Rebuild of Evangelion

We want to know what you think, not what other people think.

I think that's a major problem, you never seem to form your own opinion about anything and instead, use other people's to try and back up,what you have to say.

We are going episode 25-26 right now.

Those are some good hand-drawn thumbnails.

Wait. *looks closer*

..... DAMMIT, CONVINCING-CGI!!

Khara's submission was hand-drawn, but digitally inked.

CC2 used cel-shaded CGI.

I'm going to guess that each finisher style is a homage to the genre speciality of the other.

Nope. On the contrary, actually.

The Khara finisher is clearly an Inazuma Kick, which was Anno's invention back at Gainax; Asuka even performed it once in 2.0.

CC2's finisher stylistically resembles Gongen Wyzen's Finger Poke of Doom from Asura's Wrath, CC2's Magnum Opus. Observe:

edited 19th Oct '15 4:36:14 AM by amitakartok

The Inazuma Kick itself being a reference to Kamen Rider....

Oh my bad, thanks.

Forgive me if I've already asked this, but what exactly are the themes that Anno is trying to communicate through the Rebuild saga?

Perhaps... "never try to remedy your mistakes, you'll only make things worse"?

C'mon, there's got to be a more unique and interesting theme in the series that Anno wants to communicate besides that.

edited 20th Oct '15 12:23:34 AM by LDragon2

"Shit happens, the slightly less painful Ginaxing of the brain is coming, sorry. Rest in peace Evangabango, we pray for you in the forums, never 5get"

edited 20th Oct '15 12:58:10 AM by YoKab

I get the feeling that Anno no longer knows the answer. He may have started with something in mind, but by the time he hit 3.0 either forgot what it was or he decided it was a silly/stupid/nonsensical idea.

I'm going to go with 'If the 2.0-3.0 transition taught me anything, it's that trying to answer that question before 4.0 comes out is going yield answer that are incomplete at best and hilariously wrong at worst'.

Honestly, I think Rebuild has had stronger themes, or at least more conclusive ones, with 3.33 than the original had. Indeed many problems with 3 are down to the themes overwhelming the story side of things.

In the original all Shinji did was half-heartedly run away. His condition and his relations with everyone got worse as he spiralled into despair and isolation. That may have been realistic but it wasn't pointing to any solutions to what Anno was seeing in himself and much of his fanbase.

In 2.22, Shinji finally took a decision in the most spectacular finale I have yet seen. Then the next film shows him the decision had baleful consequences and he lost what he was hoping to save. Not a happy film, and one with quite a few plotholes and bare-bones narrative, but it had a point to make. Shinji is despised by those he cares for, but they have a stronger motivation to do so. I could relate to him in a way that never quite clicked in the series. Decisive actions can turn out badly, and you can't undo them.

Still not a solution, but it does go into new territory and make the protagonist more responsible for his fate. So I'm hoping 4 will have a meaningful resolution, even if a tragic one.

It would have to involve some sort of confrontation with Gendo, so I'm with you, L Dragon.

The theme of Evangelion is the same as it's always been:

"Let's see just how much speculation and debate we can incite among the fans."

I'm pretty sure Anno wants to communicate something that he wants the viewer to abide and live by, if his comments about his dislike of the typical Otaku lifestyle and the long winded psychoanalytical talks in the show are any hint. Just not sure he knows how to present them in a way that's not Anvillicious and/or too abstract.

Best I got out of 3.33 and what seems to be the message is that "acting based on your own desires leads to disaster for those around you, you can't change or mend the actions of the past, you must be open to everyone and not just those who are closest to you, and you simply must keep moving forward and never sacrifice yourself, since you can find happiness in being alive". At least, that's what I think he's trying to communicate.

Even ignoring the problems I have with the overall messages here, it still doesn't really do anything for me. Three years ago, I may have found this stuff admirable to put in a such a popular work, even if I may not have agreed with it. But with all the delays that has happened, I've seen other works come out that have communicated similar themes, but done in a much less one-sided and blatant manner (like Madoka Magica Rebellion and The Last Of Us). As a result, what Anno's saying here feels rather tired and not as meaningful. Which wouldn't be a problem for me if he didn't feel like this is something that must be told to the viewer.

Granted, the next film may give us something different in terms of the message, but right now, all I have to work with is 3.33 (which has left the story in an extremely hopeless and bleak spot). As a result, all I can say is the above.

Since filming of the new Godzilla film is scheduled to wrap up by the end of this month, hopefully that means that Anno can get back to work on Eva soon.

We get, you don't like the fact that Anno is spending time on the new Godzilla movie. But one of Japan's Biggest Icons in their modern history comes first beforehand.

If your a Japanese director, and Toho wants you to do a Godzilla movie before your own property, you know damn well they want you to go with Godzilla first.

edited 20th Oct '15 5:45:01 PM by Demongodofchaos2

The idea of self-sacrifice is one that had escaped me. I didn't know what to take from Kaoru's act.

To me, the problem with 3 is not bleakness of theme but of emptiness of the story. Very little happens, we are not told anything about how the world has changed, and the art is badly lacking.

But at least it reminded us through contrast that Rei is not some empty doll. That at least shows Anno acknowledges her as a character with potential.

You can clearly see how the world has changed. The land itself is being turned into a twisted red landscape covered in failed Evas because of Third Impact. The planet has teeth for goodness sake!

It should be obvious when they point out all the worlds oceans turning red killed off most of the sea life so they have to keep them alive in those special aquariums we saw in 2.

At this point I'm more expecting for Anno's Godzilla than for 4.0, mainly because at least Toho won't let Anno to get delayed for the best half of a decade.

You can clearly see how the world has changed. The land itself is being turned into a twisted red landscape covered in failed Evas because of Third Impact. The planet has teeth for goodness sake!

To be exact, while that shows how the world has changed, that is, what it changed into, it's still not how it changed, which is what I suppose the other poster actually meant.

I know, Shinji goofed, things went BOOM, but how the hell does that make a planet to grow teeth?? From where did all those failed Evas come? How did anyone have enough resources left to build/finish/run them in a wrecked post apocalyptic world with most of mankind dead?

edited 20th Oct '15 7:20:48 PM by NapoleonDeCheese

The way they talked about the Evas it sounds less like they were made and more that they were a byproduct of causing Third Impact. You know because they're made from people.

The big question is where all those Evas in Nerv are coming from. Unless they are just Failed Evas being refitted into weapons.

edited 20th Oct '15 7:32:12 PM by OmegaRadiance

I miss back when Impacts just turned people into Tang instead of Evangelions.

Blame Yui for trying to make everything in her image.