people who absolutely despise this anime and consider it to be vastly overrated. NGE is one of those shows that you either love or you hate, and I was unsure about what category I would fall into.

Well, after watching the series, watching the "End of Evangelion" movie that concludes the storyline, deeply contemplating it, rewatching several parts of several episodes to try to make sense of the complex plot, analyzing the behavior of the characters, and further researching several things I didn't understand , I think I finally have grasped the series well enough to write a review on it.

Basically, NGE is simply unlike any anime you have ever seen before, and you will never see another anime that parallels it. It is incredibly complex and very difficult to understand, but if you do understand it, you will view anime differently for the rest of your life and you might even learn something about yourself. It is certainly not without flaws, but NGE is a must watch for anime fans aged 17+ who are mature enough to handle its content.

Plot: 8/10
When watching the first few episodes of NGE, it's hard to understand what all the commotion is about. It comes across as a relatively generic installment to the already stereotype-heavy mecha genre. It isn't until the show starts hinting that there is some kind of conspiracy going on that things start to get weird. Then it gets weirder, and weirder, and weirder, until finally, all hell breaks loose. Actually, that is an understatement; things get absolutely INSANE by the end of NGE, and no matter how many times you hit the pause button to collect your thoughts and try to figure out what the hell is happening, you still probably won't get it. Understanding the plot of the show requires you to think very hard, rewatch episodes, and research certain aspects of it on the internet. This, of course, is the reason this is a love-it or hate-it anime: people who hate it despise the "wild goose chase" that the plot sends you on. I don't deny that NGE goes around its elbow to get to its thumb, but when you finally realize what is going on, you start to develop an appreciation for it's intricacy.

NGE does not tell its story in the traditional fashion because it is not a traditional anime; in fact, NGE draws more similarities to literature then it does to anime. This is because NGE is an allegory; just about everything in it stands for something much, much more significant then it's face value. The show explains very little and most of what we know about the plot comes from subtle hints and personal interpretations rather then proper explanations. If all of this sounds like way too much to think about, NGE is likely not for you, because this anime is more then just a piece of entertainment; it is a journey into the human phycology. NGE made me contemplate things that I've never contemplated before, and I legitimately think I learned a few things about myself by watching it. I also loved the ending and thought it was a perfect way to end the series, but that is just my own personal interpretation as I know that many people did not like it.

So why only 8/10? Because NGE simply does not provide explanations or meanings to EVERYTHING it throws at you. There are still several things about the plot that could have been handled better and there are still minor plot points that are so ambiguous that even trying to loosely interpret them is a shot in the dark. Ultimately, certain aspects of the show simply feel unfinished due to the well documented financial problems that NGE experienced towards the end. Despite this, NGE's story is a powerful and very enjoyable experience.

Art: 7/10
While the animation was outstanding for its time, it is beginning to show its age. However, that doesn't bother me much because some of the scenes that are being animated are so awe-inspiring and thought provoking that it doesn't have to be recent to be good. The animation style becomes more and more shocking as the show goes on

Sound: 8/10
An interesting and largely indescribable choice of music, in my opinion. I thought it fit well with the tone of the show though, and lets not forget that NGE's OP is arguably the most influential OP of all time; it set the new standard of what a show's opening theme should be and what it should accomplish, and that deserves tremendous amounts of credit.

Characters: 10/10
In an industry that is (and was) overpopulated by characters with no flaws who are based on the aspirations of the audience (such as being a lady's man or a total badass) like Kirito from Sword Art Online or Shirou from Fate/Stay Night, NGE opts instead to write it's characters based on the realizations of the audience.
All of the characters in Neon Genesis Evangelion are symbols for the insecurities that all of us have deep within us and for the methods we use to cope with those insecurities. Specifically, NGE's characters all have a deep rooted hatred for themselves; they all feel that they are unworthy of any sort of love or acceptance, but all of them cope with this insecurity in a different way. This is especially the case with the protagonist, Shinji, whose flaws we are able to recognize in ourselves so easily, allowing the meaning of the show to really get across. By basing the characters of the show on actual human emotions/flaws and executing the portrayal of those emotions/flaws to perfection, NGE has arguably the most realistic and relatable cast of characters in anime history.
The symbolism of the characters (which I won't discuss in great detail) flies over the head of a lot of people because Shinji is the only character that has his insecurities specifically stated. It is not clear until much later in the series that the other characters have very similar problems that Shinji does. For example, Asuka appears on the outside as the complete opposite of Shinji; she is extremely confident, outspoken, and self-assured to contrast with Shinji's shyness, quietness, and self-hatred. As the show goes on, however, it becomes increasingly apparent that Asuka isn't exactly as comfortable with herself as she acts (that is quite the understatement). I don't want to spoil anything, but watching all the characters slowly spiral downward until they hit their breaking point is very fascinating, incredibly thought provoking, and most notably: applicable to real life.
The characters in NGE aren't great for the reasons that characters in other anime are great; they are great because the viewer can relate to all of them in a way that makes him/her question their own life; there is a piece of Shinji in all of us, a piece of Rei in all of us, and a piece of Asuka in all of us. Their quest to obtain inner piece is portrayed so passionately and convincingly that it holds the audience's attention through thick and thin.
Coping with loneliness and self-hatred is something that we all have to go through, and NGE's characters provide the perfect vessels to raise the questions that NGE was intending to raise, and I give the show a tremendous amount of respect for that. Masterfully written characters.

Overall: 8.5/10
Neon Genesis Evangelion is NOT your average anime; it cannot be watched in the same way that you would watch other shows. If you not prepared to think extremely hard and put forth a significant amount of time into watching , rewatching, and analyzing the show, then I recommend you steer clear. This anime is an allegorical, symbolic journey more then it is a television show, and people who don't understand that are going to hate it. NGE stands as the pinnacle of psychological anime after completely destroying the previously perceived limitations of the industry. However, perhaps NGE's greatest accomplishment is that it made us think about our own lives and problems in ways we never had before, and that is outstandingly hard to do even for something that isn't so seemingly simple as anime.