Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, Hideako Anno, Studio Khara

Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone is a Japanese animation directed by Hideako Anno with Masayuki and Kazuya Tsurumaki. The screenplay was written by Hideako Anno. It is based on the first six episodes of the original series of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The animation is set in a dystopian future after a global cataclysm called the Second Impact. The world is under attack from large alien lifeforms called Angels. Gendo Ikari, founder of an organisation called Nerv, has been working on giant robots called Evangelion (Eva). Gendo’s son Shinji is brought to Nerv and Gendo forces him to pilot of Eva Unit 01. Shinji initially refuses but reluctantly agrees after Gendo asks for Rei (another young pilot already badly wounded) to go instead. Shinji is taken in by Misato (who works at Nerv) as her housemate. This gives us some of the lighter moments of the film as Shinji settles into this somewhat messy/chaotic flat. This contrasts with the coldness of Shinji’s father, Gendo. Shinji is left feeling alone and isolated.

This is not just another robots vs monsters movie. There is a lot more going on. That’s not to say that there isn’t a lot of action scenes as each wave of angel is engaged. There is much beneath the surface. There are references to Judao-Christian iconography such as Lilith. In the film Lilith is the Second Angel, a white giant suspended on a cross. Misato explains to Shinji that should an Angel unite with Lilith it would cause the Third Impact. A worthwhile and thought-provoking animation.