Does 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' Suck?

The three MC’s from left to right: Shinji, Rei, & Asuka

Neon Genesis Evangelion is often regarded as a masterpiece by many in the anime community. People have dissected each scene, and given their take on every character. It represents the birth of the modern Mecha, and it revolutionized an entire era of anime. Aside from it being an extremely popular anime for its theme song and memes, Evangelion stands apart from a crowded genre that it helped create.

So…does Evangelion suck?

Is it good or bad? It’s a little more complicated than just a simple question. Anime is constantly growing, with people finding their “perfect anime” every single day. It’s a worldwide phenomenon, and it’s only getting bigger. Shounen is without a doubt, the most popular genre of anime. You can walk into your local Pac Sun and find Naruto t-shirts. My Hero Academia is common lunch table talk at schools across the country. Anime aesthetic is growing in the urban Hip-Hop community. This is awesome for these specific shows, but it is also detrimental to the other types of anime.

This is where Neon Genesis Evangelion comes into the fold. To say the least, Evangelion is a study of regular people being asked to do not-regular things. I’m going to assume that many people reading this have never seen NGE, so I will steer clear of spoiling major plot elements. You came here to read a post that answers the question in the title. I’ll tell you why Neon Genesis Evangelion sucks; and why it doesn’t

Many newer fans…

of anime will NOT find Neon Genesis Evangelion to be a masterpiece. Now, this doesn’t apply to all new fans (obviously), but it’s more of a realization of what anime has become. Anime is an art form with surreal situations, and larger than life characters. Evangelion is a piece of art with surreal situations, and regular people with regular problems.

Many popular anime (shounen) plots follow a character who is headstrong, and willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. Evangelion on the other hand, follows a young boy who is forced to do a job he doesn’t want to do. Instead of a plot that builds a character, Evangelion “builds its character” by tearing him down. This is exactly why people won’t be able to resonate with Shinji Ikari. He is unlikable because he is the reflection of a person going through a lot. The powers of friendship and togetherness do not come to save him, and he is left to fend for himself in this anime world.

Shinji Ikari is the main character of EVA

I’ll admit it here: I personally think Evangelion is the anime masterpiece that many say it is, but not for the reasons that people might think. I had to watch the series three separate times in order to fully grasp and appreciate what Evangelion was meant to be. It’s a mess, and many people in the anime community know this.

People aren’t going to like Evangelion for its story if they only view it on the surface level. It’s not a show one might watch and leave feeling fulfilled. It’s a dive into the psyche of some messed up people, and it shows you that they are more like “humans” than “larger than life characters.” To say the least, it gets really weird (looking at you hospital scene).

The infamous hospital scene

Upon first viewing, I had no grasp on what the series was trying to tell me. I expected robots fighting aliens; and while that was there, the actual plot goes much deeper.

Deeper.

That’s the only way a person can enjoy this show. To fully appreciate Eva, you must forget all the things you love about a conventional anime. You must be willing to think deeper than what is being shown on the screen. This is what makes Evangelion the masterpiece it is. For a lack of better words, Evangelion is telling you something, that it’s not really telling you. It DOES NOT SUCK, but many people won’t be able to see it this way.

I know this because I was one of those who thought it was bad. I have not been watching anime since the 90’s. I was born in 2000. My early exposures to anime were the simple shows. I heard of the legend that was Eva, and I gave it a go. The plot didn’t pull me in, and I thought the characters were extremely unlikable. The thing that makes Eva special is the fact that these story elements, are the entire idea of the show.

Asuka: The most unlikable but lovable waifu in the history of anime

This is not the typical anime, and you are constantly reminded of that. It should not be the first anime you see, only because of how extreme the story can get. It’s almost like Evangelion is a “rite of passage” for all anime fans, and I would recommend everyone who hasn’t seen it, to see it. Evangelion is not the entertaining show you think it’s going to be. It’s a character study. It’s controversial, and in many ways, it’s disturbing.

Watch it NOT for the legend it is, but for lesson in anime history. This anime changed a genre, and that’s what it should be recognized for.

TL;DR

Weird show, but it changed the way people looked at anime. It is an acquired taste to enjoy, but it’s a “rite of passage” for all anime fans. NGE doesn’t suck, but it is such a work of art that new fans might think does. BTW, the theme song goes insane.