Neon Genesis Evangelion: Review

Not having seen Evangelion in the 90's, when everyone did, I became a heretic of such magnitude that it made me feel extremely bad. Evangelion is one of the most popular franchises that exists in the market of Japanese animation, so it is no coincidence that both otakus, as people away from this world, have knowledge of this series. After 19 years after its release I have been able to settle my account and in just 24 hours I was able to see it completely.

Many people said that two things could happen: that I would end up hating Evangelion, or just end up astonished at such a magnificent story. This dichotomy did not exist for me. Is it a good or bad series? Have I loved or hated it? Although they do not believe it are questions that at first glance seem easy but personally I can not answer so lightly. Definitely Evangelion is a fascinating anime and which has left me extremely astonished (yes, I loved it). However, the feelings he has produced to me are as complex as his own plot. It is precisely for this reason that I think it is so difficult to find a review that satisfies a person whether or not it is fanatical about this franchise, because I believe that the same viewers are conflicted with themselves about the feeling that this anime produces.

Personally, it makes it extremely entertaining and enjoyable. I think Evangelion is worthy of being considered a classic and central pillar within the anime at all times, its history and complexity are worth it. I think he deserves both his enormous loyal followers and his valid detractors. I'm not going to hide it, I ended up very comfortable with the story, even with the hated Shinji and the dense end of the series, I enjoyed them in a big way. The design, the atmosphere, the story, the depth of the characters and even the tedious end, I delighted with each of his episodes. I will not hesitate to watch the films, but I think it was a great idea to start with the 90 'series, the one that marked history. Do I regret not seeing her before? Well, maybe not, everything has its moment and mine was given this year. If I had seen her then, I do not know what had happened to me. Of course, understand that I am not a fan of the anime, because I have always been a viewer of the sport, particularly tennis and football.

Something I admire from Evangelion is that despite the budget problems that had his study Gainax, somehow managed to overcome this "small" obstacle so that artistically this anime has not disappointed. If there is one thing I can say is that their animation complements tremendously with the story they wanted to show. It is an anime that despite being developed in the 90's, has managed to dazzle me with an animation that has transmitted to me the terrible world in which the protagonists lived their story. The palettes of colors so dark, the abuse of black, red and yellow, have been for me the ideal choices to give life to the argument that gives you the saga.

It is obvious that the budget went away in battles, deteriorating the other parts, but what does it matter? I can not complain because the action scenes have been magnificent, the animation of the characters have been original and needless to say the EVA are totally orgasmic in term of design, I must admit that to overcome artistically an EVA is a great odyssey . It is true that it may not be a perfect animation, and what has had its mistakes has had, but considering the time and the fact that has astonished me 19 years after its release, I think that is enough for me. Many will also rebuke the abuse of static images, black and white images, text everywhere and other resources used by producers in the anime (especially in the final episodes). It did not bother me at all, rather it seems to me that they agree with the anime, because it gave the necessary essence.

Evangelion is characterized by giving weight to its characters in a way out of the ordinary, focusing on the psychological problems of the same, in short, this gave strength to this anime. One of the factors that makes Evangelion a unique and difficult piece to overcome in the way in which the story of Shinji Ikari is told. A difficult technique to handle if there is not a good script and direction behind it. From the beginning of the anime the information that the viewer has of the world that is being incarnated in the anime is almost null.

All we know is that strange beings, paradoxically called Angels, want to destroy the earth (?), because the first time they tried they could not. In response to this, society creates the known EVA, which can only handle children with certain special characteristics. And so the chapters go, with Shinji and the other children fighting these monsters and living not very pleasant experiences. However, as the series progresses we will be able to realize that there is a whole universe of conspiracies, mysteries or enigmas that surround all these strange facts that increasingly affect the psyche of each of the characters in a shocking and more complex way of what we expected. There is never a logical explanation of what is going on, what the angels are, what SELEE is or why Shinji's father was such a son of a bitch, and yet the anime gives the "necessary" information at the right time with scenes many times unexpected, always keeping our eyes fixed on the anime, trying to understand it many times without success.

I do not defend the end Come on! Who defends an end so convoluted as it was the one of this anime? But I have not hated it. I think the end fulfilled the essence of this anime, not the best way, of course (they did it in the hardcore and not subtle way), because they could tint it. In conjunction with the sequel The End of Evangelion, I believe that the end takes on more body and, for better or worse, remains as an end to the memory. I do not think that the final demolishes the series or vice versa, but if I believe that Evangelion sinned to be intellectual, with an end that needed a sequel ... and then a special remake.

And it is this section in which Evangelion reaches one of the best levels in the history of the anime. The characters in this franchise are unique and are essentially human. With past complexes, decisions and real motivations, what this anime shows us is a cast of characters of the most substantial and unique that we can find gathered under the same animation. From the weak, indecisive and cowardly Shinji; The arrogant, strong and narcissistic but with a disquieting past, Asuka; Or the cold and unfeeling, but mysterious Rei; To characters as complex as Gendou, Misato or Kaji. Evangelion shows us complete human beings who definitely give to write many things.

In addition, I think Shinji within his weakness, is one of the most interesting characters for the analysis of the series. In that quest to find himself, a journey mediated by being an EVA pilot, several interesting topics about the conformation of his psyche, come to light. This rather generates a great interest as a subject conflicted by the question Who or What am I? And what am I here for? I think that each character as an individual entity gives great debates, because effectively, each one conforms as a unique individual. It is in this journey with the EVA that their problems come to light in a many times heartbreaking. They are characters that reach the viewer in a direct way and that is the richness of this anime, which makes me recognize many things.

The mythical OST of Evangelion does not disappoint. With an OP that will never fail to be named among the best of all time, Yoko Takahashi's "Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis" (残酷な天使のテーゼ -A Cruel Angel’s Thesis) is one of those OPs that made it difficult for me to omit them. "Fly Me to the Moon" I liked musically speaking, although the OP is what marks the anime from my point of view. The OST seems to me complete as much as it has an ideal accompaniment for scenes of institute as for scenes of fights or of extreme psychological insights. The seiyuus on the other hand I have seemed correct and solid, and yet it is not that I have liked

Did you watched this fabulous anime?

Regards, Antonio.