Neon Genesis Evangelion. It's name everyone should know. This series is really popular in all over world. It's praised by many people and also same time hated by many people it's maintaining these things equally.
Creator Hideki Anno didn't actually wanted people to enjoy this series at first place and how could really anyone enjoy it if creator is having psychological issues himself when he was making this series. That's why there are many versions so everyone could be happy and get story they want.
I wont mention any spoiler stuff because there is all ready many good reviews of this series and they explain all really well.
The thing is that what Evangelion do unique way is storytelling actually putting people to think everything about themselves, The World, Life, Society, Mankind and even Gods. It solves many riddles but still left too many questions to unanswered.
Story - 9
Evangelion story is really complex and deep but it's made some sense to me. I wasn't really expecting so complex story even I knew this was psychological show. Stil it's breathtaking and does job well until 2nd part starts where series take turns and true nature becomes showing to people. It's unique story cause many anime's don't tell this kind of story like way Evangelion presents it.
Art - 10
Even this anime is made 1995 it's look really beautiful and they must been watching Dragon Ball Z because animation looks like that. It's bit oldish but nothing is too bright or too dark.
EVA's look really detailed and their moving is just amazing to watch. Camera view is also pretty unique in this anime. It's not typical chancing next scene but it actually spinning through out series.
Big fancy font's they go nicely with psychology stuff included in episode title texts. And symbolism even this wasn't never to mean anything it gave series many meanings still. Oh and those final episode that crowned everything. Pretty interesting way to animate scenes.
Music - 10
Evangelion has so great music collections found. that I was just feeling those tunes in anime. Without music battle scenes would look boring but with music they really came to live. There were some music that had weird place in scenes but still many great choices and interacting with symbolism.
Main theme is like mix of maracas, trumpets and jazz. it starts with slow and quickly changes form to quck in middle way. Shiro Sagisu is really great music composer I really like his music it fit into series really well. Ending theme had nicely dynamic theme and moon reflection I think it's unique concept showing ending and always different tempo in each episode.
Effects - 10
Even this is 1995 anime it's not definitely showing in effects. bombs, flashes sounds like they should be. Also environment like rain, and when cascades makes sounds it's almost like in Higurashi. Which means they really delivered with effects. Just amazing stuff.
Voice Acting - 10
I liked all voices too be honest I first hated Shinji's voice it was too deep and it just gave me headache to listen it. But later his voice turned well and I began to like it. Overall all characters especially Rei's voice actor did awesome work. They really felt characters and learned them. And also learn how to use own voice to deliver nice viewing and hearing experiences to audience.
The Characters - 10
These is one of the best shows that character development is taking seriously and I mean really seriously. Every characters story is really deep and depressing stuff to see but it really shows how much they progress through out series. And almost every important character get's own past story to maximum own character development. But there is one character that get's most of it and it's none other than Shinji.
Shinji's role in Evangelion is so huge and everything that happens with his character shows in his character personally perfectly. He progress nicely through out series and viewer get's to see how Shinji will do in his journey to clear his mind of things that he is thinking particularly. And that's why Shinji is really different from Shonen characters like Naruto or Ichigo. That's why he is unique character and overall critical point understanding whole plot in the series. But I would say all characters are just as important like Shinji. Everyone share same feelings and emotions.
Enjoyment - 9
I really did enjoy Evangelion. This wasn't first anime I watched and noticed you really need to think a lot but it was first anime that mentioned psychology really well in form and all important stuff that is needed to survive in world. Personally I would wanted to know what really happened into plot but it's nice they make movies to get everyone clear picture what happened in it.
Overall - 9
Evangelion is anime that is setting your mind in thinking mode and let's you form own image of the plot and characters how they relate to each others and it's let you feel these in your mind too. Maybe weird way to say but it's just goes deeply into person's mind and wants them to solve riddles that it will presents in anime.
Evangelion is series that everyone can sure relate to because it gives so realistic viewpoint of world and stuff. Of course many people may hate ending and I don't like it myself either because all that confusing stuff .But that's why they gave us choices movies and alternative way escaping that freaking mind game.
I highly recommend watching this series even if you're not psychological anime fan or dislike that genre. And all Sci-Fi people should watch this too.
Evangelion is and will always remembered in anime community it's not going to change and it's always going to be one of the anime series that lend people to psychological series and those aspects overall.
