Neon Genesis Evangelion

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Cartoon Network (ended 1996)
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Show Summary

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A widely followed TV animation series with fascinating characters, a captivating sci-fi premise, dynamic battle scenes, and a super-high density of information that incorporates Judeo-Christian concepts and psychoanalysis as only a few of the elements that allowed Neon Genesis Evangelion to surpass the realm of all anime that had come before it and made a work worthy of the title "New Century (Neon Genesis)." The show began airing in October 1995 with the planning, original story and production handled by GAINAX, who had previously worked on such shows as Wings of Honneamise and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. Hideaki Anno, a representative creator of GAINAX, was at the heart of the production work and his individuality colors every aspect of the show. A manga version by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto began running one month prior to the series premiere and new chapters are still being produced.

Neon Genesis Evangelion had the ardent support of fans, and its popularity boomed even after it finished its first run in March of 1996. Its influence was not limited to anime fans but also spread to the general populace, and it was even called the third impact, following Space Battleship Yamato and Mobile Suit Gundam. At the height of the Eva boom in 1998, the theatrical Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion were released. The theatrical releases were created as a separate version of the climax depicted in the TV series. Four movies retelling the story of Evangelion (without GAINAX) are to follow in the coming years.

A good place for any Evangelion related information is the Neon Genesis Evangelion Wikipedia page.moreless
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Episode Guide

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S 1 :  Ep 26 Aired 3/27/96
S 1 :  Ep 25 Aired 3/20/96
S 1 :  Ep 24 Aired 3/13/96
S 1 :  Ep 23 Aired 3/6/96
S 1 :  Ep 22 Aired 2/28/96

Cast & Crew

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Fan Reviews (89)

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  • In future Japan, Angels are trying to destroy humanity. Evangelions are piloted by carefully selected teenagers, but what is the story behind the Evangelions?

    7.5
    "Good"
    By oxana, Jan 06, 2012 Report Abuse
    In future Japan, something called Angels are trying to destroy humanity altogether. Evangelions have been built for protection piloted by carefully selected teenagers but what is the actual story behind the Evangelions?

    I watched the show with its original Japanese voices. Not that it matters, concerning the story itself, I think.

    Neon Genesis Evangelion started out pretty well, grew stronger as it went, but honestly, the last four or so episodes totally threw me off the track - and not in the good way. Perhaps they were trying to dig too deep into into all the psychological aspectshe of this anime series . In my eyes, it was the worst ending possible.

    Either way, NGE looks good, and the characters get to evolve a little too. Most of them don't go too "overboard", either (a side to anime that I'm yet to get accustomed to). The art quality is the same from end to beginning, and very enjoyable to watch. Anyone who enjoys anime should like this one.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    1 0

  • A confusing, foggy quagmire of a series. Overrated.

    4.5
    "Poor"
    By Aweberman, Aug 02, 2010 Report Abuse
    So, everybody loves this show. Great show. Deep meaning. Watch it. Or don't. I was so fantastically disappointed by this show that I can barely put it into words.

    Let's start here: it's poorly plotted. In the first half of the series NOTHING HAPPENS. I don't want to hear about character development or any of that. They took twelve to fourteen episodes of this series to explain what could have been done in four. The flip side to this is in the last six episodes TOO MUCH HAPPENS. They have to wedge everything in and try to explain everything and mostly fail miserably. And don't even get me started on the last two episodes. What a mess.

    Another big flaw: it's poorly explained. I think there's a really interesting story here to be told. It's just told badly. I would go into the specific problems I have in more depth (Angels? Second Impact? Instrumentality?), but I'd probably just have people defending it and accusing me of ignorance. Suffice it to say that the show demands the viewer to figure out more than the viewer should have to. This is a flaw that afflicts too much "important anime" and I hate it.

    I understand that some of these flaws, most notably the horrible two-part ending, were fixed in subsequent DVD releases. But I'm rating the series as it stands: a lot of promise wasted.moreless

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    1 3

  • biggest dissapointment ive ever seen

    2.0
    "Terrible"
    By ssjcintron, Aug 02, 2010 Report Abuse
    this was a huge upset for me because i watch robot anime for the action it delivers such as Raxaphon, Zone of the Enders, (my personal fav) or Big O even. This series had way cool looken units, but the weapons sonsisted of a poket looking knife for a sword, and a ambilicocord for a power source. Who wants to watch a show where a pilot has a robot with a life support cord with only five minutes of power when the cord detaches from the body for cryen out loud!!!!moreless

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    1 12

  • While it is provacative, and is this really famous anime series, at the end of the day it's just another children inexplicably being able to pilot mechs anime.

    3.7
    "Bad"
    By imbacon, Aug 02, 2010 Report Abuse
    Neon Genesis Evangelion, alot of anime fanboys and fangirls have wet dreams about this show, I was recently exposed to it when Cartoon Network aired it during their Adult Swim block, the show has a few things going for it, but for the most part it falls into alot of the same conventions you'll find in almost every "Child pilots a big robot." anime, even though they aren't really robots. but the point is that ever since the likes of Gigantor, and up to the newest of Japan's mech anime offerings, they still rely on a format I just wish would DIE. Maybe if the pilots had been adults it would have been more believable and interesting, but this show falls face first and hits the ground hard, it's terrible!

    I'm an adult! Give me a Mecha anime with Adult characters.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    5 16

  • Shinji is ordered to NERV headquarters to meet his father, and the C--P! begins.

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By John666666666, Aug 02, 2010 Report Abuse
    Ok, this is perhaps the worst anime I've every seen, besides Naruto. First all the characters are annyoing, and they don't make you care about any of them. I was actually happy to see them die. I only wish Shinji died at the end. I really hated him.

    The second things is the animation sucked compared to the other anime that come out around 1997. Like Berserk and Record of Loddoss War.

    Finally the story. It's just plan terrible. It didn't make any sence. I'm all for anime and tv shows that make you think about the meaning of life and your own existance, but try to make a story that make sence. The ending was a big let down.

    For your information after watching this series I threw away the disks, and $100.00 I wasted on this series. I didn't even try to sell it. I wanted to save anyone else the pain and misery of watching this show.

    Now if you want to watch great anime that makes you think. Try RahXephon and Eureka Seven. You\\\\\\\'ll be much happier watching these shows.

    I almost forgot I rented both the crappy movies. I would skip those also. What a let down, I was kind of hopeing it they would at least try.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    2 20
 

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