Gainax Returns to Anime with Shinseiki Evangelion
New Genesis Evangelion
Author: Carl Horn
Source: Originally published in the February 1995 issue of Animerica
Dated: February 1995
Gainax, the legendary studio of otaku-gone-pro that between 1987 and 1991 produced four of the most memorable anime videos ever made—The Wings of Honneamise, Aim for the Top! Gunbuster, Nadia, and Otaku no Video—have announced plans for their long-awaited return with a television series slated for Spring 1995... Shinseiki Evangelion!
Hold the presses! Animerica has learned that the much-discussed, highly secret "new" Gainax project is to be none other than Shinseiki Evangelion ("New Genesis Evangelion"), a 26-episode TV series conceived, written, and directed by Hideaki Anno, one of the chief animation directors of Honneamise and later, director of Gunbuster and Nadia.
The supercharged mecha parody Gunbuster, Gainax's second effort, was seen by some industry observers as a deliberate reaction to disappointing sales generated at the box office for the more sophisticated (and serious) Honneamise. Anno, who spoke during his visit to the U.S. in 1991 on how Honneamise reflected the frustrations of a generation without meaning, has indicated the Shinseiki Evangelion will be a mecha show based around much more serious themes than the popular Gunbuster.
Beginning with what might be regarded as an update on the classic science fiction premise of aliens warning the human race not to continue their pursuit of nuclear weapons, Shinseiki Evangelion is a near-future drama in the mode of Arthur C. Clarke's 2001 series. In this future age, biotechnology, rather than atomics, is the final scientific frontier as man attempts to artificially induce his own evolution through genetic engineering. Without warning, alien beings appear and demand the human race stop this direction of research... or else!
In a bizarre twist, the aliens refer to themselves as the "Disciples," claiming to be the messengers of the divine. These so-called Disciples grant humanity a grace period of several years before they return once more, and the panicked governments of Earth embark on a crash program of building fortress-like cities and giant robot weaponry, in preparation for the Disciples' return...
Anno says that the new offering from Gainax will consider some of the ultimate questions posed by science fiction, and, indeed, philosophy, such as: What is the nature of evolution? What is humanity's relationship with his or her god? Does God, in fact, exist? What does it mean for the human race if that question can be answered definitively? In addition to these probing questions, Shinseiki Evangelion will also feature the return of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the legendary other half of the Nadia design team, whose work on the recently released Honneamise is gaining new legions of fans with every screening of the film.
After many rumors over the past four years, the anime world hopes for the fulfillment of the promise. Polish your trumpets, O Ye Faithful, and prepare for Gainax's return with Shinseiki Evangelion! Shinseiki Evangelion: New TV series from Gainax; 26 episodes; more news as it develops.
