Neon Genesis Evangelion is a meticulous character study of Shinji Ikari, while at the same time managing to provide most of the other named characters with excellent development throughout the show. We get to know the characters through the relationships they form with each other, but also through the show inventively exploiting the mechanics of its world and even the main "antagonists".
Firstly, something that I really appreciate about Evangelion is that people don't talk in unusual ways just for the sake of exposition, and characters won't act in 'anime' ways.
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Just the directing and artwork seen in Evangelion could make it a show notorious by themselves, and with good reason: The show has very memorable designs and colour palettes, especially for the mecha stuff, which the people at GAINAX love. The scenes flow very smoothly from one to another and the camera angles and shot composition are always chosen to increase the emotion of a scene or give it more punch, for instance, in the scenes where you can hear a focus shine and a character suddenly appear (something typically used with Gendo). Even the long shots which people typically say were done to save budget are there on purpose, as evidenced by the long shots remaining even in the director’s cut versions of the episodes. They make you get into the characters’ place and think about their situation.
Another directing technique that I personally like is the one where the camera lingers on an object/character while we hear other people talk about something related to the object/character, it expands the world by showing us how acts that the characters do are also commented and thought about by people that we don’t necessarily know, while at the same time giving us insight into what a character might be thinking, or how the average person would see the situation that is happening (like how the doctors commented on Asuka’s mum’s situation).
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On the surface, Evangelion's plot follows a very simple monster of the week structure with little breaks from it. However, the multiple organizations seeking different profits from the attacks of the monsters (angels) is what makes the feud with the angels more interesting, as we see how each side is acting to benefit themselves while at the same time having to combat the oncoming force.
Furthermore, throughout the show we are slowly given information about the underlying schemes of the organizations and eventually see those come into fruition as they happen, we are not told much of the plans, but we see them unfold, which is something I appreciate. Another thing I liked was how the main characters' backstories are the consequence of the plans still unfolding during the show: The main characters' mothers had to be put inside the Evas for them to move, which was what left them without proper parent figures, something that traumatized them and became the basis for most of their personality.
This will vary from person to person, however, I don't think that any of the characters actd 'whiny'. This is because the characters have understandable and defined motivations for every action they take, and since the motivations make sense and ar eunderstandable they don't come across as whiny. Especially since they're in the midst of what is esentially a war and they're 14 year-olds.
Shinji, for instance, has a low self-esteem, which stems from being abandoned as a kid and having perceived it as his fault. This eventually leads to him being abnormally afraid of being rejected (again) by others, preferring to run away from human interaction. Having low self-esteem, he also doesn’t try to make others respect what he wants, instead he simply ‘floats’ through life, doing what others tell him all the time. In fact, not showing us any of the time Shinji spent living with his teacher might have been intentional, as it makes us view that timespan as essentially nothing, which is likely how Shinji views it too. (Plus we got a bit of insight into Asuka’s life after being abandoned, unlike with Shinji).
Through becoming good at piloting the Eva and fighting the Angels, Shinji is showered with praise and develops some confidence, he even beats Asuka’s synch. score in episode 16. However, an angel easily defeats Shinji after he tried to act heroically, which totally shatters the cocky attitude Shinji was taking earlier in the episode, and shows that this self-esteem Shinji had earned through others’ praise was brittle and not really even self-esteem at all, as it wasn’t based upon confidence in himself.
Even though I really like exploring Shinji and most of the main cast (the above is kind of an overview on Shinji), the best part of Evangelion to me is Shinji and Asuka’s relationship. It is so amazing seeing how they both have a shitty first impression of each other yet they later become friends and even develop some sexual tension (which is more relevant to Asuka’s character, since she sees sexual stuff as proving she is an adult). They’re friends, however, Shinji’s outward actions embody the type of person that Asuka sees as weak and she hates it. This makes Shinji beating her synch. ratio even more painful and starts her downward spiral since she doesn’t have an external validation to allow her to run away from her trauma. Since they keep living together, Asuka and Shinji are forced to interact and seeing those interactions in the midst of them being both troubled is great.
However, their best interactions are in End of Evangelion,during instrumentality, where they finally communicate what they’re feeling to the other and react to the others’ actions, which culminates in Asuka stroking Shinji’s cheek and him breaking down at the end.
Their relationship is also very thematically relevant because it captures one of the themes that pervades the entire show: that of human intimacy and the fear towards it. Asuka and Shinji are sexually attracted to each other to an extent, yet the only bold advance is done on the premise that Asuka is bored so she wants to kiss.
This is because she is afraid of admitting she wanted to try to kiss with Shinji for any other reason, because of the fear of the pain that comes along with rejection.
Overall, the characters don't really change much, however their personalities are very well defined, especially the main cast. What changes the most is characters' outlook on things. For instance, Shinji at the end of End of Evangelion hasn't chaged much or gotten over his trauma, but he has accepted himself more and is determined to try and overcome it. This being the central theme of End of Evangelion: "As long as one is alive, anywhere can be paradise".
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Sep 13, 2017
Shinseiki Evangelion
(Anime)
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Neon Genesis Evangelion is a meticulous character study of Shinji Ikari, while at the same time managing to provide most of the other named characters with excellent development throughout the show. We get to know the characters through the relationships they form with each other, but also through the show inventively exploiting the mechanics of its world and even the main "antagonists".
Firstly, something that I really appreciate about Evangelion is that people don't talk in unusual ways just for the sake of exposition, and characters won't act in 'anime' ways. ... 
Sep 3, 2017
True Tears
(Anime)
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The main problem with True tears is that nothing really happens at all. Most of the drama either comes from literally retarded decisions that the characters take, or plot devices (the main guy's mum).
The story starts with an internal monologue that doesn't really mean anything and is not something anyone would think, which already sets the tone for the rest of the show. We see who main guy likes, main guy also meets new girl (Noe) and they talk about flying and a chicken who no one cares about so the whole scene is boring. ... |
