Shinseiki Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Synopsis

Fifteen years after a cataclysmic event known as the Second Impact, the world faces a new threat: monstrous celestial beings called Angels invade Tokyo-3 one by one. Mankind is unable to defend themselves against the Angels despite utilizing their most advanced munitions and military tactics. The only hope for human salvation rests in the hands of NERV, a mysterious organization led by the cold Gendou Ikari. NERV operates giant humanoid robots dubbed "Evangelions" to combat the Angels with state-of-the-art advanced weaponry and protective barriers known as Absolute Terror Fields.

Years after being abandoned by his father, Shinji Ikari, Gendou's 14-year-old son, returns to Tokyo-3. Shinji undergoes a perpetual internal battle against the deeply buried trauma caused by the loss of his mother and the emotional neglect he suffered at the hands of his father. Terrified to open himself up to another, Shinji's life is forever changed upon meeting 29-year-old Misato Katsuragi, a high-ranking NERV officer who shows him a free-spirited maternal kindness he has never experienced.

A devastating Angel attack forces Shinji into action as Gendou reveals his true motive for inviting his son back to Tokyo-3: Shinji is the only child capable of efficiently piloting Evangelion Unit-01, a new robot that synchronizes with his biometrics. Despite the brutal psychological trauma brought about by piloting an Evangelion, Shinji defends Tokyo-3 against the angelic threat, oblivious to his father's dark machinations.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]


Background

Director Hideaki Anno's depression is what led to the dark themes of Shinseiki Evangelion. Budgetary problems and parental complaints about content led to the original ending being scrapped and replaced with an extremely limited-animation ending breaking from the main plot. A movie, Air/Magokoro wo, Kimi ni, was later made based in part on the original planned ending and in part on Anno's increasing frustration with the otaku fanbase. The series' mix of psychoanalysis, religious symbolism, and genre deconstruction proved extremely influential on mature anime in the late '90s onward. The Japan Media Arts Festival in 2006 ranked it as the most popular anime of all time.

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Ikari, Shinji

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48usersYamaga, HiroyukiProducerYamaga, Hiroyuki
36usersKobayashi, NorikoProducerKobayashi, Noriko
0userUchiyama, ShuujiProducerUchiyama, Shuuji
0userSugiyama, YutakaProducerSugiyama, Yutaka
0userUeda, MotokiProducerUeda, Motoki
6usersTakahashi, TomokoAssistant ProducerTakahashi, Tomoko
24,324usersAnno, HideakiDirector, Script, Storyboard, Original Creator, Mechanical Design, Key Animation, ProducerAnno, Hideaki
11usersTanaka, HideyukiSound DirectorTanaka, Hideyuki
144usersOotsuka, MasahikoEpisode DirectorOotsuka, Masahiko
127usersMizushima, SeijiEpisode DirectorMizushima, Seiji
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Information

Alternative
Titles
Shinseiki Evangelion English
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Synonyms
NGE; Evangelion (1995)
Japanese
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
Type TV
Episodes 26
Status Finished Airing
Aired Oct 4, 1995 to Mar 27, 1996
Premiered Fall 1995
Broadcast Wednesdays at 18:30 (JST)
Producers TV Tokyo, Kadokawa Shoten, Nihon Ad Systems, Audio Tanaka
Licensors ADV Films, GKIDS
Studios Gainax, Tatsunoko Production
Source Original
Genres Avant GardeAvant Garde, Award WinningAward Winning, DramaDrama, Sci-FiSci-Fi, SuspenseSuspense
Themes MechaMecha, PsychologicalPsychological
Duration 24 min. per ep.
Rating PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

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