Alternative Title: Shin Seki Evangelion

Episodes: 26

Year: 1995

Status: Complete, Licensed by ADV Films

Neon Genesis Evangelion Official Site (Japanese)

Rating: Great

This is a classic anime series from 1995-1996 that is a must-watch for any serious anime fan. The series is set in a apocalyptic / post-apocalyptic world where Angels (which take the form of giant robots) are descending to earth to destroy everything. The narrative follows the paramilitary organization NERV which fights the invading Angels using their own giant mecha called Evangelions. These Evangelions are poiloted by the teenagers Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Soryu. These characters are portrayed as protagonists as they each have their own flaws, from being a spineless wimp (Shinji) to other dynamics that arise between the interactions of the leads. The female characters Asuka, Rei, and Misato became cultural icons due to their attractive designs.

Neon Genesis has a lot of biblical themes to it and includes a large amount of Judeo Christian symbols through the entire series. This adds an interesting dimension to the storyline and adds more depth to an already interesting story. The secret organization also has aspects of international politics as countries other than Japan band together as well to fight off the invading monsters. There are some really nice fight scenes in this anime. If you enjoy destruction, apocalypse, and aren’t too offended by massive amounts of blood than you will enjoy this one.

The later episodes also have a drastic change in tone—some of it actually feels unfinished (I believe the writer left before finishing the final episodes) so there is a change in feel near the end. It turns into a emotional/psychological thriller as the end game plays out between NERV and the Angels in a very climatic end. This postmodern ending might confuse some viewers and even piss off the more sensitive, so it might be worth skipping the final two episodes. There is also a movie version that cuts out some of the extra scenes (some of them just make you cringe a little) and cuts down on the fluff. Overall, this is a classic story and I recommend to anyone not overly sensitive to the inevitable gore and blood that stains the fight scenes. It is also worth noting that Evangelion spawned a few knock-off animes, one of them being the lesser Rahxephon series that features a very similar story and protagonist.