Film Roar

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995)

Do you like Mecha (Giant Fighting Robots)? Then how about Mecha with a hard core psychodrama edge, a rich story line, character development and a pseudo-scientific psycho-edge that rivals the twisted imaginations of David Lynch? Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995) is a series of 26, half hour Anime episodes centered on a sixteen year old boy recruited to pilot a giant fighting robot in defense of Neo-Tokyo. As with most Mecha there is action interspersed with comedy and lots and LOTS of massive scale urban destruction. Unlike other series though Neon Genesis quickly delves down beneath the façade of the characters and into their, sometimes desperate, inner turmoil. Rejected as inconsequential by his father who now rules the secretive government organization that funds the Evangelion project, Shinji flies into outbursts of anger and deep depression as he tries to come to term with his undesired role in the battle to save the earth. An ever-present sexual tension with his outwardly upbeat roommate and governess Misato as well as with the other Evangelion pilots only helps to put Shinji in a more uncomfortable and confused state. Armed with apocalyptic mythos, including references to Judaic Cabalism, conspiracy, government cover-ups (the devastation caused by Shinji's near fatal loss of control during the first major battle is quickly covered up) and unexplained oddities (Misato's pet hyper intelligent penguin who lives in the apartment freezer for example) Neon Genesis aspires beyond the domain of soap-opera that is usual for this genre and into the realm of the artistic. The series is at times disturbing, often engrossing and mostly good fun for lovers of Anime.