So I just finished episode 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. To put it in perspective, I started yesterday.

This is something I never thought I'd do. For one thing I've really never been a huge anime fan. Not a hater, just never really that interested.

Well the story of how I ended up here is a bit convoluted. It involves a lot of related video links on "that video site" (you know the place). So basically Sunday night I found myself watching the opening credits for Eva.

Let me just say I love the opening. The song is great and I like how they arranged all the animation that goes with it, with the flashes of text and stuff.

Weeeeell anyway this reminded me of the fact that I'd heard of the series before here and there and heard that it was really good. Also, there were giant robots. So as is my natural reaction when confronted by such a situation, I consulted Wikipedia.

Well NOW I know I probably shouldn't have read all those spoilers. But that's okay. With a series like Eva, you'll still be confused until you actually watch it, so...

Anyway, another bad idea was probably starting with the End of Evangelion movie. At the time from reading Wikipedia I thought it was interesting but I only intended to watch the movie to see how it all turned out. I couldn't find (shh... no one has to know) the second half of it but I watched the first (subtitles, not dub, of course) and despite the fact that every five minutes I found myself saying "... well that's depressing" I thought it was really pretty cool.

One thing lead to another. What's 26 times 20? 520... tack on a bit more since I think each ep is a bit more than 20 minutes, say 540, which is nine hours of watching. Hooo boy am I going to feel that one. All my homework's done, at least...

Well after the movie I was quite surprised at all the humorous moments during the actual show. It started getting depressing after episode 18 (the one with Unit 03 and Toji and where Gendo switches out control... that one) but before that it seemed a lot more lighthearted, albeit with a tense undercurrent, ominous foreshadowing, and the odd moral dilemma. Laughed out loud a good several times... like one line that got me was when one of the angels splits in two and it just cuts to Misato screaming "THAT'S CHEATING!"

Actual giant robots fighting was a bit sparser than I expected, but I wasn't disappointed (much). Fight scene in ep 19 was epic though. Shreds the arm like aluminum foil... geez...

Characters were all very well developed, seeing as they were the focus and all. Gradual reveal of their pasts and stuff... they were lots of fun, to boot. Just wouldn't be the same without Asuka yelling at Shinji, Misato just being immature, and Rei being... um... Rei (she kinda creeps me out). 25 and 26, the ending episodes that there appears to be much debate over... dunno, I didn't like 25 as much but I liked 26. Maybe because 26 was a tad easier to understand . I do think it's good that they released the movie... the way I see it, 25 and 26 resolves the internal conflicts, but the movie resolves the external ones... 24 does kinda leave you hanging as to what the HECK happened to them all, not really any closure with the whole Angels plot.

Oh yeah, and there were the "rated R" scenes... haha, man, half the humor came from the really REALLY awkward moments. Though in another sense, eeeeveryone's hitting puberty... can't really avoid the issue and how it affects what the characters are going through...

Hoookay all this deep and analyzing stuff is going to lose me all my male cred. So anyway. GIANT ROBOT FIGHTS. Yes. That's what it's all about.

And on that note, in reference to the movie, or the part that I watched at least...

Asuka has got some serious issues.

3 minutes for 9 units?

Her reaction?

... backing away... very slowly...