Eva Monkey, an Evangelion Fan Website

News &: Updates

"Let's Die Together"

Posted: Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Author: Aaron Clark

I was poking around the internet last night, entering into Google various terms like evangelion, article, interview, and hideaki anno. And usually, given enough time between Google searches, something interesting is bound to show up. Last night was no exception, as I came across an article about anonymous group suicide in Japan entitled "Let's Die Together" by upcoming writer David Samuels. I found the subject of the article itself an interesting read, but that in and of itself is not why I read the lengthy editorial. Midway through the article, Samuels interviews none other than Hideaki Anno, who provides commentary on Evangelion and today's Japanese society. The article doesn't explicitly blame Evangelion for the rise of anonymous group suicide, but does use it as an iconic example of what has led Japan to become what Anno describes as "a country of children". There are a number of interesting thoughts, comments, and realizations about Japan and otaku culture that I feel many fans of Japanese pop culture would find of interest, depressing as it may be. The article has sparked commentary from a number of other bloggers on the net, through whom I discovered Samuels' article.

GetReligion.Org, "Deadly social networking in Japan" by Douglas LeBlanc
Anime Diet, "Hideaki Anno Interviewed by Atlantic Monthly-by way of Getreligion.org?" by Michael Huang
THAT Animeblog, "Enemy of the State: How Hideaki Anno is trying to destroy America and the West" (Part I) (Part II) by Crusader

Labels: Hideaki Anno

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Rebuild Update

Posted: Monday, April 23, 2007
Author: Aaron Clark

The following was posted on Anime News Network in February. Considering that, this isn't exactly new news. But if you haven't read it, you really ought to, it spells out Anno's desires for Rebuild of Evangelion, and seems to echo what he expressed prior to Evangelion's original airing in Japan. It seems hopeful and promising to me, and it makes me eager to see how Rebuild will fare.

Many different desires are motivating us to create the new "Evangelion" film.

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. The desire to connect today's exhausted Japanese animation [industry] to the future. The desire to fight the continuing trend of stagnation in anime. The desire to support the strength of heart that exists in the world.

Finally, the desire to have these wishes be realized.

For these purposes, we used the best methods available to us to make another Evangelion film. Many times we wondered, "It's a title that's more than 10 years old. Why now?" "Eva is too old", we felt. However, over the past 12 years, there has been no anime newer than Eva.

Specifically, among the stagnant mood of the present day, it is the portrayal of will - not technology - that is most important. 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. When we decided that we wanted to something to support the anime [industry] of today, the determination to return to this title was strong.

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. Without looking back, without admiration for the circumstances, we aim to walk towards the future. Thankfully, we have gathered staff from the old series, new staff, and many other fantastic staff to work on this series. We realize that we are creating something that will be better than the last series.

”Eva" is a story that repeats. 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. 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. 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, one that can engage audiences as a movie for theatres, and one that produces a new understanding of the world.

This fall, we hope you can join us.

Creator/General Director, Anno Hideaki

Labels: Hideaki Anno, Rebuild of Evangelion

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All I want for my birthday...

Posted: Saturday, February 11, 2006
Author: Aaron Clark

...is a Hideaki Anno action figure. Behold! You can have your very own Hideaki Anno to pose and admire in all his articulated glory. This figure depicts the renowned director as Ultraman from Daicon Film's 1983 production "The Return of Ultraman". Never before has plastic been able to capture such amazingness as with this glorious action figure. You just might sell your soul and disown yourself for the opportunity to own this fine specimen of geekery. This limited edition figure is available from the Mediacom Toy Corporation.