Neon Genesis Evangelion

Alternatively, try viewing it through the lens of Hanlon's Razor: Maybe social skills rank low on Gendo's list because he himself has terrible social skills, so he has a serious blind spot when it comes to recognizing the inherent value of such skills.

Well, he has enough "social skills" to be a Manipulative Bastard, at least.

The thing is that Gendo rarely ever seems to do any up close manipulation. It appears that he is good at taking what people (think they) want the most, then dangle it in front of them, and then he just sort of leans back and watches from afar as they run after it.

And when he can be as completely blind-sided by Rei choosing Shinji over him as he was, I wonder if his methods of manipulation really extends beyond that.

I think he was completely blindsided because he never considered Rei as a person, thus didn't think she had that level of individuality to refuse what he was offering her: to return to nothingness.

Else. Someone on SV recently dug up this statement from Yoshiyuki Tomino.

What do you guys think of this? Agree/disagree?

edited 28th Aug '17 7:56:43 AM by amitakartok

I don't think Gendo is that social of a person, he doesn't take into other people's feelings and he doesn't even keep tabs on his surbourdinates. Gendo seems to really distance himself from other people because he is simlar to Shinji in that is afraid to be hurt, he also deprives himself of any oppurtunity to adapt to the situation as most of his 'pawns' tend to betray because of circumstances beyond his control. Gendo doesn't care for anyone other than himself, Gendo doesn't understand or care for other people's feelings other than his own.

As for Tomino, I am afraid that I will to agree to disagree with Tomino. I do agree that Evangelion is not a show for a general audience and that Evangelion does say that everyone has damage. I do not agree that Evangelion is not art, I know that art is a subjective matter but Evangelion touched me in more ways than one and it really did have a lot to say. Evangelion does make the experience much more personal than what other works and the televison ending really is positive as the characters finally make that first step to self actualization. I do not believe that Evangelion is encouraging that you attack people if you are psychological mess however it does encourage you to deal with your problems rather than run away or retreat to your shell.

...made a pretty interesting discovery today. That "elevator music"-style jingle that plays on Kensuke's... I don't remember what, some electronic thingy... while he and Toji sit in the shelter during Shamshel in Rebuild 1.0?

I think that's actually recycled from an unused track Sagisu made for the original series. I found it in the S2 Works album, dated 1998, and recognized it immediately. Disc 2, track 23, titled "Pleasant Morning".

I also found on disc 3 what sound like pre and post commercial break jingles. Aw, jeez, What Could Have Been...

And on disc 6, a track titled "Tragic Battle - Asuka's Death". IT'S AN ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL VERSION OF THANATOS. I wonder if this would've been used in episode 25 if they hadn't run overbudget and forced to postpone the true ending for EoE...?

edited 2nd Sep '17 5:37:33 PM by amitakartok

Much like how we have a trope replicating the plot of The Truman Show, how come we don't have a trope yet for replications of this franchise's plot? I mean, aren't there numerous shows that replicated the premise of a boy with major psychological problems getting tangled in a conspiracy while dealing with a very quiet girl who may be genetically related to him? Bonus if it also involves piloting mecha, as well as fighting eldritch abominations.

edited 10th Sep '17 7:47:10 AM by HallowHawk

Do you have any examples, just off the top of your head? Another mech show with a psychologically unstable teenage boy, a quiet, strange girl who may or may not be kinda-sorta related to him, and a conspiracy that involves killing eldritch abominations? Like all at once?

The first and last plot points I can see in a show, the first point in particular seems pretty prolific. But a character who ambiguously shares genetic material with the MC on top of those points? I dunno. I could have made things too broad anyway, I'm not nearly as weeby as I used to be - i'm way out of the loop.

RahXephon hits pretty much all those points, though I'm pretty sure it was following Eva's lead.

De:Vadasy, too.

edited 10th Sep '17 10:57:00 PM by Zeromaeus

But the difference is that Rah Xephon is actually good. That other anime is fucking awful.

Oh, yeah. De:Vadasy is garbage. It just fits the descrption.

Some examples of stories that should prove why there ought to be a trope replicating Evangelion's plot:

1. Brain Powerd by Yoshiyuki Tomino: Protagonist with psychological issues, conspiracy, mecha, and other than the protagonist, almost every character has family issues. Noted to have too many similarities to Evangelion, with Tomino admitting as such, but he still had it made.

2. Gasaraki by Ryosuke Takahashi (not the Initial D character, the director of Fang Of The Sun Dougram and Armored Trooper VOTOMS): Protagonist with psychological issues on his place in his family, love interest who gets experimented on like the protagonist by his family, mecha, eldritch abominations, and a conspiracy. Only difference it has is Reincarnation Romance between the protagonist and love interest that also involves the eldritch abominations.

3. Xenogears: Protagonist with psychological issues, conspiracy, eldritch abomination not revealed until late in the game, Assimilation Plot like Evangelion's, heavy religious symbolism, and mecha. Difference is that the love interest was only a mother figure in one past life as this game also uses reincarnation romances, though there's a genetic relation theory that you can read up here.

4. Brought up here before, but I'll do so again to specify, Guilty Crown: Protagonist with psychological issues, love interest is genetically related to him, conspiracy, and mecha, though the protagonist is no pilot.

This reminds of a video by Digibro who talks about Evangelion's influence.

Giving a guy like that views is an insult, really.

Well, Evangelion was an infliential anime. I don't know how the video portrays that, but it is true.

&

I guess. I probably should link the Evageeks one instead.

Any reason for the enmity?

Marq, in your post number #9389, can you please consider me as well? Thanks

Sure! Speaking of which, I need to actually create a list so that I don't forget your names.

Don't forget me.

Wait what

Refer back to this post.

edited 24th Sep '17 7:49:45 AM by MarqFJA

@ Marq FJA amd L Dragon 2

I wish you luck in that endeavor.

*waves hand*