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An avid anime viewer since 2010/2011, somewhere around then (wow it's been that long?). I watch all sorts of anime series, but I'm always looking for an anime series with a good story! Since the beginning of my anime viewing, my ratings have based on a 5 point scale, so I've been rating using only scores 5 through 10; I've been meaning to revise per the 10 point system.
I'm also an aspiring musician hoping to make music a professional career, so yes I have my fair share of favorite op & ed anisongs. Thanks for checking out my profile and have a nice anime day!
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All Comments (6) Comments
I don't think it's because Anno didn't understand what a true father is, but rather that he didn't understand how powerful an emotion love is, and how complete and all-consuming an obsession can become.
You're slightly incorrect with your statement that Shinji's biggest antagonist was himself, but only because everything that went through his mind, all the metaphysical, philosophical, and quasi-religious stuff came about because of external factors, the primary one being Gendou.
It's actually fairly common for people to be put in stressful or painful situations, and then internalise all of their emotions while they question the reason for their existence. The problem with NGE is that it merely glosses over those external factors.
Unfortunately the reboots are making the same mistake all over again.
There are many positives about NGE, but the simple fact is that for there to be a protagonist, there should be at least one well defined antagonist. Superman and Lex Luthor. Batman and The Joker. Captain America and The Red Skull. Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty.
It's not a rule per se, and it doesn't always have to be an enemy. Where NGE is concerned, the story is far too unbalanced for it to be viewed as anything more than a childish whine, and that's taking into account all of the good parts. Sometimes one aspect of a show is so terribly done, it far outweighs everything else that the show is, and that's the case with NGE. The animation, sound, artwork, design, and even a good portion of the story and a few of the characters are great, but the heavy handed and seemingly blind-to-all-other-options focus on Shinji, even to the detriment of Rei and Asuka, pretty much spoiled everything, and the reason it did was because of Gendou.
If you take the angels out of the equation for a moment, then one person is clearly the driver for everything that happens, and that is Ikari Gendou. The man who was willing to sacrifice his son and a world just so he could be with his love again, and what does the audience see of this uniquely intriguing character? A few flashbacks that are supposed to clarify how everything started.
I say bollocks to that. Gendou should have had equal, if not greater screen time than Shinji, and the reason he didn't was because Anno didn't understand what sort of character he was supposed to be. Yes, everyone feels sorry for the poor whiny little boy, but what about the man who had his heart ripped out, and is now driven by an almost impossible dream?
If there had been equal screentime for father and son, then Shinji may have come across as less annoying and the story would actually have a sense of catharsis (which it currently doesn't, with either ending).