I'm going to start by saying that I didn't expect to enjoy this series. It didn't even look like the kind of thing I'd attempt watching. But enjoy it I did, immensely so.
Story: 9/10
The story was a bit convoluted, it wasn't exceedingly easy to follow, but for me that is not at all a turn off. I only mention it because I assume it is a turn off for others. In any case, it possessed a good, thoughtful plot that made at least some sense as it went from point A to point B, which many anime fail to achieve. I hear a lot of people complaining about the last couple of episodes, how they make no sense and have no interesting elements. To me, those episodes were the most enjoyable out of all of the series. I enjoy immensely an anime that makes you think, and this one, especially those last couple episodes, did indeed do that. There were several problems I noticed with the plot though, specifically the last happening before the identity crisis episodes. I'm not going to mention the event because spoilers, but I don't need to mention it to explain my distaste about it. I mean, seriously? Trying to make viewers feel affection and connection to a character, and having a game changing event surround them in the span of a single episode? It is just not going to work. I mean, it was pulled off as well as it possibly could be, but that is not very well at all. All it really succeeded in doing was making me mad. The other problems I noticed weren't very major, the story is great, and even that huge fuckup isn't enough to bring my rating below a 9.
Oh, and I'd like to comment on the identity crisis episodes(mentioning these isn't spoiling, right?) I was on the edge of my seat during these more than any battle during the series. In a way, this is the most important and action-packed battle taking place during the series, even though there isn't a single Angel being fought against. It was pulled off well and everything, and belied deep psychological messages that I have not been able to decode all of.
Art 10/10
On a shallow level, I give the art a seven. That is, compared to the much better artstyle of modern anime. On a deeper level, it deserves a ten. I loved the flashing visuals in the opening and throughout the series, and the many original and unique techniques used within the identity crisis episodes. The animation was fluid enough to not distract, and the colors(I think its the colors that are really different about older anime) weren't as horrible as other anime of its time that I have seen.
I know it doesn't quite fit under 'Art,' and would perhaps fit better under 'Character,' but nonetheless I would like to tackle the design of the suits and Angels and the Evas here. I liked the designs of the Evas a lot, they sort of fit with their pilots in a certain way, or at least supplement them. I don't know if it's just me, but I think a lot of thought was put into coloring and overall design here. The suits just looked cool, and fit with the Evas, I don't know if it goes beyond that.(sometimes I thought I sensed color symbolism) Oh, and the Angels. I really appreciated the variety in the Angels, it turned them from being 'an enemy force to think about' to 'individual villains to think about,' which isn't something you'd expect to see. Some of the designs were silly or lacking, though, but perhaps in itself that has its own reasoning.
Sound 8/10
I'm going to be honest; I'm not sure what to put here. I guess I'll go with music. The opening was fantastic. The beat is STILL stuck in my head. The soundtrack throughout the episodes was great as well. However, I despise the ending theme. It wasn't ear-catching, and just sounded basically annoying. Doesn't even come close to the opening.
Character 10/10
It will not suffice to say that 'the characters' personalities in Eva were great and I liked them.' I'm going to go through the main characters that impacted me the most one at a time, instead.
Shinji:
I hear a lot of people complaining how whiny Shinji is. He isn't 'whiny'. At least I didn't think so. It came off more as 'ordinary person with insecurities in an extraordinary, stressing situation.' Shinji wasn't meant to be a natural hero, but a normal person with issues we all have, brought into the boots of a hero by both choice and circumstance. If Shinji really was whiny, he would have left for good, and refuse to be the hero.
Asuka:
Seems like everyone either hates her because she's a bitch, or loves her because she's tsundere. I have neither opinion, but I'd like to comment on the tsundere thing. There is no doubt that Asuka is a tsundere, but I don't think that should define her, she's far from a simple archetype character. And while she was quite a slap-happy, bitchy character, that's not the 'point' of her either. No, in fact the small pieces of her past that we are given are the centrepoint of Asuka, the place of her character. I could give more details, but I won't to avoid spoilers.
Rei:
Okay, she's a kuudere. Yes, I love kuuderes. Yes, Rei is one of my favorite characters, yes, I like her because she's a kuudere. No, that still shouldn't define her. Rei has one of the most important roles in the story of Eva, and I still am not quite sure the entirety of her role. In any case, she is a girl who does what she's told. But why? That 'but why,' is the question that defines Rei, and can be applied to many of the other happenings in the series.
I want to tackle many of the other characters, but I also don't want to make this review too long, so I'll leave it at those important three. I considered talking about the other Children, but I haven't unraveled their importances quite enough yet to comment.
Overall 9/10
I loved this anime, but the big mess up before the last few episodes and the hated ED was enough to bring my rating down to a 9/10. Sowwy.
