The original Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series is a classic beloved by fans, however, the Rebuild of Evangelion attempts to re-imagine the series. With the release of the fourth and final movie, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, both counterparts of Evangelion are finished. Now it's finally possible to look at the rebuilds and the original side-by-side, and see just how successful the Rebuild of Evangelion was at rebuilding Evangelion.
It’s no secret that the original Neon Genesis Evangelion faced budget issues. During the last few episodes of the show, the quality of the animation took a nosedive, resulting in the final episode using paper drawings instead of proper scenes. After such an unsatisfactory ending, the creator of Evangelion, Hideaki Anno, sought to remedy this with the End of Evangelion film. Despite the alternative ending, Anno still desired to remake Evangelion without the budget and technological constraints of the original series. And thus, the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series was born. According to Anno himself, one of the reasons for the rebuilds was to make the series more accessible to a wider audience. To what extent did Anno succeed and fail at accomplishing his goal?
Where it Succeeded
The rebuilds succeeded in giving the original Evangelion series a facelift by updating the resolution to 16:9 to match contemporary shows. Also sporting a more modern art style, the Rebuild movies certainly succeed in making Evangelion feel like a 21st-century series. Even though some fans may prefer the older style, the more modern style is more accessible to a wider audience who are more familiar with modern anime.
Not only did the original series get a facelift, but the Angels also received a huge makeover. Many of the Angels received more intricate designs that help convey a more alien look. One of the most significant changes was to Ramiel, the prism-shaped angel. In the original series, Ramiel was a static prism that would shoot lasers, but in the rebuilds Ramiel has a dynamic form. The fluid transformations of Ramiel’s form add a level of intensity to the fight, making it one of the series’ most iconic battles.
Anno had hindsight on his side when reconstructing Evangelion, tweaking some of the issues that the original series faced. One of those was the extremely rushed introduction of Kaworu in the main series. Kaworu's relationship with Shinji was crucial for Shinji's development, however, Kaworu was severely underdeveloped. In Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, Kaworu received a lot more screen time, helping to flesh out his relationship with Shinji.
Where it Failed
However, the Evangelion Rebuilds were not strictly an improvement to the original series. Many fans have a lot of issues with the direction of the movies. One controversial decision is the introduction of a new pilot, Mari. Despite Mari playing a significant role in the movies, the character is extremely shallow. Alongside Mari’s static personality, there is no clear direction for what her character is supposed to be.
One of the biggest complaints from fans is the tonal shift away from the unsettling atmosphere that was so iconic in the original series. This includes the depressing dives into the characters' mental struggles. Much of the insight into Asuka, Rei, and Shinji's character is scrapped to focus on the plot elements. The emotional beats of the rebuilds rely on the viewer’s previous knowledge of the characters' psyche. This makes it hard for new viewers to understand the character’s motivations. The Rebuilds are supposed to make the show more accessible, but they completely fail to convey the psychological themes that made the original series so successful.
Potentially the biggest failure of the Evangelion Rebuilds is the plot. Since the rebuilds were intended to be a more accessible retelling of Evangelion, it should have a more cohesive plot than the original. A huge turn-off of the original Evangelion series is the convoluted and downright cryptic plot. The rebuilds are no better than the original. Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo is the biggest culprit of this, raising way more questions than answers by completely diverging from the original series.
What the Rebuilds Bring to Eva
No matter what anyone thinks about the rebuilds, it’s undeniable that they are significant to the Evangelion franchise. The final movie, Evangelion: 3.0 + 1.0 Thrice Upon a Time provides a much-needed conclusion to the series. Despite the rebuilds not providing insight into the characters' psyche, the final movie provides a cathartic release to many of the issues the characters suffered from.
Looking at the Evangelion Rebuilds as a meta-textual work, instead of an attempt to make the series more accessible, makes the failures more palatable. The rebuilds were never meant to be a retelling of Evangelion, but instead a medium for commentating on the original series.
At the end of the final movie, Shinji’s wish to erase the Evangelions not only represents him shedding his past, it also symbolizes the departure from the Evangelion franchise. A very fitting end to one of anime’s most iconic series.