Neon Genesis Evangelionis one of the most successful long-running franchises in anime history. From the very moment it aired in Japan in 1995, the landscape of the industry shifted,and the anime world was never the same again. From the invention of tropes still utilized by the most popular shows today, to cementing iconic character phenotypes long mimicked but never fully reproduced,Evangelionhas had an impact few other anime series can boast.
The original TV anime’s conclusion, though controversial, seems to have finallywon over the majority of viewers in more recent years, while 1997’sThe End of Evangelionhas earned itself a reputation as one of the greatest anime films of all time. The more recent ‘rebuild’ films have worked to introduce a new generation to the franchise, and featured an alternative timeline of events that finally offered closure to its characters.
In terms of lasting popularity and success,not many series are able to rivalEvangelion, and it’s admittedly difficult to understand why exactly that is. For a show that has enjoyed nearly three decades of widespread acclaim, it never quite followed the rules. Marketing itself as a monster-of-the-week mecha series,Evangelionthrows any semblance of conventional storytelling out the window by its finale. The franchise is deserving, but its lasting popularity is somewhat puzzling given the nature of the series.
Evangelion’s Continued Success Is Puzzling
Evangelion Is Weirdly Wonderful, and Its Immense Popularity Is Strange
The most popular stories in fiction typically feature more conventional, straightforward storytelling. General audiences enjoy consumable products, and that isn’t a bad thing. Several of themost influential and universally acclaimed anime in historyhave utilized relatively safe storytelling structures.Evangelionbegan telling a rather simple story as well, featuring somewhat unremarkable teenagers piloting instantly recognizable giant robots, and doing battle with unique creatures on a weekly basis.
That would all change, however, when Shinji and Misato’s little world was rocked by the tsundere prototype, Asuka, forever changing the dynamic between the main cast of characters. What followed her arrival was just some ofthe most ambitious week-to-week sessions of storytelling in anime. The narrative takes a back seat to the characters themselves, as the audience is pulled into the psyches of each of the series' main players.Neon Genesis Evangelion’s final stretch of episodes are anything but straightforward, which makesits lasting popularity so strangewhen compared to other, similarly successful franchises.
Classical music accompanying scenes bursting with dread, extended held shots that feel downright Lynchian, animation stripped back to sketches on paper, and concepts rooted in the philosophy of Arthur Schopenhauer, all the while the series' iconic mechs stay out of the action.Neon Genesis Evangelionends in a placeno one could have expected going into the series, and despite how unique and out-there much of it is, the anime has somehow remained in the public consciousness for nearly 30 years.
Evangelion’s Tonal Switch Is Still Amazingly Jarring
The Anime’s Sudden Turn Towards the Strange and Abstract Is Shocking
During a recent re-watch ofNeon Genesis Evangelion, I was struck not only by how incredible the pacing of the series was in its early stages, but also by how ‘by-the-numbers’ it all seemed. From Shinji’s arrival at Nerv to the series' iconic sixth episode, featuring heroics by Shinji and Rei’s rare smile,the narrative is laser-focused and tight. From the perspective of someone new to the series, this moment could be read as Shinji’s first steps toward filling the stereotypical hero role of the franchise.
Asuka’s arrival sowed the seeds for the psychological horror of the series' latter half, yetthe tonal shift duringEvangelion’s episode #16, “Splitting of the Breast”, was incredibly jarring, regardless of how prepared I thought I was for it. For the first time, the week’s Angel attack turned into an introspective character study of the series' protagonist, featuring highly stylized and entrancing visuals.
From this point on,Neon Genesis Evangeliontwists at every moment viewers might expect it to turn. The final product is a deeply human story about a cast of damaged characters coming to the realization that it’s okay to exist, if only for the chance they may understand each other one day. While a deeply important message,it isn’t one viewers might expect when signing up for the giant robot anime. Perhaps its human themes are exactly what has keptEvangelionso monumentally popular, despite how unexpected its original ending may be.
Controversial Endings Have Led to Decades of Success for Evangelion
Evangelion’s Multiple Endings Have Long Been a Topic of Discourse in the Anime World
Very few topics have been as widely discussed and debated throughout the history of anime thanEvangelion’s multiple endings. Having originally concluded in March 1996, the TV anime’s final two episodesweren’t as divisive as fans might have expected upon release in Japan. The series won first place in the “Best Loved Series” category of theAnime Grand Prixawards in both 1995 and 1996, before and after the airing of episodes #25 and #26. It wasn’t until the franchise rose in popularity outside of Japan that its ending became a seemingly universal point of contention.
The End of Evangeliontells the same ending from a different perspective, offering both the giant robot fights fans originally wanted, and the psychological, wonderfully weird storytelling of the original anime. The final ‘rebuild’ film premiered in 2021, and gave fans further closure on their favorite characters. For a series with undying popularity likeEvangelion, its creator, Hideaki Anno,certainly hasn’t told what might be considered a normal story.
One Neon Genesis Evangelion Quote Is So Deep I Can’t Stop Thinking About It Years Later
One of Evangelion’s most beloved quotes has stuck in my mind for years, and it helps to think back on it during times of trouble.
Neon Genesis Evangelionremains a staple of anime culture, as present now as it was during a time when the internet was in its infancy, andDragon Ball Zwas still airing new episodes each week. Despite how unconventional of a story it might be, the series ranks in popularity among the most well-known works in anime history. It might have to do with just how beautiful a storyEvangeliontells, or its reluctance to stick with a conclusion, but nevertheless,the series is deserving of its unexpected lasting success.
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Cast
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese animated television series created by Hideaki Anno. The show follows teenagers piloting giant mechs called Evangelions, tasked with defending Earth from mysterious beings known as Angels. As they confront these threats, they also grapple with personal and psychological issues.
