Parents' Guide to

Neon Genesis Evangelion

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Classic anime series is violent, introspective.

TV Netflix Science Fiction 1995
Neon Genesis Evangelion Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 13+

Based on 19 parent reviews

Marci88
Marci88 Parent of 12 and 16-year-old
September 10, 2022
age 14+

Great show for teens and adults alike

I am baffled by the people saying this show is 18+. This series is about the fear of growing up, the stress of being a teenager with responsibilities, and the loneliness experienced by all people at some point in their life. It is absolutely a must-watch for both teenagers and adults alike. Yes, it deals with heavy topics such as depression, the nature of humanity, and individuality, but it handles these topics masterfully and does a great job of showing what it's like to struggle with depression and wanting to run away from your responsibilities, something many teens deal with. This is a show that makes you think, whether you want to or not, about God, your purpose on Earth, and belonging to a community/family. In the end, the main message that Evangelion teaches to our teens is that every one of us is worthy of the love of others because we are capable of loving them. It teaches them to love themselves and that they can trust others and be open with them without worrying about being hurt. I would recommend this show to anyone capable of understanding complex themes and who is mature enough to handle violence and mild sexual content. 14 and up seems like a perfectly fine age to me, and I would maybe even say a mature 13-year-old would be OK watching it.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
3 people found this helpful.
Rocko52
Rocko52 Adult
February 12, 2021
age 13+

Greatest Anime of All Time

Simple as that.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
2 people found this helpful.
See all 19 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Create by Hideaki Anno, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION (1995-1996) is a post-apocalyptic Japanese anime series about a teenage boy, his father, and saving humanity from alien beings. It's 2015, fifteen years after a catastrophic global event known as the Second Impact, destroyed most of planet. But a group of aliens called Angels returned to Earth in hopes of destroying it. As part of his efforts to fight them, Gendo Ikari, the callous Commander of NERV, a secretive military organization, has NERV officer Misato Katsuragi bring his teenage son Shinji to the fortified city of Tokyo-3. Once there, Shinji learns that he is to join other young pilots in operating giant bio-machine mechas known as Evangelion to fight them off. Throughout it all, Shinji and the other pilots attempt to uncover the truth behind what is driving the project, while engaging in a journey of self-discovery.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19):
Kids say (47):

This iconic series, which is credited with reigniting the anime industry in the mid-1990s, uses elements from various religious and mystical belief systems to create a world in which humanity is introspectively explored. While it contains many of the familiar narratives and mythological elements anime is known for, it also spends considerable time exploring the psyche of the individual characters -- explorations that were not particularly well-received at the time. But it was still popular enough to lead to a lucrative franchise, including several films in which the controversial storylines were reworked. Dedicated anime fans will want to tune in, and may enjoy comparing Neon Genesis Evangelion to more contemporary series.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the history of anime. When was anime first created? When did it start enjoying global popularity?

  • How did Neon Genesis Evangelion set itself apart from other anime series when it was first released? What made it different? Where there moments when these differences pushed the envelope a little too much?

TV Details

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