"Shin seiki evangerion" (1995) TV series 1995-1996

Creator:

Hideaki Anno

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

4 October 1995 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

A young boy finds himself recruited as a member of an elite team of teenage giant-robot pilots by his father.

Plot Keywords:

Giant Robot | Mecha | Alien | Manga | Piloted Giant Robot

Cast

Spike Spencer	...	Shinji Ikari (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Allison Keith	...	Misato Katsuragi (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Sue Ulu	...	Ritsuko Akagi (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Amanda Winn Lee	...	Rei Ayanami (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Tiffany Grant	...	Asuka Langly Soryu (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Tristan MacAvery	...	Gendo Ikari (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Guil Lunde	...	Kozo Fuyutsuki (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Matt Greenfield	...	Makoto Hyuga (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Kendra Benham	...	Maya Ibuki (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jason Lee	...	Shigeru Aoba (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Enrique Cervántes	...	Narrator / ... (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jesús Colín	...	Additional Voices (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Jessie Conde	...	Kozo Fuyutsuki (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Irwin Daayan	...	Kensuke Aida (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Pedro de Aguillón	...	Seele Member (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Norma Echavarría	...	Asuka Langley Soryu (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Enzo Fortuny	...	Makoto Hyuga (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Miguel Ángel Gligliazza	...	Seele Member (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Maru Guerrero	...	Ritsuko Akagi (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Olga Hindey	...	Additional Voices (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Circe Luna	...	Rei Ayanami (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Paco Mauri	...	Additional Voices (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Enrique Mederos	...	Toji Suzuhara (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Arturo Mercado	...	Seele Member (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Marcos Patiño	...	Additional Voices (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Toni Rodríguez	...	Misato Katsuragi (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Esteban Siller	...	Keel Lorenz (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Humberto Solorzano	...	Gendo Ikari (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Sarah Souza	...	Hikari Horaki (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Ricardo Tejedo	...	Shigeru Aoba (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Víctor Ugarte	...	Shinji Ikari (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Alma Wilheleme	...	Maya Ibuki (26 episodes, 1995-1996)
Joe Pisano	...	Toji Suzuhara (18 episodes, 1995-1996)
Kurt Stoll	...	Kensuke Aida (18 episodes, 1995-1996)
Aaron Krohn	...	Ryoji Kaji (17 episodes, 1995-1996)
Carol Amerson	...	Hikari Horaki (17 episodes, 1995-1996)

Also Known As:

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Japan: English title) (USA) (video title)
Evangelion (International: English title) (short title)
New Century Evangelion (literal English title)

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | USA:TV-14 (some episodes) | USA:TV-MA | South Korea:15 | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Denmark:16 (DVD rating) | Argentina:18 | Colombia:18 | Mexico:B (some scenes can shock) | Australia:MA (episodes 24-26) | Australia:M (episodes 1-23) | Canada:14A | Spain:13 | UK:18 (some episodes) | UK:15 | Germany:16 (DVD rating)

Company:

Gainax

Trivia:

Many of the characters were named after various WWII-era Japanese naval vessels. Katsuragi, Akagi, and Soryu were all aircraft carriers; the Akagi led the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ayanami and Fuyutsuki were destroyers; Fuyutsuki rescued survivors from the great Yamato when she was sunk near Okinawa in 1945. Kirishima and Hyuga were battleships that were part of the fleet which attacked Pearl Harbor. Ibuki and Aoba are names of heavy cruisers; the Ibuki existed only on paper, it was never built.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: It is impossible to tell where the Evas are housed and launched from. Launch shafts can be seen in several episodes - mostly straight, but with several angled sections - which imply that it must be somewhere between the Earth's surface and the ceiling of the GeoFront. However, in episode 19, it is shown that Eva cages are at the HQ level (at the bottom of the GeoFront). Moreover, it takes only a minor amount of time for the characters to travel from HQ to the Eva cages (as in episodes 1 and 6).

Quotes:

Makoto Hyûga: You look pretty worn to the bone, Major Katsuragi.
Misato Katsuragi: I have reasons for being worn. Private ones.
Ritsuko Akagi: Kaji's bone?
Misato Katsuragi: SHUT YOUR FACE!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#33.2)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Zankoku na Tenshi no Têze

Despite its flaws, this is a great series

Although Eva begins like almost any mech anime series, it quickly transcends the traditional bounds typical of such anime and becomes a fascinating piece of character study in an apocalyptic setting. While the action is sometimes excessive and often takes away from the psychological aspect, the premise itself is quite fascinating.

Eva heavily borrows from various religious dogma, and that is one of the reason it has a mystical, albeit often nonsensical atmosphere (Lance of Longinus is an example of religious allegory which misfired). Lots of time is spent on various pseudo-technological scenes, the only good thing about that being that it nicely contrasts with the religious thematics. "Fan Service" was also mostly unnecessary.

Overall, Eva is a fascinating anime but does not fulfill all of its potential. The characters, although are fascinating and have great interaction, are static (although the writers try to make them seem dynamic) and their emotional makeup sometimes does not smoothly flow from episodes to episodes.

Nonetheless, despite its flaws, this is a great series. It grabs onto the viewer like few others, and only later can be analyzed without bias. Saying that it is thought-provoking would be an understatement. Everyday life is beautifully juxtaposed with the apocalyptic motifs, creating a nostalgic feel (which is especially worthy of praise because the anime takes place in the future). It is vague yet involving, impressionist in the sense that it affects the viewer like no other. Great musical score raises it above many others. Although a detailed unbiased analysis may show multiple flaws in various areas, as a whole Evangelion is amazing. Recommended to anyone who can appreciate art as a whole without looking too much into specific details, and is involving even after multiple viewings.

9/10