Anime Weekend Atlanta 5 - Evangelion Talk
|
 Two works of
filmed science fiction stand out for their obscurity as much as for their
story: 2001: A Space Odyssey and Neon Genesis Evangelion. Is there deeper
meaning in Evangelion, Hideaki Anno's animated descent into destruction
and mass madness? Three Americans who have lived with Eva had some insights:
Carl Horn (left), editor of the Eva manga for Viz; Matt Greenfield, producer
of the Eva videos for ADV Films; and Tiffany Grant, the English-language
voice of Soryuu Asuka Langley. |
 Fans have learned
that Evangelion is loaded with references to Christian and Hebrew mysticism.
What does it mean? Horn said it's hard to tell what Anno was thinking,
because no one knows his reference background for the series. Anno is said
to have used Japanese publications on the Kabbalah and Christian writings,
but no one seems to know what books he used or how accurate those writings
may have been. Horn speculates that the religious symbolism in Eva may
be just plot trappings to the younger audience that has been attracted
to the series, but older viewers may think there's a deeper meaning. |
 What might
happen if Eva reaches a major American audience through broadcast television
or cable TV? Greenfield thinks the religious aspects might not affect the
audience, but the series' violence might have an impact. He said that American
broadcasters looking at Eva have reacted more to the killings than to the
references to the Bible and religious mysticism. |
 Tiffany Grant
might be an example of what Eva can do to people. She had to become Asuka
and survived, mostly because she understood and sympathized with the character.
"It's like people saying bad things about my little sister," Grant said.
"She's only 14 years old, and look at the strange things that have happened
to her. How could she not be screwed up? She has this wall around her because
of the things that have happened to her - she doesn't want anyone to get
close to her." Asuka's complexities appealed to Grant, who enjoyed studying
them and turning them into her voice performances. "None of my other characters
have come close to that depth of inner turmoil," said Grant. |
