Neon Genesis Evangelion’s original ending is one of the most controversial and divisive conclusions in anime history. After gaining massive fanfare in Japan during its initial airing, countless viewers tuned in to its finale and, contrary to popular belief, were mostly satisfied. In fact,Evangelionplaced first in the “Best Loved Series” category of the Anime Grand Prix Awards both in the year leading up to its ending, and in the year following.
In the many years since the airing of episodes #25 and #26 ofNeon Genesis Evangelion, however,public perception of the anime’s ending has shifted. The change may have had something to do with the series' rising popularity outside of Japan, or could even be boiled down to something as simple as evolving tastes. Regardless, when I decided to finally check outEvangelion, seemingly everyone offering their feelings about the series believed the TV ending to be bad. Some even suggested I skip the final two episodes, and watch the 1997 film,The End of Evangelion, instead.
Thankfully, I didn’t take the advice, and upon finishingEvangelion, was blown away by what I’d seen. The final two episodes were abstract, confusing, and a little unexpected, but they also delivered a powerful message, and ended with a genuine smile from the series' troubled protagonist.It was a fitting and beautiful conclusionto a story that took on the Herculean task of answering questions surrounding our existence, and it deserves its flowers.
Evangelion’s TV Ending Was Rushed, But That’s Okay
External Factors Influenced Evangelion’s Original Ending In a Positive Way
In a 1996 interview withNewtype, Director Hideaki Anno admitted that, for a multitude of reasons,he had to abandon his original vision forNeon Genesis Evangelion’s final episode. Due in large part to time and budget restraints, it featured heavy use of sketches and still images to tell its story. Though many of the artistic decisions made during Episode #26’s creation were born out of necessity, they left such a strong impression on me that I’m not sure I would’ve enjoyed anything different. Anno must have held similar feelings, as in that same interview he stated, “I regret nothing.”
Whether those feelings lasted can never be certain, given that the director remadeEvangelion’s ending twice in the years since. Nevertheless, the anime’s original ending being the result of extenuating circumstances led to one of the series’most powerful sequences in what has been dubbed the “freedom” scene. Partway through the final episode, its typical visuals are stripped away, and the characters appear as sketches of themselves, as if the artists quickly drew basic versions of each of them in their notebooks.
The scene is strikingly unique, breaking down Shinji’s psyche alongside the artwork, as he learns that he has the freedom to change and become anything he wants to be. The stripped-back visuals would never have allowed for the apocalyptic scenarios ofThe End of Evangelion,instead forcing the anime’s ending to take risksin order to communicate its themes, which it does to perfection.
Episodes 25 & 26 Hand Deliver Their Themes to the Audience
Evangelion’s Original Ending Gets Straight to the Point
One of the major issues that certain viewers have had withEvangelion’s TV ending is the lack of action. And it makes sense given that the series included some of themost iconic mech designs in anime, and spent its first 20 or so episodes showcasing them in battle. But all the large-scale, flashy fighting, the Angels, Adam, Lillith, spears from outer space,none were every really the point of the series.
At its heart,Neon Genesis Evangelionis a deep and complex character study. While Shinji, Asuka, Rei, and Misato are tasked with saving humanity from the occasional arrival of a monstrous threat, the series is more concerned with the characters themselves than it is with saving the world. It wasn’t all that surprising to me that the anime ended without resolving much of the actual physical conflict,because that was never really the focus. What was surprising was how the series presented its conclusion, rather than what that conclusion was presenting.
By diving into the minds of its lead characters,Evangelionis able to directly take the psychological conflict that each is struggling with, andpresent it without becoming lost in the apocalypsehappening in the background. In doing so, the series' themes are fed to the viewer in a clear and concise manner. I’ve struggled to love the newer rebuild films partially for that reason, believing they sacrifice some of the weight ofEvangelion’s themes in favor of a heavier focus on its world and events. An issue its earlier film,The End of Evangelion,didn’t struggle with.
Evangelion’s TV Ending and The End of Evangelion Compliment Each Other
The 1997 Film Is a Retelling of Evangelion’s Original Ending
In the same interview with Newtype in which Anno admitted to scrapping his original vision, he also mentioned plans to rework the final episode for the series' home release. That never came to fruition and instead,The End of Evangelionwas released in theaters the following year. What many fans perceive to be a replacement forEvangelion’s TV ending, the film actually acts as a retelling of the events of the final two episodes from a different perspective.
The End of Evangelionitself serves asproof that the series' original ending was true to what the series' creators initially set out to achievewith the anime’s conclusion. With how abstract and ambiguousEvangelion’s ending was, the film had every opportunity to rewrite it, but didn’t. Instead, it shifted focus from inside the main cast’s psyches and into the physical world, showcasing both the Third Impact and Instrumentality, and culminating in an ending that’s essentially the ultimate and definitive version of events.
The End of Evangelion, though, is a much more harrowing experience thanNeon Genesis Evangelion’s final two episodes. While the TV ending may be a bit strange, its ambiguous nature serves a series as bloated asEvangelionwell, and even manages to finish up on a moving and positive note.Though I preferThe End of Evangelionon its own, the original anime’s conclusion is perfect for the story which is told, and I urge any newcomers to the series not to skip it.
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.
