did evangelion save anime

by Ms. Cassandra Rosenbaum Sr. 6 min read
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Evangelion’s success saved anime from being swept away by the economic recession. The show’s drama and hypnotically mindscrewy narrative proved to be a welcomed departure from the more episodic, action-driven anime of the time. Now anime was being taken more seriously, and otaku culture was considered a mainstay of modern Japan.

Many have credited Evangelion's massive success with revitalizing the anime industry as a whole. Anime had been struggling following the 1980s Japanese economic crash with production decreasing, and most projects being either lengthy franchises aimed at children or limited-run VHS series targeting hardcore fans or ...Sep 5, 2021

Full Answer

Is there a new Evangelion movie in Japan?

Rebuild of Evangelion, known in Japan as Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版, Evangerion Shin Gekijōban), is a Japanese animated film series and a retelling of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime television series, produced by Studio Khara.

Is Neon Genesis Evangelion a good anime?

The End of Evangelion won first place in 1998, making Neon Genesis Evangelion the first anime franchise to win three consecutive first place awards. The website IGN ranked Evangelion as the 10th best animated series in its "Top 100 Animated TV Series" list.

What is the legacy of the anime Evangelion?

Influence and legacy. Evangelion has had a significant impact on Japanese popular culture. The series also had a strong influence on anime, at a time when the anime industry and televised anime series were in a slump period. CNET reviewer Tim Hornyak credits the series with revitalizing and transforming the giant mecha genre.

Why is Evangelion so popular in Japan?

The show’s drama and hypnotically mindscrewy narrative proved to be a welcomed departure from the more episodic, action-driven anime of the time. Now anime was being taken more seriously, and otaku culture was considered a mainstay of modern Japan. Of course, the 26-episode run of Evangelion was not the end of the series.

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Is Evangelion anime completed?

Neon Genesis Evangelion finally comes to an end. Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of the seminal works of mecha anime and a franchise that's confused and enraptured fans for more than a quarter of a century, finally got a proper conclusion with the movie Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time.

Is Evangelion original anime?

1) Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most important anime ever. Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese animated cartoon (a.k.a. anime) that aired on TV in Japan from October 1995 through March 1996. Developed by the innovative animation studio Gainax, the show ran 26 episodes, followed by a feature film in July 1997 ...

Does Netflix Evangelion rebuild?

The third was released in 2012 and the fourth, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, premiered in January 2021 in Japan and in August of the same year arrived worldwide through the Prime Video streaming service. The Rebuild of Evangelion series is not on Netflix, although it is already on Prime Video in its entirety.

Why is Evangelion so impactful?

Since it's initial release in 1995, the show has not lost popularity or conversation, and continues to test what anime can be. NGE is deemed noteworthy because of its complex themes of escapism, religion, depression and philosophy that make the viewer question their own merit.

Is Evangelion on Netflix censored?

Evangelion has no more cursing Curse words were actually added to the original English version to better get across the intent of the dialogue. But those curse words have been taken out of the Netflix version, resulting in those moments feeling dramatically different.

Is Evangelion rebuild better than original?

Despite existing in a separate continuity and diverging heavily from the events of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion, the Rebuild films are inextricably bound to the original, making an experience separate and apart from it nearly impossible. And the movies are better for it.

What did Netflix cut from Evangelion?

It all started with Netflix removing the covers of the song "Fly Me to the Moon" at the end of each episode, a change which The Wrap says is due to licensing fees.

Why is Evangelion controversial?

The series deconstructs its casts' traumas while subjecting them to ever-escalating torment and investigating the pain that comes with human connection. It's also quite brutal, the violence isn't simple cartoon violence, it's bloody, visceral, and frightening.

Is the End of Evangelion canon?

As the starting point of the Evangelion franchise, the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series and End of Evangelion form part of a separate continuity but must be considered as fourth-tier sources for material in which the Rebuild canon is silent, as long as they do not explicitly contradict anything within the Rebuild ...

How well known is Evangelion in Japan?

In 2007, a large-scale poll by TV Asahi found Evangelion was the second most appreciated anime in Japan. The series was ranked as the most popular of all time in a 2006 survey of 80,000 attendees at the Japan Media Arts Festival. Evangelion won the Animation Kobe award in 1996, and 1997.

What is the message of End of Evangelion?

By rejecting his merging with Human Instrumentality The End of Evangelion, Shinji is not just claiming agency but accepting his humanity in its totality for the first time. This triumph is immediately complicated when he attacks Asuka, his sole companion on Earth in the wake of Human Instrumentality.

What is the moral of Evangelion?

He learns that perfect freedom comes not just without limits but without anything that lets us orient ourselves and becomes meaningless. But in a world with greater structure, a world where we see and interact with others and learn the boundaries of our sense of self, we learn not just who we are but who we can become.

How did Evangelion influence anime?

The series also had a strong influence on anime, at a time when the anime industry and televised anime series were in a slump period. CNET reviewer Tim Hornyak credits the series with revitalizing and transforming the giant mecha genre. In the 1980s and 1990s, Japanese animation saw decreased production following the economic crash in Japan. This was followed by a crisis of ideas in the years to come. Against this background, Evangelion imposed new standards for the animated serial, ushering in the era of the "new Japanese animation serial", characterized by innovations that allowed a technical and artistic revival of the industry. The production of anime serials began to reflect greater author control, the concentration of resources in fewer but higher quality episodes (typically ranging from 13 to 26), a directorial approach similar to live film, and greater freedom from the constraints of merchandising. According to Keisuke Iwata, the global spread of Japanese animation dramatically expanded due to the popularity of Evangelion. In Japan, Evangelion prompted a review of the cultural value of anime, and its success according to Roland Kelts, made the medium more accessible to the international youth scene. With the interest in the series, otaku culture became a mass social phenomenon. The show's regular reruns increased the number of otaku, while John Lynden links its popularity to a boom in interest in literature on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Kabbalah and Christianity.

When did the end of Evangelion come out?

The End of Evangelion won first place in 1998 , making Neon Genesis Evangelion the first anime franchise to win three consecutive first place awards. The website IGN ranked Evangelion as the 10th best animated series in its "Top 100 Animated TV Series" list.

What is neon Genesis Evangelion?

Neon Genesis Evangelion ( Japanese: 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン, Hepburn: Shinseiki Evangerion, lit. "New Century Gospel ") is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. The cast included Megumi Ogata as Shinji ...

What happened to Shinji in the battle with the Evangelion?

Without training, Shinji is quickly overwhelmed in the battle, causing the Evangelion to go berserk and sava gely kill the Angel on its own. Following hospitalization, Shinji moves in with Misato and settles into life in Tokyo-3. In his second battle, Shinji destroys an Angel but runs away afterward, distraught.

Why did Sadamoto design neon Genesis?

Sadamoto designed the visual appearance of the characters so that their personalities "could be understood more or less at a glance". The distinctive aesthetic appeal of the female lead characters' designs contributed to the high sales of Neon Genesis Evangelion merchandise.

Why are Nerv's giant Evangelion biomachines synchronized to the nervous systems of their pilots?

Because of the Angels' near-impenetrable force-fields, Nerv's giant Evangelion bio-machines, synchronized to the nervous systems of their pilots and possessing their own force-fields, are the only weapons capable of keeping the Angels from annihilating humanity.

What happened to Hideaki Anno?

Director Hideaki Anno fell into a depression following completion of work on Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water and the 1992 failure of the Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise sequel project. According to Yasuhiro Takeda, Anno agreed to a collaboration between King Records and Gainax while drinking with King representative Toshimichi Ōtsuki; King Records guaranteed Anno a time slot for "something, anything". Anno began the development of the new series in 1993 around the notion of not running away, which had been the underlying theme of Aoki Uru, an earlier Anno project that had failed to move into production. Early into the production, Anno stated his intent to have Evangelion increase the number of otaku (anime fans) and attract interest in the medium. According to him, the plot of the series reflects his four-year depression. In the early design phase of the Evangelion project, several formats were considered, including a film, a television series and an original video animation (OVA) series. The producers finally opted for the television series as it was the most widely accessible media in Japan at that time. The proposed title Alcion was rejected due to its lack of hard consonant sounds.

When did Evangelion air?

An error occurred while retrieving sharing information. Please try again later. Evangelion did not air in America until 2000, nearly five years after its inception. Contrary to popular belief, the show first aired not on Toonami, but on PBS, specifically its San Francisco-based KTEH-54 affiliate station.

When was the first episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion?

A Phenomenon Was Born. The first episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion aired in October 1995. Viewership was initially low, although the numbers rose over time. The show started reaching prominence after the 14th episode when it’s now-famous psychological horror tone started to rear its head.

Why does Shinji fight the Angels?

Despite that, he constantly pilots his Eva to fight the Angels in order to win his father’s approval.

Who is Shinji's son?

Gendo Ikari, one of the higher-ups at the mysterious weapons manufacturing company called NERV, summons his estranged teenage son Shinji to pilot Evangelion Unit-01, a giant biomech created to defend humanity from the Angels.

Is this the end of Evangelion?

This Is (Not) the End of Evangelion. Of course, the 26-episode run of Evangelion was not the end of the series. In a move that would give Annie Wilkes a run for her money, fans became so frustrated by the final two episodes that they lay waste to Gainax’s office building and sent Hideaki Anno death threats.

When did the Japanese economic miracle start?

How It All Started. It was the early 1990s, and the Japanese Economic Miracle had reached its final days. A decades-long era of prosperity was abruptly put to an end by the burst of Japan’s bubble economy, leading to a recession that would grip the nation for years to come.

Is Eva based on an anime?

Mainly because there was one huge risk at play: that Eva was to be a short anime television series, neither based on an already-existing property nor made for the sole purpose of selling toys and merchandise.

10 Influenced By: Ultraman

While the classic tokusatsu series Ultraman might not actually be anime as such, it is a formative influence on Hideaki Anno's work—so much so that his early works as a college student included his short fan film Return of Ultraman— and therefore is incredibly important to Evangelion itself.

9 Influenced: Kill La Kill

Hiroyuki Imaishi is the renegade director of classics like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and of course, Kill la Kill, which are both notable for their outlandish, confrontational animation style and eye-catching action scenes. Although Kill la Kill might have a unique identity, the importance of Evangelion to its production shouldn't be overlooked.

8 Influenced By: Naussica Of The Valley Of The Wind

Although it's important to cite the importance of Studio Ghibli's work to Anno's career overall, particularly where the works of Hayao Miyazaki are concerned, there is perhaps no entry in the venerated studio's filmography that's as relevant to Evangelion as Miyazaki's Naussica.

7 Influenced: RaXephon

Perhaps no other anime bears as much of an immediate resemblance to Evangelion as RaXephon does, which is a comparison that has worked for and against the anime in online discussion spaces.

6 Influenced By: Devilman

The classic 1972 manga from Go Nagai, Devilman, has experienced something of a resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to the premier of Devilman Crybaby on Netflix in 2018. The story, similarly to Evangelion, follows a protagonist struggling with their own identity as he uses the powers of an otherworldly beast to battle demonic enemies.

5 Influenced: Revolutionary Girl Utena

The close personal relationship between Kunihiko Ikuhara and Hideaki Anno, as well as the notably surrealist and unsettling presentation of Ikuhara's magnum opus Revolutionary Girl Utena, has led many anime fans to draw an apt comparison between the two. The most frequently repeated adage is that what Evangelion is to mecha, Utena is to shoujo.

4 Influenced By: Mobile Suit Gundam

Evangelion is frequently lauded for disrupting the power fantasy at the core of many anime titles; its protagonist, Shinji Ikari, is not a straightforwardly heroic character. He struggles immensely with his role as Unit 01's pilot, and the psychological pressure incurred by operating the machine takes a serious toll on his personal well-being.

Why is the end of Evangelion important?

Because the End of Evangelion was created as an ending for the anime, it was able to give fans more details into what was going on with the EVA's and Angels. It creates Third Impact, which gives fans more explanation behind the mythology and why Angels keep attacking Earth. Sadly, it's all told via visual storytelling.

What is the scene in Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Something that was relatively unexpected from the final two episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion was a scene about Shinji's thoughts on what normal life might look like if he were to have one. During a what-if moment, fans are given a look at a version of Evangelion that is more in tune with slice-of-life anime than Mecha/Sci-fi. A version of Evangelion where Shiji and Asuka are school best friends, Rei is a new student who has a bump-in with Shinji, and Shinji's mom is alive. It is one of the most interesting aspects of the anime's finale.

What happened to Asuka in 8 Anime?

One of the biggest unsolved plots of Neon Genesis Evangelion is the fact that Asuka, a fan-favorite character, was left practically bed-ridden after the character's emotional downfall. The anime saw the German EVA pilot lose the ability to pilot her own EVA as the show reached its end.

What is the purpose of killing off Kaworu?

Killing off Kaworu re-kindled Shinji's self-doubt, a character flaw that ultimately held him back from being a better person throughout the show. The final two episodes of the anime essentially elaborate on Shinji's self-doubt and have him arguing with himself and his own interpretation of what his friends would say to him. This was designed this way because series director Hideaki Anno had a low budget and had to create an ending that, in one way or another, gave Shinji some closure.

What happens to Asuka after she is placed in EVA?

After being placed in her EVA, she musters the emotional strength to get out of her depression and re-gains the ability to pilot EVA Unit-02 at a moment's rest.

What is the climax of the end of Evangelion?

The climax to End of Evangelion was told visually, which meant that no actual explanation was given (or properly elaborated on) as to what was going in. But to sum it up, Shinji was given the choice to decide, once and for all, whether humanity should be saved or not.

What is Shinji's complaint about the anime?

This is major character development for Shinji, who throughout the anime, complained about not having any choice in any of the decisions involving him, from piloting the EVA to being the Second Child.

What is the difference between neon Genesis and neon evangelion?

An interesting difference between the two versions of Neon Genesis Evangelion is the two outlooks by its creators. Hedeaki Anno, the creator of the anime and franchise, saw Evangelion and its world as one full of despair and without hope. This is clearly evidenced by its overall tone, embodied by the series protagonist Shinji Ikari.

Who is the main character in Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Neon Genesis Evangelion 's main protagonist, Shinji Ikari, isn't exactly on good terms with his father, the mastermind behind the Evangelion Project, Gendo Ikari. Being the leader of NERV, the paramilitary organization in charge of defeating the invading angels, Shinji's father isn't exactly around much, leaving the boy living elsewhere in Tokyo 3.

What happens to Toji in the anime?

In the comic, Toji is killed outright in the battle; in the anime, the boy merely loses his leg.

What is the relationship between Kaworu and Shinji?

In both version, Kowaru is introduced as a new student admitted to Shinji's school. Kowaru is strange and uncannily similar to Rei in many ways , although much more reflective and chatty.

Who is the fourth child in the anime?

Eventually, Suzuhara is selected by the Marduke Institute -- the organization charged with finding new eva pilots -- as the Fourth Child. However, Toji's stint as a battle-bot operator is short-lived after his Evangelion is possessed by the angel Bardiel during a sync test.

What is the most influential anime of all time?

The most influential anime of all time is perhaps Neon Genesis Evangelion. Here's how it compares to its manga counterpart. The most influential anime of all time is perhaps Neon Genesis Evangelion, spawning a series or sequels, spin-off, rebuilds, toys, cosplay enthusiasm, video games, and even a successful manga series.

Who is the second child in Anno?

Staying on the character train for a minute, last but not least is Asuka Langley Sohryu aka the Second Child, whose manga backstory contrasts the one given to her in Anno's anime series.

How long is the Uncut edition of Evangelion?

Uncut edition: 464 minutes. Films. 4 ( List of films) Anime and manga portal. Rebuild of Evangelion, known in Japan as Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition (ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版, Evangerion Shin Gekijōban), is a Japanese animated film series and a retelling of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime television series, produced by Studio Khara.

When will the next Evangelion movie be released?

In 2019 the final film, now called Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, was scheduled for a June 27, 2020 release date but received two delays due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released on March 8, 2021.

When did Anno start working on Rebuild?

Anno initially began work on Rebuild films in the fall of 2002, spending nearly six months on pre-production before being delayed by various other projects (such as Cutie Honey, the Re: Cutie Honey OVA, and even a few movie roles). This included watching the entire original series back-to-back.

Is Shin Godzilla delayed?

In October 2014, Anno announced that due to other commitments, which was later revealed to be his involvement with Shin Godzilla, the film will be further delayed to an unknown date despite the previous release date being echoed in the January 2015 issue of Weekly Bunshun.

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Overview

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Japanese: 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン, Hepburn: Shinseiki Evangerion, lit. 'New Century Gospel') is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and animated by Tatsunoko, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. Evangelion is set fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm, particularly in the f…

Plot

In 2015, fifteen years after a global cataclysm known as the Second Impact, teenager Shinji Ikari is summoned to the futuristic city of Tokyo-3 by his estranged father Gendo Ikari, director of the special paramilitary force Nerv. Shinji witnesses United Nations forces battling an Angel, one of a race of giant monstrous beings whose awakening was foretold by the Dead Sea Scrolls. Because of the Angels' near-impenetrable force-fields, Nerv's giant Evangelion bio-machines, synchronize…

Characters

Hideaki Anno attempted to create characters that reflected parts of his own personality. The characters of Evangelion struggle with their interpersonal relationships, their personal problems, and traumatic events in their past. The human qualities of the characters have enabled some viewers of the show to identify with the characters on a personal level, while others interpret them as historical, religious, or philosophical symbols.

Production

Director Hideaki Anno fell into a depression following completion of work on Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water and the 1992 failure of the Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise sequel project. According to Yasuhiro Takeda, Anno agreed to a collaboration between King Records and Gainax while drinking with King representative Toshimichi Ōtsuki; King Records guaranteed Anno a time …

Themes

References to mystical traditions in Judaism and Christianity, including Midrashic literature and Kabbalah are threaded liberally through the series. Complicating viewers' attempts to form an unambiguous interpretation, the series reworks Midrash stories, Zohar images and other Kabbalistic ideas developed from the Book of Genesis to create a new Evangelion-specific mythology. Assistant director Kazuya Tsurumaki said the religious visual references were intende…

Related media

In May 1996, Gainax announced an Evangelion film in response to fan dissatisfaction with the series finale. On March 15, 1997, Gainax released Evangelion: Death & Rebirth, consisting of 60 minutes of clips taken from the first 24 episodes of the series and the first 30 minutes of the new ending due to production issues. The second film, The End of Evangelion, which premiered on July 19, 1997, provided the complete new ending as a retelling of the final two episodes of the televis…

Releases

The original home video releases in Japan included VHS and Laserdisc sets using a release structured around "Genesis 0:(volume number)", with each of the first 12 releases containing two episodes each. Each of the episodes received minor changes and Episodes 21–24 were extended with new scenes. "Genesis 0:13" and "Genesis 0:14" contained the original and the alternate versions of ep…

Reception

Neon Genesis Evangelion received critical acclaim both domestically and internationally during its initial broadcast and in the decades since its release. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series has an approval rating of 100% based on 30 reviews, with an average rating of 8.30/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Neon Genesis Evangelion, both a cultural touchstone for Japan and an uncompromising auteurist vision by creator Hideaki Anno, doubles as an enthralli…