How Sailor Moon Influenced the Iconic Neon Genesis Evangelion: A Surprising Connection
Unveiling the Unexpected Connection: Neon Genesis Evangelion and Sailor Moon 🌌 When Hideaki Anno was crafting Neon Genesis Evangelion, he drew inspiration from Sailor Moon, specifically naming character Rei Ayanami after Sailor Mars to entice director Kunihiko Ikuhara to join the team.
Amidst a personal struggle with depression following his work on Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Anno envisioned Evangelion. His ambition was to collaborate with Ikuhara, who was entrenched in the Sailor Moon franchise. Anno cleverly used Rei’s name as “sweet bait,” hoping it would lure Ikuhara away—a strategy that ultimately failed as Ikuhara continued with Sailor Moon and went on to create Revolutionary Girl Utena, another hallmark of 1990s anime.
In a post on the now-defunct Gainax website, Anno explained, “Rei is a simple pun on ‘Rei’ but borrowed from Rei Hino from Sailor Moon.” While this connection raises fascinating questions about how Evangelion would have differed with Ikuhara’s influence, both series surprisingly explore themes of identity and sexuality.
Despite the "what ifs," it’s clear that Neon Genesis Evangelion, with its iconic Rei Ayanami, remains a groundbreaking series, deeply shaped by Anno’s own journey and creative aspirations. “Neon Genesis Evangelion would look very different without Rei,” underscoring how crucial character development is to storytelling in anime.
FAQ
Q1: Why was Rei Ayanami named after Sailor Mars?
A1: Hideaki Anno named Rei after Sailor Mars to entice Kunihiko Ikuhara to join the Evangelion project.
Q2: What was Hideaki Anno’s personal struggle during the creation of Evangelion?
A2: Anno faced a lengthy depression after working on Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, which influenced his creative process.
Q3: Did Kunihiko Ikuhara work on Neon Genesis Evangelion?
A3: No, Ikuhara remained with Sailor Moon and later created Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Q4: How do Evangelion and Utena compare in themes?
A4: Both series explore deep themes related to identity, coming of age, and sexuality, although each takes a unique narrative approach.
SEO Tags: Neon Genesis Evangelion, Sailor Moon, Hideaki Anno, Kunihiko Ikuhara, anime character names, Rei Ayanami, Japanese animation history, 1990s anime, thematic analysis, character development
