I’ve been listening to the theme for the new Neon Genesis Evangelion movies a lot these past couple of days. I know “Beautiful World” hasn’t been particularly well-received by fans, but I have to admit that I’m kind of fascinated with the song - not only the music, but the lyrics as well. Somehow, it fits my image of Evangelion, and only serves to get me more excited about the movies.
Evangelion was one of the first shows I watched when I first started getting serious about this hobby, and even though my appreciation for the show has mostly been forgotten over the years, I still recognize that it was an eye-opening introduction to the world of modern anime. If it weren’t for Evangelion, I don’t know if I’d even be here right now. For all I know, I might have taken up gardening or something.
Yet, despite the show’s importance to me as an anime fan, it’s been at least five years since I last rewatched it. Typically, when I thumb through my DVD collection, looking for something to watch, there are shows I unconsciously skip over, as if they don’t exist. Mostly, they’re shows I have zero interest in rewatching, either because they’re simply horrible or have no rewatch value whatsoever. For some reason, Evangelion fell in with this crowd. No idea why. I suspect the show is simply too heavy for ingesting on a whim, and that’s why I never give it proper consideration. I can’t quite imagine watching Evangelion without giving it my full attention. Most everything else in my DVD collection, I can watch standing on my head after six drinks.
Still, I love the show… I think. In my opinion, it deserves all the praise it gets. However, I think it deserves much of the criticism it gets as well. Funny how that works. A complex show gives way to complex feelings. I suspect that’s not a bug, but a feature.
I don’t plan to watch it any time soon, though.
What’s with all of the remakes? Kanon is almost here (27 days and counting!), a new Kiminozo project is in the works, Shuffle (of all things) is getting a Director’s Cut, and now, more Neon Genesis Evangelion?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t say Evangelion is special to me as an anime fan - it’s sort of what got me rolling in the wrong direction, after all - but it’s been several years since I last watched the show, and will likely be just as many years yet before I watch it again. Out of sight, out of mind. Still, I can’t help but feel a little excited about this announcement.
I’ve always gotten a kick out of Shinji’s “alternate reality” from the end of the TV series, which was later expanded upon in the Girlfriend of Steel manga and games, a clever repurposing of the Eva franchise that I’ve always hoped to see animated at some point. Unfortunately, GAINAX never delivered on that front, and instead milked their cash cow with one remastered release of the original series after another - something that never really interested me, to be honest, since I’ve always thought the budget, arthouse, “splice the film together with duct tape” feel of the original production is a big part of what makes Eva special. Now, however, GAINAX is promising new material, giving me new hope the Girlfriend of Steel continuity may finally be animated in some form.
Or not. It’s not clear at this point what GAINAX intends to do. Will these new films take place in the original continuity? Will it be the Girlfriend of Steel continuity? Some amalgamation of the two? Something entirely different? I don’t know. Deep down, however, I think I’ll be satisfied no matter what continuity they choose. Even after all these years, I feel the Eva universe and the characters who call it home deserve a second look. My fondest memories of Eva are found within.
Of course, if this new project is indeed an expansion on the original continuity, I offer my condolences to all of the Eva fanboys out there who thought they finally had the show figured out.
