"Evangelion is a Mindfuck."

[Henry Spencer]

These were the exact words that I heard before I watched this series. Being interested in watching something psychologically engaging, I went in anyway.

Though engaging the series was, it made sense to me for the most part. Sure, I'd need to go to the wiki every once in a while, but most of it made sense to me. When I watched End, the same applied (yes, even with all of that random nightmarish sybolism; I like to think that the point of the horrorterrors onscreen were to explain why Shinji went deeper into his mind in the TV series).

At this point, I still don't get why this series causes people to get confounded (with the exception of the movie, since I can get why that would confuse people). Am I alone in thinking that the whole "Mindfuck" thing is a bunch of bunk?

[KnightmareX13]

It applies to EOE. But for NGE I think it gets that reputation from the descent arc particularly the more psychological self analyzing part of the series.

[Stryker]

They probably started into the show thinking that it wouldn't be as smart as it was. This is why they didn't understand it. They didn't think they needed to think. They had switched their minds into the, "Closed mode," should you know what I mean.

[ONIAgent150]

Agreed with above posts. Not like I'm especially smart, but as soon as I saw Asuka's breakdown, I knew we were "not screwing around" territory. So if you're referring to Evangelion catching people off guard, I could see that, yes. But minds should be firmly in the "on" position.

[Fireand'chutes77]

But minds should be firmly in the "on" position.

Hear, hear. :)

[Bagheera]

I've always thought NGE's mindfuckery was grossly overstated. The narrative is just laid out too plainly for the term to apply in any meaningful sense; to be a true mindfuck it has to be incomprehensible somehow.

Now, FLCL? That's a mindfuck. NGE's psychological and disturbing and emotional at times, but it's not much as mindfucks go.

[Kane of Nod]

I'd say it is one, but I understood the main plot points. At first I was confused about a few things, though. When watching the series, I first thought Kaji committed suicide, and I didn't know at all that the souls of the pilots' mothers were in the Evas, which made the scene when Unit 01 went into space confusing.

[Stryker]

But minds should be firmly in the "on" position.

For the duration of the series, I would have to agree with you. This way, you actively create ideas in your head in order come up with explanations for the series. But in daily life, it is important to be in the "on" position to, per say, come up with an creative idea, but then go into the "off" position in order to get your act straight and actively get that idea created and completed.

More on that here.

[tomrule123]

At the beginning, I never heard of its origins. After seeing the entire series, it got me thinking... for months. It truly f***ed up my mind... badly (EoE brought it up a notch). No other show/film has ever done this. (saw Elfen Lied before Evangelion. F***ed up, yes, but not a mindf***.) Are there worse mindf***s than this? (spoiler: possible YES.) But this was the one that changed the way I watch films and shows. I now demand more original deep messages than cliches storylines. IMPRESS ME.

[NemZ]

Now, FLCL? That's a mindfuck. NGE's psychological and disturbing and emotional at times, but it's not much as mindfucks go.

I think you meant to say Dead Leaves. FLCL makes perfect sense by comparison.

[schwarzstahlhelm1993]

LOL nothing's more confusing than FLCL.

[NemZ]

[url]http://www.hulu.com/watch/222801/dead-leaves[/url]

[Mr. Tines]

[url]http://www.hulu.com/watch/222801/dead-leaves[/url]

Just a friendly reminder

Sorry, currently our video library can only be watched from within the United States

[NemZ]

urgggg. stupid trademark bullshit!

[Mt Olympus]

I don't believe Evangelion is a "mindfuck".

However from my knowledge of "mindfuck" it requires you to have to be ignorant in some area then become exposed to something that illuminates you to that something in such a sense that it's nearly ephemeral (ethereal?) orgasm of learning something rapidly(epiphany?). So for some people it may be like in some portions of the show where psychological or spiritual revelations occurred.

I would still find that a hard thing to believe as I don't think Evangelion teaches anything but rather shows you things that lead to other things, hence symbolism and why some of us find so much interest in this show and why it has so many ways of being looked at.

Personally, Evangelion only added to my "basic" knowledge of understanding and comprehension of the topics covered in it.

But I can still be wrong, there are people out there that think that being shown images in some strange, disordered, deranged, depressing manner believe that the feeling they recieve of being confused or bewildered is a mindfuck; whereupon never gaining anything from it, thus the "WHOA DOOD! That kid is craaaazzzzyyyy, I wish I could be that craaaaaazzzzyyyyy!!!"

In addition, there are also those who enjoy things that are chaotic in a sense and without meaning, think Joker from that new Batman movie; why does he do those things? just to watch the world burn... But this is from the creators perspective; not the audience.

[Bagheera]

I think you meant to say Dead Leaves. FLCL makes perfect sense by comparison.

Nah. Dead Leaves is stupid and gonzo and over the top, but I had no trouble following the basic narrative I admit things got a little weird when the caterpillar came out, though. But even to this day I still don't know what the hell happened in FLCL. I should probably watch it again.

[robersora]

If you watch FLCL several times (as I did) everything comes together beautifully; it's not that of a mind fuck...

What I do consider as a mind fuck however, is SELain... Although this one also gets clearer and clearer if you watch it again.

[NemZ]

Perhaps there are different working definitions of 'mindfuck' at play here? I was thinking of something overwhelming, disorienting and generally leaving you with a feeling of "WTF did I just watch?"(... like NGE at it's weirdest such as inside Lilliel and EoTV) rather than something that is deeply puzzling in a lingering fashion.

If it's the later you want I'd recommend anything by the late Satoshi Kon, Lain, Ergo Proxy and Boogiepop Phantom.

I also thought FLCL made perfect sense behind all the high-energy weirdness and visual splendor.

[Mr. Tines]

There are a whole variety of different factors in the titles that are being talked about here -- EoE is emotionally brutalising; Lain is just a collage of Illuminist memes; and FLCL is "We were talking about penises. Do you want to join?"

[valshon]

If I had to describe EoE to someone those would probably be the words I would use. The original broadcast series in itself up to the last few episodes were rather light hearted until it grew close to the end.