When it comes to controversial endings, there may be none more well-known and divisive thanNeon Genesis Evangelion’s final two episodes. For nearly three decades, countless anime fans have gone into the legendary series, only to be shocked by how drastically its tone shifts during its second half, eventually ending far from the giant robots and Angels that opened the show. Since initially airing,fans haven’t quite been able to make up their minds regarding the finale.
Some have maintained thatEvangelion’s dive into psychological themeswas in line with what the rest of the series initially set out to do, while others have long felt cheated by a conclusion that left so much unresolved. The backlash was so fierce that the studio Gainax building was defaced by angry fans, and creator Hideaki Anno received death threats.
However, several factors causedthe series' original endingto turn out a bit differently than Anno originally imagined, and a feature-length movie was planned to bring the series to a definitive close. Frustration over the severe backlash combined with the creator’s original ideas thenculminated in one of the greatest anime films ever made, 1997’sThe End of Evangelion.
Evangelion’s Original Ending Was the Result of Production Issues
A Combination of External Forces Caused Evangelion to End the Way It Did
The production ofNeon Genesis Evangelionwas something of a miracle. Real world issues, specifically the 1995 Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack, changed the narrative Anno was building with his upcoming anime. At the time the series premiered on Japanese TV in 1995, only the first two episodes were fully finished, and Hideaki Anno had no concrete outline of the story. By episode #13, “Lilliputian Hitcher”, nearly the entire original rough outline was discarded, andEvangelionwas being written and animated week-to-week.
Managing incredibly close to deadlines, somehow the series was able to coherently reach its final two episodes, but on-the-fly production had finally caught up with Anno. In a1996 interview with Newtype Magazine, the creator said, “I managed to finish episode #25 as far as the script was concerned. Unfortunately, I had to abandon episode #26 while it was still at a very early planning stage.” Later, he revealed he planned to rework the final two episodes for the series' DVD release. However, that would never happen, and instead,The End of Evangelionpremiered a year later.
The End of Evangelion Is as Impressive Today as It Was On Release
Evangelion’s Film Finale Is a Masterpiece
Remnants of Hideaki Anno’s original planned ending are present inEvangelion’s episode #25, “Do you love me?”. Specifically, shots of Ritsuko and Misato after their deaths, as well as Unit #02 in the water, are briefly shown before the series dives into Human Instrumentality. As fans now well know, all three shots are used inThe End of Evangelion’s first half. The 1997 masterpiece film is, as Anno described in his interview,a reworking of the original episodes #25 and #26.
The episode #25 portion, titled “Air” for its theatrical release, is a thrilling, emotional, action-packed depiction of the anime’s ending from an external perspective, that delivers on the giant mecha fights fans had originally hoped for.Haunting in its portrayal of the end of the world, the section ends with Shinji’s iconic scream, before cutting to credits. The second half, which covers episode #26, deviates from the original somewhat while retaining the introspective style of storytelling.
From its themes of death and rebirth, to its incredibly animated action sequences and its ability to depict both the internal and external aspects of its ending,The End of Evangelionis a better conclusionto the series than any fan could have ever dreamed of. And to make it all even better, Hideaki Anno made sure his audience knew he wasn’t happy with the original reception.
Backlash Helped Fuel the Haunting End of Evangelion
The Film Lets the Viewer Know Its Creator Wasn’t Very Happy
WhileThe End of Evangelionis a recreation of the series' final two episodes,Hideaki Anno made sure to include some thinly veiled commentary targeted towards fans of the series. In line withEvangelion’s themes, the dialogue between Shinji and Rei about dreams and reality towards the end of the film can also very easily double for critiques of the anime’s fan base, and those who choose to lose themselves in fictional worlds rather than live in reality.
After Working on Gundam, Evangelion’s Creator Is Already Eyeing 5 New Projects
Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno might be busy with Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, but he already has plenty of new projects in the works.
During the instrumentality sequence in the second half of the film, recreations of letters sent to Gainax containing death threats are flashed on-screen just before the real-life footage begins. Later, over a shot of people sitting in a theater,the words, “Does it feel good?” appear on-screen. While the text is undeniably in reference to instrumentality, the fact it’s layered over a shot of theater-goers and placed directly after Asuka’s death and Shinji’s spiral suggests the question is directed at fans.
The Endings of Evangelion Work Hand in Hand
The Series' Original Conclusion and the Film Are Two Versions of the Same Story
For decades, arguments overEvangelion’s endings have dominated any online discussion surrounding the series. Many still criticize the series' final episodes, while others claim to preferThe End of Evangelion.However, preferring one over the other sort of defeats the purpose. Both endings tell the same story from different perspectives, and are best enjoyed side by side with one another. Both, though hopeful in their messaging, also carry their own distinct tones, with the original ending being a bit more lighthearted, and the film being incredibly nihilistic until its final act.
In the years since the film’s premiere,Evangelionhasn’t exactly stopped ending. Hideaki Anno’s discontentment with his own workled to the rebuild films, which tell a relatively similar story from an alternate universe, and bring about the end of all ofEvangelion. However, they often collapse under their own world building and technical jargon, and fail to capture much of the magic and raw emotion of the anime’s original conclusion,which just so happened to lead to one of the greatest anime films ever made.
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
Cast
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion serves as the cinematic conclusion to the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, comprising two alternate episodes. This film offers resolutions to the anime’s storyline while exploring additional narrative possibilities, intended to replace the original series' episodes 25 and 26.
