What Is Evangelion (Objectively) About?

[@SelectScreen]

[To the tune of, “Let’s All Go to the Lobby”]: Let’s all get in the robot, Let’s all get in the robot, Let’s all get in the roboooooot, To initiate Third Impact!

[@IjiModo]

Select Screen it takes a lot of pressure off knowing the best comment was already written.

[@eyrist1369]

welcome to the terror dome, the upper echelon investing on these large balls,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[@crazydave507]

Gol fish.

[@thehedgehogsdilemma9478]

Well that’s easy, the answer obviously is that It all returns to nothing, it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down.

[@weberman173]

and that the best thing to do is to end it all, and leave forever.

[@Amandauniversehub]

Gendo starts the 5th impact with his silky Smooth face

[@pumpiikinglive]

alvis the drunk universe uh it’s called shave impact thank you very much

[@machiavelli612]

SHAVEU IMPACTU

[@PrinceMeNb1]

The single most obnoxious son of a gun in the TV series

[@timdolinger1352]

One of my favorite details about the original anime is that the evas are never consistent in their size. Sometimes they're gigantic and towering like Godzilla, and sometimes they can use normal-sized apartment buildings as cover.

[@cursedcliff7562]

what if the buildings are just not consistent in their size?

[@youtubecensorship842]

What if the Shinji/Asuka hospital scene is the thing changing in length?

[@Halfwit_658]

@@youtubecensorship842 what does that even mean?

[@wowee7233]

I’ll never understand how people can call End of Eva cynical when the last 15 minutes of that film exist.

[@TheNinjaSasquatch5]

Or last 10. Nice get to heaven pic btw. Love that album

[@williamjackson460]

I didn't like the I feel sick scene like why was that there

[@williamjackson460]

How was Aska alive

[@SammytheawesomeILikePotatoes]

william jackson because she came back. Everyone turned to lcl, even people who recently deceased (as shown by the slaughtered nerv agents turning to lcl too). So ausuka within the lcl decided to come back. And in a poetic way, two of the most broken people who have turned their back on society time and time again, are the first to come back.

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

I agree tbh. Like, the last ten minutes of EoE are literally all about telling the viewer that actually, this story full of giant robots and monsters, conspiracies, mystery and murder had been about love all along. Seriously, Yui, Rei and Kaworu basically tell Gendo exactly that at the end. It really was all about love, how all humans need it and deserve it, and there's nothing to gain from closing yourself off. And that still holds true even when the world is ending.

[@samjames6714]

“A persons’s truth is so simple, that most ignore it to concentrate on what they think are deeper truths.” -Kaji. I think the same goes for this anime.

[@antonioscendrategattico2302]

Holy shit. If you pay attention just a bit it turns out that the real message of Evangelion was right there all along.

[@zombiekiller225]

I agree I could sum it up to just is existence and consciousness worth it? And EOE basically says probably

[@mattgilbert7347]

"They muddy the waters to make them seem deep" Nietzsche (I think)

[@Dorian_sapiens]

Getting trapped in cyberspace for a month is true dedication to the craft.

[@Ravangers]

ITS ABOUT PEN PEN! LOOK AT HIM DAMN IT! LOOK AT HIM!

[@AndrewDasilvaPLT]

Fun fact, he was in the show a total of 4min18s.

[@ironmountain7907]

30:30 I feel like you missed the whole point of the way NGE uses sexuality. It’s very different from other anime because it specifically is *not* fan service- the sexuality is used to show tropes of what it’s like to grow up a confused teenager. Shinji’s whole wants to have sex with/acknowledges that misato is hot goes into the Freudian stuff about abandonment, and even more so rei. Not to mention that asuka uses her sexuality as a tool to manipulate people around her so she doesn’t have to face her real emotional turmoil. So I basically completely disagree with you, but I really enjoyed most of the video! It was very high quality and I think you have some pretty decent analysis skills, I’ll sub.

[@mahmudmurad4655]

Totally agree with you, and also i enjoy a ot this video.

[@bannedmann4469]

Yes.

[@opera8479]

I like the video but it is by far the worst eva analysis so far.

[@dani01949]

NGE uses sexuality as a subversion. The rebuild movies, don't.

[@razorslazor6021]

And then the Rebuild movies happen

[@SEGAClownboss]

Your flannel really matches up your hair colour, it's really nice

[@SelectScreen]

Ha, thank you. It is probably one of my favorite shirts that I own.

[@EyeoftheU]

Regarding 45:38-45:51. I think it should be considered that there is indeed a gap between those two moments. A very literal gap, actually; one of time. EoE implies (very, _very_ subtly, admittedly, but the visual clues are there) that Shinji and Asuka doesn't return at the same time. In fact, it is indicated that Shinji has been alone in the post-3rd Impact wasteland for a considerable amount of time. Long enough time at least to come the conclusion that everyone he cared about were dead, and then erecting grave markers over them. It is really no wonder he is somewhat off his rocker in that scene.

[@TahniZCat2]

This is true. The cross misato gives him ends up left on a post/tree, with the look of rust developing over it, even though the object was seen being recently given to him in movie.

[@jeezumcrow1007]

In eoe shinji plays at the park by himself and there are studio lights all around him. This shows that gendo manipulated shinjis entire childhood to create the kind of person whose ego could be broken down to bring on third impact.

[@auxometer]

big brain moment

[@imtm]

No fucking way

[@SpinSurgery]

Idk why ppl seem to forget this, but Shinji’s mother also insisted he was present the day she decided to become one with the Evangelion. I think there is absolutely an intentional traumatizing of Shinji by his parents to make him capable of disassociating for their later ambitions. The more I looked into that, the more I see Yuri, not Gendo, as the architect of the events we witness. She’s often treated like an NPC, or just, “she’s good cuz Gendo is bad and she’s a woman! His mom!” But watch the episode where it goes back to when his parents meet and are working together and pay close attention to the convo Yui has with the professor dude (later Gendo’s right hand man) under a tree

[@jeezumcrow1007]

@@SpinSurgery Their entire class is filled with children who lost their mothers. Sacrificed to create candidates for the Eva program. We know asuka found her mom, and Shinji was there during the experiment that took Yui. This is part of what you could call a ritual. It's never really explained why gender seems Shinji away. He was probably with handlers that helped mold him the way that was necessary.

[@SpinSurgery]

@@jeezumcrow1007 true but in shinji’s unique case, his mother was not only an active participant in the organizations that were behind 3rd impact and the HIP but she also knew some sort of crazy shenanigans were going to occur that one day she just so happened to want shinji to be present. We don’t exactly the know the context of the other kids losing their mothers, but I’m assuming it wasn’t nearly as intentionally as how Yui got herself “lost” (or immortalized or transcended her humanity to become godlike” etc

[@johnpaulcross424]

I disagree with your sentiment that End of Eva replaces 25 and 26, rather they coexist with EoE taking place primarily in the physical world while 25 and 26 take place entirely within the character’s minds, and can be supported with the split second shots of the MC’s deaths in the latter being followed up on in EoE.

[@eldritchangel4058]

"What would you do to shave the world?" Shave Impact!

[@patrickst.pierre3452]

The effort in the intro alone hooked me. Great video and great analysis! This anime was pivotal in my high school years. It gave me a strange kind of existential hope.

[@EnbyNomad]

I love longform Video Essays like this

[@demogeymidge2997]

Og ending: Hopeful but technically hopeless as everyone is stuck in a state of constant intimacy and never capable of leaving. EoE ending: Hopeless but technically hopeful as everyone can leave that constant intimacy if they wish to.

[@mehmetersahin9602]

The of ending and the eoe are actually the same og takes place in shinjis head while eoe shows what is happening outside

[@demogeymidge2997]

Episodes 25 & 26 aren’t actually in Shinji’s head, just the mandatory acceptance of his flaws as he failed to prevent or allowed instrumentality to take place and must become intimate with others whether he likes it or not. While Shinji in EoE only partially accepts his flaws and in a much more painful manner, having to accept the rest of his flaws and learning to be happy even with them during the remainder of his time alone with Asuka, which could be the rest of his life.

[@speedtracker9556]

@@demogeymidge2997 what does Og and EoE stand for?

[@demogeymidge2997]

Why’d you click on the vid if you don’t know what they stand for

[@33blue]

@@speedtracker9556 Probably Original (ep 25/26 of the anime) and End of Evangelion (the movie)

[@jacobjensen7704]

Being a major fan of Gundam, I think one of the biggest differences I remember when watching both shows is that when watching the mechs fight in Gundam, the Gundam and the pilots almost always felt like they were totally stomping their opponents without even trying. The style of combat felt a lot more glorious, the good guys defeating the bad in a really obvious fashion. It didn't matter how much of a struggle it was for the good guys, 99% of the time, when they finally beat the bad guys, it was a happy ending. This might not be as true for the UC timeline, but it sure feels that way in most of the other ones. Eva didn't feel that way at all. I remember when watching the combat scenes in Eva where the pilots in the Eva's took on the Angels, it felt so much more desperate, and the outcomes never felt clean, or triumphant. It didn't have that same glory of battle that I saw in a lot of Gundam fights. It felt super messy, super short, super desperate, kinda what I imagine real fights would feel like.

[@Dani-fl7hp]

Me: Hey you should watch Evangelion! Person: Well what is it about? Me:

[@definitelynotethan7959]

the plot device of you being stuck in the void of endless fan theories is just so funny😂

[@johnforkner]

What was “sudden” about the final two episodes’ dives into the psychology of the characters? We’d been getting tastes of this all along with Shinji on the train etc. These episodes are so artistically bold that I can’t imagine this whole thing wasn’t completely intentional.

[@burneraccount2240]

they ran out of budget my nigga, you got duped into thinking dog shit animation was deep lmfao.

[@scarlet7960]

Yep, they completely ran out of time and budget. Considering the circumstance they were pretty dam good episodes but still even calling them an "ending" is a stretch

[@evanc8057]

@@scarlet7960 No they were absolutely the true intent of the show. The entire show is about how self-worth is important and how to create meaning from absolute freedom. Everything else is a side drama. EoE was created due to hate mail because fans didn’t understand the ending so he tried created it as a middle finger to the fans.

[@scarlet7960]

@@evanc8057 mabye, well never know for sure so it's up to different people's different interpretations, which is probably why Eva's so cool because 6 months later my views of the show have changed a ton

[@griffin3826]

I really hope part 2 can be uploaded somewhere else or brought back, it’s a video I would come back to every once in a while because it’s so good. Sad to see it gone.

[@krspykreame1]

I think Eva for me is just about: "go outside baka"

[@cameronzero]

haha, the first time you said "i know what eva is about" i thought to myself "he's gonna either admit he doesn't know, or just book end the tirade to refrain from having to admit he doesn't" good stuff

[@nameq]

I'm genuinely impressed

[@ArchiduquesaMA]

The original ending will always be the best

[@tasogarerubica]

There's a great biography... "observational" log of who Anno is like day to day. It's written by his wife, who is a manga author, and documents the day to day interaction with her husband. It really gives insight to how he usually conducts himself and ... well.. He's the geekiest nerd and objectively the first gen of the breed of otakus.

[@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 living. It still haunts me to this day. Sometimes I hated myself because I failed to appreciate what so many have claimed to idolize, and I would beat myself further for failing to prause 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 wanted 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 mattered. 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 Evangelion 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.

[@FemboyFloret]

I really like this video but i had to look at something else while watching it because as soon as i noticed him reading his script off-camera I couldn't focus on anything but his eyes darting all over the place.

[@zephyr1600]

FINALLY SOMEONE ELSE WHO NOTICED HIS EYES LITERALLY LOOK LIKE SOMEONE ROLLING ON MOLLY LMAO

[@Giganfan2k1]

@@zephyr1600 It is all I could see. :/ Listened to the first half. Then watched the second. I think it does better as a purely auditory essay.

[@libertsiagian7685]

lol yeah at first i thought he hated his job 😂😂😂

[@tomtramita2516]

Thank you!!! :D

[@alyssals2530]

wow i was so keen to get a “real” answer, but the way you didnt understand at all was so frustrating because that is the answer 😭😭

[@jackdunne6152]

One reason Evangelion subverts the mecha genre is that the evas aren't technically mecha. They're something else, completely different, but we don't learn that until later on.

[@Keubab]

54:07 the answer to your question is here. things aren't so black and white, so it is in art, there's no given answer to what Eva is about, it's just portraying loneliness, depression, sexuality, and above all human connections in a new way to convey emotions and aesthetic pleasure. searching for absolute "objectivity" is pointless, it's not science or maths

[@MrEgo-sl3fp]

I think Shinji's realization that he can learn to love himself does happen both* in NGE and the movie, but in the movie it happens *after* Asuka's caress, while in the original series this happens mid-instrumentality, so really, this idea that Shinji from the movie and the series are radically different in their approach of instrumentality doesn't hold any water for me, knowing that in the end, they both end up on the same psychological page.

[@dylon4906]

this comment right here helped me to finally understand the final scene of eoe. shinji's hate and apathy for other people and existence in general is represented by him strangling asuka. he is shown unconditional love from asuka caressing his face while he's literally strangling her. because of this, he relents, and I think he cries at the realization that he was wrong to have harbored this much hate for existence and that love makes life truly worth living. asuka calls him disgusting because his apathetic view on life really was disgusting

[@Gabdube]

Well, when presented with many contradicting interpretations about something, there is actually two possible situations: 1) Most are necessarily wrong and one or a few may be right; or 2) _all_ of them are wrong and nobody has been right so far.

[@somebodyontheinternet1090]

Thanks for taking the time and the effort to make this video

[@The_0nly_N0VA]

this is it. this is what i've been looking for. nothing else comes close.. a true video discourse on the Evangelion franchise, the major fan theories, and the nitty gritty of the narrative itself from a Western, if not objective approach . most impressive. truly!

[@Abaddon_Narukami]

I came just wondering about Evangelion and I ended up watching the whole thing

[@militiav6069]

so glad I woke up to this at 1:30 AM. Subscribed

[@satsivinarsharab5343]

I was mostly just disagreeing with you at the beginning, but since I listen to these vids more like podcasts, I decided to stay. I really liked that in the end you came to almost the same conclusion as me. You did an amazing job. I have just this one thing about your commentary on women's portrayal: I really do think it was intentional in that context. Despite the fact that Asuka and Rei represent similarities between waifu trends of that time, does it really mean that they are devoided of character? I strongly disagree. I also do really think that the show punishes you for viewing them as objects, or at least, trues to. After all you said yourself that Anno is a very sensitive person, so I think that he truly underestimated the extent to which otaku will go to protect their little world, which resulted in his dissatisfaction with his work, and REBuild movies as a comeback. I really recommend you look more into that theory (Rebuild as a "Eva done like you wanted" to once again make fans face the reality). You have too little subs, comments and views for such an amazing analysis. That's a pity.

[@SelectScreen]

Thanks for the kind words, and as with basically any aspect of Evangelion, I will happily admit that the role of women in the series is a highly contested field. As I pointed out, I definitely do think there are parts of Eva that are very specifically meant to be critical of fanservice tropes in anime, and I would even agree on the whole, it handles this much better with Rei and Asuka as opposed to the other characters. But where I have a big problem fully buying into Eva on this level is how Misato and Ritsuko are portrayed, especially in the last handful of episodes. Even if they were trying to do something more subversive with those characters, it just doesn't work for me at all. It comes off as punishing any woman for daring to want any kind of a sex life or societal role outside of being a mother or parental figure, and it just feels really gross.

[@satsivinarsharab5343]

Select Screen That is a really interesting point. I guess I was so aware that I, as a viewer, see them through Shinji, who has f-ed up thoughts about women, so I just rolled with it. I do see your point tho. And btw you have a great voice! I am a new sub ;)

[@smashbuddie]

This video was amazing!

[@seastormsinger]

As a feminine female fan of anime (since the 90s) the defense of fan service and the misunderstanding of its purpose has plagued me. I was a grown ass woman before I even realized that it was there. I know. Much like deeper themes in kids cartoons, I just wasn't able to see past those things that I was actually interested in, which was mostly magic and plot and pretty clothing. Now that I have, I do get annoyed by it more than I used to, though this is partially due to the uptick in its prevalence. Back in the day it at least *tried* to be subtle sometimes. But really, at this point, I think its more a point against an anime if it has to rely on fan service. Anime fans who aren't there for the uncomfortable looking boob and butt shots (many of which are... not pleasant to imagine being in. Ow) exist, and even fans of such things aren't usually so shallow as to no watch a show simply because there isn't anatomically implausible female objectifying that is at best completely tangential to the plot. It sort of speaks to the quality of your show if it doesn't (or does) need to rely on cheep shots to draw an audience. Though, I gotta say, I do like it when people point out how gross it is to sexually objectify characters that are supposed to be children. I may not have noticed it when I was a kid, but serious. ew.

[@Comedyteamz]

You sure end of eva is an alternative ending? I always felt it was the same ending but from a different perspective.

[@jakstorm3180]

That's how I see it.. when Shinji is at the end with everyone around him and EoE was what really was going on. A different perspective

[@francescobilleci]

I’m only 10 minutes into the video, but I have to say I love your style. I’m glad it was in my recommendations.

[@ChrisBeardcore]

Anno always stated "the end of evangelion" is an alternative ending . No need to put em together like ep 25&26 is his inner mind dialog and End of eva is what happens outside around him nor try to figure out wich ending fits him more like his true nature and charackter ...they ment to be different , thats it, that simple xD

[@asgads]

giant robots fighting monsters to stop the end of the world + sprinkled with a coming of age story the hard way

[@rossferguson9653]

Eva means whatever you think it is. I recently watched NGE the entire way through. Now that i had already seen it once through, I can see past all the jargon and strange events, letting me understand as I feel it represents. I understand NGE as a show about motherhood, growing up and birth/rebirth. Like when shinji first 'gets in the robot', he has to learn to walk again, has to learn how to do something very basic, and I feel the angels represent different struggles that somebody growing up would have to deal with, such as leilel, the big shadow that traps shinji and unit 01, I feel represents depression, where shinji is all alone in this massive unending void. Another is Bardiel, the Unit 03/Tohji angel, who represents the struggle (and illusion) of choice, his father telling him to kill the angel (and in doing so probably killing tohji), but In the and he has no choice and is used to kill him, and almost forced to watch. It's somewhat flimsy but I don't care, cause that's how I represent it. Oh yea also bread video, you did a great job of trying to decide Eva without personal bias, which is extremely difficult.

[@wyleong4326]

Ross Ferguson it is in its mysteries that gives form to the thoughts that reside in us. And that’s what makes it genius and timeless. As i grew up away from my parents and not having many friends - the theme of abandonment, depression and friendship rings sharply for me. However, I know as I live and experience life... NGE as the name suggests will bring a ‘new retelling of the good news’ which is Life itself. Therein, a hopeful message with a side tale of potential despair and destruction - if you let it.

[@bruhmingo]

Just here to remind everyone that both endings are canon. EoE didn’t retcon anything.

[@ridleysomeliana-lauer5814]

I'm curious what your take on the three timelines actually being one continuous looping event is.

[@bigrivet985]

"What is Evangelion about?" "Yes."

[@plebb2991]

I don’t really agree with the things you’ve said, but it seems like you spent a lot of time with this. Nevertheless, it was a compelling and a well constructed analysis full of hard hitting questions and concepts! Keep up the great work!!

[@mushymcmushington7176]

Jesus Christ the Netflix dub is so, so, SO much better than the original dub.

[@philipp5756]

This is the first time I hear the og dub and I‘m actually shocked. Not just the acting performance, but the wording too

[@navivaldez6240]

You rlly had to hit us with the evangelion dub 😳

[@fernando-sl7qm]

That freaking cicada noise is my favorite part 😅

[@TOKYOTOYBANZAI]

Great objective analysis!

[@AndrewDasilvaPLT]

Seeing Lalah on screen makes me weep, any time I see her. PS: there are photos of Anno in Sunrise Studio in 1980-1 when Encounters In Space was wrapping up.

[@Apathesis0]

Lol the cicadas. What a perfect intro.

[@ridleysomeliana-lauer5814]

Altho I have to keep saying it til I die, Eva is NOT a Mecha anime.

[@jakenorthbriz]

Sweet vid bro! We've all asked that question, it's a fucking hard one. All I know is it's a nostalgic, complicated and beautiful masterpiece. Cool vid

[@uncledimmi1660]

I'm gay, gotta disagree about the fan service in Eva, it's qualitatively different from fan service you find in some other anime. The show also has really good female representation, but you won't notice if you're there staring at their tits the whole time. Usually I roll my eyes at fan service because it doesn't do anything for me, but the depictions in Evangelion make me feel deeply uncomfortable, like I should feel ashamed for noticing.

[@sourlab]

Same , I just laugh it out

[@saadabdullah3225]

Refusing to say the word waifu? You earned a like, and potentially a sub.

[@ajflink]

It could just be about acceptance of one's existence instead of despising, hating, and/or questioning one's existence.

[@nightknight-7768]

I’m so used to the Netflix dub that the original dub sounds so funky

[@SelectScreen]

I strongly prefer the original dub, but I'm not going to try and pretend like that's due to anything other than nostalgia.

[@nightknight-7768]

Select Screen Yeah It’s because the Netflix dub was my first exposure to eva. However, I do like Asuka’s 1990 VA, she’s far less “annoying”’ in tone

[@LiveHedgehog]

It's hard to say whether 25/26 and End of Evangelion are both happening at the same time or not. The previews at the end of 24 show scenes from EoE, and scenes in 25/26 rely on context from EoE too.

[@KarolaTea]

Well all I know about it is that the title music is darn good. And I think that's the most important thing, right? Supposed to be out in 2020? ::chuckles:: A decent guy who's a good teacher, or a creep... or maybe things aren't as black and white. Heh. Very interesting video, thank you! :D

[@SelectScreen]

Turns out, A Cruel Angel's Thesis was the only objectively good thing in Eva.

[@KarolaTea]

Although I'd argue it might maybe not be good. It's sounds way to cheery for what the series sounds to be. Then again, subversion of expectations, or expression hope... hmm... I'd say that song alone warrants another 30 minute analysis ;)

[@RinocerontusReal]

8:29 Coronavirus: *Allow me to introduce myself*

[@SelectScreen]

Ha! I forgot about that part. Really glad I added the extra caveat at the end there.

[@sadia6503]

I loved watching this and felt very validated by some of the conclusions you came to, especially when you disagree with the subversion idea and the religious symbolism as big parts because I also feel like that's a very small part of the whole.

[@jimmothypakistan5223]

where are you getting that shinji rejects instrumentality in the TV show?

[@this.is.lapc506]

53:32 for those of you who didn't grasp what the OP is talking about, search for self-concept, self-projection and introjection.

[@kendricklyon9633]

When shinji strangles asuka, is that him deciding to initiate instrumentality? Also, when was he even given that option? I’ve seen countless lore videos, I’ve watched end of eva so many times, I’ve seen the show twice and it still doesn’t make sense.

[@mattgilbert7347]

EoE is when you take a lot of shrooms and go to a really hardcore Mass

[@lukejames7931]

Don't look at his eyes guys, once you do you can't unsee it

[@niurandoneich]

Great video. Everyone of us that have bashed our heads against Eva's story and meaning completely understand your precautions when you talk about it. I just have a mild criticism. Even though I agree with what you said about the christian symbolism and how it doesn't even matter much in the grand scheme of the story unless you dig really deep into how it connects with everything else, I don't agree that it is a "recognizable pattern" of sorts to tell the story. If I remember correctly, Anno spent a lot of time studying christian religion and many of the references and names that appear in his work in any shape or form are actually outside of the bible and have a lot to do with how it was formed and what texts were refused to be "canon" in christian and judaic religions. For example, Guf, the Chamber of Guf and the Doors of Guf are relevant and most people that are christians probably know nothing at all about them if they even heard of them, so I believe that the christian and judeic references are no coincidence here. If they wanted something similar to be understood as a reference or an aestheic choice by the audience, they would have probably just repurposed and recontextualize purgatory or something similar within catholic "mainstream" religion and that would have been good enough to get their point across. That also drags me directly into Death of the Author points of views because Anno keeps saying that the judeochristian references are just for show in interviews still to this day, but I'm willing to give up the pursue of understanding Eva completely because it's more interesting and deeper this way. Sorry for bad englando no copy pasterino and all that.

[@Crbrundidge]

The Ragnarok Connection from Code Geass is literally the exact same thing as The Instrumentality Project.

[@xxsinfulxbumxx6341]

You get a like for dunking on moral relativists. Great stuff, my dude.

[@razorslazor6021]

Maybe the real Evangelion was the friends we made (and possibly got killed) along the way

[@tesla3695]

32:49 titillating...i see what you did there

[@The-Last-Prime]

This is Evangelion in a nutshell: everybody has depression and is an asshole.

[@Brianbaker3]

Im personally thrilled the japanese audience want satisfied with the end of tv. If it wasnt for their dramatic backlash there more than likely would have never been the 1997 movie. For me the End of Evangelion is the cown jewel of this artistic masterwork.

[@jakstorm3180]

Asuka didnt want to be with Shinji she was disgusted that they were the last two left to start over

[@scorinnotborin2652]

Would you mind if I made a video about gurren lagann using a similar title to yours?

[@SelectScreen]

Go for it. The title is nowhere near original enough that you need to ask permission. Drop me a link when/if you put it out.

[@scorinnotborin2652]

@@SelectScreen will do.

[@cooper4068]

new movie more or less confirms that og show and rebuild are the same timeline sorta maybe

[@dmitryalexandersamoilov]

It's about hideiki anno(shinji) who is in love with asuka, but neither of them are experienced/mature enough to have a relationship. Meanwhile, shinji also likes REI, but he ends up with Mari and let's go of his obsession of asuka. I assume the characters represent real people in anno's life.

[@d3vilman555]

End of Eva was actually the original planned ending for the tv series tho

[@greggoat6570]

Okay please for the love of god tell me the name of the music track with the bongos and shit. It places throughout episodes 25 and 26, and I’ve never been able to find its title or anything. Please help. Also cool video.

[@SentientAnomaly]

TL;DW: 57 minutes of talking and the guy does NOT say what Evangelion is objectively about.

[@kat8559]

Weird amount of bad faith in the comments. Here to add a little compliment to the sandwich. I definitely disagreed in parts and i think you may want to get more comfortable looking at the camera during line readings (it's difficult for me personally) but overall I enjoyed the video and subbed. Idk why people get mad when youtube video essayists are openly leftist. Who do they expect to be making video essays with critical theory in them? Alt right trolls who are 35 but still use the r word? Keep doing what ur doing m8. Edit: if anyone is looking for an answer, my subjective opinion of what evangelion is 'objectively' about in one word is: connection.

[@TheCoolhead27]

Some say if you enter the void there's no way out.

[@jacksoncarder8103]

This sounds different, did Netflix redo the dub?

[@dannywhite9975]

12:08 - no way!

[@gcrazr4life]

The entire franchise of Evangelion can be boiled down to "grief stricken men fucking with things they really shouldn't be fucking with" if you want a clean answer to what the show is about. Here are some places this can be gathered from: The angels & Adam were dormant, and never going to be a problem until some old men found the dead sea scrolls and Adam's body - those old men being Seele. They pull the lance causing second impact to pursue human instrumentality with the help of other sad boys Dr. Katsuragi and Gendo causing the attack of the angels. Then all the shenanigans of Nge happen, and Shinji is now another sad boy who was given the fate of humanity to fuck around with causing the third impact. The same things happen again in the rebuild except repeated over and over until Shinji is no longer sad, and decides that humanity should stop fucking with the pursuit of becoming gods ending the story. Evangelion is art so what it is depends entirely on how the viewer interprets it, but that is (in my opinion) what the actual show/plot is about.

[@chernoalpha0481]

For me is a love story of Gedo that we see through shinji eyes xD

[@wombatkins]

Nice ending.

[@LesbianCacodemon]

Can someone please tell me the name of the song at 4:56?

[@Anatrok]

Small nitpick...The episode scrapped due to aum sarin gas attack is just a rumor. I have never been able to find any sources on this. If ÿøû compare the series to the original proposal ÿøû’ll find there was some changes and rearrangements, but it mostly sticks to the same plot points until the last episodes. Even then 25’ Air (the first half of End of Evangelion) adheres to the proposal after a fashion. Also most of the “Death threat” letters flashed on the screen during 26’ まごころを、君に were actually letter of support, or at least neutral “loved the show, that ending was crazy lul” Other than that, I really enjoyed the video. I came in super skeptical, but don't regret the hour. I resent you for dismissing the manga, but respect the decision. Ÿøû got me for another 25 minutes...

[@jimmothypakistan5223]

Spoiler alert, after 4.0s release the univeres are all canon, equally, with kaworu being able to project is memories as the soul of adam. all eva universes can be sorted into universes with eva vs without eva and these can be arranged like madoka magica. but essentially every universe happened with them happening one after the other with kaworu and maybe rei being entities that experience this specific universe convergence where the same events are occuring a lot because the multiverse is centering around the pilots evas and angels. For example, shinji ikari raising project the manga is a post 4.0 because there are no evas and the angels are computer viruses, but raising rei anaymi project for the nintendo DS is a pre 4.0 universe because it has evas.

[@evilotto9200]

Part 6 - What's with that ending?

[@zoobs-y2x]

nice video, althought your eye movements were super distracting

[@Mygrandpaspodcast]

While I somewhat agree with you about the Christian imagery part Shinji is very clearly Jesus rei is the Holy Spirit and Gendo the father Shinji is also the person who shoulders the fate of mankind same as Jesus in a pretty crazy way (he is literally turned into a cross or crucified in EOE and stigmatized as well) I mean it’s like a loose interpretation of the Christian basics

[@manstamoola7045]

Wait did he just say that the most popular version of something is the canon? ... no

[@luketia]

Huh? I think what you call superficial use of Christian symbolism is mistaking that Christian symbolism is only there when supporting Christianity itself. However, these symbols are used to add meaning to the mythos. NGE is a out death, rebirth, and redemption. Lilith creates humanity and us crucified. The crosses represent both salvation and the connection of heaven and earth. Angel's and superior beings who come from heaven. They start playing classical music about Jesus - The Messiah, Ode to Joy, and Jesus Joy of Man's desire. The first two occur when Angel's attack. Thus, are the Angel's actually the good news? The Evangelical? Adam and Dead Sea scroll is obvious. The spear of longinus is a source of power from the savior. The three wise men bring gifts to give to the good new the Eva's and I guess everyone. Then there is the kabbalah stuff which is explicit in the end of EoE. I think that has to do with obtaining union with God by obtaining spiritual qualities or something. My point....all of the symbolism is carefully chosen to support the greater narrative and meaning.