Why I (Used To) Hate Evangelion

[@megalobster4533]

When I was 15 and watched Evangelion I finished it and cried for the first time in years, and honestly I wasn't sure why and didn't sleep that night... Its been 15 years since then and I've learned alot about why it got to me so brutally... The direction, animation, sound mixing, everything was so unique but what got to me was the character work and the message... I never thought it was ok to want connection and assumed other people were different, that they were real... This anime set me on a better path and made me relize that it was ok to be alive and a part of the world... Plusssss robots... So yeah Evangelion will always be legend for me

[@angellara7040]

29:50 I was so close to having a heart attack hearing the "eva is the only character focused mecha"

[@SpinSurgery]

It's gotta be rough watching EVA with all the baggage. I stumbled into it completely unaware lol. THAT was a helluva ride. And a punch in the gut. I wasn't even an anime fan so I had no idea. My gawd

[@weightingramsss]

My man out here making some great videos. I love how you present the information

[@MissusO]

Perhaps I'll have to try to come back to Evangelion. I have been watching anime for most of my life (huuuuge Moonie since age 4, I'm now pushing 30), and I thoroughly enjoy very nuanced stories and character driven plot progression. Yet, when I attempted Evangelion (sub, not dub) around 2019-2020 at age 23, Shinji annoyed me so much that I dropped it. He was so woe-is-me that it was unrealistic. I'm not going to share my whole life story and trauma, but I've definitely been through the wringer and gone through my share of deep depression from middle school through half of my university career, and Shinji's emotions just came off as severe teenage angst to the point that it was almost insulting to me. I compared him to Deku from MHA, who I also find absolutely insufferable because his people pleasing is almost wholly unrealistic (coming from a fellow people pleaser). But perhaps I missed something. At the very least, the other characters are much more tolerable, so I'll watch for them, lol.

[@courtnxei]

i think the problem with first watches on evangelion we try to see it in a literal way and understand the timeline of the story. when the magic behind it is the meaning you take from it which is interpretated differently by each person. and then after saying you dont get it then ppl say wait until ur so old. when in reality they should be saying its the meaning behind it not whats happening. it might be a bit of an autistic trait xdd but ppl dont say how does it make you FEEL. which confuses ppl who take things literally

[@courtnxei]

just got to 10 minutes. u get what im sayin already lmao

[@ArniQQ10]

I see an essay about EVA, I watch: I went through some of the same stuff as you did with EVA. I was new to anime and I had heard its praises. First time, I thought it was kinda mid. Then, though the years, it often popped up into my mind, and I saw some clips / scenes of it here and there on youtube. I decided to rewatch it and it became my personal favorite. *edit* Finally finished your video. Nice one. When EVA started clicking for me, it was Asuka that felt the closes to me as well. I really hated the character on my first watch, and I could not understand why people seemed to love the character so much. Then it hit: it was my own ugly sides I did not like. Why do I ahve to be so oobnoxiously competitive? Why do everyone praise my confidence in myself while I sit alone at home like an anxious wreck while my mind is telling me i suck. Why do I use my looks and sexuality to gather affirmation? Even though not to Asuka's extent, I too was given little attention as a child growing up. EVA helped me realize--in many ways--why I am who I am.

[@h0110wkn1ght-y]

I honestly had no idea what was going on in the last few episodes. I double checked to make sure I didn't skip an episode (I didn't) and then the show just ends. Or to be more accurate, it just stops

[@morganh2272]

It's super interesting to see the perspective of a newbie anime fan who totally bounced off the series, contrasted with a more nuanced and experienced perspective. If the premise wasn't shown from the start, I may have stopped the video hearing the thoughts of the 2019 version though.

[@flyingeagle3898]

I watched it a year ago for the first time after putting it off from hearing about EVA for a decade and I largely agree with you except that I am still much harsher than you on the ending. partly because I was older than you when I watched it I didn't have any trouble picking up on the subtle character emotions and interactions you mention here, thought the battles with angels were all fairly creative, and the biblical references were neat. I love sci-fi stories especially those that include thouroughly "alien" alternate intelligences, however I still felt that despite having all the trappings of things I should enjoy there was still something missing, the nature and reason for the angels existence, the mentioned "prophecy", and the reason why the humans pursuing the human instrumentality project think its a good idea at all, those all feel not just vague but thouroghly unexplored in a satisfying way. Then the ending...the therapy session is fine as A message, but it still leaves the greater story of the EVA universe unresolved. Taken with "the end of evangelion" movie it just feels like the ending is deeply nihilistic, negative and meaninglessly destuctive. So some of the characters have taken a psychological step forward and everyone's consciousness is linked, well whats the point or what future do they have now if they and most of the earth is dead? why is that in any way a better reality than one where everyone stays separate? Other stories have tackled "hive minds" in both negative and sympathetic ways and address these questions in compelling ways.. EVA just leaves a destroyed landscape without really expressing an opinion about or resolving any of those questions.

[@Ani-lc6op]

This is so crazy!! I have legit just finished the show about four days ago and I couldn't say I loved it or hated it. But here I am continually thinking about it which I rarely do with shows. I find myself asking, am I happy with my life? So maybe it is an amazing show..

[@Marxotic]

I also disliked Eva. I still do in fact, but I enjoy navigating this anime. I think on its own it's very lackluster, but the discussions and philosophies attached to it are very fun to dive into. I gave it a 6/10 on my first viewing, then an 8/10 my second- and then ultimately removed my rating on the third because it seemed pointless. It's an anime that became more about the viewer more than itself. It's too personal and ever changing, which is why I can't rate it. Always great to hear how others feel, hope the algorithm finds you soon!

[@youcantbeatk7006]

I'm pretty sure that all the interactions that happened during instrumentation weren't imaginary because everyone was linked to each other's thoughts at that time.

[@LunaticThePhantom]

@@youcantbeatk7006 If this is in regards to my comments about Shinji's conversation with Asuka right before the 3rd impact, I was kinda of under the assumption that everything that happened before he chokes her out was pre-instrumentality or something like that but I wasn't certain.

[@NaerysTargaryen26]

I liked it but i assumed i was really stupid bc towards the end i didn't know what was going on sometimes i still dont understand some things but its really good. And the characters were very annoying but also very complex and i grew too really understand and sympathize with them.

[@pinkmidi6553]

Evangelion was one of my intros to anime! Loved how the show focused on the psychology of its characters. Was kinda disappointed when I realized 90% of anime is 13 year old boy fanfiction

[@matthewlugo2417]

Tbh you watched the worst eva dub, the original eva dub is amazing, every character fits they're look and every actor gets super comfortable with line delivery and emotion

[@Di-Sapien]

Going to get the DVD. I've heard some stuff from the ADV dub, and most of it sounds better, but I think the voice actors from the Netflix sound way more like the characters' looks and personalities.

[@monstresswitcher]

I can’t expressly hate the ending as it’s amazing there even was an ending considering they ran out of time and money (and then they made the movie)

[@SL-cl9gt]

Peter Griffin: what are they gonna do? Cut our budget? I’m gonna go get a beer.

[@victoroliveira3577]

I'll say this, when i heard that evangelion was a "vent anime" (I don't know if it's actually true so take my words with a bag of salt or something) to Anno made me realize the anime, the movie, and the rebuilds (maybe also the manga but i don't know if he had a hand in that) are also a study (i don't know if study is the word for this but it's what comes to mind) on Anno's mindset while making them Which made the rebuilds make alot more sense, also made me glad that Anno recovered from whatever "place" he was at the time of the anime and movie (especially the movie Jesus Christ ) Now again i don't know if this is true so i may be talking gibberish here, but if it is, then that just another perspective to eva that makes me love it even more

[@victoroliveira3577]

I also sugest juza voices video on eva cause it's a amazing re-telling of the anime and the movie

[@Setsunako6587]

I'm glad you got in the robot, kid. Nobody's ever done a LONGITUDINAL analysis of Eva, as far as I know. This was a valuable perspective. Thank you for sharing 💕

[@eloquitodelaesquina]

Evangelion is what I mean when I say peak fiction its up there with very few others because its truly a masterful piece of art that opens and shows the human heart at its most pure, from the insecurities and fears to the value of love and connection Its not made as a product for consumption but as a mixture of visuals, audio and storytelling that one shall contemplate and delve into, like one of those truly masterful portraits or sculptures that we call masterpieces

[@homeboi_]

I would honestly love to hear more of your thoughts on Naruto part 1 vs Shippuden. I think debates on the quality of the two are fascinating. Would you do a video on it if interested?

[@LunaticThePhantom]

I'd love to. I was debating making a video going through my thoughts on Parts 1 & 2 last year but scrapped it in favor of my Dragon Ball retrospective. However I'm still interested in doing some sort of Naruto analysis that I could use to platform my issues with Part 2 and love for Part 1, I just need to find the time and find a good format for the video.

[@homeboi_]

@@LunaticThePhantom Cool! If I can share my opinion, I’d say Part 1 has its strength in being more solid narrative while Part 2 is overall muddled but still manages to convey its themes and message in a engaging and even thoughtful way, despite part 2 not really have a concrete answer to some of the questions it ask through the narrative. And also like the entire ninja war arc being super bloated, and the anime adaption having insane levels of filler. Honestly I think Part 2 is kinda like FMA 2003 and part 1 FMAB. Not saying Naruto has the same caliber of writing as FMA in general, but that’s just what it reminds me of.

[@Detharith]

For the algorithm 🙏

[@PPthePirate]

Liked and subbed! (Algorithm comment)

[@LunaticThePhantom]

Thank you 😁

[@youcantbeatk7006]

I got sucked into Evangelion for the first time a few weeks ago right after I turned 20 in what is probably the darkest or at least second darkest point in my life, but it's close. Oh boy, time for another video essay to watch. Edit: I thought Evangelion was boring too at first. Honestly as absurd as it sounds, I think some people should just start with EoE just so they can have an actual hook, that or they should just watch KZbin videos first like I did. The series is very backloaded in quality. Death is supposed to be like a recapped movie, but the editing is pretty incoherent and nonsequential so I recommend everyone skips it altogether. Starting at EoE gives the viewer and actual hook and lets them understand and endgoal for the characters so when the watch everything else, they can actually start to understand what things are building up towards. Evangelion doesn't really rely on shock value so knowing what's going to happen doesn't "spoil" it IMO. If anything, it just gives the viewer more time to think about the story instead of staring at the screen in boredom because you don't know why anything's important. 13:37 I know this is your past opinion but the absurdity of saying Eva isn't "up to snuff" with Konosuba deadass made me nearly choke on an ice cube.

[@mr.b89]

Starting with EoE would be absolutely diabolical I could never recommend that

[@manhornhead2659]

It is the opposite for me I used to love Eva but after 3.0 and especially the last one, I kind of think the Evangelion that I used to love was an Imaginary one that was perpetuated by a cult like circle jerk that really seems to lack the ability for critical thought about it. I mean that last one was so hypocritical and contrived that to see it's big flaws largely glossed over with the same mindless praise and platitudes as the last two endings really takes some kind of wilful denial IMO. Worse I can't say that 4.0 and Rebuild aren't Evangelion either, IMO they're clearly done buy the same guy who did original series/series end and the EoE movies. Really I think re-evaluation of all of Anno's Evangelion is in order. With particular focus on the Character of Gendo as this is character who Anno sympathises with and the one to judge him on IMO and not just with rebuild. When I do that though Evangelion just crumbles and comes tumbling down under the weight of it's own hypocrisy and irony too.

[@Raselix]

The nextflix dub is pretty bad and probably worked against your understanding see also "nay-arve"

[@bryanc7094]

Sadly this made me unsubscribe.

[@sonicfanboy3375]

Bro can't handle an opinion