The Original End Of Evangelion is a Masterpiece
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
- Kaze talks about the original ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion and why he thinks it’s a masterpiece.
WARNING: Many use of lights during 15:47-15:50.
I want to thank u/Vanquisher1000 for providing me a link to Toshio Okada’s interview “Return Of The Otaking”. It gave me great insight when making this video to better understand Anno’s creative process during the making of the show.
If you enjoyed the video, please hit that like button :)
If you want more videos like this, please subscribe :D
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Information about EVANGELION (Source: Wikipedia):
Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and Tatsunoko Production, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996.
Neon Genesis Evangelion received critical acclaim but also garnered controversy. Regarded as a deconstruction of the mecha genre, the original TV series led to a rebirth of the anime industry and has become a cultural icon. Film, manga, home video, and other products in the Evangelion franchise have achieved record sales in Japanese markets and strong sales in overseas markets, with related goods selling over ¥150 billion by 2007 and Evangelion pachinko machines selling ¥700 billion by 2015.
FOOTAGE:
"Neon Genesis Evangelion" (Anime)
Directed by Hideaki Anno
Studios: Gainax / Tatsunoko Production Company
“Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End Of Evangelion” (1997 Anime Film)
Directed by Hideaki AnnoStudio: Gainax / Production I.G
“Welcome Back for an Extracurricular Lesson, Sempai!” (1999)
TV Show on N.H.K.
“Japan Under American Occupation” (2002)
Documentary on the History Channel
Archive footage of Hiroshima bombing
Source: The Telegraph
“Return Of The Otaking” (1996)
Toshio Okada Interview
Source: web.archive.org/web/200001260...
“Seven Samurai” (1954)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
“High And Low” (1963)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
“Ikiru” (1952)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
“Rashomon” (1950)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
“Throne Of Blood” (1957)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
“Tokyo Story” (1953)
Directed by Yasujiro Ozu
"Hitokiri" (1969)
Directed by Hideo Gosha
“Battle Royale” (2000)
Directed by Kinji Fukasaku
“Kikujiro” (1999)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
“Hana-Bi” (1997)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
“Sonatine” (1993)
Directed by Takeshi Kitano
“Nobody Knows” (2004)
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
"Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977)
Directed by George Lucas
"Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
Directed by Irvin Kershner
"Back To The Future” (1985)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
"Back To The Future Part II” (1989)
Directed by Robert Zemeckis
“Once Upon A Time In The West” (1968)
Directed by Sergio Leone
“The Hustler” (1961)
Directed by Robert Rossen
“Citizen Kane” (1941)
Directed by Orson Welles
“Taxi Driver” (1976)Directed by Martin Scorsese
“Apocalypse Now”
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
“Rocky” (1976)
Directed by John G. Avildsen
“The Avengers” (2012)
Directed by Joss Whedon
“Avengers: Endgame” (2019)
Directed by Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
"Your Name" (2016 Anime Film)
Directed by Makoto Shinkai
Studio: CoMix Wave Films
"A Silent Voice" (2016 Anime Film)
Directed by Naoko Yamada
Studio: Kyoto Animation
"Your Lie In April" (Anime)
Directed by Kyōhei Ishiguro
Studio: A-1 Pictures
"Tamako Love Story" (2014 Anime Film)
Directed by Naoko Yamada
Studio: Kyoto Animation
“Dragon Ball Z” (Anime)
Directed by Daisuke Nishio
Studio: Toei Animation
"Naruto" (Anime)
Directed by Hayato Date
Studio: Pierrot
"My Hero Academia" (Anime)
Directed by Kenji Nagasaki
Studio: Bones
"The Promised Neverland" (Anime)
Directed by Mamoru Kanbe
Studio: CloverWorks
"Slam Dunk" (Anime)
Directed by Nobutaka Nishizawa
Studio: Toei Animation
"Ashita No Joe" (Anime)
Directed by Osamu Dezaki
Studio: Mushi Production
"Grave Of The Fireflies" (1988 Film)
Directed by Isao Takahata
Studio: Studio Ghibli
"Kiki's Delivery Service" (1989 Film)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki
Studio: Studio Ghibli
"Gunbuster" (Anime)
Directed by Hideaki Anno
Studios: Gainax / Studio Fantasia
"Akira" (1988 Film)
Directed by Katsuhiro Otomo
Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha
"Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer" (1984 Film)
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Studio: Studio Pierrot / Kitty Films / Toho
"Ghost In The Shell" (1995 Anime Film)
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
Studio: Production I.G
"Cowboy Bebop" (Anime)
Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Studio: Sunrise
MUSIC:
The Midnight - Nighthawks (Instrumental)
The Midnight - Tokyo Night Train
Traxx - In The End
Trevor Something - Beyond The Infinite
Trevor Something - Waiting For The Cold - Krátké a kreslené filmy
WARNING: Many use of lights during 15:47-15:50
First of all, as I mention in the description, I want to thank u/Vanquisher1000 for providing me a link to Toshio Okada’s interview “Return Of The Otaking”. It gave me great insight when making this video to better understand Anno’s creative process during the making of the show.
This all started two years ago when I watched the entire series of Neon Genesis Evangelion (the version that includes the Directors Cut versions of episodes 21-24) and The End Of Evangelion. As I mention in the video, I watched it all in one week and I was amazed by what I had seen.
So I'm glad that I am able to finally express my thoughts about the show and why I think its original ending is a masterpiece.
If you enjoyed the video, please hit that like button :)
If you want more videos like this, please subscribe :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
And consider joining us on DISCORD: discord.gg/rxysaMxd4E
SUBSCRIBE: czcams.com/users/KazeTalks
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When i watch the end of evangelion movie, i.though to.myself " And i though Berserk traumatized me".
First, I apologize for walltexting below here xD But I really appreciated your video, it's good brain food :)
Only a thing, I'd like to point out: a lot of people don't like or don't prefer the tv show's ending, and I respect the opinion (as much as I hated EoE initially, I now respect it and appreciate at least its artistic value. Also Rebuild makes it look way better in comparison :3) but I think there is a part of this finale's detractors that miss a big point: the fact that it doesn't follow the initially written idea, and EoE is way more similar of said idea. The plan change per se ISN'T necessarily a bad thing, in media history a lot of good happened because external/internal factors made plans change (like having the Alien design handled by Giger, or Tolkien being convinced by his editor to release The Hobbit even if he wasn't sure about it). Similarly, as much as every creative would love to have the perfect resources, and I understand them, many times their lack stimulates him/her to find new, economic but also different expressive ways to convey a concept. I find really admirable the way this in Eva led to those amazing, abstract and imaginative directing solutions Anno concocted. If we had just EoE, there wouldn't have been those and the anime world would be a bit more poor in terms of artistic value.
Also, I'm totally sure that some of the so-called "moments made to hide the budget issues" in the show are bonkers. The 1 minute and more Eva still infamous shot is clearly made so that it could fit all of "that" specific part of the 9th Symphony. Other parts probably are, as I said, cases of "ehi, we have limited resources... wait let's turn them into artful stuff!" xD
Also em... I'm a bit biased too, Evangelion on tv and its finale is one of my most fond memories of years and years ago, and also all the speculation about every subtle detail with friends and my bro xD
It helps that in my country the dubbing (the old one, the new netflix one sucks) it received may be one of the greatest dubbing ever :P
The ending minutes basically tells you how to confront depression and to make a path for yourself.
That’s it in a nutshell 👌
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.
This series is nothing but a bright shining lie. There is no instant cure for depression as so many on CZcams and Reddit claimed and praised this series to be. I was obsessed with the series for over a year to try and outwit the Coronavirus pandemic. It only increased the burden, and kept the memory of my friend’s recent suicide alive. Sometimes I hate myself because I fail to appreciate this series which people treat larger than life, because of how much pain it resurfaces.
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.
@@hawkeyenextgen7117 wish you the best man
Except for the fact that Shinji didn't change at all by the end in the movie.
@@hawkeyenextgen7117 is the just a copy pasta cause I've seen this on so many NGE videos
Honestly I don’t really care what anyone says, both endings are absolute masterpieces and I’m fine with either one
This 👆
They're the same ending 👀
Sorry guys I'm new to the series. Aren't both canonic? I mean for what I have heard both are canonic because both happens in the same time. It is the same ending watched in two different perspective. The first one we are in the mind of our protagonist, the second one we are witnessing the third impact.
Am I right?
@@eliasbonafe9236 yes
Eva 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.
Evangelion is nothing but a bright shining lie. There is no instant cure for depression as so many on CZcams and Reddit claimed and praised this series to be. I was obsessed with the series for over a year to try and outwit the Coronavirus pandemic. It only increased the burden, and kept the memory of my friend’s recent suicide alive. Sometimes I hate myself because I fail to appreciate this series which people treat larger than life, because of how much pain it resurfaces.
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 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.
But it only spiraled 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.
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. No one should have to go through hell just to learn to love themselves. No one. But that’s what Eva teaches.
And that’s why I hate it.
Dude I cried at this ending, I somewhat understood it and it hurt me on a mental level.
Yeah, it made me aware of things I didn’t fully comprehend before. It was eye opening for me.
Eva 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.
Evangelion is nothing but a bright shining lie. There is no instant cure for depression as so many on CZcams and Reddit claimed and praised this series to be. I was obsessed with the series for over a year to try and outwit the Coronavirus pandemic. It only increased the burden, and kept the memory of my friend’s recent suicide alive. Sometimes I hate myself because I fail to appreciate this series which people treat larger than life, because of how much pain it resurfaces.
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 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.
But it only spiraled 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.
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. No one should have to go through hell just to learn to love themselves. No one. But that’s what Eva teaches.
And that’s why I reject it.
@@hawkeyenextgen7117 I hope you can overcome your depression, you are very strong, you can do it
I cried so much throughout the series and throughout the movies too. Not only during the end. I've never seen anything as beautifully emotional and deeply touching and yet as positive as this show.
It just made me bored gang
The original ending of Evangelion possibly saved my life. Not by itself, but it certainly had an impact (hur hur). I was browsing TV late at night when I happened to catch these last two episodes by some weird one in a million chance - the channel wasn't known for broadcasting anime normally. I was 14 and had been bullied all my life at that point, and you can probably guess I was swimming in some pretty deep and dark waters mentally at that time. So, maybe it is not surprising that something about watching Shinji's internal struggle just resonated immensely in me. My life didn't suddenly get any better, of course, but a lot of things just mentally clicked together, and I understood a whole lot more about myself, than I had before. That, along with a couple other things probably prevented me from killing myself.
Thank you for sharing and I can relate in some way. I'm really glad you were able to pull yourself away from the darkness. Goes to show how important Anime like Evangelion can be with its themes and characters 💪
When I watched it I was long past those feelings, but I still remembered how it felt. What got to me in the end was that his big revelation wasn't "I'm a good person" or "I've achieved amazing things" or anything else grandeous, just "I deserve to be alive". That feels so impactful to me, and it really speaks to how anno must have understood what those feelings feel like. Because sometimes all you need and can do is convince yourself that it's Okay to be alive
It didn't save my life, it just made me feel worse about myself.
@@hawkeyenextgen7117 So you keep saying.
Yeah, the tv ending is very underrated.
I love both(even tho they’re technically the same)but it’s the ending of the anime that makes me feel that Eva saved my life.
Well done bro, you’ve earned yourself another subscriber!
darkknightfan75 Thanks! The Anime and its original ending are really powerful. One of the best shows of all time. It's good to know that the show helped you greatly in your time in need. And thanks for the sub!
I see the anime ending as a way of Anno to look into something heartwarming and gentle for him to scape the depression, but it was renegaded and ppl hated. Bc of the bad reception of the ending he made EOE out of the hate he recieved.
In the movie you'll notice a difrent shinji. Shinji throught the anime was really passive and incapable of doing harm, but in the movie you'll see him doing harm, specifically to women (that's bc throught out all of death threats Anno recieved regarding the anime ending. He received also thank you letters from ppl that liked the anime, and most of them were women. that's why shinji harms women). The message is no longer of hope and acceptance, is a morbid and sad ending.
In the end while Shinji strangulates Asuka, she takes her hand to his face gently, that's how the public recived the anime ending. At the very end Asuka says what probably is Annos feelings towards the public fetish: "disgusting"
I actually prefer the TV ending, tho EoE is pure genius too
how are they both the same? Im still so confused ;n;
Weeaboo
I cried for Shinji at the end, the ending was perfectly beautifully portrayed from the circumstances surrounding both the characters and the studio and yet the latter managed to create the perfect anime about the human condition and how to live ones life to the fullest. Excellent video.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I cried for myself, not out of pity, but because I felt encouraged and inspired and hopeful for my future
The show literally opened my third eye and now I perceive things differently on an all new level 😳🤫
I love it when a work of art does that to you. One of the many reasons why I love Neon Genesis Evangelion.
That's cool and all but please don't become a narcissistic person since those are like the first paths to become one..
Well, atleast on my point of view.
Bruh just read my mind
🤣
I find the whole idea that these last episodes were poorly received and that Anno got all these death threats pretty hilarious. Episode 26 of the TV show won an award for the best episode of that year (along with episode 24) voted by fans. And Anno got more letters of encouragement (you can see the letters in EOE) that said the last episode helped them come to terms with themselves. Alot of people at the time really like those episodes without the robot fights or not. I think it was western fans that had more of a problem with the last 2 episodes
Yeah. There seems to be a lot of evidence that the controversy was nowhere near as big as it seemed to be. Though when he made End Of Evangelion, there's a lot in it that seems to be directed at his fans, which would make sense if he was affected by some of the outrage. But I think you're right that the Western fans were more affected by it than the Japanese audience.
@@KazeTalks Yeah I think those few messages did affect Anno and this is all speculation of course but I think part of it is Anno being extremely critical of himself and his work, and taking those criticisms to heart. Which is also the reason I believe he decided to do the rebuild films. to try to have a second chance to make himself happy
anta baka Yeah, that's a very good point. As you said, this is all speculation, but I think that's the reason too.
I'd say that as much as there are a lot of detractors of the tv show's ending, there has been since the beginning a lot of people who (immediately or not) liked it. The matter is, I think, that this whole thing lasted over 20 years so far, and in this timespan, the general opinion fluctuated a lot. Not counting the fact that many times the negative feedback is louder than the positive one, so the second ends being overshadowed :)
@@antabaka2465 It's plausible, but I personally am not very convinced about the last point, as controversy or not, Anno's life in the years after Eva reached a better level of internal and external balance, he got married etc. Ehi, this of course doesn't rule out your speculation, let's be clear!
I think behind Rebuild may be that thought, but also the idea of trying alternative courses for the series that weren't feasible with the resources back in the old days, and to renew Eva for a new century and a new audience. And as much as I understand those feelings, I think the concept... is wrong. It's very arbitrary for me to say, but some things shouldn't get adapted for a new era, or at least it's always risky to do so (on another hand, it's not even that terrible. I mean, the Rebuild are bad? well it's not like original Eva disappeared, one can just watch that instead :P)
Ah and it seems there is also a economic reason behind Eva Rebuild, or at least two: one tied to finding funds to make new stuff, the other to that shady story of Anno being robbed by Studio Gainax for more than 10 years xD (and risking to lose Eva's rights for merchandise etc)
About the first part of your comment (wait why didn't I made this in chronological orde... well whatever)
I believe it too, but of course a creative's view of his own work changes with the flow of years and his own changing. That's why, despite all it's been said in interviews in these decades, I choose to - arbitrarily, I wanna be honest, I'm not a mind reader :P - believe more the first statement Anno and other GAINAX people made back in the days, I.E. that as much as it was filled with issues, they were proud of the tv ending
The original ending shows what happens in the mindscape/soul-scape during instrumentality while End Of Evangelion shows the outside. Various scenes link to each other in both, such as the scene of Kaji and Misato making love is in both or Asuka in Unit 02 underwater. The list goes on. Would love to see them put together.
Agreed. I feel like, in many ways, they are one and the same.
I swear when I heard people saying "skip the last 2 ep and watch EoE" my blood boils
warning warning zero brain detected
It felt like the writers spent 23 episodes meticulously crafted the world's greatest domino line only to abruptly stop and give everyone high class donuts. Like ya the donuts are awesome but I was here to see the dominos fall
As someone who has been to therapy for my anxiety and complex depression for 5 years, the ending of the show is literally that. A therapy session you‘d get for depression. And it is just so obvious too how it reflects so much self reflective thinking and inner work done by the creator. This is a tale about how awefully terrible life feels when depressed and how we only can effectively get better if we wanna get better ourselves. Shinji speaks to me so much on a personal level. Even if I‘m not a guy myself, I can still relate to him more than to any other female character I saw in anime prior. It‘s because eva goes beyond the first layer. You can see clearly how every character has been a self insert of the author (in a good way) and that makes them so incredibly human. That‘s why I love Eva. Because it‘s what I needed. And it‘s sincere and personal. It doesn‘t condecend or act like depression can be fixed by just „being happy“ or taking pills. It‘s so respectful and from the heart and I really do love it so much for that. I wish I could write Anno a letter as well to thank him if I could write Japanese because it is so rare to see someone do such genuine and personal art in order to help those who are still deep in dispair or at the beginning of crawling out of that pit.
I‘d also like to add that I always interpreted the world of Eva as the warped world you are trapped in when depressed. To me the eva represents work, school or stuff you must do to survive. So shinji trying to quit always symbolized suicide to me. And how he wanted to keep trying even though he was miserable. Every time he gets into the eva he suffers. And when you‘re depressed, doing anything is suffering because nothing is fun. And the world being so hopeless and apocalyptic also to me seems to represent how when depressed it feels like there‘s doom incoming and that the world will end. Remember the scene when shinji broke out of the mindspace and stood on top of the earth being praised for making it out? To me that always resembled the breakthrough of finally defeating depression and the hell experienced in the eva world. He breaks free of the warped depression world and reenters the real world having finally managed to defeat his illness or at least having started to defeat it. It‘s so empowering to see because for many this is symbolically speaking just incredibly accurate to real life and how everyone with mental health issues hopefully can reach this breakthrough in therapy or maybe even without it if possible. It‘s just empowering af!
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thank you for sharing your personal experience and insight.
@@KazeTalks yw! I love sharing my thoughts with others about this incredible show so thank u as well for responding!
I also feel the same way. The tv ending have uplifting feel to it. And it's the most satisfying ending i've ever seen. But it also left me with confusion.
Hideaki Anno is a genius. I just realised how personal neon genesis evangelion is to him. His fight with clinical depression is something that i can relate to and i hope he's in a better place mentally now.
Am i the only one who thinks the tv ending and End of Evangelion are complementary? After watching them i can't imagine one being sufficient without the other
Watching this as a depressed 14 year old teenager had a profound impact on me, i remember nobody liked the ending everybody said Anno went nuts at that time, but i tought and always felt that it was the greatest ending i had witnessed for an anime, a quietly existentential meditation on the fragile psyche of a human being, you sir did a great job!
Thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed my video 🙂
It’s your projection
It is a cartoon for kids relax
@@theoutsiderspost4982 stfu there's no way u seriously think this is for kids lmao
@@theharshhack10
It was on Cartoon Network at one point. Kids do watch the late shows too….soooo
the 14 year olds depressed kids are certainly the target demographic
IT IS CURRENTLY 4:45 AM AND I JUST FINISHED THE OG SERIES, IT’S TOO EARLY FOR THIS😭
Just wait about a week.
I was mentally blown away by the original ending. Truly a wonderful deep dive into what the human experience is. The movie ending visually blew me away, and when i understood the shows ending happens within that ending it made it that much better. Especially with shinji choosing individual life and immediately going for asaka
I couldn't agree more. There's literally nothing you didn't touch on about Evangelion that I hope this video would. You got everything. I'm so glad someone gets the ending, understands and enjoys it just as mush as I do.
That really means a lot, seriously 🙏
I rewatched it as an adult after overcoming my depression and understanding my own psychology better.
It was pretty profound. They really dive into the human psyche and the human experience.
It really makes it hard to go back down to other anime after how deep this show got. It's just so real.
At the beggining I was dissapointed when watching the end but at the very end I cried quite a bit. It hit me and made me realize something about myself aswell. I love it for that.
The ending of this show, despite being filled with a very gloomy tone, and a negative outlook, was still an uplifting one at the end of the day, Anno was able to see his envisioned character crack a genuine smile from the happiness he sought, but it also tells the audience something about taking that first step towards more of the same feeling, without running away from it.
This video is probably one of the better analysis on the topic, and I appreciate you for making it.
Thank you! That really means a lot. I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙏
Shameless plug alert: I actually just made a new video on why I (also) love The End Of Evangelion, which is basically a continuation of this one. In case you’re interested 🙂
@@KazeTalks I already watched that video too as a followup to this one, but thanks anyways
@@FlameSkull95 Ah, wicked. Nevermind then 😂
EP 25 and 26 are my favorite episodes from the anime.While the movie was complex and looked awsome I really appreciated these episodes.Not only I (probably) understood it but it was way smarter with the budget.That's why early technology and video games fascinates me.The way they use limited resources and deliver something awsome.
im gonna say something that no anime fan has said: you've changed my mind about this show, i like it now
It’s basically EoE told in a different perspective
That’s why I think both are great but I like EoE more.
@K.O.G.Fanstarks1610 na by the end of evangelion he rejects it right after saying yea let’s do it.
@K.O.G.Fanstarks1610 I mean technically he just ends up restarting humanity.
@K.O.G.Fanstarks1610 No, they are right. Yui explicitly states that all living things have the will to return, but suggests they may need to undergo the same internal dilemmas that Shinji faced while in Human Instrumentality.
The only difference with EoE is that once the smoke clears and the applause ('Congratulations!') is over, he has to live with the consequences of what he's done. Yes, he has rejected Human Instrumentality. Yes, he has learned the importance of bonding with others. Yes, all living things may also learn to return to their physical forms - but his actions still have consequences.
It's not the 'Bad Ending/Nightmare Ending' like people make it seem, it's just a very brutal yet hopeful finale. Acceptance of total desolation and destruction, and the hope and willpower to rebuild and move on.
Watching this video with the calming retro music, damn i could feel the emotions back in the days where i watched evangelion and understood its meaning
Great video! Evangelion is a series quite dear to my heart, and I couldn’t agree more with you on the overall nature of the ending. Episode 26 is probably my favorite episode of television put to screen, and EoE mirrors it and the previous episode in such beautiful and eerily contrasting yet similar ways that I can’t help but have it as my favorite film.
Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
People actually don't like the ending? The first thing I did when I watched the last 2 episodes was rewatch them immediately lol
Yeah. I understand why people prefer The End Of Evangelion, it’s definitely a masterpiece and wraps up everything so incredibly well by being both cohesive and abstract. But the last two episodes are the most abstract way of concluding its themes and character progression in a way I had never seen before.
I rewatched them cause i did not understand it
I honestly hated it
This is actually a criminally underated youtube channel
That really means a lot 🙏
Interesting take. Thanks for making this video. I enjoyed it.
AMAZING video. Probably one of the best I've watched about Evangelion. You said everything I wanted to say about it and more. Not to mention the great work on research, editing and script. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much! I really did my best on this one and was hard trying to surpass it recently with my new Evangelion video.
@@KazeTalks I also watched the new one yesterday! It is as good as this one. They both complement each other really well.
i loved the anime ending so much i didn’t even want to watch the movie. for me it really showed that fundamental problem of “hell is other people” which SEELE thinks the solution for is instrumentality - getting rid of the trauma of relationships that all the characters had (what we see in their flashbacks and throughout the main story), to merge together and finally accept and understand eachother without the complexities of interacting as individuals. but then of course the realisation that there isn’t really an individual without the other, the loss of freedom in being individuals is beautiful but we forget that, and SEELE forgot that, like you said the Japanese show the the grey area in their movies. I think that is why everyone connects with evangelion so well, because of the nuance of its philosophy.
I feel that a lot of people look down on people who prefer the anime ending because it’s a “happy” incomplete ending, but i don’t think it’s that at all, it’s the true conclusion to all the angst and trauma of the show - and even though the edginess and angst is part of what makes evangelion great, it was perfect for the show to say, hey, it’s all ok. Because you can’t have the beauty of life and relationships without the ugliness and trauma.
"think that is why everyone connects with evangelion" this statement is simply not true. Evangelion is not universally beloved my friend
I also feel the movie depicted this and added to the original ending. I think them leaving the interstice and choosing reality was a powerful way of saying what you said in your post. That yes there is this "perfect" world where nobody is mean and everyone you know is the "perfect" version you want of them. but in reality its not real. You know in your heart that they are not perfect because its not the REAL them. So even though he knew he would face all that pain again in the real world he would rather suck it up and face it to have a REAL relationship with people than the fakenes of the interstice world. Asuka clearly chose the same thing and thats what makes the ending of that show bittersweet to me how its basically just them 2 left (that we know of) so we don't know how many of the others chose reality. And when Asuka caresses Shinji and he cries realising its the real her and shes being nice to him (even if she called him an idiot or whatever it was but thats just her aggresive personality haha and he did just try to kill her) it was heart warming because, though its far from a perfect scenario, it was that tiny bit of kindness and understanding that came from the REAL Asuka that makes you realise the choice was worth it and that they CAN change.
Love your music choice.
Well produced video good reasearch 👍
Thank you! 🙏
excellent content! This is what evangelion is really about, the mecha is just a bonus.
I first tried watch evangelion at university and abandoned it about half way through.
The following year I fell into a deep spiral of depression that lasted almost a decade. After years of struggling, I finally managed to crawl out of it and stabilise, but I still suffered from a strong feeling of self loathing.
At the height of the pandemic in 2021, evangelion was released on Netflix. I decided to take a second shot at it, and the ending actually made me learn how to accept myself. I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be as a person yet, but evangelion made me realise that that was OK, so long as I was willing to go through the difficult process of facing the aspects of myself I didn't like and move past them and to accept those facts about myself that I couldn't change.
I've never been so happy to be proven wrong about a piece of media I once dismissed. I owe a lot to evangelion, as lame and cringey as that sounds
I recently saw it last month when it came back to theaters for two days. It was a completely different experience, and I am so thankful for the opportunity!
I couldn’t put it into words, but the ending resonates inside of you on so many levels. Like it doesn’t make sense at first watch, but at the same time it makes all the sense and you can relate so much. It’s amazing
I see the original ending and EoE as separate pieces of the same ending, the original being the ending, but from inside of Shinji's mind after he witnesses Asuka's corpse and begins the Third Impact, and I see EoE as an external view of the events in episodes 25 and 26. Great video, btw!
I literally cried when I realised that the writer was trying to help people fight those demons and mental illness represented by the different characters. I thought what a champion of a bloke. He done an insanely good job too I'm in disbelief of what even happened I've never been put on the spot like that out of nowhere
yeah he even understood how to break us to rebuild us so to speak. I mean I know watching the last couple of episodes tore me apart when I realised it was all an allegory for mental state etc. Then the movie kind of puts you back together with the ending between the 2 characters and the idea that they escaped the mental hell (interstice) and were on the road to recovery. Least thats how I interpreted it that yes they were not perfect but they were set on the path to change and that they needed each other too.
@@ryanwood6754 fkn amazing shit ay I've never really seen anything like it to be honest
It’s pretty cool to see so many people interpret the show in a similar way that I do.
I’ve seen so many videos and so many people argue about its ending but the comment section of this video is the only one where I’ve seen not one, but many people have the same perspective about the it’s message. My favorite show by far.
The original ending would’ve been received better I think if there was an epilogue and at the very least Shinji actually applied what he learned in his head
great essay, great editing, i would’ve expected at least 100k on this channel damn let me help you w that, subbed
Thanks! I really appreciate it 🙂
great vid!
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Yw!
I watched the remakes and then the End of Evangelion movie at work in one night. couldve been the lack of sleep but it genuinely made me question my own mental state. Thats powerful for a series to do, and the series will go down as one of the most memorable experiences in my life.
You nailed it
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I’ve lost track how many times I’ve watched this video
Omg, thanks! I’m glad you enjoy it so much 🙂
@@KazeTalks You’re welcome! It’s really just because I still can’t comprehend this with my stupid 14-year-old brain but I’m trying. You did a really good job explaining it and this helped tie a lot of things together.
"He tries to do things to make other people like him more but also doesn't want the responsibility of doing those things" damn he just like me fr
Congratulations! You nailed it buddy...I put off watching Evangelion for 2 decades because I ignorantly thought it was "Another Gundam"...Jeez, I was so wrong....After watching the original Series I was blown away by how fresh, Interesting and how ballsy of a move it was how the last 2 episodes played out. I had totally been expecting a knock down drag out fight or some such, and yes I was initially bewildered...but after a week or so, It just clicked I guess and I thought it was very profound....Then I watched End of Evangelion and was blown away again. I have tried to watch the new series, but the original is so good, it's hard for me to accept all of the changes.....
This is a great video. I completely agree with you on the freedom scene and I loved your take on Japanese narratives. I do disagree with your overall message and conclusion but I understand not everyone has to think alike and convincing me was not the point. I'm defiantly subscribing for more and I really hope you keep at it and get the audience you deserve. I would also love to see your takes on some 'live action' films (as I can guess you have an interest in them).
Thanks! I really appreciate both your comment and your honesty. And yeah, there are live action films I do want to talk about. I grew up watching a lot of American / Japanese films, so there is deffo an interest for sure. I’m just waiting for the right time and mindset. Thanks for the sub!
Great vedio
I love End Of Evangelion, and I love episodes 25 and 26. Anno expressed himself in the last two episodes, and it was beautiful. EoE was Shinji expressing himself, and it was beautiful.
Congratulations!
Slight correction: _Once Upon a Time in the West_ is an Italian film.
Episodes 22, 25, and 26 just absolutely floored me. I've never seen my own mental health struggles portrayed so accurately and beautifully before. Asuka's mental breakdown in episode 22 is to date the most accurate depiction of a mental breakdown I've seen in media. 25 and 26 were basically me just watching my own mental health journey in art form. I have never resonated with a show more than this one. The movie was good too but it just didn't do it for me anywhere near what the original ending did. It was a cool reinterpreting of the original ending tho.
This is the Anime I’ve by far rewatched the most.
This really spoke to me at a time of depression, the only other story i can think of that does this well is the boys comic where you find out at the end all the horrible things the character went through was a test designed by butcher who lost his humanity to hate to see if he was right for the way he feels by seeing if Hughey turned out like him he was destroyed enough, but instead Hughey never lost his good heart even when he has the opportunity to kill the person who killed the person he loves he still has hope. Honestly that comic and this really helped the shit out of me.
This show, its ending and Shinji's fate taught me a valuable lesson on how I should perceive myself and this world. Loving yourself instead of "running away" and self-loathing, what it actually means, to some extent even dealing with others, this kind of thing. Shinji's example also encouraged me not to let myself ultimatey falter in front of any hardships that might come in life. Because how I interprered the message of how you can feel happy even on rainy days, is that ultimately it's up to us to shape ourselves and our lives - we need to face our problems.
Thank you for this video. It helped me understand this ending even better and I'm now genuinely interested in Japanese films due to how the problem of finding one's identity is exposed there. Sorry if it sounds like I'm way too high up in the skies, English isn't my first language and I'm being heavily influenced by Anno's work.
Very well put.
I just got into the show over the past month or so. First time viewing it I was just confused. But the second time I had 10 different interpretations flying through my head. I personally believe that both are positive endings, although EoE is bittersweet.
Yes, the world is fucked. But as Asuka showed him, there's hope for them both. Even if she bookends it with her usual sass.
Frankly, it's a mark of good art that you can come away with multiple different conclusions, and depending on the emotions and headspace of the person, they can all be equally valid. It's beautiful.
Congratulations
just finished NGE it was a masterpiece still has me thinking about everything 3 hours later
I agree.
The same thing happened to me with mushoku tensei light novel.
Its end didn't solve all of the plot issues. But it was a satisfactory end for the main character. And in the end, that's what the story was telling. The life of a character.
this part of the show changed my life im 15 right now and asuka's character helped me through deppression
This show is so good
10:15 this is shinji in a nutshell. All the issues that he has came for people who died or turned the back on him, but I only disagree with you respect to asuka and misato. Shinji was good to people to a degree, but I think he always saw asuka in a sexual level for that degree, and saw misato in a romantic way. He never felt misato as her mother, she always kinda flirt with him when no one's around because that's the way she knows to threat men and I think that made shinji love her in a little child level becasuse he only wanted her near him, but asuka always yelled at him, and taking in consideration his personality, he was at least upset with her, and that makes me think that he really doesn't love her in a romantic way, just sees her as a literal friend, thing that killed asuka at his moment
thats why I think the movie ending was so good too. Because its the first time Asuka shows Shinji she cares about him and it makes Shinji stop his actions. Like you said I agree Misato was the original romance for him and she just used it, because like you said, its the way she knew to convince others to do things. So he had that little school boy crush we all had back in the day on Misato because she was a loving and caring older women who noticed him. But he rejected Asuka at the time because he saw her as attractive but bitter and annoying (lets face it, how many of us when we were younger saw the opposite sex as irritating up until a certain age). But when they both reunite after the interstice event they have both CHANGED.
She is finally trying to embrace in others again and show her affection (which is made clear by the fact she always wanted Shinjis attention even if she didn't realise it between the kiss and wanting to sleep next to him) and Shinji was finally learning to be self confident and to embrace his emotions instead of just doing what others wanted him to do or break down crying (which is partly why I believe he was so aggressive when he first got out of interstice as in that world Asuka was pushing him to his limits so he acted out until he realised he was hurting the REAL Asuka especially for something she didn't do and that she too had changed).
@@ryanwood6754 in fact, I'll bring another thing to the table. A couple of years ago I saw official material on twitter that implyed that Shinji and Misato were a couple without the duties lf a SO. When Kaji and Asuka arrived, the story was heading go a normality, but Misato couldn't take Kaji back and Shinji rejected Asuka in epic manner. Next thing you know, Shinji sit on class just looks through the window and Misato was already threatening Kaji for info, and what happens in the next chapter? Misato falling in Shinji's body, desesperated under the fact that her Shinji was tightly close to die. In ep20 Misato elected Kaji as an actual second option because Shinji couldn't give her what shee needed, but most important, because is protecting him. Is fucked up dude
Thank you man. Really helped me to accept the ending of the anime. Since all the movie endings are not really helpful either, at least to me.
AAAAAAHHHH I HAVE NO IDEA WHATS GOING ON AND EVERYONES TELLING ME ITS A MASTERPIECE AAAAAHHHHH
Before the series i felt so miss understood ,i watched it with 12 . You could argue that this isn't a series people at this age should watch but it changed my life for the better for sure
some times i think if they was first impact if they is this will a prefect preview
I still feel as if the original episode 25 & 26 go on at the same time as Shinji is in Rei’s head where he comes to terms with himself
The show would’ve been perceived so much better if they combined EOE with the original series ending
for me both endings are complementary. The TV finale is what happens in the minds of Shinji and the other characters and a deeper look at the instrumentalization. Whereas End of Evangelion is the physical drama.
Many things in the last two episodes suggest that the same thing that happens in the movie is happening. It is explained why Rei 3 decided to betray gendo for shiji even though she still didn't know him very well (this is never explained in the movie), we see Asuka in her eva at the bottom of the lake, we see ritsuko and misato died from a gunshot wound, shinji in both endings see misato have sex etc, etc. and also at the end of episode 25 all the characters affirm to Shiji that the instrumentalization started because of guilt him (shinji did that in te movie)
Also, if we think about it, since we saw in Chapter 25 that instrumentalization began, we already know that the world ended and everyone died. In both endings Shinji decides to reject the instrumentalization and gives humanity a second chance. If we take into account that the world suffered an apocalypse although shinji found his self-love when the protagonist returns to the real world he will find that last scene of the film.
After watching the ending rn i feel lost like i still have so many questions
If the original ending of NGE is a masterpiece, than End of Evangelion is a once in a generation amazing piece of fiction
But hey, that’s just me
I still to this very day prefer the manga over the anime series:
Btw the original English dubs by ADV were my favorite way to watch it, it made reading it an even more memorable experience.
The show was so intriguing I watched it in two days and wish there was a full slice of life episode .
personally I loved both endings and the series broke me as a person. Very few pieces of media have ever brought a tear to my eye or made me feel something strong with one being Tales of Berseria, Berserk and this being the other. I felt like my mind literally snap and broke during the ending of the TV show as I binged watched the final 4 episodes and the movie in 1 night and man they did an excellent job at making you feel what Shinji must have felt. Especially since I found I really related to Shinji a lot in aspects.
The way I personally depicted the endings was this. the TV ending is what happens if Shinji stayed in the Interstice/heaven world thing but embraced himself and became a better person and broke his vicious cycle of hate. Which in turn brought him the happiness he desired since they kept saying how the interstice would "fix" the broken parts of you. My other theory at the time (but no longer) was that the interstice was like hell instead of a heaven where your were forced to see your deepest darkest emotions and the only way you could escape back to reality was to confront and beat your weakness hence the ending with him being cheered on by everyone.
Then the movie ending was what happens if Shinji realises reality, no matter how hurtful at times, is still the better and REAL option. Even though he returned to a sad and broken world it was the REAL WOLRD with REAL PEOPLE. His relationships in the interstice would just be how HE saw his friends and family. It wasn't actually them. But at least in the real world though he would still have his negative emotions etc he could overcome them and the people he encountered would all be real emotions too. Which is why Asuka stroking his face at the end was sweet because that was a real show of affection. Not the fake affection from the other world. Its a lot nicer and more loving to think the REAL Asuka cared/loved Shinji enough to show him that side of her (which she didn't show anyone else at the time) compared to a fake version of her just appealing to Shinjis idea of her.
Thats why I felt it was sad for everyone who stayed in the Interstice and very sad for my favourite Misato who stayed there because though they were kinda happy and got to embrace the things they desired most, it was all fake. Misatos relationship she had in the interstice is a fake one, she isn't really with the one she loves and she will never actually experience having a proper/real relationship. And are the others in her world? since she mainly expressed lust in the show does that mean her "perfect" world doesn't have the others who she cared about because her lust comes in more? I am basing all this on the fact the only time we see Misato being referenced in the interstice is the love making scene and the fact images of that scene kept playing in her head whilst daydreaming etc.
Same with Shinjis dad. He pined so much for his wife who passed away that he would rather the fake wife in the Interstice than his REAL ALIVE son. Think about that for a second. Shinji was there, he had family, he had a connection to his wife in Shinji. But he chose to not only neglect his son causing trauma to him but he USED his son to get the relationship with his wife back that isn't even real.
sorry for the long post but its such a mind boggle of a show that I just had to express the way I saw it and the fact nobody else I know watches anime it makes it annoying cuz I got all this built up expression for it but I cant say out hahaha
oh and to address the strangling scene at the end. My personal take on it was Shinji wasn't sure what was reality or the interstice since his world kept being warped and his mind messed with. So when he comes back to the real world and sees Asuka who in the interstice was berating him, he lashed out not knowing it was the REAL Asuka. Then when she caresses him he realises hes mistaken and its the real one after all. Also I thought she calls him an idiot at the end not disgusting? And as for Asuka I think she was expressing her true feelings for him with the caress since she also would have been in the interstice with him at the time but like Shinji she made her way back. I think her world she saw the truth which was she cared about him and the others and maybe she loved him (since she was always trying to show affection before with wanting him to kiss her and sleeping next to him). So when she finds him strangling her she does the only thing she could think of. It just so happened to be the very thing Shinji needed.
0:15 I'm surprised that nobody has tried to re-animate the final two episodes in the same art style to give a somewhat fully budgeted episode.
Very well done video and eye opening as well! Have you seen devil man crybaby by any chance? Both Evangelion and devil man crybaby give the same feel to me. A lost main character trying to find himself in a a crazy world.
Well these gives me hope
For aot having different ending
Like how the manga ending didn't answer many questions and left the fans frustrated.
And there is a rumor about getting a movie too so I really hope it turns out to be like eva, that after we watch the movie ending we might be able to understand why manga ending felt so rushed and out of place.
By the way great video, I appreciate ur efforts and research
i agree with you
I almost quit watching because I wanted a video about the movie. I am so glad that I didn’t! I learned a lot.
1:45 pause and look closely at the book shelf
As someone who’s been diagnosed with severe depression. This episode really impacted me in a way I didn’t expect. Seeing these last two episodes through the lenses of someone who is going through depression and hating themselves really changed my view on this episode. The message to keep going and try and love yourself and try to make reality what you want it to be even if you’re going through a horrible time is very powerful. To me at least. I loved this ending.
Yeah they are amazing episodes but I definitely think I would’ve been mad if we didn’t have the actual end of evangelion because it doesn’t really answer what happens or what happened to other character . It just happens
Having both definitely helps in appreciating the original ending more, for sure. I think both are needed. They compliment each other beautifully.
yeah true
I have yet to find satisfying "Post-Third Impact" fanfics. Any suggestions ?
By the way, there was a fanfic in which Rei sent Shinji back in time to the series' beginning after he rejected Impact... The author never concluded that one. Kind of a shame. It wasn't one I was totally commited to, but it seemed interesting reading.
Super late to this show. Literally just decided to check it on Netflix and binged watched the entire 26 episodes in 4 days. Was expecting to watch an anime about giant mechs fighting aliens but instead got hit with deep introspective thoughts. This show is amazing
I was really late too and it blew my mind. Shows how timeless this series really is.
I agree with you man, this is an amazing show, no matter how late you are.
What’s the anime at 7:05?
Grave Of The Fireflies. One of Studio Ghibli’s best works imo.
I hate it that people think Shinji is weak, and I think it has to do with what they expect from an anime protagonist. Evangelion deconstructs the mecha genre, and part of that is calling into question how a kid would deal with being thrown into life-or-death scenarios where they're forced to fight monsters. In other words, I think Shinji is a much more realistic portrayal than most. I'm 35, and I don't think I'd deal with it as well as Shinji. Seriously, how can anyone relax or enjoy anything when they know they could be thrust into that kind of situation at any moment? I'd be a nervous wreck, constantly! Of course Shinji ran away; the situation he's in is horrifying, and yeah, the adults around him HAVE been using him! I appreciate the realism.
This ☝
Not here to have anything explained just finished the series and needed a friendly voice to come back to reality with lol
Well come back my friend. It’s good to have you back.
Thanks dude! Just found your channel from this vid and love it! Will definitely be a frequent viewer from now on! Absolutely great and thorough stuff on here
I just finished watching the original series and End film, and I thought End picked up from the end of episode 26. Gotta rewatch it knowing that it's an alternate ending
2:15 gets sent to another world lol
I LOVE EVANGELION. ITS NOE MY favorite anime. Never Changing my mind about this. I have my own sets of challenges. I always see my life as the worst whrn compared to others. My life is fully filled with stress, tension, mental instability and pain. Just like i have huge hatred and anger for my father shinji has also his own story. Neon evangelion is again trying to make my mind happy. It is saying that i should see the world not through my narrow vision but through the eyes of positive spirit. This anime is also motivating me to study Japanese too❤. I love Gainax for this amazing artwork. I will never be sadistic again.
i finished watching both the show and the movie and i am still confused as to what happend. in both movie and series he rejects intrumentality and wants to be himself? i did not understood anything from the series ending and from the movie ending i understood that instrumentality happend but as long as he "pictured" himself alive he would again physically exist. so everyone who pictured themselves could come back? and so what happens in the series ending then, he overcomes hes insecurities and accepts and wants to be in the world thus everyone clapping and congratulating him, so both endings are more or less the same? i am very confused. also does misato survive the series ending? can she come back in the movie ending? man i am very confused. is it worth watching the newer evangelion movies?
Yes. In the manga it was so widespread it resulted in the world resetting with some leftovers from Third Impact. And with that knowledge in mind go watch Rebuilds. They start diverging at the second movie.
I just binged watched and finished the whole series,alittle late to the party
I just now finished the end and I'm not really sure what to feel right now
That’s exactly how it wants you to feel. Let it digest and take it all in. That’s the best advice I can give 🙂
@@KazeTalks this is similar to when I read emergence,I'm not sure if I need to be alone of if I need a hug
Just finished all of Eva and the end movie my brain hurt
Evangelion's last episode is basically an illustration of Hegel's critique of the liberty of emptiness