The hedgehog’s dilemma is an analogy for how human intimacy causes pain, how people, despite seeking the warmth of connections, choose to shut themselves off in fear of getting themselves hurt. Neon Genesis Evangelion, the critically acclaimed 1995 series which was born out of Hideaki Anno’s clinical depression, delves into this aspect of human nature.

At first glance, its just another typical mecha anime just like the trend of the 90s animes packed with cool looking robot designs, and a heavy dose of action and gore. Except- Evangelion is nothing like that. It serves as a deconstruction of the mecha genre by painting the painful truth of reality along with presenting us with a remarkable sci-fi plot about a post apocalyptic universe. The plot revolves around a 14 year old boy Shinji Ikari who is forced to pilot giant machines called ‘evangelions’ for the aggressive fight against alien like creatures called angels who attack the Earth. The show gives more importance to the conflicts every character has to face. What makes Evangelion special is its wonderful set of characters who seem to appear incredibly ‘human’ which is quite rare for its genre. Over the course of the 26 episode series, we’re repeatedly faced with questions that dive deep into the philosophical aspects of human nature. We’re presented with characters who desperately try to escape the harsh reality they’re in, which ultimately culminates into the manifestation of that desire. The series is heavily influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis, and other psychological theories which try to unravel the mysteries of the mind. My personal analysis of the series leads me to believe that the show has also touched on topics like misogyny and sexism subtly while portraying the agony of women at instances. The show also portrays the vicious effects of trauma, isolation and lack of affection. The show has also been known for the extensive religious symbolism and portrayal of a mysterious secret society, something that feels quite like the illuminati. The series is excellent at being raw and realistic despite being a story about robots and monsters. The show is crafted so carefully that incredible detail and attention is imparted to every single scene almost distinguishing it from every other show that came before it. It's not surprising that there is a cinematographic technique named the Evangelion shot in film making. The famous escalator scene has also managed to tell its audience how unique Evangelion is.
In a nutshell, Neon Genesis Evangelion is a series about self acceptance layered within a deeply complex sci-fi post-apocalyptic mecha plot and it is something that you should definitely watch in your lifetime for the sake of the moral it imparts even if it isn’t quite everybody’s cup of tea.