Another classic mecha anime, Neon Genesis Evangelion, has stuck with anime fans since its debut in 1995. The events of Evangelion take place 15 years after the Second Impact, a global apocalypse that primarily affects Tokyo-3, a futuristic walled city. The main character is Shinji Ikari, a young teenager recruited by his father, Gendo, to work for the enigmatic Nerv organization as an Evangelion pilot, a massive biomechanical mecha designed to battle against beings called the Angels. The series is a deconstruction of the genre that dives deep into the emotions of the teenage pilots it follows.

To this day, Evangelion is still pored over by fans, who aim to decipher all the themes, religious imagery and messages that are laced throughout. The original ending was controversial, prompting several remixed conclusions and films to be released in theaters to wrap up the series, with the most recent being released in 2021. It’s still a series that sparks excitement and discussion, as it is an all-time classic, and it remains one of the more popular series today.

Dragon Ball Z

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