Retsgip’s Anime Blog

Darkshaunz advises Hideaki Anno to set Shields to maximum.

It’s no secret, no mystery that I am an outspoken Evangelion fan. No, not only that, I also partake in the franchise milking by purchasing Rei figures from her in winter clothing to her in a nurse outfit (how very unfortunate of me!). I also know there are a lot of passionate, intelligent and loyal Evangelion fans out there, who like me, have been waiting on the edge of our seats for any news of the new movies. Hurrah! I rejoiced in my room as I found out that Anno has released a press statement! Unfortunately to my horror, I am guessing he didn’t get the PR department to write it for him, its more like an attack on the whole industry. Eva fans, come with me as we try some damage control.

Obligatory Rei Pic.

Press Release tracked by ANN and translated:

Now, I don’t admit to being a regular visitor to ANN, but they sure do keep on top of the latest anime happenings both in Japan, America and Australia. The folks there have everything from an anime encyclopedia and a discussion board. I came across them because I was very interested in seeing Anno’s translated press released to the world, and subsequently, the Evangelion fans.

ANN sloganized the translated press release as: “EVA creator posts message in theatres across Japan, hopes to lure new audiences to Evangelion films”. The only thing he is going to lure at the moment are Death threats from overobssessive fans, Lazer Fire from other studios and laughs from everyone if he doesn’t fulfill his claims.

Read the full translatted article Here

How I will be tackling this announcement

I feel very strongly about what comes out of Anno’s mouth, because he is essentially the commander behind the ship that is, Evangelion. Unfortunately, others along with myself would prefer if Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (character designer and eva mangaka) were spearheading the project. Anime-wise, it’s Anno’s playing table, so essentially what he has to say will definitely impact the end product the fans of the original series will encounter.

The method is simple, I will just break things down by paragraph or sentence and hopefully to try and understand just what the hell drove him to say the things he did, and maybe think of some plausible reasons why he even considered making some claims. Hopefully I am not causing any misunderstandings, as I am still very excited for the new movies, but I felt that Anno’s approach to what was supposed to be a support-building press release, is in reality, a PR blunder.

Rei’s in Bandages about this whole debarcle.

First Section - The Challenge

“The desire to portray my sincere feelings on film.

The desire to share, with an audience, the embodiment of image, the diversity of expressions, and the detailed portrayal of emotions that animation offers.”

Ok so this part is good. Its a sign that Anno is very much still passionate about the Evangelion series. At the very least, it’s a sign that he still cares for this brainchild of a series. Sharing’s a kind of esoteric way of saying things, but in a vague kind of way, at least he has the audience at heart. I mean, its a nice way of starting a PR release by addressing everyone, not just the fans.

“The desire to connect today’s exhausted Japanese animation [industry] to the future.”

“Exhausted Japanese Animation Industry?” I think this is a Bad call to make, considering he is basically declaring war on all the other production studios and companies. I love Evangelion to death and probrably swear on the last drop of my blood defending it, but hell, I’ve waited like 10 years for it. Its legendary of course, but surely he must realize that in those 10 or so years, there have been other exciting, innovating and memorable anime titles that have surfaced. Even today, otakus continue to enjoy other titles as other companies draw on other sources to create their series.

“The desire to fight the continuing trend of stagnation in anime.”

I can’t believe I was reading this. I mean, I was absolutely mortified that Anno was almost going out on a limb here to actually draw competitive fire from fans of other anime and other anime studios. He is looking like a Duck wearing a neon jacket during Hunting Season. There is no trend of stagnation in anime, I feel that titles like Black Lagoon, Eureka Seven, Samurai Champloo and even Serial Experiments Lain have all made pushes to the art form in one way or another. It’s not Evangelion, but then again, Neon Genesis isn’t the anime to end all anime, no matter how epic it was or used to be.

“The desire to support the strength of heart that exists in the world.”

I am seriously beginning to wonder whether or not he was smoking a mixture of Petrol and Rubber Tyre when he was saying this. He almost sounds like an anime character performing a rendition of “most cliche’d anime heroic moment ever”.

“Finally, the desire to have these wishes be realized.”

Finally, a chance to declare war on other anime supporters and make your fans look like elitist and overconfident jerks. Thanks, dude.

Bottom half is censored.

Section Two - The Kick

“For these purposes, we used the best methods available to us to make another Evangelion film.”

This is a good point for fans, this means we will get fresher, crisper and fluidly animated Evangelion as opposed to something that looks like it was animated 10 years ago. I am glad this is the case, because heck, if any series’ fans deserve something for the wait, its us. If they have the animation quality at something along the lines of Tokyo Majin, Black Lagoon and Karas, then I would be very pleased.

“However, over the past 12 years, there has been no anime newer than Eva.”

He’s joking right? Sure, with the controversy, symbolism and grim take on the mecha genre, Evangelion inspired and paved the ways for several titles and allowed a different perspective on the genre. For it’s time, Evangelion’s animation was visceral and attractive, this I applaud Gainax for. Calling it a fresh and new anime 12 years down the track is a bit too much in my opinion, as I am sure we can all think of anime which have changed the face of the anime world even after the slowing down of the Eva buzz.

“Specifically, among the stagnant mood of the present day, it is the portrayal of will - not technology - that is most important.”

Paradoxical. You can’t portray will effectively without technology in this highly aesthetics and visual-based contemporary anime audience. Anime fans are more resourceful and experienced, we know what we want in terms of plot, character development and animation quality. I’m not an art gallery patron, but I do know what I expect from a new anime title in terms of at least decent animation capabilities.

“To support the fans that support animation, we felt that a work that would appeal to middle and high school-aged men, who quickly grow away from Anime, was necessary.”

News Flash Hideaki Anno, the main fans of the original series are no longer middle and high school men and women. You said it yourself, 12 years have passed, some of them are in their mid to late twenties (Hell, I’m in my twenties). I am not asking for a stupidly adult anime, but I hope he isn’t peddling the Evangelion name into something stupidly arcadey or oversimplified.

“When we decided that we wanted to something to support the anime [industry] of today, the determination to return to this title was strong.”

Phew, Here I was under the assumption that his main purpose was to decapitate any anime that wasn’t his creation or any studio that wasn’t his. Seriously, you don’t support the industry by criticizing the titles and franchises that have been active in your dormant period of 12 years, and potentially ostracizing your new movies for when they do get off the ground. Is he seriously thinking about his own penis only? or does he actually care for us Evangelion zealots?

“As the creator of this project, [I assure you that] a very new-feeling Evangelion world has beeen constructed. For this purpose, we are not returning to our roots at Gainax. I have set up a production company and studio, and it is in this new setting that we will start again.”

This is kind of a major blow to me personally. I mean, the reason the original series was successful because it was a machine operation of Gainax, Anno and Sadamoto all working in unison. Gainax isn’t an uber-animation studio compared to other newer and dynamic studios, but they they know their animation, and at the core of things that is all that matters most (Khara is kind of like a sub-division of Gainax in a way, but I am not sure how it counts). I am not sure I like the idea of a “New-feeling Evangelion World” either. We’re all familiar with the saying, “If it ain’t broke…don’t fix it”. That’s not to say change is a bad thing, but if factors have worked in favour of the series, then we can only pray he doesn’t turn those concepts on their heads.

“Without looking back, without admiration for the circumstances, we aim to walk towards the future.”

Thats almost like saying, “I don’t really care that I just attacked the whole industry, its how I really feel and I have no regrets…Banzai!!!”. Also, as “Inspiring” as these kind of remarks are, they belong on political speeches and in the mouths of Shounen heroes rescuing their babes from tentacle demons. Like the shields aboard the Daedalus from Stargate Atlantis, it would be a matter of time until Anno finally realizes it’s too late to jump out from the fire and back into the frying pan.

Never thought I’d use a Stargate analogy, but there you go.

“Thankfully, we have gathered staff from the old series, new staff, and many other fantastic staff to work on this series.”

Ah, some good from this abysmal press release. Experience from the old series will indeed come very useful for references to the past series and also for little details that jaded fans (like myself) will be looking out for when the movies are released. He mentions new staff which is also good news, because they will be able to look at Evangelion from a different production angle and standpoint. Having a mixture of new and old is definitely a good step in devising a dynamic Evangelion. There’s also other “fantastic staff” which I hope are as “Fantastic” as he says.

“We realize that we are creating something that will be better than the last series.”

Woah woah! Lets slow down there, Flash Lightning! Its very good to see that Anno has such an optimistic outlook on his new creations, albeit over-optimistic, but its a positive nonetheless. However, I am not a big fan of declaring a victory especially when the battle is not yet fought. My word to Anno is, get the movies off the drawing board and onto screens first, then let the anime watching audience decide it for you. Plus with all the allegations and bombastic claims he has made in this press release, he frankly better put out something fucking brilliant. You do not want to see a Rabid and Disgruntled Evangelion Fan, we’re the worst because we just woke up from a 12 year nap (and we are VERY VERY cranky).

Oh Dear, even Maya’s embarassed by all these frivolous allegations.

Section Three - The Finishing

”Eva” is a story that repeats.

Sure as hell hope this isn’t his way of telling us that they will be reusing those real life still images he abused in the first series (I fucking hate those), I mean its kind of acceptable if he uses some stock footage we seen in the first series (we can be all like, nostalgic and stuff). This statement could also be him trying to say something along the lines of, “History Repeats Itself”, so it could be an indicator that we will see events in the first series transpire in the second.

“It is a story where the main character witnesses many horrors with his own eyes, but still tries to stand up again.

It is a story of will; a story of moving forward, if only just a little.

It is a story of fear, where someone who must face indefinite solitude fears reaching out to others, but still wants to try.”

Story where the main character witnesses many horrors and attempts to stand up again eh? That’s funny, didn’t we see him in a corner curled up and sulking when Asuka get teared to pieces by those Smiley Evas? The only time I have seen him on his two feet is when he’s either running away from his father, his situation or just probrably getting ready to jump off a tall building. Admittedly, we see Shinji finally branching out honestly to Rei at the second half of End of Evangelion and sacrificing himself somewhat to allow humanity to continue. Unfortunately the later part of the endgame movie does not constitute declaring it a “Story of Will”.

“We hope that you look forward to the 4 new retellings of this story.”

“In closing, it is also our job to provide a service to our customers.”

Fans are not asking for a complete rehaul of the series (far from it). As long the important and crucial events, characters and elements are preserved in the new series, it will have our support, no questions. Condition being, Anno stops worrying about his ego and swelled up head for the moment and realize that he has thousands of people who genuinely care for and are dead loyal to the series even after all this time. I don’t really appreciate him calling us customers (though we technically are consumers of his entertainment product), creators need to address fans directly, seeing as we will be the main driving forces behind the success of the new movies.

“Although it seems obvious, we aim to create a form of entertainment that anyone can look forward to; one that people who have never seen Evangelion can easily adjust to…”

Not the best sign for the new movies, in summary, Anno’s telling us that he is trying to make Evangelion more “Accessible/Mainstream” to the general audience and non-eva tuned anime watchers. Before I get prosecuted for wanting to “Hoard” the series because of my original series loyalty, I would also like to add that simplifying aspects and making it more “mainstream” is not the best way to improve a series. In fact, that’s the thing you do when your show is failing and you start pulling off drastic measure like that to hopefully salvage something out of it in the future. The show’s not even in the animation stage yet and already he is making declarations that could undo all the fans’ patient slumber.

“This fall, we hope you can join us.”

After reading that Press Release, If I were you I’d wear Kevlar for personal protection, Anno.

This is the new Evangelion character! Just kidding.

Isn’t this being slightly overcritical? - Afraid Not.

Those of you who have read my Reflections on a Legend post know that I am as excited as the next Evangelion fan about the new movies. However, this excitement is tied to a lot of things I loved about the original series (Hopefully Anno’s team isn’t jeapordizing all the crucial elements which drew us to the original in the first place). Anno’s not doing the series, it’s loyal fans and his very own creation any good by making such outrageous claims and declarations. I was never expecting the man to say his show was going to suck obviously, but I think a much more controlled, moderated and humble approach to a Press release was most definitely needed when announcing something that newsworthy.

I understand this can all be part of the “Hype-Generation” aspect of getting people to talk about Evangelion again. That all this outrageousness is actually part of his grand design to instil some kind of industry publicity stunt. As painful as it is to say, as a Diehard Evangelion zealot, it backfired in his face in it’s entirety. People have been talking about Evangelion even when it disappeared from “radar” in its entirety, and even Anno should be lucid enough to know that he’s got a lot of loyal fans in the bag with one eye closed.

Considering he was probrably high on drugs on drunk on vodka upon making this hideous release, I can’t say for sure whether our Hideaki Anno is truly looking out for his fanbase or whether or not he has become what we had feared, an emo conformist to the industry as opposed to that uniquely-perspectived emo non-conformist we knew and respected. It’s definitely a “told-you-so” moment in relation to the Anno vs. Sadamoto debates, the latter may have a hopeless Rei Ayanami crush but at least he doesn’t go executing industry-wide act of wars or threaten to unravel the seams of what made the original a legend.

From here on end, the world awaits what may be the most brilliant and well executed (pre/se)quel movies based on a renowned series, or the most hyped and dream-shattering piece of anime to be revealed in theaters across Japan. I’m sure that nothing short of the former will be acceptable, and we can only hope Mr. Anno has not dug his own grave too deep.

Darkshaunz Out.

PS: For the sake of all my fellow Evangelion Fans, I hope I am very wrong in my interpretations. I’m hoping that if I pinch myself hard enough, this will go away like a bad dream and I find myself waking up to the smell of cereal.