Summary
Neon Genesis Evangelionis one of the most popular anime-original series of all time, but its success took creator Hideaki Anno somewhat by surprise. What Anno worried might be the series' downfall actually turned out to be one of its most appealing features, and it’s directly tied into the themes ofEvangelion.
Evangelionburst onto the scene in 1995 and quickly became a hit series, first in Japan and later around the world. It wasn’t exactly a series which was meant to be a breakout hit, with its relatively tame budget and unusual moody atmosphere, but it nonetheless found an audience, and a fairly sizeable one at that. There are many factors which came together tocreateEvangelion’s success, but one of the key factors is its focus on the psychology of its characters, and this apparently was not what Anno expected.
In fact, Anno’s expression in response to the series' success really captures what made the series so unique for its time.
Evangelion’s “Sick” Characters Were Fascinating to Watch
The Series' Focus on Psychology Made it Unique
In a profile on Hideaki Anno done by Aerial magazine and published in January 1997,as preserved by fansite Evamonkey, the article opens with a quote that might shock some, with Anno stating,“It’s strange that ‘Evangelion’ has become such a hit - all the characters are so sick!“After all, not a lot of creators would describe their own characters as “sick,” yet the word is surprisingly fitting given the nature ofEvangelionand the relationships between its flawed and damaged characters. While Anno may have found this situation strange, it’s easy to argue that the series became popular specifically because of how sick the characters were.
Oftentimes, characters in anime and manga are shockingly well-adjusted for the life situations that they’ve lived through, but that’s certainly not the case inEvangelion. Characters like Shinjiand Asukahave had to deal with issues like parental neglect and abandonment, and it shows in their behaviors and responses to situations. But this doesn’t just apply to the child characters ofEvangelion; it’s just as true for adult characters like Misato and Ritsuko, who have their own issues such as doomed love affairs, as well as trauma of their own from their younger days, all of which come together to create complex, unique characters who are surprisingly relatable.
Evangelion’s approach to its characters is far more realistic for its post-apocalyptic setting than many similar series, and that made for exceptionally compelling TV. These characters are messy and complicated figures, not traditional heroes by any stretch of the imagination. Like in a tragedy, their flaws bring about their downfalls, butEvangelionhas a strange way of not giving up hope on its characters, even when they fail. Even when seeing someone like Shinji try and fail repeatedly, one can’t help but hope that things work out for him this time, specifically because of what a sick, hurt character he is.Neon Genesis Evangelion’s “sick” characters are a key part of its appeal, even if the series' creator had no idea that would be the case at the time.
