Shinseiki Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion

新世紀エヴァンゲリオン

04/10/1995 8.4 0 PG-13

Synopsis

Fifteen years following the catastrophic Second Impact, Earth confronts a fresh menace: colossal entities named Angels, descending upon Tokyo-3 one after another. Humanity finds itself powerless against these Angels, even with their most sophisticated weaponry and military strategies. The sole beacon of hope lies with NERV, an enigmatic organization under the frigid leadership of Gendou Ikari. NERV deploys massive humanoid machines called Evangelions, armed with cutting-edge weaponry and shielded by Absolute Terror Fields, to battle the Angels. Years after being deserted by his father, Shinji Ikari, the 14-year-old son of Gendou, makes his way back to Tokyo-3. Shinji grapples with the enduring trauma of his mother's loss and the emotional neglect inflicted by his father. His fear of forming new connections is challenged when he encounters Misato Katsuragi, a 29-year-old high-ranking NERV officer. Her free-spirited, maternal kindness offers Shinji an experience he has never known. A catastrophic Angel assault propels Shinji into the fray as Gendou unveils his true intention for summoning his son to Tokyo-3: Shinji is the sole child capable of effectively piloting Evangelion Unit-01, a new robot that synchronizes with his biometrics. Despite the severe psychological toll of piloting an Evangelion, Shinji stands as Tokyo-3's defender against the angelic threat, unaware of his father's sinister schemes.

Background

The dark themes of Shinseiki Evangelion stem from director Hideaki Anno's struggle with depression. Financial constraints and parental objections to content resulted in the original ending being discarded in favor of a low-animation conclusion that deviated from the main storyline. A subsequent film, Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni, was created, drawing from both the initially planned ending and Anno's growing disillusionment with the otaku community. The series' blend of psychoanalysis, religious imagery, and genre subversion significantly influenced mature anime from the late '90s onward. In 2006, the Japan Media Arts Festival hailed it as the most beloved anime of all time.