Welcome to Gaia! ::

I aim to please! (in more ways than one... heart domokun heart domokun heart )

Seriously though...I love stories that are well developed and Evangelion is definately a well developed story. I remember when a friend of mine got the first two DVDs of the series and was anxious to show it to me. I remember thinking, 'What's going to happen next?! I must know!' after watching those first few episodes.

Its a story that introduces you to great characters through comedy and humor and then captivates you when it turns to a more serious theme. After I watched it all the way through...I decided that it was, indeed, a crowning achievement in anime, and I have yet to find another anime that tops it.

Evangelion first caught my ear. My friend was talking about it all the time and I always listened with a bit of interest. Then came my big break. Tonnami had a lineup of shows that they called "Giant Robot Week" where they showed as many giant robot shows as they could get their hands on. One of those shows was Neon Genesis Evangelion. I watched it more out of curiosity than intrest, but after seeing the "Massively Edited Toonami Version of" the first episode, I was hooked. Even with most of the best parts removed it kicked a**. I watched the second episode the next day and drooled over that as well.

My friend was so protective of her DVD's that I turned to the internet and dug up as much info on Evangelion as I could find. Everything from Angel names, pilot facts and names, common Eva terms, the pilot's psyches, and just about everything else I could find I drunk in and I wanted more. Finally, after almost a year of looking and searching, I got another big break. My friend came over for a get together and she brought the DVD's. I watched as many as I could and got even more into it.

In short, Evangelion is the best anime that I personally have ever seen. It IS anime. The massive and perplexing plot, the deep characters and themes, the action, humor and character development is all there. It stands out among anime even today. It gets you hooked with its frontal assault of simple action and humor, and then draws you under with its underlying themes and characters. Its something that most anime fans have seen throughout the world which allows you to talk about it to people everywhere. And lastly, the many unanswered questions leave you guessing and allow you to fill in the gaps with your own thoughts and ideas. And thats why I love it. It leaves room for you to expand on it. It leaves open areas for you to fill where some shows just give you all the answers. And lastly, it has characters that almost everyone can relate to in some way. And to me, that makes it great.

Actually, for me, it's a combination of what you suggested there.

I started out on a hunt for Eva when I was quite a bit younger.
As it goes, I saw a picture of Unit-02, became fixated with finding it. Then when I finally did, and that's how I fell in love with the art style.
Sooo, I got a manga, then pirated the Series on VCD, and I was screwed for life... er... obsessed fo lyfe. Yes.

I really have no real reason for being so taken with this series anymore, since it's been so long since I first saw it.
I think it's the fact that now I've actually found people to discuss it with for once.
As opposed to my Anti-Eva circle of friends.
There is actually things to talk about, and answers to be found now, so I suppose that's what drives me to come here and post.

I really enjoy a series or manga so much more when I can actually understand the characters.
As long as I'm interested by at least one of them, then I'm quite set.
Eva's storyline and characters were something that kept me thinking, and made me want to be more involved.
I thoroughly enjoyed the little subtlties they threw in, and all the symbolism.
It was different from what I was used to, and I loved the change.

Also, I've never bothered to try and relate myself to any characters before, however when it happens by accident, it almost seems like the character is relating to you.
That's what happened with Evangelion. I somehow found myself relating to a few of the characters and that made it much more personal for me.... or something like that.

Y...es... and that be it.

Lol, wtf Yuri. I'll just nod and agree. heart

One thing I forgot to mention in my post, and the majority of you seem to agree, is the fact that it is so.. ugh, can't think of the word. Open ended? That'll do. Anyway, I believe that's why the series (can't speak for the manga) has such a dedicated fan based. It almost drives one to discuss what's going on because unless you're one of those freak people with a massive intellect, I think it's quite impossible to understand everything that's going on without some form of help from other media sources, discussion or multiple series views.

Thanks for all your replies!

simple, its a beautifal and amazing blend of philosophy, theology and psychology with enough of one own spin, or flare for interpratation that makes it nontextual.


Evangelion does better evangelion than most evangelists

You can't say that then not post it, Yuri. Do iiit! xd

Mmmmmkay but I warned you, keep in mind I'm not clear headed right now so this may not seem nice. Keep in mind I love you all and am not trying to offend heart

It bugs the CRAP out of me when people say "I can relate to that character" or, "I understand how that character feels" because in all honesty you can't. Not most of the time. You haven't been in that situation, so you haven't a clue what its like. No one here has piloted a mech. To say "I understand how blah blah feels" is like "I know how it feels to pilot a mech and doodleblah blah." This may seem off, but its like when our social teacher had us learning about immigration. We had to taste vinegar water, and smell nasty old potatoes. This was to give us a feeling what it was like to travel on the immigration boats. I still don't know what it was like for them, I only know what yucky water tastes like, and what old tato's smell like. Granted, you can guess and say "Oh I bet he's scared, or upset" blah blah, but you don't know what its like to be them. You can empathize, but not relate.



sorry if that made no sense hah.