What did I just watch?: The Neon Genesis Evangelion Discussion Thread

I'm pretty surprised there hasn't been a thread on this yet (that I can see), so I'll make one of my own.

A basic summary of Eva (as the show is sometimes called):

Eva is an anime about...well, a lot of stuff. In the year 2015, mankind is recouping after being partially wiped out by a mysterious explosion 15 years earlier. We are also under attack by a mysterious race of beings known only as Angels. The only defense are Evangelions - giant robots that can only be piloted by 14 year olds. The series follows Shinji, estranged son of the Eva program director, and the battle for mankind.

...Or so we think.

This is a thread for discussion of this chronically debatable show (and you thought The X-Files and Twin Peaks were confusing!). Enjoy.

 

This was a very in depth and at times confusing series. I have not seen it in a while so I can not think of any comments on it now, but look forward to reading the discusions.

 

Ah, Evangelion, a great mind-**** of an anime.

I love it!

 

I watched the whole series (including End of Evangelion) over the course of three days this past week. The problem is, there are SO many things to discuss, I have no idea where to begin. So many things about the series stand out:

- The way writer/director Anno projects himself into the character of Shinji, and basically uses the series as his own personal therapist's couch (something Anno himself admits to doing).
- The overwhelming Oedipus complex undertones (EVERY character - literally - hates their father, and Shinji has that whole creepy thing going on with Rei...who is actually a clone of his mother)
- That mind-blowing second half of the movie. I have no idea why, but nothing has ever scared or disturbed me more. Something about the combination of the music, sound, animation, and psycho-sexual/religious imagery all rolled into one really really bothers me.
- The final message that the movie leaves us with: It's better to live in a world of pain (and, by extension, pleasure) than to exist in a state of unfeeling bliss.

Where the heck to begin?

 

Where the heck indeed.

- That mind-blowing second half of the movie. I have no idea why, but nothing has ever scared or disturbed me more. Something about the combination of the music, sound, animation, and psycho-sexual/religious imagery all rolled into one really really bothers me.

This is my favorite part of the entire series. I mean, we're fresh from seeing Asuka ( ) wailing on the Mass-Units (notice how the dummy plugs have "Kwaoru" written on the sides?), and then getting smacked down when they reactivate and literally being picked apart. Shinji just goes nuts!

Phew, anyway, a few insights I've gotten with talking to friends as well as watching the DVD commentary:

1) When that wave is sweeping the earth with the crosses appearing as people are turned into LCL, there's a shriek that is raised. But it is not the shriek of pain or horror, but rather shrieks of pleasure, of exstacy.

2) When Rei/Lilith comes to everyone during Third Impact, she comes in the form of their greatest loves. Fuyuzuki sees Yui Ikari, Maya sees Dr. Akagi, Hyuga Makoto sees Misato (mmmm, Misato ). The only one who doesn't really fit into this is Aoba Shigeru who just saw a whole bunch of Rei's and died in fear.

3) In the end, we see why Gendo was such a bastard. He was just like Shinji in that he ran away from his problems. When his wife "died," he turned his back on his son because he couldn't handle it.

4) In Death and Rebirth, just prior to the infamous part of the infamous hospital room scene, Shinji goes to ask Asuka for help when she's still unconscious. This is the only time he can approach her, to beg her for help, when she's gone and unable to hurt him. Then, in EoE, when she confronts him in his mind, he is finally able to ask for her help. She says, "No." Then he just flips out (he likes doing that alot ) and tries to strangle her.

5) Shinji rejects Human Instrumentality, and stops Third Impact, deciding to return to an imperfect world in which he can and will be hurt. He also learns that this is the only way to feel pleasure and happiness and joy.

 

i watched it from start to finish a few times now. if you don't have the real ending don't bother. anyway nomatter how many times you watch it you find more and more things you missed the previous viewing.

i feel sick.

 

You always find something new. Always.

It took me two viewings to realize the significance of Rei breaking Gendo's glasses at the biginning of EoE.

 

The one thing about this series that never ceases to amaze and fascinate me is the most prominent character of them all: Hideaki Anno, the writer/director/creator. For those who don't know, Anno went through a 4 year depression so powerful it emotionally crippled him...he was unable to make a decision for fear of the pain it would cause him (sound familiar?). In the end, he had an epiphany about life being what you make of it, among other things, and set about putting all these thoughts and feelings into Eva.

Shinji IS Anno. In every respect, Shinji is Anno's alter-ego. Shinji at the beginning of the series is Anno at the beginning of his depression. Shinji at the end of the series is Anno at the end of his similar ordeal. It's no wonder the last two episodes were done the way they were - how else are you supposed to portray an epiphany within yourself except by an inner dialogue?

Of course, the hard-core otaku of Japan saw differently. They wanted mecha battles and plot resolutions. They wanted to know what the heck Third Impact WAS, while as far as Anno was concerned, it didn't matter...the really important stuff was right there. People weren't happy, to say the least...Anno received more than a few death threats, they took it so badly.

Many people have theorized that EoE is Anno's way of flipping the bird to all the people who didn't like the conclusion to the series. Yes, we finally get what we wanted - a resolution to the plot, the conspiracy revealed, a mecha battle to end all mecha battles. But at the same time, it's wrapped in a package that's SO...well...here's a quote from an online review I found:

"Weird doesn't begin to describe it...

Sick, twisted, painful, nauseating, distorting, angering, saddening, all of those don't begin to describe it...

I can say this about it, though, I doubt any other anime movie will have this much EFFECT on you...

No movie has ever bothered me like this before, and, well... I doubt one ever will."

I couldn't put it better myself.

 

That stuff about the parallels between Shinji and Anno was fascinating, I'd never heard any of that information previously. Its been pointed out before that elements of Shinji's behaviour must seem quite familiar to Otaku, and people who are generally more at home being introspective than they are trying to connect to people. That's probably why his dilemma strikes such a chord with the fan base(I include myself here, no question).

I always find watching End of Evangelion to be an enjoyable experience, despite the message. I compare the way they dramatize third impact event to the scene at the end of Kubrick's Dr Stranglove. It's quite horrifying, but the cheery song played over the action provides a comforting sense of ironic detachment.

 

NGE is great.

I've watched the entire run plus the movies many times and I still find new details. The scenes added to the "special edition" explained many things, like the involvement of Kaworu with Seele and the Adam into Gendo's hand, but there are lots of loose ends.

Of course, EoE is... an experience. It left me numb and broken but, strangely enough, I found positive feelings. Shinji chooses to be a person, to be real.


Yeah, I don't know where to start.

 

I think the most amazing sequence in EoE has to be the live-action section of the film. It's just shots of normal, everyday scenes from Japanese life. But you can watch it and really feel Anno connecting with the real world and finding reasons to live again. Beauty in this world is everywhere, you just have to look for it.

Some people take the Shinji/Anno parables a little too far, imho. Like, I've heard interpretations of the last episode that really go in depth as to who represents what: Shinji is Anno, and occasionally Gainax (the studio that produced NGE), Rei is the viewing public, the Eva is the NGE project itself, Asuka is the other animation studios, etc. etc. I think that sort of analysis cheapens Anno's intentions, though. He was obviously trying to get a point across, but it's about self-discovery, not moping about how nobody likes Gainax.

That being said, I think it IS safe to assume that Anno has serious father issues

 

Anno was on anti-depressants in the first half of the series, then went off them. That's why the whole left-fieldness of the series goes 100000000000 miles left.

It's really hard to describe this anime series. There are so many different ideas, both religious and secular, that come into conflict that it'd take me days and days to discuss it. And I'm just on a short break too...

 

<Altered Beast> Riiiiiiiiise from your graaaaaaaave. </Altered Beast>

 

Heh, I guess not too many people have seen it.

Anyway, I was just rewatching the series, and one of the most chilling moments is where Shinji finds out who the Fourth Child is. And that scream that goes on into the credits...*shudder*

 

Yeah I know, if you watch it subbed that scream just penetrates your brain. Shinji's dub actor doesn't even come close.

 

I watched it in both sub and dub.

I actually like who they got to do the voices though.

But that was a chilling scream.

 

Didn't care for this series, I gotta say.

 

Well, I watched it up to Episode 24, and all I can say is...WHOA *gape* . It's just...indescribable .







...and since I'm a hopeless romantic and a teenage girl at that, I instantly became a Kaji/Misato-Addict .

 

As some of you may know, there's a live action Evangelion movie in production.

Take a look at some concept art from Newtype

I think that it does look promising. Maybe the movie isn't going to be as bad as I thought, but I'd better wait.

 

I'm borrowing the box set from a good friend of mine but I can't seem to get into it. Although I do wan't to get into it.

 

Yeah considering how many ppl out there claim to be SF fans, and how many ppl are out there looking for meaning and depth in movies and series it is incredible how few ppl have contributed to this thread. Like it or hate it "Evangelion" is an amazing piece of work. (I'm still trying to figure out what I think of the series overall).

 

I don't think a live action would work. At least not as an American film. It's way too dark, and too metaphysical. American generally don't like to think too much.

Also we're talking about kids here in what is basically a SF movie. Young kids at that. Too many sexual overtones, and too much kids in peril stuff.

I'd really like to see a well-done live action version of it though.

 

misato is the reason i drink in the morning.
watch evangelion from start to finish AND GET THE REAL ENDING not the toned down bull**** one.

 

EoE is the real ending. So are the last two episodes that were part of the show. They are the same exact thing, just done with two different styles of filmmaking. Therefore, I'm wondering which one you think is toned down, because if you're speaking of EoE, that's the one phrase I've never heard used to describe the film.

 

I *fear* the live action movie. The concept art is quite good (although the idea of freezing the EVA absolutely steals the mystic sense of the LCL as the Blood of Lilith) but I don't know if they're going to do anything good...

Live action versions of anime series have never been good, IMHO.