Review of Neon Genesis Evangelion
For those interested in an academic, albeit mostly artistic analysis of an anime, this show fits the bill perfectly and has the capability to fuel you significantly. Many scenes or moments in Evangelion have a tendency to imprint powerfully evocative imagery in certain cases, and watching the show holistically can help in achieving this sense. Often times, the aesthetic appeal of an entire episode for example, may be entirely unrelated to the evocative scene; the scene itself may be wholly disconnected from the general cohesion of the episode, and may even be unnecessary to the plot; thrown in randomly/suddenly, etc. The tendency for these scenesto energetically "detach" the audience from all technical aspects, i.e. plot, sequential events, and most importantly, critical thinking, is the crowning achievement of this show from an artistic perspective. You likely already know that Evangelion can be difficult to follow at times, or that it usually requires a decent amount of concentration when watching; this is why these scenes can be become so highlighted for some audiences. The ability of a single, simplistically-formed scene, with very little quantitative substance to quickly interrupt one's thought processes and induce a state of inarticulate clarity is very impressive in any sort of media.
Story and characters will be brushed upon very briefly. A theme of flaws is very prevalent in this show, and almost all of the characters display significant flaws in their psychology. Development and expansion of these flaws is strong and well done in regards to the central characters; minor characters are not significantly highlighted. The premise of Evangelion can best be described as hazy; the audience's confusion will be relatively high throughout the show, level of understanding will be usually be low, and matters of importance are presented/explained in varying, sometimes non-chronological intervals.
Evangelion's art style is generally natural, or temperate -- a great fit with the show overall. Color palette is delicately chosen and utilized maximally. In terms of technicality it was very strong at the time, evidently a bit lacking in today's standards.
Evangelion's sound, specifically in the musical sense, is probably the weakest aspect of the show as a whole. Technical sound is very good and fits well. The music selection could've been a bit better, though. Some songs impede the show's effortless convection of imagery; there are moments where a lack of music would've arguably worked better. Overall, music was a bit too common throughout the show's entirety.
Evangelion contains strong psychoanalytical themes -- it's best for the audience to have little to no background knowledge of these themes, so this review will not highlight them.
Evangelion can be just as exhausting as it is enthralling to watch. I'd simply suggest diving in and making inferences as you see fit. Being conscientious and diligent while watching will definitely help one's overall understanding of the show. One noticeable contrast: there are sections of the show that are incredibly concentrated, and there are sections that are relatively bleak. In other words, overwhelming presentations can sometimes be unleashed; being mindful will help alleviate this.
In general, this will be a deeply enjoyable experience to those looking for an artistic or potentially academic study; the show has an unmistakably strong aesthetic.