A Film Directed by Hideaki Anno

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (theatrically released as 1.0) marks the beginning of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, a reimagination of the legendary anime series directed by Hideaki Anno. It serves as a reintroduction to the iconic world of Evangelion while offering both fans and newcomers an updated take on the classic story. These films came out at exactly the right time, as the DVD sets of this series had gone out of print in the US market, and the rights to the show became bogged down in rights disputes between multiple companies. For most people, the prospect of watching 26 episodes of a TV series, plus an OVA, and a feature film seemed daunting, especially with the availability. A series of films recapping everything was a great prospect. Little did anyone know that the four part “trilogy” (lol) would take another 15 years to fully release, dramatically change the story, and end up as another alternate timeline in what most see as a multiverse the franchise exists in.

“The stunning rebuild of the anime masterpiece is now extended and enhanced with never before seen new animation and 266 visual and audio improvements. Tokyo 3 still stands after most of civilization was decimated in the Second Impact. Now the city endures the ceaseless onslaught of the deadly Angels, bizarre creatures bent on eradicating the human race. To combat this strange and ruthless enemy, the government agency NERV constructs a fleet of towering humanoid machines the Evas and Shinji Ikari is called into action, reluctantly taking his place at the controls of Eva Unit 01.Living a life of loneliness and questioning his existence, Shinji struggles to accept responsibility for mankind’s battle for survival in this visually striking rebuild of one of the most important anime of all time. Shinji will fight the Angels alongside the only person who might understand his plight Rei Ayanami, the elusive and frail pilot of Eva Unit 00. In this film experience not to be missed, Shinji and Rei will struggle to learn a simple truth: when carrying the burden of humanity’s survival on your shoulders, you are not alone.”

Neon Genesis Evangelion came out at a fairly formative time for me in my life. It was early on in my college years, and the now defunct anime publisher ADV gouged everyone with expensive DVD releases. The show initially had the veneer of a modern take of a mecha anime, but anyone that gave it any bit of time could see that it was far more than that. Mixed with philosophical and theological motifs and a plot that challenged the viewer, it became a cultural lightning rod that changed anime as a medium and a fandom forever. It’s one of those projects that has likely spanned all manner of doctoral dissertations solely based on the obtuse use of religious iconography and crazy animation techniques, and that’s good. One thing that the show’s creator, Hideaki Anno, wanted was for people to think about his creation and draw their own conclusions:

“Evangelion is like a puzzle, you know. Any person can see it and give his/her own answer. In other words, we’re offering viewers to think by themselves, so that each person can imagine his/her own world. We will never offer the answers, even in the theatrical version. As for many Evangelion viewers, they may expect us to provide the ‘all-about Eva’ manuals, but there is no such thing. Don’t expect to get answers by someone. Don’t expect to be catered to all the time. We all have to find our own answers.”

“About Neon Genesis Evangelion”. Newtype in Protoculture Addicts #43, 11\96

There was a time where just about every military or mecha anime suddenly became very Evangelion-like. Big O, RahXephon, Serial Experiments Lain, the Revolutionary Girl Utena movie, and even Hollywood blockbuster Pacific Rim owe a lot to Evangelion both thematically and visually at times, making it one of the more influential properties in the last thirty years. If Evangelion was a deconstruction of military robot shows and Tokusatsu shows, Rebuild of Evangelion is almost a deconstruction of Evangelion itself, existing to subvert expectations and send the franchise into interesting places it had never been before.

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone follows the early episodes of the original series closely, as Shinji Ikari is reluctantly recruited to pilot a bio-mechanical war machine called an “Eva unit” to protect humanity from mysterious beings known as Angels. Set in the backdrop of a worldwide disaster called The Second Impact, Tokyo barely exists in a recognizable manner, and the so-called Angels threaten to end life on Earth once and for all. Despite the familiar premise, 1.11 introduces several notable changes and enhancements. The animation is significantly improved, showcasing the technical advancements since the original series aired in the 1990s. The visuals are crisp, with updated character designs and stunning mecha battles that maintain the signature Eva aesthetic while feeling fresh and dynamic.

While Evangelion: 1.11 revisits many familiar elements, it introduces a few new mysteries and twists that keep even longtime fans guessing. These changes serve to both pay homage to the original and create a sense of anticipation for what’s to come in the Rebuild series. When things changed it was exciting because I went into this originally just expecting something akin to a recap film (like what Gundam likes to do), but this is far from that.

Character development, particularly that of the show’s main character, Shinji Ikari, remains central to the film’s narrative. His internal struggles, feelings of isolation, depression, and his complex and troubled relationship with his father, Gendo Ikari, are portrayed with depth and nuance. The film delves into the psychological toll of piloting an Eva, while slowly revealing the true nature of the machines and their gruesome origins. While Shinji can be frustrating at times due to his depressive episodes, one thing I can say of this series is that he does grow. By the final film he has matured and moved past wallowing in self-pity, which is more than I can say of a character such as Shinn Asuka from the Gundam SEED franchise, a character that gets compared to Shinji and yet never grows, becoming somewhat insufferable.

Shiro Sagisu returns to this project as composer and fand of earlier compositions from this series are in for a treat. His soundtrack, which is a mix of reimagined classics and new compositions, adds depth and emotion to the film. The iconic tracks from the original series are used strategically, invoking a sense of nostalgia, while the new music enhances the modernized experience. It would have been easy just to drop a bunch of old music into the film then add a new pop song to close everything out – something most anime films end up doing, but they went the extra mile here.

I touched on this a bit before, but one of the strengths of Evangelion: 1.11 is its accessibility. It provides an entry point for newcomers who may have been daunted by the extensive original series, offering them a more condensed and polished version of the story. However, it’s worth noting that some nuances and character depth may be lost in this streamlined retelling.

Then again, this film covers things for approximately the first half of the original show, and the style and plots of those episodes stay somewhat true to the classic “monster of the week” format. It is not until later on when the show steamrolls head-way into philosophical topics, so I found this a good way to speed everything up.

In conclusion, Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone is a successful reimagining of a classic anime series, offering a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. It effectively sets the stage for the Rebuild of Evangelion series, balancing nostalgia with fresh elements that entice both old fans and new. While it may not replace the original series for die-hard fans, it serves as a worthwhile introduction to the Evangelion universe and leaves viewers eager to continue their journey with the subsequent films in the Rebuild series.

I went back to these because I had an opportunity to see the fourth movie in this series, Evangelion 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time, which I missed out on entirely because it came out during the time I was not going to movie theaters. It was fun going back to this, the beginning of the Rebuild of Evangelion series, and I plan to keep going until I finish this out. Stay tuned for more.