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Neon Genesis Evangelion

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese anime television series created by Hideaki Anno and produced by Gainax.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese anime television series created by Hideaki Anno and produced by Gainax. Set after a global catastrophe, it follows teenage pilots who operate giant biomechanical units called Evangelions to fight beings known as Angels, while the story develops into a psychological and philosophical drama. The series has a substantial international audience, including in Canada, where it is commonly discussed as a landmark anime series in film, television, and pop-culture criticism.

Premise

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic future centered on Tokyo-3, where NERV defends humanity from mysterious beings called Angels. Selected teenagers pilot Evangelions, giant biomechanical weapons built for this purpose.

Production

Neon Genesis Evangelion was created by Hideaki Anno and produced by Gainax. It first aired on TV Tokyo and affiliates from October 1995 to March 1996.

Themes and influence

The series is widely noted for shifting from conventional mecha action toward introspection and psychological conflict. Its reputation rests on its exploration of depression, alienation, religion-inspired imagery, and human relationships.

Ending and legacy

The television ending and later film conclusion are tied to the Human Instrumentality Project, a plan to merge human consciousness into a single existence. This ending remains one of the most discussed and debated in anime history.

Key facts

  • Neon Genesis Evangelion is a 26-episode anime series created by Hideaki Anno and produced by Gainax, airing from October 1995 to March 1996.
  • The series is set in 2015, fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm called the Second Impact.
  • The protagonist, Shinji Ikari, is recruited by his father to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 for NERV.
  • Evangelions are giant biomechanical mecha used to fight the Angels.
  • The show is known for combining action with themes of trauma, loneliness, identity, and existential anxiety.
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Canadian context

Neon Genesis Evangelion has a substantial international audience, including in Canada, where it is commonly discussed as a landmark anime series in film, television, and pop-culture criticism.

Frequently asked questions

What is Neon Genesis Evangelion about?
It is about teenage pilots who use giant biomechanical Evangelions to defend post-apocalyptic Tokyo-3 from attacking beings called Angels, while the story explores trauma, identity, and alienation.
Who created Evangelion?
Neon Genesis Evangelion was created by Hideaki Anno.
How many episodes of Evangelion are there?
The original Neon Genesis Evangelion television series has 26 episodes.
What is the Human Instrumentality Project?
It is a plan in the series to merge all human souls and consciousness into one collective existence, ending individual separation and suffering.
What happened in the ending of Evangelion?
In the original series’ finale, the story turns inward and focuses on Shinji’s consciousness during Instrumentality; later material shows that Shinji can reject or accept that merged state depending on interpretation and version.
Who are the main characters in Evangelion?
The main characters commonly identified are Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Misato Katsuragi, and Gendo Ikari.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion
    Supports: Series premise, original run, 26 episodes, Human Instrumentality Project, and basic plot details.
  2. Observer — https://observer.com/2021/08/neon-genesis-evangelion-series-films-explained/
    Supports: Series overview, themes, characters, and explanation of Instrumentality.
  3. IMDb — https://imdb.com/title/tt0112159/
    Supports: Series premise and character/plot overview.
  4. Evangelion Fandom — https://evangelion.fandom.com/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion_(anime)
    Supports: Main characters and series description.