Your Opinion on Hideaki Anno?

[The Goose]

Basically, what do you think about his opinions (on anything hes given his opinion on) and his work (anime, movies, etc).

I admire him for what he was trying to say with Eva. Being an individual, trying to carve out your own living in life. Though, I don't know what to say about his opinions on animation or his opinion on Japan.

[Defectron]

After watching the special where Hideaki Anno teaches kids animation, my initial impression is that he seemed like a much geekier version of Kurata Shinya (a character from the new Gamera series)

Anyway whats fun about Anno is that even though he based the wishy washy Shinji off himself he's a man who plays by his own rules, a huge contradiction. There are all sorts of fun stories about how the guy tells off some of his more zealous fans. Like there's this one where this dude spent all the money he needed for text books to buy eva merchandise and Anno said something like

"Your an idiot! You need to study!"

[Sailor Star Dust]

I like the fact how he's apparently Shinji, but is his own beast too.

Anyway, before I got into the series, I thought he was an egoistical depressed asshole.


....Watching Eva, however, changed that viewpoint of mine.

[Shiro]

I respect him for working through depression and creating something good out of it, instead of taking the easy way out and suiciding, and what other people said about being his own person.

The fact that he came from the streets to working with Miyazaki, then creating Eva, and now having his own studio is damn impressive too.

[jenova7]

he made eva how can you not respect him :P

[The Goose]

I have a question. Hes opposed to otakuism, but does that mean that hes opposed to anyone showing their love for anime in a casual way? For example, people who don't go to far in their love of anime. Thanks. The reason I'm asking this is because I sometimes get the feeling that hes totally opposed to people being fans of anime in a non-otaku way.

[AchtungAffen]

Do not like. Might direct nice animé, but as a person (from what I've read in interviews and his own declarations)... noes.

[Ornette]

I have a question. Hes opposed to otakuism, but does that mean that hes opposed to anyone showing their love for anime in a casual way? For example, people who don't go to far in their love of anime. Thanks. The reason I'm asking this is because I sometimes get the feeling that hes totally opposed to people being fans of anime in a non-otaku way.

My guess is no. Otaku in Japan make the most hardcore anime fan in the states look tame. These are people who are borderline sick (example: live action interviews in Otaku no Video). People who buy DVDs and occasional merchandise help keep the industry alive (along with the otaku who buys EVERYTHING), so I can't see why he'd have a problem with people living normal lives who happen to like anime.

[AchtungAffen]

My guess is no. Otaku in Japan make the most hardcore anime fan in the states look tame. These are people who are borderline sick (example: live action interviews in Otaku no Video).

The only real interview on Otaku no Video was with the American guy, he was the only real life real otaku. All the other were actors.

[Ornette]

The only real interview on Otaku no Video was with the American guy, he was the only real life real otaku. All the other were actors.

Sorry, I didn't mean to say those were real people that were sick, but that is an example of what hardcore otaku are like in Japan, and was lead to believe (through other means) that the live action interviews were a good representation of such and that these were the kind of people Anno was referring to when he says "otaku".

[The Imperialist]

I do admit, they are comepletely are overboard.

[The Goose]

Thanks, Ornette. Happy Holidays to you (and everyone here at EvaGeeks).

[Reichu]

I'm not entirely sure WHAT to make of Anno -- mixed impressions, really. He comes across as likable / admirable in some ways, and rather repellent in others. Definitely got his share of personal quirks. I guess I can relate; sometimes I act like a paradoxical, assholific control-freak, too.

Who is the real Hideaki Anno...?

[Skullraper]

I respect his disdain and rejection of the otaku culture. He developed a great enough insight to realize that the otaku lifestyle is a sickness and is fettering the Japanese people to a perpetual state of ignorance and social ineptitude. The irony of course lies in the otaku culture being largely responsible for Anno’s success. However, I believe Anno intended his work to be enjoyed as a work of art and not as an all consuming drug. That isn’t to say NGE wasn’t meant to consume you like any good work of art. I doubt he approves of the endless stream of merchandise though. Merchandise is fun but enough is enough.

I suppose I can’t judge the otaku though. We all have reasons for being what we are even if we don‘t understand those reasons.

Anyway, Anno is obviously a genius as far as his art is concerned. I’m not just saying that as a groveling fan. To create something as influential and enormous as NGE you have to be a genius to some degree. He is one of the greatest minds of our time on par with Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov.

Who is the real Hideaki Anno...?

He should write an autobiography. Anyone know if that’s in the works?

[Gendo'sPapa]

I adore the guy. He speaks his own damn mind and is a fascinating individual all around.

He's not without his faults (of which there are many) and sadly seems to be fighting a contradictory battle. As far as I can tell Anno fell into the "True Otaku" lifestyle where he was a shut in self-absorbed coward and was able to overcome that and make his mark in the world of entertainment and has a genuine hatred for the lifestlye he once had.
But sadly enough despite Anno's attacks on the Otaku lifestyle he cant hide the fact that with Eva he's created perhaps the most obsessive and introverted of all animes out there. I mean its only 26 episodes and two movies and has drawn as much if not more attention, merhcandising, and what not than those series that last hundreds of episodes.

Either way, Anno is someone I respect. He may be a diffcult individual but to work in the entertainment industry and actually make something of worth you have to be tough and a bit of ass. I mean Paul W.S. Anderson and those hacks who directed AVPR are apparently really nice guys but their movies are the epitome of shit. While a guy like David Fincher is tempermental and highyl opininated.

Either way, after R'Eva I hope to see him go back to making more obscure and weird stuff again. JUst as a director he's up there with my Top 5.

[UrsusArctos]

Anyway, Anno is obviously a genius as far as his art is concerned. I’m not just saying that as a groveling fan. To create something as influential and enormous as NGE you have to be a genius to some degree. He is one of the greatest minds of our time on par with Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov.

Anno borrows heavily from Clarke and from Michael Crichton as well, and a lot of Evangelion was inspired by Ideon. While he's certainly one of the best Anime producers out there, I wouldn't call him one of the greatest minds of our time, not by a long shot!

[NAveryW]

I've read a lot of Crichton's books, and I can't find any references to his works in NGE outside of Andromeda Strain. :?

[Shawn Dudley]

I find Anno to be a really fascinating guy. Personaly, while he himself has hinted strongly that Shinji is his "on screen" personality, Anno reminds me much more of Gendo (espeically with the beard).

I found that I liked Anno even before I knew who he was: I was die-hard fan of Macross and and after I found out he had done some of the work that I really liked there, I was just really impressed.

Is it true that he had a crush on Norkio Hideki, the seyuu? I've heard the rumor, but does anyone know if that story was true?

[Skullraper]

Anno borrows heavily from Clarke and from Michael Crichton as well, and a lot of Evangelion was inspired by Ideon.

I'm well aware of that.

While he's certainly one of the best Anime producers out there, I wouldn't call him one of the greatest minds of our time, not by a long shot!

From an artistic stand point, I would. You’re obviously free to disagree with me. I’m not suggesting Anno should win a Nobel Peace Prize! My point is that it takes a great mind to create something as influential as he has.

Anyway, was the laughing face really necessary?

[UrsusArctos]

That laughing face was meant for your statement, not for you.

NAveryW, that still is one of Crichton's ideas, isn't it?