The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Thinking of getting into Evangelion
The Last Gent
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So, I'm only a casual anime fan, and I've never seen Evangelion, despite hearing that it's like the Watchmen of the Anime world.
I know that the new movies are coming out, but I kind of want to try and watch the original series + movie. I have for a couple years, just the new movies reminded me and motivated me to get into gear.
So I guess the question is, A) is it worth it,
How hard is it to track down DVDs of the series+movie (I'm in Canada for reference) C) is it worth trying to track down the DVDs and D) Failing that, is there someplace to watch it online, movie included?
Thanks for any tips.
I know that the new movies are coming out, but I kind of want to try and watch the original series + movie. I have for a couple years, just the new movies reminded me and motivated me to get into gear.
So I guess the question is, A) is it worth it,
How hard is it to track down DVDs of the series+movie (I'm in Canada for reference) C) is it worth trying to track down the DVDs and D) Failing that, is there someplace to watch it online, movie included?Thanks for any tips.
The Last Gent on
0
Posts
Personally I'd say it's not worth it, other than to give you a background on what people are talking about. The show was lauded at the time because it did things with the setting and characters that were new and different, and hadn't really been seen in anime before. That said a lot of what passes for the plot is actually just mish-mashed and half baked threads that try to disguise "on the fly" storytelling as depth and mystery. Think Lost, people used to think that there was some sort of grand scheme in where the plot was all going, but the truth is that the writers didn't know, and they were largely piling stuff in to make it seem cool. And it succeeded on that front, but when it comes time to tie everything together, well, it kind of falls apart.
As for the rest, it shouldn't be too hard to track down on DVD. I don't know about online movie sites.
Edit for clarification: I like a lot of what it was trying to do with the actual story, especially near the beginning. Then you find out no one has a character arc and the ending of the anime series itself is a pretend ending because they ran out of money. If you do watch it, don't forget to get the separate dvd End of Evangelion to get the real ending. Which is still a pile of pseudo-freudian horseshit when it comes to the characters, but has a really really cool mech fight.
PSN/XBL: Zampanov -- Steam: Zampanov
It is one of those anime that "OMG they did that!" but now what they have covered has lead to a lot of anime doing similar themes.
I feel the same way about the watchmen comic. It was good for when it came out. Now everyone covers the ideas and themes that watchmen covered in their comic so it's not that interesting (at least to me).
It isn't hard to find these on dvd though they're probably a bit expensive.
I would suggest watching it, and follow it up with FLCL. Surprisingly, despite the differences in how they go about it, both shows cover the same subject matter.
It's good for the mech fights, and just when it hits its stride it kind of goes limp, but I don't feel like it was a total waste.
PSN: Beltaine-77 | Steam: beltane77 | Battle.net BadHaggis#1433
Though, I'm not sure if they finished with the third movie yet.
Following the logic is a little difficult during the first chapters, but who cares?, be prepare for some mind confusing and sometimes erratic behaviour, and an almost sex scene that made me think twice about sharing a hot tube.
It is possible to download the 26 television episodes in divx format, but I am not sure of the legality of this.
Of course, you could try purchasing a used DVD set from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Perfect-Collection/dp/B0000639E0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1268147909&sr=8-2
Also if you want the Watchmen of anime go either 1) Akira 2) Death Note
They outright came out and admitted that 90% of the Christian symbolism was inserted for no other reason than it looked cool.
This is not uncommon in Japan, it's literally the equivalent of getting a Kanji tattoo in the States even though you have no idea what it means. You don't care, it just looks exotic and cool.
Also Evangelion can in no way shape or form be compared to Watchmen.
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
PSN/XBL: Zampanov -- Steam: Zampanov
The truth is, it's not a bad series per se, but as several guys have already posted, most of the religious symbols were only used because they looked or sounded cool, to be honest, the ending might need some outside reading, but episodes 1 to 24 (or 25? I can remember right now) are pretty cool if you like mecha fights. I remember reading somewhere that the reason the last 2 episodes are so different is because they were running out of budget, but they managed to pull it off with The End of Evangelion (Which also has a weird ending, but also a cool fight). As long as you don't take it seriously, it is enjoyable.
If you want something from Gainax, I would also watch FLCL, Gunbuster or Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann if you haven't already.
Eh, it's one of my favorite manga and anime of all time (OF ALL TIME!), and normally I hate the manga-to-anime transition, so I was surprised it was such a good bridging
But, hmm, what's the best way to describe it.
It'd be like if, for the first eleven issues of Watchman, the characters were fighting giant squid monsters every week, and DC comics was pumping out action figure after action figure of all the heroes and all the giant squids and there were huge posters everywhere about giant squid monsters coming to destroy the earth, and issue eleven ended with a giant cliffhanger where all the characters were finally going to defeat the giant squid monsters once and for all...
...and then the last issue was full of black panels with dialogue balloons with Ozymandias being all like "giant squids? hah, those were just my cunning plan. Here's what's really been going on."
...and then DC releases a NEW issue 12 of Watchman because, wow, fans didn't like that last issue, but the guy being made to write the original issue 12 really wanted to write it the way he wrote it the first time so he puts in a lot of giant squids but he throws in a 2-page lovingly detailed splash of the Silk Spectre being eaten alive by wild dogs.
And, ever since then, DC has been re-releasing Watchman with minor changes and people keep buying it for no logical reason.
OK, that last bit was just a slam on DC.
So, no, I wouldn't go back and watch it now. It was big at the time, and if you decide to become a Serious Anime Scholar, whatever that means, it would probably be required viewing, but if you self-identify as a casual anime fan it's probably not worth your time.
If you're looking for the thriller/mystery aspect of Watchmen, watch Death Note
AND EAT IT!!!!
*orchestral music*
White FC: 0819 3350 1787
It's a great show where nothing happens all over the place in often violent ways.
God I fucking love that scene. The series as a whole is pretty straight forward and serious in tone, which was good. And then that scene, out of nowhere. I couldn't stop laughing. It was awesome. I don't know if it's a fluke or if the guys adapting the anime are just comedic geniuses, because that's something that would usually throw me off completely, and it pretty much did the opposite.
PSN/XBL: Zampanov -- Steam: Zampanov
Many I know hated it, feeling its depth went about as far as a street puddle, that the series ending tried too hard and the movie ending was dumb.
You will probably fall into one of these two categories, and when you do you will be fully prepared to fight the other to the death over it. It's probably one of the most divisive anime I've ever seen, even among people who aren't serious about anime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4Lq0nC94bc&fmt=18
The manga was so. much. better. So. Much.
The problem with watching the first few episodes is that the crazy shit doesn't really start until half way in.
It's angsty monster-of-the-week for about 12 episodes and then it immediately turns into HAHA FUCK YOU WELCOME TO A RIDICULOUSLY CONVOLUTED PLOT!
I say go ahead and watch it, but don't spend money on it.
If you want to watch similar shows that make no sense but actually manage to pull it together by the end then I suggest RahXephon and Eureka Seven.
The show itself and the movie are very flawed, although I liked the scenes involving the EVAs.
Do yourself a favor and make sure you have a way of seeing the movie before you invest your sanity in the show, cuz the last episodes of the series will piss you off, and the movie really makes up for it.
Also, you may need to watch this show with your highschool english teacher and/or psychologist to fully understand it.
Edit: Oh yeah, the creator is in the middle of making a tetralogy reboot of the whole thing called Rebuild of Evangelion (which looks really promising), can anyone confirm if this is supposed to be the 'final intended version' or something like that and not an alternate retelling?
Try to watch (some of) it for free before you decide to own it.
Streaming 8PST on weeknights
Yeah, Eureka 7 is probably the same thing only better. I also forgot about it.
Also, Holland is a baller.
PSN/XBL: Zampanov -- Steam: Zampanov
I have the manga as well, seems to flow better than the anime still waiting on the last books to come out tho.
The remake movies are nice, they condense the story into more digestable chunks I think part 1 and 2 are out, the third one isnt done yet.
Watch it, but dont try to analyze it, alot of it is just FUD.
PSN/XBL: Zampanov -- Steam: Zampanov
Not saying you shouldn't see it if you want, but you really want to rent it and not buy sight unseen. Also keep your expectations in check- it's not the end-all-be-all of anime, it's just an anime.
Twitter