That's why they decided to fight God. To see how far they could struggle and continue moving forward. Oh wait, that's to deep. Ummm, Boy turns into God to fight big robot. Yea, that's better
@@hawkticus_history_cornerbut you see, the key word being someone that *you care about.* Which from what I’m seeing from the father of the year known as shinji’s dad isn’t really the case
It's more than that. As someone struggling with depression I cannot express how absolutely pitch perfect this sentence is" "belive in yourself" is an impossible task when your world is darkness and you have no self confidence. It's like a whip. "just climb Everest moron, what are you waiting for" thats how it feels. It's motivational for non-afflicted, but one deepens the chasm that people with severe depression are in. but belive in someone else, who sees value in you? Believe that maybe your perspective is flawed, but in a good way, in a way that you can't see your own good side but others can? Yeah I can do that. And it's not toxic dependency, Aniki does unspeakably good job at building Simon up. He first says "believe in me" because that is the easiest to do when you see no worth in yourself. You even tend to glorify others, seeing them as fundamentally better than you as they are confident in their life and just **live** when you vegetate. Then he says "believe in me who believes in me" as in "I have gotten to know you better and I see greatness in you, that you fail to see. You are better than you think, but you have to believe me first to believe my assesment of you". an he finally says to believe in yourself. And Simon does so, because he was taught to see the greatness in himself and he actually saw it and grasped it. Kamina nwever wanted Simon to be dependant, he just knew how to build tower of confidence on a swamp of self-doubt
the cool part is despite the difference in perspective and background, Shinji and Simon pick the same answer: that it is better to be human even if that comes with risk and pain.
They are also both stories about how optimism and pessimism are both irrelevant in the face of honest communication and genuine effort. It doesn't matter what your outlook is as long as you put aside part of yourself to allow the strength of the greater whole of humanity in.
Yeah, I was happy he did that. I never liked the notion "Giving Up" is realistic and "Not giving up" is unrealistic". Let me pose a question Why are we here? Humanity has already died and been born again. Fascism is no more in Japan and Germany. Because they and we know how great life is. The question "why is there bad in the world?" Is not the question. The world is not a good place on it's own. The actual question is "How is there *Good* in the world"
I think you missed a pretty big thing: Shinji cant do anything without the Eva and TTGL answers it by making Simon beat both of his big foes with his hands
@@briang3598 The other time (movie timeline because it felt way more characteristic for Simon I think), Simon made a drill out out of his BLOOD and *DRILLED RIGHT THROUGH THE ANTI-SPIRAL!*
@@yeetyateyote5570 Expanding on this, adult Simon literally takes Kamina’s role in regards to his friendship with Shinji in one of the games, its awesome
Head canon accepted, the Anti-Spiral is humanity after Instrumentality, though that raises the question of who is the Anti-Spiral King? Shinji? Gendo? SEELE?
@@Evergreen_Wizard I'm leaning more towards SEELE, they're responsible for causing Instrumentality by killing Asuka with those Mass-produced EVA's and finally breaking Shinji's mental state
I like it because both that one and the "Believe in the you that believes in yourself" give exactly the same meaning: I believe in you. The first time kamina says "I believe in you, and if you don't, then you're saying I made a mistake. So, if you can't believe in yourself, then believe in me because I make no mistake" The second time he's saying "I believe in you, and I know you believe in yourself too. But I will never know you more than you know yourself. Don't believe in yourself because I never make mistakes, believe in yourself to prove me the fck wrong" And honestly, both are amazing.
*Evangelion:* Fly me to the moon Let me play among the stars Let me see what spring is like on A-Jupiter and Mars *Gurren Lagann:* Fly me to the moon Let me kick its fucking ass Let me show it what I learned In my Moon Jiujitsu class
As someone who's watched both and liked both something about gurren lagann stuck with me more then Eva. That pure optimism, that pure love of being human just makes me happy to be myself. They told me when the world is beating me down don't sit around in your sadness. GET UP AND GET ANGRY FIGHT BACK NO MATTER WHAT!!! That messege keeps me going it gives me hope.
About sexuality in Gurren Lagann - it openly says that it's bad to be weird about it, the one episode where Kamina acts weird and creepy it gets them in trouble, and Yoko openly says that he could've just asked her
I watched Gurren Lagann and something about their pure love for being human and being so optimistic will always stick with me. On another note, it made me wanna get stronger, and embrace being different.
More like, reject what people think is impossible and make it a reality. People will believe certain things are impossible, until they see someone do it, that will open a path for them to continue that legacy.
The Final weapon of Eva is lance and final weapon in Gurren laggan is a drill, the job of both of this weapons is to make holes in things (in simple), but one is a god like weapon with one speciall purpose, and the other just a dirty drill which is fucking hard to use and overall a dump idea for real combat, but shimon believes in his weapon. In the oppesite, shinji never care about his weapon and has overall bad memory about the lance. I dont think if it was on purpose, but i like this coincidence
I don't know much about any lance symbolisms but I know the drill is a big symbolism for humanity slowly evolving. If I remember correctly, They used the drill to show its path formed a double helix pattern, so basically DNA
The lance is also called the Spear of Longinus. The spear that pierced Christ. The drill moves up to God, a reference to Man’s desire to understand God Eva’s spear is an example of how man fails to wound God (Drastically oversimplified)
I remember people on threads theorizing that Gurren Lagann takes place directly after Evangelion and that the antispirals were just previous humans. And while that is a fun theory, I would need more evidence to make THAT argument.
I'm sure someone has made this remark, and this video is a year old, but in pretty much EVERY Super Robot Wars game which has Evangelion and Lagann in it, the Lagann characters directly support and help Shinji, and even sometimes get characters like Misato or Gendo to realize just how awful they've been to the poor boy. Like, it's usually a universally awesome moment to see Shinji's new characterization because really, all he needed (and wanted) was people to support him. And when he gets it, he's a radically different person.
This is true even before TTGL came around. Back in the Super Robot Wars Alpha series, Shinji is taken under the wing of the other pilots. Having positive (well, non-toxic at least) role models and a healthy support structure, he turns out (as you said) *much* differently. This got repeated in the Z series when TTGL had its turn in the SRW-plot spotlight.
TTGL is more like Gainax's answer to Shinji with Simon. Which I actually think is pretty meta, as I'm pretty sure that it was due to Gainax's influence that Anno changed the leads from Rei/Yui Ichigo/Asuka to Shinji.
@@borischepilev9469 The proto-Rei character in the Evangelion proposal. Originally there was going to be Yui Ichigo and Asuka Soryu as the only Eva pilots. Apparently they were going to be closer too. Shinji Ikari was a character that was added in at the last minute, probably due to Gainaxs influence, and the story was slightly adjusted for that. Which is ironic to me in so many ways, but does explain a lot.
The more I learn about this show the more I think it is an answer to Shinji with Simon the Digger, but also META commentary about the directors frustration with working on Evangelion. SInce Rebuild 3.0 I've been of the mindset that the vessel/self insert for Anno in Evangelion is and always has been Gendo, the final rebuild kind of confirmed it for me. Going on which character/mech would obviously represent Gendo/Anno/Evangelion in TTGL i'd wager that this director thinks Gendo is Anno's self insert too. It is kind of awesomely meta really, SImon the digger is what Shinji could've been in Evangelion without Anno/Gendo/Lord Genom there to hold him back.
How both series deal with depression and insignificance: Evangelion: You are worthless and insignificant, and yet, so is everything else. Therefore, find meaning and become your own hero, young boy. Gurren Lagann: LETTSSSS FUCKKIINGGG GOOO!!!!!!!
Eva: "It's all meaningless, you're meaningless, all your heroes will die and so will you... so make this tiny sliver of your life meaningful *for you."* Gurren Lagann: "I'm going to punch you in the face if you start with that shit again. Get up."
I don't think kamina being in Evangelion would help shinji if kamina just dies. Unless shinj had another character to cheer him up like nia because without Nia, Simon wouldn't have snapped out of it.
That's the thing not only Misato, everyone is fucking awful to Shinji even his friends, literally the first time he mets Toji he blames him for his little sister's injuries and beats his ass, while Simon not only had Kamina but the whole Gurren brigade behind him as friends and family
@@Carlos-ne3zf Except that one time Simon got into depression and everyone immediately treat him like trash. But that was before they TRULY became friends and family so who am I to say ?
@@nestorreyes126 and lets not forget that just when Toji started to actually be a friend to Shinji, Gendo forced him to kill him too, luckily he survived but still fucking traumatic
I feel like an important theme of Evangelion that wasn't mentioned is escapism. A lot of characters try to run away from their problems by many means, and shinji being so closed off and often retreating inside his own self in the train scenes is just that. Yes overall Ano's world vision is bleak but still shows it's crucial to reject trying to escape it, Shinji at the end could reshape the world in whatever way he'd want, but that wouldn't be real, choosing to stay on the beach of a desolate world with a partner you partially hate instead of a fantasy world is pure fighting spirit, that's what Evangelion really is about.
@@CC.M you can view it that way, but I feel like the point of "saying goodbye to everything Evangelion" by erasing the eva units and changing the world is to get rid of the escapism of the fictional world of Evangelion itself. It's not shinji that has to turn a page and live in the real world, it's the viewer himself that must do that, that's why the footage of the very end transitions from 2D into live action.
“The vast majority of humanity decides to give up its individuality,turn into a giant space creature, and give up on the idea of being human because it is too difficult.” Lazy bastards.
This part of the video is wrong on so many levels and misses the point of Evangelion SO HARD. Humanity didn't give up. Shinji did, and then regretted it and was granted a second chance at life. Evangelion is a show that celebrates human interaction, even if it causes harm to us. It's on the name of one of the earlier episodes, for crying out loud.
@@davidtirado2330 Thank god im not the only one thinking this, I was going mad just listening him miss the point completely. And to address the original comment: thats not what happens at all. Humanity is turned to Fanta not of their choice but of Shinji's at the time. His Mother had set all these events into motion to basically make Shinji the decider of Humanity's fate instead of Gendo or SEELE. And after a huge introspection, Shinji decides he'd rather live with all of life's pain and misery if its worth having all of life's possibility for good and happiness, then cancels the end of the world.
It wasn't about the difficulty of being human, it was about relationships and the idea that we can't connect as people because of our individual different perspectives. So the Illuminati decided to fuse everyone into one person made of orange soul-juice
I literally watched gurren lagann after a rewatch of Evangelion and I always wondered why they seemed so similar despite being completely opposite in basically everything
One point made me suprised because we interpret shinji rejecting instrumentality in 2 different ways. You state that shinji rejecting humanity says that people will always be less than the universe. I think that shinji rejecting instrumentality states sth quite different. Is says that no matter how much things are fucked up, no matter in which place world is, no matter how many horrible things you have done, no matter how many times you have run away, you can always start on basics and accept your humanity and your flaws and embrace the world around you, even if it isn't how you wish it was. Later you can work on yourself to make a world better place. I think that it is the meaning of shinji rejecting instrumentality, not accepting your infiriority.
Absolutely. The whole comparison of humanity to "the universe" is kinda missing the point of Eva, which is that the universe isn't even that interesting (this is why all the technobabble and exposition and aliens are treated as just so much set dressing) - what matters is our relationships with each other, _within_ humanity, on this little Earth we all share. They don't need to reject a higher power, because there _is_ no higher power - we are all there is (the Angels aren't the main threat, but the catalyst that pushes people to face their own demons). So, while Shinji rejecting Instrumentality may mean we don't get to become a shiny flashy space giant that can toss around galaxies, nor does it end with us going to space to look for other life, that doesn't make it any less of a message of hope; the message is that if we fight hard enough, and are willing to be vulnerable and sometimes hurt, we can learn to live with each other, and grow as individuals together. And that's not settling for inferiority, that is _all_ that matters.
@@Coolguy98765 he contemplates choking her because in essence she now (because of their minds being momentarily connected through instrumentality) has seen just how pathetic he was, essentially he starts choking her out of pure embarrassment. But despite this she still places her hand on his face showing compassion for him. Earlier in the dream sequence Asuka essentially told him that love is not a human right and you have to first love yourself before anyone else can truly love you back. her placing her hand on his face was her showing him that despite everything she loves him and that's why he stops choking her.
@Dragon Glass yeah Pnut interpretation is interesting. i think the way he arrives at this interpretation is looking at the two animes through optimism and pessimism In EVA reality is inherently pessimistic while Gurren Lagann is optimistic as EVA's reality cannot be subverted while in Gurren Lagann it can. to the pessimist Gurren Lagann is unrealistic or ignorant of its reality, as reality cannot be subvert IT REALITY or their was no subvention just the discovery of what is possible in reality which would undercut this subversion of it or that the subversion is devil bargain. in comparison the optimist or PNUT in this case cannot accept the EVA reality and deeply want Shinji to subvert reality. when Shinji rejects instrumentality for the optimist this is a rejection of the subversion of reality, the solution to shinji problems. Shinji rejection is to optimist an acceptance of nihilism that reality sucks and that we are fucked. this is false dichotomy and as @Dragon Glass points out that embracing reality can be as empowering if not more so as subverting reality. this choice between subversion and embracing reality is false in EVA reality as the EVA rebuild movies demonstrates. in 2nd EVA movie Shinji tries to subvert reality to save Rei but does this work? NO it cause the 3rd impact and Shinji/audience are left with a shitty replacement Rei. overall this is a difference in perspective, if most problems in life just need more elbow grease to redefine what possible therefore redefining reality Gurren Lagann is correct. However if life's problems are insurmountable and no amount of will power can change acceptance and affirmation to live life in spite of pain and stuggle makes more sense therefore EVA is correct lastly for me i prefer EVA thematic resolution as Gurren Lagann themes are oversaturated in media, just try harder, while EVA response is more unique and more fulfilling as even in an reality more nothing goes your shinji he can find happiness
"Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me, believe in the Kamina who believes in you!" This is what made Kamina such a good leader. He knew how to inspire people. He knew how to get people to believe they *can* do something. And while he did have an ego, he wasn't arrogant. He would listen. If someone had a better idea, he'd go with that. He promoted teamwork. He would even let someone else take control if he believed someone else could handle a situation. He didn't want to win for himself, he wanted *everyone* to win.
Evangelion and Gurren Lagann are two of my favorite shows, they both hit on a very personal level for me for entirely different reasons. Evangelion reflects my personal flaws and emotional issues in a painfully honest way that hits a little too close to home, while Gurren Lagann inspires me to be better than those flaws and to respect myself and stand up for myself.
I love both Eva and Gurren Laggan, but it seems to me that some of the issues that arrive in Eva are handled better in Gurren Lagann due to the work being distributed equally rather than the Director having more explicit control. Having help and input from others helped Gurren Lagann be more easily accepted. Two different shows for sure though, Eva's tone is the complete opposite of Gurren Lagann but I love how Gurren "answers" Eva EDIT: man imagine combining Evas, that transformation would be grotesque but awesome EDIT 2: Kamina would reject instrumentality in .001 seconds
The eva universe would kill kamina becaus he cant exist and the tone be the same. The universe, i mean anno would have to kill him gruesome. Gurren laggan is better but i dont know how youcan make a such depressing raw portrayal and not be messy. The messiness isnt that good , but is a mark on its own that adds.
A better "Star Wars for Japan" would be the 1979 original Gundam, and a lot of Evangelion itself is derivative of it , like the refusal of piloting Mecha, and Evangelion in general owes a lot to what came before , in a sense is not so original on his ideas, is a very personal creation of Hideaki Anno, and he put a lot of the things he liked in Eva, like Mazinger and Getter Robo the fathers of the giant robot boom in Japan and the others works of his creator Go Nagai ,like Devilman, from Go Nagai's Sensei in manga, Shotaro Ishinomori , Anno also drinks a lot of inspiration , from Kamen Rider for Example, there is also the heavy inspiration from Ultraman and Godzilla.But the relation between the original Gundam and Evangelion is more direct , to a point where Shinji Ikari is a lot like a 90's version of Amuro Ray the first gundam pilot, a lot of the same dilemas come from there
The tone and focus of both series is opposite, however eventually, Eva and Gurren Lagan both reach to the same answer. This is clearer in the rebuild movies, as they do a better job than the OG anime and EoE at showing the strength of human spirit. The last third of 3+1 gave me serious Gurren Lagan vibes, I almost feel as if Anno was inspired by GL to make the last movie.
the rebuilds are shit, just more bs fantasy answer to the reality of the original series which really doesn't have a proper answer, none of them (simon and shinji) reach the conclusion through argumentation or something like that, they just pull it out of their sleeves and we agree only because we want to agree, not because they found a super deep question
Great video! I would like to add to the contrast between Asuka and Yoko, that the thing with Asuka is that she thinks she's better than everyone around her and as such comes off as very insecure and makes it nearly impossible for her teammates to work or synchronize with her. Whereas Yoko is much more confident in herself, her abilities and her looks. That's why she's always trying to help people out since we first see her, she's a team player (and why later on she becomes a school teacher), and why she dresses the way she does. Yoko doesn't need to brag about how good she is, we can see it when she fights. Asuka is fighting for her sake and to prove that she's competent. Yoko fights for the sake of others, and to help her friends move forward.
If one never watched the backstory or even heard of the great spiral war in GL, one could easily assume that Earth is the wasteland that transformed after the Instrumental whatever, which could still play out considering the Anti-Spiral were previously Spiral beings that broke away
2:20 we're just starting this video by ignoring Amuro Ray and original Mobile Suit Gundam? He did that over a decade before Shinji, and Anno was a known huge fan of said series. Ironically I'd also say Gundam is much closer to being the Star Wars of anime.
I agree with this. And Eva is somewhat a "lie", because It's not a mecha anime because the Evas are not mechas....are biological beings. Beings of light. Like... Ultraman. In fact I think Anno is a big fan of Ultraman, and Ultraman Leo, and that later series was pretty dark, in themes and deaths. I always thought Evangelion is a dark Ultraman series in disguise.
@@luchomscyfy the Eva's are alive but are basically robots built on top of organics. I'd still consider both SSSS.Gridman and the new Ultraman anime to be mecha too. If it's in a Super Robot Wars game it's probably fair to call it mecha.
@@RayOfTruth actually, the armors are more like restrictions for the Evas. Kinda suits to control them. They are basicaly cloning giants beings (like Goliath from the Bible) and putting armors and cybernetic implants to control them. Their true form, like Eva 01, is more like beings of light with wings and all....
What a masterpiece of a video! This is literaly how we people can choose how to see our word and our life. As you said, the perspective from which you look at things is fundamental to the result!
I have epilepsy, and I'm going to undergo brain surgery on the 10th. The "keep fighting" attitude of shows like Gurren Lagann, Dragon Ball, and even Code Geass has always pushed me forward, and to know that what I thought of as just a feel good show is actually an answer to the question of nihilism brought up by a show that I always found depressing, undecipherable, and frankly creepy, is great. Thank you. You've got a new subscriber. Hashem yevarech otha.
I think the problem here is that people seem to think that eva is a negative series, when its core message is the same as ttgl, that is the world may suck but you gotta keep fighting to make it better and to improve your self. Shinjis final choice is to reject the easy path and to continue to struggle, he decides to get close to others because part of socializing comes with getting hurt. essentially he overcomes hedgehog syndrome. Simon struggles with every loss he takes but ultimately gets up to fight again after his friends help him up, something no one around shinji did or couldn’t do.
I was looking for a comment like this, you're absolutely spot on . . . just because Evangelion doesn't depict reality/humanity as rainbows and unicorns doesn't mean that the show argues that life isn't worth living lol. If anything, it makes the message more powerful imo.
Hell no. Evangelion has no uplifting motives at all, unless you bring them in, squint your eyes, dismiss most of the series and THEN add a little of side-logic to it. If that is wham jamm your jimms, ok, but dont say that is the truth because it isnt LOL.
Its by virtue of being therapy foe annos depression negative. Its ending is positive ,but th eries is very gloomy bcaue its the expression of depression. Even for good to express it and idntify, not make it worse. And honstly why the series is a pretty good check if you unconcious hav problem, as good thing, to deal with it. To let it out and talk.
As someone that likes both animes, I can say that TTGL its good for the hype and cheer up and tells you that you can not stop and keep moving forward for the people that loves you. But Evangelion tells you that its normal to be down, even if you feel that nobody loves you, or care of you, or not even you father or your friends, there are people who needs you, and even if you don't see it, someone loves you but they have their own problems like you, and it's hard to understand them and for them to understand you because everyone have differents problems. So, its ok to be afraid of the pain and feel bad or down, you don't need to be the most cheerful guy or girl, the most handsome or social person or the best at anything to save the world, if you care about someone, even if you don't understand them, you will do whatever you can to do it, and even if you fail, it's ok atleast try it
The whole rejecting individuality and becoming one with the greater whole to escape the suffering of this world is NOT Heaven; it's Nirvana. Heaven isn't ever described as being a place where there is no emotion or individuality. It's true there is no sadness or division, but the Bible never says anything about losing your humanity in the process. Rather it's a perfect world because the sin that lives in peoples hearts is removed, not the hearts themselves. Since the Bible says people will be rewarded for what they have done, that would mean people wouldn't be the same: "Look! I am coming soon! I bring my rewards with me. I will reward each person for what he has done." ~ Revelation 22:12. Also the Bible talks about knowing completely just as you are known, which would imply that there actually is something to be known ". . . Someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely" ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12 Buddhist Nirvana on the other hand is described as: ". . . cessation of all afflictions, cessation of all actions, cessation of rebirths and suffering that are a consequence of afflictions and actions. Liberation is described as identical to anatta (anatman, non-self, lack of any self). In Buddhism, liberation is achieved when all things and beings are understood to be with no Self. Nirvana is also described as identical to achieving sunyata (emptiness), where there is no essence or fundamental nature in anything, and everything is empty." ~ Wikipedia 'Nirvana'. It would make sense that the group called NERV is trying to achieve NIRVana. To put it simply: Heaven is where a person is made complete, Nirvana is a place where a person is made empty.
Another thing missed was Simon at the end refuses to bring his loved ones back with yoko saying that Simon isn't God. Simon then settles for the simple life of a wondering monk even tho he is nearly onpar with God in power.
@@EggEnjoyer I disagree. Adam and Eve were both human before the fall and before sin. God did not create humans fundamentally flawed but in his own image. They became fundamentally flawed in the fall. This fundamental flaw is a second nature that fights against the first nature. This is highlighted in Romans 7-25, which talks about how a persons conflicting inner natures: The First Nature from God, and the Second Nature from sin that we were born into. The bible doesn't say humans can't enter heaven, it says those tainted by sin can't enter heaven. The Sin Nature can be considered a cancer in a person. Instead of thinking of the rebirth as a Lobotomization of a persons humanity think of it more of a delicate surgery removing cancerous tissue from a person. You're still you and your still human, just without the second nature you were born with constantly trying to enslave you. Also Satan didn't turn people into sinners, rather he just tempted them into sinning by causing doubt in God. He does not have the kind of power to turn people into sinners directly. He can only tempt people, and whether or not they give in is up to them, not Satan. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says that you can't be tempted beyond your ability.
after watching both series i've gained a new appreciation for the creative process that went behind them and the way they answer the same questions in a different manner. this video really is a thinker
I find it ironic, 2 series that shaped how I view the world a series that shaped my childhood (evangelion) And that shaped my adulthood (gurren lagaan) Making me a person able to see equally from both light and dark perspectives becoming a genuine realist, analyzing both positive and negative aspects of everything and viewing it from a non subjective non linear standpoint. Evangelion shaped the bad with the good Gurren lagaan shaped the good within the bad allowing me to pursue a more positive life through that unending passion desire to fight for a better tomorrow. I love both these series so much.
just seeing a channel that makes vids this good having so little subs makes me want to kill the yt algorythm aniways nice video you definitely earned my sub and deserve SO much more than this
hey PNUT guy, this is awesome content! I thought I'm watching a seasoned youtuber. Looking forward for more! also: I just watched the gurren lagann series for the first time. First few episodes I didn't know what to make of it, then accepted the fact that it's much more light hearted, less drama than the things I've watched recently (they can basically do anything they want if hyped enough, "not really in that much danger"), then boom, what happened to Kamina gave so much weight to the story. I'm still amazed.
I think the latter half of Eva 3.0 + 1.0 is where it finally gains that answer, of acceptance but going above and beyond to enjoy life. EoE completes NGE but it’s answer that “oh human relationships are inevitably painful but it is what it is” isn’t enough. The last rebuild film expresses a heavy theme I think of gratitude which is so important, something everything else in Evangelion prior failed to establish
Amazing video! I always liked how Gainax (and Studio Trigger, which had a lot of the same people) portrayed coming of age stories, going about it from different angles
Just finished Eva and was looking for someone who pit the ideas of TTGL against it as it clearly serves as an "alternative." Glad you made this! Keep it up!!
I urge you to rewatch Evangelion and think about what Anno is trying to tell you. EoE is a bit less overt about it but the original ending is pretty clear. Evangelion is about accepting the ugly parts of life, and enduring pain and moving on, not about "detesting fighting and sacrificing humanity". The sole reason Anno had to make a second part to Evangelion, the rebuild films, is to be able to hammer this point home harder because a bunch of people read it the same way you've done, in a pessimistic, nihilistic kind of way.
I would say I agree...partially. But I think Anno's point dilutes with the scene of Shinji strangling Asuka. You could consider "it's Shinji waking up, not knowing where he is, so he estrangles Asuka, the only person close to him", but in metaphorical level, it seems it's still Shinji hating humanity. Anno delivered (badly) the message in the last two episodes of the series. But he was angry with the fans and that's why EoE started like Shinji doing....stuff to a comatose Asuka, and ended up that way. Anno still struggled with mysantropy. EDIT: I think that's why Eva Rebuild films are more Anno being mature, not angry anymore with the fans, and more....mature as a creator. I don't think EoE is Anno being mature. It's Anno being a pessimistic and ,somewhat like Shinji, childish.
@@luchomscyfy Leaving aside the fact that Anno didn't make EoE out of spite (in fact parts of what would become the movie were shown in the next episode previews of episode 24, but had to be scrapped due to a lack of time); yes, Anno absolutely struggled with mysantropy, and yes Shinji still hated humanity even after rejecting instrumentalization. Because that's not the point of the show. EoE isn't about immediately moving on and forgetting all your trauma instantly, it's about having the will to try EVEN if you struggle with those things “Anywhere can be paradise as long as you have the will to live. After all, you are alive, so you will always have the chance to be happy. As long as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth exist, everything will be all right”. That's why Shinji starts stangling Asuka but stops before killing her when she tries to connect with him one last time
A thousand times this, it's a way more realistic portrayal of the human condition, while TTGL bases its protagonist in a "fan fiction" tier set up, where the world isn't inherently bad just ignorant, everyone will work together for the common good, and he has a stable role model to lead him into the right mode of thought and action. Shinji has absolutely none of these fantasy elements in his character, he's alone, abused, and much more like the average person experiencing the cold and silent universe than Simon. They're actually apples and oranges, Eva focuses around the end of the world as humanity knows it (which is inevitably more realistic considering how we treat the earth and each other over millennia.) While TTGL starts with the world already having gone past this point, and is essentially at a new beginning, or cusp of golden age. Obviously you could have either mindset in both situations, but one is much more likely than the other.
I can’t help but feel that this video was too harsh in analyzing the philosophy of eva. At it’s core, it’s not just a story about how everything sucks. It’s a story about not running away because everything sucks in the hopes that one day things will get better
Really thoughtful analysis! Love the takeaway message you conclude on. Been feeling a bit down and now want to rewatch gurren lagann thanks to this vid.
eva doesnt encourage repressed sexuality. J look at the dream sequence w rei and shinji in EoE. It j encourages facing reality, and not using sex as an escape like misato. Accept ur own emotions, including sexuality.
That's a very interesting connection. And also awesome conclusion. I've watched eva before gurren lagann. At first I didn't understand Evangelion. After going through my lowest during depression, I slowly started understanding the show. When I watched Gurren Lagann, I was empowered with the motivation it gives, positivity as a solution to out problems. It powered me through some tough moments of my life, although didn't save from falling into some fucked up depression period from which I'm still recovering. Previously I wouldn't call evangelion a show that I like a lot. Now I've grown to understand, and inherently love those characters. Gurren Lagann will always be one of my favorite anime of all time, and I won't stop recommending it.
Kamina would shout, "Shinji! Let's see you grit those teeth!" before feeding him a knuckle-sammich... But he'd probably also tell off Asuka for being a stuck-up bitch...
Very nice breakdown of the parallels and differences of bith shows. I gotta say thought i think you are often presenting evangelions depressing tone as the way it answers the question opposing gurren laganns optimistic one. of life when the actual eva answers the answer very similarly when instrumentality is rejected.
Imma be really pedantic, but you did one of my biggest pet peeves in your first sentence: "The culture in which it comes from" - no "The culture from which it comes" - yes
j bc shinji develops into a fucking awful person n misato is a horrible parental figure doesn't mean the show is telling u to be like that, I think its intended to point out the stupidity in choosing to live like that. there really isn't a single character in eva whos even close to being a good person, and I think that's intentional
Yeah that's one of the things that annoyed me the most about this video. I don't think Evangelion is a cynical show or even a show that's cynical about society and the world at large, it just presents very realistically flawed people struggling to survive and cope with themselves and their reality in a world that could end at any moment.
@@jobnacorconcepcionabad6037 the fact that eva explictly states what u j said j proves more that the video is presenting some pretty shit evidence for its thesis
Eureka Seven is also a nice companion piece to these, and it kind of fits right in the middle of both of them. Hell, Eureka basically starts off as Rei but slowly starts moving into Nia territory.
Eureka Seven is my favorite mecha and I think nails the growth of childhood perfectly. Also I just realized how much Trigger parodied Eva in Kill la Kill. It's obvious, but just never clicked.
6:32 But that's not what happens. Your interpretation seems to focus too much on what's direct. Shinji initiated the instrumentality project upon seeing Asuka's death, but no one other than himself at the moment and his father wanted it. Everyone else was forced and almost seduced into that consciousness where no one could hide how they felt or harm others, not because they all unanimously agreed that life is too hard, but because they had no other choice. Some are even frustrated with the fact that because of HIS choice they have no individuality no longer. The best example of that is Asuka who carries her entire being on being recognized as a individual and having that robbed away from her. SO that when Shinji comes to understand the people he has come to know he, for the first time in a while takes a risk to have something genuine and exits the instrumentality allowing all others who want to leave the choice to do so, he is immediately followed by Asuka. The whole moral of Eva isn't some depressing "futility" argument but a punished pessimist's hopeful outlook on a message that both Eva and Gurren share, not that one is the others extreme on the same coin. Gurren teaches you that through struggle that anything is possible, in a literal sense as humans become controllers of their destinies if they try hard enough, Eva also teaches that in a grounded sense. The moral was best summed up by a quote at the end of Eva that i think you overlooked; "Anything can be paradise as long as you have the will to live." Which Shinji, despite how the world is left and facing the consequence of his decisions, he will strive towards a future where he can be happy, and strive towards his ideal image, understand those he loves even if it seems hard, this isn't easy and didn't start immediately but started all the same. In spite of how hard it seemed, shown by the overwhelming forces of what's left at the end of Eva, that being happy is still possible with the implication that they will get that some day. So i argue that it's the opposite. It's not that they have two different answers to the same question, but they have the same answer with different formula's for answering the same question which is where it's tone is important, sulky but not hopeless. For Eva, not all things can be perfect, life doesn't need to be, even if living is hard it doesn't have to be hell. Although i don't agree with you at all, you put a lot of work into the video and that's worth applauding. Hope to see more from you.
This analysis is stellar. You put into words how I felt about Evangelion. It's about an inner fortitude in spite of an ugly existence. Gurren (which I just finished watching yesterday) is just an 'extroverted' version of that fortitude, choosing to relish in the totality and never question or doubt your place in it.
@@enricov9185 I never said that Gurren Lagann was simple, bruh. I said it was extroverted. The “never question or doubt your place” in life idea doesn’t mean that the characters didn’t question it. I’m saying that the end message was that ‘you belong, don’t doubt it, if you do “Grit those Teeth”.’ Or at the very least believe in the faith that those around you have for you. It’s extroverted, not simple.
I watched these two for the first time back to back and I thought the exact same thing. One other connection I've noticed is that at the end of End of Evangelion Shinji's mother says something like "As long as you have the will to live, you can be happy anywhere." Gurren Lagann expands on this idea by having the story literally be about will power and doing crazy shit with it. It's sort of a sequel when you look at it that way.
Really great video! Though I do have a correction for you. EoE is more Judaism's Kaballah rather than Christianity, though you could see it with Christianity. Like another video said, according to the Kaballah all humans were one soul in the past, and a breaking happened and we got separated. Our jobs is "fixing the world" with good will and good actions, and making our soul closer to each other and fix that breaking, which Evangelion took quite literally with everybody becoming one. There's also a lot of Kaballah's symbols EoE and even the OP.
I'd argue the TTGL is more Jewish with its boundless optimism, drive to push on even in the face of the impossible and will to topple all false gods that stand before us.
Dunno, Eva having so many random religious symbolism that goes nowhere (e.g. explosions being shaped like christian crosses) makes me think the Kaballah being taken literally is just one more religious element being put into the mixer. Some people may find symbolism and explanations, but it's more likely than not just a superficial use of symbols without intent of going deep into their meaning. In fact, the theme of Eva doesn't mix well with taking any mainstream religion seriously.
My first watch of these shows was actually back to back by complete coincidence. First Gurren, then Eva. I came to many of the same conclusions that you did, that Eva and Gurren give different answers to the same question. It was awesome to see a fully fleshed out video explaining how I felt about the two shows after watching both. So thanks for the content :)
I was a Simon-type boy in my youth, never had much friends but was a happy go lucky kid. But when the other kids kept bullying me and showing me that I wasn't good the way I was, just like my father, I turned into a Shinji-type. I think that's why I really love Gurren Lagann. I am one of the persons that has no trust and love for humanity in general. I don't think that we can be good in our core. But when I see Kamina and his unbreakable trust und spirit, I am really touched to my core. And how Simon breaks out of his missery and fights for a better future is really inspireing. Gurren Lagann shows the potential of humanity and how we can all work together to be this one giant organism that can change everything to a good ending. And everytime I hear Libera me from Hell I really feel the strenght raises up in me. I will allways love this show.
I know many (in any will not read this) but he never put the powers they use. The A.T Field is the pilot want to not let anyone near, and spiral power is the power to move on and forward. I know it is not a parallel at the video is, but it shows how the universe is set in the world.
Looking back it really makes me think about how incredible Eva was at when it went to how growing up felt, or even living today. Anxieties, repression, oppression, and stumbling with trauma, Eva feels gross and tense and how I actually feel. Gurren feels like a life or vibe I wish I had, or felt I deserved, or would have loved to express if given the privileges to thrive or fail and keep going.
Evangelion makes you reflect, think about the world and universe, Gurren laggan inspires you and helps you inspire others around you, the only mecha that I consider masterpieces
this is why I love gurren lagann. simon just charge forward and even got himself get sent to jail. even after that he can still go charging forward and save humanity from evil clutch. I want to be like that
When I watched Eva I was at the start of one of the worst bouts of Depression in my life. I was bedridden for nearly 2 years, only getting up for the absolute necessity of the restroom. In this state I decided to finally watch Evangelion because I had heard a lot of great things about it and heard that it was about depression, I thought it might help me. Watching Eva did not help. I hated damn near every moment of Evangelion, and I still do. I despise it from a deeply emotional and ideological level. I stopped on Episode 26, I did not watch End of Eva, nor will I ever, nor will I rewatch the series. Near the end of my Depression I found Gurren Lagann. Unlike Eva I didn't seek it out, nor was I aware of the shared production history between them, I was just consuming media, that's all I did back then. But holy shit was it night and day. I hung on every scene and loved every character. I won't say it fixed my Depression, media can't do that, but it did help me by codifying in me the feelings that were already underneath. In my Depression all I felt was tired and more tired, until eventually I was so tired I was tired of being tired. Eva told me to stay in my bed, Gurren Lagann helped me stand back up.
@@nathanalves3284 sometimes it helps. On bad days sad albums push me yo mu saddest but it forces me to tap out of my state of mind. And i reset in a neutral state of mind. Granted that's just on life a normal day being sad.
@@nathanalves3284 Evangelion isn't a sad anime. It's arguably more hopeful than even Gurren Lagann, in large part due to its greatest willingness to confront the inescapable reality of suffering in this world. Both shows ask the viewer to have hope. Gurren Lagann does it standing triumphantly atop a mountain surrounded by supportive friends. Evangelion does it bloodied and bruised, shivering alone in the dark. The former is more pleasant to look at it, but isn't relatable to people who actually need to be told to have hope. Although, if you ignore what Eva is saying and conclude that it's telling you to stay in bed, then yeah I guess it would be pretty sad.
It took me awhile to realize it, but the christian terminology and imagery used in EVA are just there to exoticize the show for japanese audiences. They have next to nothing to do with the lore.
Basically I see Eva, Gunbuster, and TTGL as one long timeline. Eva discovered the "Angels", which soon become referred to as Gunbuster's Space Monsters, and finally are revealed to be the Anti-Spiral mecha and weapons, humanity going through stages of grief and bargaining (Eva), to acceptance and refusal to submit to an uncontrollable situation. We see Shinji through to Noriko, finally to Simon, facing unknowable enemies that would shake humanity...until we, as humans often do, refuse to accept it any more. And one thing humanity is good at...is fighting. Give us an obstacle, we'll bash our skulls against it until we figure something out. Show us some guy saying he's tougher than us, we'll burn his house down. We don't know when to give up. For good or ill. In a way, that's the best facet we have. We love, hate, fight, and forgive with everything we have. Why? Because it's human.
I'm honestly glad this video popped up on my front page when it did over this week. Getting fired from a job after 2 weeks, as I was starting to actually like it.... because they shouldn't even really hired me on from the start if they were going to be so absurdly impatient over a job that'll take months to master on your own. It really fucked with me mentally over the weekend that I'm still in the process of getting over as I look for other jobs. Dunno if you read these comments but I'm happy I watched the whole video and heard your closing statements.
create video
@Joseph Douek THATS HOW A DRILL WORKS
i realize it's kinda off topic but does anyone know a good site to watch new tv shows online?
@@wellsleland4933 animixplay
he probably already did
Bro didn't you get the point of the video? Everything is in your hands! Pilot that fucking eva! Create this goddamn video yourself!!
That quot: "The characters in Evangelion struggle to live, the characters in Gurren Lagan live to struggle."
That's why they decided to fight God. To see how far they could struggle and continue moving forward.
Oh wait, that's to deep. Ummm, Boy turns into God to fight big robot. Yea, that's better
i think it's other way around lol
eva cast living just to suffer 😂
@@Thaddyyy Struggle =/= Suffering
@@pomponi0 It is for Guts from Berserk lul
"Belive in the me that believes in you" is a nicer motivator than "get in the fucking robot, Shinji"
lol
Granted it doesn't take much, cuz thats just an order not motivation.
But yes, its a hell of a motivator if its from someone you care about
@@hawkticus_history_cornerbut you see, the key word being someone that *you care about.* Which from what I’m seeing from the father of the year known as shinji’s dad isn’t really the case
And even better is the "believe in the you that believes in yourself"
It's more than that. As someone struggling with depression I cannot express how absolutely pitch perfect this sentence is"
"belive in yourself" is an impossible task when your world is darkness and you have no self confidence. It's like a whip. "just climb Everest moron, what are you waiting for" thats how it feels. It's motivational for non-afflicted, but one deepens the chasm that people with severe depression are in.
but belive in someone else, who sees value in you? Believe that maybe your perspective is flawed, but in a good way, in a way that you can't see your own good side but others can?
Yeah I can do that.
And it's not toxic dependency, Aniki does unspeakably good job at building Simon up. He first says "believe in me" because that is the easiest to do when you see no worth in yourself. You even tend to glorify others, seeing them as fundamentally better than you as they are confident in their life and just **live** when you vegetate. Then he says "believe in me who believes in me" as in "I have gotten to know you better and I see greatness in you, that you fail to see. You are better than you think, but you have to believe me first to believe my assesment of you". an he finally says to believe in yourself. And Simon does so, because he was taught to see the greatness in himself and he actually saw it and grasped it.
Kamina nwever wanted Simon to be dependant, he just knew how to build tower of confidence on a swamp of self-doubt
the cool part is despite the difference in perspective and background, Shinji and Simon pick the same answer: that it is better to be human even if that comes with risk and pain.
Yup
They are also both stories about how optimism and pessimism are both irrelevant in the face of honest communication and genuine effort. It doesn't matter what your outlook is as long as you put aside part of yourself to allow the strength of the greater whole of humanity in.
Yeah, I was happy he did that.
I never liked the notion "Giving Up" is realistic and "Not giving up" is unrealistic". Let me pose a question
Why are we here?
Humanity has already died and been born again.
Fascism is no more in Japan and Germany. Because they and we know how great life is.
The question "why is there bad in the world?" Is not the question.
The world is not a good place on it's own. The actual question is "How is there *Good* in the world"
Hideaki Anno was involved in these series, AND Gunbuster...and Nausicaa, AND Honneamise, AND Laputa...
Well except by the time Shinji does do that the show just ends. Everyone else is already basically dead so it’s like what’s the point?
I think you missed a pretty big thing: Shinji cant do anything without the Eva and TTGL answers it by making Simon beat both of his big foes with his hands
Kind of. He beat one of them using, essentially, his car key.
@@briang3598 that's just as brutal honestly
@@briang3598 The other time (movie timeline because it felt way more characteristic for Simon I think), Simon made a drill out out of his BLOOD and *DRILLED RIGHT THROUGH THE ANTI-SPIRAL!*
Bro this one comment is better than this entire video
Yup compere lagan with evangelion it's the most stupid thing I have seen
Karmina being transported into the Evangelion universe and punching sense and confidence into people would make awesome fanfiction material.
The Evas be producing drills and yes, “kick logic to the curb and do the impossible”
I'm sure it exists if you dig hard enough.
The PNUT Gallery it does in Super Robot Wars, and it’s *fucking amazing*
I’d pay good money for that anime Shinji needs to grit those teeth
@@yeetyateyote5570 Expanding on this, adult Simon literally takes Kamina’s role in regards to his friendship with Shinji in one of the games, its awesome
Evangelion showed us the pain of Reality.
Gurren Lagann showed us the strength of Humanity.
Wise words Captain
cringe asf
Exactly! 2 diferent premisses, in 2 good shows.
One shows the weakness of hopelessness and the other the power of hope.
Thats a shitty oversimplification. Both show plenty of pains, the whole point of the video is how you deal with it.
Well, the Anti-spiral hive-mind is literally what humanity became after Instrumentality. And team Gurren has beaten the shit out of it)
Row row fight the power!
Perfect reply. Well done.
Head canon accepted, the Anti-Spiral is humanity after Instrumentality, though that raises the question of who is the Anti-Spiral King? Shinji? Gendo? SEELE?
@@erichfiedler1481 REI
@@Evergreen_Wizard I'm leaning more towards SEELE, they're responsible for causing Instrumentality by killing Asuka with those Mass-produced EVA's and finally breaking Shinji's mental state
Gurren Lagann: Fuck it! We ball!
Evangelion: Fuck you, we're balls...
"Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me! Believe in the me that believes in you!". The single most inspiring thing I have ever heard
I've always adored "believe in the you that believes in yourself"
@@PALACIO254 thats the best
@@PALACIO254this is gold
I like it because both that one and the "Believe in the you that believes in yourself" give exactly the same meaning: I believe in you.
The first time kamina says "I believe in you, and if you don't, then you're saying I made a mistake. So, if you can't believe in yourself, then believe in me because I make no mistake"
The second time he's saying "I believe in you, and I know you believe in yourself too. But I will never know you more than you know yourself. Don't believe in yourself because I never make mistakes, believe in yourself to prove me the fck wrong"
And honestly, both are amazing.
While Sinji's motto is "I don't believe in myself and neither in you"
"In Evangelion, we fly to the moon. In Gurren Lagann, the moon flies into us!"
That line had me laughing for way longer than it should have.
*Evangelion:*
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like on
A-Jupiter and Mars
*Gurren Lagann:*
Fly me to the moon
Let me kick its fucking ass
Let me show it what I learned
In my Moon Jiujitsu class
As someone who's watched both and liked both something about gurren lagann stuck with me more then Eva. That pure optimism, that pure love of being human just makes me happy to be myself. They told me when the world is beating me down don't sit around in your sadness. GET UP AND GET ANGRY FIGHT BACK NO MATTER WHAT!!! That messege keeps me going it gives me hope.
This was sad to read, utter pathetic
I'm I really now, please tell me how in any way that's pathetic.
@@KEEPTALKIN8215 the fact you need a fictional story to motivate yourself is lol
@@wallacesousuke1433 I never said I needed it to find motivation all I said was that it makes me feel motivated. You know a basic human emotion.
@@wallacesousuke1433 also what is so wrong with finding motivation in fiction . When what indicates good fucking writing is invoking an emotion
Shinji: How are you this happy? you've lost your wife and your brother * cries *
Simon: JUST WHO THE HELL YOU THINK I AM?! * opening plays *
*Row Row fight the power*
COMBINEEEEE
@@1LuvMLPFiM knowing shinji i think he'd get the wrong message with "combine" and bend himself over.
@@itsmorbingtime yeah boy 😂
@@1LuvMLPFiM GATAII!!!!!!
About sexuality in Gurren Lagann - it openly says that it's bad to be weird about it, the one episode where Kamina acts weird and creepy it gets them in trouble, and Yoko openly says that he could've just asked her
Because concent is cool and sexy
@@respectfulevil9022hell yeah
@@respectfulevil9022consent is, in fact, the sexiest.
@@drilltotheheavens1695 real true and correct
@@respectfulevil9022The virgin shinji in the hospital vs the chad "you could've just asked"
I watched Gurren Lagann and something about their pure love for being human and being so optimistic will always stick with me. On another note, it made me wanna get stronger, and embrace being different.
I feel the same way. Sure I still think about Eva but Gurren Lagan improved my life permanently
EVA: Accept reality, reject humanity
TTGL: Accept humanity, reject reality
ttgl more like accept both
Monke not superior
"Reject common sense to make the impossible possible!"
More like, reject what people think is impossible and make it a reality. People will believe certain things are impossible, until they see someone do it, that will open a path for them to continue that legacy.
Well said!
The Final weapon of Eva is lance and final weapon in Gurren laggan is a drill, the job of both of this weapons is to make holes in things (in simple), but one is a god like weapon with one speciall purpose, and the other just a dirty drill which is fucking hard to use and overall a dump idea for real combat, but shimon believes in his weapon. In the oppesite, shinji never care about his weapon and has overall bad memory about the lance.
I dont think if it was on purpose, but i like this coincidence
I don't know much about any lance symbolisms but I know the drill is a big symbolism for humanity slowly evolving. If I remember correctly, They used the drill to show its path formed a double helix pattern, so basically DNA
@@theultimaterage675 on top of the fact that the big villain is called anti spiral. What does a drill do? It spirals.
It was definitely a coincidence because it was inspired by Getter Robo
The lance is also called the Spear of Longinus. The spear that pierced Christ.
The drill moves up to God, a reference to Man’s desire to understand God
Eva’s spear is an example of how man fails to wound God
(Drastically oversimplified)
Honestly the anti spiral and the instrumentality project are the same thing
I remember people on threads theorizing that Gurren Lagann takes place directly after Evangelion and that the antispirals were just previous humans. And while that is a fun theory, I would need more evidence to make THAT argument.
@@thepnutgallery3860 they are certainly not connected but id say its another one of the answers that GL makes to eva
Good analysis. TTGL is so inspiring.
Not me thinking about Code Geass with C’s World/Gods, that being a collection of human consciousness, somehow being connected lmao
@@cosmic24wizard84 I guess great mecha shows think alike
I'm sure someone has made this remark, and this video is a year old, but in pretty much EVERY Super Robot Wars game which has Evangelion and Lagann in it, the Lagann characters directly support and help Shinji, and even sometimes get characters like Misato or Gendo to realize just how awful they've been to the poor boy.
Like, it's usually a universally awesome moment to see Shinji's new characterization because really, all he needed (and wanted) was people to support him. And when he gets it, he's a radically different person.
This is true even before TTGL came around. Back in the Super Robot Wars Alpha series, Shinji is taken under the wing of the other pilots. Having positive (well, non-toxic at least) role models and a healthy support structure, he turns out (as you said) *much* differently. This got repeated in the Z series when TTGL had its turn in the SRW-plot spotlight.
Bro thanks with your comment i've discovered SRW. (Games ho are never released in France)
Which SRW ganes have them both? And also how do you find them theres only one on steam (at least in america)
TTGL is more like Gainax's answer to Shinji with Simon. Which I actually think is pretty meta, as I'm pretty sure that it was due to Gainax's influence that Anno changed the leads from Rei/Yui Ichigo/Asuka to Shinji.
ichigo?
@@borischepilev9469 The proto-Rei character in the Evangelion proposal.
Originally there was going to be Yui Ichigo and Asuka Soryu as the only Eva pilots. Apparently they were going to be closer too.
Shinji Ikari was a character that was added in at the last minute, probably due to Gainaxs influence, and the story was slightly adjusted for that.
Which is ironic to me in so many ways, but does explain a lot.
The more I learn about this show the more I think it is an answer to Shinji with Simon the Digger, but also META commentary about the directors frustration with working on Evangelion.
SInce Rebuild 3.0 I've been of the mindset that the vessel/self insert for Anno in Evangelion is and always has been Gendo, the final rebuild kind of confirmed it for me.
Going on which character/mech would obviously represent Gendo/Anno/Evangelion in TTGL i'd wager that this director thinks Gendo is Anno's self insert too. It is kind of awesomely meta really, SImon the digger is what Shinji could've been in Evangelion without Anno/Gendo/Lord Genom there to hold him back.
How both series deal with depression and insignificance:
Evangelion: You are worthless and insignificant, and yet, so is everything else. Therefore, find meaning and become your own hero, young boy.
Gurren Lagann: LETTSSSS FUCKKIINGGG GOOO!!!!!!!
Eva: "It's all meaningless, you're meaningless, all your heroes will die and so will you... so make this tiny sliver of your life meaningful *for you."*
Gurren Lagann: "I'm going to punch you in the face if you start with that shit again. Get up."
I don't think kamina being in Evangelion would help shinji if kamina just dies. Unless shinj had another character to cheer him up like nia because without Nia, Simon wouldn't have snapped out of it.
Kamina honestly would have fucked Shinji even more. Simon is far more social that Avoidant Personality Disorder patient Shinji
That's the thing not only Misato, everyone is fucking awful to Shinji even his friends, literally the first time he mets Toji he blames him for his little sister's injuries and beats his ass, while Simon not only had Kamina but the whole Gurren brigade behind him as friends and family
@@Carlos-ne3zf Except that one time Simon got into depression and everyone immediately treat him like trash. But that was before they TRULY became friends and family so who am I to say ?
The only person that was kind with Shinji was Kaworu, and then he had to kill him
@@nestorreyes126 and lets not forget that just when Toji started to actually be a friend to Shinji, Gendo forced him to kill him too, luckily he survived but still fucking traumatic
I feel like an important theme of Evangelion that wasn't mentioned is escapism. A lot of characters try to run away from their problems by many means, and shinji being so closed off and often retreating inside his own self in the train scenes is just that. Yes overall Ano's world vision is bleak but still shows it's crucial to reject trying to escape it, Shinji at the end could reshape the world in whatever way he'd want, but that wouldn't be real, choosing to stay on the beach of a desolate world with a partner you partially hate instead of a fantasy world is pure fighting spirit, that's what Evangelion really is about.
Fantastic comment. Spot on!
Until rebuilds came around, and did as you mentioned about restarting the world.
@@CC.M you can view it that way, but I feel like the point of "saying goodbye to everything Evangelion" by erasing the eva units and changing the world is to get rid of the escapism of the fictional world of Evangelion itself. It's not shinji that has to turn a page and live in the real world, it's the viewer himself that must do that, that's why the footage of the very end transitions from 2D into live action.
Yep, that’s the main thing that Evangelion brought to the table. Gundam did the broken characters in a dark world with robots first.
“The vast majority of humanity decides to give up its individuality,turn into a giant space creature, and give up on the idea of being human because it is too difficult.” Lazy bastards.
anti spirals
Evangelion: HUMANITY GIVES UP AND TURNS INTO ORANGE GOOP
Gurren Lagann: HUMANITY KEEPS PUSHING FORWARD AND KICKS DESPAIR TO THE CURB TO BE BETTER
This part of the video is wrong on so many levels and misses the point of Evangelion SO HARD. Humanity didn't give up. Shinji did, and then regretted it and was granted a second chance at life. Evangelion is a show that celebrates human interaction, even if it causes harm to us. It's on the name of one of the earlier episodes, for crying out loud.
@@davidtirado2330 Thank god im not the only one thinking this, I was going mad just listening him miss the point completely. And to address the original comment: thats not what happens at all. Humanity is turned to Fanta not of their choice but of Shinji's at the time. His Mother had set all these events into motion to basically make Shinji the decider of Humanity's fate instead of Gendo or SEELE. And after a huge introspection, Shinji decides he'd rather live with all of life's pain and misery if its worth having all of life's possibility for good and happiness, then cancels the end of the world.
It wasn't about the difficulty of being human, it was about relationships and the idea that we can't connect as people because of our individual different perspectives.
So the Illuminati decided to fuse everyone into one person made of orange soul-juice
I literally watched gurren lagann after a rewatch of Evangelion and I always wondered why they seemed so similar despite being completely opposite in basically everything
One point made me suprised because we interpret shinji rejecting instrumentality in 2 different ways. You state that shinji rejecting humanity says that people will always be less than the universe. I think that shinji rejecting instrumentality states sth quite different. Is says that no matter how much things are fucked up, no matter in which place world is, no matter how many horrible things you have done, no matter how many times you have run away, you can always start on basics and accept your humanity and your flaws and embrace the world around you, even if it isn't how you wish it was. Later you can work on yourself to make a world better place. I think that it is the meaning of shinji rejecting instrumentality, not accepting your infiriority.
Absolutely. The whole comparison of humanity to "the universe" is kinda missing the point of Eva, which is that the universe isn't even that interesting (this is why all the technobabble and exposition and aliens are treated as just so much set dressing) - what matters is our relationships with each other, _within_ humanity, on this little Earth we all share. They don't need to reject a higher power, because there _is_ no higher power - we are all there is (the Angels aren't the main threat, but the catalyst that pushes people to face their own demons).
So, while Shinji rejecting Instrumentality may mean we don't get to become a shiny flashy space giant that can toss around galaxies, nor does it end with us going to space to look for other life, that doesn't make it any less of a message of hope; the message is that if we fight hard enough, and are willing to be vulnerable and sometimes hurt, we can learn to live with each other, and grow as individuals together.
And that's not settling for inferiority, that is _all_ that matters.
Asuka: How Disgusting
@@tomtytunovich4726 doesn't it ending with him choking the literally only other living human being left kind of defeat that hopeful message though?
@@Coolguy98765 he contemplates choking her because in essence she now (because of their minds being momentarily connected through instrumentality) has seen just how pathetic he was, essentially he starts choking her out of pure embarrassment. But despite this she still places her hand on his face showing compassion for him. Earlier in the dream sequence Asuka essentially told him that love is not a human right and you have to first love yourself before anyone else can truly love you back. her placing her hand on his face was her showing him that despite everything she loves him and that's why he stops choking her.
@Dragon Glass yeah Pnut interpretation is interesting. i think the way he arrives at this interpretation is looking at the two animes through optimism and pessimism
In EVA reality is inherently pessimistic while Gurren Lagann is optimistic as EVA's reality cannot be subverted while in Gurren Lagann it can. to the pessimist Gurren Lagann is unrealistic or ignorant of its reality, as reality cannot be subvert IT REALITY or their was no subvention just the discovery of what is possible in reality which would undercut this subversion of it or that the subversion is devil bargain.
in comparison the optimist or PNUT in this case cannot accept the EVA reality and deeply want Shinji to subvert reality. when Shinji rejects instrumentality for the optimist this is a rejection of the subversion of reality, the solution to shinji problems. Shinji rejection is to optimist an acceptance of nihilism that reality sucks and that we are fucked. this is false dichotomy and as @Dragon Glass points out that embracing reality can be as empowering if not more so as subverting reality. this choice between subversion and embracing reality is false in EVA reality as the EVA rebuild movies demonstrates. in 2nd EVA movie Shinji tries to subvert reality to save Rei but does this work? NO it cause the 3rd impact and Shinji/audience are left with a shitty replacement Rei.
overall this is a difference in perspective, if most problems in life just need more elbow grease to redefine what possible therefore redefining reality Gurren Lagann is correct. However if life's problems are insurmountable and no amount of will power can change acceptance and affirmation to live life in spite of pain and stuggle makes more sense therefore EVA is correct
lastly for me i prefer EVA thematic resolution as Gurren Lagann themes are oversaturated in media, just try harder, while EVA response is more unique and more fulfilling as even in an reality more nothing goes your shinji he can find happiness
"Don't believe in yourself. Believe in me, believe in the Kamina who believes in you!"
This is what made Kamina such a good leader. He knew how to inspire people. He knew how to get people to believe they *can* do something. And while he did have an ego, he wasn't arrogant. He would listen. If someone had a better idea, he'd go with that. He promoted teamwork. He would even let someone else take control if he believed someone else could handle a situation. He didn't want to win for himself, he wanted *everyone* to win.
"Believe in the you who believes in you." Don't forget the second piece of the puzzle.
Just stumbled upon this while searching up EVA Rebuild reviews. Very nicely done, though note that its "Team Gurren" and not "Team Lagann".
Thanks man, hope you stick around for more content in the future!
in the end the entire squad is gurren lagann
@@thepnutgallery3860
Unfortunately, I'm going have to say the whole "Asuka did nothing wrong" stance is Pure BS and Pure Hypocrisy! Because Asuka did lots and many things wrong! Heck everyone in Neon Genesis Evangelion did many things wrong! And Asuka is no exception!
Seriously, fans of Eva and Asuka have no problems blaming other characters like Shinji, Rei and Misato for everything they do wrong but when it comes to Asuka, hypocrisy immediately comes in and suddenly, you hear "Hey that's not Fair", "Don't, Victim Shame/Blame" and so on! And has been happening for years and Decades!!! Like What The F@©&?!!!
I never understood why people love Asuka so much🤷♂️
@@shawnwarrynn8609I think "don't choke people" was the more prominent message in that bit🗿
Evangelion and Gurren Lagann are two of my favorite shows, they both hit on a very personal level for me for entirely different reasons.
Evangelion reflects my personal flaws and emotional issues in a painfully honest way that hits a little too close to home,
while Gurren Lagann inspires me to be better than those flaws and to respect myself and stand up for myself.
I love both Eva and Gurren Laggan, but it seems to me that some of the issues that arrive in Eva are handled better in Gurren Lagann due to the work being distributed equally rather than the Director having more explicit control.
Having help and input from others helped Gurren Lagann be more easily accepted.
Two different shows for sure though, Eva's tone is the complete opposite of Gurren Lagann but I love how Gurren "answers" Eva
EDIT: man imagine combining Evas, that transformation would be grotesque but awesome
EDIT 2: Kamina would reject instrumentality in .001 seconds
If kamina meets shinji for 5 minutes he would become just like koji Kabuto
"Imagine Combining Evas"
*3.0+1.11 Would Like A Word With You.*
The central idea of working together to change reality rather than working alone
Kamina during instrumentality: "Who the hell do we think I am!?"
The eva universe would kill kamina becaus he cant exist and the tone be the same. The universe, i mean anno would have to kill him gruesome.
Gurren laggan is better but i dont know how youcan make a such depressing raw portrayal and not be messy. The messiness isnt that good , but is a mark on its own that adds.
A better "Star Wars for Japan" would be the 1979 original Gundam, and a lot of Evangelion itself is derivative of it , like the refusal of piloting Mecha, and Evangelion in general owes a lot to what came before , in a sense is not so original on his ideas, is a very personal creation of Hideaki Anno, and he put a lot of the things he liked in Eva, like Mazinger and Getter Robo the fathers of the giant robot boom in Japan and the others works of his creator Go Nagai ,like Devilman, from Go Nagai's Sensei in manga, Shotaro Ishinomori , Anno also drinks a lot of inspiration , from Kamen Rider for Example, there is also the heavy inspiration from Ultraman and Godzilla.But the relation between the original Gundam and Evangelion is more direct , to a point where Shinji Ikari is a lot like a 90's version of Amuro Ray the first gundam pilot, a lot of the same dilemas come from there
Evangelion: Oh god, look at those big monsters, we're doomed!
Gurren Laggan: I DON'T CARE, IMA PUNCH THAT SUCKER.
If Simon Never met Kamina he would’ve probably ended up as someone like shinji
The tone and focus of both series is opposite, however eventually, Eva and Gurren Lagan both reach to the same answer.
This is clearer in the rebuild movies, as they do a better job than the OG anime and EoE at showing the strength of human spirit. The last third of 3+1 gave me serious Gurren Lagan vibes, I almost feel as if Anno was inspired by GL to make the last movie.
Then its not the case of Eva reaching the same answer as Gurren Lagan. But Gurren Lagan telling Eva the answer.
@@silverhawkscape2677 Nope, because that answer was there since the first ending of EVA, it just became clearer every time.
the rebuilds are shit, just more bs fantasy answer to the reality of the original series which really doesn't have a proper answer, none of them (simon and shinji) reach the conclusion through argumentation or something like that, they just pull it out of their sleeves and we agree only because we want to agree, not because they found a super deep question
- Evangelion asking a question
- Gurren Langan tell the answer
- Rebuild Evangelion retelling the answer they got
Beautyfull
Great video!
I would like to add to the contrast between Asuka and Yoko, that the thing with Asuka is that she thinks she's better than everyone around her and as such comes off as very insecure and makes it nearly impossible for her teammates to work or synchronize with her.
Whereas Yoko is much more confident in herself, her abilities and her looks. That's why she's always trying to help people out since we first see her, she's a team player (and why later on she becomes a school teacher), and why she dresses the way she does.
Yoko doesn't need to brag about how good she is, we can see it when she fights.
Asuka is fighting for her sake and to prove that she's competent. Yoko fights for the sake of others, and to help her friends move forward.
I always thought Eva and TTGL were so similar yet so different and you put in words exactly what was I thinking. Excellent video.
If one never watched the backstory or even heard of the great spiral war in GL, one could easily assume that Earth is the wasteland that transformed after the Instrumental whatever, which could still play out considering the Anti-Spiral were previously Spiral beings that broke away
2:20 we're just starting this video by ignoring Amuro Ray and original Mobile Suit Gundam? He did that over a decade before Shinji, and Anno was a known huge fan of said series.
Ironically I'd also say Gundam is much closer to being the Star Wars of anime.
I agree with this. And Eva is somewhat a "lie", because It's not a mecha anime because the Evas are not mechas....are biological beings. Beings of light. Like... Ultraman.
In fact I think Anno is a big fan of Ultraman, and Ultraman Leo, and that later series was pretty dark, in themes and deaths.
I always thought Evangelion is a dark Ultraman series in disguise.
@@luchomscyfy the Eva's are alive but are basically robots built on top of organics.
I'd still consider both SSSS.Gridman and the new Ultraman anime to be mecha too. If it's in a Super Robot Wars game it's probably fair to call it mecha.
@@RayOfTruth actually, the armors are more like restrictions for the Evas. Kinda suits to control them. They are basicaly cloning giants beings (like Goliath from the Bible) and putting armors and cybernetic implants to control them.
Their true form, like Eva 01, is more like beings of light with wings and all....
@@luchomscyfy Dont forget Ideon, one of the biggest inspirations for Anno.
@@Machiroable Sure.
What a masterpiece of a video!
This is literaly how we people can choose how to see our word and our life. As you said, the perspective from which you look at things is fundamental to the result!
I have epilepsy, and I'm going to undergo brain surgery on the 10th. The "keep fighting" attitude of shows like Gurren Lagann, Dragon Ball, and even Code Geass has always pushed me forward, and to know that what I thought of as just a feel good show is actually an answer to the question of nihilism brought up by a show that I always found depressing, undecipherable, and frankly creepy, is great. Thank you. You've got a new subscriber. Hashem yevarech otha.
how did the surgery go?
@@MECHA_DI It went amazingly, thank you. Very little recovery time, no SMA Syndrome this time...
@@jagnestormskull3178 that's great!
Shinji: I can't
Kamina: LETS SEE YOU GRIT THOSE TEETH
*PAWW*
I think the problem here is that people seem to think that eva is a negative series, when its core message is the same as ttgl, that is the world may suck but you gotta keep fighting to make it better and to improve your self. Shinjis final choice is to reject the easy path and to continue to struggle, he decides to get close to others because part of socializing comes with getting hurt. essentially he overcomes hedgehog syndrome. Simon struggles with every loss he takes but ultimately gets up to fight again after his friends help him up, something no one around shinji did or couldn’t do.
I was looking for a comment like this, you're absolutely spot on . . . just because Evangelion doesn't depict reality/humanity as rainbows and unicorns doesn't mean that the show argues that life isn't worth living lol. If anything, it makes the message more powerful imo.
Still going for Gurren Lagann.
Don't make me change my mind.
@@jasoethesentienteyeshapedg4847 good for you
Hell no. Evangelion has no uplifting motives at all, unless you bring them in, squint your eyes, dismiss most of the series and THEN add a little of side-logic to it. If that is wham jamm your jimms, ok, but dont say that is the truth because it isnt LOL.
Its by virtue of being therapy foe annos depression negative. Its ending is positive ,but th eries is very gloomy bcaue its the expression of depression. Even for good to express it and idntify, not make it worse.
And honstly why the series is a pretty good check if you unconcious hav problem, as good thing, to deal with it. To let it out and talk.
The quality in your videos deserves more subscribers.
As someone that likes both animes, I can say that TTGL its good for the hype and cheer up and tells you that you can not stop and keep moving forward for the people that loves you.
But Evangelion tells you that its normal to be down, even if you feel that nobody loves you, or care of you, or not even you father or your friends, there are people who needs you, and even if you don't see it, someone loves you but they have their own problems like you, and it's hard to understand them and for them to understand you because everyone have differents problems. So, its ok to be afraid of the pain and feel bad or down, you don't need to be the most cheerful guy or girl, the most handsome or social person or the best at anything to save the world, if you care about someone, even if you don't understand them, you will do whatever you can to do it, and even if you fail, it's ok atleast try it
The whole rejecting individuality and becoming one with the greater whole to escape the suffering of this world is NOT Heaven; it's Nirvana.
Heaven isn't ever described as being a place where there is no emotion or individuality. It's true there is no sadness or division, but the Bible never says anything about losing your humanity in the process. Rather it's a perfect world because the sin that lives in peoples hearts is removed, not the hearts themselves. Since the Bible says people will be rewarded for what they have done, that would mean people wouldn't be the same: "Look! I am coming soon! I bring my rewards with me. I will reward each person for what he has done." ~ Revelation 22:12. Also the Bible talks about knowing completely just as you are known, which would imply that there actually is something to be known ". . . Someday I will know completely, just as God knows me completely" ~ 1 Corinthians 13:12
Buddhist Nirvana on the other hand is described as: ". . . cessation of all afflictions, cessation of all actions, cessation of rebirths and suffering that are a consequence of afflictions and actions. Liberation is described as identical to anatta (anatman, non-self, lack of any self). In Buddhism, liberation is achieved when all things and beings are understood to be with no Self. Nirvana is also described as identical to achieving sunyata (emptiness), where there is no essence or fundamental nature in anything, and everything is empty." ~ Wikipedia 'Nirvana'. It would make sense that the group called NERV is trying to achieve NIRVana.
To put it simply: Heaven is where a person is made complete, Nirvana is a place where a person is made empty.
Well put
Bro the way nirvana is described sounds lame
THIS COMMENT NEEDS TO BE PINED!
Another thing missed was Simon at the end refuses to bring his loved ones back with yoko saying that Simon isn't God. Simon then settles for the simple life of a wondering monk even tho he is nearly onpar with God in power.
@@EggEnjoyer I disagree. Adam and Eve were both human before the fall and before sin. God did not create humans fundamentally flawed but in his own image. They became fundamentally flawed in the fall. This fundamental flaw is a second nature that fights against the first nature. This is highlighted in Romans 7-25, which talks about how a persons conflicting inner natures: The First Nature from God, and the Second Nature from sin that we were born into.
The bible doesn't say humans can't enter heaven, it says those tainted by sin can't enter heaven. The Sin Nature can be considered a cancer in a person. Instead of thinking of the rebirth as a Lobotomization of a persons humanity think of it more of a delicate surgery removing cancerous tissue from a person. You're still you and your still human, just without the second nature you were born with constantly trying to enslave you.
Also Satan didn't turn people into sinners, rather he just tempted them into sinning by causing doubt in God. He does not have the kind of power to turn people into sinners directly. He can only tempt people, and whether or not they give in is up to them, not Satan. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 it says that you can't be tempted beyond your ability.
after watching both series i've gained a new appreciation for the creative process that went behind them and the way they answer the same questions in a different manner.
this video really is a thinker
love how you showed kirei when talking about catholic evangelism, hes a perfect example of following out of no real desire.
I find it ironic, 2 series that shaped how I view the world a series that shaped my childhood (evangelion)
And that shaped my adulthood (gurren lagaan)
Making me a person able to see equally from both light and dark perspectives becoming a genuine realist, analyzing both positive and negative aspects of everything and viewing it from a non subjective non linear standpoint.
Evangelion shaped the bad with the good
Gurren lagaan shaped the good within the bad allowing me to pursue a more positive life through that unending passion desire to fight for a better tomorrow.
I love both these series so much.
just seeing a channel that makes vids this good having so little subs makes me want to kill the yt algorythm
aniways nice video you definitely earned my sub and deserve SO much more than this
Same comrade. He needs more recognition.
Gundam did what Evangelion "did" almost 25 years before AND has way more parallels to Star Wars in regard to cultural impact and such thsn Eva though.
Eva fan boy brain rot will never end sadly
I agree. Gundam do Eva, and in some kind, Gurren Lagann, way before both of them.
hey PNUT guy, this is awesome content! I thought I'm watching a seasoned youtuber. Looking forward for more!
also: I just watched the gurren lagann series for the first time. First few episodes I didn't know what to make of it, then accepted the fact that it's much more light hearted, less drama than the things I've watched recently (they can basically do anything they want if hyped enough, "not really in that much danger"), then boom, what happened to Kamina gave so much weight to the story. I'm still amazed.
Eva: "Get in the f@$king robot Shinji!"
Gurren: "Oh I'mma get in that the f@$king robot!"
This was a really thought out analysis, if a bit streched out in a couple of parts. Loved it. You earned a sub my friend. and PILOT THE DAMN ROBOT
Welcome to the gallery, friend.
FOLOW THE DAMN ROBOT CJ
I think the latter half of Eva 3.0 + 1.0 is where it finally gains that answer, of acceptance but going above and beyond to enjoy life. EoE completes NGE but it’s answer that “oh human relationships are inevitably painful but it is what it is” isn’t enough. The last rebuild film expresses a heavy theme I think of gratitude which is so important, something everything else in Evangelion prior failed to establish
You’re criminally underrated
True
Amazing video! I always liked how Gainax (and Studio Trigger, which had a lot of the same people) portrayed coming of age stories, going about it from different angles
Just finished Eva and was looking for someone who pit the ideas of TTGL against it as it clearly serves as an "alternative." Glad you made this! Keep it up!!
I urge you to rewatch Evangelion and think about what Anno is trying to tell you.
EoE is a bit less overt about it but the original ending is pretty clear. Evangelion is about accepting the ugly parts of life, and enduring pain and moving on, not about "detesting fighting and sacrificing humanity". The sole reason Anno had to make a second part to Evangelion, the rebuild films, is to be able to hammer this point home harder because a bunch of people read it the same way you've done, in a pessimistic, nihilistic kind of way.
I would say I agree...partially. But I think Anno's point dilutes with the scene of Shinji strangling Asuka. You could consider "it's Shinji waking up, not knowing where he is, so he estrangles Asuka, the only person close to him", but in metaphorical level, it seems it's still Shinji hating humanity.
Anno delivered (badly) the message in the last two episodes of the series. But he was angry with the fans and that's why EoE started like Shinji doing....stuff to a comatose Asuka, and ended up that way. Anno still struggled with mysantropy.
EDIT:
I think that's why Eva Rebuild films are more Anno being mature, not angry anymore with the fans, and more....mature as a creator. I don't think EoE is Anno being mature. It's Anno being a pessimistic and ,somewhat like Shinji, childish.
@@luchomscyfy Leaving aside the fact that Anno didn't make EoE out of spite (in fact parts of what would become the movie were shown in the next episode previews of episode 24, but had to be scrapped due to a lack of time); yes, Anno absolutely struggled with mysantropy, and yes Shinji still hated humanity even after rejecting instrumentalization. Because that's not the point of the show. EoE isn't about immediately moving on and forgetting all your trauma instantly, it's about having the will to try EVEN if you struggle with those things “Anywhere can be paradise as long as you have the will to live. After all, you are alive, so you will always have the chance to be happy. As long as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth exist, everything will be all right”. That's why Shinji starts stangling Asuka but stops before killing her when she tries to connect with him one last time
A thousand times this, it's a way more realistic portrayal of the human condition, while TTGL bases its protagonist in a "fan fiction" tier set up, where the world isn't inherently bad just ignorant, everyone will work together for the common good, and he has a stable role model to lead him into the right mode of thought and action. Shinji has absolutely none of these fantasy elements in his character, he's alone, abused, and much more like the average person experiencing the cold and silent universe than Simon. They're actually apples and oranges, Eva focuses around the end of the world as humanity knows it (which is inevitably more realistic considering how we treat the earth and each other over millennia.) While TTGL starts with the world already having gone past this point, and is essentially at a new beginning, or cusp of golden age. Obviously you could have either mindset in both situations, but one is much more likely than the other.
@@Galvvy I wouldn’t call those fantasy elements. Simone just had some decent people around him that wanted more for him and themselves.
@@luchomscyfy I urge you to search into youtube "Evangelion why choking" and look for the Sudostef reupload.
Just watched the video.
Then saw the subscribers count.
Guess, my friends are gonna have a lot of requests to watch your vids today...
Yes. Send all your friends my way!
I agree with a lot of you said except for the fact that Eva was the equivalent of Star Wars to Japan as that spot is taken by Gundam.
I can’t help but feel that this video was too harsh in analyzing the philosophy of eva. At it’s core, it’s not just a story about how everything sucks. It’s a story about not running away because everything sucks in the hopes that one day things will get better
Ive been meaning to rewatch both of these shows for a long time. Maybe, after this video, it would be interesting to watch them with this in mind
yo this is great, it's crime this channel doesn't got more subs and views
Really thoughtful analysis! Love the takeaway message you conclude on. Been feeling a bit down and now want to rewatch gurren lagann thanks to this vid.
Shinji: we’re limited by reality
Simon: NO THATS YOUR LIMITATION
I was thinking about this today, watching the more vulnerable moments, gave me flash backs to Evangelion. Glad this video exists
eva doesnt encourage repressed sexuality. J look at the dream sequence w rei and shinji in EoE. It j encourages facing reality, and not using sex as an escape like misato. Accept ur own emotions, including sexuality.
pnut's analysis of sexuality in evangelion was definitely a bit biased and slightly ignorant of other themes
@@sentr.e tbh I think it was just a lazy and surface level interpretation. The forced parallels also didn’t help him out here lmao
That's a very interesting connection. And also awesome conclusion.
I've watched eva before gurren lagann. At first I didn't understand Evangelion. After going through my lowest during depression, I slowly started understanding the show.
When I watched Gurren Lagann, I was empowered with the motivation it gives, positivity as a solution to out problems. It powered me through some tough moments of my life, although didn't save from falling into some fucked up depression period from which I'm still recovering.
Previously I wouldn't call evangelion a show that I like a lot. Now I've grown to understand, and inherently love those characters. Gurren Lagann will always be one of my favorite anime of all time, and I won't stop recommending it.
If you really tie both of these messages from these anime's face your problems head on and don't run away
Kamina would shout, "Shinji! Let's see you grit those teeth!" before feeding him a knuckle-sammich... But he'd probably also tell off Asuka for being a stuck-up bitch...
Very nice breakdown of the parallels and differences of bith shows. I gotta say thought i think you are often presenting evangelions depressing tone as the way it answers the question opposing gurren laganns optimistic one. of life when the actual eva answers the answer very similarly when instrumentality is rejected.
Imma be really pedantic, but you did one of my biggest pet peeves in your first sentence:
"The culture in which it comes from" - no
"The culture from which it comes" - yes
j bc shinji develops into a fucking awful person n misato is a horrible parental figure doesn't mean the show is telling u to be like that, I think its intended to point out the stupidity in choosing to live like that. there really isn't a single character in eva whos even close to being a good person, and I think that's intentional
Yeah that's one of the things that annoyed me the most about this video. I don't think Evangelion is a cynical show or even a show that's cynical about society and the world at large, it just presents very realistically flawed people struggling to survive and cope with themselves and their reality in a world that could end at any moment.
Mmm that's the point, change not get stuck...
@@jobnacorconcepcionabad6037 the fact that eva explictly states what u j said j proves more that the video is presenting some pretty shit evidence for its thesis
Great video man, it was interesting to see the differences in both series and have them put into a coherent wording.
Eureka Seven is also a nice companion piece to these, and it kind of fits right in the middle of both of them. Hell, Eureka basically starts off as Rei but slowly starts moving into Nia territory.
Eureka Seven is my favorite mecha and I think nails the growth of childhood perfectly. Also I just realized how much Trigger parodied Eva in Kill la Kill. It's obvious, but just never clicked.
Simon punched Evangeleon in the face. That’s my Canon.
Holy shit you're right
6:32 But that's not what happens. Your interpretation seems to focus too much on what's direct. Shinji initiated the instrumentality project upon seeing Asuka's death, but no one other than himself at the moment and his father wanted it. Everyone else was forced and almost seduced into that consciousness where no one could hide how they felt or harm others, not because they all unanimously agreed that life is too hard, but because they had no other choice. Some are even frustrated with the fact that because of HIS choice they have no individuality no longer.
The best example of that is Asuka who carries her entire being on being recognized as a individual and having that robbed away from her. SO that when Shinji comes to understand the people he has come to know he, for the first time in a while takes a risk to have something genuine and exits the instrumentality allowing all others who want to leave the choice to do so, he is immediately followed by Asuka.
The whole moral of Eva isn't some depressing "futility" argument but a punished pessimist's hopeful outlook on a message that both Eva and Gurren share, not that one is the others extreme on the same coin.
Gurren teaches you that through struggle that anything is possible, in a literal sense as humans become controllers of their destinies if they try hard enough, Eva also teaches that in a grounded sense. The moral was best summed up by a quote at the end of Eva that i think you overlooked; "Anything can be paradise as long as you have the will to live." Which Shinji, despite how the world is left and facing the consequence of his decisions, he will strive towards a future where he can be happy, and strive towards his ideal image, understand those he loves even if it seems hard, this isn't easy and didn't start immediately but started all the same. In spite of how hard it seemed, shown by the overwhelming forces of what's left at the end of Eva, that being happy is still possible with the implication that they will get that some day.
So i argue that it's the opposite. It's not that they have two different answers to the same question, but they have the same answer with different formula's for answering the same question which is where it's tone is important, sulky but not hopeless.
For Eva, not all things can be perfect, life doesn't need to be, even if living is hard it doesn't have to be hell.
Although i don't agree with you at all, you put a lot of work into the video and that's worth applauding. Hope to see more from you.
This analysis is stellar. You put into words how I felt about Evangelion. It's about an inner fortitude in spite of an ugly existence. Gurren (which I just finished watching yesterday) is just an 'extroverted' version of that fortitude, choosing to relish in the totality and never question or doubt your place in it.
Perfect description of my feelings on both shows
@@enricov9185 I never said that Gurren Lagann was simple, bruh. I said it was extroverted. The “never question or doubt your place” in life idea doesn’t mean that the characters didn’t question it.
I’m saying that the end message was that ‘you belong, don’t doubt it, if you do “Grit those Teeth”.’ Or at the very least believe in the faith that those around you have for you. It’s extroverted, not simple.
Gendo: Get in the Robot, Shinji.
Shinji: *Cries*
Beast King: Get out of the robot, Simon.
Simon: Make me.
soo underrated
LOVED YOUR VIDEO!!!
I watched these two for the first time back to back and I thought the exact same thing.
One other connection I've noticed is that at the end of End of Evangelion Shinji's mother says something like "As long as you have the will to live, you can be happy anywhere."
Gurren Lagann expands on this idea by having the story literally be about will power and doing crazy shit with it.
It's sort of a sequel when you look at it that way.
Giga Dorillu “Impact”
Really great video! Though I do have a correction for you.
EoE is more Judaism's Kaballah rather than Christianity, though you could see it with Christianity.
Like another video said, according to the Kaballah all humans were one soul in the past, and a breaking happened and we got separated. Our jobs is "fixing the world" with good will and good actions, and making our soul closer to each other and fix that breaking, which Evangelion took quite literally with everybody becoming one.
There's also a lot of Kaballah's symbols EoE and even the OP.
Thats funny considering that TTGL can be seen as a retelling of the New testament
could the person who made the video pin this? :0 I think it's really interesting.
I'd argue the TTGL is more Jewish with its boundless optimism, drive to push on even in the face of the impossible and will to topple all false gods that stand before us.
Dunno, Eva having so many random religious symbolism that goes nowhere (e.g. explosions being shaped like christian crosses) makes me think the Kaballah being taken literally is just one more religious element being put into the mixer. Some people may find symbolism and explanations, but it's more likely than not just a superficial use of symbols without intent of going deep into their meaning. In fact, the theme of Eva doesn't mix well with taking any mainstream religion seriously.
@@ekki1993 Yup, this is kinda how I feel. Eva kinda irks me, with how it treats religious imagery, and its general scorn for humanity.
My first watch of these shows was actually back to back by complete coincidence. First Gurren, then Eva. I came to many of the same conclusions that you did, that Eva and Gurren give different answers to the same question. It was awesome to see a fully fleshed out video explaining how I felt about the two shows after watching both. So thanks for the content :)
I love Gurren Lagann. And you convinced me to finally watch the movie. Thanks :)
I was a Simon-type boy in my youth, never had much friends but was a happy go lucky kid. But when the other kids kept bullying me and showing me that I wasn't good the way I was, just like my father, I turned into a Shinji-type. I think that's why I really love Gurren Lagann. I am one of the persons that has no trust and love for humanity in general. I don't think that we can be good in our core. But when I see Kamina and his unbreakable trust und spirit, I am really touched to my core. And how Simon breaks out of his missery and fights for a better future is really inspireing. Gurren Lagann shows the potential of humanity and how we can all work together to be this one giant organism that can change everything to a good ending. And everytime I hear Libera me from Hell I really feel the strenght raises up in me. I will allways love this show.
THE POWER OF MANLY COMBINING
I know many (in any will not read this) but he never put the powers they use. The A.T Field is the pilot want to not let anyone near, and spiral power is the power to move on and forward.
I know it is not a parallel at the video is, but it shows how the universe is set in the world.
Looking back it really makes me think about how incredible Eva was at when it went to how growing up felt, or even living today. Anxieties, repression, oppression, and stumbling with trauma, Eva feels gross and tense and how I actually feel. Gurren feels like a life or vibe I wish I had, or felt I deserved, or would have loved to express if given the privileges to thrive or fail and keep going.
I been loving your channel so far
Evangelion makes you reflect, think about the world and universe, Gurren laggan inspires you and helps you inspire others around you, the only mecha that I consider masterpieces
Watching it again 2 years later... like fine wine brother. Blessings to you
One of the best evangelion videos ive seen
this is why I love gurren lagann. simon just charge forward and even got himself get sent to jail. even after that he can still go charging forward and save humanity from evil clutch. I want to be like that
Gurren lagann embraces the journey of life.
Dang, this was a really well thought out and put together video.
When I watched Eva I was at the start of one of the worst bouts of Depression in my life. I was bedridden for nearly 2 years, only getting up for the absolute necessity of the restroom. In this state I decided to finally watch Evangelion because I had heard a lot of great things about it and heard that it was about depression, I thought it might help me. Watching Eva did not help. I hated damn near every moment of Evangelion, and I still do. I despise it from a deeply emotional and ideological level. I stopped on Episode 26, I did not watch End of Eva, nor will I ever, nor will I rewatch the series. Near the end of my Depression I found Gurren Lagann. Unlike Eva I didn't seek it out, nor was I aware of the shared production history between them, I was just consuming media, that's all I did back then. But holy shit was it night and day. I hung on every scene and loved every character. I won't say it fixed my Depression, media can't do that, but it did help me by codifying in me the feelings that were already underneath. In my Depression all I felt was tired and more tired, until eventually I was so tired I was tired of being tired. Eva told me to stay in my bed, Gurren Lagann helped me stand back up.
you decided to watch a sad anime in the middle of a depressive crisis, what did you expect?
@@nathanalves3284 sometimes it helps. On bad days sad albums push me yo mu saddest but it forces me to tap out of my state of mind.
And i reset in a neutral state of mind. Granted that's just on life a normal day being sad.
@@paulandrew1234 they did say they left in the middle of it. if they finished it, your reply would make sense buttttt they didn't. Pls read
Yeah. I refuse to watch Evangelion because of this. I just know it’ll piss me off.
@@nathanalves3284 Evangelion isn't a sad anime. It's arguably more hopeful than even Gurren Lagann, in large part due to its greatest willingness to confront the inescapable reality of suffering in this world. Both shows ask the viewer to have hope. Gurren Lagann does it standing triumphantly atop a mountain surrounded by supportive friends. Evangelion does it bloodied and bruised, shivering alone in the dark. The former is more pleasant to look at it, but isn't relatable to people who actually need to be told to have hope.
Although, if you ignore what Eva is saying and conclude that it's telling you to stay in bed, then yeah I guess it would be pretty sad.
Why don’t you have that many subs this is a masterpiece
“Evangelion doesn’t address religion directly”
*shows image of an angel nailed to a cross*
It took me awhile to realize it, but the christian terminology and imagery used in EVA are just there to exoticize the show for japanese audiences. They have next to nothing to do with the lore.
They just wanted to give the creatures cool names
This got two solid laugh out louds out of me, that's more than I've had in 2 months. Thank you
Basically I see Eva, Gunbuster, and TTGL as one long timeline.
Eva discovered the "Angels", which soon become referred to as Gunbuster's Space Monsters, and finally are revealed to be the Anti-Spiral mecha and weapons, humanity going through stages of grief and bargaining (Eva), to acceptance and refusal to submit to an uncontrollable situation.
We see Shinji through to Noriko, finally to Simon, facing unknowable enemies that would shake humanity...until we, as humans often do, refuse to accept it any more.
And one thing humanity is good at...is fighting.
Give us an obstacle, we'll bash our skulls against it until we figure something out.
Show us some guy saying he's tougher than us, we'll burn his house down.
We don't know when to give up.
For good or ill.
In a way, that's the best facet we have.
We love, hate, fight, and forgive with everything we have.
Why?
Because it's human.
I'm honestly glad this video popped up on my front page when it did over this week. Getting fired from a job after 2 weeks, as I was starting to actually like it.... because they shouldn't even really hired me on from the start if they were going to be so absurdly impatient over a job that'll take months to master on your own. It really fucked with me mentally over the weekend that I'm still in the process of getting over as I look for other jobs.
Dunno if you read these comments but I'm happy I watched the whole video and heard your closing statements.