NEONGENESIS EVANGELION 1.01: YOUR ARE (NOT) ALONE
December 22nd 2009 00:35
Category: Videos
Director: Hideaki Anno
Written by: Hideaki Anno
Producers: Hideaki Anno & Toshimichi Otsuki
Starring: Spike Spencer (Shinji Ikari), Brina Palencia (Rei), John Swasey (Gendo Ikari), Alison Keith (Misato Katsuragi) & Colleen Clinkenbeard (Ritsuko Akagi)
Produced by: Khara Inc
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 94 minutes Rating: PG
You know I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a copy of Neongenesis Evangelion for quite some time; it used to be aired on SBS on a Saturday night if memory serves me correctly. Unfortunately at the time when that television network was screening it it was in the years when where I lived was outside of SBS broadcast area, and when we could finally get it they were no longer screening it anymore. Such are the vagaries of life; still it’s interesting to note that this particular series is seen as a landmark anime series, with a fairly large following. This particular incarnation is the feature length version of the series, apparently the makers of the show have decided to revamp the series into several feature length, computer enhanced movies to be realised over a specific period of time. This instalment and the second part have already been shown in cinemas in Japan and here in Australia we’ve already got the DVD version of the first instalment, no doubt the second will emerge in its own time.
So what is going on in this feature? Essentially this is very much a survival of humanity in the face of impending destruction kind of drama into which has been added that trusty Japanese anime staple of giant robots or EVAs as they are referred to in this feature. It’s all rather apocalyptic in a very literal sense, the fate of humanity resting on the shoulders of several individuals as the planet and its populace face annihilation from enigmatic entities that have been dubbed Angels. So how has the world come to find itself in such a dire predicament? Have to admit that that particular nugget of information was not really elaborated on in the course of events, although there is mention of something called the First Impact and Second Impact both of which were major events and the Second Impact apparently wiped out swathes of the human population. Both of these events were apparently orchestrated by the Angels and it seems that these enigmatic entities are intent on causing a Third and final impact which will wipe out the entirety of humanity…
Dire stuff indeed; makes the Book of Revelations look positively tame in comparison. The animation in this feature is very slick indeed and in some scenes you have to wonder if you’re actually watching a live action film and not a high tech anime. The scenery is extremely realistic, almost as if you’re there, and naturally the combat and devastation that occurs is very full on. The EVAs and their angelic foes are truly awe inspiring, conveying just the right mix of the fantastic and eldritch. As you watch these machines deployed and the carnage caused you get a sense of desperation, of the fact that humanity itself is clutching at straws and going very likely into areas that it probably should not be going to but faced with no other alternatives it has to do so. At least that was the impression I had as I watched this film.
The films protagonist Shinji Ikari finds himself thrust into the role of an EVA pilot in order to prevent wholesale destruction of Tokyo-3, 1 and 2 no doubt having previously being wiped out at some previous point. Conventional methods have already failed in attempting to destroy the attacking angle so now an EVA has to be deployed to deal with the assailant or else all will quite literally be lost. NERV, the organisation in charge of the EVA units, is tasked with organising the counter attack and Shinji is the one who will be the doing the fighting. A very tall order for a kid who is only fifteen or sixteen years old, one who seems to have certain issues with his life and his father who is actually in charge of the whole NERV operation. It seems Gendo Ikari only sees his son as a tool, a means for carrying out his enigmatic agenda and those above him, not his flesh and blood.
You could quite easily find yourself disliking Shinji, he does come across as something of a whiner, although I felt that he was very much a telling metaphor for the human race, a virtual everyman. Why do I say that, well as I mentioned earlier humanity is in a situation where it is very much out of its depth and clutching a straws to resolve the crisis, which is exactly Shinji’s precise situation. He finds himself in over his head, clutching at whatever he can to try and gain some sense of normalcy, to establish a safe foundation yet seemingly flailing about aimlessly and in danger of completely loosing it. Much in same way the human race is going in its struggle against the Angels and their enigmatic agenda.
There are shades of Fafner in this anime, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say Fafner has shades of Neongenesis Evangelion? Either way both series feature mecha that can only be piloted by young individuals and have protagonists who are very reluctant to take up this role as they are unsure of precisely how they will be changed in such circumstances. With Neongenesis Evangelion though the protagonist goes through the entire feature unsure, uncertain and not finding any significant grounding until the final moments, and then there is the sensation that this too will prove to be rather fleeting. Rather like real life, where certain moments even though they are of major significance prove to only be too fleeting and ephemeral, vanishing on the wind like dust. The one thing about this flick as I watched it that the actor portraying Shinji, Spike Spencer, kept me thinking every now and then about Bleach. He works in that series doing the voice for Hanataro, a Soul Reaper in Squad 4 and Shinji sounds so much like Hanataro it wasn’t funny.
At the end of the day if you want to watch something that is full of action, drama and incredibly uplifting then my advice is do not under any circumstances watch Neongenesis Evangelion 1.01. If you are someone who likes their anime dark, brooding and filled with metaphor, allegory and existentialism then this is definitely the feature for you, I feel that you’ll eat this up and be looking around for more. In my own humble opinion this is a finely crafted, well thought out piece of work but a bit too heavy on the doom and gloom, think I’m going to head back to the Leaf Village and some ninja goodness…
Written by: Hideaki Anno
Producers: Hideaki Anno & Toshimichi Otsuki
Starring: Spike Spencer (Shinji Ikari), Brina Palencia (Rei), John Swasey (Gendo Ikari), Alison Keith (Misato Katsuragi) & Colleen Clinkenbeard (Ritsuko Akagi)
Produced by: Khara Inc
Released by: Madman Entertainment
Running Time: 94 minutes Rating: PG
You know I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a copy of Neongenesis Evangelion for quite some time; it used to be aired on SBS on a Saturday night if memory serves me correctly. Unfortunately at the time when that television network was screening it it was in the years when where I lived was outside of SBS broadcast area, and when we could finally get it they were no longer screening it anymore. Such are the vagaries of life; still it’s interesting to note that this particular series is seen as a landmark anime series, with a fairly large following. This particular incarnation is the feature length version of the series, apparently the makers of the show have decided to revamp the series into several feature length, computer enhanced movies to be realised over a specific period of time. This instalment and the second part have already been shown in cinemas in Japan and here in Australia we’ve already got the DVD version of the first instalment, no doubt the second will emerge in its own time.
The films protagonist Shinji Ikari finds himself thrust into the role of an EVA pilot in order to prevent wholesale destruction of Tokyo-3, 1 and 2 no doubt having previously being wiped out at some previous point. Conventional methods have already failed in attempting to destroy the attacking angle so now an EVA has to be deployed to deal with the assailant or else all will quite literally be lost. NERV, the organisation in charge of the EVA units, is tasked with organising the counter attack and Shinji is the one who will be the doing the fighting. A very tall order for a kid who is only fifteen or sixteen years old, one who seems to have certain issues with his life and his father who is actually in charge of the whole NERV operation. It seems Gendo Ikari only sees his son as a tool, a means for carrying out his enigmatic agenda and those above him, not his flesh and blood.
You could quite easily find yourself disliking Shinji, he does come across as something of a whiner, although I felt that he was very much a telling metaphor for the human race, a virtual everyman. Why do I say that, well as I mentioned earlier humanity is in a situation where it is very much out of its depth and clutching a straws to resolve the crisis, which is exactly Shinji’s precise situation. He finds himself in over his head, clutching at whatever he can to try and gain some sense of normalcy, to establish a safe foundation yet seemingly flailing about aimlessly and in danger of completely loosing it. Much in same way the human race is going in its struggle against the Angels and their enigmatic agenda.
There are shades of Fafner in this anime, or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say Fafner has shades of Neongenesis Evangelion? Either way both series feature mecha that can only be piloted by young individuals and have protagonists who are very reluctant to take up this role as they are unsure of precisely how they will be changed in such circumstances. With Neongenesis Evangelion though the protagonist goes through the entire feature unsure, uncertain and not finding any significant grounding until the final moments, and then there is the sensation that this too will prove to be rather fleeting. Rather like real life, where certain moments even though they are of major significance prove to only be too fleeting and ephemeral, vanishing on the wind like dust. The one thing about this flick as I watched it that the actor portraying Shinji, Spike Spencer, kept me thinking every now and then about Bleach. He works in that series doing the voice for Hanataro, a Soul Reaper in Squad 4 and Shinji sounds so much like Hanataro it wasn’t funny.
At the end of the day if you want to watch something that is full of action, drama and incredibly uplifting then my advice is do not under any circumstances watch Neongenesis Evangelion 1.01. If you are someone who likes their anime dark, brooding and filled with metaphor, allegory and existentialism then this is definitely the feature for you, I feel that you’ll eat this up and be looking around for more. In my own humble opinion this is a finely crafted, well thought out piece of work but a bit too heavy on the doom and gloom, think I’m going to head back to the Leaf Village and some ninja goodness…
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