Around 1995, Japanese animation (anime) began pouring into North America, Europe and across the globe in video form. Most of these titles were unknown outside of Japan and never covered by animation journals. Whether a title is highly popular or very obscure, a high quality theatrical feature or a cheap and unimaginative direct-to-video release, they all look the same on a store shelf. Therefore, Animation World Magazine will regularly review several new releases (including re-releases not previously covered) that have merit.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic that all anime fans need to see. © ADV Films.

Neon Genesis Evangelion. Director's Cut: Resurrection.
OAV (six episodes), 1996-2003. Director: Hideaki Anno. 150 minutes. Price & format: DVD bilingual $29.98. Distributor: ADV Films.

Neon Genesis Evangelion. Director's Cut: Genesis Reborn.

OAV (six episodes), 1996-2003. Director: Hideaki Anno. 150 minutes. Price & format: DVD bilingual $29.98. Distributor: ADV Films.

Shinseki Evangelion (literally New Century Evangelion but officially "Englished" by the creator as Neon Genesis Evangelion) was a 1995-96 26-episode TV series with an impact similar to that of the British live-action series The Prisoner. It was an excitingly innovative and imaginative sci-fi drama, but it became more surrealistically mystical as it progressed. The final episodes were so chaotically inconclusive and un-animated (it was rumored that the actual episodes were rejected by censors, forcing the Gainax Ltd. studio to create substitutes at the last minute without any more production money) that they were "replaced" in 1997 by two theatrical features, Evangelion: Death & Rebirth and Evangelion: The End of Evangelion (available on DVD from Manga Entertainment). These did answer most questions but left a few still open.

Neon Genesis Evangelion. Director's Cut: Resurrection and Genesis Reborn feature yet another version of the concluding story arc, along with the original presentation. Episodes #21-23 and #24-26 can be compared as they were shown on TV and first released on video, and in "a revised and re-edited special edition produced under the careful supervision of the original creators to include amazing new footage and revelations." These two versions also differ from the earlier U.S. video release, which was slightly more "Americanized."

Evangelion begins like a typical "giant robot" sci-fi drama, with the Earth under attack by hostile monsters, and being defended by heroic adolescents in huge mechanical battle armor. But there is a more bleak atmosphere of desperation and hopelessness. There are hints that the horrific "Angels" are either actual creations of God (in which case there is no hope of staving off Armageddon), or are out-of-control scientific experiments by the very international agency that is supposed to be protecting humanity.

Shinji Ikari, the lead teen EVA pilot, is a self-professed "gutless, hypocritical, wimpy coward." Instead of developing courage as the story progresses, he becomes increasingly depressed and withdrawn. Practically all the characters wallow in their own insecurity and fear of failure, but the final episodes focus upon Shinji to the point of feeling like a voyeuristic eavesdropping upon a merciless psychiatric self-analysis. Evangelion is indeed intelligent and serious sci fi, but it is emotionally cold and exhausting.

The new director's cut versions of each of these last six episodes do contain intriguing differences and some complete new scenes. But the conclusion is still so solipsistic that it can be interpreted however the viewer wants it. Is Earth destroyed? Is Earth saved, but at the cost of Shinji's sanity? Was the whole story just the imagination of a mentally-disturbed adolescent? Episode #26 is still such a flash-forward through still images as to look like the production ran out of money, although creator Anno says that the limited animation was a deliberate artistic decision; and it is so well directed that the drama is still intense.

Evangelion is highly recommended, but in what version? Buy the first six DVDs of the 8-DVD "Perfect Collection" and replace the final two with these director's cut versions? You will probably want the two theatrical features as well.