contain the eva in its present state. fire.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Gifset Series - PARENTHOOD
“Through the blur, I wondered if I was alone or if other parents felt the same way I did - that everything involving our children was painful in some way. The emotions, whether they were joy, sorrow, love or pride, were so deep and sharp that in the end they left you raw, exposed and yes, in pain. The human heart was not designed to beat outside the human body and yet, each child represented just that - a parent’s heart bared, beating forever outside its chest.” (x)
There’s a lot of subtleties in 3.0, one of them being how Anno uses spacials and dialogue to show how the main cast has undergone an implicit generational shift. Misato takes on a role that was originally Gendo’s (emphasized further with her visual upgrade, unfeeling shades and all), and Ritsuko takes on a role that was originally Fuyutsuki’s – others have already pointed out that this “evolution” was quietly alluded to during 2.0. (And by extension, Gendo and Fuyutsuki has taken on SEELE’s role upon SEELE’s demise, Asuka has taken on Misato’s role, Mari has taken on Kaji’s role, so on and so forth.)
It’s hard to say what this means for 3.0+1.0 – especially in reference to Misato and Shinji’s now-broken dynamic – but it’s definitely worth noting (and speculating) on.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Gifset Series - FRIENDSHIPS
Evangelion’s one of those rare television shows that gives you an honest glimpse into how friendship plays across a variety of different dimensions – childhood, adulthood, new, old, female-female, male-male, female-male, and everything else in-between – with such subtle and faithful realism. Not all of these friendships last forever (for a whole host of different reasons) but it’s all the more true to life in that regard.
Neon Genesis Evangelion Gifset Series: ADULTHOOD
“When you are an adult… then comes suspicion, hatred, and fear. Adults run the world; and there is war, and enmity, and destruction unending. Adults who take charge of things muck them up, and then produce a new generation of children and say, "The children are the hope of the future.” And they are right. Children are the hope of the future. […] Adults are the death of hope.” [x]
The shot of Misato’s cross necklace after Shinji nails it to a grave marker during End of Evangelion accords with the brief closeup of Misato’s chest from the Cruel Angel’s Thesis OP. In this way Misato’s body becomes the very uniform of death.
December 8, 1986; Misato Katsuragi's 28th Birthday
You’ll discover the importance of going forward once you’ve taken that first step.
EPISODE 12: The Value of a Miracle Is... /
She Said, Don't Make Others Suffer For Your Personal Hatred!
If anyone tries to tell you Asuka isn’t capable of kindness, smack them upside the head.
This is one of my favorite Asuka scenes, because it demonstrates a subtle, oft-neglected part of Asuka’s character that is otherwise highly contested or outright ignored by the fandom. Asuka can be kind. Asuka can be thoughtful – and not just to Shinji, but to Rei and Misato, two individuals whom which Asuka seemingly harbors the most intense and visible resentment towards.
Asuka would rather give up an extravagant steak dinner if it meant that she could enjoy it with Rei, who can’t eat meat by virtue of being a vegetarian. And as it turns out, Misato – and her wallet – is more than grateful for the consideration. Asuka’s knocking out two birds with one stone.
And that is so important.