Neon Genesis Evangelion
Series, 1995, The original, Set in Tokyo-3, 2015
Neon Genesis Evangelion is #1 of 6 in release order and #1 of 6 in chronological order in the Evangelion.
The story
At the turn of the century, the Angels returned to Earth, seeking to wipe out humanity in an apocalyptic fury. Devastated, mankind's last remnants moved underground to wait for the day when the Angels would come back to finish the job. Fifteen years later, that day has come... but this time, humanity is ready to fight back with terrifying bio-mechanical weapons known as the Evangelions. Watch as Shinji, Rei, Asuka and the rest of the mysterious shadow agency Nerv battle to save earth from total annihilation.
Neon Genesis Evangelion recap
In 2015, fourteen-year-old Shinji Ikari is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his father Gendo, commander of NERV, after years of neglect, and is told to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 against an Angel. He reluctantly agrees, and moves in with his commanding officer, Misato Katsuragi. He fights alongside Rei Ayanami, a quiet girl who seems close to Gendo, and later Asuka Langley Soryu, a proud pilot from Germany. Early episodes are a monster-of-the-week story with school life, friends Toji and Kensuke, and the slow building of a strange family in Misato's flat. In the second half, things fall apart. Toji is crippled when the Angel-infected Unit-03 is destroyed by Unit-01 under Gendo's Dummy Plug while Shinji screams. Unit-01 absorbs Shinji for a month. Misato's former lover Kaji is killed while digging into NERV's secrets. Asuka is broken by an Angel's mental attack. Rei dies and returns, and Shinji learns she is one of many clones grown from his mother Yui. The last Angel, Kaworu Nagisa, befriends Shinji, who is forced to kill him. SEELE's plan, the Human Instrumentality Project, will merge all human souls into one.
Neon Genesis Evangelion ending explained
The last two episodes take place inside Shinji's mind during Instrumentality: an abstract series of questions and memories, with the other characters examining why he hates himself. Shinji realises he can choose to value himself, and the cast surround him, applauding and congratulating him. What happens in the physical world is shown in the film The End of Evangelion, which replaces these episodes; the Rebuild films later retell the story.
Where to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion
Neon Genesis Evangelion is streaming on Netflix in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 8.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, MyAnimeList 8.37
Where it fits
- Release order: first, before Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion.
- Chronological order: first, before Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion.
What to watch before Neon Genesis Evangelion
Nothing. Neon Genesis Evangelion is the first of the Evangelion essentials, so it's the place to start.
Cast
- Megumi Ogata as Shinji Ikari (voice)
- Kotono Mitsuishi as Misato Katsuragi (voice)
- Megumi Hayashibara as Rei Ayanami (voice)
- Yuko Miyamura as Asuka Langley Soryu (voice)
- Yuriko Yamaguchi as Dr. Ritsuko Akagi (voice)
- Fumihiko Tachiki as Gendo Ikari (voice)
- Motomu Kiyokawa as Kozo Fuyutsuki (voice)
- Miki Nagasawa as Maya Ibuki (voice)
- Hiro Yuuki as Makoto Hyuuga (voice)
- Tomokazu Seki as Touji Suzuhara (voice)
- Takehito Koyasu as Sherigu Aoba (voice)
- Koichi Yamadera as Ryouji Kaji (voice)