Anno vs. Otaku (critcism, self-reflection, etc)

[NAveryW]

It's well known that during the latter part of Evangelion, Anno renounced his former otaku lifestyle and extreme devotion to anime. EoE had several superflat elements that directly criticized the concept of fanservice.

However, though I haven't seen the Re: Cutie Honey episode he directed, from what I understand it was laden with fanservice. Furthermore,

To support the fans that support animation, we felt that a work that would appeal to middle and high school-aged men, who quickly grow away from anime, was necessary.
When we decided that we wanted to something to support the anime [industry] of today, the determination to return to this title was strong.

So has Anno "suffered" a "relapse" into fandom, or is he simply aiming his work toward otaku without actually being one?


(In a quasi-related note, I do love his response to the "Gainax, _______ forever!" quote in contrast to Yamaga's. While Yamaga's was "Gainax, an otaku's friend forever!", Anno's was, I believe, "Gainax, there's no such thing as forever!" Leave it to him to make it seem ominous...)

EDIT: I have just found out that Anno supervised Re: Cutie Honey, but didn't actually direct any of it. Huh.

[Szmitten]

I don't think he is. However, it is very easy to accuse him of being one considering that his job is to create and direct stuff. It certainly doesn't help that he has an otaku-like fan following.

[Sailor Star Dust]

Yup, Anno did say "Gainax, there's no such thing as forever!" while Sadamoto said "Gainax, An Otaku's friend forever! (I know it's corny...)"

(I should know, I typed that transcript up @_@)


Personally, I think Anno was implying how he's now a part of Khara, but that's just me. *shrugs*

[NAveryW]

Personally, I think Anno was implying how he's now a part of Khara, but that's just me. *shrugs*

He's still part of Gainax. It's not like he's left or anything. Gainax was just focusing all its energy on Gurren-Lagann, so a new studio was created for Weva.

[Sailor Star Dust]

Well, in that case, I think he WAS always an otaku, but just got fed up with the culture/studios (perhaps he's pissed about the dark side of anime, too?) so he distanced himself from it. *shrugs*

...Or he was pissed at the "fools" who don't "get" or didn't like EoTV because of its psychological awesomeness and EoE because of its WTF deep thinking moments??

[THE Hal E. Burton 9000]

I do not think he has really ever given up his "otaku-hood". But, he did get burned out by the culture around him during the making of Evangelion around 1995-97 or so.
I also believe he did get his ego bruised a li'l bit by the whole "WTF?!?!?" surrounding the EoTV/EoE in the same manner a parent shows their newborn baby to others and others then says the baby is ugly.

[Hailtheplatypus]

His ego was definitly bruised when EVA ended... I personally think EoE was his response to this.

[Opteron-O3]

A very good response too...

[Ornette]

His ego was definitly bruised when EVA ended...

Bruised because the sponsors pulled their budget and didn't want the original ending that was planned (the EoE-esque one)?

[Opteron-O3]

His ego was definitly bruised when EVA ended...

Bruised because the sponsors pulled their budget and didn't want the original ending that was planned (the EoE-esque one)?

Yeah, because if you look in the last episode they show the previews to EoE, in sketch form.

[Ornette]

Yeah, because if you look in the last episode they show the previews to EoE, in sketch form.

Are you talking about the "The World Ending" preview from ep24? Those sketches are of EoTV. However, the preview from ep24' (the director's cut) is that of EoE.

I'd admit that EoE would probably never have been made (and thus Death and Rebirth as well) if GAINAX had been able to make the ending they had originally planned, but I don't know why Anno felt bruised about the whole incident.

[Opteron-O3]

My bad, I forgot they are in the Dir. Cuts.

[Sailor Star Dust]

The previews to 25' and 26' (the former is supposed on Platinum, but either way its the preview is after 24') were originally from the Genesis 13(?) LD(?), the video version of EoE as opposed to theratical (26' has Credits (Jesu, orchestra version), Asuka's "...No." is written, the eyecatches have Neon Genesis Evangelion instead of The End of Evangelion, etc).

The preview of video version 25' are unfinished scenes of Misato saying goodbye to Shinji, Kyoko kicking harpy ass, etc.

26' video version is Gainax studio (live-action) as Misato talks about Shinji's final decision.

In terms of Anno; I actually heard making Eva/ending it helped him with his depression; he felt better after it all.

[Mr. Tines]

I actually heard making Eva/ending it helped him with his depression; he felt better after it all.

Ditto. That's why I often refer to the series as his "art therapy". He definitely let it all hang out.

[Opteron-O3]

I actually heard making Eva/ending it helped him with his depression; he felt better after it all.

Ditto. That's why I often refer to the series as his "art therapy". He definitely let it all hang out.

I felt better after not looking at it for about 2 days. Then I found Evamonkey

[Gendo'sPapa]

The man's bi-polar.

He sure hasn't lost his otaku sense. He oversaw production of the Re:Cutie Honey and directed the goofy live action Cutie Honey himself.

I think he might've had a conflict arise in him when he was doing Evangelion. With Evangelion he found himself trying to express himself as an artist in a field that up to then (and questionably even now) didn't really applaud artistry and deeper human meanings...ugh I phrased that horribly but whatever.

He was being attacked by the otaku public at large the more it strained from classic anime conventions (the first half is partially like a greatest hits of anime cliches, teh second half subverts that and goes for something more). His prime audience at the time weren't people who wanted to see a human Shinji who failed- most still don't- they wanted...they wanted...a Kamina. They didn't want Rei to stay alone and cold at the end, they wanted her to be happy (and naked- so Anno gave them that in te movie and made it perverse).

I think he just found himself disgusted with his core audience who wanted the same pudding feed to them instead of grasping for something new. I still think he prefers the TV ending to anything EOE or Rebuild will produce.

Anywho, I liked his live action, he went off and tried to get away from the Otaku crowd but I'm hoping he gets sucked back in and can do a NEW anime production, TV or Movie, after Rebuild. Cause while I like his live action, it pales in comparison to anything he's done in animation.

[Kaysow]

Good post there, daddy.

[Eva Yojimbo]

Yeah, what Gendo's Pappa said. I happen to agree completely. The anime fandom is, by and large, a very stupid, superficial bunch. But you could say that about practically any group of fans/people. I think the success of NGE was kind of bitter sweet, in a way.

[DatDude]

I think anno might just need a few bucks to pay off his bookie. That or they need new material to keep the eva chash cow mooing .

[Opteron-O3]

Nice post Papa 8)

Yeah, what Gendo's Pappa said. I happen to agree completely. The anime fandom is, by and large, a very stupid, superficial bunch. But you could say that about practically any group of fans/people. I think the success of NGE was kind of bitter sweet, in a way.

Good way to put it. I totally didn't expect that type of ending, so he sure got me. I'm still trying to get over the fact that nobody ends up happy.