The 80s and 90s saw the emergence of cyberpunk and mecha anime and Hideaki Anno’s masterpiece shouldn’t be excluded. The series stands as a landmark anime in the genre through its depiction of profound themes. The conflict, trauma, and self-concept intermingle with the recurrent symbolism.

There are references, both philosophical and religious, that are meshed within Neon Genesis Evangelion’s plot. It is indeed fascinating how Anno mapped these out in the anime. However, the director burst our bubble through his statement regarding the series.

Asuka in a still from Neon Genesis Evangelion | Credit: Tatsunoko, Gainax

In doing so, he may have stirred the pot among fans who gave it all to the series. The revelation would most certainly dampen fans’ spirits and negate their emotional investment. But does that make the series any less significant or relevant? Not necessarily, and there are several reasons for that.

Hideako...