Director: Hideaki Anno
The film: If Walt Disney is your idea of animation at its best, Neon Genesis Evangelion (Eva) may not be your cup of tea. Originally aired on television in 1998, the sci-fi animated series features charismatic characters and robots in a sophisticated, unconventional story with its share of violence.
Set in the year 2015, 15 years after the first giant meteor struck Antarctica in 2000, the mysterious aliens known as the Angels return to Earth. NERV, a secret military association based in the fortress city of Tokyo 3, has developed the Human Enhancement Project and the giant battle robots called Evangelions piloted by 14-year-olds to combat the Angels. One is shy Shinji Ikari, the son of the aloof head of NERV, who pilots Evangelion Unit 01, but does so reluctantly. Together with the mysterious Rei Ayanami and aggressive Asuka Langley Soryu and the rest of the NERV staff, the humans strike back.
With its high-resolution quality, Eva deserves a big-screen showing, but the DVD version has enhanced the picture quality for TV. The shockingly beautiful action is brilliantly accompanied by classical music. This animated art brings the audience far more than visual appeal. Director Hideaki Anno has offered many thought-provoking ideas through each character's complicated personality and inner struggle. The result is touching.
The extras: It would be nice if the rationale behind the complex series had been clarified by the director, but no. Instead, there are English subtitles and four dubbed versions to choose from: Japanese, English, Spanish and French.
The verdict: The 26-episode series with its virtuoso animation and fantastic storyline is definitely worth collecting.