Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

When I started seriously collecting anime, there were a few series and films that *everyone* said that I must have. The titles shouldn't suprise anyone who is familiar with the genre: Akira, Ghost in the Shell, Vampire Hunter D, and the like. I had a few friends who suggested this "giant mecha" series, which I wasn't that familiar with. After reading a (quite vague) write-up in Animerica, the series seemed interesting enough: a complex plot, great and engaging characters, beautiful art, and loads of sophisticated Judeo-Christian imagery and references. The sticker on the boxed set proclaims the series as the "greatest anime series ever." With such hype, I was naturally skeptical, but with such praise, I felt remiss to stay away from the series.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is possibly one of the most challenging anime series available in the United States. Surely there are more "fun" anime (Trigun, Cowboy Bebop, etc.), and more dark and nihilistic anime (Demon City Shinjuku), more visually beautiful (Lain), and more sweeping epic anime (X OAV). Nevertheless, Evangelion surpasses darn near all anime (certainly all I've encountered) in terms of being a series that drew me in and had me tightly in its grip.

In this DVD, we are introduced to young Shinji Ikari, a young boy in this future Japan, who waits for a government agent, Misato, to pick him up and deliver him to his father, who happens to be the head of a secret government project, NERV. While waiting, Shinji watches a hulking humanoid shaped thing walk through the city, running amok, despite the military's best efforts. Misato is an impetuous and (at least slightly) immature flirt.

As Shinji is delivered to NERV, he is told that he must pilot a huge menacing robot shaped much like the large thing devastating the city. He more or less freaks out, lashing out at his father. The elder Ikari then summons one of the other pilots, a 14 year old girl who has just emerged from battle with the creature, called an "angel." The young girl is Rei Ayonami, who looks to be at death's door. Seeing Rei, Shinji agrees to pilot the robot (called an "Eva"). Shinji engages the angel in combat. This episode ends with Shinji engaging the angel in combat. The angel pounds Shinji's Eva.

In the second episode, Shinji is released from the infirmary, and moves in with Misato after the rift with his father and him proves too great to live with one another. The timid Shinji is scandalized by Misato's forward behavior. As Shinji turns in, his mind races back to the battle. The viewer realizes that after the initial blows that the Eva sustains, Shinji's Eva undergoes a berzerker rage, and forces the angel to self destruct. Shinji is horrified by the savagery of the Eva's combat. As Shinji is ejected from the robot, he sees the tattered Eva, reduced to a flesh-like substance. An eye emerges from the flesh and glares at the boy.

Questions abound. What are the angels? What are the Evas? Was Shinji responsible for the berzerker attack? What the he11 was that fleshy thing?

In the third episode, Shinji trains with his Eva and attends school. In this civilian school, Shinji encounters new people. One of which he recognizes as Rei, a morbidly quiet girl with a pensive demeanor and silent beauty. He also runs into two boys in his class, one a small nerdy boy who is obsessed with all things military (Kensuke) and the other an athletic angry young man (Toji) whose sister has been injured severely in the most recent angel attack. Toji is furious with Shinji after discovering that he is an Eva pilot. The other students are immediately impressed with Shinji's position, but the bitter Toji pounds Shinji. After his beating, Rei coldly informs Shinji that there has been an emergency and he must report to NERV.

We also discover what has happened to Earth prior to this future state. A large meteor struck Antarctica and melted the ice cap, raising the oceans, and throwing the earth off of its axis. Many living things, particularly humans, were killed in the wake of this disaster.

A new angel has arrived (resembling some weird planeria-type thing), and Shinji's Eva (Unit 01) must engage it. The two schoolboys sneak out of school to watch the battle. Misato, seeing the boys, orders a retreat, but Shinji, bent on not succumbing to his weakness (timidness), charges ahead and destroys the angel. The boys are taken by the bravery of the young pilot and eventually amend their opinion of him.

Shinji freaks out, and runs away from the apartment that he shares with Misato. Shinji wanders around, wallowing in self-pity. He seeks refuge in a movie theatre, where coincidentally the screening is of a movie about the second impact (the meteor strike on Antarctica). He returns to NERV, not really caring about anything. After an impromptu camping excursion with a classmate, men in black from NERV come to take Shinji back to NERV. Shinji offers self-pitying excuses, and ultimately is dismissed from NERV when he decides not to pilot Eva again. He is taken to the train station, and after a long moment of introspection, Shinji decides not to board the train. Misato, having just arrived at the station, sees the young pilot, and the two exchange a relieved glance.

One of the most brilliant things about this series is that teenagers act like teenagers. Shinji's conflict with his father, his desire for approval, his insecurity. Toji's rage. All of these contribute to a very real picture of what it would be like if a 14 year old boy had to carry such a burden.

Another feature to this series is that, unlike others (Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, etc.) the music does not get in the way of the narrative. Many scenes are totally bereft of a soundtrack, except a blowing wind or chirping birds. The realism is exceptional here. Some series boast "non-stop action," but Evangelion, while having loads of action, limits it to the occasions where it is necessary. The plot and characterization is obviously of paramount concern here.

Gainax again delivers a superlative job with this animation, and the voice talent in this series is second to none. With the exception of a few awkward lines (due to translation, I'd say), the writing is top notch.

This series has garnered attention like few others. There has been an Evangelion movie put out to solve problems inherent to the last two episodes of the series, and there is new talk of a retooling of the Evangelion series (though I'm unsure why). This is a series that will command your attention, and will necessitate viewing after viewing.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older