The Official Neon Genesis Evangelion Thread

[Unspoken]

Over the last week, I've experienced the entire series that is Neon Genesis Evangelion.



I must say I'm quite pleased.




This is my favorite anime series, and I'll never understand what it's representing (nobody ever will), but I love it through and through. It's not like other shows out there. This seems to combine both very real characters along with deep psychological conflict. Shinji is one of the most real characters I've ever experienced. He acts like a human being instead of the gung-ho "I'll save the world!" persona we've come to expect from most movies/shows.

Just finishing End of Evangelion, my brain is fried. I can't think of anything to explain what's going on. This thread is to discuss your thoughts on the series/movies/whatever.




Also, remaking of the Eva series is started, and we get the first part in February of 2008. So if you haven't seen it, or you've watched it before and didn't like it, this series is apparently more adaptable and detailed than the original.



My head is hurting thinking about all that's been crammed in there within the past week. Help me vent some of it out.

[kaphwan]

Single best anime series ever.

It's an incredible mindfuck. Saw you have "watching eva" in your msn name and decided it was time for me to rewatch some eps. Also I had to test my dvd drive (it still reads dvds but is some new kind of fucked when it comes to burning).

There's a lot I could say about the series, but I wouldn't be able to articulate it better than emo tl;dr ramblings unless I spent ages writing it, which I won't.

I should upload a recording of me playing the theme on guitar.

[Unspoken]

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I want to learn the song that plays in the movie...

... The up-beat one where Lilith is taking in all the "souls" or whatever. That song is so catchy, but so ill-placed that it's awesome.

[Mirai]

Curious. I got into Evangelion years ago and then around Christmas I saw the box set and decided I must have it. And then out of nowhere this thread pops up... Curious...

Easily my favourite television show of all time. It was great watching it through a second time because instead of trying to get my head around the concepts, I already understood it so I could just marvel in the brilliance of it's design. The minimal use of music, the overly long shots and the use of long shots really are quite unique.

Definitely going to be remembering all of this at Film School this year.

As real as Shinji is, I really enjoy watching Asuka. She's a total fucking bitch and the center of her own world, but once you get an insight into her mind and see how things are working behind the scenes, I just find her so tragic, possibly even more so than Shinji or Rei.

[cpiasminc]

Now that the whole remake thing is coming up, the interest in the series has resurged. Retailers are stocking up on the DVDs, the manga is in a massive reprint, there's a newer spinoff alternative storyline manga (akin to the "what if" timeline sequence at the end of the series).

Gainax are masters of just layering complexity and depth into everything. Even their shallow fanservice and pandering series (e.g. Mahoromatic) has more to it than the average panty-shot harem anime. You look at stuff like FLCL, and it's hard to see at first glance how significant the steam clouds are and how Haruko is sort of a beacon to Naota.

I was also similarly impressed by the Evangelion manga, in spite of how divergent it was from the anime. I kind of liked Misato's character in the manga. There's a little touch of comedic value to it, but part of it is just the way her captain's hat and her "at-home" mask both have some cracks to them, and just that much more is elucidated about her vulnerability. Asuka's nature is softened up a bit in manga, but she's probably at least as cocky if not more so... As you'd expect, though, there was indeed a little damage to Shinji's development. I wasn't too crazy about the gloomy manga Shinji. It's a little sad that all the clips I've seen of the remake in trailers and PVs, I've yet to see Asuka or Eva 02 at all. Maybe that just means she's not in the first part of the series, but considering that I have seen Kaworu already, it makes me wonder. It's not like they can change the order of the Angels.

Whatever it is they're doing, the fact that it's a remake of a legendary production means there will surely be a hard division between those who will love it and those who will utterly hate it.

Also... although I'm not normally a big Utada Hikaru fan, I'm actually liking the new song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btkl5lQSRyU). It just seems... suitable.

[Unspoken]

Curious. I got into Evangelion years ago and then around Christmas I saw the box set and decided I must have it. And then out of nowhere this thread pops up... Curious...

Easily my favourite television show of all time. It was great watching it through a second time because instead of trying to get my head around the concepts, I already understood it so I could just marvel in the brilliance of it's design. The minimal use of music, the overly long shots and the use of long shots really are quite unique.

Definitely going to be remembering all of this at Film School this year.

As real as Shinji is, I really enjoy watching Asuka. She's a total fucking bitch and the center of her own world, but once you get an insight into her mind and see how things are working behind the scenes, I just find her so tragic, possibly even more so than Shinji or Rei.

Yeah, I'm actually going to purchase my box set tomorrow. I can't wait; may have to do it at midnight.

I bought the movies today as well. My friend is borrowing Death and Rebirth. He's seen the series, but he said he needed a recap (perfect way to do it aside from watching the series again). I love End of Evangelion, but there are some parts that kind of confuse me. That's not to be something unexpected with Eva, however. I take it as it is, which means it's incredible.

As you pointed out, there are many things stylized for the anime, such as the long tense shots. My favorite is the last long scene with Shinji in Eva-01 and Kaworu. With the music in the background, it made me on the edge of my seat thinking "Is he going to?"

At first, I really hated Asuka's character. She was a total bitch. Then I watched the movie, however, and she is one of my favorite and unforgettable characters from any anime I've ever watched. Oh shit, it gives me cold chills when I remember the fight with the Eva Series and Eva-02. So epic. :matrix:

Bah, I'm going to watch End of Evangelion again. :pinky:

[Unspoken]

Now that the whole remake thing is coming up, the interest in the series has resurged. Retailers are stocking up on the DVDs, the manga is in a massive reprint, there's a newer spinoff alternative storyline manga (akin to the "what if" timeline sequence at the end of the series).

Gainax are masters of just layering complexity and depth into everything. Even their shallow fanservice and pandering series (e.g. Mahoromatic) has more to it than the average panty-shot harem anime. You look at stuff like FLCL, and it's hard to see at first glance how significant the steam clouds are and how Haruko is sort of a beacon to Naota.

I was also similarly impressed by the Evangelion manga, in spite of how divergent it was from the anime. I kind of liked Misato's character in the manga. There's a little touch of comedic value to it, but part of it is just the way her captain's hat and her "at-home" mask both have some cracks to them, and just that much more is elucidated about her vulnerability. Asuka's nature is softened up a bit in manga, but she's probably at least as cocky if not more so... As you'd expect, though, there was indeed a little damage to Shinji's development. I wasn't too crazy about the gloomy manga Shinji. It's a little sad that all the clips I've seen of the remake in trailers and PVs, I've yet to see Asuka or Eva 02 at all. Maybe that just means she's not in the first part of the series, but considering that I have seen Kaworu already, it makes me wonder. It's not like they can change the order of the Angels.

Whatever it is they're doing, the fact that it's a remake of a legendary production means there will surely be a hard division between those who will love it and those who will utterly hate it.

Also... although I'm not normally a big Utada Hikaru fan, I'm actually liking the new song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btkl5lQSRyU). It just seems... suitable.

I have already made up my mind for the most part on the new Evangelion. I hate that they put in 3D animation. That just ruins the experience of it all, I believe. The only reason I'm going to get them is for the possible changes in plot/timeline and the fact that disc 4 will have the alternate ending to the story.

My friend has the manga, and I'm going to start borrowing them from him as soon as I watch the anime again. It'll be worth it, I believe. :)

And trust me, Evangelion never needed a remake to surge the popularity; it's been on its high horse since it debuted. Gainax is just now getting to responding to the fans' cries.