Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese anime series created by Gainax and Tatsunoko Production studio.
Shinji Ikari is the main protagonist of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the most infamous and critically acclaimed anime of all time.
A relatively young man with a troubled childhood, Shinji dreams of being a hero and saving his father’s life.
He enters the world of Evangelion as an unwilling test subject for the government’s top-secret “Evangelion” project.
The project aims to develop artificial intelligence capable of fighting off alien invaders from orbit.
The anime follows Shinji as he struggles to deal with being a pilot for this dangerous new machine—and ultimately learns that there’s more at stake than just saving his father.
The anime narrates the tale of teenage pilots fighting against an extraterrestrial threat known as Angels.
One thing that makes this anime so great is not just its protagonist but also its well-developed storyline of side characters.
The anime is notable for its deep psychological complexity, introspective characters, thematic exploration of philosophical and religious ideas such as the meaning of life and human nature, and use of Christian symbolism throughout the series.
The anime received both critical acclaim and commercial success.
(NOTE: This list does not intend to create a hierarchal order)
List Of Anime Similar To Neon Genesis Evangelion
Cowboy Bebop
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Sci-fi, Action
- Theme: Adult, Space
- Duration: 1 hr 55 min.
- Rating: 8.75
When you talk about anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion, the first anime which comes to mind is Cowboy Bepop.
Cowboy Bebop is an American science fiction anime television series produced by Sunrise based on the manga series written and illustrated by Yoshinobu Nishizaki.
The series follows Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter who travels across space after being framed for murder.
He teams up with Faye Valentine, a former member of the police division Vicious Cycle Gang.
Together they hunt down criminals while solving mysteries and dealing with their own pasts.
Both Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop involve a protagonist who is in some way psychologically damaged by their past experiences.
Ghost in the Shell
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Action, Sci-fi, Suspense
- Theme: Adult, Psychological, Mecha
- Duration: 1 hr. 22 min.
- Rating: 8.27
Ghost in the Shell is an American cyberpunk anime television series developed by Production I.G, written by Masamune Shirow, directed by Kenji Kamiyama.
The series takes place in the near future when technology has reached its peak, leaving humans unable to escape the dangers of cyberspace.
Major Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg officer employed by Section 9, a government organization responsible for investigating cyberterrorism.
She is partnered with her friend Batou, a human agent whose job is to protect her.
Kill la Kill
- Type: Series
- Episodes: 24
- Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi
- Theme: Super Power
- Duration: 24 min. per ep.
- Rating: 8.04
Kill la Kill is a 2013 anime television series adapted from the manga of the same title written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.
It is set in a fictionalized version of 19th-century Edo period Japan. It follows Ryuko Matoi, an elite student at Honnō-Ji School who dreams of becoming the “ultimate girl,” capable of defeating any enemy with her bare hands.
After witnessing her father’s death at the hands of his business rival Gonta Dan, she vows revenge. She enters the Shinigami Academy to learn how to become a Soul Reaper.
While at school, she meets Satsuki Kiryuin, a classmate seeking to overthrow the tyrannical Student Council President Tetsuya Shima.
Both Kill la Kill and Neon Genesis Evangelion are set in futuristic worlds where humans are divided into two groups: the upper class, who wear white clothing and live in luxury, and the lower class, who wear red clothing and live in poverty.
The main characters in both anime struggle with belonging to either group and want to rebel against those who oppress them.
Macross
- Type: Series
- Episodes: 36
- Status: Finished Airing
- Genres: Action, Romance, Sci-fi
- Theme: Mecha anime, Military, Music, Space
- Duration: 25 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.91
Macross is an anime that received mixed reviews from anime fans. But, mecha anime fans always consider it one of the OG’s of all time.
Macross is a popular Japanese science fiction anime franchise created by Shoji Kawamori, composed of 26 episodes spanning four seasons.
The original Macross series centers around the adventures of teenage pilots fighting an alien race known as Zentraedi. They invade Earth using giant robots piloted by children.
The second season, Macross II, continues the first season’s storyline and introduces the character of Hikaru Ichijyo, a young girl who becomes a pilot after a crash landing on Earth.
The third impact of Macross Frontier is a prequel focusing on the characters’ early years.
The fourth and final season, Macross Zero, concludes the storyline started in Macross II.
Neon Genesis Evangelion and Macross tell stories about people who find themselves in extreme situations but are forced to rely on their creativity and resolve to overcome them.
Both series feature a female protagonist who must deal with male characters who do not respect her. Both shows also explore the idea of being human as part of something greater than ourselves.
Mobile Suit Gundam
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 50
- Genres: Action, Drama, Romance, Sci-fi
- Duration: 24 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.75
Mobile Suit Gundam is an anime series created by Yoshiyuki Tomino.
It tells the story of Char Aznable, a soldier who joins the military to seek revenge against the Principality of Zeon for killing his family. The series follows several major plotlines over the course of six seasons.
The first season details the conflict between the Earth Federation and Zeon. It begins with Char’s arrival at the mobile suit academy.
The second season is set two years later and covers Char’s rise to power and the invasion of Zeon forces.
The third season depicts the war between the Federation and Zeon.
The fourth season starts five years after the end of the Third Neo Zeon War and follows Char’s attempts to rebuild the ruined Earth.
The fifth season, a sequel to the previous season, chronicles Char’s return to the battlefield and the events leading up to the New Solar Era.
The sixth season, which serves as the conclusion to the main storyline, takes place ten years after the start of the series.
Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion are both anime that deal with war, peace, and the human condition.
Both anime use a combination of real-world political issues that are relevant today and fantasy elements to help entertainingly explain those issues.
Both anime are set in space, and both feature giant robots that can be piloted by human beings.
Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion feature a group of people sent to an alien planet to fight against their enemies.
Outlaw Star
- TYPE: Series
- Episodes: 24
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, sci-fi
- Duration: 25 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.84
Outlaw Star is an anime series created and directed by Hiroyuki Yamaga.
The series revolves around a mysterious woman, a bounty hunter who hunts down dangerous criminals.
Both Outlaw Star and Neon Genesis Evangelion feature characters that have dreams about becoming heroes or gods but do not realize those dreams until they come true.
In Outlaw Star, Jim Hawking dreams of being a hero but becomes an outlaw.
While in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji Ikari dreams about being a god but realizes his dream when he becomes an angel.
Both anime also have similar themes, such as loneliness, as both characters experience loneliness and psychological trauma even though they have family members around them throughout their lives.
At first glance, it seems like a simple plot. But its compelling storyline makes it interesting.
Serial Experiments Lain
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 13
- Genres: Drama, Mystery, Sci-fi, Post Apocalyptic, Supernatural.
- Theme: Psychological
- Duration: 23 min. per ep.
- Rating: 8.07
Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological anime that was released in 1998.
It is the tale of a young girl who has been contacted by a strange computer and is drawn into virtual reality.
Serial experiments lain is heavily influenced by the cyberpunk genre and are philosophical.
It explores themes such as identity, reality, and society. It also deals with issues such as existentialism and postmodernism.
The main character of the series, Lain Iwakura, starts to question her reality after she receives an e-mail from herself 10 years in the future that tells her that she will die if she continues to live her current life.
Neon Genesis Evangelion and Serial Experiments Lain have a lot of similarities in their futuristic worlds.
Both anime include robots and computers that can be used for many purposes, including fighting wars, controlling society, and even questioning the meaning of life.
However, the two anime differ from one another in terms of tone since neon genesis Evangelion is much darker than Lain.
It is one of the best anime dealing with the psychological ordeal.
Ergo Proxy
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 23
- Status: Finished Airing
- Genres: Mystery, Sci-fi
- Theme: Psychological
- Duration: 25 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.90
When it comes to anime like Neon Genesis Evangelion, how can you not talk about Ergo Proxy?
In the domed metropolis of Romdo lies one of the ultimate human civilizations in the world.
“AutoReivs,” humanoid-like robots, were created to help people in their daily lives. But they have begun contracting a mysterious ailment known as the “Cogito Virus”.
Re-l Mayer is assigned to investigate this phenomenon with her AutoReiv partner Iggy.
The two stories share many similar elements. In Neon Genesis Evangelion and Ergo Proxy, the central characters are teenagers who are thrust into dangerous situations.
In both cases, the protagonists witness the birth of giant robots. And finally, both shows end with the protagonist dying.
Both are set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity struggles to survive against powerful enemies.
Ergo Proxy and Neon Genesis Evangelion feature complex characters struggling with personal demons and the more significant threat to humanity.
Both anime are known for their fantastic art style and action sequences.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Laggan
- Type: Series
- Episodes: 27
- Genres: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, humor.
- Theme: Mecha anime
- Duration: 24 min. per ep.
- Rating: 8.63
Gurren Lagann is the story of a man who refuses to give up, even in the face of impossible odds.
An outcast who uses his friendship with other people to destroy an empire. When faced with impossible odds, friendship is stronger than violence.
Neon Genesis Evangelion and Gurren Lagann are pretty similar in many ways.
You can better understand what the characters are going through and how they are developed by watching two companion anime produced by Studio Gainax.
They are related stories about young, timid lads who must overcome more significant challenges than they could have imagined.
So, if you prefer Neon Genesis Evangelion; subsequent you need to attempt Gurren Lagann.
Sailor Moon
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 46
- Genres: Fantasy, Romance
- Theme: Shoujo, Mythology
- Duration: 24 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.71
Usagi Tsukino is a mean student and crybaby klutz who continuously ratings low on her tests.
The cat, Luna, later exhibits that their assembly was not coincidental. Usagi is destined to become Sailor Moon, a planetary father or mother with the electricity to shield our planet.
Given a unique brooch that permits her to convert, she needs to use her new powers to shop the metropolis from evil strength-stealing monsters sent by the malevolent Queen Beryl of the darkish kingdom.
She needs to discover the misplaced princess of the Moon country, the alternative Sailor Guardians, and the mythical Silver Crystal if you want to keep the planet from destruction.
Each shares an identical eastern voice actor.
In both movies, the villains embody a philosophy of awful utilitarianism, aiming to kill humanity or place it eternally close to the eye to keep it from the hardships of life.
In each anime, the protagonist deals with some form of childhood trauma and death.
Devilman: Crybaby
- Type: ONA
- Episodes: 10
- Genres: Action, Horror, Supernatural
- Theme: Gore, Fantasy
- Duration: 25 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.76
Weak and unassuming, Akira Fudou has always had a bleeding coronary heart.
Akira has an adolescent buddy Ryou Asuka who asks for help uncovering devils. Akira accepts without hesitation.
But, to Akira’s wonder, the vicinity they go to is Sabbath: an immoral birthday celebration of debauchery and degeneracy.
In a reckless try to keep his first-class pal, Akira unwittingly merges with satan Amon and turns into a Devilman, gaining the power to defeat the ultimate demons.
With the body of a satan and an identical crybaby coronary heart, Akira works alongside Ryou, destroying people who damage humanity and his loved ones.
Both anime follows a group of young people who must save the world from destruction using their unique powers.
The characters in both anime are complex and struggle with their own demons, making them interesting and suspenseful.
The art style of both anime is also very similar, with both having intricate and detailed battle scenes.
Like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Devilman Crybaby is left speechless with its heartbreaking and breathtaking ending.
Devilman crybaby has always been the talk of the town among fans for its gripping plot. Fans will always recommend this anime when it comes to horror & supernatural anime.
RahXephon
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 26
- Genres: Action, Mystery, Drama, Romance, Sci-fi
- Theme: Mecha anime, Music, Psychological
- Duration: 23 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.39
RahXephon is a well-known anime among anime fans of the mecha genre.
It is set in a futuristic Japan where Tokyo has been cut off from the looseness of the arena with the help of a great dimensional barrier.
Our main character, Ayato Kamina, is embroiled in warfare as Tokyo is attacked by those beyond the dimensional barrier, ultimately piloting the mysterious robot known as RahXephon.
RahXephon was a bit questionable when it launched because it was an Eva clone, and the name has still stuck.
That’s pretty unfair; although they share similarities, especially in individual disposition.
One of Studio Bones’ first productions, you can definitely see a Bones family tree, the animation is very stable, and the overall design of the show is one of the cool things you’ll see in anime, RahXephon looks and feels very specific to.
It’s a science fiction mecha with lots of twists and visuals to complement it; it’s hard to pull away.
Both anime also features a central character struggling to come to terms with their identity and place in the world.
In both anime, the characters must face off against giant aliens threatening humanity’s safety.
Finally, both anime are set in post-apocalyptic worlds devastated by some cataclysmic event.
Bokurano
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 24
- Genres: Drama, Sci-fi
- Theme: Mecha anime, Psychological, Survival
- Duration: 23 min. per ep.
- Rating: 7.62
The anime was directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori and was produced via Studio Gainax.
Bokurano anime is based on the manga of the same name using Asumiko Nakamura.
Bokurano follows the story of a collection of fifteen children who discover themselves in a strange scenario, a struggle in opposition to giant robots.
The children are compelled to pilot the robots to keep the arena from destruction.
But, the children soon comprehend that they are no longer preventing for the good of the arena but for the sake of the few individuals who are controlling them.
The Bokurano anime is a dark and notion-frightening story as a way to leave viewers question the ending.
Both stories follow a group of young people who are thrust into a battle against giant creatures to save the world.
The children are forced to pilot giant mechas to fight the creatures. Like Neon genesis Evangelion, they are forced to fight an extraterrestrial threat called Angels.
Both stories also deal with the psychological effects of fighting such a bat.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 12
- Genres: Drama, Suspense
- Theme: Shoujo, Psychological
- Duration: 24 min. per ep.
- Rating: 8.36
Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a 2011 anime series by Shaft and Aniplex.
The story follows Madoka Kaname, a girl who is offered the opportunity to have any one wish granted to her by a strange creature known as a Kyubey in exchange for becoming a magical girl and fighting witches.
Kyubey is a wish-granting creature that looks like a cute animal. Still, it is actually an emotionless being that views humans as a source of energy.
Madoka’s friend, Sayaka Miki, becomes a magical girl but ends up sacrificing herself for a friend, leading Madoka to question whether or not she wants to be a magical girl.
The anime is notable for its dark tone and thrilling ending.
Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Neon Genesis Evangelion are both anime that explore the topics of mental health and the human condition.
Both anime feature teenage girls who are forced to fight giant monsters to save the world.
The girls in both anime are assisted by boys who steer giant mechas.
Both anime feature main characters struggling with their mental health, and both series use imagery and symbolism to explore the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings.
In addition, both anime feature characters struggling to come to terms with their own mortality.
Code Geass
- Type: TV
- Episodes: 25
- Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-fi
- Theme: Mecha anime, Military, Super Power
- Duration: 24 min. per ep.
- Rating: 8.91
The story follows the eponymous protagonist Lelouch, known as Zero to his friends and family and Schneizel to his enemies.
He is a student at Ashford Academy, where he meets classmate Suzaku Kururugi and becomes involved in a war between Japan and Britannia over independence for Japan.
In the anime, Lelouch’s father is killed by Suzaku’s father.
The latter becomes jealous of him after discovering that Lelouch has similar abilities.
To protect himself from being killed by Suzaku’s father (who can’t kill anyone without killing himself first), Lelouch kills his father in front of Suzaku’s eyes.
Afterwards, he convinces Suzaku to defect from Britannia to take down their respective countries’ governments.
He also creates a rebel group called The Black Knights, whose goal is to seek revenge for his mom and establish a world where his beloved sister Nunnally can live happily.
Both anime also focus on human psychology and how people act when faced with danger or loss of control over their lives or loved ones’ safety/lives.
Code Geass and Neon Genesis Evangelion also have similar themes involving religion, politics, and war.
Both main characters must learn to use their powers and often need help feeling like they need to be better to be the hero they want to be.
Main characters have split personalities that allow them to do things other people can’t do.
Honoarable Mentions For Neon Genesis Evangelion Like Anime:
- Blue Seed.(7.01)
- Eureka Seven.(8.06)
- SSSS.Gridman.(7.12)
- Akira.(8.15)
