Explaining Evangelion-The Lore of Japan's Most Brilliant Sci-Fi

[@zachargkna]

Keep in mind that not every piece is supposed to fit together cleanly or make complete sense. Evangelion is about the journey, and the viewer’s confusion is a part of that journey. “Evangelion is like a puzzle, you know. Any person can see it and give their own answer. In other words, we're offering viewers to think by themselves, so that each person can imagine their own world. We will never offer the answers, even in the theatrical version. As for any Evangelion viewers, they may expect us to provide the 'all-about Eva' manuals, but there is no such thing. Don't expect to get answers by someone. Don't expect to be catered to all the time. We all have to find our own answers.” -series creator Hideaki Anno

[@bennyspeaks1730]

Thanks for coming back a year later for this comment lol, although to be fair this video was recommended to me a year later so it makes sense if the video is gaining traction all of a sudden to update it

[@leonardoalfonso7080]

Can you please explain why the ending in the manga is different? I remember that it looked like humanity had been reset with Chinji getting a new chance at life and oddly enough dead EVAs lying in the landscape.

[@emorch4723]

I'm surprised you actually came back, this video was great, good job

[@zachargkna]

@@bennyspeaks1730 I just found that quote while researching some other stuff and really liked it. Thought I’d add it

[@KoOkiEzRoCkz]

I love this quote, it proves Hideaki Anno's dedication to the story. The lore gets confusing the deeper you try to analyze it. So the best way to interpret it will always be based on your own opinion (Individuality). By not giving out 'definitive' answers, you are forced to find your own (Making choices yourself). And arguably going too deep in the lore is futile, since in the end, its just a story and not meant to substitute/take over your life (Escapism).

[@longtyler48]

The 3 parts of NGE 1)“I’m gonna watch this show, it has giant robots” 2) Watches 3) “What the absolute fuck is happening and when did I get an honorary PhD in theology?”

[@bobymanna8468]

4) "It's 3am now and why am I still researching NGE lore like there is no tomorrow?"

[@joshuagoodsell5952]

Fr glad I wasn’t the only one who didn’t understand this

[@peterwall8191]

*longtyler48* I believe it is called a doctorate in divinity. I call it, a doctorate in fan fiction.

[@GustavoLaboy]

@@peterwall8191 you're correct. An expensive one though lol.

[@peterwall8191]

@@GustavoLaboy Expensive is relative. Usually it supplements the resume of some high ranking priest, looking to be come a bishop or a cardinal. Other than priests and Bible scholars (another time waster) IDk of anyone else who goes for such a degree. To be one or the other in the first place, means you have money, or moneyed backers.

[@sqwuibs8883]

This anime basically is just Everyone not asking how shinji is but asking where shinji is..

[@Sicktoid]

I love this take on it!

[@gildedshieldproductions6901]

Everyone asks what the dog doin but no one asks how the dog doin

[@jason0067]

Who is Shinji 💀

[@justinwolf148]

He's the absolute worst. I wish he suffered more.

[@Proxyy7]

@@justinwolf148 at least he admits it

[@TomVCunningham]

The crazy part about this is, you can watch this entire video and still not be spoiled for the show lol. The show is fundamentally unconcerned with its own lore and focuses more on the emotional journey of its characters and it's overarching themes.

[@SuperKeithers]

imagine that

[@TomVCunningham]

@@SuperKeithers 🤔

[@SuperKeithers]

I had heard it was a good show, so I was unsurprised to find that as a good show it focuses ''on the emotional journey of it's characters and it's overarching themes'' and is ''fundamentally unconcerned with it's own lore.'' Lore is like the facts of the universe, the facts of the story, the names, times, and statistics of the story, they have no meaning and context without emotion in the story, and as such, to be good, to have connection to audience, it'd be a much better artistic strategy to rely on emotion/themes than to spend time focusing on the lore. Now, this being said, I haven't seen it, I just found your comment to make sense, so I said, "imagine that" since it sounded obvious to me.

[@aaroncarr3413]

Reminds me of .hack// lmao

[@kevintobing961]

IIRC Misato once said and that true tragedy of Nerv is it's people..

[@stephenking5852]

Asuka’s mother didn’t just commit suicide, she did a “double suicide.” She hanged herself, and the doll she thought was her daughter. She tried to drag her own child down with her.

[@yiddzin7318]

Ayo...shows dark for sure

[@dallassunsru1187]

😮

[@beans3669]

“YOUR MOTHER HUNG HERSELF! GRAAAHHHHH!!!”

[@DoNotFuss]

​@@beans3669VENOMMMM

[@littleantukins4415]

​@@beans3669 emotional damage

[@darkalman]

As you watch the series it's fun to try to determine the exact moment the principal writer went off his medication...

[@stefanwolf8558]

HAHAHA! Yeah man. At first it was just cool robots (or angels whatever) fighting giant aliens (like kaijus) it was all going well, military stuff etc. Then midway it became this weird religious deep meaning shit that led to an ending so crazy, they had to remake the ending 2-4 times and it's still confusing AF.

[@JaCrispy3060]

Episode 16 to the end

[@somechubbycunttm2845]

Didnt the writer had severe suicidal thoughts when writing the end of evangelion?

[@tomemeornottomeme1864]

@@stefanwolf8558 That's... Not what happened at all. The original intent was always roughly what we got; a psychoanalytic mindfuck. Hideaki Anno's severe depression bled into the show and inspired him to take it into a more philosophical direction. The ending wasn't remade because it was too confusing or something, either. In NGE, you can see for episode previews of 25 and 26 that they use storyboards for End of Evangelion. Meaning, End of Evangelion was the actual plan, but they ran out of time, so what we got instead was 25+26, which is the exact same events as in End of Evangelion in a different perspective. The movie and the show's ending are not different entities, they are the same ending shown differently. And then the Rebuild series is half sequel, half reboot, and they decided to take it in an entirely different direction.

[@iseehowitis9382]

I'd say from the start 😭

[@RardTangler]

The reason why Yui chose to be absorbed into Unit 01 is to be the eternal proof that mankind existed. I’ve also read that she did this to act as a sort of guardian to Shinji during instrumentality. She knew, even back then, that the fate of humanity would rest on his shoulders.

[@OllyRoger]

Damn girl; just put some polaroids 'n' a mixtape in an old shoebox and bury them in your backyard.

[@Nickel700]

Not to guide, but to have a good or any Sync rate with the Eva, the soul inside of it and the soul of the pilot have to match in some way. Thats why she merge with it, so Shinji could pilot it in the future.

[@astrologygames111]

Interesting

[@wallyspencer3253]

@@Nickel700 bruuh it is said in the mangathat they intended to use the merge into the core as a way of piloting the Eva but things went nutts so they had to deal with it and find another way if i remember well main purpose of evas is to destroy all angels then cause the human complementarity if i remember well

[@ananasie1211]

I don’t wanna spoil anything but it’s all explained in 3.0+1.0 I watched it and Yui clearly explains it.

[@BLung-tq2mm]

The amount you like Evangelion is inversely proportionate to the amount you like yourself at the time of watching it.

[@shusterandy]

That may be true because the more happy I am I don't enjoy it as much. But when I'm really depressed and in a dark place I really like to watch Evangelion.

[@mikuzillas]

@@shusterandy eh really? I’m always in a good mood when I am watching Evangelion and loving it at the same time.

[@shusterandy]

@@mikuzillas true I can be in a good mood while watching Evangelion also

[@Leo-ss9tk]

That explains a lot

[@islandgyalr]

Bruh. Yes.

[@grimmlinn]

The director actually explains why Shinji chokes Asuka in the end. It was not out of anger, which he does not exhibit typical anger symptoms if you watch him. The reason given was that shinji did not know if he stopped instrumentality and to test that, he chokes Asuka, as there would be no suffering if instrumentality succeeded. Asuka strokes his cheek to tell him, it’s ok, don’t worry you succeeded and it’s over, which normally she would just slap him. Shinji slumps and cries in relief that it’s over and he did stop instrumentality. Asuka’s disgust at Shinji also confirms it because if everyone merged and there was complete acceptance and understanding, then there wouldn’t be this gulf between her and Shinji. Suffering is the proof that he wasn’t in the perfect world of instrumentality. The director also states that he purposely didn’t explain it all because he wants people to think about it and debate it. I personally just suspect that he couldn’t explain it all and just left it open ended to let the audience make its own theories.

[@ccerrato147]

But I don't get the "he stopped instrumentality" part. I mean, it's just him and Asuka alive. Everyone else did in fact merge into the orange liquid.

[@grimmlinn]

Think Adam and Eve@@ccerrato147

[@Raisera]

@@ccerrato147 He stopped Instrumentality in the sense that every human with the willpower to do so was given the power to re-emerge from the liquid.

[@PapaJafari]

​@ccerrato147 Adam and eve my dood. Yes 99% of humanity is coolaid now, but there are two living souls on earth and one choked the other and was called disgusting. The only human interaction on the entire planet proves the presence of AT/ego and therefore instrumentality didn't finish. They will now be Adam and eve to the rest of humanity. What that looks like is up to the viewers imagination.

[@aliveslice]

Wasn't "disgusting" a mistranslation and she just said "it feels bad" therefore proving that suffering still exists

[@mokkaherrman1104]

19:40 this interpretation is actually incorrect. Shinji doesn't break down crying because he feels affection for the first time. He strangles Asuka because he wants to know if he succeeded in cancelling the third impact, to find out whether the human AT field is back. Since people can hurt each other again, it is. This interpretation is confirmed by the creators. Edit: I wrote this comment more than a year ago, and since much time went by, I thought it might be worth adding a few things. Many people don't like this interpretation of the ending, and it is not the "only correct" interpretation there is (for more info look at the comment I wrote wrote below this one). But it is one of the only ones that actually has some official backing, and I don't quite understand why there's so much hate around it, since I think that it still sends a great message. Let me explain. Instead of accepting the world of true harmony that now exists; where all the pain and hardship that the AT field has created are gone; Shinji realizes the bad in this world is exactly what makes life worth living. The joy of life lies in overcoming pain. In facing your fears. In hating and in loving. In coldness and in warmth. Even though Shinji has been through this much hardship and pain; he comes to realize that it is quite what made him human. The pain makes moments of friendship and love stand out so much more, because even though they might be rare, when they come, you know they are real and sincere. And that's what makes life worth living. I think that's quite touching.

[@Killah6969]

Oh thats pretty cool

[@HeyCupertino]

That's what YOU think, Hackerman

[@nameq]

confirmed when? i thought i'd know if something like that happened

[@user-mf5fv3sg3n]

source of confirmation? I dont see how this was a better and sensical way to find out if it worked rather than just talking to her and making sense of it together. Plus, he did do nearly the same thing to imagination Asuka so I think it has similar connections that Shinji just felt unhinged and it gave the ending more of an ironic somber theme which makes more sense than this neutral ending that ends in abuse for no other reason?

[@mokkaherrman1104]

@@user-mf5fv3sg3n There was an officially licensed carddass card game with important moments from the series, as well as according descriptions. The card portraying the final scene of the series had this description. Maybe I'll look for an actual linked source when I find time later today, but optimally this info is enough to find it. You are right, there have been several interpretations of the final scene and every of them seemed flawed in some way. There is no "true" canonical meaning, since one could doubt how canonically correct the card game was. But since there is very few background data to play around with, this is one of the few theories that has at least some sort of canonical backing.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

I'm watching Evangelion for the first time right now and I've been really enjoying it, but I became convinced I had just flat out missed 90 percent of the implicit lore and that's why I still didn't really know what was going on by episode 15. It's a relief to know it's not just me, and that's just kind of how Evangelion works.

[@vice.nor.virtue]

Western story telling : In the year 3000ad humanity has experienced the apocalypse twice due to seeds of god meeting each other on the same planet.. **Details details details** Japanese Story telling: [episode 1] Hi, Shinji pilot this robot. [episode 15] this robot is potentially made of god and your mum [last episode] humanity is better as tang.

[@DrummerDucky]

It feels like the production realized half-way into pre-production that the story was bloated nonsense, and instead opted to make interesting episodes loosely advancing the plot, leaving it blurry to hide its awfulness as much as possible. It worked, still is one of my favourite shows despite how much I despise the actual alien-seed-3rd-impact plot.

[@newlandpencilnut4754]

@@DrummerDucky The motivations of why people want to cause/not cause/alter the third impact are a lot more interesting than the actual mechanics of the event, also it looks cool as shit.

[@MrVelociraptor75]

@@DrummerDucky Sadly a large reason for the blurring towards the end of the series is budget based. They were running out of funds. The last 2 episodes were heavily cobbled together to represent the struggle within Shinji's mind during the 3rd impact, but weren't the original direction they were going to take it (that's what the End of Evangelion is about, a more thorough telling of the 3rd impact, demanded by the fans) As a kid, those last episodes made zero sense and were a bit of a letdown, but as an adult, I quite appreciate them. They are (in a way) a stroke of genius, in order to finish a series that may have otherwise never been fully released.

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

@@vice.nor.virtue yes, that please

[@porkyV2]

the souls of the dead mother's inside the eva's are heavily implied. everytime unit 01 moves on its own or goes into berserk mode, its shinji's mother protecting him. same when asuka's unit 02 went off scale synchronization when the unit 09's threatened her child. asuka even had a short exposition of how she felt her mother is protecting her via unit 02. it was also implied that they are placed there specifically for each assigned unit for the protective instinct of mothers to their child.

[@ethangavrilmoreno8479]

Nobody: Yui Ikari when Unit 01 goes beserk: *"DONT YOU DARE TOUCH ME OR MY SON EVER AGAIN!"* *proceeds to absolutely destroy a particluar angel to pieces*

[@nikaelkeanretiza1074]

Unit 1: nice attack on me and my child but *YOU ARE GOING TO THE BLACK RELM* Unit 2: just like unit 1 but less kinda powerful due to plot amor but yea Unit 3: *DOGGY MODE ACTIVE*

[@Kspice9000]

That's also the main reason only those children can actually be pilots. Anyone else and they are unresponsive.

[@toadconqueror4293]

How can Rei pilot an Eva? She was made. Was a test tube defending her?

[@seangoldman6833]

@@toadconqueror4293 Because she had Lilith's soul she could sync with any of the Evas. Same reason Kaworu, with Adam's soul, was able to sync with Unit 2. It's heavily implied if not outright stated the soul in Unit 0 was Ritsu's mother and that's why it was going berserk and trying to kill Gendo at the start of the show.

[@oceanhell2]

I really love the tongue-in-cheek play on popular anime. Eva just says "Why are you all making 14 year olds save the world? Do you know what would REALLY happen to a 14 year old if they were burdened with the world's demise? THIS!"

[@invaderlum8600]

All i know about this anime is "Shinji Crank that souljaboi"

[@takeyourmedsplz]

These 14 year olds have very unique and specific problems that make it less likely they'll succeed in trying to save the world. I get that the story has to be interesting, but a kid from Kansas who's smoked cigarettes since 10 and has boundless self confidence for no reason, would absolutely run the angels out of the solar system in an EVA unit

[@christianslaughter8724]

I think thats just the definition of narrative deconstruction, from my understanding.

[@borkuto_art]

man, i felt the burden :(

[@kaito9988]

Ngl if i was given this responsibility as an early teen i would no DOUBT commit genocide for fun. no.Doubt. The only thing stopping most of us lunatics is the lack of power lmao

[@hanksteel5695]

This is one of the best explanations I've seen of the main plot, it wasn't very long and really helped explain the series. Congratulations!

[@zachargkna]

thanks!! glad it helped

[@jackspratt7264]

@@zachargkna This anime is one of the most needlessly complicated narratives of all time. I said it back in 1997 when I first saw this through ADV and I'm saying it now... PRETENTIOUS NONSENSE. Watch "Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still", instead. Far superior to this madness.

[@frontierak]

Omedetou

[@zeroperator]

the only thing i wished this video had was it'd link or show where the lore came from if it wasn't from NGE show or EoE.

[@testytest3083]

@@jackspratt7264 soulless bugman

[@multivitamin425]

Japanese: Hey this Christian book sounds savage

[@lahh913]

@@lilpoodle2680 yes

[@Trademarked26]

"Hey, Have you checked out the last book? It's loaded with potential content! You know what, we should end the series with everyone dying!"

[@hougen8695]

i mean, the bible had giants, monsterous demons, angels, talking snakes, burning centient bushes.. you can make anime outta that

[@itsgojoverfr]

@@hougen8695 fuck yes lol

[@itsgojoverfr]

@@hougen8695 and add some kinda op characters who serve god

[@Crainage1056]

the most terrifying part of EoE was where Asuka was dismembered and the nerves were not severed so she felt everything. That was the most horrifying thing in the entire Evangelion.

[@Ian-dq1tl]

When was this?

[@bigbangaries]

It makes me cringe every time and I love it

[@Crainage1056]

@@Ian-dq1tl It was in the End of Evangelion movie, the end of the Neon Genesis Evangelion.

[@Ian-dq1tl]

@@Crainage1056 ah thanks i havent watched the movie

[@exileayahika]

I saw it very young and I just want to say that it is brutal and graphic violence. What happens to Asuka is heartbreaking. I wasn't old enough to handle it; and this is what the rating system was intended for. However, I am not going to say thay End of Evangelion is NOT a good movie. It's amazing! But, I don't think seeing Asuka being cannibalised is "pleasant or amazing"

[@nabieladrian]

This is absurdly the most detailed Evangelion lore walkthrough I've ever seen. Thank you!

[@Deuteromis]

I just love how it turns out the whole Judo-Christian theme of the show is only in there because the creators thought it looked cool.

[@bobajob13]

That tends to be the case in lots of anime which draws from European lore or imagery, see- fate which has almost nothing to do with its source material.

[@lukeboyd3226]

My best guess is that it was included because as with Evangelion, you really shouldn't spend too much time trying to understand the literal story and instead accept it for the morals and reasoning behind it. It's also entirely plausible that the Christian imagery is there for no reason.

[@Deuteromis]

@@bobajob13 True, I think it's BC also " Throw something against the wall and see what sticks"

[@Deuteromis]

@@lukeboyd3226 Oh no they stated they thought the Judo-Christian imagery looked cool it's in an interview. As for understanding the whole meaning behind Eva, a friend told me that he heard the guy who originally came up with the idea or it was the head writer was severally depressed when writing EVA. Apparently if you are depressed, you can understand the whole point of the show. I was had a hard time believing him at first, but watching it a 3rd time whilw depressed I'm starting to believe it. While Angels use the A.T. Field to protect their entire body, Lilithum use thiers to protect their minds and hearts because overall they fear trully being together with one another. It's like Ritsuko said about Shinji with the Hedgehog Dilemma. Though she only meant him, the meaning applies to all humans.

[@timekeeper6234]

Your high if you think its only in there because he thinks it "looks cool" the name of the show is "neon genesis evangelion" every angel is named after a angel in the torrah and kabbalah manuscripts. Every says they read that "In an interview" but that's bullshit. Find me that interview. No one has yet. Just ancient neckbeards that can't stand the idea their favourite anime isn't about being a incel.

[@eyjay1508]

If only even 10% of this was actually explained in the series.

[@toastytoast9800]

it was, just in a way where it fucks your brain

[@eyjay1508]

@@toastytoast9800 I don't think the aliens that made adam and lilith were ever mentioned.

[@JuiceD-bi8oy]

@@eyjay1508 I believe the FAR are referenced in additional materials such as videogames, but the idea of Adam and Lilith being created by a god or godlike being is implied in the original series. The major plot points that matter are basically that Shinji is broken and then the morals he learns during the last two episodes of the main series and during End of Evangelion shape him to be better.

[@eyjay1508]

@@JuiceD-bi8oy Yes but for him to learn morals all these events still need to actually happened and its never explained how or why they do. We never learned how OVAs are actually made or why EVA1 is important, we never learned what angels actually wanted to do or what they actualy are other than that they are in some way related to adam. We never learn where the spear actually comes from. We never learned HOW the children are chosen. A ton of highly important plot devices are never explained.

[@vangoghsseveredear]

@@eyjay1508 I agree. It feels like they ran out of time, money, or just didn't know how to pull all the ideas together. I loved the show until the end, where it completely lost me. I've only watched it once, but still. I get the point is about the characters, but the characters are in a world. And it's hard to care about the characters when you don't understand the world at all

[@saldan3985]

Part of the reason I respect and love Eva so much is because they created this elaborate world with symbolics to world religions and then just REFUSED to give it screen time forcing us to just look at this depressed kid. And yet the story STILL works. It's insane.

[@kevinbaumhoer7359]

Sry for the late anwser but but the Christiany Simbolocy is an Giant Ultraman Reference has Evangelion as a hole is for.the most part a reahot.of 1973 Ultraman Leo of withc Ano a Giant fan is

[@vitor900000]

That is the precise reason I hate this stupid anime with all my might. I couldn't care less about a stupid, useless, coward, cry baby, depressed kid when we have a impending apocalipse at our door steps.

[@deepwebvip]

I think the holy symbols being used in this show give more weight to the story that’s so eerily haunting to imagine in contrast to our own religious stories. It’s also presented in such a daunting manner, always just beyond your comprehension with the only names, titles, and language you pick up on holding religious significance that feels unsettling in this context. I feel it’s built to be a unbelievably heavy backdrop to build beautiful scenes of these kids trying to operate in this world of chaos, dealing with the emotions of being thrown into a fucked up dark experiment where they’re used by adults clumsily attempting to play god.

[@Patrick-uh8xj]

And here's the Gen Z fan with a shit take.

[@plocky401]

the story does not work

[@Ortium]

Evangelion 1-13: that's a cool robots anime Evangelion after episode 14: 💀

[@joeseastrand714]

this is the only explanation i have watched that actually made sense.

[@andreasfritz723]

so what was the sense

[@benparrish672]

Search Alex Jones explains Evangelion to Joe Rogan. HILARIOUS

[@sorcerous8401]

I just wanted big robots smacking big monsters... Edit: people this was a joke, i love eva and everything it does so you can stop recommending shows that im never gonna watch anyway

[@ubermaster134]

Anno getting depressed and him hating Otaku culture effected things alot

[@MinecraftWorld1954]

Then watch Pacific Rim lol

[@nilus2k]

@@MinecraftWorld1954 Or like a million other anime.

[@nishanthgideon1485]

Watch every last part of power Rangers

[@flimpeenflarmpoon1353]

@@ubermaster134 how can you not hate Otaku culture tbf

[@ttaylor7604]

Neon Genesis Evangelion: the show where watching lore videos makes things more confusing.

[@borkborkimashork]

made perfect sense to me

[@grimhavenz]

Ngl it made sense to me

[@DOSEDKID]

it made sense but i still am forced to asked "why?" but i guess thats why its so damn good of a story

[@nigossaurus9329]

Some parts didn't make any sense to me

[@shiaakatsuki7865]

I mean, it's a SciFi, so...

[@yessica5231]

This is probably the first character driven anime I've watched. They don't wait for the plot to happen to them and move/change them, if that makes sense. Like I felt so attached to most characters and ones I thought I hated, I ended up loving, and ones I thought I loved, ended up disliking. It was weird, but I don't feel like I'm left with a pit like most series endings. Like I don't need to understand more, I feel satisfied.

[@goten3965]

whats funny is alot of the series is exactly what you said didnt happen all the angels have set dates everything has a prophecy shinji chooses to pilot an ava when people are in danger even tho he almost quit like 20 times its wierd because this story is driven solely on how the major plot points affect the decisions of the characters and yet thats not a bad thing nor is it obvious it makes it seem like they had choices but the only choice anyone had was shinji turning human again the character development was so realistic its crazy even tho this is a sci fi anime these characters are exactly how real people would act especially towards all the trauma everyone faced in their past and how it affects them mentally 10/10 anime

[@brandonbentley5453]

The mixture of technology and spiritualism.makes this series and the manga so interesting and rewatchable.

[@jacobadam6804]

It kinda pointed towards what the future holds. We’re living in the beginning stages of the mingling of tech and latent spiritual power.

[@Darkwings01]

I think the most amazing thing was that Kaoru, a container for Adam's soul, geniunely cares for Shinji and does want to hurt him, but has to because its the only way to protect him even at the cost of Shinji's sanity. I feel like this is also an explanation on why Kaoru knew so much about Shinji and why he said he would try to save Shinji again in the Rebuilds. Kaoru would literally cross dimensions just to save Shinji. Man, that is some good story telling if I am being honest.

[@masonheitner8410]

seeing Shinji all flustered for Kaworu make my heart SING

[@definitelynotavegan7285]

the manga does a really good job of portraying this

[@Maioral18]

In the end of the remakes you actually see that Kaoru is God himself while Shinji is his chosen one. It is really amazing.

[@juota]

Kaworu is "Acceptance" of Shinji's "Denial"

[@magma2050]

I always assumed the reason only those in Shinji's class were candidates to pilot EVAs was because Second Impact left a kind of "shadow" on everyone's souls as they were in that day, and the candidates' mothers were still pregnant with them at the time, so their souls were overlapped. It's also the reason I guess Asuka only became accepted as a pilot the minute her mother died. Simply capture the soul of the mother, upload it into a soulless EVA shell, stick the child inside it as well, expose them to the same energies present in Second Impact to reinstate the latent image of overlapping souls, and there you go, instant synchronisation (strength dependant on the emotional bond between child and mother). As I think Ritsuko said at one point, if the children knew what they were doing (which I infer to be messing around with the souls of their mothers), they would hate them forever.

[@atlasmiles9139]

wtf?

[@zee4277]

this theory is so messed up and is totally something nerv would do i love it

[@ShallowSedai]

I like this. I always felt that Seele understood the AT (Absolute Terror) Field that all humans produced was strongest in those children who had lost their mother. This makes them able to not only join with the Eva more easily, but also have strong inherent AT Fields that could be amplified in the Eva, which were designed to nullify other AT Fields and bring about instrumentality. Perhaps mothers in Seele took this belief to the next step in wanting their children to become an instrument of instrumentality.

[@TomVCunningham]

man. I really dig this.

[@melissaharris3389]

If you use that honorary theology degree you can also conjecture that children born right after second impact are free of original sin as Adam opened the door to the chamber of Guf: the place were all souls come from.

[@cashrock505]

This is actually the best I've ever seen the series explained. You explained Ryoji Kaji's role in a way I'd never really thought about it before. Well done!

[@shotgunmasterQL]

Im not completely sure about all of this, based on what I have read previously, but I always understood Shinji strangling Asuka was not (only) out of shock or anger, but to sort of see if they are still in instrumentality, as in instrumentality people aren't physical beings, but also his own desires wouldnt put up against him at all in instrumentality. That, and how Asuka responded, confirmed to him that instrumentality had ended.

[@akwakatsaka1826]

Very true man!! I’m with you on this !

[@AttacMage]

was with you as well. The whole point of the dream sequence choking is that it's something Shinji could never actually do, so I doubt rage compelled him in that manner.

[@trashtalia5258]

Define instrumentality

[@AttacMage]

@@trashtalia5258 everyone turns into a stringed quartet

[@yomommamine]

@@AttacMage damn thats poetic

[@s.o.k.1393]

I paid close attention while watching the series. After I finished watching the series and EoE, I hopped on the wiki to fill in some gaps in my knowledge, thinking that I understood like 90% of what happened plot-wise. Boy was I wrong. The series has a really abstract way of explaining the story. Even the way some of the characters pronounced SEELE made me believe there was a different organization similar to it as well, lol. But it doesn't really matter, in the end, finding out what actually happened in the story felt like trivia because the characters were so rich

[@jbark678]

It seems like Kaoru was surprised to see Lilith, which implies that the Angels may have also been mistaken.

[@matthijscalje4143]

He thought they had Adam down there at central dogma, but it was actually Lilith. Adam's body was fused into Gendo's hand

[@phyrim7890]

But that one aquatic angel attacked the ships carrying unit 02 because Koji had Adam's embryo with him while on the ship

[@matthijscalje4143]

@@phyrim7890 there went after both because reaching/destroying either would have achieved their goal

[@cobain2261]

@@phyrim7890 yeah. The angels were after Adam not Lilith.

[@kazyn6]

He was surprised, he thought he'd find Adam by reaching Terminal Dogma, he definitely didn't expect to find Lilith instead.

[@anerdwitdacamera204]

This is also THE most successful animation ever made. With only ~20 episodes, there are still new merchandises coming out in all categories every day 😂

[@matthewrogersmusic]

So basically, at the end of “End of Evangelion”, everyone returns to their human forms and Shinji is still depressed, but the alternative ending of the original show, everyone remains in tang while Shinji is happy? This is the best explanation I’ve seen so far, thank you!

[@skdKitsune]

I think (at the end of EoE) everyone has the ability to chose for themselves if they wish to be fanta or have their own body and go on as individuals. Shinji obviosuly is there, cause it was his idea in the first place and Asuka always wanted to be her own being, so she is the first to follow.

[@rawtoast1730]

i felt like at the end of the show, the whole "its ok for me to be here, i want to be myself" thing was him rejecting instrumentality and choosing to learn how to love himself, since embracing the tang also kinda means losing ones individuality

[@plshelpwifetookthekids9509]

EOE was more impactful, because shinji was willing to accept the pain that comes with being an individual and to cope with it

[@famousj9301]

@@rawtoast1730 yup same here

[@ismu34]

@@rawtoast1730 I think that's the idea, like the last episode is what's happening in his head during the 3rd impact and the movie was to show the physical events and conclusion

[@gersonrendon2188]

As some people have mentioned, it is incredible and I mean incredible how the show decides to not explain like 90% of the actual story because it really isn't relevant for the messages the show is trying to convey. I am yet to discover a show that focuses on its characters and their emotions as much as this one does. Yes the show is corny and sometimes vague, ambiguous and whatnot, but man watching it hits differently compared to any other show out there, and the style and music is honestly beautiful in its own way. It is based in the typical biblical story but somehow it feels original.

[@HTRism]

Corny?

[@ShmuckLord385]

I feel it's also an amazing way to get us into the mindsets of our pov characters, who have no idea how crazy the shit behind the scenes is. Shinji knows nothing and is in a near constant state of confusion and duress, and most everyone else knows but a fragment of anything resembling the truth. The only characters that have any tangible grasp on the plot are Gendo, the members of SEELE, Kaworu, and seemingly Rei (but only right before becoming a divine cataclysmic horror), and these are characters who aren't about to sit down and explain the entire story to someone, because they know and no one else really needs to for their plans to unfold. Hell, We actually know infinitely more than Shinji could ever, and we still don't really know what's happening, so when shinji is losing his mind, we are right there with him in that overwhelming combination of confusion, fear, and loneliness.

[@rhamsus1]

It's never corny.

[@2im36]

That… isn’t really a good thing though.

[@2im36]

@@rhamsus1yea it is.

[@melissaharris3389]

I was a teenager when Evangelion was first available to western audiences. It got me into existential metaphysics and made me appreciate surrealist art so, yeah, it's sort of deeply shaped the way I view the world as I've matured. It's thought provoking theme of alienation, social isolation and the inability of people to connect and communicate because of fear has always resonated with me.

[@vice.nor.virtue]

By any chance did you major in philosophy? Because everything you said reminds of the philosophers I was friends with. I believe only 1/10 philosophers are genuinley happy. Maybe thats the deal with the fruit of knowledge vs the fruit of life.

[@DrummerDucky]

Same, a lot of my early twenties was shaped through this show, especially episodes 25-26.

[@SwampMope]

Thank you for explaining the lore in such a clear and concise way. I’ve watched the original series and read the wiki and was still confused for years.

[@junkerzn7312]

I've watched the series several times over the years. This is the first time I've actually understood any of it. Thanks! -Matt

[@heathenspider]

nice

[@Gir.justin]

facts man

[@changeyouryoutubechannelna1434]

Thank you for your comment Matt, very cool

[@danger2227]

Lmao Tru

[@Ghostman223]

Thank you Matt for your wise words.

[@bruhmingo]

How it’s taken 2 and a half decades for someone to competently explain this show is beyond me. Thank you good sir.

[@juota]

I can give You a PDF file of compiled Evangelion Lore which some of this video missed

[@Al-fata19]

@@juota Can you send a link please

[@nancilionez4761]

I always felt creeped out watching this anime like really eerie but I thought the animation was so stunning for its time

[@guskaulavoru6900]

13:48 this whole series sumerised in a single sentence

[@gottfriedhub]

HAHA

[@paocut9018]

All the other explanations I have watched where talking of all the philosophical concepts in the show but none tried to explain the lore and the actual flow of the series. Thanks for being the first one I saw to explain it clearly and shortly

[@susragejr477]

End of evangelion in a nutshell: Shinji’s post-nut clarity destroys the world 10k, nice👌

[@PANICBLADE]

Alright, alright, let's be nice. We didn't have to go there. I mean you're not WRONG but you didn't have to say it.

[@susragejr477]

@@PANICBLADE plot twist: the third impact was just shinji yanking the hose

[@thecountercounter9127]

@@susragejr477 "fuck it, imma destroy humanity by bustin a nut" *post nut clarity hits* "damn, destroying humanity is kinda fucked up." end of evangelion, everyone.

[@niallclarke8349]

Saves the world *

[@michaelak6753]

post weird assault self awareness ://

[@imagonnasah8319]

I'm not exaggerating when I say every time I watch an Evangelion explanation video I feel like "it all makes sense now" until I watch another explanation video, and i feel the same way all over again. But this video I believe is the best one for me cuz it's really well written and digestible. Kinda sad that I won't have the same reaction after this tho, still, have this big thumbs up from me good sir

[@Yoshiyahu_]

Such is life.

[@SnakeWasRight]

This is the clearest explanation of the actual mechanics of what's going on

[@simonfarre4907]

That scene when Eva 1 wakes up and goes berserk after being impaled through the skull, is made with such great emotional pacing that it always gave me goosebumps

[@d3vilman69]

The moment the blood gush-spray out the front and back of the skull was epic.

[@death_au]

Speaking of emotional pacing: the dummy-plug-controlled Unit 1 crushing unit 4's plug was an emotional gut punch like I'd never experienced before in my life.

[@rafaelscarpe2928]

I love the gutural scream from EVA-01 at this scene...

[@simonfarre4907]

Oh yes. That scene is some of the most amazing scenes of all movie history.

[@cammac66]

I like how the older sci fis are more mysterious and "grounded" not like today where its just a plethora of stories about multiverses, dimensions, probabilities etc.

[@UCannotDefeatMyShmeat]

Multiverse = infinite sequel bait lol

[@inkochan5]

@@UCannotDefeatMyShmeati love Evangelion with all my heart but it is literally a multiverse with a thousand sequels in the forms of books manga movies and games 😂

[@ThePrinceofHisOwnKingdom]

Those concepts been around forever in literature. It's on how they're presented.

[@Jauphrey]

Sincerely no offense intended, but are you referring to Evangelion as the "grounded, more mysterious" show or the one with a plethora of multiverses, dimensions, probabilities, etc.?

[@ValentinoMarino11]

In what way is Evangelion grounded?

[@Excelsior2043]

Now that Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0 is out, could you make something like this for the Rebuild timeline? I fully appreciated this video, helped me understand some of the themes and symbolism of this legendary work of art.

[@danielvanlycreative]

agreed!

[@JR-mk6ow]

Yeah, I'm a bit lost on the Rebuild time-line. Eva 13 with 2 pairs of arms and twice the height... I might need to rewatch

[@servit0r]

yes°

[@noxim-]

yeah I'd love a timeline explanation for the rebuild series as well

[@riChchestMat]

3+1 explains a lot and any lore explanation needs an update

[@imorca1994]

I've watched and read a number of explanations. This is the one that made the most sense. Thanks for your work!

[@baska-]

Neon Genesis Evangelion's Opening song fits perfectly and is definitely amongst the best OSTs of all time. Other great OSTs are Cowboy Beepop, Code Geass and Death Note.

[@theninjaofmusic]

A cruel angles thesis is one of the best songs ever written, regardless of it being an opening. It's practically perfect in a musical sense, similar to Lenard Cohens Hallelujah.

[@thatonekid6677]

better add trigun to that list! :D

[@chadfishfruit]

Code geass and death note are not on the same level

[@estebanc1714]

@@chadfishfruit death note shouldnt even bea contender lol

[@Efrxin_]

@@estebanc1714 still goes hard👁👁

[@BarrettBiggers]

Great recap it is also my favorite manga anime of all time. I truly think Anno (the creator of EVA) was trying to tell a story or warning about a culture failing into escapism and losing touch with reality. My opinion is it is mainly a story about struggling with mental health and self worth - dealing with escapism and finding the will to live for yourself among others that eventually will hurt you or abandon you. So if your (Shinji, Asuka, Rei, children) value/worth is tied to others (adults, SEELE, parents, etc) you have no true free existence. The AT Field is a physical individualism barrier that prevents the loss of self in the LCL sea of consciousness. Although it is comfortable and easier to exist as one shared life form, losing your ego also means losing your freedom. Still the whole robots Angels and story line is awesome in of itself! So Lilith's soul along with Yui's travel throughout space to start this all over again on some other planet. It's pretty cool how it all ties into the nature of life wanting to sustain itself through memory (DNA) and spirit (soul).

[@TheFalzox]

Wish I could save this comment

[@MW9492]

@@TheFalzox you can! With a screenshot like me 😊👍 Or open the video directly in Firefox or Google Chrome. Then you can copy and save the comment from the website. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2bKh3d6pducgdE The KZbin App can't save you a comment that you like 😐☹️and only on the website you can get the comment and save manually. If you're too lazy here are some links to the documents I've made: Text document: docs.google.com/document/d/1V8G-Gp1XY21oa0XbDs9sC-TjsB8oqLXLvm3lf__5Rss/edit?usp=drivesdk PDF document: drive.google.com/file/d/1bfuXFw1TMPkdjM-9HvLBzyJAa5xOgzVm/view?usp=drivesdk

[@PLDSR]

This needs to be a pinned comment.

[@rocketman3770]

well said

[@PancakesVanilla]

The theory about Yui it's true, she was the one that plan everything: the EVA being yui's soul (she became one with Unit 01), she only accepting Shinji on the Eva, acting at any time she wanted to protect shinji (like on the first episode where she protects him from the falling lamps) being extremely violente, that was all intencional even letting asuka died on prupose so shinji would be trigger, only starting to move after she (asuka) was gone, she needed shinji to reject so humanity would be safe and at the end she becomes the eternal proof that humanity was real, like she knew that this would eventualy happed that's why she bought shinji to the laboratory the day she made the test that phrase about the future, she's not talking about the technological advancements but in reality about literally the future, his future and what she was planning for him

[@underkoverist5254]

wow its always brilliant to me how shows like these allow people to think for themselves. Although i think this show is a tad bit overrated i might read the manga and see if its more enjoyable

[@SaneAndHappy]

excellent observation and theory

[@underkoverist5254]

@@SaneAndHappy for sure . I think ghost in the shells is also hella deep too

[@girlvoid]

This is a really good summary of evangelion lore. I'd like to add my own input of the story, centering around the "Marduk institute". In Mesopotamian religion, Marduk is viewed as a god who slayed Tiamat, who was the primordial goddess of creation. In the tale, tiamat and apsu were the beings that were present before creation (Adam and Lilith). Speaking theoretically and within the Mesopotamian myth, Tiamat (yui) awakened when apsu (kaworu) was destroyed and was upset with the gods (angels and/or Shinji piloting unit 01) for destroying him. So she fought Marduk and was slain by his weapon, imhullu (the spear of Longinus). I'm sharing this as an assyrian, who knows of our roots and by watching this series was able to make the connection when the Marduk institute was mentioned as the name struck and reminded me of this tale, which is from enuma elish, aka the Babylonian creation myth.

[@Miiwl0]

This was one of the best videos I’ve ever watched that explained the lore of Evangelion before I had a rough idea of the events but now I can actually say I understand what happend fully through out the story

[@saltyshackle6777]

I think that SEELE doesn't actually have a military and instead told the JSSDF that NERV was trying to start 3rd impact. I think this because, when Rei fused with Lilith, it caused a huge explosion. One of the soldiers said that they failed there job while witnessing it. SEELE used the JSSDF to destroy NERV's defenses.

[@natedlc854]

Could the third impact have been prevented then? If the JSSDF succeeded?

[@spyrosource3]

I interpreted that just as soldiers being lied to and treated like pawns by Seele, you could be right through

[@The8merp]

I thought in the beginning of the video it's mentioned that Seele was the one who founded Nerve, why did they attack it then, who within Nerve was gonna cause problems to them, Gendo had his own plans for the 3rd impact, was that why they attacked Nerve to stop Gendo ?

[@Jackie-ms3tn]

@@The8merp Seele and Gendo were both pursuing their own agenda regarding Third Impact. At the beginning of EoE, Seele tries to get Gendo to stand down NERV but when Gendo refuses which is why SEELE initiated hostilities.

[@vanesslifeygo]

Evangelion is like the darkest end of to an age of "old anime", and it set the stage for the anime that came after it, which had standards to live up to.

[@NeedsContent]

That's was an epic breakdown, and the most comprehensive I've ever come across. Amazing work!

[@tinto278]

Its been 23 years and finally some has explained it to me. I went to Japan in 2013 on a trip with my friends and did all the tourist stuff and saw the sites. Then last year during covid I started to watch neon genesis again as something to do. I started to google to find out some questions I wanted answered about the series and found out Tokyo 3 was based on a real location. I then realized I had been there on my trip in 2013 and it really spun me out, for some reason it hit hard. When I was a kid my friends and I were amazed that this cartoon was so deep in complexity and mystery. Lake Ashinoko is a wonderful place for a ride on a pirateship only to find out later that is Tokyo 3. Life really is stranger then fiction.

[@laserbeamlightning]

This is like me getting swept away as an 11 year old by old Akiba only to realize as an adult that Steins;Gate preserved my childhood memories of the place almost perfectly. It's changed so much since but getting to be there during that prime time of the mid to late 2000's was surreal

[@mustafaakin8097]

Summary of NGE: Depressive author is forced by fans to end his story "properly" which he does in a very very obscure way. Edit: Wow, didn't expect such a resonance! Thank you very much for the likes!

[@moreira7660]

remember before watching this movie ah yes good times

[@kazyn6]

Well when you think about it, the end of evangelion isn't that dark, I wouldn't call it a happy ending but there are no more angels and no more seed of life (Adam) so the Earth belongs to Lilith's children for good (unless a third seed comes crashing down on Earth but that is very unlikely to happen) and since Shinji rejected mankind complementary plan, mankind was given a second chance on Earth, every soul can leave Guf if they want to and become individual beings again, so mankind survived the third impact and life will go on in an angel free world that still looks fucked up and creepy as fuck but this isn't the end of the world lmao

[@nekokuro2138]

@@kazyn6 man, i think that you r wrong about there is no angel left. Thus Lilin is the offsprings of the Lilith so they could be called the angel too, furthermore Seele classified Lilin as the 18th angel.

[@JanZamani]

It's pretty much like 'ohh you're not happy with my ending? cool, he's another ending that is even more messed up and also a middle finger to you' lol.

[@artificialsweetner]

@@JanZamani the first ending he bascially becomes god and watches over earth

[@dxcSOUL]

The best thing about this series is that you don't have to understand the lore to get the point of the story or the arcs of the characters.

[@gdgd5194]

Lol it's because there is nothing difficupt to understand about it

[@rjmaxx1258]

I don't really agree. The author got death threats over the wtf ending that they had to make EOE to try and explain everything. A lot of people didn't understand this and the author even said he was depressed while writing it to explain away criticisms.

[@frogitude3106]

@@rjmaxx1258 I see it less as a way to appease the fans (while it may feel that way to people who felt ripped off by the psychological ending) and more of a compliment to the original ending. While I haven't seen it myself, It sounds like it's the same ending, just told from a different perspective. While the original anime shows the ending from inside the human instrumentality project, the movie shows what happens on the outside, or the more physical/concrete plane of existence. but thats simply what I heard

[@RaphiHealer]

There's a couple inaccuracies here. Mostly with your pronunciation of words both English and German (it's almost painful). That aside I see that you're wrong about the death of Ritsko's mother. She doesn't kill herself, she is shot by Gendo after he finds her red handed with Rei's limp corpse. She is shot off of the balcony. This is mirrored in the ending when Ritsko tries to commit murder-suicide via a failed attempt to hack the Magi but then Gendo kills her after telling her "the truth" for which she say's "You Liar." She is then shot and falls off the dock into the seas of lcl. Speaking of LCL it is mentioned what it is amongst techno-babble during the series. LCL is the 'primordial soup' from which all life is birthed. It contains everything needed to make and sustain human life. Very interesting about the part of Asuka's mother, that explains a lot. Chamber of Goth is going to be waaay more complicated than a place where undead souls are kept. This is getting into Kabbalah Apocrypha. Most likey "The Chamber of Goth" is going to be what separates the divine source from the universe. In Kabbalah there are the three God Spheros or Sepheroths. These cannot be touched by individual beings, to do so would unravel one's individual form and return to the source as pure energy. However energy from these Spheros can be channeled. These three Spheros are The Source "Keter", Knowledge/Wisdom "Hokmah" Creation/Divine Womb "Binah". This strikes an interesting comparison to the Seed of Life and the Fruit of Knowledge. Essentially the story could be interpreted as a ritual means to access the Source Power and write the world while using the power of the Eva's AT field to protect oneself and imbue one's will and thus wish upon the reforging of the world. Now for the ending. You got it all wrong. Shinji doesn't stop instrumentality. He remembers how little appreciation and clear signs of love he recieved throughout his life and decides that people aren't worth it "So they can all just die." He destroys everyone until all that's left are him and Rei. "What is this?" "This is the world that you wished for, a place where there is no one else." Shinji comes to realize on his own that he does value and appreciate people even if they don't show him loves in ways that are easy for him to realize. He then reunites with the soul of his mother whom has been in the eva the entire time and he decides he wishes to see everyone again. "Fear not," says Yui, "For it is possible for all life to be born anew so long as they can remember their true form and have the will to live. Shinji does not come back to life with Asuka. The woman laying beside him is a merged being of Asuka, Rei and Misato. This is shown by the bandages that Asuka is wearing to signify Rei and the gesture she does is to signify Misato.

[@zephiask1758]

Oh yeah the German Pronounciations hurt me physically haha Although the explainations in just 20 minutes were really good

[@timothee1201]

after spending unnecessary amounts of time researching evangelion as well, this was the best video that put all those thoughts together. tysm!!!!

[@LunchThyme]

Plato once classified humans as a featherless biped, so Diogenes plucked a live chicken and presented it to Plato at his next class, proclaiming "Behold, a human." After watching Eva, reading the wiki, reading reddit, and finally watching this video, I feel like I understand philosophy about as well as that chicken.

[@TheBloxster]

thats.. intriguing

[@hms3412]

😂😂

[@Regigigas_YT]

That just sounds like Adam and Lilith talking before the 1st impact lol

[@thomas0086]

🫡

[@nurstposting]

This is one of the best videos I've seen on the topic, but I think that Yui's intention for her contact experiment was pretty clear. The part of her conversation with Fuyutsuki during EoE sums it up pretty well, wanting to exist forever as a reminder of humanity. Great video though, I just wanted to share my thought on that particular point.

[@simplicitylost]

20:03 You forget the “congratulations!”

[@dundy7845]

This is the greatest Evangelion analysis I have seen so far. You get straight to the point and don’t fill out the video with a bunch of fluff that doesn’t add anything which is what most of the Evangelion analysis videos I have watched do. Thank you so much for this ❤️

[@arthurd81]

I thought I had a pretty clear understanding of Evangelion, but there were quite a few things in this even I didn't know. Great Job researching Evangelion!

[@twan8105]

I feel like the ending was crazy man. The fact that in the end , all of thier efforts to restore humanity was useless and now everyone is in LCL fluid

[@twan8105]

@@cachemist4149 I know they can reform , it’s just the fact that we don’t know what happened after. For all we know , everyone could have just wanted to stay in that form. Who says that at that point , everything that uses electricity would still work. The LCL fluid would act like a tsunami bro , by the time everyone does reform nothing is going to work anymore. Humanity itself is going to have to restart. It’s the fact that everything shiji went through , the whole story ended in rei dead , asuka and shiji the only humans in physical forms , and the fact that the entire earth basically got hit with a tsunami.

[@Hugsloth]

Although if he read the Wiki I'm surprised he wasn't sure what LCL was, since I'm pretty sure they say in the show that it's the blood eternally dripping out of Lilith's corpse. Which would definitely have strange properties that no human would grasp-- basically primordial soup

[@TheBlackVelveteen]

@@Hugsloth I thought this too but he was talking about what LCL means not what it is. Technically I think there are entries for the acronym too though so 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@flimpeenflarmpoon1353]

everyone in LCL fluid isnt death though

[@Xenofan111]

That was incredible man! Thanks for summing everything up! I recommend looking into a 1998 ps1 game known as Xenogears. It’s not nearly as popular as Evangelion, but its story is nothing like I’ve ever seen much like Evangelion is. If you liked Evangelion, you’d enjoy it as well. Eva and Xenogears are probably the most astonishing stories I’ve ever seen that I can’t put into words due to how beyond a simple comprehension they are. They are both stories with beyond extraordinary depth behind the base story they propose.

[@tennojichuu7770]

This made me go OHHHHHHHHHH so many times It makes so much sense now omg Evangelion is so well written

[@dinorazor3413]

that's why it has a 100% for rotten tomatoes

[@paapipirate8499]

It has an amazing story and a great lore, but it's definitely not well written. If it were, we all wouldn't have to rely on an explanation video.

[@dinorazor3413]

@@paapipirate8499 and i still don't get the story its confusing

[@tz5116]

Nope, it's not well written. Evangelion is genius but it would be well written if you don't have to analyse every second to unterstand it.

[@krete69]

I don't think this is well written, because in this video alone, the narrator can't explain some of event, or the reason why shinji's mom die (?). There's many plot hole. But yeah it's good show, for me at least lol

[@xxmurdax]

im in love with the show the way they portrayed shinjis depression made me rlly reflect on myself and honestly its a work of art, it made me see life way different and i love that

[@st.ivesprod.285]

mad how essential this video is to understanding the anime

[@DrSlumpy]

To be fair, they ran out of money initially.

[@maartenswiggers6674]

@@DrSlumpy there is like a missed part or something

[@Talking-Monkey]

Well done man. You deserve a way larger subscription base

[@andresvaldevit3692]

Blows my mind how little I have learned from this series during these past 20 years just from watching this video. Creators must have been high on DMT or something like that when writing this story. BTW this story needs to have a sequel!

[@leviathan19]

was high on depression ;)

[@daifuku9320]

@@leviathan19 fr, the director had a few mental breakdowns in the making of the series

[@blackomega4061]

The rebuild of evangelion movies are supposed to be sequels

[@andresvaldevit3692]

@@blackomega4061 Yeah that's what I'm learning but it's really fucked up, I mean it is and it isn't a sequel at the same time...

[@kazyn6]

The End of Evangelion is perfect as it is, the last thing it needs is a sequel, that's the reason why Rebuild of Evangelion is an alternate story more than a sequel.

[@alvinwestmanholm1858]

Ritsuko's final moments suck so much for her. Imagine trying to stop the end of the world but your mom says: "No, I won't let you because I wanna be with my abusive lover again" and then that same person, who is also you abusive lover, fucking shoots you and initiates the end of the world.

[@emmanuelogunlana877]

This is probably the best explanation of Evangelion lore i have ever watched.

[@georgie4330]

I like to think Shinji strangles Asuka at the end to confirm he is intact and she is too… there’s a wall between them again, an AT field just like before. This comes with pain (hence the strangling) but also comes with acceptance (the brushing of the cheek). Even though the psychological and physical walls between life forms are there, shinji can still connect with Asuka, push through the pain and be accepted.

[@Tstorm731]

The Kabbalistic symbol structure is just there because it looks cool. The Judeo-Christian-Orphic mythological underpinnings aren’t just for show though. It’s a uniquely Japanese take on the combined mythos, and though it is somewhat naive and surface level, it definitely isn’t just for show. I’m really into western esoteric studies and the whole reason I watched the show was because I was studying Western esotericism in a religious studies course and I thought it might be a story that actually mapped itself onto the tree of life. It ended up just being for show but Evangelion captivated me nonetheless. One interesting tidbit of note is that the original translation of the first verse of Genesis mentions the spirit of the Lord hovering above the waters. The original Hebrew actually denotes a creatrix, that is a feminine creator goddess. This is mirrored in pre-Hellenic Greek mythos (particularly in Orphism) in the creation myths of Euronyme and then later in Nyx. These stories all have ties to Sumerian mythological origins. I always thought the end of evangelion was a Big Crunch wherein giant Rei is the new beginnings Night goddess creatrix. Really cool stuff. Another thing to remember is that a story told well will map onto an archetypal myth (or group of myths) whether it is intended or not. The meaning is still there to be translated by each culture’s mythological mindset. Paradoxically, the inverse is also true, if you try to perfectly mirror a mythological structure in a story, you will almost certainly add something new to it by dint of your innate nature and cultural upbringing. There is both nothing new under the sun and nothing that isn’t new. It’s a *No man can walk through the same river twice for it will not be the same river and he will not be the same man* kind of thing. An example where the tree of life symbolism unintentionally makes perfect sense is when the mass-production units assume the positions on the sephirotic glyphs of the tree of life. They’re the fighting force of Seele who wants to unite all humanity as one in the human instrumentality project. The entire tree of life in one context is a map of the death of the ego. The traversal of the abyss (moving up to the top 3 glyphs on the tree) forms a cross (the Christ myth is mirroring this esoteric knowledge in an earlier form). Human instrumentality is literally the death of the ego for all of humanity. It stood out to me and I always think of it when people say it is all for show. Whether intended or not, it is a striking series of image ideas for anyone well versed in the discipline.

[@efrenarevalo2025]

I love how straightforward this video is unlike other explaining videos where they mix all information form all versions of Evangelion into one.

[@StormWolf01]

I've been a fan of evangelion for a bit more than 20 years. It was the first anime that i found to be deep and complex. For teenager me, it set the standard for what a good anime was. That said, thanks for the explanations. It clarified a lot of things for me.

[@danilobriz8499]

The year was 1999, I was 14 at that time. Started watching this anime by accident in a channel called locomotion, it was a new channel in cable TV. I fell in love with the series and for the characters too. I would record them and watch again and again endlessly. It was so different, offering a much deeper human content and accompanied by just unbelievably well tasted soundtracks. I could never figure it out what was the deeper meanings of the history, but really it was too much (has we can see here) for a 14-years-old to figure it out by himself. Then much later a friend of mine got me a VHS with the OvA, The end of evangelion. I still couldn't figure it out what was that about but something inside of me related to that emotionally in a serious way I am deeply thankful for this content which I had to watch on a slower speed to really make a sense out of it. Evangelion is the most fantastic anime I've have ever seen or heard about, it's a real sci-fi, mythological, religious narrative. Well here I am 37 years old finally got the narrative somewhat linear and logical, thanks again.

[@xxamle]

Locomotion was a fantastic channel, at the time I was at my second job, had long nights and I recorded many shows to keep distraction during very long nights, Evangelion, Bubble Gum Crisis, Akira, Saber Marionette J and so many more, thanks for helping me remember very good times

[@kaito9988]

I havent even watched it or anything and i already love this anime

[@quantumtheo]

I rented disc two from the local library (they didn't have disc one available) purly b/c of of the front and back covers around 01 or 02..... changed my life. I'm about the same age as you btw

[@ivanmartinezautin5114]

a mi me paso lo mismo, pero soy 5 annios mas pendejo y me pegue alto trauma (cuando un Eva se puso berserk), que recién estoy resolviendo

[@danilobriz8499]

@@ivanmartinezautin5114 it was somewhat a monstruous scene indeed.

[@hantana7861]

Thanks for this! I’ve literally watched Eva so so so many times. Like 18 years of watching it. Have a tattoo for it. And am very emotionally connected to it. But your explanation of what’s actually going on was really clear and even though I knew just about everything you said it just helps clarify it. Personally Eva has always been a story of the human condition for me and I think the story is just a vehicle for that so I’ve always focused more on the emotional journeys of the characters and less on the specific details of what’s going on. So I really appreciate this!

[@scoresbymj]

I guess u can ask these doubs to you as you're really more into Evangelion, i just finished it and watched this video and still have some doubts like,..... 1) did all the human beings return to life at the end or only the beings who wish to exist as an individual are returned? 2) why did shinji has to make the choice whether all people should turn to LcL or not, was that because he was in the eva which is supposed to be the weapon of Lilith?

[@sammyjones6730]

Although not central to the plot, I thought EVA-01awakening and consuming the second to last angel's S2 engine was somewhat vital to the plot, since it was what allowed EVA-01 to be used as an alternative to the lost spear of longinus for initiating instrumentality. Had this not happened, SEELE might not have needed to raid NERV HQ and made the ending such a nightmare event, since NERV wouldnt have been able to start instrumentality on their own without the awakened + S2 powered EVA unit.

[@itsRobbie_]

The first time I watched the series I had no idea what was happening. I finished it and thought "I guess that was visually really good, but a kinda stupid story". After watching this I'm going to rewatch it with my new knowledge and enjoy it so much more

[@a.w_.]

"this is all really confusing for no reason" Haha yeah that's the series

[@bheemareddy5699]

Me,starting Evangelion : “Let’s see what all the hype is about.Hey,dope opening them! *laughs of joy* Me,finishing End of Evangelion : What is the bubble nut fuck is going on!? All I know is I’m sad and confused and depressed *proceeds to spam the cruel angel’s thesis 20 times*

[@Alepisku223]

Ha ha 🤨😐

[@collinb.8542]

I began watching all 26 episodes this morning and finished it 8 hours later and god damn im absolutely fucking confused what did I just watch I just wanna go back to when there was a giant robot shooting an AUG at an alien.

[@bheemareddy5699]

@@collinb.8542 😂😂😂yeah,it's a mindfuck.I spent abt 2 hours researching the lore and backstory after finishing the anime

[@donc7984]

@@collinb.8542 hopefully you didn’t watch the Netflix version

[@matheusdiniz5345]

I started watching it and thought "damn, this is just overcomplicated hentai with giant robot fights", never went back. Maybe one day I will...

[@s.o.k.1393]

11:06 I was under the impression that the candidates weren't "picked," they were just the ones whose mothers had fused souls with the Evas (except Rei). Like how Gendo Ikari tells his son in the first ep that he's specifically needed to pilot the Eva.

[@wandahoi_.]

How about the Unit 03? Was Tohji's mother's soul in that Eva? I'm confused about that thing.

[@toadconqueror4293]

So did Shinji pilot before Asuka or what? The show kinda says Asuka did stuff prior to meeting.

[@s.o.k.1393]

@@wandahoi_. I think so

[@ZaxorVonSkyler]

​@@wandahoi_.Probably

[@seangoldman6833]

@@toadconqueror4293 Shinji was never supposed to pilot an Eva. Rei was the test pilot for the experimental units used to derive the technology (Units 0 and 1) and Asuka was the test pilot for the first production variant (Unit 2) hence why they were called the first and second child respectively. Just before the series start Rei got hurt and couldn't pilot Unit 1 to stop the first angel heading towards Lilith so Gendo had to improvise. He pulled in Shinji to fight since his mother's soul was in Unit 1 and he was the only other person who could pilot the Eva.

[@theovergoat]

I feel like the show/movie could be just little less abstract, a lot of this lore is important to know what's going on especially at the end...I just finished this show and watched the movie for the first time and I've been spending ages trying to read people's interpretation of it. This video is the best summary I've seen so far, so thanks for this!

[@ninetailsnet]

I was on my 4th grade when this anime first aired on our country philippines. That is 22 years ago. I just finish the tv series at that time but didnt understand anything about the story due to my poor and young understanding. I'm 32 years old now and very thankful for this kind of video explaining about the anime that gave lots of memories on my childhood

[@tensor_drop]

same, 31 haha! 🇵🇭 NGE wakes my sexual awareness lol!

[@petrichor346]

Seriously underrated video, this deserves more praise. This'll help me explain it to my friends when they watch it for the first time!

[@TheSwartz]

I've watched this series 3x through over the past 10-12 years. You've made more sense in 20 minutes than I was ever able to piece together!

[@rafaelchavez4279]

I don't think Rei II has Liliths complete soul... I think Rei I had it, that's why she was snarky and got killed... Rei II whoever was submissive to Gendo, she was souless and empty, I think she only had half of Lilith's soul and the other half was in Eva 00. When Rei II was killed, after the explotion you can see Lilith's giant body for a second, meaning that her sould was completed once again. Rei III has Lilith's complete soul and that's why she's different from Rei II, she's no longer submissive to Gendo, she has will, like Rei I had.

[@fye755]

Has to be karma for Gendo using the lead scientists for his own goal

[@thewriterslens5689]

Nice vid. One of my favorite anime stories of all time. I’m sure it took some time to put that together. The last scene from EoE has always confused me too because it’s odd as to why Asuka would say “Disgusting” - especially after comforting him. She also has different colored eyes too. I used to think it was because Shinji started cowering in between her breasts like a child, seeing as how she just comforted him like a lover might. Dunno. That was always my interpretation of the ending. Having seen Rebuild and knowing the ending of 3.0+1.0, it makes me wonder how a character like Mari might have fit in. But I like the original more than anything. Still an amazing piece of storytelling. The amount of twists and turns - like Ritsuko and Gendo’s relationship - just blow your mind and catch you off guard the whole way through.

[@jesusthesecond4759]

I've read the manga, watched NGE and EoE so many times i can't count, wateched some other video that breaks down the lore, but with this video i finally got the pieces together. Thanks for letting me enjoy Eva even more

[@BeeMusic2024]

3:04 my speculation is Life Containing Liquid

[@nikopaseman7147]

He said they never gave the answer for its abbreviations, but I swear they refer to it as "Link Connection Liquid" and that they gave it the name due to its integral part in eva-pilot linkage.

[@ThZuao]

My theory is that's Lilith's Constitution Liquid. As it is factual that it is Lilith's blood. Or it could be something in German or Japanese, both languages I don't speak.

[@DanorthxD]

I needed this. I've watched the show three or four times and had only little inklings of what the full story was. Thank you so much. xD

[@jshu-_-]

Me a hardcore Eva fan: *surprised pikachu face* so that's what it was all about....

[@mikemcmullen5006]

As a non anime fan I can't even keep these names straight let alone this insane story.

[@voltgaming2213]

Man you have a complicated name too

[@macruz8503]

@@voltgaming2213:lmao his name is NOT complicated at all bruv!

[@akiraigarashi2874]

As an anime fan I can't either xD. Ig if I watched the show first it would make more sense tho.

[@sweetestprince]

props to you for making this!! this is so comprehensive and well explained, especially considering how... not like that... the show itself is. nice work!

[@MrEmperorApples]

Its no berserk 97, but top 3 for me! Solid video, appreciate your time and hard work!