Neon Genesis Evangelion Disscussion about the Neon Genesis Evangelion Anime Series

I'll try to sum this up in a post as short as I can make it.

Evangelion was *not* by any means glorious. I thought RahXephon did a much better job finishing off everyone's karma by definition of story context. Everybody got an ending. By no means is Evangelion bad, but I think most of its fandom comes from the the fact that happens to be one of the "different" genre that people see first. They'll usually see stuff like Naruto, then see Evangelion and go, "whoa". That's where Evangelion shines. It becomes something that affects you on a mental level. You almost feel Anno's angst and depression through Shinji, Misato and Asuka. It's palpable. He elaborates it maniacally throughout the whole series, and it really begins to get to you. And I think that's it most shining feature.

As for EoE, I liked it as a standalone "alternate universe". I, by no means, see it as Canon. Anno himself said that EoE was NOT what he wanted, and that the anime's ending was enough. I thought so to, from a certain standpoint. I see where he's coming from. Anno *is* Shinji, and it is enough that he comes to terms with himself. He is, afterall, the main protagonist. EoE just ended it by Anno killing everyone. The end. He makes a rough recall by keeping Asuka and Shinji alive...but there's no "happy" ending at all. In terms of overall feeling, the 26th episode accomplishes that better. In the end, Shinji feels he can accept himself and his peers. That's enough.

Summarizing. Evangelion is what peppers anime nowadays with some sort of pschological bend. It became the "gateway drug" to bring in more sophisticated and thought-provoking series stateside. I wouldn't say it was made Lain the series it was, but I feel that it made it just a tiny bit more acceptible as another form of thriller. ^_^

And I don't know if any of that made any sense.

And Rei is hot.

 

I'm of the mind that the introspection is the culmination of Shinji's thoughts and depression and "seeing the light" as it were. He wasn't happy until he found his center, and that makes it worth sitting through two episodes of speculation.

It may be just me, but I was happy that I didn't find out how everyone else turned out. Who was important was Anno/Shinji and how they revelled in the changes they wrought for themselves. =]