Neon Genesis Evangelion The End Of Evangelion -1997- Exclusive Instant

"Anyone can be happy if they just give up," he realizes. "But I want to live. I want to be here. Even if it hurts."

Or do you want to live here, on the blood-soaked ground, with all of us pathetic, disgusting, wonderful hedgehogs? neon genesis evangelion the end of evangelion -1997-

Shinji, drowning in self-loathing, wishes for all of humanity to die. He wishes to erase the pain of "other people." This is where the film becomes a remedial thesis on the Hedgehog’s Dilemma (a concept introduced in the TV series). Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer posited that hedgehogs in winter need to huddle for warmth but cannot get too close for fear of stabbing each other with their quills. Humans, Anno argues, are exactly the same. We need connection, but connection hurts. Rejection hurts. Betrayal hurts. "Anyone can be happy if they just give up," he realizes

For twenty-nine years, fans have argued. The popular theory is that Asuka is disgusted by Shinji’s actions (the attempted murder). But Hideaki Anno has offered a different context. In the scenario script, the line is a direct callback to the final moment of the TV series. In Episode 26, Shinji achieves self-actualization and everyone claps. In The End , Asuka rejects the "congratulations" fantasy. Even if it hurts

"I feel sick," she says.

Asuka’s final line, then, is not disgust at him . It is disgust at the situation . She is disgusted that she still feels compassion for this broken animal. She is disgusted that she survived the apocalypse only to land next to a crying boy. She is disgusted that she loves him.

He rejects Instrumentality. He rejects the false paradise of being a god. He chooses to return to his human form, with all the thorns and quills. Shinji wakes up on a blood-red beach. The ocean is LCL. Lilith’s decapitated head lies on the shore, bleeding a black rainbow. The sky is a smeared Earth and moon.