Neon Genesis Evangelion, Collection 0:1 (Episodes 1-4)
One of the most popular anime series of all time,Neon Genesis Evangelionoffers interesting characters, sophisticated direction, and solid storytelling. A giant meteor struck Antarctica in 2000, devastating much of the Earth. Since then, humans and the mysterious aliens known as Angels have been locked in a deadly struggle. In 2015, scientists at the NERV Center in the fortress-city of Tokyo 3 are developing ways to combat the Angels, notably the Human Enhancement Project and the giant battle robots called Evangelions. Fourteen-year-old Shinji Ikari, whose aloof father heads these research projects, is drafted to pilot Evangelion Unit 01. Shinji is a reluctant hero, as many mecha pilots are, but his reluctance is not just an arbitrary whim; it's rooted in his estrangement from his father. Shy and socially maladroit, Shinji displays a likable warmth the grimly taciturn teenagers in ordinary mecha shows lack. Rounding out the cast are Rei Ayanami, the silent, albino pilot of Unit 00; irrepressible Misato Katsuragi, who serves as a substitute mother to Shinji; technical expert Ritsuko Akagi; and Shinji's classmates Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida.Evangelionoffers a dark vision of the future, but director Hideaki Anno presents it very skillfully. Episodes include: 1. "Angel Attack," 2. "Unfamiliar Ceiling," 3. "The Phone That Never Rings," 4. "Rain, Escape & Afterwards." Not rated; suitable for ages 14 and up: robot vs. robot violence, brief nudity, and minor profanity.--Charles Solomon