The New End Of Evangelion Is (Not) A Masterpiece

[@KazeTalks]

Apologies it took so long to make this video. I hit a few bumps on the road, but you at least get 40 minutes content. If I worked really hard on my previous Eva vids, then I went even further beyond with this one, so hopefully you enjoy it! If you enjoyed the video, please hit that like button :) If you want more videos like this, please subscribe and hit that notification bell :D I have also recently started a Patreon. I love making these essays, I truly do, and thus any support given will contribute directly towards this channel. I would love to be able to continue doing these videos and so it would mean the world to me if you could support in any way you can (if you can't or it's not your thing, I totally understand of course): www.patreon.com/kazetalks You can also follow me on Twitter @KazeTalks to keep up to date with my next videos. And consider joining us on DISCORD: discord.gg/rxysaMxd4E SUBSCRIBE: kzbin.info TWITTER: twitter.com/KazeTalks INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/kazetalks/ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kazetalk/

[@breathexhope]

After years of therapy, good friends and partner. I realize that when I'm in a good headspace, I'm way more straightforward, I pull down any walls and I try to be way more open than usual. Maybe so is Anno, which is why the Rebuild movies aren't too deep. It isn't about the darkness but the light. The light doesn't bullshit.

[@KazeTalks]

Yeah, I think so too. That’s a really good point 🙂

[@самурай5405]

As a random Japanese teenager I appreciate this video. I deadly wish i could have foreigner friends like you who love anime and bother to make a analysis of fucking complex series like evangelion. I'm sure we can spend the night to talk all the night around the table grabing the some beer. : the Station where shinji waked up and get out with Mari in the last scene is actually a next city from my town and it was realy good to go seeing.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed it 🙂 And that’s so cool that you live near Ube.

[@aldentolbert7994]

Amazing video my man. Finally an Eva fan who finally understand and the author of the video!

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! That really means a lot 🥲

[@FezPlays]

Great video, Kaze! The research and production on this video was top notch. My issue with the elevator scene in the Rebuilds is that I felt like they didn't lay the groundwork that the original did. We barely got to see Asuka's descent as an Eva pilot or her codependency with her talent/worth as a pilot. I felt like 1.0 and 2.0 skipped a lot of character building that the original had, but kept scenes that are dependent on the knowledge of prior character development. Rebuilds underdeveloped Asuka's character despite her being very important to influencing Rei and Shinji as characters. The rebuilds felt like they wanted to play on nostalgia/iconic scenes but also be a tetralogy that can stand independent of the original series. Maybe I am misunderstanding the Rebuilds. I get that they are supposed to reflect Anno's improved mental state and I truly am happy that he is happy and has moved on. I think the Rebuilds just lost a bit of the wonder (exploration of ideas and themes that the medium hadn't really seen before) and cohesion that the original series had.

[@KazeTalks]

Extremely well said. There are many interesting aspects of the Rebuilds and I do love that they exist, but they aren’t as cohesive or as subtle or even as deep as the og series.

[@RM2011ish]

I think they are both masterpieces honestly. End of Evangelion gets a bit more credit for being a daring, brutal and unrelenting film. Thrice is Anno giving a peaceful farewell to the franchise. He is in a much more peaceful state at this point. Both movies are great. But they are very different from each other. I appreciate both NGE and Rebuild because they both express what Anno is feeling. Too bad not everyone gets that.

[@sinsofthefather]

right when i finished nge. amazing video

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed it 🙂

[@mauricioonate2621]

Great video! Amazing writing, editing and content, grats and thanks!!!

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! 🥺 I’m really happy you enjoyed it 🙏

[@craigm235]

Nice summary you help me realise more of the underlying messages Anno had.

[@KazeTalks]

Glad I could help! I think it helps knowing what Anno had in mind to appreciate the Rebuilds even more.

[@rohantiamson]

Great video, your opinions are right and the video is great.

[@KazeTalks]

I’m glad you enjoyed my video! 🙂

[@shadowcurtain]

Incredible love your videos so much they evoke so many emotions

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you so much! 🥺

[@wiskothu]

I watched so many video of based on eva but here man you nailed what i expected way.what i going though on my mind.Thank you !

[@eskaldo97]

Very very cool video. Loved It.

[@KazeTalks]

Thanks! 🙂

[@9thmaggot]

it's very sad that such a enthusiast fan made a full 40 min length of good analysis based on the wrong assumption that Mari is Anno's wife, since he clearly denied it :( it's kind of a waste of efforts... so now i'm still wandering what the heck that character represents XD

[@KazeTalks]

I could be wrong of course, but if it helps, Japanese filmmakers are known to be the biggest trolls in the film and tv industry. There are so many situations where they say one thing, but there's evidence of the contrary. Though whilst I can't prove this myself with this specific situation of course, I can at least try to explain why I think this based on the information I have of his life and how he told this story. So, even if he says it's not based on his wife, he either is deciding to be a troll or he doesn't want people to do that association or he is unaware of the similarities (which I doubt is true). And of course, like I mentioned, I can be wrong and I don't know everything, far from it. But I'm always doubtful of what Japanese filmmakers say, since they contradict themselves so much, especially when it comes to Anno. Hopefully what I mentioned makes sense :)

[@notsusan]

he, moyoko, and other khara staff ALL denied it!

[@topbackpodcast2615]

2.0 is still my favorite not only EVA film but honestly one of my favorite anime films. It was a perfect representation of what Evangelion could be in the mainstream. 3.0’s nature of being depressing and tonally opposite of what 2.0 was is pretty much why almost everyone hated that film. 3.0 was almost 100% ambiguous with its storytelling and writing

[@rodrigo3732]

I know thats a random comment,but your accent is cool

[@KazeTalks]

It is a random comment, but one that actually made me really happy. So I thank you.

[@adamrattray4954]

The GOAT KZbinr has returned to talk about the GOAT anime. Today is a good day,

[@KazeTalks]

This comment made my day. Thank you so much 🙏

[@adamrattray4954]

@@KazeTalks Thank you for your excellent videos. I especially love your haikyu, hxh and eva videos

[@epix4300]

great vid

[@KazeTalks]

Thanks!

[@gawixone]

great vid!

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! That means a lot 🙏

[@gawixone]

Yw!

[@Takeru006]

really nice video, greetings from the end of the world

[@tanujbirdi7812]

Greetings from India, It was a good video. Keep it up.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! Can’t believe people all over the world are watching my video.

[@squirtle1854]

You strike it out of the park again, good video

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! 🙏

[@perx3561]

It was not a masterpiece, but, it was a perfect ending for Evangelion in my opinion. Even if there will never be any other Evangelion made ever again, I would still be content that it ended with this film. I was swimming in endorphins by the time the credits rolled to the end. Great video Kaze, great analysis once again. Thank you.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! That means a lot 🙏 I actually think the perfect ending was the original series’ ending, but this was for sure the perfect ending knowing what Anno has gone through in his life. I too was swimming in endorphins when the credits rolled.

[@perx3561]

@@KazeTalks Indeed. I mean, I already liked "Thrice Upon a Time" for all the memories, feelings it stirred up again, and that the characters not only got, but literally earned through their actions a happy ending, it felt great. But watching your video and seeing a whole another personal level behind it just made it even better for me.

[@rylace]

Nope. EoE was already the perfect ending. 3.0+1.0 is a disgrace.

[@hawkeyenextgen7117]

Neon Genesis Evangelion nearly drove me to suicide. Seeing Shinji suffering is like seeing myself suffer, because at one point in time I was almost exactly like him, especially back in 10th grade when I was bullied to the brink of suicide. I simply cannot tolerate watching Eva. I felt forced to relive my trauma upon viewing it. I’m deathly afraid of it. Twice I had a nightmare where I saw myself as Shinji choking Asuka and starting the Third Impact. I’ve been struggling with this newfound depression ever since. I was obsessed with the series for over a year to try and outwit the isolation of the Coronavirus pandemic. It only increased the burden, and kept the memory of my friend’s recent suicide alive. Watching the End of Evangelion was like peering into a broken mirror, and I was viewing the hell I would’ve put myself through had things turned out differently, had I decided to give up. Sometimes I hate myself because I fail to appreciate what so many have claimed to idolize, and I beat myself further for failing to worship what they call praiseworthy, I forced myself to watch a show that reminded me of nothing but pain just so I wouldn’t be alone anymore, I was willing to sacrifice my individuality for some company amidst the isolation of the pandemic. I sought emotional refuge in the Evangelion fandom on social media, hoping they’d understand me and provide me with answers that would grant me peace of mind. Instead, they downplayed my trauma, going so far as to spread a rumor of my past to shame me of my mental illness, spiraling me deeper into depression, which I’ve been struggling with for over a year now. I just want Shinji to be happy, so this past self of mine can be laid to rest once more. I’m afraid to decouple myself from him after losing my friend to suicide, which Eva made me feel responsible for, especially when I saw Shinji kill Kaworu, of which I fail to understand how anyone can call it praiseworthy. Until then, I feel nothing else matters. There’s a reason why I keep coming back to Evangelion; something that reminds me of nothing but pain. I want to prove to myself I’m not crazy for feeling this way, that Evangelion really did force me to relive my trauma, that my depression is not just a figment of my imagination or another anime plot point. I want to feel that my fear and resentment towards Eva is justified. But the fact I’m the only one I know in existence who’s been traumatized by an anime makes me feel like I really am crazy. But finally, with 3.0+1.0 released, I can rest easy knowing that Shinji has finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel. Evangelion is finished, and I want it to remain that way. But if things hadn’t turned out that way, I wouldn’t be here today.

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you for sharing your story. It must have been hard, but I really appreciate your honesty. I was going to say “have you watched Eva 3.0+1.0 yet?” and looks like you have. Remember that these show / films are all about a man seeking acceptance and worth in the midst of everything that happened in his life. If you can or are able to, I recommend going to a therapist. It did wonders for me, really. I wish all the best with you and your mental health 🙂

[@lafoxy64]

if you cant see it as a masterpiece, is because you didnt even understand it. theyre not two separate works of art. Theyre ONE thing made by the same person in two different moments of his life. The original Evangelion is the Side A of the piece, where he is crying for help in a deplorable state of mind, and the rebuilds are the side B, where he has overcome the mental struggles he had throught his young life, he gives a new genesis to his life, he serves justice to the bitter end of his original work and tells the world how Shinji (or Hideaki Anno) is finally happy and whole.

[@sonushinobu2050]

*They are probably different endings, but they actually aren't*

[@chiefxim]

So, in short. This franchise was more than just an anime but rather a visual representation of the author. Wow

[@Eva01-jy2qu7pu9r]

The movie had great potential, but sadly devolved into the same expectancy of what the Rebuilds are. Fanservicy, blockbuster stupidity that doesn’t convey anything special for Eva except remind us of how great the original was. And after seeing the final film, that sentiment is more clear than ever. I immediately went back to see the first episode of Eva and it was the best breath of fresh air I’ve had in a while. It felt so nice and refreshing after seeing what the Rebuilds did to this franchise.

[@DoomResetR]

What a fucking lame video, with enough blind faith escapism can be defined as whatever he wants to, so he has defined "being able to gain God-like powers and resetting the world as he sees fit" as NOT-escapism when it's escapism unfiltered, this is what happens when you love the author and not what the work really is.

[@jf4132]

@@DoomResetR That is (not) what the ending means ya dingus

[@satria222poxy]

I look forward to a KH retrospective video while in the series' 20th anniversary!

[@notsusan]

As someone who got into Eva on vhs and saw Shin Eva in imax on my 40th birthday, they're both perfect for a different stage in life. If you waited since the 90s for Shinji to get a truly happy end (i guess you can turn eoe off before the beach?), esp if you've had any chu2 tendencies, Shin Eva was a revelation. As for Mari, who is NOT Moyoko btw, I saw her as the best "starter" option. Asuka is way too screwed up. Rei's a clone of his mom. Kaworu is too obsessed with him for a healthy romance. Misato will always be Kaji's. Mari is a fun, low-maintenance girl who'll probably let him do anal and won't nag. Then he can go find someone else, like most of us do. The motherly part of me was glad, even after shipping Kawoshin since before the milennium.

[@marcoc7388]

I didn't love the Rebuilds (I was kind of a hater), but this last movie, for me at least, is actually a masterpiece but in another way (yeah, that second chapter does lower the level, but the beginning and the end are top notch). While the End of Evangelion conveyed fear, hopelessness and pain (mostly, I do think it actually has a happy ending) this one went in a complete opposite direction, conveying hope, bliss and love. I cannot explain how my eyes filled with tears the moment all the animals and people started to fall from the sky.. that one scene for me is almost as poweful as the giant Rei absorbing all the souls from the world. I felt a warmth that is hard to explain. I feel like usually, we find masterpieces in artworks that convey negative feelings, I think because it is so easy to portray a negative human emotion and it's truthly hard to do the same with the positive ones, however, I feel like this one actually does it. I loved your analysis and please, keep uploading videos!

[@KazeTalks]

That’s a great comment. It’s one of the reasons why I believe Your Name to be a masterpiece. Thank you for this. And yeah, I’ll do my best to keep uploading videos! The more patrons I get, the more I’m able to keep doing this 🙂

[@marcoc7388]

@@KazeTalksExactly! Your Name is the best love story of the past decade and it's a positive one. Hahah

[@JoJoZaka]

cool. i subscribe

[@KazeTalks]

Thank you! Glad to have you here 🙂

[@evil_smartrising1346]

Great video! I was just wondering what song is being played at 18:57 ? I checked through all the music credits and I didn't see it listed.

[@KazeTalks]

Thanks! Means a lot you enjoyed the video. I actually used that track twice, once at 18:57 and another right at the end. It was a way to use the most iconic song of the movie (with a fantastic cover by Astrophysics) as an intro and outro to 4.0.

[@attilathehungryy]

Thank you for this. I like the rebuilds alright, but even tho there's some moments of real beauty and emotion they just have a lot of glaring flaws. After you've seen the OG it's just like...meh. but for it be meaningful at all you HAVE to have seen the OG. And tbh, at the end, I would rather have seen Shinji be happy alone than end up paired off with fucking Mari. I think it would've been a lot more powerful seeing him finally be comfortable and at peace with just himself. I get it, the connection with others over yourself is a big thing in Japanese culture, but that's what I really wanted-i wanted Shinji to see his own worth independent of others. Knowing that he is loved and loving himself in return.

[@KazeTalks]

I’m glad you enjoyed my video 🙂

[@lukeg8466]

You basically just described the original (best) ending

[@yoNikma]

music at 0:44?

[@zaydentot5443]

the rebuilds may not have as much analysis and emotional impact as the original series and movie but watch 3.0 + 1.0 was a fantastic send off to the series. sure it had flaws but they couldn't compare to the moments when Rei lived for the first time or the tear jerking ending just finally seeing our beloved characters and the world get the happy ending they so desperately deserved

[@KazeTalks]

Agreed

[@5ifthaveblackat]

This a channel decided to eva now he has committed

[@KazeTalks]

Haha, unfortunately not. I just felt like talking about EoE and the Rebuilds. I don’t think there’s anything else I can add. But who knows.

[@Googaliemoogalie]

The Last Jedi IS the best of the Disney Star Wars movies though!!

[@KazeTalks]

Yes

[@Teclajellymon]

I hated Mari greatly. Thank you

[@CC.M]

It's funny that EOE which is well developed, has a critical, amazing, important message, and exploits the animation to its fullest doesn't have as many praised or awards as it deserves. Whereas the last rebuild movie with all its contradictions to the franchise, changing the philosophy of the EOE's message, nonsensically trying to give a hollow happy ending to the characters without earning it as well as changing their personalities to their worst, imposing more meta than writing a well concluded story ,a horrendous cgi elements that draw more people to it to give an explanation of how bad is good than the 2d animation, has an award as the best animated movie of 2021 in japan, plenty of blind praised, and will exquise the franchise more for just money because I am sure there will be other 2 or 5 "end of Evangelion" in the following years to *"justify"* more and more nonsense. Such a letdown. Anywho, that's life (Frank Sinatra)

[@sportsmen4569]

I can not (not) be a hater xD

[@manhornhead2659]

This movie and all of rebuild really, all of it pretty much boils down to simply transparent commentary on Evangelion Otakus and/or Gendo justification/pampering and understanding his pain. And it achieved this by being forced down the most contrived convoluted and conflicting path, I really cant see this as anything other then bad. But you know this is Anno's Evangelion, a lot of the stuff that bothers me in this one, I see in the original series, series End and the EoE movies when I last re-watched them some years ago. Particularly the sympathy/fanboyism for Gendo. If there is a single character Anno made this for then that would clearly be Gendo in my opinion. I think this is who Anno should be judged on in this, I think this should done with the originals too. This to me is irony and hypocrisy of Anno and his Evangelion. That what pisses me off most about this movie and Rebuild, all the convolution all the contrivances, everything seems crafted to hold Shinji back while doing the opposite for the other characters, mostly Gendo though in my opinion. Then to basically write Shinji out in the most thankless way, well it is just the worst.

[@notsusan]

no

[@manhornhead2659]

@@notsusan Everything revolves around either being a commentary/PSA/repudiation on Evangelion Otakus and their Eva Waifus or understanding and justifying Gendo Ikari. Misato's female Gendo-ness and the transparent thing with her plot device of kid with Kaji. Asuka "I'm not your tsundere waifu doll Shinji/Otakus" Shikinami. Her being a clone now and an adult in a childs body who finds her individuality/love/place by shacking up with an adult. Which definitely is a justification for Gendo and his creepy thing with Rei. The unearned longing/attraction Rei and probably Asuka have for Shinji. That contrived shit with Rei being created for Shinji and Rei showing her individuality by hooking up with the pretty boy version of Gendo. Shinji being too stupid to come up with a new name for Rei Q which I saw as Annos contrived way of saying that Shinji didn't care about Rei's individuality and only really saw her as a waifu mother doll. Concepts like 'the curse of Eva' and "Evangelion Imaginary" which is a loaded concept even in name. Everthing here revolves around an Eva Otaku PSA/repudiation or justifying/stroking off Gendo Ikari. Those two aspect don't mesh well and are in conflict with each other though and that is why to me it is a sloppy, contrived, juvenile and hypocritical trollish psyche made by a guy with big(and consistent) hard on stoic authority figures and p3do bait romances. Even Mari does too, I mean she basically wound up with Shinji by default IMO to make what I really do see as a usurpation, cuckold and thankless bootout of Shinji seem less like one with a hollow and hypocritical last minute "happy end". Mari is basically there to be a new pilot girl character who wasn't in the originals and to wind up with Shinji seemingly for the sole merit/requirement of being the new pilot girl. Like Mari wound up with SHinji simply because she isn't Asuka/Rei/Misato and Rebuild SHinji's deal is this time comments on Eva Otakus and their Eva waifus literally leaving Mari as the only one by default.

[@kringerman396]

It's still better than the tv ending.

[@9thmaggot]

except it isn't

[@GutzOfAst0ra]

Would be if it was asuka instead of mari

[@Amaling]

Rebuilds as a whole feel like fanservice. Both in the sexualization way we think of fanservice in anime, but also references for fans of the series type of fanservice ie a lot of what Avengers Endgame was. A lot of the last movie feels like that. Also, to give a more direct portrayal of the anti-escapism theme for the depressed idiots that didn't get it the first time. Anno has grown, and hopefully the fanservice for himself is hopefully cool for the fans too. In terms of themes, storytelling, and character depth, the original series and End of Eva already gave us everything we needed. I think it's unfair for us to expect anything more from the rebuilds.

[@evercg5536]

neither was the end of the series

[@mercenaryknight5419]

I love the Rebuild movies, well, 1-3 that is: 1.11 You Are Not Alone (2007), 2.22 You Cannot Advance (2009), & 3.33 You Are Not Alone (2012). While they are not as great as the series and original movies (Death And Rebirth & End Of Evangelion) they are still a masterful trilogy that kept the spirit of the original alive, as well as the meaning of moving forward despite overwhelming odds and strife. I will defend them to the death. 3.0+1.0 was very unsatisfying to me for many reasons. It really wasted an opportunity for Shinji, Rei, and Asuka to bond in the wasteland for at least half an hour as promised at the end of 3.33. The "wanderers" thing comes out of left field. Rei Q's death was so out of left field and we are given so little time for impact, plus it makes little sense. Rei dies, we hardly see Shinji's reaction, we get like 5 seconds, and then in a cutaway he is primed to confront Will-E, it is so rushed. Asuka goes out way too easily. The lack of SEELE was very noticeable. The plot points in the last half get really over the top, especially with the whole "imaginary Eva" thing which still is so asinine and to the creation of the new spear which comes off as a major deus ex machina. Kaji being killed OFFSCREEN was such a disappointment and we hardly get any time to spend with him and Misato's son. The way Kaji comes back in the finale is so ridiculous I could not take it seriously either. It is also a *crying shame* that Rei gets SIDELINED in this movie, after how important her character was in the previous 3 movies, after Rei Q dies the original Rei gets less than 3 minutes with 2 scenes which is just so insulting to her character. To top it off, the whole "neon genesis" plot point is just so cheap and lazy, plus it contradicts the message of the last film as Shinji essentially runs away from his problems by creating a new world via a *total reset* where he essentially WISHES ALL HIS PROBLEMS AWAY. Which is the very thing 3.33 said in no uncertain terms is IMPOSSIBLE and effectively punishes him for. Also, a lot of visuals in the finale were rehashed from End Of Evangelion. Basically, the ending feels like Anno just gave up and wanted the thing over. The passion was not there anymore. The fact the movie went through development hell, unlike the previous 3 entries, is quite visible. I would love to have seen the original version before all the chaos that got Anno to rework the project so much. On a more positive note. Probably the closest we will ever get to the original version of the finale is through the Japan Animator Expo (2014) short Anno produced and wrote called *Until You Come To Me.* Have you seen it? It does what 3.0+1.0 does much better in mere minutes, in my view. Makes for a nice epilogue to 3.33. Plus, there are two other Evangelion animated short films from the 2014 Japan Animator Expo that serve as epilogues to Rebuild 1 and 2. Them being *Neon Genesis Impacts* which happens mainly after 1.11 and *Another Impact-Confidential* which is set between 2.22 and 3.33. Seen them? If not, I highly recommend them, dude.

[@dogewood5499]

The Neon Genesis Evangelion manga: “Am I a joke to you?”

[@baddonkeyworld7254]

Yeah, this new one aint it

[@KazeTalks]

Yep. This is a brand new video :)

[@deadwind4105]

@@KazeTalks this is (not) very poggers bro

[@KazeTalks]

@@deadwind4105 Haha! Touché.

[@sourlab]

Great movie but not a great evangelion movie

[@blakemorris9997]

Didn’t Anno say that Mari was just a character added to sell more figures?

[@topbackpodcast2615]

2.0 is still my favorite not only EVA film but honestly one of my favorite anime films. It was a perfect representation of what Evangelion could be in the mainstream. 3.0’s nature of being depressing and tonally opposite of what 2.0 was is pretty much why almost everyone hated that film. 3.0 was almost 100% ambiguous with its storytelling and writing