Animation Basics Animation analysis - Analyzing Animated Works
GCC Academy
Analysis of the Evangelion Work and Characters
Nice to meet you, my name is Choi Byeongseon
Today, the first lecture of Animation Analysis course
will be covering Evangelion
First, Evangelion is a work that made a significant mark
in the history of animation
It stands out from previous animation works
with its unique setting, imagery, and direction
For those who create, study
or love animation
often referred to as otaku
for me as well, through this work
my passion for anime started to grow
The story is about the anxiety and growth of youth
and it features a giant robot, Evangelion, in a battle
that is not a typical good vs. evil struggle
but rather a fight between giant robots
Through this battle, the protagonist grows
and that's the essence of the story
The reason I chose this work is
that it’s from the late 90s
and it's a work that has been around for a while
I believe many of you, whether through YouTube
or by having an interest in animation
have likely encountered
this work in some way
So, in the process of planning
and analyzing animation
there are many aspects worth learning from this work
which is why I chose this work for this course
Let's look at the historical context of its production
Evangelion first aired in 1995
and the brief historical background of Japanese society at the time was
It was the time when the bubble economy was collapsing
The social unrest caused
by that was creating a stagnant atmosphere in society
conveyed through newspapers and various media
Moreover, around that time
there was the Aum Shinrikyo subway gas attack
Overall, it was a time filled with a very depressing
and stagnant atmosphere in society
It was an animated work targeted
at young people in such a time
Culturally, it can be seen as a work that helped
shape the concept of otaku culture in a more concrete way
So, if we look at the features of the work, it involves giant robots
and there are common humans
including the protagonist, along with ordinary citizens, students
and a being called Sado attacking their town
The basic story line is about the battles between these giant robots
fighting against Sado
In traditional mecha works
there is usually a heroic protagonist
a clear distinction between good and evil
and a focus on a very optimistic future
If traditional works focused on simple good vs. evil battles
where eliminating the villain would lead to peace
EVA, as a work, introduces a very depressed protagonist
The character is one who carries the many struggles
that comes from adolescence that we can easily relate to
This character struggles within a very ambiguous good vs. evil framework
and within an apocalyptic worldview
he goes through various psychological conflicts and growth
There were innovative aspects
and one of them was genre subversion
While mecha animation, as mentioned earlier
typically had a simplified good vs. evil structure
this work focuses more on a psychological narrative
Before even exchanging simple actions
on the protagonist's psychological conflicts
a lot of time and direction is spent
It was the work that first tried
such experimental directing techniques
and in the later part of the work
it employs bold directing methods and imagery
that makes it hard even to consider it an action based work
As a result, the robot designs have a visually distinct form
from what we typically expect
And in terms of direction
there are many very static scenes
The tension created by these static scenes
was a cinematic direction that
greatly differentiated the work
from the typical format of giant robot action animation
I think these static scenes and the tension
were elements that allowed
a very deep portrayal of psychological expression
Another thing that
I was impressed by
watching this Evangelion
was, I was a college student
and It wasn't long after high school
for a protagonist controlling a giant robot
he has a very ordinary appearance
Rather than having any sense of resolve
he is deeply engulfed in a feeling of sadness
the psychological struggles we commonly experience in high school
For example, in Korea
University entrance exams
burden of needing to gain recognition
from the school or parents
I think many people have probably
had a desire to escape from such pressures
The struggles with relationships with parents, concerns about self identity
and the issues of forming relationships
with friends or others
These are portrayed in a very realistic way, of being a teenager
The protagonist, as an imperfect hero, repeatedly makes mistakes and regrets them
and the depiction of growing pains is
what I found to be very unique
and meaningful in the work
Let's look at the story through the protagonist Shinji
to see the stories that we can relate to
First, when we think of the character Shinji
the scene that comes to mind is
his desire to escape from the realistic pressures
and the urge to flee from them
This kind of scene repeatedly appears
multiple times throughout the story
First, he hears this line, Get in the EVA!
The protagonist hears it from Gendo, his dad
but also the head of the organization he is part of
In a way, this is similar to how, during high school
we were often pressured
to go to a good university, perform well on exams
or conform to society's
conventional ideals and expectations
whether we wanted to or not, similar to us
Shinji, is given the directive
to pilot the EVA
In fact, Shinji is a character who longs for
a very ordinary life
Despite not having spent much time
with his father during his childhood
he is, in a way, forced by that same person
to pilot the EVA, a giant robot
He is given this externally imposed sense of duty
and in a situation where he has no choice
he is pressured by statements like
You are special, or No one else can do it
which leads him to repeatedly experience
failure mall achievements, and growth
And when he fails, he is burdened with the heavy pressure
that humanity will perish
The expectations of parents, pressure regarding career paths
the burden of entrance exams and employment
and the weight of feeling that your future is at stake
these are all realities we can't escape
Yet, during such overwhelming moments
we often feel the urge to let go
or even give up
I think these aspects are a major factor
that makes it easy for us to relate to
and empathize with this character
This character constantly tries to escape
from this pressure
yet inevitably returns to it
These elements make the situation
much more tense in a way
and what draws this character come back are
the relationships with various others
such as a sense of duty or the undeniable presence of companions
These interactions ultimately lead to his return
These moments reflect our own lives
where we often face various conflicts and difficulties
sometimes reaching the point of giving up
but also finding moments to correct ourselves
These moments are depicted
very smoothly and beautifully
As a result, this character undergoes growth
both physically and mentally
The relationship between the protagonist
and the EVA, a giant robot in this animation
is quite different from that of previous protagonists
who control combat type robots
The two are connected through a synchronicity
sharing pain and various sensations
while piloting the robot
In this sense, the protagonist is
quite special
To put the detail on the robot simply
the EVA is a robot
that contains the genetic material of Shinji's mother
and has a biological structure
that includes parts of her
Since the protagonist shares the same DNA
The protagonist
with a very high synchronization rate
he can operate the robot in a way
that he can bring the EVA's full potential
because he possesses
an innate ability
As a result, the robot itself
also reflects the protagonist's physical struggles
overcoming challenges, and growth throughout the process
When the protagonist pilots the robot
he is submerged in a red liquid
known as LCL
As the synchronization with the robot occurs
the protagonist also experiences the pain
the robot feels directly
As a result, during the robot's battles
the damage and injuries sustained
are directly transmitted to the protagonist
And because the robot has biological characteristics
its awakening or certain extreme behaviors
can be seen as similar to
common expressions we use
when a person loses control or goes berserk
These elements are reflected in the robot as well
This process is smoothly depicted in a way that closely ties
to the protagonist's psychological growth
It can be said that these expressions are
reflecting the growing pains of youth
One of the key elements in addressing the protagonist's growing pains
is the aspect of relationship formation
The relationship with Asuka is
a rival, as she appears as both
a teammate and a fierce competitor
Through this process, as they spend time
and experience events together
they develop an interest in each other
In contrast to Asuka, there is Rei
another teammate who also fights alongside
Rei's relationship with the protagonist
starts off very cold but gradually
they begin to develop a sense of mutual connection
Over time, Rei evolves into a figure
that evokes a sense of maternal care
and the relationship develops into one where
the protagonist desires to protect her
The various expectations and disappointments
experienced with these characters repeat
in the similar way
to those we often encounter with classmates
during our school years
And that's what makes the setting
very relatable and easy to empathize with
Additionally, Evangelion features
a variety of symbolic elements
which is an important aspect worth looking at
One of the common robot concepts
in Evangelion is the At Field
a shield, a protective barrier
the AT Field acts as a shield that defends against physical attacks
The AT Field is a crucial
and essential ability for the EVA robot
In a way, it represents the fundamental human trait
the instinct to protect ourselves
from external, unfamiliar, or negative forces
Reflecting this aspect of human nature
is one of the distinctive features of Evangelion
So through this work, there are
various depictions or mentions of
the identity of this AT field
Through the protagonist's monologue and the repeated battles
the viewers also come to realize that
the AT field is not simply a mechanical device
used to defend a robot
It represents the psychological walls
we have in our relationships with others
and the boundaries we set to protect our sense of self
In a way, these things
not only protect us
but also isolate us
and the AT field closely resembles
the desire to safeguard
our psychological self
when watching this animation, these elements
naturally connect and evoke such associations
I thought those are one of the remarkable aspects of this work
The Handling of Eye Contact Between Characters in Evangelion
First, I’ve explained the things
I felt and the parts I found interesting
about the work Evangelion
However, this work has exceptional direction
and very captivating depictions, and these are
aspects that
we consider very important, as storytellers
and creators of visual content
we have a lot to study and learn from
Among these, the handling of eye contact between characters
is something worth paying attention to
The protagonist, Shinji
and his father, Gendo
I can talk about the eye contact
between these characters
First, the lack of eye contact is portrayed
in a very distinctive and clear way
And the character Gendo is often depicted in a intimidating manner
always looking down from a higher angle
Shinji is often depicted looking up from a low angle
or showing signs of avoiding eye contact
The father-son relationship, where they do not look at each other
is depicted through this eye contact direction
The elevator appears in a variety of ways
The physical distance, along with the increasingly distant eye contact between Shinji and Gendo
represents the psychological distance and the gap that cannot be bridged
In terms of composition, the contrast between rising and descending
is used as a visual representation
of the impossibility of communication
And at the end, they have their final confrontation
where for the first and last time, they exchange a genuine gaze
and share understanding and forgiveness
As I mentioned earlier
After the overcoming of the difficult relationship
the moment they finally face each other
makes the dramatic scene even more intense
And to mention a few characteristic eye contact techniques
one could point out
the use of the direct front-facing shot
Among these, there are monologue scenes
and direct gazes toward the audience
This is actually a rare technique
often considered a taboo
in common film or animation direction
The direct gaze toward the audience and the internal monologue
when these moments of externalization
it breaks the frame of the narrative
the frame of the fact that we are watching the play or film
and the inner confession sequence
like in 25th and 26th episodes
It is used as a very experimental direction
creating a psychologically therapeutic composition
As a result, it gives the feeling of directly experiencing
the character's inner thoughts
And it gives the feeling that the distance between the audience
and the characters disappears, as if a barrier is removed
By changing the degree of the close-up
adjusting the distance with the camera
the direction effectively enhances
our emotional immersion in the character
These characteristic directorial techniques
that utilize such methods
are worth paying close attention to
In group scenes, the eye contact composition
such as the school setting, eye contact composition in the classroom
Shinji and Rei’s characters share a gaze toward the window
while characters like Asuka
is portrayed with a more active gaze and involvement
and the classmates are depicted with
a more passive or bystander gaze
I believe these techniques were very effective
in visualizing alienation and isolation
In a way, the power dynamics and imperfections in relationships
in a teenage classroom are effectively depicted
I think these eye contact techniques are well utilized
In scenes within the NERV operations control room
the differences in eye contact based on power dynamics are also very effectively utilized
The gaze from a higher position looking down
the mediator's gaze, and the upward gaze from the agents
are all well maintained and depicted
The gaze when piloting the EVA robot
is also quite interesting
The cockpit perspective and the subjective shot
Many works now
utilize similar perspective shots
In a way, the pilot's perspective
such as the head-up display, the limited field of view
and the reality viewed through the machine
create captivating scenes that are
typical of mecha works
I also think these elements are very effective in
depicting the protagonist's psychological
state of being isolated within this protective shell
In battle scenes, the gaze of out of control
when the EVA robot gets out of control
it enters a berserker mode
exhibiting wild behavior
In these moments, the wild gaze is portrayed from a first-person perspective
and the various camera work is directed in a way that
effectively expresses this primal violence
And when the situation is normal, the gaze is calculated and tactical
with the battle scenes being directed in a rational manner
I think these elements are effectively used to show
the harmony between humans and machines
From the perspective of utilizing a meta gaze
in the latter half of the work, reality and unreality begin to intersect
By inserting live-action footage
the animation production process is exposed
and a chaotic situation is depicted
where multiple perspectives are intertwined
These elements disrupt the audience's immersion
and make them conscious of the fact that they are watching a medium
I believe the breakdown of the boundary between
reality and fiction was intentionally directed
The work Evangelion features
various motifs
These elements are used as repetitive motifs throughout the work
One of the most representative locations symbolizing everyday space is
the place of the protagonist's home
the apartment of the character Misato
It is a modern, high-rise urban residence
that is always somewhat cluttered
There are beer cans and instant food scattered around
I think these elements
were intentionally depicted in a way
that closely resembles our everyday lives
to effectively portray the reality of it
These elements create a space of a surrogate family
where multiple people live together
It serves as both a refuge and a place of conflict
Even the arrangement of Asuka's room is
symbolically set up to effectively create
a sense of psychological distance
Elements like empty desks in the school classroom
the few remaining students after the disaster
and the sunset shining through the window
effectively symbolize the formal aspects of everyday life
generational disconnection and isolation
These also play a role in depicting
the triangular relationship between Shinji, Rei, and Asuka
Also, vending machines and benches appear repeatedly
Characters mostly have their conversations there
The place of contemplation
often employed in quiet
calm scenes accompanied by the sunset
The setting used for contemplation
These elements symbolize
the impersonal nature of the city
and are used to depict mechanical convenience
humanity, rest, and escape
And visual motifs are
used in a very profound way
The subway, escalators, elevators
and even the platforms used to board the EVA
are all modes of transportation
These elements, like the subway and escalators
are sometimes used as means of escape
and are also utilized to symbolize the direction of one's life
The elevator
with its vertical movement
It's used to depict hierarchical structures
It also serves to symbolize the confrontation between
Rei and Asuka and rise and fall of psychological state
The EVA's platforms are used to symbolize
the forced journey to the battlefield
responsibility, and an inescapable fate
As I mentioned earlier, the liquid LCL is used
as a symbol of return to the womb
the dissolution of individuality, amniotic fluid, and the uterus
and the sea and swimming pools also appear
They represent traces of the past of this world
the setting of the Second Impact
as well as the duality of purification and contamination
In the case of Asuka
they also appear as spaces where she seeks to confirm her own identity
Despite being a mecha work
this piece notably features a lot of blood and wounds
It can be quite brutal at times
with a lot of bloodshed visible
despite it being a mecha robot work
I think these elements were used
very effectively to visualize the violence
At the same time, it effectively portrays the mecha
not just as a mechanical entity
but as a bio-organic weapon
emphasizing relatable human aspects
like emotions and wounds
Various situational motifs are also used
The desire to escape is
one of the major motifs
The character Shinji engages in various forms of escape
These kinds of aspects take on different stories and reasons
in the beginning, middle, and later parts of the work
These elements connect escape and ultimately return
symbolizing the repetitive nature of life
which was a personal impression I had
It’s an interesting aspect to observe
as each time the escape is repeated, there are subtle differences
and how Shinji eventually returns is
one of the more intriguing parts of the story
There is also frequent appearance of phone calls
and communication breakdowns
In the phone conversations with the character Gendo
the physical characteristics, brief instructions and orders
emotionless commands, and the abrupt termination of conversations
These represent the breakdown of the father-son relationship
represent the breakdown of the father-son relationship
and the severing of that connection
These elements are effectively used to depict a portrait of the modern family
highlighting the emotional distance and breakdowns in communication
The voice message with the character Misato
when she conveys her true feelings in the final moment
it represents a late expression of motherhood
and serves as a farewell message, almost like a dying declaration
While physically disconnected
these elements are used as a tool
to reconnect through messages
the work effectively utilizes
the themes of separation and connection
making powerful representation
This work can be described as
one that strategically uses music and sound effects
The music in the work carries multiple meanings
In the case of Shinji, he uses the SDAT
I'm not sure what the S stands for
but DAT stands for Digital Audio Tape
The SDAT, which appears intentionally in the work
is a portable music player resembles the real world one at that
The portable music player
Music is portrayed through this device
The protagonist listening to this music player is often depicted
This can be seen as an expression of solitary monologue
The symphonic music the protagonist frequently listens to
representing Western classical authority
carries the meaning of rejecting reality
It is used as a tool for blocking the harsh reality the protagonist lives in
conveying this sense to the audience
And the song, Fly Me to the Moon
frequently appears as background music
arranged in very different ways for each episode
And it is effectively used for transition of and to transform
the atmosphere in each episode
Additionally, the spontaneity and unpredictability of jazz
are appropriately utilized as expressions of love and admiration
which I think is one of the interesting points
for the audience to enjoy
And there is this main theme song
called, A Cruel Angel's Thesis
To analyse the lyrics, Boy, become a legend
A hero who challenges fate
The lyrics depict the duality
of cruelty and the mission
So, the music for battle scenes, everyday scenes
and even strategic silences are used very effectively
I was really impressed
by how these music tracks
are layered and utilized so effectively
It is also one of the highly praised elements
If you pay close attention to this part
I think it could add an interesting element
I have introduced the work Evangelion
The fantasy of giant robot battles against the Sado
Throughout the story
there lies the trouble real life adolescents go through
and the fact that it depicted the growing pain well
holds significant meaning
Especially, the education system and the family system of
Korea, Japan or countries in the south east Asia
effectively intertwines the relationships between characters
having many elements for empathy
that I believe made the work more relatable
to growing adolescents
In that sense, I wanted to introduce it to you
Thank you
Evangelion Works and Character Analysis Evangelion Works Characteristics Characters who conflict within the ambiguous good-evil structure A lot of time and direction is spent on describing the protagonist's psychology Although it is an action film, many static scenes appear
Characteristics of Evangelion protagonists that evoke empathy A teenager with realistic concerns about his relationship with his parents, self-identity, and relationships with people around him An imperfect hero who makes repeated mistakes and regrets
Character gazes and eye contact Characteristic eye contact techniques Direct gaze at the audience in monologue scenes
Adjusting the distance between camera and audience Different gaze handling of characters in group scenes Subjective point of view from the cockpit
Use of meta gaze Intersection of reality and fantasy Incorporation of live action footage to expose the animation process Mix of multiple perspectives