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[SD-Ness]

N G Evangelion is good but overrated. Judging by its popularity, I thought it would be a lot better than it is. I’ve known about this series for years but just never watched it. After rewatching FLCL on Netflix, I decided to give NGE a try.

Yes, the animation is top-notch. The designs are awesome. The overall concept is engaging.

While the story has some philosophical components, it isn’t as complex and subtle as I was hoping. While there are some dark, psychological moments, they’re not that dark. The narrative just isn’t fleshed out. I think it could have benefited from more episodes and slower pacing.

I feel like the characters are also underdeveloped. I don’t feel attached to any of them. The characters are all damaged or sick in some way, which is maybe why this is the case, but probably not.

I also find the battles with the Angels totally random and ridiculous.

Anyway, what does GAF think? Am I missing something? Did I not understand some of it? Or is this just an instance of popularity not necessarily being coexistent with quality?

 

[ultron87]

Did you watch End of Evangelion?

Very important for how this discussion goes.

 

[Risette]

You missed it.

 

[Orayn]

Did you watch End of Evangelion?

Very important for how this discussion goes.

This. It's very important to the overall plot, and will fill your brain with several kinds of fuck.

EDIT: EoE is basically the ending Gainax wanted the series to have, but their budget ran really, really low near the end.

 

[SD-Ness]

Did you watch End of Evangelion?

Very important for how this discussion goes.

I have not. I'm planning to watch the films tonight. Just discussing 1-26 right now.

 

[Kinyou]

Did you watch End of Evangelion?

Very important for how this discussion goes.

Just wanted to ask the same.

 

[Veritas_]

Evangelion tends to be very hit or miss for most people. You didn't happen to like it, nothing wrong with that. I will second ultron on this that it is rather mandatory to have seen EoE.

 

[Dresden]

The only truly important question:

Rei or Asuka?

 

[RomanticHeroX]

You're not missing anything, it's just a bad show all around. It hides behind a dense layer of meaningless religious symbolism and technobabble in a desperate attempt to hide how shallow and cliche it really is. Some of the imagery is neat though.

 

[Orayn]

The only truly important question:

Rei or Asuka?

In all seriousness, who gave a care about Rei? She was pretty much written to have no personality, and what little development she experiences is more depressing than interesting or engaging. Asuka is, like, a real character.

You're not missing anything, it's just a bad show all around. It hides behind a dense layer of meaningless religious symbolism and technobabble in a desperate attempt to hide how shallow and cliche it really is. Some of the imagery is neat though.

The symbolism isn't as OMGDEEP as some claim it to be, but it's far from meaningless. There are a ton of feminine symbols and allegory to creation myths.

 

[Dresden]

In all seriousness, who gave a care about Rei? She was pretty much written to have no personality, and what little development she experiences is more depressing than interesting or engaging. Asuka is, like, a real character.

"real character" - Asuka

vs.

"waifu" - Rei

 

[The Return of]

I honestly didn't know this show was that popular till last year and that's when I decided to watch it. I mean it's okay show i guess. I wouldn't put it in my top 20.

I pretty much agree with everything you said and I've seen both endings of the show.

 

[Risette]

You're not missing anything, it's just a bad show all around. It hides behind a dense layer of meaningless religious symbolism and technobabble in a desperate attempt to hide how shallow and cliche it really is. Some of the imagery is neat though.

It's not a bad show. Top notch direction & visual storytelling.

 

[bigboss370]

I agree, its overrated. I also watched it because of the high praise...its good, but not that good.

 

[ultron87]

RahXephon did it better.

 

[Kinyou]

The only truly important question:

Rei or Asuka?

Trick question cause it's Misato

 

[Lafiel]

I don't think the writing or storytelling in evangelion is particularly special, in fact it comes off as pretty damn terrible at times, the execution and direction however is ace, that and the characterization is probably where most of the praise for the series comes from.

Also definitely watch End of Evangelion, if only for DAT scene, avoid rebuild however!

 

[B.K.]

I have not. I'm planning to watch the films tonight. Just discussing 1-26 right now.

Don't bother with Death and Rebirth. It's a waste of time. Did you watch the director's cuts of episodes 21-24?

 

[FrontalMonk]

Eva is an okay show. I get why it was so awesome and groundbreaking, but it just wasn't my bag at all.

I went to Otakon a few years ago with an Eva shirt on and used it to strike up a conversation with another congoer who was halfway into the line to cut in. The guy realized after we were chatting for like 10 minutes, and was like "hey, you just wanted to cut in line, didn't you?" and when I said "yeah, pretty much" he chuckled and we kept talking. Felt good, man.

 

[Fox318]

My favorite show.

Everything about it I love but I can see why people wouldn't like the second half of the show.

 

[Regulus Tera]

Yes, the animation is top-notch.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh wow

 

[sixteen-bit]

I'm just watching the remake blurays as they come out. I've seen 1.11 and 2.22. I think they're okay. I probably would really like them if I were much younger.

 

[Lafiel]

RahXephon did it better.

Hell nawww

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Agree with the OP. It's not too brilliant in the storytelling department (though I wouldn't argue that it was not a little revolutionary for its time), and yes, very well animated most of the time (Gainax is one of the best at this) .

Best opening ever though

 

[lunarworks]

Since EVA's been rehashed by countless other anime series in the past 15 years it kinda of loses its impact if you're watching it for the first time now. But when it came out it was really something else.

 

[Regulus Tera]

The only truly important question:

Rei or Asuka?

Hikari!

 

[Gospel]

I have not. I'm planning to watch the films tonight. Just discussing 1-26 right now.

Your perception of it all will change after watching End of E. I was kind of in the same boat with you before watching that movie.

 

[Risette]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Oh wow

Eva has top notch mechanical animation. Everybody who was anybody at the time worked on it, essentially.

 

[JordanLMiller]

I'm just watching the remake blurays as they come out. I've seen 1.11 and 2.22. I think they're okay. I probably would really like them if I were much younger.

I made the brilliant decision to wait until all the movies are done before watching any of them :/

 

[Regulus Tera]

Eva has top notch mechanical animation. Everybody who was anybody at the time worked on it, essentially.

The animation in EVA is too inconsistent for it to be considered top notch.

Anno found ways to work around that, but there are times when the thing looks ugly as fuck.

 

[Fox318]

I made the brilliant decision to wait until all the movies are done before watching any of them :/

You should enjoy them all in 2089.

They are the slowest production studio in the world.

 

[Kisaya]

Sorta felt like that with Cowboy Bebop, still loved that though.

Sounds like you watched it with impossibly high expectations, due to years and years of sucking on its hype before you finally watched it. Too bad. If you'd discovered it back in 1997 you probably would have felt differently.

Definitely this.

 

[Risette]

The animation in EVA is too inconsistent for it to be considered top notch.

Anno found ways to work around that, but there are times when the thing looks ugly as fuck.

The mechanical animation is consistently top notch.

 

[Jex]

Yes, you should clearly watch the End of Evangelion.

Also, this thread is joining a fine tradition:

2004: I just finished watching Evangelion. Questions... [Spoilers, dur) http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9886&highlight=evangelion

2004: "WTF is wrong with me? The more I think about it, the more I like Evangelion." http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11106&highlight=evangelion

2004: End of Evangelion Rocks you Fux http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19756&highlight=evangelion

2005: So I watched Evangelion yesterday http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68932&highlight=evangelion

2006: neon genesis evangelion is so dumb http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84377&highlight=evangelion

2006: Late to the Party: End of Evangelion http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129945&highlight=evangelion

2007: End of Evangelion (Could you explain me the very end?) SPOILERS http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160186&highlight=evangelion

2008: So about Neon Genesis Evangelion http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224442&highlight=evangelion

2008: Evangelion: should I continue to watch it? http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=305517&highlight=evangelion

2008: so lttp: NG Evangelion [Spoilers, dur) http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=339215&highlight=evangelion

2008: Evangelion experts: explanations needed SPOILERS SPOILERS http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=347032&highlight=evangelion

2010: I just saw Evangelion for the first time. Needless to say, I'm very angry.(Spoilers) http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=405653&highlight=evangelion

2010: LTTP: Evangelion or WTF WAS THAT ENDING??? http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=413752&highlight=evangelion

2011: Just Finished End of Evangelion http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=437553&highlight=evangelion

 

[Regulus Tera]

The mechanical animation is consistently top notch.

The show is about 75% non-mecha and 25% mecha, so my comment remains applicable!

 

[Risette]

The show is about 75% non-mecha and 25% mecha, so my comment remains applicable!

It does not.

 

[ultron87]

Man, 2008 was a big year for Eva threads.

 

[Chuckie]

My favorite show.

Everything about it I love but I can see why people wouldn't like the second half of the show.

My favorite too. I loved the second half of the show better than the first though.

 

[Krev]

My favorite show.

Everything about it I love but I can see why people wouldn't like the second half of the show.

Yeah, I feel the same.

I guess it clicks with you or it doesn't. I feel extremely attached to almost all the major characters. I love the 'random and ridiculous' quality of the angel battles.

If the OP was expecting subtle though, yeah, I fully understand how he'd be underwhelmed. Evangelion is about as subtle as a sledgehammer.

 

[Jex]

Man, 2008 was a big year for Eva threads.

Well Rebuild of Evangelion came out towards the end of 2007, so I guess it makes sense.

 

[entremet]

I enjoyed it. Cowboy Bebop is still GOAT, tho.

 

[Jo Shishido's Cheeks]

Watching EoE is in no way mandatory or even necessary to understanding Eva, it's all their in the original series. OP it just sounds like you didn't get it. I don't mean to be dismissive in any way, but the show simply does not work if you fail to have empathy for anybody.

 

[Puddles]

Shinji is the worst protagonist in history.

 

[disappeared]

2007: End of Evangelion (Could you explain me the very end?) SPOILERS http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=160186&highlight=evangelion

Lots of good info (and lots of banned people!) in that thread.

 

[Fugu]

I'm watching it right now for the first time. I'm halfway through and I'm loving it. I'm a little scared to read posts in this thread though because I don't want any of it spoiled for me.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Shinji is the worst protagonist in history.

This too.

 

[MetatronM]

In all seriousness, who gave a care about Rei? She was pretty much written to have no personality, and what little development she experiences is more depressing than interesting or engaging. Asuka is, like, a real character.

A terrible character, yes.

Eva is a show filled with the worst most unlikable characters imaginable. How these shitty characters (ALL of them) have fans is really beyond me.

I also find it impossible to say that a show that has scenes consisting of static images that stay on screen for a minute or more is "very well animated." It has moments of great animation, yes, but as a whole it's terribly put together and incompetently produced. The last two episodes were the result of running out of budget because GAINAX doesn't have any producers who are actually good at their job, not because of any brilliant storytelling master plan.

I do appreciate that they went about things differently, and the show is really unique, especially for 1995, but at the same time they abandoned so many critical fundamentals that it's hard to call the series anything but a mess.

 

[Muffdraul]

Sounds like you watched it with impossibly high expectations, due to years and years of sucking on its hype before you finally watched it. Too bad. If you'd discovered it back in 1997 you probably would have felt differently.

 

[Dynedom]

RahXephon did it better.

*brofist*

 

[Krev]

You should watch Madoka Magica next, OP. It's the NGE of magical girl shows.

I'm watching it right now for the first time. I'm halfway through and I'm loving it. I'm a little scared to read posts in this thread though because I don't want any of it spoiled for me.

A good approach.
Maybe wait a little while after watching episode 26 before you check out EoE. Also, watch the director's cut versions of 21-24.