I wouldn’t call this a review – I’ve been so in love with it that I can hardly make any critical comments about the film… seriously. It isn’t a good thing to be a film reviewer because you’ll need to put all those enthusiasm and love for a particular film aside… which I can’t!
[Edit] I’ve reorganised the before and after comparison between identical scenes found in the original anime and the first film into their respective episodes. I hope this will make things a little clearer! This post will be continuously updated if I have extra before and after stillshots to compare :) [/Edit]
The latest count puts the number of screenshots in this post at 37. I may haleapve more to add in the future!
Introduction: Neon Genesis Evangelion
*Skip this part if you’re tired of wordy posts, and proceed directly to the ‘Read More’ link happily browse through the pages! There’s so much information that I have to abandon the Read More link and use pagination instead.
I first learnt about Neon Genesis Evangelion (NGE from now on) from my ex-roommate, Pow. I immediately fell in love with it because of the unique mix of psychological experience and mecha-anime, which is previously unheard of. Shame on me, because I’ve been very out of touch of the anime world that before being introduced to NGE – the only animes I have in mind is Naruto. I don’t particularly adore other animes because they aren’t really quite my cup of tea (seriously, I get bored with these stereotypical male hero, female warrior, boy-girl-relationship, adventure themes…)
Produced and directed by Hideaki Anno, NGE offers a whole new perspective to anime. It’s an old anime, I would call it, since it was aired about 13 years ago and it surprises me of the producer’s ability to portray a futuristic Tokyo-3 in a very realistic manner. It deviates from the normal anime by resurrecting the mecha theme (big giant robots) in Japanese anime culture. It stuck to the old methods of mecha anime, but it has added something deadly inside to make it such an addictive mix – psychological turmoils of each character, making them either horribly introvert or notoriously extrovert. Almost every character have to deal with their inner demons and their struggle with existence.
NGE was such a huge hit partially because it leverages heavily on religious icons of Christianity. Such incorporation is largely based on the producer’s observation that Christianity was not a well-known and understood religion in Japan, and thus will give NGE-viewers a cutting-edge experience. He was even quoted that if he knew NGE was to be aired in overseas, he would have abandoned the incorporation of Christianity themes (but if he really did, NGE will be a total disaster, I think).
Basically the storyline of NGE surrounds the three protagonist – (from left, as seen in the image above) Asuka, Shinji and Rei, who are child pilots to the three respective Evangelion units and are responsible of defending Tokyo-3 from attacking Angels (huge monster figures that either approach Tokyo-3 by land, by air or appear directly above it). The series got progressively (but I think it’s more towards exponentially) darker as it progresses, partially influenced by the producer’s prior experiences with depression. The end of the anime was very apocalyptic, for the sake of those who are yet to watch it, I’m not going to reveal the exact details, but it is generally an end-of-the-world scenario. No spoilers!
There are before and after comparisons of the new film to the original anime (19 screenshots in total) after the jump! Keep reading :razz:
Here is a menu of the following pages, just in case you get lost:
- Introduction: Neon Genesis Evangelion » You’re here!
- The Remake: Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0
- Comparisons: Episode 01
- Comparisons: Episode 02
- Comparisons: Episode 03
- Comparisons: Episode 04
- Comparisons: Episode 05
- Comparisons: Episode 06
It is One of my favourites which include Naruto too … Watch it 3 years ago … “The new edition”
The only regret is cannot really get the ending of the anime, even after watching it twice … “Haha …”
Really hope can watch it again …
U ever watch Gundam Series ?
Check out Eric’s last blog post: Gundam 00
I never really got into evangelion – I was more into sakura wars – and even gundam wing to a certain extent!
I’m gettin gback into my anime atm though – watching cardcaptor sakura and sailor moon atm! vintage stuff! :P
Check out Han’s last blog post: Dead Cat
Beautiful changes. They’ve 2000-ified an ancient anime! The drawings are definitely better though I don’t like the green accent on the 01. It makes it look like a cheap toy from a vending machine. I also don’t like the change in Lilith’s mask. I mean, isn’t her mask the logo of the organization?! It takes away from the meaning of the logo then! -__-;;
I’ve watched NGE so many time I think I’ll skip on the rebuilt versions. Maybe I’ll watch the final movie if there will be changes in the ending. :)
Check out Ivy’s last blog post: Tea of the Mist
@Eric: Yay! I actually enjoyed the Naruto anime too, but the filler episodes bored me because the anime was catching up with the manga’s publishing. It just puzzles me that why so many animes have to get progressively darker… like how Sasuke turned to Orochimaru for power, and how the storyline starts to wrap around psychological hardships of the Evangelion pilots. The ‘new edition’ that you’re mentioned – are you referring to the director’s cut? They’ve included a lot of bonus scenes from Episode 21 to 24 for the director’s cut. Oh and for the ending of NGE, do you mean the original Episodes 25 and 26 or the later version of the film (Evangelion: Death and Rebirth)? The old one is very confusing (and disappointing as well)… the later version suits the context of the anime better :) I am yet to watch Gundam, but I heard it’s awesome!
@Han: Cardcaptor Sakura! One of the greatest animes around, but sadly I couldn’t find a friend who has it (so I can get from them instead of using my crappy Internet connection to download it). I’ve watched Sailormoon when I was a kid, but mom banned me from it later because she thought that it’ll make me… girlish / unmasculine. Whatever :roll:
@Ivy: “They’ve 2000-ified an ancient anime!” – Well said! They’ve redrawn the scenes and make them even better. For now, we don’t have to settle for odd shapes of the characters’ faces finally (the body shape and facial structures of the characters change subtly among different episodes). Yea I don’t quite get the reason why they’ve traded the good ol’ purple for a helluva neon green on Unit01! And the neon green makes Unit01 glow in the dark, which makes it a better target for the Angels, heh. For the same thing, I’m appalled by the change in Lilith’s mask. I heard that they’ve now used that design for SEELE’s new logo instead. Have you seen the new NERV logo? It’s the same old one but have an inverted apple in the background. Rebuild of Evangelion 4.0 is speculated to have an alternate ending (or a continuity to the last two episodes of the anime)… now I’m looking forward to that!
Wow, Lilith looks freaky! :shock: Note to self: Do not look at eerie things after having two days of nightmares. =P
My brother used to be into NGE. He was more of the anime person out of the both of us! However, I have sat down and watched some eps with him and.. well, I still am not an anime person, but I am not the person who disses those who are.
Btw, I just upgraded to WP 2.5. Delayed I know, but the links that you sent to me via email helped! I am still getting used to the new features and the changes, but I think I can manage. Thanks again!
Check out Id’s last blog post: Afterwards, We Had Coffee.
the camera in the Toji and Kensuke screen shot also looks more modern! spot the differences game :lol:
Check out lix’s last blog post: the final straw
@Id: Yea Lilith does look a little freaky, but it’ll be freakier in the original anime episode because it has seven eyes (that got me stunned a little when I first saw Lilith). I didn’t watch any animes besides Naruto (and stopped when they started releasing the filler episodes – I find them a little boring) before being introduced to NGE by my ex-roommate. He was watching halfway through the series when I knew about it, so after that I rewatched the entire thing 3 times :) but that doesn’t make me an otaku! Haha. I don’t go great lenghts to participate in cosplay events or stock up huge amounts of NGE memorabilia. Anyway for the WP2.5 thing, you’re welcome! The new features are really exciting, although a little inconvenient to new WP users because the old admin layout is almost completely scrapped.
@lix: Yes! It has larger lenses this time, and has a more metallic feeling to it. In the original anime, his camera looks like, no offence, a piece of cheap plastic :razz: lol!
Haha … Me watching long time ago which borrow from a friend …
I think should be the latest one … About the detail … Sorry I really forgotten.
I am plan to get myself a copy of the whole set later but not so soon … May be next year …
The Gundam series, the latest one is “00″ … Just finish watching it last few weeks which consist 25 episodes for the part 1 … Part 2 will only start in end of this year …
Totally recommended …!
Check out Eric’s last blog post: Gundam 00
I never knew that NGE had a remake of it!! I gotta go and download it now too!
I most definitely agree… it was such a huge hit because of the psychological state of each child’s sufferings. Though I am disappointed the Rebuild doesn’t have Asuka, as she doesn’t come in until many episodes afterwards anyhow. Thanks for sharing this!
Check out Destiny’s last blog post: Planter of Death
@Eric: Same here! I didn’t have the NGE DVD with me, so I borrowed it from a friend (and ripped it into my harddisk, in case I needed it later). Since I had the Director’s Cut version, I’m not intending to purchase a collector’s copy for the original anime, but I would love to wait for all the 4 promised Rebuild of Evangelion films to be released, purchase the whole DVD set :) heh.
@Destiny: Same here! I only got to know about it a month ago when I was searching Youtube for NGE when a whole list of new trailers came out. But I spent another month finding where to download the movie! The one I’ve downloaded is a camera rip from a Japan cinema with no subtitles. But since I’ve watched the original anime version, I know more or less what they’re talking about :) teehee. The first film doesn’t have Asuke because she only appears after Episode 8 (?) and the first film only covers the first six episodes of the anime. I love Asuka because she’s very noisy and brings some life into the anime :D
wow, those changes are awesome. and I never watched this anime. I watched Naruto for like 2 years but I stopped because I had my SPM examinations. I wish I could start watching Naruto back! isk..isk..isk…
Check out Aisyah’s last blog post: New Theme – My Scrapbook
@Aisyah: Yep! They’ve redrawn everything, which justifies the need for a remake. I’ve watched Naruto for 2+ years too, but gave up along the way as I got busier towards the end of my college studies. Now I’m so out of touch with Naruto, I couldn’t muster enough interest to continue. How sad :sad:
hey teddy :grin:
i am also an eva-lover!
though i haven’t watched the movie yet :oops:
i’ll have to when summer comes around! :mrgreen:
Check out tina’s last blog post: first post! :)
@tina: High-five!!! :razz: teehee. The film is relatively new, and I think there’s no reputable subtitle release yet (for non-Japanese-speaking audience). You’ll have to wait a little now, but I think it’ll be done by summer!
[...] Hikaru (宇多田 ヒカル), before I start writing. It is also the official song for the film Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0, in case you’re wondering. I love the song because despite of the cheerful title, the lyrics [...]
it the 6th angel as Nerv started with 3 in their pocket and not 2 in the new story. i guess they are pumping up the “infighting” abit more… we should be getting more backstory on this version.
Where can i download the Rebuild Of Evangelion:Destruction(Episode 2)???????????????????????????????????please help me!! :sad:
As far as I know, it’s not out yet.
But i have a 2nd rebuild movie right?If the movie is out please do tell me…..i am the evanglion hardfans………k thanx 4 d information……… :wink:
I’m sorry what i mean is IT MUST HAVE THE SECOND MOVIE OUT right?thanx… :???:
Very nice comparison, thanks! I noticed two places where the image addresses are incorrect (they link to the images right above them):
episode one — Sachiel’s leap
episode two — Gendo’s meeting with Seele members
The images are there, they’re just not linked correctly.
@virtus: Thanks for informing me of the problem. I’ve rectified it. Oh, and new screenshots and comparisons for Episodes 3 to 6 will be coming soon as well :)
Hey there! These comparison shots are fantastic. I’ve heard a lot about the making of this, and it’s actually not just a remake, though they’re trying hard not to make that sound like a sequel either, hence ‘Rebuild’.
The changes that are beyond cosmetic are likely very intentional, given the chalk-outline opening scene. Making the water red in pretty much all scenes, for example, and moving Lilith’s mask from her to the Seele monoliths. Also strange things I don’t get, like the track number and time change of Shinji’s music player. Only the seconds remain the same number. When everything is so faithfully re-rendered, a change like this is suspicious.
While I don’t know because I haven’t seen the rest, could this be the result of Shinji’s wish…? A chance to try again? It’s my speculations :p
Thanks for the compliments, Chris! Actually I’m not done with the comparison yet (I’m stuck around episode 3 or something), I couldn’t find the time to crop the screenshots and composite them into images and then upload them.
Many people got this impression that Gainax is just treating the Evangelion series as an awesome cash cow, since the Rebuild, with largely similar storyline for the first installment of the 4-film series (as compared to the original anime), had earned them considerable amount of money.
Cosmetic changes aside, there are indeed several aspects of the new storyline that might signify a change in how things turn out for the next few films – like how they’ve axed a few angels out of the series, the puzzling change of Lilith’s face, the change in the SEELE and NERV logos and etc. Indeed, it’s suspicious when the animators took great pain to faithfully recreate many of the insignificant minute details (like the passengers on the train, the clutter on Misato’s apartment).
I can’t help but speculate too!
[...] par vous même si vous allez voir quelques uns des centaines de montages comparatifs réalisés par un blogueur, sur teddy-o-ted.com (prenez note qu’il y en a sur 6 pages…). Donc même si la grande majorité des scènes [...]
Great side-by-side comparison- but this could have done with some discussion of vitally important scenes in the original that *weren’t* in Rebuild, perhaps most interestingly the failure of EVA-01 to reach out by itself and deflect the falling beams from hitting Shinji.
Thanks for the compliments! My review is more on the aesthetic and visual aspect of the remake, and less on the technicalities. I’m not an Eva expert too so I guess it shouldn’t weigh on the storyline changes, but I’m excited to see how the next few films play out differently from the animated series :)
This was a pretty awesome series it reminded me of Gundam Wing. I miss old shows like this on toonami and adult swim.
Just the type of iinhsgt we need to fire up the debate.
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