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Japanator Recommends: Evangelion 1.01: You are not alone
by Brad Rice, 11/23/2009
Japanator Recommends: Evangelion 1.01: You are not alone photo

Neon Genesis is the story of a boy--no. That's not quite right.

Evangelion is one of the shows that "defined the giant robot anime." Or so claims the packaging of Evangelion 1.01: You Are (Not) Alone. Taking these--no, that doesn't fit either.

It's a bit hard to write an introduction for Neon Genesis Evangelion, don't you think? It's one of the best-known shows in the anime world. We had tackled the film back when it first came out, but now that FUNimation has put the first of the four films that are set to retell the Neon Genesis Evangelion story, it's time to take a second look.

Follow me after the jump for our review, along with a video review featuring the voice and skills of Ace0fClub5!

Evangelion 1.01: You Are (Not) Alone
Creator: Gainax
Publisher: FUNimation
Release Date: November 14, 2009
MSRP: $29.98

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a series that has left its mark on the world. Since the show's initial airing, there has been endless debates in forums, in books and papers, and on every single convention floor, about the meaning of this scene or the greater existential question posed by that one.

Now Gainax has decided to tackle the whole story again in a much more streamlined version -- telling things over the course of four films. This theatrical release of Evangelion brings the title into a widescreen format with beautifully updated art and well-used CG graphics.

I went into the film expecting it to be a recap of the series. I did my best to ignore the conversation surrounding it when it hit fansubbers. So, after getting a good way into the story, it takes some serious detours, I stopped and looked at a friend. This was not simply a rehash -- there's something different afoot here.

When it comes down to it, Evangelion 1.01 is something that must be seen by anyone who's watched Neon Genesis Evangelion. Unlike many other anime to film adaptations (Gurren Lagann, for example) the story is handled with an appropriate pacing and eye to storytelling -- even if you hadn't watched the show already, you would still be able to follow the story fairly well. And for those of you who already know most of what's going to happen, everything from the visuals to the voice acting will keep you engaged until you hit those big twists.

Now, as to what's going to happen next, we'll just have to wait for the releases of the next three films. It'll take us a few years to actually see the whole picture that Gainax has laid out for us, and will probably necessitate a few viewings of NGE in that time. But, what's beautiful about all this is that Gainax has found a way to update this classic franchise and breathe new life into it, making it relevant for a whole new generation of fans.

Without a doubt, you should go ahead and get this film. There's no word on when FUNimation will acquire the license for Evangelion 1.11 on Blu-ray, so expect it to be a while. At least rent it on Netflix, or get a friend to watch this. You won't be disappointed.






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