This was Anno’s "wake-up call" to the otaku culture of the 90s. By breaking the fourth wall, the film challenges the viewer to stop retreating into fiction and to face the "other," even if it means getting hurt. Legacy and Impact
When Neon Genesis Evangelion finished its original TV run in 1996, the ending was… controversial. Budget constraints and director Hideaki Anno’s deteriorating mental health led to two episodes of abstract, internal monologue that left fans demanding a "real" conclusion. neon genesis evangelion the end of evangelion -1997-
Shiro Sagisu’s score, particularly the upbeat "Komm, süsser Tod" (Come, Sweet Death) playing over the literal end of the world, creates a haunting cognitive dissonance. This was Anno’s "wake-up call" to the otaku