"Anywhere can be paradise as long as you have the will to live."

The penguin is a reminder of Misato's father, his death and the legacy he left her. Penguin = South Pole. It's also remarkable that Misato largely ignores the animal living with her until almost the very end of the show, where she hugs him and gives him away for his own safety, symbolizing that she has at last made peace with herself.

The Amount you like Evangelion is inversely proportionate to the amount you like yourself when first watching it.

The paradox of the hedgehog's dilemma is probably my favorite part of this show, since it's most important message imo is this: even though human's will hurt each other by simply existing with each other (as is the case with Asuka and Shinji), sometimes we don't, sometimes we feel love and make each other happy, and that makes individuality worthwhile and something we must cherish.

"Everyone in the anime community has seen or at least have an opinion on Neon Genesis Evangelion" - my first instinct was to say "wait" but then I thought about it and...yeah, that's exactly how it is.

Pen Pen best character in the series spoilers he will be the main focus in the last Rebuild 👏👀

I'm a simple man. I see theme analysis of Evangelion and I click like.

9:12 The saddest moment is when you realize that Pen-Pen DIED at The End of Evangelion (and possibly between the events of 2.22 and 3.33 in the Rebuild).

When you strip it down to its bare bones, Evangelion is a story about a 14-year old boy going through puberty.

This video is really forcing me to reevaluate this show through the lens of structuralist philosophy. Existentialism is a pretty clear concept imbued into NGE's story and when watching it for the first time I felt as if Shinji's embrace of the freedom of choice at the end was meant to signify that he had the power to do so all along. But when you consider the fact that perhaps Shinji doesn't have as much freedom as the audience is lead to believe, his actions and decisions (or lack there of) seem a lot more justifiable. It isn't until during the Third Impact that the shackles of society and culture (which had already been ravaged and warped by the Second Impact) are broken and Shinji is granted the power to make real choice. Sure he made plenty of decisions throughout the series, many of which had serious impacts and implications on the state of humanity, but his decisions were almost always a product of his desire for approval and/or the sense of responsibility he had towards his people. It isn't until he can understand the hidden truths behind all of his friends and family in the LCL that he realizes what he wants for himself. Despite having no individuality during human instrumentality, it almost seems as if that is the only time in the show where he achieves true autonomy and freedom of choice (which you've made me realize is paradoxical, as instrumentality is supposed to be the lack of those things entirely). NGE makes its viewers question whether freedom is worth being in a constant state of struggle and anguish (which is itself the human experience according to Islam, Darwinism, Frankl's logotherapy, etc), and whether love and friendship are worth the prospect of pain as well (i.e. the Hedgehogs's Dilemma). The show also poses the question of what freedom really is and if it is quantifiable. Is Shinji more free when he is an individual who is under the influence and ultimate control of those around him, or is he more free when he is "liberated" from the pain and misunderstanding of individuality and is connected with all other souls (despite losing what makes Shinji himself)? Sartre and Kierkegaard both believed that existence precedes essence and that humans are not born with any inherent values or sense of identity, that we all start as a tabula rasa or clean slate. They believed that we craft our own morals and identities as we grow and learn (this belief fails to factor in things like societal ethics or even genetics, though). Shinji thinks that he has found his meaning and a sense of identity in piloting Eva Unit-01, however it turns out to be more of a dependency than anything. Existentialism argues that we are responsible for ourselves and our own actions, a belief that I hold dear but fear is being killed if by our primarily postmodern contemporary culture (the world of NGE almost seems to have a post-apocalyptic, postmodern culture, because there are literally otherworldly entities which society can blame for virtually every major issue, yet there continues to be a lack of viable solutions to these "identifiable" problems). We may be responsible for our actions, but if our culture's imbue certain beliefs and practices in us at such a young age, how many of our decisions are truly our own? If they are not exclusively ours, should we be held entirely accountable for them? The last scene in The End of Evangelion can be interpreted in many ways, but to me, when Shinji cries, it is because he still doesn't know the answers to questions like these despite just going through spiritual apotheosis. He chose to embrace the confusion and pain so he and the rest of humanity could be "free" individuals once again, but these emotions and the lack of answers still feel intolerable to him, and the realization that he must continue pay this price for his own individuality for the rest of his life is not an easy one to accept. Apologies for the incredibly incoherent and convoluted tangent, I'm just a huge fan of this show. Thank you for doing this video, I was begging you to tell us your thoughts on NGE in the comments of your Berserk video (my favorite manga, meaning you made two videos in a row on stories that I adore) and I'm glad that you're twitter followers sealed the deal. You tend to have a very narrow philosophical focus in your videos, which gives them a lot more merit and substance than some other anime philosophy videos (analytical depth is preferable to breadth in my opinion). Anyway, congratulations on successfully making a video on this jumbled monstrosity of an anime, it's quite the feat. This channel seems to be growing fast and I'm glad that you're receiving increased support. It'll be interesting to see how your videos and analysis evolve with time. Thumbs up.

Wise crack did this and they focused on the shows portrayal of the division of consciousness and how our inherent separation from each other drives our feelings of loneliness. Your video was definitely different and just as educational. I knew I was subscribing to someone worth watching!

This is one of the best philosophical breakdowns of eva I think i've seen so far. Everything made sense to me and applied well to the show, and managed to put into words the feeling I was feeling while watching episodes 25 and 26 of eva. Thank you!

I've spent the last seven or eight years accompanied by Eva. I've taken it step by step, helped by the gorgeous fanbase it has and all the analisis done by them. I've been researching, thinking, discussing, and for a while I actually thought I knew everything there is to know. Then I spotted this video, and you managed to touch a topic I have never seen brought up by anyone else. So yeah, if you can find something new to say about a series that has been overanalyzed for around twenty years, I think the series in question is deep enough that making a discussion about it is not a waste of time. In eight days starting from now I will have to explain my 70-page long analysis of Evangelion to a group of perfect strangers who get to decide whether or not I get to leave high school (or rather, my nation's equivalent). I discussed the themes in reference to Schopenhauer, the characters in reference to Freud and the cultural impact that this anime had. And after 70 pages I still found myself listing more stuff to say. You are more than free to disagree with me, but in my mind Evangelion will always be the best piece of art in the history of mankind PERIOD. It's not perfect, but it is the best representation of humanity that I have ever seen. And I have seen A LOT of those

people aren't afraid of freedom, they're afraid of pain. it's the same with Shinji

Penpen is definitely a metaphor, because the cute animals made to sell merch are called Asuka and Rei.

Just finished Eva last year and man, the show just leaves you with so much to think over

So Eva is about two different, contradictory philosophies and how the two clash and interact, but at the same time it's about cool giant robots fighting aliens with a cute penguin thrown in. That sounds like it shouldn't even be possible, but it is!

her speech flows like water

I must say that my reaction to the last 2 episodes of the show and the ending of the movie was: is this what a bad trip feels like? Did I take too much LSD?

My favorite Evangelion analysis! Thank you for sharing your thoughts

Hey. Thanks for this! Just finished Evangelion. Hope you’re well, wherever you are.

Neon Genesis Evangelion nearly drove me to suicide. Seeing Shinji suffering is like seeing myself suffer, because at one point in time I was almost exactly like him, especially back in 10th grade when I was bullied to the brink of suicide. I simply cannot tolerate watching Eva. I felt forced to relive my trauma upon viewing it. I’m deathly afraid of it. Twice I had a nightmare where I saw myself as Shinji choking Asuka and starting the Third Impact. I’ve been struggling with this newfound depression ever since. I was obsessed with the series for over a year to try and outwit the isolation of the Coronavirus pandemic. It only increased the burden, and kept the memory of my friend’s recent suicide alive. Watching the End of Evangelion was like peering into a broken mirror, and I was viewing the hell I would’ve put myself through had things turned out differently, had I decided to give up. Sometimes I hate myself because I fail to appreciate what so many have claimed to idolize, and I beat myself further for failing to worship what they call praiseworthy, I forced myself to watch a show that reminded me of nothing but pain just so I wouldn’t be alone anymore, I was willing to sacrifice my individuality for some company amidst the isolation of the pandemic. I sought emotional refuge in the Evangelion fandom on social media, hoping they’d understand me and provide me with answers that would grant me peace of mind. Instead, they downplayed my trauma, going so far as to spread a rumor of my past to shame me of my mental illness, spiraling me deeper into depression, which I’ve been struggling with for over a year now. I just want Shinji to be happy, so this past self of mine can be laid to rest once more. I’m afraid to decouple myself from him after losing my friend to suicide, which Eva made me feel responsible for, especially when I saw Shinji kill Kaworu, of which I fail to understand how anyone can call it praiseworthy. Until then, I feel nothing else matters. There’s a reason why I keep coming back to Evangelion; something that reminds me of nothing but pain. I want to prove to myself I’m not crazy for feeling this way, that Evangelion really did force me to relive my trauma, that my depression is not just a figment of my imagination or another anime plot point. I want to feel that my fear and resentment towards Eva is justified. But the fact I’m the only one I know in existence who’s been traumatized by an anime makes me feel like I really am crazy. But finally, with 3.0+1.0 released, I can rest easy knowing that Shinji has finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel. Evangelion is finished, and I want it to remain that way. But if things hadn’t turned out that way, I wouldn’t be here today.

If time goes on forever, then the possibility of Evangelion is infinite.

how I interpret the giving the world structure thing in episode 25, it's not a paradox. If, like you said, we were completely and totally free that would be utterly terrifying. We wouldn't know up from down we wouldn't know where to start. This is the position that Hideaki Ano was in before writing Eva, due to his last project bombing he was tasked to create something knew, but in the world of fiction the possibilities are completely infinite. He was lost floating in a void of possibilities, of things that could come to be. So he starts with a boy, the boy is him. This narrows down his reality, focuses it. let's add some more structure, its set in a world like ours with the ground in the sky. Narrowing down reality even further. The alternate world that shinji visits is Ano saying that this is another thing he could have made instead, a world that Shinji could be in, but he made eva instead. It's him allowing himself to feel a little pride in his work that he created this world and shaped it by restricting himself from the things he didn't want it to be he created something else entirely. For the first time in a long time he feels like he belongs and no longer sees piloting the eva(writing a story) as a burden, but instead its a reflection of himself.

I was hoping to see a new video from this channel. And I am glad it is a video essay from one of the most important franchises in anime. I hope the next video is as good as this one, very well constructed essay.

Whew, some good new reading materials. I always knew that the real last episodes were super important and cool

8:26 the way Evangelion's music is faded into the insight. Give this women a million subscribers.

Also, one suggestion that might benefit both you and your viewer: It might be a stylistic choice on your part to only show footage of the series. But have you considered including text in your videos? Typography is a great tool! And particularly when mentioning proper terms or the persons behind them, it can help seeing it written out. It leaves a stronger impact when the words are visualized, which can both be advantageous from a learning perspective, as well as for a stronger sense of structure in the review itself.

Anime Philosopher I need you right now. You work is so soothing.

Man, I have no idea how you aren’t more popular. Your videos have such incredibly professional form and substance

Great video! I'm so used to mediocre nonesensical interpretation of Eva on the internet that this was such a pleasant surprise, great job, you really got into it!

I am glad that she made this video before disappearing

when they said " other people shape us, and you can't have a shape if no-one's around" I simply understood that without human interaction (that Shinji fears) you can't know if you're kind or mean, brave or coward...because others put you through some sort of situation that allows you to figure it out. But it was really nice to hear about structuralism vs existentialism.

you hit the bell curve, congrats

Where have you been? Thank you, I take this as birthday gift to me. I appreciate it so much.

"Philosophize This" is a pretty good podcast!

Evangelion should be shown in schools and other Academic institutions PERIOD

Ahh PenPen probably just a cute side character to potentially further mess with you but could also be taken as "life will find a way"

Ayyyye Matt Colville fan! Good on ya!

This video is pure brilliance. Thank you.

I think the most important moment in Eva from me is when rei speaks to shinji through the angel and says something like "don't you want to be one with me?" this symbolizes the most central conflict of a concious beings existence. the one vs the many . the divisions between internal and external. the concept of self itself, and the desire to unify and yet remain as an unassailed orderly body.

I loved the manga. It helped me understand myself and some struggles i've been dealing with recently i think that, strangely, despite how grimm and dark it is, it had a wondefully optimistic ending. I also loved your analisys of it and i would love to donate to your patreon when i can, but currently i just am not in position to do so. Still, hope you keep doing good work. Love your channel. And, yes. The penguin bugs us all...

Perfect now i have to re re re rewatch Evangelion. Thanks

this channel is awesome and needs much more attention!!!!!!

Wow! VERY professionally produced video bravo. Instantly subscribed looking forward to future content.

Your intelect is stunning, very spot on explanation. Still one of my favorite animes until this date.

yes, the rush of peace as the subway pulls in

5:40 trigun theme ❤️

Great video! I love finding more KZfaq philosophers. Also, the Idea Channel reference was not lost on me (unless doobly doo existed before Mike, in that case I would need to do my research :P)

This is such a neat analysis. Good job, proud of you. Watch Ashita no Joe, it's dense as hell to analyze.

Thanks for the video, Eva and philosophy ❤️❤️

that line about anguish.... magnifique

responsibility of freedom is a beautiful thought

I feel Rebuild is Eva + Escapism while the OG eva and the crowing jewel EoE is trying to tackle reality.

Good video to add to my philosophical videos on Evangelion list

At the 6:00 mark when I heard some of the Trigun soundtrack I couldn't help but smile! Also a great video all around, keep em up!

your anime philosophy videos are the only anime philosophy videos on youtube I can stand, let alone watch

Haibane Renmei next please! Curious to see how you'll analyze the Haibane's existence

It's quite incredible how you can make hard to understand concepts like existencialism and structuralism idiot-proof. I've just discovered your channel and I'm already in love with it, great job and hope you can take a shot at Masaki Yuasa's work, specifically over The tatami galaxy and Ping Pong the animation, I'll be cheering you from this side of the world! :)

Very nice analysis! I'm writing a paper on NGE and this video opened a big door for me to look into. Thank you!

Oh new Evangelion content! Thanks for that already Mrs. Uploader. As for my stance on this, it's the same as that of the show. I reject the total freedom theory from Sartre. Just turn around the example of the gambler. He can chose to go back inside the casino depending on his will once he made the determination which marks him to be healthy enough., But if he is too addicted there is a point after which he cannot chose to leave the casino. The option has become unavailable to him, due to mental and physical processes within his mind and body. Structuralism is the dominant theory in practice because not only our societies are structured but our world itself is. However, Evangelion takes the step forward and presents us with freedom inside a necessary structure. Or in Evangelions term: the happniess of choice in living despite the unvoidable pain it causes due to its strucuturalsim. Anno's path out of depression, and thus the shows theme, is brilliantly reflected within all the philosophical theories. A true masterpiece. I hope you will make another Evangelion video soon. The choice is (not) yours. A video celebrting 10k subscribers, less than a week old, but as I see you more than doubled it thanks to an Evangelion video. Not making another one would be counterproductive to the ambitions you stated with an own patreaon campaign. So at least I hope you'll have fun with creating more Evangelion content.

Great job! The community needs that type of videos!

I never thought I could ever understand that acid trip known as episode 25 and 26. Great work!

Why I didn't know the existence of this channel? Why I find out this type of philosophical analysis now? Maybe is the structuralism giving me some signals, hahaha good content, exelent video

Brilliant. Brilliant.

You can have freedom of choice but limited or in relation to the structure of life/society. Your freedom (power, wealth, oportunities, etc) is also relative to the combined freedoms of the people around us. Those concepts really do complement each other.

This was great! Thank you!

man, that background music from Trigun (?) got me so emotional

Nice, Eva theories are always welcome.

For me to somehow build a functional system about how we operate is to say ,,We aren't worthless but also not omnipotent". We have a free will but it is restricted by laws of physics and other wills. People would like to think that we are completly free or inslaved just to not ask themself a question ,,Were does my will begin and end". The easiest answears are that will has no begging or on otherside no ending.

Congratulations!

We can choose to do anything but we choose those options based on past choices and experience.

Thank you for asking the most important question, "What the fuck is the deal with Pen Pen!?"

Anywhere can be paradise as long as you have the will to live. After all, you are alive, so you will always have the chance to be happy.

Ok I'm gonna go on a philosophical diatribe. In nearly every facet of the planet we find ourselves on we find fractals, objects which never cease in their complexity, from our landmasses to crystals. As humans our brains are hardwired to map out every single branching pathway layed before us (it's why we replay visual novels for the other endings), and in mapping these pathways we often find a common delineation. Everything can be dismantled into smaller and smaller parts, we continually find new limits to how small things can be. The same factor could be applied to large objects but that's harder to quantify as we have both a limited view of our surroundings and we have look at after images and distorted images (i am speaking of astronomy because that is where we have found our largest obiects so far). It is nearly maddening if you dwell to long on the futility of mapping these incomprehensibly complex things and ideas. Yet we are still always advancing, and at an exponential rate. This structure can be found in nearly everything. Or it can be argued that we order everything into these structures regardless of their makeup. Think about how we are looking for tell tale signs but rarely do we take into account all variations. I think there is a structure to things, look at animals evolving the same traits despite their common ancestor having none of said traits, especially those whom had no contact with each other. Eva is a wonderful mishmash of conflicting ideals which tries to sort those ideas through shinji. As someone that spends hours just contemplating on life and philosophy this appeals to my contradiction finding (and forming) brain. As humans we love to propose ideas which are hard to answer because it gives us something to really think about, we love to point out fallacies in logic and paint morals greyer.

I'm glad I found your channel, this is a really interesting and well documented analysis. You have a new subscriber!

Basically, you live for what you do to be who you are. You are not wrong but not right for what you do, regardless of circumstances.

Another great review that touched on a couple of interesting philosophical topics. I like the educational approach you have, giving a quick rundown of them before applying them to the story. The links and recommendations in the description are also very much appreciated!

gunna watch this bc of this.

Psycho pass is a good one to check out especially with the idea of freedom.

Cool. Very insightful and wondrous. The thing that plagues everyone that we all try to forget is meaning. Some seek it and others choose to ignore it. Either way it is an inevitable conclusion that we always seek to find no matter our circumstances

you can (not) have a philosophy channel without an evangelion video. Nice analysis and lots of useful information. have a like good lady,

Strong ending

Discovering this channel so long after it's been dead. Sad says

Evangelion theories? Hit me up fam

I don't remember why I subscribed to you but wow am I glad I did, this channel seems like a gem :3

Mmm brain food

Love and appreciate all your analysis videos!

Ugh I love Eva and it’s complex interpretations. This was a great video, new sub :)

I don't think the limited scope of what we can imagine is in conflict with existential freedom. We don't have all hypothetically possible options to chose from, but we still have a vast range of radically opposing choices open to us.

Nice analysis... new sub

You have no idea the happy joy I feel every time I hear doobleedoo (spl?) in your videos. I enjoy a fun, light hearted giggle whenever I hear you say it. Thanks!!😜🙃😜

that bridge wouldn't have tripped them, it would've crumbled under the immense weight.

Lacan's theories on the individual plays a large part in how this philosophies fit into the series. In fact, Lacan's theory of the "mirror stage" almost perfectly explains the end of the series.

Very nicely done!

watched the video...raised an eyebrow...thought about it, agreed, subscribed...started wondering about the penguin, started to want to read psychology

Very good channel, made better by high-quality audio and editing

Your videos are awesome!

I believe both are true. Our views are heavily shaped by our circumstances, surroundings and so on. At the same time we also have the freedom to make choices even if it is somewhat limited. Especially some of the most crucial ones. It gets more complicated but you get the point.

"this video was your fault" LOL I cracked up