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1995–1996

Evangelion

Disciplines:
psychology
science fiction
science fiction/anime
hideaki anno

Summary

Hideaki Anno's 1995–96 mecha anime series — superficially about teenagers piloting giant robots against alien enemies but actually a psychological deconstruction of the mecha genre and an exploration of depression, identity, and interpersonal fear.

Core Contribution

Deconstructs and redefines anime — Evangelion's subversion of mecha tropes (heroes with psychological trauma rather than courage; victory that makes things worse) and its final two episodes (pure psychological interior monologue) made it the most influential anime ever made.

Historical Influences

Hideaki Anno Hideaki Anno's depression

Intellectual Lineage

Hideaki Anno GainaxTV Tokyo

Allied Works

End of EvangelionRebuild of Evangelion

Contemporaries & Peers

Ghost in the Shell Akira

Minds Influenced

AnimeLenny's Podcast

Intellectual Posterity

Evangelion Hideaki Anno as anime auteurMecha deconstruction

Discussing

Evangelion

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