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LUCY: SORRY I DECAPITATED YOUR FATHER AND SPLIT YOUR SISTER IN HALF BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES AS WELL AS KILL COUNTLESS INNOCENT BYSTANDERS BECAUSE I SAW YOU HUGGING YOUR FEMALE COUSIN AT A FAIR… I LOVE YOU, KOUTA!!!

KOUTA: THATS OK! I LOVE YOU TOO, YOU HAD A BAD LIFE SO I FORGIVE YOU!

LUCY: YIPPIE!!

*passionate kiss*

DAS ENDE

... MORAL OF THE STORY:
MAYBE DO NOT CREATE AN ADVANCED RACE OF SUPERHUMANS WITH TELEKINETIC POWERS AND TORTURE THEM WITH HORRIFIC EXPERIMENTS THEIR WHOLE LIVES OR THEY MIGHT KILL PEOPLE

In all seriousness, this anime has some really solid emotional moments scattered throughout. The main premise sounds stellar, but Elfen Lied is an unfortunate victim of self-sabotage. For each interesting idea and emotion-gripping scene, there are at least two more that drop the ball so hard it shatters into a million pieces. How is one supposed to take this anime seriously when there is a brutal mass murder with gory Happy Wheels-esque physics then directly proceeding it is an upbeat ending song with the lyrics “Baby, I wanna be your girl/Baby, all I need is you”? How is one supposed to take this anime seriously when there is a horrific and vastly upsetting SA scene inter-spliced with a pointless cousin incest romance storyline?

As for the characters, Kouta is such a weak protagonist, he becomes a little less one-dimensional as the story progresses, but by then it’s too late. Yuka is almost completely expendable and outside of the first few episodes only exists to have a meaningless jealousy drama for a non-existent love triangle. Lucy, a fantastic character in concept, is heavily botched and for the most part, comes off as a device for shock value by ripping droves of people apart. You get to see why she does this, and what the message is supposed to be, though the execution is poor. Kurama has an interesting backstory and later on, he is a more fleshed-out character, but at the beginning, he was written so poorly I thought he was intended to be sociopathic. Bando is a contender for the top ten most over-the-top characters in anime. As for Mayu and Nana, they are not without their flaws, but they are the most likable, and their retrospective backstories are done the best, more so Mayu, but Nana’s is also almost as good as it gets in this series.

Much else I’d have to say is nitpicking territory, so I digress. It feels wrong to diss Elfen Lied, as what it tries to do is exceptional but it sadly did not reach its full potential. It’s not bad by any means, barely mediocre, but I found it disappointing that the show never soared to the highs it was capable of.

This anime is not for everyone. The story is intricately detailed and abstract, which can understandably come off as convoluted to many viewers. You may overlook plotlines at points if you don't bring your full attention to the dialogue. The characters are barely heroic. They are not particularly "great people" either. They are deeply flawed, depressive, and resentful. Throughout the series, they do things that you disagree with, morally and logically. Some people want to see an anime where the protagonist is confident and immovable. A protagonist who almost always wins the battle; there is nothing wrong with that. If you enjoy those, excellent, but ... Evangelion may not be for you.

For me, those components make Evangelion what it is. The characters perfectly contrast with one another. They stand out, behaving like real people. The series portrays the pain associated with burdening carrying the fate of humanity on your shoulders, which each character handles differently. While most fictional characters would take this in stride, in reality, this is not the case. Evangelion does an effortless job of showcasing the mental strain and breakdown associated with such a task, on top of dealing with life-long personal trauma. Even if it is not pleasant to watch, it is a fascinating take on human psychology. As a bystander, you want to see them succeed and perform the difficult task of overcoming their duress.

The main plot is understandable, but many tiny details get discussed in expositions through character interactions. In the first half of the series, those problems are not an issue until you get past episode fourteen. It can become hard to follow for some, which can be a deal-breaker, but it does not hurt the over-arching story. It can be jarring, as details that seem minuscule foreshadow and eventually bloom into grander plot points, leading to confusion for the ones who missed them. That has been a common critique for Evangelion, and understandably so, but I do not view it as an issue, though it could just be me. However, none of this gets discussed as much as the ending. There are many misconceptions about the final two episodes, most being that Gainax ran out of budget, but that is not the case. There are multiple factors. The most dominant was a lack of planning, which was later rectified with the End of Evangelion film. I am not here to defend the original ending. It is the weakest aspect of the whole series, though it is not awful like many polarized viewers say. If it weren't for the End of Evangelion, I would be just as upset as others, but the film gave a masterful conclusion to this series.

The visual design is exceptional. The colors are vibrant and warm, heavily contrasting the series's dark tone, which works in its favor. Each character is instantly recognizable, even when the style is more simplistic. Every one of them stands out. You get an understanding of their personalities by looking at them from their color scheme and facial expressions. The backgrounds are drawn spectacularly and are gorgeous in themselves. They are amplified by how beings such as the Angels and the Evas pop out despite how detailed the scenery is. Speaking of the Angels, while some do not necessarily blow people away (Ramiel), they are unique and fit their traits well. As well as some just being downright terrifying. The Evas are one of the most iconic and probably the sickest looking (and most complex) Mecha of any anime--period.

Last but not least, we have the sound. The sound effects in this anime are standard but still quite satisfying, from the explosions to the shrill, eerie noises of the Angels. What's truly special is the way the sounds get implemented. There are scenes (no spoilers) where simple sound effects amplify the scene tenfold that can send chills down your spine. The background music is stunning. A lot of anime has background music that is fine in context but nothing you would go back and listen to. Evangelion is one of the special few where you can hear the effort poured into every track. Some that stands out are "Rei I," an ominous yet melancholic piano piece with orchestral flair. As odd as it may seem, it sounds like Rei's personality converted to music. "Ritsuko," a soft acoustic ballad that gives me feelings of autumn. It sounds as if it would fit rather well in Wii Sports (partially serious). The final is "Misato," a bubbly, happy-go-lucky tune that stands out among the somber tracks. If there was something to criticize, the battle music is a little repetitive at points, but it doesn't ruin any scene, far from it. Of course, one cannot mention the music without mentioning the opening and many ending themes. "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," aside from being iconic and a powerful way to open each episode, is just an outstanding song overall. As for the endings, each episode has a different variation of "Fly Me to the Moon," with varying vocalists (including the voice actresses for Rei and Asuka) and assorted genres/styles, to name a few. The covers range from beautiful to even chaotic. Safe to say, there's an ending for everyone.

Overall if you are seeking light-hearted, straightforward, enjoyable entertainment, this anime may not be for you. If you are looking for an outstanding work of art that is not afraid to get into dark subject matter and will blow you away with the sheer spectacle of it all, I recommend Neon Genesis Evangelion. You might only like it a little, or you will adore it as many do, but it is an unforgettable experience nonetheless.

P.S. Don't forget about The End of Evangelion. A large number of people surprisingly do. As for the rebuilds, they are just as amazing! I highly recommend them too. You may even like them more.