Blue Audio
11-01-2006, 10:08 PM
Title: Neon Genesis Evangelion, a.k.a. Shinseiki Evangelion
Company: Gainax
Genre: Drama/Action
Format: 26 Episodes
Dates: 10/4/1995 to 3/28/1996
Synopsis: Ikari Shinji is fourteen years old, motherless, angsty, and most of all, lonely. When he is transferred from his teacher’s residence, where he dwelled for a number of years, to Tokyo-3, he is brought into a world of monsters (ironically called Angels) and man-piloted robots, the Evangelion. Shinji is way in over his head as he eventually realizes his own weaknesses as a human being. How will he deal with it?
Highs-----v
Story: Excellent and controversial!
Fights: Well choreographed and entertaining
Seiyuu: Hayashibara Megumi…need I say more?
Lows-----v
Ending: Terrible
Boobs: Pointless coverup of suck
Review: If my dad as much contempt for me as Gendo does Shinji, I’d be a whiny bitch too.
Evangelion is an anime which defies the common stereotypes and convention to take the viewer on a ride to the depths of the human psyche the limits of sanity. It is a roller coaster ride through the psychological disorders and subconscious self loathing deep within Anno Hideaki’s mind. Unfortunately, while Evangelion has excellent characters and an amazing story, it suffers from critical flaws which can be directly linked to budget concerns in the late stages of production. Nonetheless, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the anime that would revolutionize and redefine anime for the next 10 years.
Many futuristic mecha-based anime survive on the creative and awe inspiring design of their mechas; however, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a different kind of anime. While the mechas are certainly original and ‘cool,’ Eva does not survive on aesthetics alone. What separates Eva from 95% of all other mecha anime is its excellent story. Using the concept of god is not an entirely new idea; yet Eva takes religious symbolism and philosophy to new levels or depths, depending on your perspective.
But in order for the story to progress, the characters must be present. Throughout the series, each character grew and matured into a wholly new person; and while it is not easy to identify with a Gendo or a Fuyutsuki, most of the characters draw some basic empathy from the viewers. By the same token, the characters would not have been what they are without an excellent seiyuu. The voice crew never failed to bring out the soul of even the smallest side characters.
Sadly, most people beleive what stopped Evangelion from being truly great was that it went over budget; and they are correct, to an extent. Budget concerns led to excessive fan service which was indubitably used to draw viewers’ attention away from the massive suck that Eva was becoming. Rei, Asuka, and Misato’s nipple-less boobs grace the screen in one of the later episodes, along with a fish tank full of soulless naked Rei-clones. Though it was a huge contributor, the money issues are not what stopped Evangelion from being truly epic.
Truly, the worst part of Evangelion was the ending. It was so bad that (besides milking an already successful franchise to death) two additional endings were released after the series to quell viewers’ unrest. It invoked memories of Dragonball Z (you know, the episodes where nothing gets accomplished beyond, “Frieza! I am going to McKill you now!”).
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a great anime that could do without the excessive fan base (Kurier included). You will go from being on the edge of your seat during the mecha battles to being deep in thought throughout everything else. Whether you understand it or not, every anime fan must watch Evangelion even if it's only for the boobs.
Score:7/10
Company: Gainax
Genre: Drama/Action
Format: 26 Episodes
Dates: 10/4/1995 to 3/28/1996
Synopsis: Ikari Shinji is fourteen years old, motherless, angsty, and most of all, lonely. When he is transferred from his teacher’s residence, where he dwelled for a number of years, to Tokyo-3, he is brought into a world of monsters (ironically called Angels) and man-piloted robots, the Evangelion. Shinji is way in over his head as he eventually realizes his own weaknesses as a human being. How will he deal with it?
Highs-----v
Story: Excellent and controversial!
Fights: Well choreographed and entertaining
Seiyuu: Hayashibara Megumi…need I say more?
Lows-----v
Ending: Terrible
Boobs: Pointless coverup of suck
Review: If my dad as much contempt for me as Gendo does Shinji, I’d be a whiny bitch too.
Evangelion is an anime which defies the common stereotypes and convention to take the viewer on a ride to the depths of the human psyche the limits of sanity. It is a roller coaster ride through the psychological disorders and subconscious self loathing deep within Anno Hideaki’s mind. Unfortunately, while Evangelion has excellent characters and an amazing story, it suffers from critical flaws which can be directly linked to budget concerns in the late stages of production. Nonetheless, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the anime that would revolutionize and redefine anime for the next 10 years.
Many futuristic mecha-based anime survive on the creative and awe inspiring design of their mechas; however, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a different kind of anime. While the mechas are certainly original and ‘cool,’ Eva does not survive on aesthetics alone. What separates Eva from 95% of all other mecha anime is its excellent story. Using the concept of god is not an entirely new idea; yet Eva takes religious symbolism and philosophy to new levels or depths, depending on your perspective.
But in order for the story to progress, the characters must be present. Throughout the series, each character grew and matured into a wholly new person; and while it is not easy to identify with a Gendo or a Fuyutsuki, most of the characters draw some basic empathy from the viewers. By the same token, the characters would not have been what they are without an excellent seiyuu. The voice crew never failed to bring out the soul of even the smallest side characters.
Sadly, most people beleive what stopped Evangelion from being truly great was that it went over budget; and they are correct, to an extent. Budget concerns led to excessive fan service which was indubitably used to draw viewers’ attention away from the massive suck that Eva was becoming. Rei, Asuka, and Misato’s nipple-less boobs grace the screen in one of the later episodes, along with a fish tank full of soulless naked Rei-clones. Though it was a huge contributor, the money issues are not what stopped Evangelion from being truly epic.
Truly, the worst part of Evangelion was the ending. It was so bad that (besides milking an already successful franchise to death) two additional endings were released after the series to quell viewers’ unrest. It invoked memories of Dragonball Z (you know, the episodes where nothing gets accomplished beyond, “Frieza! I am going to McKill you now!”).
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a great anime that could do without the excessive fan base (Kurier included). You will go from being on the edge of your seat during the mecha battles to being deep in thought throughout everything else. Whether you understand it or not, every anime fan must watch Evangelion even if it's only for the boobs.
Score:7/10