The film begins with the introduction of Shinji Ikari, a withdrawn and introspective teenager who is abruptly summoned to the futuristic city of Tokyo-3 by his estranged father, Gendo Ikari. Shinji soon discovers that his father is the commander of NERV, a secret organization tasked with defending humanity against the Angel menace using giant biomechanical robots called Evangelions.
Reluctantly, Shinji agrees to pilot one of these awe-inspiring mechs, the Evangelion Unit-01, as his father believes he possesses a unique ability to synchronize with the powerful machine. Alongside fellow pilots Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu, Shinji embarks on a treacherous journey to protect humanity from the Angels and unravel the mysteries surrounding their existence.
As the narrative unfolds, Shinji becomes entangled in a complex web of personal conflicts and existential questions. He grapples with his sense of self-worth, haunted by feelings of abandonment and a desperate desire for his father’s approval. These emotional struggles are intertwined with the ongoing battles against the Angels, which push the pilots to their physical and mental limits.
“Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone” masterfully combines intense action sequences with introspective character development. As Shinji grows closer to his fellow pilots, he experiences both camaraderie and conflict, discovering the fragile bonds that connect humanity in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
The film also delves into the enigmatic origins of the Angels and their connection to a cataclysmic event known as the Second Impact, which devastated the world years prior. As the truth slowly unravels, Shinji finds himself questioning the nature of his own existence and the role he plays in the fate of humanity.
Background:
1.01: An additional 266 enhancements from 1.0.
1.11: 2 minutes longer than 1.0 and 1.01 and created by processing the master digital data instead of the 35mm film.
In 2007, the film was awarded the DCAJ Chairperson Award during the 22nd Digital Contents Grand Prix. In 2008, the film won the Tokyo International Anime Fair award for anime of the year (with Hideaki Anno receiving the best director award for it), the Toukaimura Genpachi Award at the 7th Annual Japanese Otaku Awards and the Theatrical Film Award at the 13th Animation Kobe Awards.
