Neon Genesis Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone
(Funimation Entertainment, 100 Minutes)
http://www.funimation.com/evangelion/
Lauded by critics and fans alike for its complex plot and its unwillingness to shy away from controversial themes, Neon Genesis Evangelion has long since established a name for itself as being one of the most engrossing as well as extensively studied shows in television history; a landmark for the anime and animation in general.
Created by the now legendary Hideaki Anno and debuting on Japanese Airwaves in 1995 in the form of a 26 episode television series Eva, as fans affectionately refer to it, featured an unusual take on the giant robot genre. With their sleek designs and emphasis on the pilot’s emotional responses to the destruction erupting around them, Anno redefined the concept for a new generation of fans. Plunging the audience into torrents of religious imagery and science fiction landscapes, he merged the two to spawn a unique mythology that has been contemplated by fans and scholars alike.
Despite having a strong story, when it came to the technical side Eva was certainly lacking. The animation, hardly considered to be fluid due to the show’s miniscule budget, was plagued by unstable frames and murky colors. Never the less, fans found themselves attracted to the character and mecha designs conceptualized by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto whose distinctive style of artistry added a vibrant appearance that otherwise contrasted with the show’s production values and its overtly dark tone.
Unfortunately, as the series neared its eventual conclusion, the story splintered apart, abandoning the direction in which it was heading and instead focusing solely on the psychological health of the main character, the young pilot Shinji. Rather than giving the audience a resolution as to humanity’s conflict with the angels, instead we were subjected to an hour of subjective philosophy from a teenager’s point of view. As a result, Hideaki Anno has revisited the franchise several times in an effort to present viewers with a more coherent understanding of his original vision.
Originally released in theatres as Neon Genesis Evangelion: 1.0 and then presented here on DVD as 1.11, Anno once again transports fans into the world of Eva, this time retelling the series in the form of a series of theatrical films. As of now, only two have been released with this being the first. So the question that now remains is: are these remakes an attempt to regurgitate the same story to an already proven audience or do the creators truly desire to tell a divergent story?
Honestly, based on this first foray one would have to lean toward the former as the majority of the film is a shot for shot remake of the first six episodes right down to dialogue and character placement. True, some scenes are shuffled around to create a more lucid viewing experience, but in the end there just isn’t enough new material to classify this as anything more than a retelling; though that’s not to say it’s a bad thing as many will attest. The wry humor, labyrinthine plots, and overly emotional characters that fans have come to love are still here; just condensed and with a more considerable budget. In truth, if there is one show worthy of the growing technical advances in cinema, it is Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The visuals are as striking as they ever were, in fact more so thanks to various improvements made to the colors and linework. While the series retains its classic look, it is given an extra polish that should impress those accustomed to the original.
Next is the audio which represents the biggest departure from the series. The soundtrack remains relatively untouched and only slightly upgraded in certain areas. The voice cast however has undergone a complete recasting with only Shinji and Misato retaining their original voice actors, Spike Spencer and Allison Keith-Shipp respectively. This is a major improvement as the majority of the cast were inadequate and unable to bring an emotional gravity that the role called for. This is the third time the series’ key antagonist, Gendo Ikari, has been recast and it may very well be the best he has ever sounded.
Originally 1.0 was released as just a single disc bare bones edition. 1.11 offers the fans more bang for their buck with a longer run time and bountiful extras spread across two discs. Consumers are even given the choice between DVD and Blu-Ray for maximum image resolution.
Even with its questionable status of being a remake, having more Eva is better than no Eva. Those who are already established fans should flock to this release for the upgraded technical advancements. For those who have never experienced Neon Genesis Evangelion, this release provides the perfect jumping on point. If anything can be ascertained from this release, You Are (Not) Alone captures all the psychological drama and religious iconography Eva is known for, looking better doing so.
Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone - A
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