Twenty-six years since its release, Neon Genesis Evangelion is still making waves. With the original series available on Netflix and the recent release of the final Rebuild movie, the influence of this apocalyptic, psychological drama continues. In addition to its groundbreaking themes and manner of storytelling, the spectacular visuals bring Evangelion to the next level.
Evangelion would never have made such an impact without its striking character design by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. A founding member of the studio Gainax, Sadamoto has worked on many projects with the series creator Hideaki Anno. He has since branched out to create with various studios, producing an impressive body of work. Here are five anime for fans who enjoy Sadamoto's style.
Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water
Premiering in 1990, Nadia is Gainax's first TV anime series created for NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). Sadamoto was originally selected to direct the series, but he chose instead to focus on character design and animation. The position ultimately went to Anno. In 1991, a sequel movie for Nadia was released on DVD called Nadia: The Motion Picture. The series and movie are not available on standard streaming channels, but DVDs can be purchased on Amazon and eBay.
Set in an alternate universe, the series follows titular character Nadia and fellow teen Jean as they run from a group of jewel thieves after Nadia's pendant named the Blue Water. Nadia draws inspiration from Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and its character Captain Nemo. Evangelion was originally proposed as a sequel to Nadia. Unfortunately, Gainax was unable to secure the rights from NHK, and the sequel idea was officially abandoned. However, little references to Nadia are found throughout Evangelion. For instance, Nadia was actually the inspiration behind Shinji Ikari's design. Sadamoto released a simple guide on how to draw Shinji, instructing first to draw Nadia and then simply erase her lashes and hairstyle.
FLCL
Pronounced "Fooly Cooly," this OVA-style series consists of six episodes. It was created in 2000 by the FLCL Production Committee, composed of Gainax, Production I.G, and King Records. Set in suburbia, this coming-of-age story follows twelve-year-old Naota Nandaba whose life turns upside down with the arrival of the eccentric Vespa riding, guitar-wielding Haruko Haruhara. FLCL is available to stream on Amazon Prime, Hulu (Premium Subscription), Sling TV, Google Play Movies, VUDU, and YouTube.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
This science fiction romance was produced by Madhouse in 2006. It follows the story of 17-year-old Makoto Konno who gains the ability to time travel, drawing inspiration from the 1967 novel of the same name. Fans of Evangelion will probably think Makoto and Chiaki look familiar. Sadamoto himself admitted that he was careful not to draw them too much like Evangelion's characters Shinji and Kaworu. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is available on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, VUDU, and YouTube.
Diebuster (Gunbuster 2)
Diebuster is a six-episode OVA animated by Gainax in 2004. It was created for the studio's 20th anniversary and is a sequel to their 1988 OVA Gunbuster, which fans may want to watch first. Both series fall into the mecha genre with young pilots battling aliens to save Earth. The original Gunbuster is praised for its intense action scenes balanced by moments of comical relief. It is also credited for laying the foundation for Evangelion.
Diebuster takes place twenty years after the end of Gunbuster, focusing on the pink-haired Nono, a country girl who dreams of becoming a pilot. A chance encounter sets the story in motion and blasts off to outer space. Diebuster is available to stream on Amazon Prime and Tubi.
The Great Pretender
The most recent of Sadamoto's projects is the 2020's heist anime The Great Pretender. This series consists of twenty-three episodes produced by Wit Studios and licensed by Netflix. The story follows protagonist Makoto Edamura, the self-proclaimed top scam artist of Japan. He soon encounters some colorful characters that make him reconsider this title and way of life, at least for a little bit. With its fast-paced storyline and gorgeous aesthetics, The Great Pretender is one of the best anime of the year. It is available for streaming exclusively on Netflix.
