How to Watch Eva

[The Man in Black]

I'm finally going to try and attempt to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion and I vaguely recall that people suggest that you watch certain versions of certain episodes, as in like episodes something - something of the director's cut, episodes x-y of the original, etc. and then there's those movies which i have no idea where they fit in. I'm just asking bored bored otaku to try and help me out here, lol. And considering there's like 5 differenet releases or so of EVA on dvd and such......yeah, lol.

I do plan on watching the dub because that's what I honestly prefer to watch.

Prior to now, all i have seen of the series is what aired on Toonami's Giant Robot Week, and I've also read volume 1 of the manga.

Thanks in advance

EDIT: Reading through the wiki on it only stood to make me more confused, heh. Apparently there's more movies than I thought and well, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Ge...s)#Re-releases

[The Irishman]

There are some director's cut episodes, but they are the last four (regular episodes, not the two, final episodes). They do explain the story a bit better and fill in some gaps. I don't think watching them first will give you any more of an understanding or a better experience though. It didn't for me. As for the movies, I have The End of Evangelion but not Rebirth or whatever it's called so i can't tell you what that's like in relation to the series. Just start at the start and work your way through and you'll be fine. Heck, if I managed it (and I wasn't even into anime at the time ) you can to.

[kenjisalk]

Yeah, just watch it in chronological order.

Death and Rebirth is a character study clip movie, and doesn't have any new content (ends with the first half-hour of the End of Eva movie).

The End of Eva is the series finale.

[Vyse]

I would watch all 26 episodes (no director's cuts) and then End of Eva. You can also watch Episodes 1-24 and then End of Eva since the movie replaces the last 2 episodes, but I would still watch those 2 episodes because they are so filled with WTF moments.

As for the DVD releases, both the series and the movies are sold separately since they were released by two different companies; don't worry, both maintain the same dub cast except for certain roles where they couldn't find the original voice actors (similar to how Funimation finished off Tenchi Muyo or ADV with Ah! My Goddess Season 2). The only new DVD sets for the original series are ADV's Platinum Series re-release (available either as a Thinpak or in a Perfect Collection Tin with all the DVD extras; both sets have all the episodes and director's cuts). It's a digital remaster of the original series done by Gainax with 5.1 audio for both English and Japanese. The movies were released by Manga Entertainment and have been sold together for a while. However, it may be out-of-print; I've checked both Manga's and sister company Anchor Bay's websites and do not see the movies listed and it's also missing from Best Buy's and Right Stuf's web stores.

[Space Cadet]

I would watch all 26 episodes (no director's cuts) and then End of Eva. You can also watch Episodes 1-24 and then End of Eva since the movie replaces the last 2 episodes, but I would still watch those 2 episodes because they are so filled with WTF moments.

As for the DVD releases, both the series and the movies are sold separately since they were released by two different companies; don't worry, both maintain the same dub cast except for certain roles where they couldn't find the original voice actors (similar to how Funimation finished off Tenchi Muyo or ADV with Ah! My Goddess Season 2). The only new DVD sets for the original series are ADV's Platinum Series re-release (available either as a Thinpak or in a Perfect Collection Tin with all the DVD extras; both sets have all the episodes and director's cuts). It's a digital remaster of the original series done by Gainax with 5.1 audio for both English and Japanese. The movies were released by Manga Entertainment and have been sold together for a while. However, it may be out-of-print; I've checked both Manga's and sister company Anchor Bay's websites and do not see the movies listed and it's also missing from Best Buy's and Right Stuf's web stores.

So why shouldn't he watch the Director's Cut?

[Vyse]

So why shouldn't he watch the Director's Cut?

I never really saw all of the director's cut episodes. I never really cared. I watched like the first several minutes of Episode 21 and gave up. Never really bothered seeing them or attempted to see them since I saw the series in full, which was after I bought the Platinum thinpak (which was after the series aired on [as]). Although I did realize that the opening scene from Ep. 21 DC is also the opening scene from Death and Rebirth.

BTW, Duelist, here's a summary of the Eva movies:
-Death & Rebirth/End of Evangelion (already explained; both contain new animation done with the help of Production IG)
-Revival of Evangelion: a re-release of the movies in marathon-friendly form. The "Death" portion of Death and Rebrith is separated and re-edited to exclude scenes that made it into the director's cut episodes. Rebirth is cut entirely and you just go into End of Eva. (Not released in America)
-The Rebuild of Evangelion: The latest attempt to retell the seires, this time in 4 movies. The first three movies are an alternate re-telling of Episodes 1-24, while movie #4 will be an all-new ending. First movie is out on DVD, the sceond comes out this Summer in theaters, and all have not been announced for America (yet).

[Joe]

Watch the director's cuts if you can. While they're not completely substantial, they do offer a few very nicely animated sequences that didn't make it into the the original run and a few tidbits inter the motives of thecharacters in the later episodes. Note that the director's cut only really substantiates the final 5 episodes.

[kenjisalk]

plus they're included into the platinum dvd release (both regular and the thinpak).

[GingaDaiuchuu]

The Platinum Perfect Collection deluxe metal tin is what I got. If you are willing to spend $80-$130, that's the way to go. It has remastered video and 5.1 surround sound, 7 discs, the 4 director's cut episodes, the on-air versions of those episodes, all 20 episodes before them, and the 2-episode series finale. It also has extras, including clean opening and closing animations, animatics for episodes, and commentaries for episodes with Matt Greenfield (ADR Director), and usually one guest, including voice actors like Tiffany Grant (Asuka), who has her own extra called "That Little Red-Haired Girl", and also Wade Shemwell (English 5.1 Mix Supervisor), who has another extra with Matt Greenfield called "The English Remix Process", and Sean McCoy, who's called the "Evangelion Lecturer" (yes, there are Evangelion Lecturers) in his other extras with Matt Greenfield, called "The Mythology of Evangelion", and "The Mythology of Evangelion Part II". When I got it, I watched everything it had on every disc, including both versions of episodes 21-24, and every extra and commentary. Since finishing that in the end of June, I have rewatched it 4 times, each time showing a different person who hasn't seen it before. When I do this, I show them episodes 1-10, The Mythology of Evangelion, episodes 11-20, the director's cuts of episodes 21-24, episodes 25 and 26, and The Mythology of Evangelion Part II in that order (because the Mythology of Evangelion is just that good), and of course, after that, the hidden track of Spike Spencer making fun of the series' ending by acting as Shinji throughout the ending credits. If you get this and watch at least that much, or as much more as you want, the only movie you have to worry about is End of Evangelion, unless Rebuild of Evangelion ever gets licensed. Or you can get the new "Holiday Edition" (information about it and other ADV November releases here and my rant about it and only it here) if you want (the only reason I would suggest it is so you can tell me what's different about it ). No matter how you watch it, just make sure you do watch Eva. If you haven't seen it, I can't explain why, but the fact that Sean McCoy is an "Evangelion Lecturer" should give you an idea that whether you love it or hate it, Evangelion is unlike any other anime, unless you count the more recent mecha anime series it has influenced (RahXephon, Gainax's own Gurren Lagann, Code Geass, and probably most recent big ones that have no connetion to Gundam) that have referenced or ripped it off on at least one occasion, and that influence is more proof that it is so original and unique. I hope this helps. Sorry you had to read this wall of text. Enjoy Evangelion!

[The Man in Black]

Up until now I think the miggest "mind ****" anime I have ever watched is either like Big O or Serial Experiments Lain, tho I much preferred the former.

[GingaDaiuchuu]

Up until now I think the miggest "mind ****" anime I have ever watched is either like Big O or Serial Experiments Lain, tho I much preferred the former.

Until you see the mind **** that is Eva, your brain is pretty much still a virgin.

[The Man in Black]

Until you see the mind **** that is Eva, your brain is pretty much still a virgin.

Well I feel like I need a distraction from things, so good, LOL

[garfield15]

Until you see the mind **** that is Eva, your brain is pretty much still a virgin.

You're still kind of a brain virgin if you haven't seen the WTF'ness that is Mind Game.

It makes Eva look like a children's book.

[The Man in Black]

You're still kind of a brain virgin if you haven't seen the WTF'ness that is Mind Game.

It makes Eva look like a children's book.

Well I've seen Yu-Gi-Oh! XD

[GingaDaiuchuu]

Well I feel like I need a distraction from things, so good, LOL

Good, just make sure you use protection... Have you decided what release you're going to watch yet?

[The Man in Black]

My friend apparently has some version called "renewal"? seems to be the regular episodes tho.

I think I'm going to at least watch through the regular series first, then we'll go from there.

[Taekmkm]

Renewal is a rerelease, with cleaner shots.

[Zeonic Freak]

Until you see the mind **** that is Eva, your brain is pretty much still a virgin.

Dude, Eva isnt even the hardest of Mind **** animes out there, thats just the tip. I thought X movie was a good mind **** due to the fact i had no clue what was going on, and everything that was happening never made since. Akira was like that too, but the manga im pretty sure is a heck of alot more grusume.

Yea, your now getting into Eva? Dang dude, your kinda behind. Eva is kinda like starting into the world of hard liqur or good beer if you started drinking, you work your way up from the "easy" drinks like Virgin Cosmos and girly stuff to the manly stuff like Sake, Whiskey and Taquila. Eva is like that first step, and its up to you if you wanna continue to watch anime, or leave it forever, like drinking.

But yea, give it a try...

[GingaDaiuchuu]

My friend apparently has some version called "renewal"? seems to be the regular episodes tho.

I think I'm going to at least watch through the regular series first, then we'll go from there.

"Renewal" was just the Japanese re-release that was the basis for the Platinum Edition.

[J'onn J'onzz]

You should watch Renewal, if you can, that version's animation is better than the original's, IMO.