Let's begin on a high note. Neon Genesis Evangelion has probably the best sound design I've witnessed yet. There are aural motifs strewn throughout the series that condition the viewer to associate sounds with feelings of distress and anxiety. The screeching of the Angels and EVAs are legendary, and the overall ambience in scenes without dialogue is intoxicating. Combined with the flawless art style, the atmosphere draws you in and holds you, squirming or complacent, so it can pummel you psychologically.
This mental assault is executed wonderfully. While the pacing may start off wonky, it accelerates and maintains a chaotic bent that complements the wrenching twists and turns that the story (and viewer) takes. Sight and sound synthesize to terrify and upset the viewer, entrancing them and horrifying them. As someone who is not unfamiliar with distressing movies, I can confidently say that the subjects discussed and depicted in this anime can be legitimately upsetting for the average viewer. I'm writing this review on what I hope is the tailend of the worst year of my life, and if I'd watched this show two or three months ago it would've possibly messed me up. A warning to those considering the watch: be careful. Make sure you're ready. If you are familiar with clinical depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies, abandonment issues, feelings of sexual inferiority, loneliness, or worthlessness, then tread lightly. Getting invested in NGE is dangerous to one's psyche and perspective on life and death. I probably sound melodramatic or corny, but I sincerely believe this.
The characters initially fall into anime tropes, but they are anything but. Each character is written spectacularly and realistically. There is not much more I can say without getting into specific spoilers, but seriously. Every character, even the minor ones, have a moment to shine and receive recognition.
Now for the major downside. I think the show was too ambitious. It was innovative and delivered on a lot of its objectives, but ultimately its message is obfuscated by a confusing narrative and poorly explained plot. The story draws heavily on Judeo-Christian mythology which I feel is its greatest weakness. Bringing in characters from Christian myth causes confusion when it causes viewers to make assumptions based on what they already know about Christianity. I feel it also has little tie-in with the main subject of mental health. A clearer story with a slower pace would have better suited the type of message NGE attempts to deliver.
On this matter, one must inevitably address the ending. Since this is a review not a commentary, I will simply recommend that the viewer watch both the final two episodes of NGE and End of Evangelion. Frankly, both endings were unsatisfying for me, though for different reasons. As this is a review for the show, I will say that I personally did not find the original ending as poor as most seem to have. I think the themes developed throughout the run of the show are wrapped up nicely, though the story may not be.
NGE is a show where everything has meaning. There is a reason it is still discussed 25 years on. The story effectively utilizes sight, sound, incredible voice-acting, a solid soundtrack, and well-informed insights on its themes to deliver an anime deserving of its place in pop culture as one of "the greats". I'm sure my opinion on Neon Genesis Evangelion will change in future, but I really had to write something about it or I'd lose my mind. If you are considering watching it, do. This is a very subjective anime, and your opinion of it will likely depend heavily on the kind of person you are. It's worth finding out a bit about yourself and your fellow human.
P.S.: This is my first review and I'm not trying to be professional. I don't know the conventions for reviews on this site, but I'm trying to follow the rules while doing justice to this piece of art. Enjoy.
