Story
Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of the popular animes in the Mecha genre. Though, the anime doesn't really focus on the mecha as much as the psychological aspects of the show which shapes the story and allows the narrative to progress forward. The progression of the story might seem slow to some due to its repetitous tone but that's exactly what makes it unique. Evangelion as the name suggests makes use of biblical themes which I believe are used as a metaphor to some of the scenarios in the storyline but are also depicted as ironic in terms of the outcome. The show utilizes the emotions of its characters as a plot device while furthering the events of the story based on what's going on in their world. Although it might be a little confusing in the end, it does give off a fitting and unique conclusion to the character's arcs. Overall I would say the story is well-built and despite the time of its release, is still definitely a unique classical masterpiece to this day.

Characters

What truly makes Evangelion very compelling are the characters. Throughout the show, you will find yourself being frustrated with the characters and might even drop it because of their actions. The show gives more detail to the psychology of each character showing their complexity and emphasizing that although these may be the heroes we follow, their mindset isn't entirely black and white. Each of the characters has a grey area that can go a little twisted at times in a moral perspective. Although you might not root for the characters and at times their actions might even disgust you as a viewer, the anime does a real job of portraying the growth and demise of each of the characters in a way that you may empathize with them or just naturally hate them. A lot of the characters may seem mysterious even by the end of the show but if you pay attention the details are there. Anyways I spent time watching a number of analysis videos after watching the show so who am I to talk about details lmao.

Some of the characters I would like to talk about further would be Asuka and Shinji. Spoilers for those who have not seen Evangelion.

Spoiler, click to view

Asuka First I want to talk more about one of my personal favorite characters of all in Anime History which is Asuka Langley Soryu. Arguably the most popular character on Evangelion and the character that popularized the tsundere trope. This girl might outright appear as some abusive German chick to a lot of viewers but that's not all there is to her character. What makes her different from most tsundere we see nowadays is that she is actually a tsundere for a reason. Her tragic past shaped her into becoming what she is now. Being seen as a doll by her mother who's gone mentally ill and becoming an outcast from the people around her. All she wanted was to be loved and she shows that's what she wants by trying to save the world in order to get recognition for her deeds but even that doesn't fill the empty hole in her heart. She wants to be seen and truly appreciated by someone but her ego and her aggressive nature which developed as a result of her past disrupts her chances with our main character Shinji. Although that is the case, her being aggressive is her actually trying to avoid being too attached as she believes that attachments to people will hurt her more like how her attachment to her mom gave her so much pain. She is probably one of the most relatable characters of the show and that's one of the reasons I love her. She is a very misunderstood character but nevertheless tries to open up and be closer with some of our characters through suggestive means.

Shinji

Throughout the series, viewers might see him as annoying and a coward but we must understand his psyche and the absolute heck that he's been put through out of nowhere. Shinji Ikari our main character is very similar to Asuka, he is also someone who is afraid of attachments because of how his dad treated him but has a very different way of avoiding attachments. Unlike Asuka who acts aggressively in order to protect herself and the other people around her from these attachments, Shinji simply neglects to talk to people in a shy and calm manner. He's basically a shut-in but for a good reason. After losing his mother years ago, his dad has basically become stone cold and doesn't even talk to him like a son. He sees him as more of a tool rather than his biological offspring. Hey! This calls for a "Father of the Year Award". Jokes aside, this ruins his own self-image and prevents him from ever trying to praise himself for any achievements. Poor Shinji, if only his old man treated him better. Asuka and Shinji's dynamic definitely could've saved each other, to me Asuka was definitely the moral compass that Shinji needed vice versa.

There are only so many characters in the show whose psychology contradicts the way you feel about them. Although Shinji's dad wasn't the best of fathers even his personality can be pretty understandable. This show just has too many well-written characters to mention and don't even get me started with Misato, Rei, and Kaji. A lot of the Evangelion characters can be deplorable and might make the show hard to watch but that just shows how well written the characters are. Overall seeing the characters interact and develop in this show is the major reason this show is a masterpiece.

For those of y'all who want to watch analysis videos on some of the characters I personally prefer these:

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Entertainment

The tone of this anime might not be for the faint of heart and not just because it's dark and depressing but because it might feel soulless and tedious for a lot of viewers. Although there are a number of battles throughout the show, the moments and emphasis are more focused than the Mecha & Action. So for all you mecha fans seeking huge and massive entertaining fights from Robots and Monsters, this might not be your type of show. A lot of times there are still shots that might take too long which actually focuses more on the moment of the scene and gives you time to absorb what's happening. The audio might feel monotonous to some and you can hardly hear any audio at times but it's actually what helps set the psychological tone of the series. Nevertheless, the show does have its light-hearted moments and fun times for the characters. For its time, it's definitely a shocker, one which allows even you as an audience to question your own sanity. For many people out there, this might not be your type of anime and that's ok. Not everybody has to like something just because it's popular and adhered to be good but for me this show is a unique masterclass and proves to show that entertainment doesn't always have to follow the same formula.