| Spoderman | 01-25-2006 06:07 AM |
Before I get into anything, I'd first like to say that in general, I dislike anime and I only consider four to be really any good.
Big O- Why would I be here if I didn't? The story is entrancing, and the robot designs are amazing.
Neon Genesis Evangelion- I caught a single episode of Evangelion on Adult Swim. It was titled "With One Accord in a Flash". Simply, it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and I've been hooked ever since. Last weekend, I borrowed the complete series, plus End of Evangelion from a friend, and watched it straight through, three times. This series is absolutely fantastic.
Fullmetal Alchemist- Apart from Ed being a whiny wuss, this show is quite good.
Champloo- Beatbox samurai ftw.
(This article contains Evangelion Spoilers)
With that said, I have recently purchased Seasons 1 and 2 of Big O, and spent the last few days watching it all. Since I just came down off my aforementioned Evangelion binge, I'm noticing a great deal of similarities between the two shows, and not just because they have giant robots.
Evangelion is the story of humanity's last days. It centers around a young boy named Shinji Ikari, who is forced into piloting the Evangelion Unit 01, a mech which is the only weapon with enough power to destroy the entities known as Angels, who are hell-bent on the destruction of mankind. Shinji is insecure and unsure of himself. He craves attention from others and only wants to be loved, but ultimately ends up finding himself alone. His father is estranged from him; his guardian doesn't connect with him on a personal level; his friends don't quite understand his problems; and his fellow Evangelion pilots, Rei and Asuka, each ignore him in their own ways. This leaves Shinji to be extremely disturbed emotionally, and oftentimes he is a reluctant hero, fighting his urge to flee with his constant mantra of "I mustn't run away..."
If I recall correctly, in Act 14, Roger the Wanderer, when Angel drives Roger underground, she coyly says, “You aren’t going to run away again, are you?” to which Roger retorts, “I ran away?”
Its uncanny just how many similarities there are between the two shows. Just the very premise of each is similar. Both depict end-of-the-world scenarios, just in different ways. The world of Evangelion is constantly coming under attack by Angels; while in Big O we have Paradigm as a perpetual target of masterless megadei, searching for the memories that can complete them.
Four of the main characters in Big O have direct parallels to the four main characters of Evangelion, except adult versions of them.
Shinji and Roger may seem like a bit of a stretch, but their likeness cannot be denied. Roger oozes coolness from every pore, and is always prepared for any situation. Shinji, is a bundle of nerves, who often has to be forced into his heroics. However, they both rise to the occasion regardless of the circumstances, and there is a recurring theme in both shows, where the pilots of their respective mechs question their motives for piloting in the first place. Their conclusion: They pilot because they are destined to.
Rei and Dorothy are direct comparisons in every way. Rei is cold, emotionless, and does not understand how or why other people act the way they do. This is because (spoiler) she is not a real human. Instead, she is the end result of an experiment attempting to clone Shinji's mother, Yui Ikari, by combining her DNA with Angel DNA. Rei is neither fully human, nor fully Angel, just as Dorothy is an android with human memories and emotions. Furthermore, just as there are multiple Rei clones (to activate the Dummy-Plug system), we do see another Dorothy model in R-D.
Misato and Angel- Misato and Angel are both strong-willed and self-conscious women on a quest for personal gain. Although Angel is a bit more vocal about her motives, Misato often exhibits selfish traits and both are somewhat conceited. Interesting to note is the fact that Misato is the director of operations at Nerv... while Angel is revealed to be the director of Paradigm. Both characters are love interests of the main character in each respective show.
Asuka and Alex Rosewater- The fact that there is a gender difference here means nothing. Like Asuka, Alex Rosewater is brash and arrogant, readily asserting his dominance over others. He even says that his Big Fau is the greatest Megadeus, just as Asuka boasts of Unit 02's superiority. However, while Asuka is eventually redeemed after realizing exactly how shallow she is, Rosewater's arrogance ends up being his downfall.
All of the characters are unsure of their own identities, and have a deep, unrelenting fear of the unknown that they all face at some point in time. Roger fears the underground; Dorothy fears the archetypal megadei; Angel fears losing control of herself.
Another similarity we can draw is between the respective mechs.
Both the Evas and the Bigs display numerous feats of intelligence and self-awareness. There are instances of every Megadeus disobeying orders or acting independently, just as Unit 01 and Unit 00 do in Evangelion. Unit 01 moves on its own (Without power!) on three separate occasions throughout the course of Evangelion (with each instance rising in awesomeness on the badass-scale), while Unit 00 goes berserk during synchronization tests seemingly of its own volition.
The Evas themselves are not true mechs, but bio-engineered Half-Angel, Half-Human cyborgs. The metal they wear is not only armor, but a cage, meant to restrain the full power of the Eva. In comparison, the Bigs are clearly robots, but they each contain memories...
And since Norman puts it so well... "Memories are something that exists in the human form..."
We can only infer that the origins of these memories were human, regardless of thow they ended up in the Bigs. The Bigs simply need a Dominus in order to complement their existing memory.
Unit 01, like Big O, is really, the only "complete" mech in Evangelion. Rei's Unit 00 is mentally unstable, often going crazy during simple tests, and Asuka's Unit 02 is merely a more easily controlled, dumbed-down Eva. In this sense, Big Duo and Big Fau are incomplete because they lack the correct memories, and Dominus complement in order to function properly. Big Duo is two-faced, and on two separate occasions, moved on its own, disobeying its pilot; and in the second instance, killed said pilot.. Big Fau, being a frankenstein of sorts, is without the correct memories it needs to function properly, and like Unit 02, needs to be "dumbed down" in order to be controlled. Furthermore, but not pivotal, is the fact that Unit 01 and Big O both survive until the end of the series (I'm talking about End of Evangelion, not eps 25,26), Unit 02 and Big Fau are partially destroyed, and Unit 00 and Big Duo are completely destroyed. And if you really want me to get symbolic on your ass, consider that at one point, both the Bigs and the Evas were in mass production: Eva units 6-12 make an appearance in EoE.
Interestingly enough, the relationships between each character in Big O mirror their Evangelion Counterparts. Shinji has strong feelings for Rei, Asuka, and Misato, but feels especially drawn to Rei, for reasons he cannot explain. Likewise, Roger must choose between Angel and Dorothy, and chooses Dorothy, who is very much like Rei. In End of Evangelion, Rei rejects Shinji's father, to whom she seemed to be bound to obey (thus becoming independent and self-aware), and instead rushes to Shinji, stating "Ikari needs me..." A certain Android does the same thing for Roger in Act 26.
However, the most significant similarity between the two shows can be summed up with my favorite quote from the entire series: “…the power of God, created by man… divine thunderbolts raining down from the heavens…”
This is exactly what the Evangelion is: an Angel made by man, for the purpose of advancing man through the instrumentality project.
I see Big O as a great “tip-of-the-hat” towards Evangelion. The references and similarities are too striking to overlook and understanding them offers a great deal of insight as to the true message of Big O.
Evangelion is probably the only anime I would prefer to Big O. For all intents and purposes, these two are tops. There’s nothing quite like them that has ever been produced, and it is unlikely that there ever will be in the future. The information in this article barely scratched the surface of what I consider to be a huge underlying message and clue within Big O. I’m going to re-watch the series and post updates as necessary.
Big O- Why would I be here if I didn't? The story is entrancing, and the robot designs are amazing.
Neon Genesis Evangelion- I caught a single episode of Evangelion on Adult Swim. It was titled "With One Accord in a Flash". Simply, it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and I've been hooked ever since. Last weekend, I borrowed the complete series, plus End of Evangelion from a friend, and watched it straight through, three times. This series is absolutely fantastic.
Fullmetal Alchemist- Apart from Ed being a whiny wuss, this show is quite good.
Champloo- Beatbox samurai ftw.
(This article contains Evangelion Spoilers)
With that said, I have recently purchased Seasons 1 and 2 of Big O, and spent the last few days watching it all. Since I just came down off my aforementioned Evangelion binge, I'm noticing a great deal of similarities between the two shows, and not just because they have giant robots.
Evangelion is the story of humanity's last days. It centers around a young boy named Shinji Ikari, who is forced into piloting the Evangelion Unit 01, a mech which is the only weapon with enough power to destroy the entities known as Angels, who are hell-bent on the destruction of mankind. Shinji is insecure and unsure of himself. He craves attention from others and only wants to be loved, but ultimately ends up finding himself alone. His father is estranged from him; his guardian doesn't connect with him on a personal level; his friends don't quite understand his problems; and his fellow Evangelion pilots, Rei and Asuka, each ignore him in their own ways. This leaves Shinji to be extremely disturbed emotionally, and oftentimes he is a reluctant hero, fighting his urge to flee with his constant mantra of "I mustn't run away..."
If I recall correctly, in Act 14, Roger the Wanderer, when Angel drives Roger underground, she coyly says, “You aren’t going to run away again, are you?” to which Roger retorts, “I ran away?”
Its uncanny just how many similarities there are between the two shows. Just the very premise of each is similar. Both depict end-of-the-world scenarios, just in different ways. The world of Evangelion is constantly coming under attack by Angels; while in Big O we have Paradigm as a perpetual target of masterless megadei, searching for the memories that can complete them.
Four of the main characters in Big O have direct parallels to the four main characters of Evangelion, except adult versions of them.
Shinji and Roger may seem like a bit of a stretch, but their likeness cannot be denied. Roger oozes coolness from every pore, and is always prepared for any situation. Shinji, is a bundle of nerves, who often has to be forced into his heroics. However, they both rise to the occasion regardless of the circumstances, and there is a recurring theme in both shows, where the pilots of their respective mechs question their motives for piloting in the first place. Their conclusion: They pilot because they are destined to.
Rei and Dorothy are direct comparisons in every way. Rei is cold, emotionless, and does not understand how or why other people act the way they do. This is because (spoiler) she is not a real human. Instead, she is the end result of an experiment attempting to clone Shinji's mother, Yui Ikari, by combining her DNA with Angel DNA. Rei is neither fully human, nor fully Angel, just as Dorothy is an android with human memories and emotions. Furthermore, just as there are multiple Rei clones (to activate the Dummy-Plug system), we do see another Dorothy model in R-D.
Misato and Angel- Misato and Angel are both strong-willed and self-conscious women on a quest for personal gain. Although Angel is a bit more vocal about her motives, Misato often exhibits selfish traits and both are somewhat conceited. Interesting to note is the fact that Misato is the director of operations at Nerv... while Angel is revealed to be the director of Paradigm. Both characters are love interests of the main character in each respective show.
Asuka and Alex Rosewater- The fact that there is a gender difference here means nothing. Like Asuka, Alex Rosewater is brash and arrogant, readily asserting his dominance over others. He even says that his Big Fau is the greatest Megadeus, just as Asuka boasts of Unit 02's superiority. However, while Asuka is eventually redeemed after realizing exactly how shallow she is, Rosewater's arrogance ends up being his downfall.
All of the characters are unsure of their own identities, and have a deep, unrelenting fear of the unknown that they all face at some point in time. Roger fears the underground; Dorothy fears the archetypal megadei; Angel fears losing control of herself.
Another similarity we can draw is between the respective mechs.
Both the Evas and the Bigs display numerous feats of intelligence and self-awareness. There are instances of every Megadeus disobeying orders or acting independently, just as Unit 01 and Unit 00 do in Evangelion. Unit 01 moves on its own (Without power!) on three separate occasions throughout the course of Evangelion (with each instance rising in awesomeness on the badass-scale), while Unit 00 goes berserk during synchronization tests seemingly of its own volition.
The Evas themselves are not true mechs, but bio-engineered Half-Angel, Half-Human cyborgs. The metal they wear is not only armor, but a cage, meant to restrain the full power of the Eva. In comparison, the Bigs are clearly robots, but they each contain memories...
And since Norman puts it so well... "Memories are something that exists in the human form..."
We can only infer that the origins of these memories were human, regardless of thow they ended up in the Bigs. The Bigs simply need a Dominus in order to complement their existing memory.
Unit 01, like Big O, is really, the only "complete" mech in Evangelion. Rei's Unit 00 is mentally unstable, often going crazy during simple tests, and Asuka's Unit 02 is merely a more easily controlled, dumbed-down Eva. In this sense, Big Duo and Big Fau are incomplete because they lack the correct memories, and Dominus complement in order to function properly. Big Duo is two-faced, and on two separate occasions, moved on its own, disobeying its pilot; and in the second instance, killed said pilot.. Big Fau, being a frankenstein of sorts, is without the correct memories it needs to function properly, and like Unit 02, needs to be "dumbed down" in order to be controlled. Furthermore, but not pivotal, is the fact that Unit 01 and Big O both survive until the end of the series (I'm talking about End of Evangelion, not eps 25,26), Unit 02 and Big Fau are partially destroyed, and Unit 00 and Big Duo are completely destroyed. And if you really want me to get symbolic on your ass, consider that at one point, both the Bigs and the Evas were in mass production: Eva units 6-12 make an appearance in EoE.
Interestingly enough, the relationships between each character in Big O mirror their Evangelion Counterparts. Shinji has strong feelings for Rei, Asuka, and Misato, but feels especially drawn to Rei, for reasons he cannot explain. Likewise, Roger must choose between Angel and Dorothy, and chooses Dorothy, who is very much like Rei. In End of Evangelion, Rei rejects Shinji's father, to whom she seemed to be bound to obey (thus becoming independent and self-aware), and instead rushes to Shinji, stating "Ikari needs me..." A certain Android does the same thing for Roger in Act 26.
However, the most significant similarity between the two shows can be summed up with my favorite quote from the entire series: “…the power of God, created by man… divine thunderbolts raining down from the heavens…”
This is exactly what the Evangelion is: an Angel made by man, for the purpose of advancing man through the instrumentality project.
I see Big O as a great “tip-of-the-hat” towards Evangelion. The references and similarities are too striking to overlook and understanding them offers a great deal of insight as to the true message of Big O.
Evangelion is probably the only anime I would prefer to Big O. For all intents and purposes, these two are tops. There’s nothing quite like them that has ever been produced, and it is unlikely that there ever will be in the future. The information in this article barely scratched the surface of what I consider to be a huge underlying message and clue within Big O. I’m going to re-watch the series and post updates as necessary.
