Neon Genesis Evangelion

Bomby · #1

I've decided that instead of posting about it in every other thread like I've been doing all night, I should try to keep my fanboyish excitement over finishing this spectacular series in one thread.

Is it fanboyish excitement or am I still thinking about the ending?

No matter. The fact is, I have completed this anime and I am confident that it is not only the best anime I have ever seen, but the best TV show, period. I probably previously said that about a few other shows, but I think I mean it now. Or at least for the next few months until I find something I like more or get sick of being an obsessive EVA fanboy.

Anyway, a few thoughts:

Ayanami Rei - According to Hideaki Anno, I'm not supposed to like her. I hate to misacclaim, but I actually felt that despite being emotionless, she was really only creepy in the segment involving Ritsuko's mom. I mostly felt that she was a Woobie, and was very satisfied when they developed her character more toward the end of the series.

The Ending - I haven't watched any of the films yet. I plan on seeing Death/Rebirth and End of Evangelion as soon as possible. However, I thought the ending in the TV Show, at least as I interpreted it, to be completely fitting.
[spoiler]Shinji deserved that mental soundness in the final moments. I also like to think that everybody survived, though parts of End of Evangelion have been spoiled for me that contradict this wishful thought. It's not that I'm against a downer ending, but I feel like a bit of sweetness for these characters would be well earned. There's a bit of personal resonance to this, too, I guess.[/spoiler]

Budget problems - I actually thought they were handled very well. I quite liked the marker drawings that others have seen with scorn.

Rebuild of Evangelion - Anyone seen either of the first two? I've heard mixed things, but I'm already curious. Apparently the ending will be changed yet again in the fourth film.

Rainbow Dash · #2

my gainax character beats your gainax character

Bomby · #3

Is your gainax character gainaxed?

X-3 · #4

I liked Eva too.

EoE is...depressing. Probably worth a watch.
Haven't seen the two movies, but from what I've heard they have had moments that are quite different from the series.

[spoiler]Clone Reis getting blown up didn't creep you out?[/spoiler]

Bomby · #5

[spoiler]The clones were creepy, too. What I really meant was that the character Rei in and of herself didn't elicit so much a feeling of creepiness as it did a feeling of pity[/spoiler]

Rainbow Dash · #6

Bomby wrote:Is your gainax character gainaxed?

no but i don't think eva ever is? at least i wouldn't think so from her character

also gainax ending but NGE is the trope namer so it's not really far

also also x-3 have you finished it yet.

Valigarmander · #7

Sadly, I've never gotten to see that much of Eva.

But one of the few episodes I saw had Asuka naked or partially-naked multiple times throughout, so I'll assume it's pretty awesome.

Bomby · #8

Chunky Kong12345 wrote:no but i don't think eva ever is? at least i wouldn't think so from her character

also gainax ending but NGE is the trope namer so it's not really far

also also x-3 have you finished it yet.

There aren't any characters named Eva.* Eva is short for Evangelion. Are you talking about Rei? Because I think Rei by nature could never be Gainaxed in that she would never bounce around enough to be bouncy.
[spoiler]Except in Shinji's vision of a normal life at the end[/spoiler]
Either way, Hideaki Anno hates the fact that Rei has become popular. I mostly just find it completely weird that there's a bunch of the typical Otaku-pervert toys out there based on her.

... actually, I take that back. It's not weird, it's completely to be expected. It's just... kind of wrong.

Really, the closest NGE has to any "Gainaxing" is Misato in the earlier episodes. She kind of serves as Ms. Fanservice in the beginning, but most of Eva is Fan Disservice.

Yes, I am speaking in TV Tropian. It should be a requirement when discussing narratives and characters.

Kil'jaeden · #9

It seems people either love or hate this show. I have the box set, so you should know where I'm at. I've tried showing it to other people, but they either don't take it very seriously because it is animated, or they do watch some of it and then want to stop.

#10

I've seen a few episodes on SBS, but never really sat down and started from the beginning. Oh well, the DVD place down the road has the full series, so perhaps at some point we will go on an Eva spree.

Bomby · #11

Kil'jaeden wrote:It seems people either love or hate this show. I have the box set, so you should know where I'm at. I've tried showing it to other people, but they either don't take it very seriously because it is animated, or they do watch some of it and then want to stop.

Other reasons, too.

1. A lot of people, even fans of the rest of the series, seem to really hate the last two episodes. (Personally, I thought they were a perfectly fitting end of the series.)
2. Some people seem to think the characters are just whiny brats, especially those who watched the English dub. (The psychological aspect of the show was actually what made it for me)
3. It has topped almost as many anime-related lists as Citizen Kane has topped film-related lists. Hype backlash occurs.

Rainbow Dash · #12

blah yes I meant rei why the hell did i think someone was named eva.