The Light That Dies Like a... Spider?

[Eva Yojimbo]

Sachi posting this image in the Lights/01 thread:

made me think about a curiosity I've often had: why do 01's wings of light "die" like a spider? As if they fold under itself. That seems like a very odd way to depict that sequence and an even odder association to make...

[Sailor Star Dust]

I figured it was just Eva-01's pretty wings of light folding back into herself in a creative manner. But maybe I'm wrong.

[Eva Yojimbo]

Even the wings themselves look remarkably like spider's legs. Maybe I'm just seeing things, but we'll see what everyone else has to say.

[Sachi]

That sequence has always stuck out in my mind as well, and I even made that same relation to a spider. It is quite an odd way to depict that and I wonder if there is any significance behind it.

If anywhere, a good place to start looking would be the shots of Adam's wings in 2I, the clip of Unit-01 spreading it's wings in the Opening Credits, and when Unit-01's wings first come out in EoE.

[J_Faulkner]

Quite clearly, there are 12 branches, so the image is more reminiscent of a decapod rather than an arachnid. The orange color reminds one of a crab or a lobster. We all know that crabs and lobsters live in the water, and thus, the imagery gives a sense of depth in the downward direction. This is in contrast to the wing imagery that is reminiscent of a bird, especially the orange wings of a Phoenix that reminds one of a spiritual rebirth. Thus, the imagery shows how the psychic energy invested in the emergence of the Self to consciouness (wings) is being channelled back to the unconscious (water), leaving behind the Self to shine in all its radiance (Evangelion's eyes).

[Sachi]

Quite clearly, there are 12 branches, so the image is more reminiscent of a decapod rather than an arachnid.

Nobody was claiming it to actually be the legs of a spider. We're merely remarking on the way the legs of each wing are spread and subsequently fold resembles that of a spider.

The orange color reminds one of a crab or a lobster. We all know that crabs and lobsters live in the water, and thus, the imagery gives a sense of depth in the downward direction.

Using only a single color to give such a bold statement is quite a stretch. If you could find supplementary detail in regards to this theory, I'd be quite receptive to it.

This is in contrast to the wing imagery that is reminiscent of a bird, especially the orange wings of a Phoenix that reminds one of a spiritual rebirth.

This I do like. The concept of Rebirth is a evident theme seen several times throughout the entire movie. So perhaps the relation to a Phoenix is a solid direction to take this explanation.

EDIT: I also snatched these pictures from the movie:

SPOILER: Show

And when Unit-01 awakens:

[Allemann]

Even the wings themselves look remarkably like spider's legs. Maybe I'm just seeing things, but we'll see what everyone else has to say.

"It looks cool." - Anno

[AuraTwilight]

Lilith is Loloth.

[Orphan Of Darkness]

Probably Anno liking the way a spider crumples when it dies; he often has fascinations with certain movements in all manner of things. As for the symbolism I'm not even going to try. It is pretty tho~

[Xard]

Even the wings themselves look remarkably like spider's legs. Maybe I'm just seeing things, but we'll see what everyone else has to say.

"It looks cool." - Anno

/thread

[The Eva Monkey]

I figured it was just Eva-01's pretty wings of light folding back into herself in a creative manner. But maybe I'm wrong.

"It looks cool." - Anno

This is how I look at it, and until someone can factually prove what it was meant to represent, I'm looking at it as a Rorschach test. It's up to you to draw your own interpretation.

Personally, I think it was meant to be visually interesting, like so many other elements in that sequence.

[bladerj]

honestly i never gave it a second glance, but as some have mentioned crab, crab is representative of death, but i doubt this was what he was going for.

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

There is a general "insect" motif to the Angel/Eva wings though(Example here). Adam's wings are also similar, and even Lilith's to a degree.

[AuraTwilight]

I'm disappointed no one seemed to get my terrible joke.

[Ironfoot]

I'm disappointed no one seemed to get my terrible joke.

I was going to mention something about Drizzt escaping her clutches, but I figured that'd be even worse.

Also, that shot is more of a personalized artistic motif than anything. You make what you will of it. To me personally, it represents the death of instrumentality and the withdrawal of Yui back into Unit-01.

[VoidEater]

I think it's an intentional reference to spider legs. Symbolic visual cue on death.

[child of Lilith]

Maybe it’s supposed to represent a regression of sorts. From the way the wings are folding in on them selves, it looks like all the potential power unit 1 had is falling back on itself and becoming nothing once again.

[Eva Yojimbo]

I think it's an intentional reference to spider legs. Symbolic visual cue on death.

There is a general "insect" motif to the Angel/Eva wings though(Example here). Adam's wings are also similar, and even Lilith's to a degree.

I think these two succinctly answer the question; Anno wanted to give a visual representation of death and since he already had an "insect" (yes, technically, spider isn't an insect; for the purposes of this it doesn't really matter) motif associated to Angel/Eva wings then that was just a natural choice.

[FreakyFilmFan4ever]

Sachi posting this image in the Lights/01 thread:

made me think about a curiosity I've often had: why do 01's wings of light "die" like a spider? As if they fold under itself. That seems like a very odd way to depict that sequence and an even odder association to make...

A spider's method of locomotion is by running blood through it's legs at varying speeds. A spider curls up when it dies because the blood had ceased running through it's legs. And will all of the references of blood=LCL, one can see the poetic similarities as the wings curl up like spider legs after losing all of the LCL from her body.

[Sachi]

A spider's method of locomotion is by running blood through it's legs at varying speeds. A spider curls up when it dies because the blood had ceased running through it's legs. And will all of the references of blood=LCL, one can see the poetic similarities as the wings curl up like spider legs after losing all of the LCL from her body.

That is an interesting perceptive on it. But LCL never comes out of the body of Unit-01. But I like the concept.

Let me provide an alternative to LCL: One every occasion we see those wings (other than the OP), it's been in an attempt significantly alter life as we know it. With Adam, it was to wipe out all Lilith-based life; in EoE it was when Instrumentality has about to start.

Perhaps the wings are more related to Instrumentality? In EoE, Unit-01 spreads its wings right before Instrumentality takes place and things begin to get all crazy. However, at the end of the movie, with Instrumentality being rejected, the wings curl up and die, as if the lifeblood of Instrumentality stops flowing.

It's just a thought; I could be way off with this one.