Neon Genesis Evangelion is a mecha anime far more concerned with the psychology of its characters than skyscraper-sized battles. The series deconstructs its casts’ traumas while subjecting them to ever-escalating torment and investigating the pain that comes with human connection.
It’s also quite brutal; the violence isn’t simple cartoon violence, it’s bloody, visceral, and frightening. All this adds up to make Evangelion a life-changing experience, especially because viewers’ nightmares will never be rid of it.
10 Eva Unit 01 Devours Zeruel (Episode 19)
Episode 19 chronicles Shinji’s attempted retirement, but in the end, a pep talk from Kaji and witnessing the latest Angel, Zeruel, attack makes him return to piloting. Zeruel seems to have the upper hand, until Unit 01 goes berserk. The EVA regrows an arm that Zeruel had sliced off, then doesn’t just defeat, but devours the Angel.
This confirms the EVA’s bio-mechanical nature; their outer appearance is not armor, but restraints. Now, the chains are unbound. Granted, in the next episode, the EVA is back under NERV’s control, its flesh concealed by bandages. Its single, horrifying green eye stares directly into the screen as its jaw hangs agape.
9 Shinji Is Absorbed By Leliel (Episode 16)
It’s only in Evangelion‘s second half that the show goes from “conventional if character-centered mecha anime” to “psychological/cosmic horror hybrid.” Episode 16 is one of the markers of this shift. Shinji is absorbed by the 12th Angel, Leliel, and the Angel communicates with him.
This surreal sequence, one of many to come, explores Shinji’s backstory (particularly his mother’s fate) and his psychology; Leliel notes there are “many Shinjis” —Shinji in his own mind and how he is perceived by others, and it’s the latter which Shinji is afraid of. This insight into the human condition then ends when EVA-01’s tears open Leliel from the inside with an eruption of blood.
8 Shinji Is Forced To Kill Kaworu (Episode 24)
Alienated from all his friends, Shinji meets Kaworu, a new EVA pilot; Kaworu is kind towards Shinji and the latter is charmed. Their relationship even blossoms beyond friendship, for they shower together and share meaningful contact with one another.
It’s too good to be true; Kaworu is actually Tabris, the 17th Angel, and so Shinji must kill him to prevent the Third Impact. He doesn’t even die as an enemy; due to Kaworu’s love for humanity, Shinji in particular, he decides to die so that Lilith’s children may survive. The frame of Eva-01 holding Kaworu endures for a single, excruciating minute, and ends with a silhouette of Kaworu’s death.
7 The Fight With Bardiel (Episode 18)
Episode 18 is another turning point for the series. Toji, one of Shinji’s few friends, is selected as the pilot for the third EVA unit; unfortunately, the unit is possessed by the 13th Angel, Bardiel. With Misato injured during Bardiel’s awakening, Gendo takes direct command of the mission.
The senior Ikari’s ruthlessness is on full display, for he orders Bardiel destroyed with no regard for Toji or his son’s refusal to harm an innocent. Gendo has Shinji and Unit-01’s connection severed. Shinji can only watch as his EVA tears apart the other and crushes the entry plug. When Shinji sees a crippled Toji evacuated from the scene, he screams.
6 Rei Dies & Her True Nature Is Revealed (Episode 23)
The 16th Angel, Armisael, infects EVA-00 and Rei within it; to defeat it, Rei sacrifices herself by detonating her EVA. She’s thought dead afterward, but turns up alive. The reason for this miracle is revealed when Ritsuko takes Misato and Shinji to the lowest levels of NERV.
“Rei” is actually the soul of Lilith planted inside a clone of Yui Ikari; there are many “Reis,” all held inside a tank as soulless backup bodies in case the current Rei dies. Ritsuko, jealous of Gendo’s affection for Rei, destroys the remaining clones; they are merely “things shaped like people.” As the Rei clones dissolve, their blissfully unaware laughter doesn’t cease until the tank is filled with nothing but body parts.
5 Asuka Versus The Mass Production EVAs (“The End Of Evangelion”)
It is the best and bloodiest action scene in the series. Realizing that her mother’s soul has been inside EVA-02, protecting her all along, Asuka’s drive is reinvigorated. With only five minutes of power, Asuka faces off against the nine Mass Production EVAs sent to destroy NERV, and until the very last second, she’s easily winning.
That is, until her EVA’s AT Field is punctured by a Lance Of Longinus replica. With her EVA out of power and her opponents regenerated, the MPE’s descend on her like a flock of vultures tearing apart a wounded rabbit. Asuka defiantly reaches to the sky, repeating “I’ll Kill You” until the MPE’s finish the job by impaling her EVA with the remainder of their Lances.
4 Shinji Visits Asuka In The Hospital (“The End Of Evangelion”)
Traumatized by killing Kaworu and with no one to turn to, Shinji goes to visit Asuka —she’s been hospitalized and is comatose after a suicide attempt. Shinji shakes her and accidentally rips open her hospital gown.
He doesn’t even have the decency to leave the room. Viewers are then exposed to a close-up and Shinji despairs “I’m so f—– up,” concurring with what any sane-minded viewer was thinking.
3 The Third Impact Begins (“The End Of Evangelion”)
The End Of Evangelion has some of the most beautiful yet startling imagery ever committed to film. As Rei merges with Lilith and Adam alike to become a giant, goddess-like being, Shinji and Unit-01 are reformed into the Tree of Life. With the stage is set for the Third Impact, a despondent Shinji declares “Nobody cares whether I live or die. Nothing will change… so everyone can just die…”
What follows is a murder-suicide, with Rei/Lilith ascending to planet size and recalling the souls of all humanity, their bodies dissolved to LCL. It’s impossible to list every bit of horror in this sequence, but what deserves special praise is the score; “Komm, Süsser Tod,” a masterpiece of musical dissonance: joyous, clapping acoustics underpin lyrics telling a story of suicidal despair.
2 Arael Violates Asuka’s Mind (Episode 22)
Asuka can’t catch a break. In Episode 22, the 15th Angel, Arael invades her mind and forces her to relive all her most painful, deeply buried memories. Included are her insecurity about her identity, her mother’s successful suicide and attempted murder of her, and her rejections from both Kaji and (she believes) Shinji —”Why are you [Shinji] there, damn you?! You don’t do anything! You won’t help me! You won’t even hold me! You’re no one! No one! NO ONE!”
Worsening things, it’s Rei, whom Asuka loathes, that defeats Arael and ends its defilement of Asuka. Afterward, Asuka loses the abrasive self-confidence that had defined her and becomes much more withdrawn.
1 Shinji & Asuka On The Shore (“The End Of Evangelion”)
Though surreal, the broadcast ending of Evangelion was optimistic; Shinji recognizes his self-worth and the main cast congratulates him one by one. Not so for The End Of Evangelion, which offers only a nebulous flicker of hope.
Shinji and Asuka lie together in a ruined world, the Third Impact over but not undone. Shinji strangles Asuka, but she caresses his cheek, showing him open affection for the first time. Instrumentality letting Asuka achieve self-acceptance too, and she knows she can’t just push people away. She’s also been inside Shinji’s head, so for all the reasons she has to hate him, she can’t because she now understands him. Still, as Shinji releases his grip and breaks down in tears, Asuka utters a single word: “Disgusting.” They may have taken the first steps, but both have a long way to go before they can maintain healthy relationships, with each other or anyone else.
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