As I'm writing this, I am two years into my expedition for finding the best anime out there. This means two things: a. I have no nostalgia towards anything I see, and b. I'm going to have to see Evangelion, eventually. The time has finally come for me to see this show, and give my own two cents. The result?
It's a masterpiece.
That's easier said than explained. So, allow me to tackle the contentious influential powerhouse that is Evangelion. Buckle up, because this one is going to be a doozy. SPOILERS AHEAD.
< < < The Story > > >
At face value, this anime
...
is pretty comprehensible. The world-building is organic and fantastic, as is the atmosphere and presentation. Everything just clicks. That's where the agreement amongst the anime community ends.
Allow me to introduce you to Episode 25, 26, and End of Evangelion. Some people critique these episodes as being mediocre, confusing, and unsatisfying. However, the climax that would soon be released in the form of these episodes was obvious. We've had many other scenes beforehand that were reminiscent of the mind-rape that culminated in the final episodes, such as the encounter with Arael during episode 22 or Shinji's introspection during Episode 16.
It was only a matter of time before we got the final product, and boy was I glad when I got it. It illustrated the mind of Shinji and the other characters to such depths that other shows struggle to replicate. Scenes are imbued with meaningful symbolism, which ultimately enhances the artistic prowess of these final episodes.
All in all, these episodes are great.
Besides that, I haven't heard to much complaints about the show's narrative. For a good reason, too. The show's general narrative, as stated before, is easy to follow. It just so happens to be that towards the end you get more depth and less hand-holding. In my opinion, this was a great direction for the show, and added to its uniqueness.
< < < The Characters > > >
Easily the best cast of characters I've seen. Whether it's Shinji, Rei, Asuka, Misato, or the other side characters, everyone gets their piece of the pie. Unfortunately, with every aspect of Evangelion, there is always a point of contention that I'd like to address.
People love to hate Shinji and Asuka. You either hear the argument "Shinji is too cowardly" or "Asuka is too insufferable". Honestly, both characters are just too human.
People shy away from the fact that Shinji has to tackle the most daunting responsibility in the globe. Of course, he's going to act the way he does. This show clearly did not want to aim for the common power-fantasy trope of the mecha genre. It wanted to paint a different perspective on how a teenage boy would truly act given those circumstances. Needless to say, the show accomplished its intentions, and the execution of Shinji's character was immaculate.
And then there's Asuka. Her character is just as great as Shinji's for the same reasons. She's a hormonal teenage girl who constantly seeks out for approval. Her character isn't represented in your typical "high school drama" fashion. Her character isn't represented in your typical "bombastic tsundere waifu" fashion. She is represented exactly the way she's supposed to be. She has her flaws, motives, psychological obstacles, internal conflicts, just as every other character in this show does. Just because her character archetype doesn't pander to the waifu wars you so desperately want to incorporate her in, doesn't mean she's a bad character.
< < < The Art and Sound > > >
The OST is so great. And of course, there's the iconic opening. The art admittedly aged a bit. Despite its age, the action sequences are fluid, and the scenery is drawn beautifully. For the most part, everything is as it should be.
... You didn't think this section would be that easy, did you?
Well, let me introduce you to the next point of contention: the overly extended drawn-out scenes. Unlike other controversy, this is one that I can actually stand for. There are scenes within the story that get dragged on for way too long. However, not all of these stiff scenes suffer from the same problem. There are two, out of the ~5-8 scenes, that are shot very well. Those being: 1. the elevator scene and 2. the Kaworu & Shinji scene. Both convey emotions through the stillness of their shots, which deserves more appreciation.
In the case of the elevator scene, it conveys a sense of urgency and awkwardness that couldn't be expressed in any other way. In the case of the Kaworu & Shinji scene, it conveys a sense of acceptance and defeat that also couldn't be expressed in any other way (that includes the Evangelion movie remake). As for every other scene, it's just too long and tedious. It's clear that the studio lost most of their budget on the episode, so they had to squeeze in one of these scenes to compensate. If you look past these scenes though, the art continues to hold up.
< < < Enjoyment / Conclusion > > >
This show resonates with me all too much. I enjoyed it thoroughly; beginning to end. Even if you dislike it, you have to admit, the clout that this show had was unprecedented. It brought something new to the cesspool of the anime industry, and had an impact that no other show could replicate. Cheers.
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Aug 30, 2018
Shinseiki Evangelion
(Anime)
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As I'm writing this, I am two years into my expedition for finding the best anime out there. This means two things: a. I have no nostalgia towards anything I see, and b. I'm going to have to see Evangelion, eventually. The time has finally come for me to see this show, and give my own two cents. The result?
It's a masterpiece. That's easier said than explained. So, allow me to tackle the contentious influential powerhouse that is Evangelion. Buckle up, because this one is going to be a doozy. SPOILERS AHEAD. < < < The Story > > > At face value, this anime ... 
Jul 8, 2018
Serial Experiments Lain
(Anime)
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L A Y E R 0 0:
PREFACE. It's well-known that Serial Experiments Lain contains convoluted plot, imagery, and themes. Throughout the years, it has sustained its image as being a paragon in depth and intellectual expression. I want to preface my review by stating the obvious: THIS ANIME IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. SPOILERS AHEAD. L A Y E R 0 1: PLOT. Oh boy. Where do I begin? So far, this is my own understanding of its story. I haven't researched any other interpretation; this is just my own perspective. Hopefully, I hit more ... |
