Eva's style has always been delightfully retro. Even the just released Evangelion 1.01 keeps intact the original's charm. Focusing mainly on the three main characters, there is little doubt in recognizing any of them. While Shinji is more of the traditional male main character stereotype, existing solely so that the viewer can project themselves into his position, that isn't to say he fades into obscurity. Rei, perhaps the most recognizable, with her distinctive blue hair and trademark bandages, while perhaps fetishistic in nature, lend to her standing as a character instead of a moe placeholder. Asuka, meanwhile, instead of falling into the similar tsundere pitfall, is depicted more natural. I have never more fan obsession than I have over Asuka. I really feel that it has to do with her combined appearance and attitude, which has propelled her to popularity beyond even Rei in the fanbase, from my experience.

Another strong suit of Evangelion is the clever mecha design. The original Eva themselves are so well designed, that if you saw merely a silhouette of one, you could easily identify it. Specifically, Unity 01, using a unicorn-style horn and pronounced chin design, I doubt we'll see any significant changes to the units anytime soon. The remake attempted to make subtle changes to the Eva (adding horns to Unit 02, etc), but I think these minor details only hamper the already pleasant look of the mecha. Another unique facet is the power cord for the Eva: I personally have always found this little detail so intriguing. It adds an element of suspense to piloting the Eva, while also grounding a very fantastical idea in reality. Would such a suit really be able to suitably power itself for much longer than 60 seconds? The cord also creates a strong sense of motion, aiding in the animation -- as an Eva fights, the cord creates a tail-like effect, adding to the pivotal concept of speed.

The final aspect of Eva's art I wish to touch on is the cohesiveness of the series. Everything truly feels like it belongs, from the mechanical Evas, to the very organic being, Lilith, hidden underground NERV. When a giant purple robot fits in perfectly with a army of tanks and helicopters, you know you're doing something right. I apologize for assaulting you with more conceptual ideas behind the art of Eva, but I think that is an interesting subject to tackle. More importantly, though, is to enjoy the art. Once you become overly critical of it, it becomes harder and harder to really appreciate it. And that really takes the fun out of our very fun hobby. So, take a look at the gallery below to see some of the incredible work put into making Neon Genesis Evangelion the lasting, classic series it is!