Neon Genesis Evangelion (franchise)

• 1. Origins And Creation History

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  Hideaki Anno stood at the helm of Gainax in 1995, steering a project that would become Neon Genesis Evangelion. The anime series began airing on TV Tokyo in October of that year and ran until March 1996. This production marked the second major work by Gainax to achieve widespread acclaim following Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. Anno wrote and directed the show while facing significant personal struggles during its creation. The initial proposal for the series emerged before the manga debut in Shōnen Ace in December 1994. That manga was designed specifically to generate interest in the upcoming television release. Production challenges mounted as the series progressed through its twenty-six episodes. Critics later described the final result as groundbreaking yet controversial due to its complex themes. The Japan Media Arts Festival awarded the series an Excellence Award in 1997. These early years established the foundation for a franchise that would eventually span decades.

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• 2. In-Universe Setting And Plot

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  The year 2000 brought about the Second Impact, a cataclysmic explosion in Antarctica that killed billions of people. Fifteen years later, mysterious beings known as Angels began appearing to threaten what remained of humanity. A paramilitary organization called NERV operated from the fortified city of Tokyo-3 to fight these threats. Giant bio-mechanical warriors named Evangelions were deployed against the Angels. Select teenagers piloted these machines into combat. Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Langley Soryu formed the core group of child pilots. Their relationships grew increasingly complex as they navigated their duties and psychological trauma. The story slowly revealed the true nature of Rei Ayanami and the secret goals of SEELE. Human souls merged into a single divine entity during the Human Instrumentality Project. This process unfolded differently across various media adaptations including the original anime and films. The backdrop shifted from standard mecha action to deep explorations of identity and existence.

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• 3. Thematic Deconstruction And Symbolism

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  Religious iconography permeates the narrative through Christian and Jewish mystical traditions like Kabbalah and Midrashic tales. Adam and Lilith appear as central figures within this symbolic framework alongside references to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Psychoanalytic theories by Freud and Jung heavily influence character behavior throughout the series. The Human Instrumentality Project serves as both a plot device and a metaphor for human connection. Archetypal imagery derived from Shinto cosmology appears alongside Western religious symbols. Critics noted that the show deconstructs traditional mecha genre tropes while maintaining them visually. The relationship dynamics between Shinji, Asuka, and Rei reflect deeper psychological struggles rather than simple romance. These elements combined to create a work that felt unlike any other animation of its time. The series won the 1997 Kobe Animation award for Best Music Score under Shirō Sagisu's composition. That musical score reinforced the emotional weight of these thematic choices.

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• 4. The Controversial Ending And Films

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  The television series concluded in March 1996 with an ending that sparked intense controversy among viewers. Fans demanded an alternate conclusion leading to the production of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth in March 1997. This film contained a sixty-minute summary called Death followed by Rebirth which retold episodes twenty-five and twenty-six. The completed version titled The End of Evangelion arrived on the 19th of July 1997. SEELE attacked NERV using Mass Production Evangelion units during this narrative sequence. Shinji Ikari underwent the Human Instrumentality Project where souls merged into one entity. The film grossed ¥2.47 billion at the box office and won Most Popular Film at the Japanese Academy Awards. Voice actors Megumi Ogata, Yuko Miyamura, and Megumi Hayashibara reprised their roles from the original series. Some reviewers criticized the oblique religious symbolism while praising the violence and emotional power. Death(true)2 became the final version included in Revival of Evangelion after multiple reworks removed new scenes.

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• 5. Rebuild Of Evangelion Tetralogy

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  Studio Khara began producing the Rebuild of Evangelion films in 2007 as a retelling of the original anime. Hideaki Anno served as writer and general manager while Kazuya Tsurumaki directed the individual films. The first movie Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone opened in Japan on the 1st of September 2007. Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance followed on the 27th of June 2009. Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo arrived on the 17th of November 2012. The final installment Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time released on the 8th of March 2021. These films used digital ink and paint techniques alongside some computer-generated animation. New scenes, settings, and characters appeared throughout the four-part sequence. A completely new conclusion replaced the original series ending in the fourth film. Home media releases later included two original video animations titled 3.0 (-46h) and 3.0 (-120min). The project aimed to be more accessible to non-fans than previous entries.

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• 6. Multimedia Expansion And Commercialization

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  The franchise generated over ¥700 billion in revenue from pachinko machines alone by 2015. More than two million such machines were sold across Japanese parlors. Video games ranged from action titles for Nintendo 64 to rhythm games like 3rd Impact. A collaboration with Monster Strike featured dungeons and collectible units from the series. Universal Studios Japan opened an attraction called Godzilla vs. Evangelion: The Real 4-D running from May 31 to the 25th of August 2019. Fuji-Q Highland dedicated a 1,460 square meter section to Evangelion starting the 22nd of July 2010. This area contained life-size entry plugs and statues of Mari Makinami. Character cutouts led visitors through NERV hallways to hangar rooms featuring busts of Eva Unit-01. Anime-themed hotel rooms and food products completed the immersive experience. The franchise also spawned manga series including Angelic Days and Shinji Ikari Raising Project alongside light novels like ANIMA.

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