🎬 Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (1997)
Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion is a Japanese psychological and science fiction anime film, released in 1997 as an alternate ending to the famous anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. The film was directed by Hideaki Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki, and is considered one of the most influential and controversial works in anime history.
🎞️ Basic Information:
- Title: The End of Evangelion
- Genre: Drama / Psychological / Sci-Fi / Mecha
- Release Year: 1997
- Directors: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki
- Duration: Approximately 87 minutes
- Studio: Gainax
- Age Rating: 17+
👥 Main Characters:
- Shinji Ikari: The main protagonist, suffering from intense psychological conflict as he faces the end of the world.
- Asuka Langley Soryu: The second pilot who engages in a heroic battle against enemy units.
- Rei Ayanami: A mysterious and central figure in the "Human Instrumentality" plan.
- Gendo Ikari: Shinji's father and the head of NERV, pursuing his personal plan for human integration.
📝 Plot:
The film presents an alternate ending to the television series, in which the NERV organization collapses due to a full-scale attack by United Nations forces. At the same time, the "Human Instrumentality Project" is set into motion — an attempt to eliminate psychological barriers between people. Meanwhile, Shinji undergoes an intense internal struggle to make a decision that will determine the fate of humanity: remain as individuals or merge into a collective entity.
"I am me... I want to stay as myself." — Shinji Ikari
🎖️ Impact and Controversy:
- The film is considered more violent and symbolic than the original series.
- Its ending is widely interpreted as a psychological analysis and a representation of personal crises.
- It received high critical praise and artistic appreciation despite its heavy controversy.
- It is now studied in film schools and psychoanalysis programs as an example of the depth of artistic expression in anime.