Let’s Talk Anime – Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion, commonly referred to as NGE, Eva, or Evangelion, is a commercially and critically successful, influential Japanese anime that began in October 1995. It was created and directed by Hideaki Anno and was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996.

Neon Genesis Evangelion, commonly referred to as NGE, Eva, or Evangelion, is a commercially and critically successful, influential Japanese anime that began in October 1995. It was created and directed by Hideaki Anno and was broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996.

SYNOPSIS:

In 2015, 15 years after the Second Impact (a global cataclysm), teenager Shinji Ikari is summoned by his father Gendo Ikari to the futuristic city of Tokyo-3. There he is asked to pilot the giant humanoid mecha called “Evangelions” against monstrous beings known as Angels. The Evangelions are essentially living biological organisms housed in mechanical bodies that run on electricity generated internally through a process called A10 nerve conduction.[5] Despite initial reluctance, Shinji becomes an invaluable asset to NERV — an underground organization that’s been tasked with defeating the invading Angels. As Shinji struggles with being accepted into a new environment and culture while also coming to terms with piloting a machine built for combat against God’s own creation(s), he begins discovering much more about himself than what was previously assumed.”

THE PLOT CENTERS ON TEENAGE PROTAGONISTS – SHINJI IKARI, REI AYANAMI AND ASUKA LANGLEY SORYU – WHO PILOT MACHINES CALLED EVANGELION TO FIGHT MONSTROUS BEINGS KNOWN AS ANGELS.

The plot centers on teenage protagonists–Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley Soryu–who pilot machines called Evangelion to fight monstrous beings known as Angels. The main characters are all teenagers because the series is aimed at young adults, but the plot also has a more serious tone than more mainstream anime aimed at younger viewers.

The show’s theme explores many existential concepts such as the nature of God and how humanity should relate to him or her (or it), free will vs. predestination, and what happens when the purpose for which we were created is no longer relevant.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE EVANGELIONS AND ANGELS, WHICH ADDS ANOTHER LEVEL OF COMPLEXITY TO THIS ALREADY COMPLICATED STORY LINE!

“The End of Evangelion,” a film released in 1997 as an alternative ending to the anime’s original television broadcast, differed from that broadcast and received critical acclaim.

“The End of Evangelion,” a film released in 1997 as an alternative ending to the anime’s original television broadcast, differed from that broadcast and received critical acclaim. This was due to its experimental, abstract approach, as well as its portrayal of complex philosophical, religious, and psychoanalytic themes.

The End of Evangelion is a 1997 Japanese animated science fiction film written and co-directed by Hideaki Anno and animated by Gainax and Production I.G. It serves as an alternative ending to the Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, in which teenage Shinji Ikari pilots Evangelion Unit 01, one of several giant cyborgs designed to fight hostile supernatural entities called Angels. The two films were first released together in a single VHS package called Revival of Evangelion (Shin Seiki Evangerion Gekijōban: Shito Shinsei) in 1998. The End of Evangelion initially received mixed reviews from critics; while the abstract psychoanalytic writing was praised by some reviewers for being intellectually stimulating and challenging what is acceptable within mainstream anime storytelling, others criticized it for being incomprehensible or pretentious. Since then it has been subject to reassessment by both contemporary anime scholars and fans who were too young to watch it upon release; many regard it as not just one of the best animated films ever made but also one of the greatest pieces of art within any medium by any group or individual associated with Japan’s postwar animation industry.

THE SERIES HAS SPAWNED A NUMBER OF SPIN-OFF MANGA, TWO ALTERNATE ENDING MOVIES, SEVERAL VIDEO GAMES AND A REBUILD MOVIE SERIES.

Neon Genesis Evangelion has spawned a number of spin-off manga, two alternate ending movies, several video games and a rebuild movie series.

• The Rebuild of Evangelion is a four part movie remake that follows the basic plotline of the anime but with more emphasis on action scenes. It replaces certain scenes with new material and introduces new characters, mechas and creatures.
• Petit Eva: Evangelion@School is a 4-panel manga that features chibi versions of the characters in non-canon comical situations at school.
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days is an alternate universe retelling where the main character Shinji Ikari attends high school with Asuka Langley Soryu and Rei Ayanami as his love interests. The story focuses on their personal relationships rather than their ongoing battles against the Angels.
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd is a sequel to Girlfriend of Steel that takes place after Shinji decides not to reset time at Instrumentality’s end and instead chooses to live out his life normally with Asuka at his side while they fight off an alien invasion by an unknown force during the summer vacation between terms at their high school.

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION IS AN APOCALYPTIC MECHA ACTION SERIES WHICH HAS GAINED CRITICAL INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an apocalyptic mecha action series which has gained critical international acclaim. The psychological drama and religious overtones of the story have helped it become one of the most influential anime series in history. Its characters are complex, and its narrative deeply incorporates Jungian psychology, philosophy, and religious symbolism.

The series takes place in a futuristic Tokyo fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm, particularly focused on the exploits of teenager Shinji Ikari. In this new age, a race against time has begun to avert another extinction-level event as humanity fights for survival with giant mechas called Evangelion units against beings known as Angels. It has been described as having “psychological intensity” by numerous reviewers.

It was written and directed by Hideaki Anno and co-produced by TV Tokyo and Nihon Ad Systems (NAS). The twenty-six episodes of the series were broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996; Death & Rebirth was an alternative cut that compiled half of these episodes since production was already underway when it was decided to extend the series from 24 to 26 episodes, while End of Evangelion consisted mostly of new material not seen in Death & Rebirth. Both films won awards at various film festivals around the world such as 2nd Place at Fantasia Festival, 1st Place at Fantasia Festival Japan Movie Award Special Jury Prize, Toronto International Film Festival Best Canadian Feature Film Award among others.

IT FOCUSES AROUND THE LIVES OF TEENAGERS WHO HAVE BEEN CONSCRIPTED INTO PILOTING MECHA UNITS IN THE YEAR 2015 TO FIGHT OFF BEINGS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN KNOWN AS ‘ANGELS’ WHO SEEK TO DESTROY WHAT IS LEFT OF HUMANITY AFTER A GLOBAL CATASTROPHE KNOWN AS SECOND IMPACT WIPED OUT HALF THE WORLD’S POPULATION 15 YEARS BEFORE THE START OF THE SERIES.

The year is 2015. For 15 years, the world has been battling against a new enemy: Angels. The Angels had wiped out most of the human population in the previous decade. And now, they are trying to annihilate what’s left of humanity, while our main character and his friends try to stop them. This is Neon Genesis Evangelion (also known as NGE).

It may seem far-fetched that we’re still fighting this war in 2015, but there’s a reason: our main character (Shinji Ikari) and his friends have been piloting mecha to fight off these monsters since the 1990s! Most of what we see in this series takes place around that time; the main cast has all been conscripted into piloting one of two giant robots—the EVAs for short—since childhood and has trained for years for their battles against these aliens.

The 13-episode anime series focuses on Shinji Ikari and how he deals with these events from his perspective. At first, he doesn’t want to be a mecha pilot because he thinks it’s going to end badly for him—but when his own father dies during an Angel attack on Tokyo 3 in Episode 1, he decides that this is something he must fulfill as part of mankind’s destiny. He accepts being picked on by Rei Ayanami (his teacher) at first but then comes to realize her value as a friend later because she can understand him better than anyone else could; plus she always helps him push himself when it counts most so that he can become stronger despite having trouble facing what scares him the most… like seeing his dead mother’s face before she turns into an Angel at Episode 19!

If you love this show or just want some recommendations about what else you should watch next or if you’d like some advice on how you can use NGE references in your own life, let us know:We’ll be glad to help!

MUCH OF THE LIVE-ACTION MATERIAL IS GROUNDED ON REAL LIFE EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE IN JAPAN INCLUDING ITS POLITICS, MILITARY, CULTURE AND RELIGION.

Evangelion is a show that explores topics often sensitive to the Japanese people and is one of the most controversial anime in history. Much of the live-action material is well grounded on real life events that take place in Japan including its politics, military, culture and religion.

AND THAT’S IT FOR TODAY

Hope you liked our little article discussing basic Neon Genesis Evangelion. Also, let us know your thoughts or if there’s something we missed down in the comments.  

What do like the most about Neon Genesis Evangelion? What is the most memorable thing you can get from the show? How about the ones that you like and dislike? We would love to hear from you.

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-MODCONS