Neon Genesis Evangelionis one of the most popular and successful anime series in history. For the better part of three decades, the franchise has served as a gatekeeper to a world of more mature anime stories, and its deeply personal, human themes have connected with generations of fans.
There isn’t anything quite likeEvangelion. Its unconventional original ending, mountains of symbolism, and unmistakable air of mystique are all still discussed online by the anime community today. But there are a number of shows that channel a similar sort of energy and aesthetic, or touch on similar themes,and fans will want to check them out as soon as possible.
Sonny Boyis arguablythe most underappreciated anime series of the 2020s. As a survival sci-fi package, the series doesn’t appear to resembleEvangelion’s mecha stylings on the surface—but it does touch on many similar themes, and can become similarly confusing in some spots.
The series deals with topics such as loneliness, identity, and expectations, all themes that are touched upon inNeon Genesis Evangelion,and are central to Shinji’s character in particular.Sonny Boy’s abstract and largely open ending will also be familiar territory for fans who enjoyedEvangelion’s original TV anime ending.
Long before the Isekai genre became as prominent as it is today, 1996’sThe Vision of Escaflownemade use of the ‘transported to another world’ tropeto masterful effect, and then went one step further by adding mecha elements to that world. The series also has an unmistakable ’90s aesthetic that fans ofEvangelionare sure to appreciate.
The Vision of Escaflowne’s fantasy and mecha elements work as well as they did nearly three decades ago, and it even incorporates some romance as a cherry on top.
High schooler Hitomi is transported to the world of Gaea, where she discovers her own fortune-telling powers and becomes central to a medieval mecha war.The Vision of Escaflowne’s fantasy and mecha elements work as well as they did nearly three decades ago, and it even incorporates some romance as a cherry on top.
Revolutionary Girl Utenais not what fans might expect it to be based on its visual aesthetic and marketing, but any fan of theEvangelionseries is sure to be won over by it. The 1997 anime comes from a similar time period and is directed by Kunihiko Ikuhara,who worked on the originalSailor MoonTV adaptation.
However, it isn’t a standard magical girl experience in any way.Revolutionary Girl Utenadives into some heavy psychological topics and relies on a healthy bit of symbolism to get its points across. It may seem like any other bubbly and cozy magical girl series early on, but it doesn’t take very long for the animeto push into much darker areas with its storytelling.
Paranoia Agentis the only anime seriesdirected by the late Satoshi Kon, whose name was made by his work on classic titles likePerfect BlueandMillennium Actress. In line with much of his other work,Paranoia Agentis a deeply psychological viewing experience with an unorthodox structure.
The series touches on similar themes found inEvangelion, with a focus on trauma and how a person’s tendency to avoid issues will often turn into bigger trouble down the line. The mystery of Lil' Slugger is a gripping onethat will keep viewers invested until the very end.
Fans ofEvangelionare likely to thoroughly enjoyFLCL, as the series features all the goodness of that familiar Gainax, late ’90s and early 2000s aesthetic, despite a notable lack of Hideaki Anno in its storytelling.FLCLalso incorporates sci-fi and mecha elements, but rather than deconstruct the genre asEvangeliondid, it often leans into full-blown satire.
The original series is only six episodes long, making it an easy work to dive into for viewers who might not have a ton of time on their hands. As a zany, surreal, and comedic coming-of-age story that has resonated with fans for decades,there’s not a lot to dislike aboutFLCL.
LikeFLCL,Gurren Lagannis another Gainax mecha masterpiece that hasstuck with fans since its debut nearly two decades ago. In a premise that shouldn’t be unfamiliar to fans ofEvangelion, humanity is under threat by supernatural humanoid beings which are fought using stylish mechs called Gunmen.
The series' themes, which touch on topics like self-discovery and belief, as well as the power of collective action,are quite a bit more hopeful than those on display throughoutEvangelion, but the spirit ofGurren Lagannisn’t too far removed from that of its predecessor.
It’s somewhat surprising thatErgo Proxyisn’t a much bigger hit than it is, considering those who wrote and directed the series have titles likeCowboy BebopandGhost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complexunder their belts.Ergo Proxyis set in a post-apocalyptic world overflowing with cyberpunk style, and focuses on deeply psychological and philosophical human topics.
The series follows Re-l Mayer, who is sent to investigate a series of murders before coming into contact with a couple of powerful humanoids called Proxies. It can border on pretentious and self-indulgent at times, butErgo Proxytouches onsome very human questions regarding identity, and does so in style.
Early on,Neon Genesis Evangelionpresents itself as a pretty run-of-the-mill series for its genre, before switching gears towards something entirely different, and quite a bit heavier, than what fans expected from it.Puella Magi Madoka Magicadoes something incredibly similar.
he series subverts any and all expectations, diving into the brutal lives of magical girls and the horrors they’re forced to endure in the name of the job.
At first,Madoka Magicaappears to be a standard magical girl series, before revealing its true, darker nature. The seriessubverts any and all expectations, diving into the brutal lives of magical girls and the horrors they’re forced to endure in the name of the job.
1988’sGunbusteris the spiritual predecessor ofNeon Genesis Evangelion,being the directorial debut of Hideaki Anno. In a mostly unprecedented move for the time period, the series features an all-female cast of mecha pilots, and follows Noriko Hidaka, who enrolls in a Space Pilot High School for girls.
Gunbusterfocuses on Noriko’s internal struggle as a pilot in training, and features a number of ideas which would eventually be revisited and further fleshed out inEvangelion. The original series is made up of six episodes, making it a quick watch, and was later revisited in a 2004 sequel series titledDiebuster.
There are few shows as confusing on first watch asNeon Genesis Evangelion,but 1998’sSerial Experiments Laingives it quite a run for its money. The cyberpunk cult classicproved itself prophetic in the years since release, envisioning a future that’s largely come to pass in which the online world blends together, and often becomes indistinguishable from reality.
Serial Experiments Lain’s deeply introspective narrative and vintage portrayal of the future can be somewhat surreal to experience nearly 30 years on, with fantastical, comically large computer towers clashing with a premise that’s too relevant to be decades old. The ’90s cyberpunk aesthetic and unorthodox structure of the series issure to speak to fans ofEvangelion.
