After my initial exposure to anime, I thought I would have no problem becoming a regular otaku and devour every new series I could get my hands on. This turned out not to be the case, as I found the vast majority of Japanese-produced animation to be either giant robot battles, cute talking animal adventures or socially awkward high school dramas (or sometimes a combination of all three). But the trendsetters in anime are still worth paying attention to, as my fondness of films like Akira will attest to. And despite its penchant for giant robot battles and gratuitous use of "fan service", Neon Genesis Evangelion is unarguably one of the most influential sagas in modern anime.

While on the surface it shares many characteristics with some of the standard subgenres of anime, Evangelion manages to break free of any pre-determined conventions with its complex, multi-layered exploration of human strife, adolescent trauma and catastrophes of biblical proportions. The saga takes place in the near future and tells the convoluted tale of mankind's battle against God at the dawn of the apocalypse. Its giant humanoid robots, dubbed Evas, may bear more than a passing resemblance to any number of anime mecha (Mobile Suit Gundam, for instance) but are revealed to be much more, and their teenaged pilots show more depth and complexity than you'd initially suspect. While a competent analysis is outside the scope of this review, there are plenty of sources out there (including the excellent commentary track on this DVD) that should help you delve into the multi-faceted nature of Evangelion. Suffice it to say that it is more important and artistically relevant than most of the anime that's been produced in the last twenty years.

Since its debut in 1997, Neon Genesis Evangelion has often been imitated, but no one has been able to duplicate its sense of grandure and symbolism. Twenty-six episodes of the original series just weren't enough for fans, who clamored for a finale that provided a more comprehensible sense of closure than the original climax. The creators of the series (Studio Gainax) responded with two feature-length movies that would settle all debates and stifle the uproar over the infamous "mega-happy ending". The first of these movies, entitled Death and Rebirth, is available now on DVD from Manga Entertainment. Through a series of non-linear flashback sequences and original animation setpeices, Death and Rebirth revisits the events of the original series and provides a framework for the series finale, a second movie called End of Evangelion.

Appropriately enough, Death and Rebirth is comprised of two halves separated by a lengthy intermission. The "Death" portion of the film comes first and essentially recounts the events of the first 24 Evangelion episodes in a condensed, concise form. While this crash course is probably not a substitute for viewing the original episodes, it serves its purpose as a "Cliff's Notes" for fans who may not have watched the show recently. The flashbacks are structured around a classical music rehearsal at school, with character-specific segments progressing as more of the chosen children show up to practice. The striking climax is the highlight of the first half, consisting of an excruciatingly long, wide angle shot of Eva 01 grasping the 17th Angel Kaoru while Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" swells in the background.

The shorter "Rebirth" segment begins after a four minute intermission. Having dispatched the last of the Angels, NERV finds itself under attack from a less heavenly foe: man. An invasion of NERV headquarters leads to a brutally violent and bloody action sequence, while Misato struggles to save the Eva pilots from certain death. The film draws to a close with an armada of white Eva production units descending on NERV headquarters, ominously setting up the opening of End of Evangelion. While mostly composed of recycled material, Death and Rebirth is still a fine film characterized by fantastically surreal animated sequences punctuated by some of the best classical music that's ever been written. Though it borders on pretension at times, Evangelion is powerful and thought-provoking cinema that demands constant attention and repeat viewings to fully grasp.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth appears in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, though it appears that Manga simply matted the original 1.33:1 footage. As a result, a good deal of frame information is unfortunately lost in most scenes. I'm not sure if the Rebirth footage was created specifically for 1.85:1, but the Death portion of the film is definitely matted. The visual quality leaves a little to be desired, as there are some noticeable grainy portions, as well as some compression artifacts that crop up every once in a while. The colors are vibrant throughout, though, and despite the minor quibbles I just mentioned the film looks pretty sharp. The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack sounds crisp and clear for the most part, though it lacks the fidelity that a DTS track would have provided. This is a solid audiovisual package but is probably not reference quality.

Death and Rebirth appears on a single double-sided DVD courtesy of Manga Entertainment. The Alpha side contains the feature film with English and Japanese Stereo soundtracks as well as the decent Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Both Japanese and English subtitles are available for dialogue and on-screen text. Even if you watch the English dub, there is so much going on that you might want to enable the subtitles just so you don't miss anything. There is some attractive menu artwork on the disc, especially for the various scene selection screens. The Omega side of the disc contains a host of bonus materials, including a still photo gallery, a comprehensive index of terms and characters, theatrical trailers and previews for other Manga titles. The index is a particularly good read and culls together a wide variety of source material into a handy reference.

Like many quality DVD sets, the true gem of the bonus features is the excellent full-length audio commentary. It is hosted by Amanda Winn Lee, the English director for the movie and the voice of Rei Ayanami. Unlike the sullen girl she portrays, Amanda is actually an upbeat and bubbly personality who brings a plethora of production knowledge to the proceedings (as well as a penchant for dirty jokes). She's joined by Taliesin Jaffe and Jason C. Lee, who provide a wealth of insight into the myriad of symbolism and religious references in the movie. The commentary is lively and entertaining throughout, and I recommend that everyone who buys this disc take the time to listen to it. This is a real treat for fans who are interested in the process of translating Japanese cartoons into an acceptable English form, and should provide anime fanboys with a better perspective on the necessary changes that are made for western audiences. Great stuff.

Evangelion is definitely in a class by itself, and Death and Rebirth on DVD is required viewing for fans of the original series. While it won't answer many of those lingering questions you might have, the Rebirth portion of the film does set up the finale of the saga, End of Evangelion, and so serves as necessary transition point. While the animation looks a bit dated by today's standards, Death and Rebirth is still a powerful cerebral onslaught and an audiovisual force that won't soon be forgotten. Not just another giant robot/sexy teenager anime, Evangelion is a trendsetter and a pillar of creative achievement, and this disc does the saga complete justice. Get this DVD right away.