Angel Attack

"Angel Attack" is the first episode of the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which was created by Gainax. The episode was written by the series director Hideaki Anno and directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki. It was originally aired on TV Tokyo on October 4, 1995. The series is mostly set in the futuristic, fortified city Tokyo-3 fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm. The protagonist is Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy whose father Gendo has recruited him to the shadowy organization Nerv to pilot a giant bio-machine (mecha) called an "Evangelion" to combat beings called "Angels". In the episode, Tokyo-3 is attacked by the Angel Sachiel, who fights the United Nation Army and JSSDF. Gendo summons Shinji for the first time and Shinji reluctantly agrees to pilot the mecha.

"Angel Attack"
Neon Genesis Evangelion episode
Shinji Ikari (center), Ritsuko Akagi (left) and Misato Katsuragi (right) with the Eva-01's head. The scene is informed by Combattler V.
Episode no.Episode 1
Directed byKazuya Tsurumaki
Written byHideaki Anno
Story byHideaki Anno
Original air dateOctober 4, 1995
Running time22 minutes

Production for "Angel Attack" began in September 1994 and ended in April 1995. The work went on at the last minute, until the schedule allowed to continue. For the episode the staff used references to previous mecha series and it was foreseen the battle against an Angel named Raziel, later replaced by Sachiel. The episode scored a 6.8% rating, and received critical and public acclaim focused on its visuals, direction and introduction of the characters.

Plot

Gendo, commander of a special agency named Nerv, summons his son Shinji Ikari to Tokyo-3 city. Sachiel, third of a series of mysterious enemies knows as Angels, approaches the city underwater as a JSSDF tank battalion awaits it on the shoreline. Shinji, who recently arrived in a nearby town, has remained above ground waiting for Misato Katsuragi, head for the military department of Nerv, who is due to pick him up. The JSSDF air force begins to attack the Angel with missiles. Shinji is nearly killed in the ensuing battle but is rescued at the last moment by Misato, who arrives in her car.

The JSSDF, admitting their ineffectiveness, transfer responsibility for the Angel's destruction to Gendo and Nerv. Elsewhere, Shinji and Misato in a car train descend deep underground into a Geofront. Shinji is taken to the hangar of a giant mecha named Evangelion, where he is shown Unit 01, first test type of the Eva series, and Gendo appears above. Shinji learns he has been summoned to pilot the Evangelion Unit-01 into battle against the Angel. He confronts his father and protests at his treatment, believing he has no chance of completing the task, but Gendo tells him to pilot the craft or leave. Gendo sends for his other pilot Rei Ayanami, despite her being seriously injured. Confronted with the sight of Rei's injuries, Shinji agrees to pilot the Evangelion, which is then launched from the Geofront into the path of the Angel on a road on the surface.

Production
Neon Genesis Evangelion director Hideaki Anno

Gainax began planning production of Neon Genesis Evangelion in July, 1993.[1] On September 20, an internal meeting was held at Gainax; production for the first two episodes began in September 1994 and lasted for months.[2][3] The writing phase was also slow; according to Evangelion's director Hideaki Anno, the first episode's script was completed in six months.[4] The director for "Angel Attack" was Kazuya Tsurumaki, assistant director of Neon Genesis Evangelion, and was assisted by Anno and Masayuki, who drew storyboards for the episodes. Shunji Suzuki[5] and Yū Honda were chosen as animation directors.[6] The dubbing sessions began on March 27, about six months before the series was planned to be broadcast.[7]

"Angel Attack"'s first draft should have been named "People's reunion".[8] The episode would have begun with Shinji in a train that is stopped by a battle between Rei Ayanami's craft Eva-00 and an Angel named Raziel. In the first draft the Angel vanishes into a lake and the damaged Unit 00 is returned to the Nerv base.[9] A battle between Raziel and berserk Unit 01 was also planned, but it was eventually moved to the second episode.[10] Production of "Angel Attack" finished in April 1995; one month later, the second episode was also completed.[8] The episodes were screened in front of 200 people at the second Gainax festival on 22 and 23 July 1995 in Itako, Ibaraki, few months after their broadcast.[11] According to Gainax co-founder Yasuhiro Takeda, the work was still at an early stage and the opening sequence was not yet finished.[12] The script's story as conceived starts in medias res.[13] References to earlier anime works, including Lupin III, Combattler V[14] and GunBuster were added to the final version of "Angel Attack". [15][16][17] Extensive use of the narrative technique cross-cut ups, known as "Jishoji shots", was made.[18] Humorous graphic symbols that are typical of shojo anime were used, taking a lead from the works of Kunihiko Ikuhara.[19][20] "Angel Attack" also depicts Japanese Type 74 tanks,[21] Yak-38-inspired VTOLs,[22] nacelle-less gyroplanes[23] and M270 MLRS missile launchers.[24][25]

Reception
First episodes can make or break a series. Few anime premieres do a better job of setting up the players and crisis than Evangelion''s opening episode. ... Evangelion is a rush of drama and excitement right from the start with the end of the world scenario and the "special" child who must save the world, making for an especially lovely touch.

–Max Covill (Film School Rejects)[26]

"Angel Attack" received critical and public acclaim.[27][28] Gainax premiered "Angel Attack", along with the second episode, in a preview at the second Gainax festival on July 22 and 23, 1995, receiving a positive reception.[12] The episode was first broadcast on October 4, 1995, and scored a 6.8% rating.[29][30] After the series' first run, "Angel Attack" ranked 17th among "best anime episodes" in an Animage magazine Grand Prix poll.[31] TV Asahi ranked a scene in which Shinji meets Rei Ayanami for the first time 16th among the most iconic anime moments of all time.[32] In 2011, a Japanese otaku champion chose the line "I must not run away", Shinji utters in "Angel Attack", as the third most-frequent anime quotation.[33] In 2020 NHK proposed a similar survey, which chose "I must not run away" as the third-favorite quotation by Neon Genesis Evangelion fans.[34]

Academic Susan J. Napier described the depiction of Shinji's and Misato's "inner world" in "Angel Attack" as an example of the series' unconventionality.[35] Italian writer and critic Andrea Fontana wrote; "From the first episode, every detail [in Neon Genesis Evangelion] overflows with many meanings".[36] Comic Book Resources criticized the depiction of the futuristic scenario, but defended Shinji and his reluctance to face the task of protecting humanity in "Angel Attack".[37][38] Kristy Anderson (Supanova) picked his decision to ride Eva-01 as one of the character's best moments.[39] Joshua Sorensen (Filmdaze.net) also defended Shinji, describing the "I must not run away" scene as "the crux of everything that makes the show the singularity that it is".[40] According to the Newtype's official Evangelion film books, the scene in which Gendo takes command on the battle against Sachiel received a positive reception for its "expressiveness" and is "considered one of the best-executed of this episode".[41]

The December 1995 issue of Newtype magazine praised the episode's dense amount of information, but noted "it can confuse some viewers".[42] Daniel Dockery (SyFy Wire) described Sachiel's debut as "terrifying" but considered it reminiscent of "a bunch of giant monster tropes".[43] Critics, including animator Yūichirō Oguro (writing for Newtype magazine)[44] and Anime News Network's Nick Creamer,[45][46] appreciated the episode's direction and editing.[47][48] Newtype wrote, "the many elaborate camera angles may tickle fans hearts" and "the eye-catching titles are also well placed".[49] Max Covill (Film School Rejects) placed "Angel Attack" third among the best Neon Genesis Evangelion episodes, praising it for its visuals and introduction of mysteries of the series;[26] he also praised one shot of Shinji reading a book with the hand of an Evangelion in the background as a "symbolism of him being just a tool to accomplish a goal".[50]

References
  1. Takeda, Yasuhiro (2002). The Notenki memoirs: studio Gainax and the men who created Evangelion. ADV Manga. p. 16. ISBN 1-4139-0234-0.
  2. Porori 2010, pp. 126-127.
  3. "エヴァ制作開始インタビュー". Newtype Magazine. Kadokawa Shoten: 4. April 1995. Archived from the original on December 15, 2000. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  4. "庵野秀明 - Part II". 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン残酷な天使のように (in Japanese). Magazine Magazine. 1997. ISBN 4-906011-25-X.
  5. The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A. Glénat Editions. 2009. p. 44. ISBN 978-2-7234-7120-6.
  6. Oguro, Yūichirō. "第35回 エヴァ雑記「第弐話 見知らぬ、天井」" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  7. Oguro, Yūichirō. "第34回 エヴァ雑記「第壱話 使徒、襲来」" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 25, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  8. Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatralical VHS Box Booklet (in Japanese). King Amusement Creative. 1997.
  9. Seiji, Kio; Yamashita, Ikuto (1998). Sore Wo Nasumono: Neon Genesis Evangelion Concept Design Works (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. p. 87. ISBN 4-04-852908-0.
  10. Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). 17. Sony Magazines. pp. 27–28.
  11. Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. 2005. p. 11.
  12. Takeda, Yasuhiro (2002). The Notenki memoirs: studio Gainax and the men who created Evangelion. ADV Manga. p. 162. ISBN 1-4139-0234-0.
  13. Gualtiero Cannarsi. Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). 1. Dynamic Italia. p. 14.
  14. Izubuchi, Yutaka; Anno, Hideaki (31 March 2004). "Combattler and Gowapper". RahXephon Complete (in Japanese). ISBN 4-8401-1019-0. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  15. "Japan Expo 2015: l'edizione del ventennale di Evangelion". Fumettologica.it (in Italian). July 14, 2015. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  16. Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (2003). Renewal Bonus Extras (video) (in Japanese). Gainax.
  17. Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 1. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 22.
  18. Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 1. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 20.
  19. Gualtiero Cannarsi. Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). 1. Dynamic Italia. p. 21.
  20. Eva Tomo no Kai (in Japanese). 1. Gainax. 1996.
  21. Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). 3. Sony Magazines. p. 10.
  22. Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). 2. Sony Magazines. pp. 9–10.
  23. Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 1. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 25.
  24. The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A. Glénat Editions. 2009. p. 47. ISBN 978-2-7234-7120-6.
  25. Seiji, Kio; Yamashita, Ikuto (1998). Sore Wo Nasumono: Neon Genesis Evangelion Concept Design Works (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. p. 164. ISBN 4-04-852908-0.
  26. Covill, Max (June 17, 2019). "Every Episode of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' Ranked". Filmschoolrejects.com. Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  27. Poggio, Alessandra (2008). Neon Genesis Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). Dynit. p. 8.
  28. Platinum Booklet. 1. ADV. 2004.
  29. "Newtype" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. December 1995. p. 74. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  30. "新世紀エヴァンゲリオン"騒動"小史（増補改訂版）" (in Japanese). Nikkei Business Publications. Archived from the original on February 12, 2001. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  31. "第18回アニメグランプリ［1996年5月号］". Tokuma Shoten. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010.
  32. "アニメ最強名場面ベスト１００～幻の第１話＆感動の最終回SP～" (in Japanese). TV Asahi. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  33. "Poll: Top Online Quotes Whose Origins You Don't Know (Part 1)". March 2, 2011. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  34. "『全エヴァンゲリオン大投票』ランキングまとめ。好きなキャラ1位はアスカ、エヴァは初号機、使徒は第6、セリフは「私が守るもの」" (in Japanese). May 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  35. Napier, Susan J. (November 2002). "When the Machines Stop: Fantasy, Reality, and Terminal Identity in Neon Genesis Evangelion and Serial Experiments Lain". Science Fiction Studies. 29 (88): 428. ISSN 0091-7729. Archived from the original on June 26, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2007.
  36. Andrea Fontana. "Neon Genesis Evangelion: l'apoteosi dell'anime" (in Italian). Archived from the original on February 29, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  37. Kogod, Theo (December 14, 2019). "10 Things That Didn't Age Well In Neon Genesis Evangelion". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  38. Luquin, Eduardo. "Evangelion: 5 Times We Sympathized With Shinji (& 5 When We Didn't)". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  39. Anderson, Kristy (June 4, 2020). "The Best Moments Of Shinji Ikari In 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'". Supanova.com.au. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  40. Joshua Sorensen (June 16, 2019). "In Defence of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion's Shinji Ikari". Filmdaze.net. FilmDaze. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  41. Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 1. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 27.
  42. "Newtype" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. December 1995. pp. 6–7. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  43. Dockery, Daniel (June 23, 2019). "The 10 most awesome (non-depressing) moments In Neon Genesis Evangelion". Syfy.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  44. Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. 2005. p. 21.
  45. Creamer, Nick (July 10, 2019). "Review: Neon Genesis Evangelion". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 9, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  46. "Neon Genesis Evangelion – Episode 1". September 7, 2018. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  47. Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. 2005. p. 15.
  48. Walker, Alex (June 19, 2019). "The Best Neon Genesis: Evangelion Episodes". Kotaku.com. Kotaku. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  49. "Newtype" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. October 1995. pp. 14–15. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  50. Covill, Max (June 19, 2019). "The Perfect Shots of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'". Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  • Porori, Syunsou (2010). The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side B (in French). Glénat Editions. ISBN 978-2-7234-7121-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.