it was one of my first anime and I thought it was extremely overrated but there are some key things

1. it is absolutely iconic

2. it did set the trajectory for how future anime were made in terms of cliches, stereotypes, waifu stuff, tropes

overall though I thought it was a bit too ”im 14 and this is deep"

It's entertaining and is a seemingly permanent and ubiquitous member of the zeitgeist. It shares that and more than a few themes with The Matrix.

It's also some of the last fully hand drawn major studio anime works. (AFAIK)

CW: It is uncomfortable at some parts because of how girls (children) are depicted/sexualized.

Are we considering the ending the last episodes or the movies? Cause if the former it's terrible, if the latter it's "I have no words for how the hell this crazy shit was approved for production"

I'm probably biased against it cause it didn't click for me when I watched it, but I don't think it holds up. It does seem to kinda set in motion the emotional angst that many other anime followed later on and started the trend of "everything is actually symbolism for God and what is the meaning of 'humanity'", but I'm not sure either of those tropes were ever really handled well in anime (full metal alchemist, Tri-Gun, etc. for example all get a little heavy handed by the end).

That being said, you won't waste your time watching it. It is a complete and thought provoking story and is referenced in a lot of pop culture. It just might not be your favorite show.

It was the first anime I ever saw, and had a profound impact on my life but without bias YES. It's still in my top 5 shows.

Honestly skip all the movies and rehashes, just watch the O.G. (non-Netflix dub). It's great for what it was, and if you really get hooked you can start browsing the cash grab remakes and stuff that came later.

You should absolutely watch NGE; it's a show filled with so many details that it'll never quite leave your brain. The ending is controversial for sure; I loved it, but you do need to be paying attention to the large-scale plot going on in the background in order to understand it.

The show was probably improved by the fact we live in the timeline where the original plan for the ending, in which werewolves show up, was scrapped (no, really, that was the plan at one point, look it up)