DISCLAIMER: First, I am an EVA fan boy, so get over it. Second, I will avoid spoilers at all cost, so do not expect a rundown of what happened/why it happened/what’s going to happen next. Third, this review is also geared towards those who have seen the original series, but I will be gentle to EVA noobs…..maybe. LET THE HYPE BEGIN!
Neon Genesis Evangelion, an anime that will be remembered by all Japanese anime fans for decades to come, and for various reasons. It is either revered as one of the best, or hated as one of the most cryptic and weird. However, there are few things that cannot be denied by either faction. NGE is infamous for its complex story, unanswered questions, and most of all the cult following that came afterwards. With all that said, I believe that Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance will not only create a whole new following, but it will awaken fans of the original series and remind them why EVA was so dear to them.
Upon watching the first Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone, I was not disappointed in any way, in fact I was quite pleased with some of the remade scenes. I also felt a bit nostalgic with the scenes that were just as I remembered. Going into Eva 2.0, I was expecting the same nostalgic feeling, but then just as fast as that thought came into my mind it was gone and replaced with surprise and shock. This was not the EVA that I remember, this was something else. From the very first moment, I was breathless while trying to comprehend what I was witnessing. A new and true Evangelion rebuild.
From the very first scenes all the way to the last second, everything was redone. With the exception of a couple of events, it is a whole new experience. The art style has been retouched while still keeping the original character style, which I found rather refreshing. The battle scenes have been revamped with the wonders of CG, again while still keeping the same style as the original. The audio effects were brilliant and added impact to every movement and explosion, although not all the original music was used, there were still a few memorable tunes that brought a smile to my face.
Even the characters personalities have been remade to an extent. Shinji is more open about some of his feelings and is not as introverted as in the original NGE. Asuka, while still being the same for the most part, begins to realize things that she probably would not have even thought of much less admit. Rei actually has a real personality this time around and seems a bit easier to approach. Misato, Ritsuko, Kaji, Gendou, all of them have had changes to their characters but nothing as drastic as the main characters.
The story itself also seems to be getting a rebuild, and from how rapid events seem to progress compared to the series, it may even go in a brand new direction. Things may not be explained as into detail as it was in the series, but most people will be able to figure out the basics. It is still as cryptic as ever, maybe even more so because of the time constraints for each film. However, I’m still pleased with the new events, new angels, new EVA units, new EVA pilots, and the memorable brutal events from the original that are just as intense and heartbreaking as ever with a few twists.
Bottom line, if you are new to the EVA universe then prepare for the unexpected. This is not your typical mecha anime, nor do I even want to classify it as such. For those of you like me, this film will bring tears of joy to your eyes, you will be begging for more and hoping for it to never end. Who needs the live action motion pictures that ADV is trying to get started, when you can have an epic retelling from the creator himself? Enter the (new) world of Evangelion!
Story: A-
Visuals: A+
Characters: A
Audio: B+
Crazyness: WTF+
Score: 9.5/10
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This is Katanaless’ first anime review here at Anime Sage so let him know how he did with some comments.
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