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EVANGELION.
Mention this word in front of any anime fan and you will see their eyes light
up. Neon Genesis Evangelion or Shin Seiki Evangelion, has become the anime
phenomenon of the 90's and the most controversial anime ever produced. Where
anime like MACROSS PLUS raised the bar for animation, Neon Genesis Evangelion
raised the bar for story telling, and has changed the face of anime since then.
Creator Hideaki Anno envisioned an anime full of giant insect looking mechs,
action, suspense and psychological drama. But little known is that Anno was
actually clinically depressed and when he wrote EVA he was off his Prozac. EVA
mirrors his feelings of confusion, pain and sense of loss. Though it is
unfortunate that Anno went through mental problems it is those very problems
which make this show so powerful because his experiences are reflected in each
other characters. Whether it be Asuka's ego or Shinji's frailness we feel Anno's
pain.
The main story of this groundbreaking anime revolves around a young boy, Shinji
Ikari, being called by his dad to help stop a menace that devastated half the
Earth only 15 yrs ago. Shinji meets other children who have been recruited and
with them he pilots huge robots called Evangelions. Throughout the series these
children as well as their adult companions must sort out personal issues while
confronting a great evil of unknown origin. EVA explores the themes of parental
responsibilities, relationships with others and facing reality. These messages
are so strong that they overshadow the action and
suspense of EVA.
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