Neon Genesis Evangelionhas been one of the most successful franchises in anime for the better part of three decades. Often considered the series that helped revive the art form during a turbulent period for the Japanese economy,Evangelion, and the mythical nature surrounding the series, has become legendary.
A major reason for that is just how confusing the series is. From the number of strangely titled numbered films, to just how unconventional the story being told is, nothing aboutEvangelionis really accessible, whichmakes its incredible success so surprising. The most confusing aspect of the series is its ending, which has become divisive in the years since its premiere.
However, to some, that ending is one of the greatest, most emotional and profound finales in anime history. It might take a couple of watches to truly get a grasp on everything that’s going on, or why what’s happening is actually happening. But when it clicks, it really works.
Evangelion Is Confusing, But Worth Jumping Into
The Series Has A Lot in Store For Those Willing to Dive Into It
Hideaki Anno once calledEvangelionpretentious. It can be argued, but he also poured every ounce of himself into that pretentious franchise for 25 years, and it shows in the final product. The religious symbolism might not mean much, but the themes on display will always be relevant.
It’s fair to believe that Hideaki Anno bit off a bit more than he could chew withEvangelion. He famously jumped into production without much of an outline, and by the show’s halfway point, any plan was thrown away,and Anno and Gainax were forced into writing and producing episodes week-to-week.
Still, even after largely abandoning the plot to deliver the introspective and highly psychological episodes #25 and #26, the original finale ofNeon Genesis Evangelionis harrowing and incredibly effective. When realizing that what he initially planned wouldn’t fit into the runtime of two episodes, Anno’s intended ending was saved for 1997’sThe End of Evangelion.
Instead, he made the brave, if not bizarre, choice to strip away the events of the physical world,and set the series' last episodes in the minds of its characters. High-energy and stylish fights between Angels and robots were replaced with Shinji’s arrival at the realization that he needs others, even if living is hard and making connections can be painful.
The final ‘congratulations’ scene remains a tear-jerker, driving home what exactly the journey into the minds of these characters was for, while the acoustic “Good, or Don’t Be” adds to the triumphant mood, celebrating the fact that both Shinji and the audience made it out ofEvangelionalive.
It Might Be Divisive, But Evangelion’s Ending Works
Evangelion’s Metaphysical Finale Hasn’t Pleased Everyone, But It’s Highly Effective
WhenEvangelionbegan approaching its finale, the third Rei was revived, Asuka was comatose, and Shinji was on the brink of a total meltdown. Kaworu, the latest Angel made of Adam, was killed, and the only antagonist left for the pilots to fight was Nerv itself and Gendo Ikari.
None of that was present duringEvangelion’s final two episodes,and instead the audience works through Human Instrumentality alongside Shinji, seeing and feeling what he and the others are sharing in their hivemind state. Just before the credits roll, Shinji comes to the realization that it’s okay for him to live, and that reality can be whatever he makes it, rejecting instrumentality.
Evangelionwas never really about the giant robot fights. It was always an exploration, or even a study, of the deeply flawed cast at the heart of the story.
The direct danger played little role in the original 1996 ending, and that wasn’t just fine, it was extremely effective.Evangelionwas never really about the giant robot fights. It was always an exploration, or even a study, of the deeply flawed cast at the heart of the story.
To see that cast, especially Shinji and Asuka, who struggled mightily throughout the series' events, reach a mind state in which they’ve actively chosen to liveis far more important than any large-scale final battle could be.
Evangelion’s Many Endings Only Add to the Effectiveness of the Original
Evangelion’s Many Films Compliment the Message Relayed in the Series' Original Ending
FollowingEvangelion’s original TV finale, 1997’sThe End of Evangeliontold a semi-alternate ending, which acted more as an in-depth retelling of the events of episodes #25 and #26. The tone of the film is a bit darker than what the original communicated, but the message at the center of it all remained the same:“Anywhere can be paradise as long as you have the will to live.”
The later rebuilds are where the narrative takes a bit of a left-turn, actually delivering an alternate version of the story with major differences. Still, by the time the credits roll on 2021’sEvangelion 3.0+1.0, the central themes all remain the same, proving that the series' original finale wasn’t just great, it was perfect for the story being told.
Neon Genesis Evangelionis one of the most successful anime franchises in history, even though it seems at times to do everything in its power to not be. Despite how confusing it appears in just about every aspect of the show, it’sthe hopeful message at the heart of all the despairthat has kept it so damn popular.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Cast
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese animated television series created by Hideaki Anno. The show follows teenagers piloting giant mechs called Evangelions, tasked with defending Earth from mysterious beings known as Angels. As they confront these threats, they also grapple with personal and psychological issues.
