Neon Genesis Evagelion ?? (1 Viewer)

[Kristoffer]

Okay I just bought my first Robotech DVD on it was a trailer for Neon Genesis Evagelion. What is this show about, where do I start ? And how long does it go on from??
( Thats my only complaint about Anime it just goes on forever!! No body has the money to buy all those episodes! I know I don't! )

Is it any good??
And what about Gasaraky as well, this looks very stylish indeed! Anyone seen it?


I also have Akira, Ghost in the shell, Princess Mononoke and Perfect Blue on dvd.

 

[TheLongshot]

And what about Gasaraky as well, this looks very stylish indeed! Anyone seen it?

I assume you mean Gasaraki. I've only seen the first two DVDs so far. Definitly trying to be a little more "realistic", even with some of the mystical stuff in it. It still has my interest. I'll just need to see where it goes.

Jason

 

[Morgan Jolley]

I am one of the people who loves Evangelion.

It's a bit tedious as some points, there are a few episodes that seem to just drag on, but there are also moments that are shocking and amazing. It's not your typical giant robot anime, and the drama in the series stems from things beyond the "I'm depressed because of the pressure of piloting a giant robot." In fact, they're technically not even robots.

Check out the first DVD. Just keep in mind it gets depressing and darker near the end.

 

[Rob Lutter]

Neon Genesis Evangelion is around my third favorite anime series... it's a REALLY cool series. I would check out the first disc of the series before you get the boxset (which can be had for ~$100).

It has everything... it's a comedy at one moment, drama the next, and ultimately a huge MIND FUCK for the viewer in the end. End of Evangelion is one of my favorite anime movies, but it would make no sense w/o seeing the entire series (Death and Rebirth is great, but not really essential)

 

[TheLongshot]

Just as a note, if you are interested in Gasaraki, RightStuf has a deal this week for the box set for $64.99.

www.rightstuf.com

Jason

 

[ShaunS]

Add me to the list of those highly recommending Evangelion. I've seen about half a dozen full series so far and it is so far ahead of the others in terms of plot and characters that I don't think I'll ever find anything better.

I'm currently introducing my gf to Escaflowne (also HIGHLY recommend). We're just about 1/3 of the way through it and she hasn't made me turn it off. In fact she even said she was "riveted" when Hitomi's heart stopped. I'm planning on attempting Evangelion on her next. (Wish me luck)

ShaunS

 

[StephenC]

Words cannot describe the beauty which is Evangelion.

 

[Edwin-S]

Rent Neon Genesis Evangelion first, if you can. That way you may be less disappointed when you see what a f@#$ed up job they did with the ending. It is a good example of incompetence at a series planning stages. The movie that lots of guys are touting as an explanation of the TV series ending isn't as much of an explanation as they like to believe. The series had some pretty good aspects which ended up drowning in a sea of mystical symbology and mumbo jumbo. The series and the movies have some impressive visual imagery. Too bad the story ended up a convoluted mess. It really had potential.

 

[Michael Morris]

Truly on the the great animes. It starts out throwing you right into the action and really doesn't stop until the last episode. Occasionally it drags a bit but that kind of thing happens so what are you going to do? The ending was very crazy and if you aren't prepared to really think about it then I would recommend not watching it. The ending in end of eva is the same way, they assault the viewer with visuals but it is often hard to truly make any kind of sense out of it. Overall I was very impressed with the series even though the ending was a bit of a let down.


Escaflowne is also a truly good anime. Great opening song and good action sequences. The ending episodes were a bit disappointing again as i would have felt more fulfilled had van and Hitomi stayed together. But you can't always get what you want so overall i am very happy with the series.

 

[Morgan Jolley]

The ending of the series is extremely unsettling (not disturbing, but more aggravating), but that's because the original ending was not used due to many problems with the series and the movie ending is a bit "out there". Personally, I think the ending is fitting for the series.

BTW, they're making a series that takes place before NGE. If you watch NGE, there is an episode near the last third or so of the series that explains where NERV came from, and the new series is going to expand on that.

 

[ShaunS]

Is the upcoming re-release of this series adding much to the original? What sort of price tag will the set have? I have this series on VCD as old fan subs and am considering upgrading. I think the new set will be 5.1?

ShaunS

P.S. I'm with Morgan on the ending. Too often if anime makes you think it is automatically considered a "Mind-F**K". The ending does, I think, make sense. What is the story behind it versus the movie ending? Was the director not allowed to end it the way he wanted to? I found the ending to the series much more coherent than that of the film.

 

[Morgan Jolley]

What is the story behind it versus the movie ending? Was the director not allowed to end it the way he wanted to? I found the ending to the series much more coherent than that of the film

The series ending wasn't used because of pressure from the Japanese PTA to stop the series and because the high budget for all the other 24 episodes left them with little money for the last 2, so they adapted the ending so the same points got across, but it cost less to make. The original scripts were changed a little and then used for the movie. I heard that there were scenes from the movie that got cut of Shinji, Rei, Asuka, and so on played by real-life actors, to sort of push the same theme as a similar scene in the last episode.

I found the series ending to be a little more enjoyable in some ways. I'm an editing whore, though. I LOVE good editing jobs, which is pretty much all of D&R. As for more coherent, I'd say both endings together explain all the important stuff, though the series ending is more final than the movie, and yet more bizarre and surreal, while the movie ending is more open, and yet more real.

 

[Rob Lutter]

Is the upcoming re-release of this series adding much to the original? What sort of price tag will the set have? I have this series on VCD as old fan subs and am considering upgrading. I think the new set will be 5.1?

The new set is indeed in 5.1 and restored, but unless you speak fluent Japanese... the set isn't going to do you much good. As with most Region 2 Japanese anime TV releases, there are no English subtitles.

There are no plans to bring the set over here (Gainax wants BUKU $$$)

 

[Edwin-S]

NGE ended up suffering the same disease as Please Save My Earth. PSME had good animation, a fairly complex story and lots of plot threads started. All of a sudden it was like someone woke up and realized that they only had two episodes left to tell their story. Plot points were truncated or just disappeared.....never to be resolved. The last two episodes ended being some kind of disjointed pastiche that never actually tied anything up.

The people involved in making NGE did the same thing. One day they emerged from their haze of bong smoke and realized, "hey, we only have a couple of episodes left, better wrap this puppy up somehow". The solution is less than satisfactory. They didn't do quite as shitty a job wrapping things up as the crew making PSME did......but it was close.

 

[Morgan Jolley]

One day they emerged from their haze of bong smoke and realized, "hey, we only have a couple of episodes left, better wrap this puppy up somehow". The solution is less than satisfactory

Well...what did they not explain or wrap up in the last two episodes/movies?

 

[Edwin-S]

Well...what did they not explain or wrap up in the last two episodes/movies?

My comments were directed at the originating TV series, so that is what I will address. It has been awhile since I saw this series so I am going by memory.

1)They never resolve anything regarding Shinji's poor relationship with his father.

2)The instrumentality project storyline fades into oblivion with out resolution.

3)The conspiracy plot that is built up throughout the series fades into oblivion with out resolution.

4)There is never any real explanation as to what or who the angels really are or why they are on the attack.

Those are just a few things that I can remember off the top of my head. If I was to rewatch the series I am sure I could find more.

 

[ShaunS]

Edwin,

I agree that the show is challenging, try checking out the following Evangelion FAQ. I think it does a good job at answering a lot of questions and filling in alot of blanks. Especially check out some of the info related to the creator of the show. After finding out a little background on the personal problems of Hideaki Anno I came to a fuller appreciation of what the show is really all about.

ShaunS


"Evangelion is like a puzzle, you know. Any
person can see it and give his/her own
answer. In other words, we're offering
viewers to think by themselves, so that each
person can imagine his/her own world. We
will never offer the answers, even in the
theatrical version. As for many Evangelion
viewers, they may expect us to provide the
'all-about Eva' manuals, but there is no
such thing. Don't expect to get answers by
someone. Don't expect to be catered to all
the time. We all have to find our own
answers." -PA #43, translated by Miyako Graham from 11/96 Newtype

 

[Morgan Jolley]

Those are just a few things that I can remember off the top of my head. If I was to rewatch the series I am sure I could find more

 

[Edwin-S]

Either that or you would find that they're all answered. No offense, but you obviously didn't put enough effort into figuring it out.

No offense taken. I,personally, believe that you are introducing material into your argument that is coming from other sources than just the series or the films. That angels "explanation" of yours makes it quite apparent to me.

 

[Morgan Jolley]

That angels "explanation" of yours makes it quite apparent to me

I'm not sure exactly, but I think it's from the second movie where Misato is explaining to Shinji about how the Angels are other forms that could have been the dominant life form on Earth besides humans. It's said many times in the series that the Angels are made from Adam and are trying to return to him. And somewhere else they mention the "Fruit of Life/Knowledge" thing (which explains the S2 engine and has biblical basis).

If you have specific questions, not general ones, then ask I'll do my best to explain them.