Evangelion-like or derivative/homage series ("Eva clones")

I've heard a lot of people talk about "Eva[ngelion] clones" and such, so I thought we might as well make a list, detailing what relates them to Evangelion.

• Neon Genesis Evangelion - the original, obviously. A story of giant robots (partly powered by empathy) used to battle a series of otherworldly foes, and within it, a story of a boy with an asshole of a father and who meets an interesting cast of women, but refuses to grow up (metaphorically).
  • Rebuild of Evangelion - a retake on the first series's premise.

So here's the big three that are probably the most famous:

• Rah Xephon - giant robots used to battle otherworldly foes, which have (literally) blue blood ("blue" is the blood type of angels in Evangelion). Male lead meets mysterious beautiful girl (first seen in the distance) in first episode.
• Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann - giant robots powered by force of will, used to battle otherworldly foes. In contrast, male lead does grow up (symbolically). Male lead in love with Strange Girl, but often flanked by Ms. Fanservice. Kamina, being a mentor, is actually sort of like an anti-Gendo.
• Eureka Seven - giant robots powered by force of will and love. Otherworldly foes with alien psychology occasionally appear and are central to plot. Male lead falls in love with Strange Girl on first episode; said girl does not return affection (at first). Coming of Age story (but one where the lead actually grows up, again). Ms. Fanservice is again a major character, and here is much more definitely paired with the asshole leader. Partly inverts the Shinji-Gendo relationship in that Renton calls himself to action (Shinji is called to action by Gendo, literally). One scene strongly references the end of NGE episode 18.

Others:

• Sky Girls - plug-in suits, hair decs, and Applied Phlebotinum (here "nanoskin gel") allow the pilots to synchronize with the mini-mechs...which are specialized combat machines used to battle a series of strange otherworldly foes. Main character has special bond with her mech; mechs (and later a pilot) are turn out to be closely related to said foes. Arrogant hot-headed German girl (fluent in Japanese of course) shows up partway through, and is taught a lesson about her attitude.
• Jinki Extend - first lead character (a girl) is called by same-gender parent (mother, in this case), who is an asshole, to pilot giant robot. Pilot feels special connection to said robot, which is one of a handful of mechs used to fight an otherworldly set of foes (at first at least). Early on, she does pilot said mech without a special suit.

Any others?

Soukyuu No Fafner. I've seen most of those series, and it's the only one that actually made me think that they were trying to be Eva

Well, it and Rah Xephon, but Soukyuu No Fafner rather more so

Uhh...

I like Evangelion and all, and have no doubt that it heavily impacted anime.

But Mecha existed long before Evangelion. You seem to be listing a lot of shows that are just Mecha shows. They aren't Eva clones.

Many of them certainly have shout outs and homages to Eva, but that's not really enough to make them "clones".

And Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann? An Eva Clone? What are you smoking?

If anything TTGL is a Genre Throwback to Mecha before Evangelion.

edited 29th May '11 8:35:38 PM by Sackett

Rah Xephon, at least, I've seen other people dismiss as an Eva cash-in. But seconding the wtf on TTGL.

A True Lady's Quest - A Jojo is You!

I've seen reviews comparing Evangelion to Betterman, but from what I've seen of Betterman, they're not very alike.

Imagine Rakan applying Calling Your Attacks to doing paperwork.~Anarchy Rakan for the hell of it COMMISSION THIS BRIDGE!~EHK

I have over this year decided that everything is an Eva clone and also not an Eva clone. Everything is also Azumanga Daioh on crack/LSD/Enter drug here and not that.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

My rage, all of it.

More seriously, though, it's true that the premises are similar, and that there are a few elements that (intentionally) mirror those in NGE, but the themes, characterization, plot presentation, atmosphere, character development and mood of both series are quite different. While the influence of Eva on Rah Xephon is undoubtable, claiming it's trying to be/it's a clone/it's a cash in reveals a superficial understanding of both series.

edited 29th May '11 9:32:31 PM by Noimporta

At this point, anyone who uses the term "EVA Clone" or the like non-ironically needs a punch in the face.

Sorta.

[1] This facsimile operated in part by synAC.

by that standars even My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic is a clone of eva...

• Fluttershy is Shinji both are shy people that are scared of facing a dragon/angels...
• Misato is Pinkie Pie both like parties!
• Rainbow dash is Asuka both are very competitive.

edited 29th May '11 9:39:39 PM by FallenLegend

Make your hearth shine through the darkest night; let it transform hate into kindness, evil into justice, and loneliness into love.

Evangelion confirmed to be a Tom & Jerry ripoff.◊

Eva clones? Fuck that shit.

Evangelion's influence extends so far that everything might as well be an Eva clone anyway. It stretches as far as Azumanga Daioh:

[1]◊

[2]◊

edited 29th May '11 9:42:15 PM by Sporkaganza

Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember them, you are not alone.

uhh Bandage Babe is far far older than that.... Sarashi.

Sparkling and glittering! Jan-Ken-Pon!

Yes Spork. Everything is Eva and Azumanga Daioh on crack. Including Azumanga Daioh.

If someone wants to accuse us of eating coconut shells, then that's their business. We know what we're doing. - Achaan Chah

Oh, right, Variante! Yeah, that one lifts it's plot from Eva wholesale

edited 30th May '11 1:54:55 AM by Hylarn

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann has more to do with Mobile Suit Gundam, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Space Runaway Ideon and Getter Robo than Evangelion.

But those are Eva clones too. Even the series that came before Eva.

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

Every show is an Eva clone during Instrumentality.

And Real Life is what happens after End Of Evangelion.

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

^ HOLY SHIT

I didn't mean "clone" literally. i just meant that the series seemed to take significant chunks of inspiration from Evangelion. The main reason I included TTGL is because I've heard multiple people compare/contrast it with Evangelion, in part due to its being another mecha plus coming-of-age series from Gainax.

edited 30th May '11 8:14:16 AM by GlennMagusHarvey

People compare TTGL and Eva because they are so different, not because they are similar.

If you wanted to talk about the way Eva had impacted Mecha that came after it that would be an interesting and worthy subject.

But using the word "clone" pretty much derailed any possibility of that happening.

And because both are from Gainax. That's important, especially since TTGL is pretty much the opposite of Eva.

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

Yeah, I've heard of it described as the "anti-Eva". But of course some elements need to be similar in order for the comparison to be made.

Well, both have losers as main character. But Simon overcomes his loser-ness, while Shinji doesn't.

People aren't as awful as the internet makes them out to be.

In some continuities.