Help me catch up on the Evangelion series
April 13, 2011 8:56 AM Subscribe
I just heard about the Evangelion stuff....and that it's great. I want to catch up. But they seem to make endless "adjustments" to their DVDs, leaving me unsure what to buy.
As I search for second-hand dvds, is there anything I need to know about version numbers? Also are there any I can skip?
I'd buy one of the "collections", but am concerned they might not be recently-enough "adjusted".
Note: I don't own a bluetooth player, so it's got to be standard DVD (though my Oppo upscales/upconverts real well).
As I search for second-hand dvds, is there anything I need to know about version numbers? Also are there any I can skip?
I'd buy one of the "collections", but am concerned they might not be recently-enough "adjusted".
Note: I don't own a bluetooth player, so it's got to be standard DVD (though my Oppo upscales/upconverts real well).
Response by poster: Ok, thanks, so I guess I can ignore the version numbers.
I see " Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Complete Collection " for as little as $32. But while it's as impossible to find thorough info on this set as on anything in this series, it appears it doesn't include all the four titles that have been especially recommended to me:
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
posted by Quisp Lover at 9:26 AM on April 13, 2011
I see " Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Complete Collection " for as little as $32. But while it's as impossible to find thorough info on this set as on anything in this series, it appears it doesn't include all the four titles that have been especially recommended to me:
Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone
Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion
posted by Quisp Lover at 9:26 AM on April 13, 2011
Those are the movies. They can be found streaming online/torrented.
You are (not) alone is just a rehash of the episodes.
posted by lettuchi at 9:35 AM on April 13, 2011
You are (not) alone is just a rehash of the episodes.
posted by lettuchi at 9:35 AM on April 13, 2011
Best answer: The original televised series was 26 episodes, and made a lot of viewers angry because of the way the latter episodes moved away from robot fights and into bizarre, low budget psychoanalysis territory. Maybe you'll like the ending, but most people seem not to. I can appreciate it intellectually, but it's nigh unwatchable for me.
After this, a new ending – the end of Evangelion - was filmed to provide more closure, but ultimately wasn't an enormous improvement on the relative incomprehensibility of the television series finale – or, as it were, non-finale.
"Death and Rebirth" is a movie designed to recap the television series for viewers of "the end of evangelion." It uses a lot of footage from the original series as well as some new animation. It has been re-released and edited several times; because it overlaps 99% with the television series, don't worry about which version you get. It's mostly review.
Some years later, because no Evangelion had yet made any sense or been concretely intelligible, the series was to be remade again, as four movies. This is called the "Rebuild of Evangelion" and "Evangelion" is spelled differently in Japanese, using outdated characters.
The first movie in this series is "You are (not) alone," which is, like "Death and Rebirth" a recap, but this is a separate timeline. There are some differences with the original series, it's generally less psychotic, and the animation is all new and totally beautiful. The changes are minor (but potentially significant) alterations to the original series, but these changes have a big payoff for viewers of the original series. Characters are more self-possessed, often. "1.11" is a designation given to the slightly expanded DVD release.
The second rebuild movie "You can (not) advance" begins to differ from the original in a big, big way. No spoilers, but fantastic stuff. Be sure to watch after the credits. Like the first rebuild movie, this was released in expanded DVD form as 2.22.
Watch the original series (I don't think available versions will differ significantly), then the end of Evanglion. Death and Rebirth is optional review. The rebuild movies are amazing. Watch them, preferably in their expanded versions.
Will they provide closure, or merely fuck with everyone again? Hop on board the series and get ready to find out!
posted by Rinku at 10:08 AM on April 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
After this, a new ending – the end of Evangelion - was filmed to provide more closure, but ultimately wasn't an enormous improvement on the relative incomprehensibility of the television series finale – or, as it were, non-finale.
"Death and Rebirth" is a movie designed to recap the television series for viewers of "the end of evangelion." It uses a lot of footage from the original series as well as some new animation. It has been re-released and edited several times; because it overlaps 99% with the television series, don't worry about which version you get. It's mostly review.
Some years later, because no Evangelion had yet made any sense or been concretely intelligible, the series was to be remade again, as four movies. This is called the "Rebuild of Evangelion" and "Evangelion" is spelled differently in Japanese, using outdated characters.
The first movie in this series is "You are (not) alone," which is, like "Death and Rebirth" a recap, but this is a separate timeline. There are some differences with the original series, it's generally less psychotic, and the animation is all new and totally beautiful. The changes are minor (but potentially significant) alterations to the original series, but these changes have a big payoff for viewers of the original series. Characters are more self-possessed, often. "1.11" is a designation given to the slightly expanded DVD release.
The second rebuild movie "You can (not) advance" begins to differ from the original in a big, big way. No spoilers, but fantastic stuff. Be sure to watch after the credits. Like the first rebuild movie, this was released in expanded DVD form as 2.22.
Watch the original series (I don't think available versions will differ significantly), then the end of Evanglion. Death and Rebirth is optional review. The rebuild movies are amazing. Watch them, preferably in their expanded versions.
Will they provide closure, or merely fuck with everyone again? Hop on board the series and get ready to find out!
posted by Rinku at 10:08 AM on April 13, 2011 [4 favorites]
Best answer: Rinku's summary is solid. If you'd like additional info, see my post to the blue, which has more information on the various versions, plus links for sites that go (way) into detail about the differences. There are still fansites devoted to Eva, so you can find as much information about the variations as you'd like. Warning: spoilers abound.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:43 PM on April 13, 2011
posted by filthy light thief at 12:43 PM on April 13, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks so much.
Yeah, the movies were what I was originally recommended. And sounds like I should indeed aim for the most expanded/advanced version numbers of each.
posted by Quisp Lover at 4:14 PM on April 14, 2011
Yeah, the movies were what I was originally recommended. And sounds like I should indeed aim for the most expanded/advanced version numbers of each.
posted by Quisp Lover at 4:14 PM on April 14, 2011
Response by poster: Sorry, followup questions if you're still there:
Do I have to go thru the original series, or can I pop right in on the rebuilds? Or should I at least view death/rebirth before, so I know the history? Os is "You are (Not) Alone" sufficient review?
posted by Quisp Lover at 5:41 PM on April 14, 2011
Do I have to go thru the original series, or can I pop right in on the rebuilds? Or should I at least view death/rebirth before, so I know the history? Os is "You are (Not) Alone" sufficient review?
posted by Quisp Lover at 5:41 PM on April 14, 2011
I'd recommend watching the original series, (with End of Evangelion afterwards), then watching the rebuild movies. Skip death and rebirth. It was preparation for the End of Evanglion, which was made years after the original series. If you've just watched the show the recap will be unnecessary.
There's a moment in the original series when Asuka (the fiery red-haired pilot) slaps Rei (the blue-haird, usually silent character) in an elevator. In the rebuild, Rei catches her hand before she gets hit. Only people who have watched the original series will get a sense of what that means. There are other moments like this. On one hand, the rebuilds have promised to provide a a more satisfying conclusion to the series in future installments. But on the other hand, it's already providing a kind of emotional development to the series that's only noticeable to those who are familiar with the original material.
In other words, the rebuilds can be seen as an emotional sequel to the original series, even if it restarts chronologically. There is also a theory in the fandom that the rebuilds take place on an earth where the original series has already taken place. There are also characters that get much more screen time in the original. The ending is memorable, if controversial.
But hey, if a 26-episode series plus two-hour movie plus two retellings are a too big of a time sink, that's OK. Just go for the rebuilds. Even if there is depth there for fans of the original, there's enough in them to make them more than compelling enough for a newcomer.
posted by Rinku at 7:50 PM on April 14, 2011
There's a moment in the original series when Asuka (the fiery red-haired pilot) slaps Rei (the blue-haird, usually silent character) in an elevator. In the rebuild, Rei catches her hand before she gets hit. Only people who have watched the original series will get a sense of what that means. There are other moments like this. On one hand, the rebuilds have promised to provide a a more satisfying conclusion to the series in future installments. But on the other hand, it's already providing a kind of emotional development to the series that's only noticeable to those who are familiar with the original material.
In other words, the rebuilds can be seen as an emotional sequel to the original series, even if it restarts chronologically. There is also a theory in the fandom that the rebuilds take place on an earth where the original series has already taken place. There are also characters that get much more screen time in the original. The ending is memorable, if controversial.
But hey, if a 26-episode series plus two-hour movie plus two retellings are a too big of a time sink, that's OK. Just go for the rebuilds. Even if there is depth there for fans of the original, there's enough in them to make them more than compelling enough for a newcomer.
posted by Rinku at 7:50 PM on April 14, 2011
One last recommendation:
After the emotional and literal apocalypse of "End of Evangelion," watch the brief 6-episode show FLCL. It was made, supposedly, to cheer the Gainax staff up and dispel the depression built up by creating Evangelion. Not only is FLCL one of the best shows ever made, anime or otherwise, but I think you'll really appreciate it as a total reversal of "End of Evangelion." It also features giant robots and family drama, but in a saturated, kinetic, rock-and-roll type way.
posted by Rinku at 7:56 PM on April 14, 2011
After the emotional and literal apocalypse of "End of Evangelion," watch the brief 6-episode show FLCL. It was made, supposedly, to cheer the Gainax staff up and dispel the depression built up by creating Evangelion. Not only is FLCL one of the best shows ever made, anime or otherwise, but I think you'll really appreciate it as a total reversal of "End of Evangelion." It also features giant robots and family drama, but in a saturated, kinetic, rock-and-roll type way.
posted by Rinku at 7:56 PM on April 14, 2011
Response by poster: Yeah, FLCL was already on my to-watch list. Thanks for sequencing it for me.
Let me rephrase my previous question. Can I GET AWAY with popping in on the rebuilds? I'm coming in as a newbie, and would rather spare myself the 12 hours.
Thanks yet again
posted by Quisp Lover at 8:07 AM on April 15, 2011
Let me rephrase my previous question. Can I GET AWAY with popping in on the rebuilds? I'm coming in as a newbie, and would rather spare myself the 12 hours.
Thanks yet again
posted by Quisp Lover at 8:07 AM on April 15, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks. If I get all obsessed, I can for sure back up and view that backlog.
Ok...ready to go view! Thanks so much! :)
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:46 PM on April 15, 2011
Ok...ready to go view! Thanks so much! :)
posted by Quisp Lover at 1:46 PM on April 15, 2011
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If all you want is to see the series in full then I suggest you just buy the Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Complete Collection (DVD Thinpak).
Although, if it were me.. I'd subscribe to netflix and rent it first.
(personal opinion you didn't ask for: I didn't think it was great. It's not epic, just especially different then so many of the other animes out there. If giant righting robots or mind puzzles aren't your thing, then neither will NGE be.)
posted by royalsong at 9:09 AM on April 13, 2011