what is evangelion anime about

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Is Neon Genesis Evangelion a deconstruction of anime?

When people refer to Neon Genesis Evangelion as a deconstruction, what they mean is that it seems to be a criticism of many anime tropes, and that it contains a criticism of the giant robot anime genre in particular. Neon Genesis Evangelion criticizes the way themes like youth, war, masculinity, and technology are handled in more optimistic shows.

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.

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.

What is the Evangelion series about?

The series explores the experiences and emotions of Evangelion pilots and members of Nerv as they try to prevent Angels from causing more cataclysms. In the process, they are called upon to understand the ultimate causes of events and the motives for human action.

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What kind of anime is Evangelion?

mechaWhen Evangelion debuted in Japan in October 1995, the “mecha” genre of anime — in which characters pilot their own personal giant robots to fight other giant robots — was already well-known to Japanese anime fans.

What does Evangelion anime mean?

The Straightforward / Modernist Interpretation: The events of Neon Genesis Evangelion are meant to be taken at face value and understood literally. The story is about man's struggles with both God and technology and humanity's experience of both joy and pain.

Is Evangelion a good anime?

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most popular anime of all time. It's shaped the entire medium for decades, inspiring countless other shows through its characters, story, and ideas. Many people have called it the "greatest anime ever made" and a "triumph".

Why Evangelion is a good anime?

Even among such other great anime, Evangelion stands out as one of the best anime about the struggles of being 14. Shinji and Asuka have more reason than most teenagers to be angsty, but their feelings if not their circumstances should be relatable to anyone who is or remembers being that age.

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 Neon Genesis Evangelion sad?

Neon Genesis Evangelion has a reputation as a notably depressing anime, but there are actually a number of mecha series that wallow in comparable levels of nihilism & sadness.

Why is Evangelion so important?

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 the best anime of all time?

The greatest anime series of all time, Neon Genesis Evangelion, is a bigger, better, more ambitious TV drama than even The Wire.

Is Evangelion iconic?

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION is now one of the most popular Anime series ever created.

What religion is Evangelion based on?

Religion. The most prominent symbolism takes its inspiration from Christian sources and frequently uses iconography and themes from Christianity, Islam, Gnosticism, and Kabbalism, in the series's examination of religious ideas and themes.

In what order should I watch Evangelion?

How to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion in order – show, End of Evangelion, and Rebuild moviesEvangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (2007)Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance (2009)Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo (2012)Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021)

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.

What is Asuka's ego?

A foreign exchange student hailing from Germany, Asuka first appears a third of the way through the series as a feisty hot-head driven by an overzealous ego. She takes pride in her Eva-piloting ability and constantly belittles those who don’t see eye-to-eye with her. Asuka initially expresses dislike towards Shinji for being (what she sees as) cowardly and stupid. However, her relationship with Shinji grows over time, and exponentially becomes more and more important as the series progresses.

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.

What anime has Evangelion inspired?

So many different anime creators have taken lessons from Evangelion 's successes and failures. Mecha anime since Evangelion have mostly either been directly inspired by EVA ( Rahxephon, pictured above, is one notable series) or rebelling against it ( Gurren Lagann, from former EVA animators).

What did the Evangelion series do?

Evangelion inspired plenty of rip-offs, of course, but also inspired greater waves of original auteur-driven anime.

What is the best anime about being 14?

Even among such other great anime, Evangelion stands out as one of the best anime about the struggles of being 14. Shinji and Asuka have more reason than most teenagers to be angsty, but their feelings if not their circumstances should be relatable to anyone who is or remembers being that age.

What is the second half of Evangelion about?

One thing that's important to remember about the second half of Evangelion was that it was more or less written on the fly. A full and more traditional outline for the series had been written, but as Hideaki Anno went through therapy, he started changing up the series' plot to reflect him more personally.

What is the closest parallel to Evangelion?

Perhaps the closest parallel to Evangelion in the history of American TV would be Twin Peaks. Both shows took popular commercial genres and twisted them into surreal art pieces. Somehow they both became hugely successful despite their avant-garde leanings. Neither could be considered consistently great, nor could either come up with an ending that didn't cause mass controversy, but that's why risks are risks.

Is Evangelion creepy?

Even in the early episodes of Evangelion, when the show is in its more traditional mecha anime phase, it's clear something's not quite right. The Angels are creepy enough, but even the EVA robots themselves have something off about them. Without going into details, it's not really a spoiler to say that things get more and more... off as the show goes along.

Is the ending of Evangelion controversial?

Both the TV and movies endings to Evangelion are controversial, to say the least . The final two episodes of the TV show were rushed into production with no money supposedly after an initial ending pitch got rejected by the censors. They're mostly scribbles and still images. The artistic gamble doesn't deserve all the hate it gets (and Hideaki Anno definitely didn't deserve the threats he got over it), but ultimately it's a swing and a miss.

What is the Evangelion Death anime?

Evangelion Death (True)2 is essentially a final edit of previous recaps of episodes 1-24 of the anime, including the Director's Cut of episodes 21-24. Originally, it was the first half of a theatrical release called Neon Genesis Evangelion Death + Rebirth, where "Death" included the original recap and "Rebirth" showed the first third of the then-upcoming film The End of Evangelion. Yeah, it isn't apparent, but this version of the recap is nice because it includes intervals of Shinji, Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu in a string quartet.

When was Evangelion 1.0 released?

Released in 2007, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone is part of the "Rebuild of Evangelion" film series. This film is an enhanced, completely re-animated recap of episodes one through six. It adds scenes to give context and a wider scope of what's happening within the original episodes. There's also added information and alternative dialogue ...

What does instrumentality mean in Shinji?

Shinji and the others all struggle with their own inner demons and existence. Instrumentality brings everything "to its beginning," as Gendo puts it, which means everyone would transcend into a singular existence.

What episode does Angels get God status?

Many changes are made, and the end of the film diverts fully from the original series after Unit 01 acquires "God status" like in episode 19.

Is neon Genesis Evangelion chronological?

Not only is Neon Genesis Evangelion one of the most influential and thought-provoking animes to ever exist, but it's also a tough one to get into if you don't know what you're doing. ...

Does Shinji ever meet Kaworu?

In the timeline that "Rebuild" is set in, Shinji doesn't meet Kaworu until this time, and the two work together to pilot a new Evangelion.

Who is Shinji's mother?

Within these episodes, there's a lot of backstory into Shinji's mother, Yui, as well as more insight into Rei's origins. Other important sequences include Asuka's downward spiral after a defeat by an Angel, the use of the Spear of Longinus, and the anime introduction of Kaworu.

What is the meaning of evangelion?

Evangelion is about being alone, about feeling alone and coming to terms with loneliness. But Shinji is not alone in feeling alone. Evangelion 's other main players suffer from the exact same fears and uncertainties; they just deal with them in different ways.

How many episodes are there in Evangelion?

Evangelion began as a 26-episode anime television series but quickly evolved into a cottage industry of models, merchandise, feature-films, and even a sort of quasi-religion. Teenager Shinji Ikari is summoned to NERV, a secret organization headed by his estranged father Gendo.

Why is Asuka focused on the Evangelion?

Emotionally stunted in all other areas of her life, Asuka has focused exclusively on the Evangelion, her "job", to give meaning to her existence. As she loses the ability to control her Eva late in the series she loses the only sense of value she knew.

What is Shinji's friendship with Kaoru?

Shinji's brief friendship with the cryptic Kaoru Nagisa is representative of blind, total and unconditional love and acceptance, but like those things Kaoru turns out to not be real at all. The most complex symbol in the series, however, is the Evangelion itself.

Who is the shy introverted girl in the anime?

Shinji is the timid youth piloting a giant robot built by his mad scientist father; Rei is the shy introverted girl with the dark secret; Misato is the sexy, boisterous lady-in-charge; and Asuka is the angry, impulsive competitor.

Who is Shinji's mother?

Together with fellow Eva-pilots Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Sohryu, Shinji must work under the guidance of his commander and surrogate mother Misato Katsuragi to defeat all 17 of the enigmatic Angels and prevent the dreaded Third Impact which will trigger the end of the world.

Does Shinji love Asuka?

Sensing a kindred soul beneath her aggressive exterior (or perhaps admiring the determination he lacks), Shinji comes to love her, but does not know how to express it. Likewise, it is hinted that Asuka has similarly romantic feelings for Shinji, but her ego prevents her from admitting it even to herself.

The anime is an emotionally intricate classic. With its final film out today, let's unpack creator Hideaki Anno's magnum opus

The final Evangelion film is here, and it evokes a complicated history through its title alone: Evangelion 1.0+3.0 Thrice Upon a Time. It’s the fourth film in the Rebuild of Evangelion series, which began in 2007 as an updated retelling of Neon Genesis Evangelion, Anno Hideaki’s landmark mecha anime from 1995.

The TV Show: Neon Genesis Evangelion

Set in the year 2015 — a decade and a half after a global cataclysm known as the Second Impact — the story of Neon Genesis Evangelion follows Ikari Shinji (Ogata Megumi), a lonely, depressed fifteen-year-old living in the rebuilt city New Tokyo-3.

What is neon evangelion?

When people refer to Neon Genesis Evangelion as a deconstruction , what they mean is that it seems to be a criticism of many anime tropes, and that it contains a criticism of the giant robot anime genre in particular. Neon Genesis Evangelion criticizes the way themes like youth, war, masculinity, and technology are handled in more optimistic shows.

What is the show "The Shining" about?

The show challenges cultural assumptions about fighting and heroism, and can perhaps be read as a criticism aimed at Japan itself. Or specifically, Japan during its period of nationalistic zeal during World War Two, and people who embody that nationalistic fervor today.

What is Shinji's reaction to Misato?

Shinji is often disgusted by Misato, and wishes she would act more appropriately for her age at times. He also is embarassed and sometimes angry about her teasing him, when typically, anime protagonists are not bothered or uncomfortable when older women make advances on them. The hot scientist. Tits in a lab coat.

Why does Shinji go back to piloting?

He only goes back to piloting when he realizes that no one else can do what he does to save humanity. Many people probably miss this aspect of Evangelion, that it's not endorsing Shinji's decisions and behavior. It's just showing a more realistic version of a teenage boy mecha pilot.

What are Satoshi Kon movies?

Satoshi Kon movies ( Paprika, Tokyo Godfather, Millenium Actress, and Perfect Blue) These are mature, complex movies that take aim at various aspects of society, while also being richly detailed and highly entertaining. Most of his films involve a mind screw, or several.

Is Evangelion deconstructive or deconstruction?

Not in the sense that something more fun, like Cowboy Bebop, is. So, while being deconstructive does not in and of itself make Evangelion good, more to the point is that it's a particularly good deconstruction. Not all deconstructions are good, because not all criticism or commentary on a genre is worth listening to.

Is Neon Genesis Evangelion deconstructive?

These days, since the popularity of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Puella Magi Madoka Magica, a lot of anime exists on a spectrum of deconstructive to lacking self-reflection. So many anime are experimenting with darker themes, serious tones, and genre criticism. Some do this better than others.