# Neon Genesis Evangelion

10 Hacker News commenters recommended Neon Genesis Evangelion and 6 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 6 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended for its striking visuals and mecha aesthetic and its place among the best anime; critics call it overrated and its ending botched.

## Why people recommend it

- Striking visuals and mecha aesthetic (4 comments): "I feel like there are two sides to it: the mecha/alien/monster sci-fi side which has an amazing aesthetic" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47991222)) "It's visceral in a way I've never seen before or since." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47844581)) "I don't understand Eva too. Cool visuals though." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46255036))
- Among the best anime ever (2 comments): "are considered by many critics and fans to sit among the best anime series of all time" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45981632)) "evangelion beats akira and maybe ghost in the shell" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47835742))
- Story clear after End of Evangelion (2 comments): "Eva is pretty straightforward to understand once you watched End of Evangelion" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50320579)) "the show does a good enough job at explaining itself" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47841707))

## What people warn about

- Overrated; falls short of potential (3 comments): "Evangelion had great potential, a mysterious world, but it never reached it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47839310)) "Evangelion is a weak 7/10 in comparison to them in every aspect imaginable." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47835213)) "Evangelion is so mega overrated of an anime" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47834441))
- Rushed production and botched ending (2 comments): "It's all just shallow dopamine-maxxed mecha-tronic fetish paired with brutalist architecture and rushed out barely meeting deadlines." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47844438)) "the botched ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46447812))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Mobile Suit Gundam](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mobile-suit-gundam.md): 10 recommend
- [Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mobile-suit-gundam-iron-blooded-orphans.md): 9 recommend
- [Steins;Gate anime](https://hackerapproved.com/p/steins-gate.md): 8 recommend
- [Cyberpunk: Edgerunners](https://hackerapproved.com/p/cyberpunk-edgerunners.md): 6 recommend
- [Serial Experiments Lain](https://hackerapproved.com/p/serial-experiments-lain.md): 6 recommend

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Neon Genesis Evangelion", https://hackerapproved.com/p/neon-genesis-evangelion/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).