Original Neon Genesis Mission is a milestone in anime history that changed the media forever, but fans who have watched both the original series and the more recent Rebuild of Evangelion films may have questions about how different the series are. they. Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic of the anime mecha genre, redefining many of its metaphors and cliches, so when the Rebuild of Evangelion movies were announced in 2006, the excitement of fans graves have skyrocketed. With their slow release, it’s clear that Rebuild isn’t just a big-budget retelling it’s going in a whole new direction. So, what makes the Evangelion movies and TV series different?
It’s a commonly known fact that Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno was experiencing a severe depression at the time of the film’s production, and this dark state of mind was on screen. Evangelion’s characters are all tormented by the past and have little hope for the future, fighting each day just to survive the next. As the film reaches its infamous first ending, the consequences of their actions begin to hit, and then things go awry. The TV anime’s puzzling ending was remade in the End of Evangelion movie, showing the brutal downfall and death of many characters.
Evangelion’s rebuilding of difference begins with the second movie’s epilogue
However, starting work at Rebuild more than 10 years later, Hideaki Anno was in a very different state of mind, and that is also evident in the final product, which has a multitude of differences, both major and small. The series are more fast-paced, with the first season including moments that make up the first few episodes of the series. Shinji was a little less contemplative, but still himself. Overall, the characters seem to understand themselves a little better and they are more aware of their real problems than the characters in the original TV series. The Rebuild of Evangelion movies also begin with the introduction of a new EVA pilot, Mari Maki, who adds an element of complexity to the existing dynamics. The second movie is where things really start to go differently, as a certain moment occurs at the end involving Rei, but this time Shinji makes a very different choice, the effects of which spread to the last two films, making them almost unrecognizable.
The third Rebuild of Evangelion movie takes a time jump, skipping 14 years into the future, thus making things from this point forward completely different. Shinji was absent for that 14-year period, so the events unfolded very differently, and it is revealed that Eva pilots cannot age, meaning Asuka and Rei, despite having lived through that time. , but look exactly the same. The third season focuses heavily on Shinji and Kaworu’s relationship, essentially taking place in just one episode of the original series. The fourth Rebuild of Evangelion film is similarly unlike any other in the series, with a large portion of the film devoted to Shinji, Rei, and Asuka living a relatively normal life in a village before escalating. back for the last part, ending with a long wait. The confrontation between Shinji and his father in a three-dimensional kingdom known as Subtraction Space.
Evangelion Rebuild is neither a reboot nor a sequel
It is difficult to underestimate the impact of Neon Genesis Evangelion has changed anime forever. While having the shiny skin is the action of giant robots, this series is essentially an exploration of the darkest and most important aspects of human psychology and relationships. people, so the fact that it has garnered generations of fans over two decades is a testament to that. lasting value. Ultimately, Rebuild occupies an unfamiliar position between reboot and sequel that few films surpass. Like a super fictional ending to the whole thing Neon Genesis Mission franchise, the Rebuild movies are definitely worth a look and don’t really replace the original in any way.