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A Human Work

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"A Human Work"
Neon Genesis Evangelion episode
Jet Alone.jpg
Eva-01 (right) tries to stop Jet Alone (left). The Jet Alone affair has been described by critics as a deconstruction of the mecha genre and a political satire.
Episode no.Episode 7
Directed byKeiichi Sugiyama
Written byHideaki Anno, Yoji Enokido
Original air dateNovember 15, 1995
Running time22 minutes
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"A Human Work"[a] is the seventh episode of the Japanese anime television series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which was created by Gainax, written by Hideaki Anno and Yoji Enokido and directed by Keiichi Sugiyama. It was first broadcast on TV Tokyo on November 15, 1995. The series is set fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm, and is mostly set in the futuristic, fortified city Tokyo-3. The episode's protagonist is Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy who was recruited by his father Gendo to the organization Nerv to pilot a giant bio-mechanical mecha named "Evangelion" into combat with beings called "Angels". In the episode, a rival organization of Nerv builds Jet Alone, a prototype giant robot with an onboard nuclear reactor as an alternative to the Evangelions. During the first public test of Jet Alone, it goes out of control and marches toward a nearby city with its reactor close to a meltdown. Shinji keeps the robot at bay in his Evangelion while Nerv's Major Misato Katsuragi gets inside Jet Alone and shuts down the reactor.

"A Human Work" contains quotes from Japanese and Western directors such as Stanley Kubrick, Kihachi Okamoto and Kunihiko Ikuhara, and cultural references to scientific and religious concepts including apoptosis and the Tree of the Sephiroth. The episode's first broadcast scored a 5.9% rating of audience share on Japanese television. "A Human Work" received a divided reception; some reviewers considered it to be a filler episode for the series' plot, while others appreciated the political implications and character development. The episode has been described as a deconstruction of the mecha genre and the Jet Alone affair as a parody of the stylistic features of giant robot stories.

Plot[]

Commander Gendo Ikari, head of the special agency Nerv, talks via telephone to an unknown person, who tells Ikari he has answered the information requests with falsified data, and then asks if he should do something about "that other matter". Ikari boards an SSTO and talks with an unknown person who says the budget for building more Evangelion mechas has been approved.

Meanwhile, young Evangelion pilot Shinji Ikari is embarrassed by his legal guardian Major Misato Katsuragi's rude behavior. Misato and Dr. Ritsuko Akagi attend a private company's demonstration of Jet Alone, its giant, Angel-fighting robot. During the demonstration, the robot goes out of control and its reactor becomes critical. Because the radio command circuit has been broken, Misato decides to catch Jet Alone using Shinji's mecha, Eva-01, enter Jet Alone and delete its programing directly. There is a delay in getting permission to tell Misato the delete code: "Hope". Shinji catches Jet Alone and Misato successfully boards it. The password fails to stop the reactor and Misato attempts to manually push the control rods back into the reactor. At the last moment, the rods reinsert themselves. Misato realizes the robot was never intended to meltdown and that Gendo and Ritsuko intended the accident to happen. The next morning, Shinji is upset again for Misato's behavior at home, until his school friends Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida say that Misato shows him a side of her personality no one else sees because she considers him family.

Production[]

The episode's base plot was decided in 1993[1] and its Japanese title was chosen at the same time but was written with a comma; Hito no, tsukurishimono (人の、造りしもの, litt. "A man-made thing").[2][3] The episode was written by Yoji Enokido and Hideaki Anno; storyboards were done by Anno and the episode's director Keiichi Sugiyama. The assistant director was Masahiko Otsuka, the chief animator was Shunji Suzuki[4] and the assistant character designer was Mitsumu Wogi.[5][6]

For the Jet Alone dossier visible in the first scene of "A Human Work", the staff recreated the original images using a Macintosh; the images were produced again by the Gainax Shop.[7] The episode depicts real-life vehicles such as an SSTO spacecraft.[8][9] and a Ferrari 328.[10][11] The American Northrop YB-49 prototype jet-powered heavy bomber was initially chosen for the image of the Eva transport aircraft but it was later decided to use the North American XB-70 Valkyrie.[12] In the same scene, the Eva-01 was intentionally represented while chasing the Jet Alone. In reality, the Eva would have to stumble forward but the staff wanted the flow to be more fluid, creating a scene in which the Eva chases the other mecha.[13] The episode contains homages to the animator Kunihiko Ikuhara, a friend of the director Anno, and Kihachi Okamoto, of whom it takes up various directing techniques.[14][15] A four-beat Jazz version of Fly Me to the Moon sung by Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi was used as the ending theme.[16]

Cultural references and themes[]

In the first scene, Gendo is framed in his office and the Tree of the Sephiroth, a diagram of the Jewish Kabbalah, is visible on the ceiling of the room.[17] The ceiling illustration of Commander Ikari is taken from Athanasius Kircher's Oedipus Aegyptiacus.[18] According to MCC Agora, some of the discernible Hebrew words of the diagram translate to "thunder" and "God", a possible link to the Angel Ramiel, defeated in the previous episode, which name means "thunder of God".[19] In the same scene, a text that mentions apoptosis and apobiosis, terms of molecular biology, is framed.[20][21] A few scenes later, a school text by Shinji with fictitious, manipulated details on Second Impact and revelations on First Impact, is framed, referencing the Giant-impact hypothesis.[22][23][24] Japanese architect Yasutaka Yoshimura regarded SSTO's interior as a possible reference to a spacecraft visible in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968),[25] while Jet Alone' name comes from the robot Jet Jaguar, which was originally called "Red Alone", appeared in the special effects film Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973).[26]

The episode's pivotal theme is interpersonal communication.[27] In "A Human Work", the psychology of Shinji, who finishes the first part of his path in the episode,[28] and of Misato is deepened. At the center of the episode is the theme of dual personality; Misato shows herself to be an elder sister, a rough spinster and daring soldier, confusing Shinji.[29][30] At the end of the episode, Shinji notices Misato shows her coarser, vulnerable side because he is part of her family; after the event, the psychological distance between the two lessens.[31] Misato in "A Human Work" also tries to stop the Jet Alone "with the hands of man"[32] Optimism and hope towards human abilities is a theme already present in earlier works of Hideaki Anno, like Gunbuster and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water.[33] Matthew England of Comic Book Resources described the Jet Alone affair as one of the more concentrated examples of Evangelion's deconstruction of the mecha genre.[34] For writer Dani Cavallaro, the mecha formula is turned in "A Human Work" into a vehicle for active engagement in political and economical satire.[35] Critic Dennis Redmond similarly described the episode as a satire of "the arrogance of Japan's nuclear power lobby" and keiretsu business elite.[36]

Reception[]

"A Human Work" had a mixed reception. The episode was first broadcast on November 15, 1995, and scored a 5.9% rating of audience share on Japanese TV.[37][38] Digitally Obsessed's reviewer Joel Cunningham criticized the episode as being probably the worst in the series and unnecessary; according to Cunningham, nothing happens and events remain unchanged at the end. He described the action scenes as "well done, but ultimately frivolous" and also said "there aren't even any particularly good character moments".[39] Theo Kogod from Comic Book Resources criticized the political scene presented in "A Human Work"; he said the depicted relaxed relations between China and Japan is "questionable", and also criticized the absence of Russia among prominent nations in the world of Evangelion as one of the things that did not age well.[40]

Animé Café's Japanese reviewer Akio Nagatomi negatively received the episode because it portrays governments as "simple-minded idiots" but he praised the sub-plots involving Misato's double face and the conspiracy that leads to the Jet Alone malfunction, the animation and some "neat" angle shots, like the drop-shipping of the Eva from the bomber. He concluded; "Not a great episode, though the political background has me a little intrigued".[41] Max Covill of Film School Rejects said "A Human Work" does not advance the series' plot "in any meaningful way" but praised the scene involving Misato and Ritsuko. He described it as "an exciting episode" that provides additional background on important supporting characters.[42] Animation Planet magazine' John Beam positively reviewed "A Human Work"; he noted the nature of Eva, Angels and First Impact is still a mystery, and praised the show for its "outstanding characterizations, animations, and dramatic presentation".[43]

SyFy Wire's Daniel Dockery ranked the scenes of the Jet Alone activation and Misato inside it as one of the best "non-depressing moments" in the show, describing Misato as the most underrated Evangelion character and the second scene as a "tense" moment.[44] In the second issue of the Gen:Lock webseries, a robot that is supposedly superior to gen:Lock named The Shogunate appears. Noting a character named Anno appears in the issue, Bubble Blabber's reviewer David Kaldor regarded The Shogunate as a possible reference to the Jet Alone.[45]

References[]

  1. ^ Japanese: 人の造りしもの, Hepburn: Hito no Tsukurishimono

Citations[]

  1. ^ Gainax (1998). Neon Genesis Evangelion Newtype 100% Collection (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. p. 88. ISBN 4-04-852700-2.
  2. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatralical VHS Box Booklet (in Japanese). King Amusement Creative. 1997.
  3. ^ Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). 18. Sony Magazines. p. 25.
  4. ^ Groundwork of Evangelion (in Japanese). 1. Gainax. 2000. p. 217. ISBN 4903713008.
  5. ^ Poggio, Alessandra (2008). Neon Genesis Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). Dynit. p. 22.
  6. ^ Porori 2009, p. 76.
  7. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 3. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 7.
  8. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 3. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 14.
  9. ^ Porori 2009, p. 79.
  10. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 19.
  11. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 3. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 9.
  12. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 3. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 19.
  13. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 3. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 21.
  14. ^ Cannarsi 1998, pp. 42–43.
  15. ^ Oguro, Yūichirō. "第39回 エヴァ雑記「第六話 決戦、第３新東京市」" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  16. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 26.
  17. ^ Ortega, Mariana (2010). "My Father, He Killed Me; My Mother, She Ate Me: Self, Desire, Engendering, and the Mother in Neon Genesis Evangelion". Mechademia. 2: 216–232. doi:10.1353/mec.0.0010. ISBN 978-0-8166-5266-2. S2CID 120554645.
  18. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 17.
  19. ^ Black, Noah (January 21, 2020). "Get in the Robot". MCC Agora. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  20. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 35.
  21. ^ Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). 2. Sony Magazines. p. 23.
  22. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 20.
  23. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 36.
  24. ^ Horn, Carl Gustav (2013). "Secrets of Evangelion". Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 Edition. 2. Viz Media. ISBN 978-1-4215-5305-4.
  25. ^ Yoshimura, Yasutaka (1997). "Sonata for EVANGELION – POP – A Compilation of the quoted 60's motifs". In Kaichiro Morikawa (ed.). The Evangelion Style (in Japanese). Daisan Shokan. p. 32. ISBN 4-8074-9718-9.
  26. ^ Platinum Booklet. 2. ADV.
  27. ^ Cannarsi 1998, p. 16.
  28. ^ Oguro, Yūichirō. "第41回 エヴァ雑記「第八話 アスカ、来日」" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  29. ^ Cannarsi 1998, pp. 46–47.
  30. ^ Oguro, Yūichirō. "第40回 エヴァ雑記「第七話 人の造りしもの」" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  31. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). 3. Kadokawa Shoten. p. 25.
  32. ^ Oguro, Yūichirō. "第45回 エヴァ雑記「第拾弐話 奇跡の価値は」" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  33. ^ Cannarsi, Gualtiero. Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). 4. Dynamic Italia. pp. 40–41.
  34. ^ England, Matthew (7 July 2020). "Neon Genesis Evangelion: The 5 Best Ways It Deconstructed The Mecha Anime (& 5 Ways It Elevated The Genre)". Cbr.com. Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  35. ^ Cavallaro, Dani (2009). The Art of Studio Gainax: Experimentation, Style and Innovation at the Leading Edge of Anime. McFarland & Co. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-7864-3376-6.
  36. ^ Redmond, Dennis (2004). The World is Watching: Video as Multinational Aesthetics, 1968–1995. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 133. ISBN 0-8093-2535-7.
  37. ^ "Anime Land". Newtype (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. February 1996. p. 66.
  38. ^ "新世紀エヴァンゲリオン テレビ本放送時 視聴率" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  39. ^ Cunningham, Joel (8 March 2002). "Neon Genesis Evangelion Collection 0:2 (1995)". Digitallyobsessed.com. Digitally Obsessed!. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  40. ^ Kogod, Theo (14 December 2019). "10 Things That Didn't Age Well In Neon Genesis Evangelion". Cbr.com. Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Shinseiki Evangelion Review Pages – Episode 7: The Human Creation / A Human Work". Abcb.com. The Animé Café. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  42. ^ Covill, Max (17 June 2019). "Every Episode of 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' Ranked". Filmschollrejects.com. Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  43. ^ Beam, John (1997). G. Michael Dobbs (ed.). "Neon Genesis Evangelion: Genesis 0:4". Animation Planet. Vol. 1 no. 2. Inkwell Productions. pp. 13–14.
  44. ^ Dockery, Daniel (June 23, 2019). "The 10 most awesome (non-depressing) moments In Neon Genesis Evangelion". Syfy.com. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  45. ^ Kaldor, David (7 November 2019). "Comic Review: gen:LOCK "unwelcome:GUESTS Part 2"". Bubbleblabber.com. Bubble Blabber. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.

Bibliography[]

  • Cannarsi, Gualtiero (1998). Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). 4. Dynamic Italia.
  • Porori, Syunsou (2009). The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A. Glénat Editions. ISBN 978-2-7234-7120-6.

External links[]

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