Twenty-five years have passed since the premiere of Neon Genesis Evangelion, and there is still no series quite like it. The iconic show's impact has been monumental on not just the anime genre, but mainstream media in general, as evidenced by the numerous shorts, movies, and spin-offs that it has inspired since its debut.
Evangelion mixes giant fighting mecha, alien forces, governments, and questions about humanity and mortality into one beautifully curated package. While no series could ever duplicate Evangelion's legacy, there are many that are perfect for fans who want to explore similar themes.
Updated on September 27th, 2022 by Kennedy King: As the anime genre continues to experience its largest period of growth in decades, the legacy left behind by Neon Genesis Evangelion is only becoming larger. With each passing year, more anime series are asking some of the same existential questions that made Evangelion such a long-lasting hit. In addition, the increased number of anime fans has led to more eyes than ever being placed on older series, unearthing some forgotten classics that were in conversation with the 1995 series as well.
15 Blue Gender's Brutal Landscape Should Feel Familiar To Evangelion Fans
Released in 1999, Blue Gender's narrative focuses on a not-so-distant future in which humanity's role at the top of the food chain has been usurped. A devastating, bug-like species known as the Blue have colonized Earth, forcing its inhabitants to either take refuge on a nearby space station or fight to regain control of their home planet.
While Blue Gender and Evangelion utilize the invading-aliens trope, their similarities do not stop there. Both series thoroughly investigate the effect that these struggles have on the human experience, so fans of the latter would be wise to check out Blue Gender should they find themselves craving more thought-provoking content.
14 Devilman: Crybaby's Source Material Inspired Evangelion
The original Devilman manga served as a huge inspiration for Evangelion, so it only makes sense that its 2018 anime reboot, Devilman: Crybaby, offers much of the same appeal. Akira Fudou, the show's protagonist, lives in a world where Devils can inhabit the bodies of humans, at which point one of two things happens.
Either the Devil overtakes their host or the host's sense of identity wins out, resulting in a Devilman. Whereas Evangelion pursues its existential questioning through the lens of science-fiction, Devilman: Crybaby instead relies on supernatural horror to do so.
13 Mononoke & Evangelion Share Their Avant-Garde Presentation
The avant-garde sequences found throughout the Neon Genesis franchise are some of the best scenes in anime history. For fans in search of similar productions, they needn't look any further than the eccentric title Mononoke. Set in the wake of the Edo period, Mononoke follows the enigmatic Medicine Seller as he navigates the mystic, spiritual landscape of historical Japan.
Although the setting of Mononoke and Evangelion couldn't be more different, they share an undeniable similarity in the way that they approach their most climactic moments. A level of ambiguity is intrinsic to both, speaking to their shared desire to evoke contemplation rather than dictate specific ideas.
12 Sonny Boy's Open-Ended Nature Makes It An Instant Classic
Sonny Boy exemplifies the modernity of the contemporary anime landscape. The series doesn't push an agenda, rely on simple gags/tricks for entertainment, or ham-fistedly attempt to delve into challenging subjects.
Instead, it paints a Lord of the Flies scenario in which its characters get to explore the concept of identity for themselves. At first glance, there doesn't necessarily seem to be much overlap between this series and Evangelion. However, the nuance with which both approach their subject matter clearly demonstrates the overlap.
11 Legend Of The Galactic Heroes Set The Stage For Future Titles
With the plethora of high-quality anime titles constantly being released, it has become easier and easier to overlook older series like Legend of the Galactic Heroes. The legendary sci-fi drama, adapted from a series of 10 novels, might have been released four decades ago, but it has held up remarkably well over the years.
For many young anime watchers, Evangelion, released in 1995, is one of the oldest series that they have ever watched. That resulted in Legend of the Galactic Heroes, despite its universal acclaim, becoming a hidden gem that doesn't receive nearly as much praise as it deserves.
10 Code Geass Philosophical Approach Will Question Its Viewers
Whenever a post-apocalyptic world is in danger, its survival is often dependent on a young protagonist struggling with an internal battle. Like Evangelion, Code Geass features a teenage boy caught up in a battle that is much bigger than himself.
Lelouch, the son of the Emperor, had his family ruined by the political forces in his world and has vowed to seek revenge, even though those forces include his own family and best friend. Both Code Geass and Evangelion have the robot fights mecha fans love, but they also bring up a lot of philosophical questions about life, humanity, loyalty, and good versus evil.
9 RahXephon Drew Inspiration From Evangelion
While RahXephon is widely considered to be a carbon copy of Evangelion, many fans enjoy both anime. RahXephon also takes place in the year 2015 and revolves around a boy named Ayato. Ayato becomes a pilot of the RahXephon, a giant mecha robot made out of clay.
While there definitely are a lot of elements similar to Evangelion, like military involvement and philosophical questions, RahXephon has two elements that Evangelion does not: romance and time travel. For fans looking for an Evangelion clone with more romance and a clearly defined ending, RahXephon is the perfect series.
8 Blue Seed's Dated Animation Harks Back To A Simpler Time
At first glance, the hit '90s classic Blue Seed does not appear to have too much in common with Evangelion. There are no giant fighting robots, and Blue Seed has a lot of mythical Japanese elements, along with some comedic and romantic aspects. However, due to both series being from the '90s, their animation styles are very similar.
Both series also mix seemingly regular people with government agencies and bring in a diverse cast of characters. As each series goes on, the plots get deeper and more elements are added in to make the stakes higher.
7 Serial Experiments Lain Is Even More Confusing Than Evangelion
Evangelion is often referred to as a cult classic. Another anime series that often gets grouped together with Evangelion is Serial Experiments Lain. Serial Experiments Lain stands out because it is a late '90s anime with a very different art style than what was typical.
It stars a 14-year-old girl named Lain who discovers "Wired," a communication system like the internet which turns out to be an alternate reality. Serial Experiments Lain explores the interesting link between humans and technology while also mixing in themes of reality, virtual worlds, and humanity.
6 Gurren Lagann Is Not An Average Mecha Show
At first glance, Gurren Lagann seems like a standard mecha anime. It features a teen boy named Simon and his friend Kamina who discover a mech. However, the story is anything but standard. When the pair learns of the surface world and the ongoing battle against Gunmen, Beastmen, and the Spiral King, they form an alliance dubbed Team Gurren.
With the help of others, they try to defeat the Spiral King and his army. Similar to Evangelion, a group of humans band together intent on saving humanity, although Gurren Lagann does add a comedic flair to this zany mecha adventure.
5 Gunbuster Showcases An Impressive Female Cast
Often times with mecha anime, the cast is primarily male, with the lead character usually being a male. However, the '80s mecha, Gunbuster, flips that trend on its head, as almost all of the show's characters are female.
Similar to Evangelion, Gunbuster takes place in a futuristic setting where the main character, Noriko, is in training to pilot mecha. Like in Evangelion, the protagonist of Gunbuster has to face her internal struggles in order to pilot the mecha and save the Earth.
4 Eureka Seven Also Features A Galactic Threat
Another anime that mixes a post-apocalyptic world with extraterrestrial forces like Evangelion is Eureka Seven. Eureka Seven stars Renton, a 14-year-old boy born to a small town in the year 12005. Humanity is now living in space after a strange being forced them off Earth.
Renton joins forces with Eureka, a young pilot of a large mech from the Coralian group, and together, they join the Gekkostate group and go off on a big adventure. Eureka Seven combines the best part of group adventures, like comedic moments and some romance, with the parts that Evangelion fans love - the mecha and the science fiction.
3 Darling In The FranXX's Is Visually Similiar To Evangelion
Darling In The FranXX is usually one of the first anime to be compared to Evangelion due to some of the similarities in the character designs. Hiro, the lead in Darling, is a lanky teenage boy with dark, shaggy hair. The female lead, Zero Two, reminds fans of Asuka with her own red pilot suit.
Aside from the looks, both anime have the main character struggle with feelings of self-doubt when it comes to piloting the mecha. While Darling has more romantic tones and a huge plot twist near the end of the series, they both have viewers anxiously wanting to know what is going to happen next.
2 Puella Magi Madoka Magica Unexpectedly Delves Into Darker Themes
It doesn't seem likely that an anime about magical girls would have a lot in common with Evangelion. However, Puella Magi Madoka Magica isn't a regular magical girl anime. Despite its cute girls and brightly colored outfits, Madoka is actually a grim look at what it really takes to be a magical girl.
What Evangelion and Madoka have in common is their bait-and-switch approach to their darker themes. The surface appearances lead viewers to believe they're in for a fun time when in reality, only darkness lies ahead.
1 Akira Is An Absolute Must-Watch For All Sci-Fi & Anime Fans
Just like Evangelion, Akira is seen as a sci-fi anime classic. Set in the year 2021 after World War III, Akira follows a member of a motorcycle gang, Tetsuo, who accidentally gets involved with a top-secret government project.
Like Evangelion, Akira has remained a classic for over 30 years because of its innovative story, philosophical tone, post-apocalyptic world, and government involvement. Akira will be a treat for Evangelion fans, but it is also required viewing for all anime fans.