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Neon Genesis Evangelion:
Platinum Collection
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Life is full of decisions that can be quite complicated at times. Way
back when we originally started Underland Online, one of the things that
ADV was kind enough to send over to review was the Neon Genesis
Evangelion Perfect Collection, and I’ve always loved that pure black
box with the red EVA eyes glaring off the shelf. Evangelion later
was re-issued as the platinum editions, and then again in a handy,
compressed ThinPak edition, and that has been something that has long
plagued me; give up the Perfect Collection in favor of saving
space or keep something that has long been the pride and joy of my anime
collection. With shelf space now a distant memory and the Platinum
Collection glaring at me, I’ve had to break down and finally add it
into the mix.
Neon Genesis Evangelion is undoubtedly THE anime series when it
comes to fandom, and it has been heralded by many as the new generation
of titles that drew many a newcomer into the anime genre itself, much
like films such as Akira and Ghost in the Shell have in the past.
Evangelion is a space opera that is truly unlike any other, often
replicated by other companies, though with minimal success save for a
few bright spots. Often, youth and mecha have been seen side by side,
but Evangelion is really the series that could be considered to
have written the book on the coming of age tale when it comes to giant
robots. It is the one that will be long remembered for trials and
tribulations, for unexpected plot twists, and for epitomizing a whiny
lead character who doesn’t want to save the world one moment, then
decides he has no choice the next. Shinji Ikari is undoubtedly the
template for any characters to follow that embody this same mentality.
Gundam may have very well laid the groundwork for the modern
mecha series, but Evangelion redefined it.
The Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Collection comes with
every episode of the series as you would expect, though in this case you
will not find the original releases that graced shelves many years ago.
Instead, these are the newer editions with enhanced sound as well as the
director’s cut versions of episodes 21 through 24 on a final disc. The
DVD’s themselves don’t actually include any special features, but this
is a series that stands well enough on its own, and even the original
DVD releases had a scant few bonus features, such as the case was back
in the dawning of DVD.
The ThinPak edition of Evangelion is done in a stunning and quite
eye catching platinum colored foil, and though the imagery is rather
simple when compared to some other anime titles that are available, it
does truly capture the one thing about the series that many fans love,
and that would be the ladies. Who needs Shinji? The two faces have
images of Rei and Asuka, each girl alone on either side, with parts of
the EVA drawn very lightly behind them. Rei of course has the more
series look about her while Asuka has a much more playful demeanor. The
mecha in Evangelion certainly are a high point, but as any fan
who is very into this series can tell you, some 10 years later, many of
the Evangelion related products that are found on the Japanese
marketplace feature Asuka, Rei, and even Misato in a number of poses and
costumes with no Shinji in sight.
Neon Genesis Evangelion still manages to enthrall and draw in
more and more fans to the world of anime, and the popularity that has
been associated with the series is still growing and staying strong
years later. Titles that are part of the mecha genre are undoubtedly a
dime a dozen, but Evangelion stands as a true testament of anime
perfection that will undoubtedly become a legend in the annals of anime
history alongside other names such as Tetsujin 28, Astroboy,
and Lupin the 3rd. As for my Perfect Collection, it has
served me well, but the changing of the guard calls and the Platinum
Collection looks just as good, perhaps even better in some ways.
-mike-
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