Genesis Evangelion

Do You Think There was an actual psychological/ religous meaning behind Neon Genesis Evangelion?

Personally I believe that was the basis of the entire Anime (including movies). but I would like to know what you guys saw it all as. What did you think about the characters personalities? What did the very end of The Death of Evangelion mean to you? Please share your feelings and thoughts.

Yes, there definitely was. I believe that the message is that we are all connected, and that we can shape our own destinies.

All the main characters were mentally ill, in one way or another. Shinji had what is known as an Oedipus complex (being attracted to his mother). He is attracted to Rei (a clone of his mother, and also posessing the soul of Lilith [Adam's first wife in some stories] ) , though he has no clue why. Shinji is also attracted to his guardian Misato, as well as Asuka (who has mother issues of her own, due to her mom killing herself). He also thinks very low of himself. He hates life, yet doesn’t want to die. It’s the same with Asuka.

Rei (my favorite character) is, in a way, like Shinji in the fact that they both get through life by doing what they’re told. In the end, she realizes that she can do what she wants, as she is in control of her own destiny, and rebels against Gendo Ikari by merging with the rest of Lilith. I believe that she is a much stronger person in the end.

The End of Evangelion (which is, in my opinion, the better ending of this amazing series) symbolizes how, as I’ve said above, we are in control of our own destinies. At the very end of the movie, I believe that Asuka is pregnant with Shinji’s child (she has morning sickness), so life will begin again. Shinji and Asuka are the new Adam and Eve. Rei still exists to watch over them.

My opinions are based by research, watching the whole series & the movie, and my brother’s interpretations (I’m sure that I would’ve come up with the same or similar interpretations if I had watched the movie by myself).

As for the movie Death and Rebirth….Anno shouldn’t have bothered with it. We didn’t really need a recap of the series. And, he didn’t finish it until after he received complaints. And the new Rebuild series? Not really necessary.

My source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion_(TV_series)

Neon Genesis Evangelion Opening