MrMallard
Since: Oct, 2010
04/30/2012 00:00:00
I agree; this series is indeed lifechanging. I can relate to Shinji's feelings of self-hate, because i've been down that road before. and so has Hideaki Anno. Shinji's emotional state in the series is based off of his depression; it's basically tailor-made for depressed people.
The finest pinnacle of the series has got to be the ending. It's Mr Anno telling you, the viewer, "You can be happy on a rainy day, or you can be sad on a sunny day. You feel what you WANT to feel" and after seeing Shinji break down his existence and finally be truly happy, for the first time in the series, YOU feel happy too. Bravo, Gainax.
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"Life-changing" is rarely a phrase awarded to an anime, but Eva is deserving
Evangelion is one of the rare pieces of media I consider to be truly "life-changing". And not just the first time I watched it, but EVERY time. I have seen the show in its entirety 11 times, and each time my understanding of the themes and messages of the show is enriched and elevated.
What you need to know is this: This show demands a LOT from its viewers. A lot of thought, patience, artistic indulgence, and a good dose of suspension of disbelief. If you don't think that exerting all that for the sake of entertainment (especially when that entertainment is potentially heart/brain-breaking and therefore might not be all that fun for you) then this is NOT the show for you. And that is OK. But if you feel that you can meet that kind of intellectual and emotional demand, you will be rewarded with more then you ever hoped for. There is a good reason that this show is practically a way of life for some people, do yourself a favor and find out why.
Even the supposed faults of this show are important and integral to the work as a whole. Yes, Evangelion is now painfully dated in a visual sense. But that only serves to underscore just how unique and revolutionary this show was in it's time(and continues to be today). Yes, some artistic decisions were made mostly because of budget drain. But that only highlights Hideki Anno's creative genius in story-telling, cinematography, and being a BAMF. Yes, the religious symbolism was originally chosen for its "look". But even a cursory examination will reveal it to be exceptionally well researched and integrated into the plot in such a way that it adds a whole other level of meaning.
You have heard about the characterization, the symbolism, the themes, the plot etc...and if you haven't you can easily look them up. I won't go into them here other then to say that I now hold all other media up to the Evangelion paradigm and very few movies/shows/books measure up.
Some great things not often talked about: The action direction is phenomenal. There is a characterization to the movement that you won't see in other mech shows. The Japanese voice acting is superb. Megumi Ogata as Shinji is a standout. And the soundtrack is unpredictably awesome.
Overall: This show is art. And like art, its not always easy to understand. But it is a exquisite expression of what it means to be alive.