Anime Review - Evangelion 3.33: You Can (Not) Redo

[yasr_multiset setid=3]By: MithrandielSet 14 years after Evangelion 2.22, Evangelion 3.33: You Can (Not) Redo explores an Evangelion universe unlike any you've seen before. Shinji initiates the 3rd impact at the end of 2.22, resulting in the near-extinction of mankind. Now, following his 14-year coma he awakens to be placed in captivity by his previous friends and allies, who hate him for effectively destroying the world. NERV is now fractured, with Misato leading a rebel group known as Willie (side note - it doesn't really strike fear into you, does it?) against Gendo and his subordinates. Following a daring rescue by Rei, Shinji finds himself tormented once again; physically and emotionally isolated, he seeks answers as the fate of what remains of mankind hangs in the balance.Evangelion 3.33 is a great movie stuck in an average movie's body. Externally, the film appears to do some serious backpedaling, seemingly undoing the "progress" viewers have enjoyed over the last two films. In place of the more confident Shinji who felt that he was strong and independent enough to stand on his own two feet, we have a shattered husk of a protagonist who doesn't know what his next move should be, or, frankly, if he deserves to continue living. The time spent on developing his relationships with Rei and Asuka seems to have been a waste as Rei's emotional attachment levels have been "reset" (new clone, new relationship), and Asuka now hates Shinji more than fans thought possible. Misato also has nothing good to say to Shinji, in fact she hardly has anything to say to him at all, and we all know how effective silent treatment is on emotionally unstable teenagers.All of this adds up to some serious frustration on the part of the viewer. Spending the last two movies building Shinji up and developing these relationships only to see them dashed and to start from square one in the 3rd film of a 4 film reboot? We know Anno seems to take some sick pleasure in psychologically tormenting his fans, but this seemed like too much, and the collective fandom has rebelled in response.While others see this reversion as an assault on the progress that Shinji has made, I would argue that breaking Shinji down and starting over is precisely what Anno means to highlight as part of his tumultuous and emotionally grueling journey. The isolation and utter hopelessness that Shinji feels as a result of these events ultimately drives him into the arms of the enigmatic Kaworu Nagisa, who carries much of the character development in the latter part of the movie.Kaworu provides Shinji with something that no other  character in Evangelion 3.33 can: love. As fans of the series have seen, Shinji is easily trained - a handful of compliments and he would bend over backward to please you. So in the depths of his despair, when a kind young man like Kaworu praises and encourages Shinji, we begin to see the dark machinations that lie behind Gendo's pairing of the two. While Kaworu isn't overtly the enemy, understanding Gendo's utilization of Kaworu by setting him up as an effective "playmate" for his son in order to achieve his goals only further cements his status as "Worst. Father. Ever."Of course, Shinji doesn't see it coming. In traditional Shinji fashion, he's preoccupied with making sure that he doesn't disappoint Kaworu. In the meantime, Kaworu has genuine feelings for Shinji: he wants him to be happy, and wishes to protect him from the realities of the world as much as he can. This authenticity only makes the ultimate conclusion of their relationship all the more traumatic for Shinji. Herein lies the central flaw of the film: buried deep, deep within this relationship is the thematic core around which Evangelion 3.33 is constructed. The whole movie. Let me be clear - if you don't catch this theme, it's completely understandable why you would think it pales in comparison to the other films and the series as a whole.You see, there were budding friendships with Asuka and Rei, but they never got to the point of a proper relationship. For Shinji, his relationship with Kaworu gives him some semblance of independence and pride, but not because he thinks more of himself as an individual. His worth is dependent upon Kaworu's thoughts and feelings for him. Anno uses Evangelion 3.33 as a medium to build up this relationship, paint this scenario (hoping that audiences catch it) and then demolishes the entire thing with an emotional gut-punch that devastates Shinji, but hopefully teaches him this central lesson: Shinji can't rely on other people to give him worth. Now before you roll your eyes and let that "Duh." escape your lips, take a minute to reflect on the emotional complexity and weight of this realization. Zac Bertschy at Anime News Network summarizes the weight of this theme quite well - "This is one of those very simple things people like to tell themselves they already believe and understand, but it's something that only comes after doing the intense and difficult work of real self-discovery. The idea that another person's love and acceptance absolutely can not and will never complete you as a person is a heartbreaking defeat for someone whose self-hatred has convinced them that this is the solution." (ANN Review)So there it is. While there are some recurring tropes of the Children (granted they should be 28 now, but Eva pilot magic keeps them from aging) trying to break free of the shackles of authority and in some ways, the looming reality of being an adult, it is this concept of self-realization and Shinji attempting to come to terms with his own worth that drives Evangelion 3.33. The animation is breathtaking, as we've come to expect from the Evangelion rebuild. The world that Anno has built is a darker one, the majority of mankind having died in the Third impact. Still, Anno preserves some beauty in the quiet stillness that remains. The characters have all gone through some design changes, many rocking eye-patches or stunner shades for one reason or another. While many could argue the story is needlessly convoluted, nobody could say that it looks bad.Overall, Evangelion 3.33 continues the tradition of Anno's thought provoking and beautifully animated return to the Evangelion universe. Though it seems like the story has taken a few steps back, some closer inspection reveals an invaluable lesson that promises to move Shinji forward, even if it means dragging him.(For the purpose of this review we were provided a copy of the film by FUNimation)