Unit 8 – Music and the Fictive Dream

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 End of Evangelion

                                

In the summer of 1997 a conclusionary film would release to (at the time) end the very popular  anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. The conclusionary film titled ”The End of Evangelion” is an ambitious movie that is still heavily analyzed to this day. 


The film follows the main character Shinji  as he confronts his emotional and psychological struggles during an apocalyptic scenario orchestrated by secret organizations. The story explores this apocalypse called the third impact.  The Third Impact, an event that could lead to the extinction or transformation of humanity ends up being controlled by Shinji. The second half of the movie explores these two options and Shinji’s reasons to pursue each. The movie focuses on existential and philosophical themes, such as the nature of existence, identity, and the desire for connection versus individuality. At the climax of the film Shinji is given the choice of whether to form all of humanity into a singular unified pain free consciousness, or to let humanity continue as individuals capable of both suffering and real human social connections. This is when the song Komm, süßer Tod begins playing. 



Komm, süßer Tod originally written by Hideaki Anno then adapted into english (for all versions of the movie)by Mike Wyzgowski and sung by Arianne. Komm, süßer Tod, with its deceptively upbeat and soothing melody,  contrasts the catastrophic and surrealist visuals of humanity being absorbed into a collective consciousness. This creates an almost ironic tension that underscores the themes of despair and  complexity of human emotion.

Lyrically the song reflects on Shinji’s internal conflict (which choice he should choose) and existential despair. There are verses in the song that speak of loneliness, self loathing, and release from pain. These lyrics mirror the wider concepts of the movie which grapples with humanity's collective and individual suffering and the desire to escape it. It is also interesting that the director Hideaki Anno decided to use english lyrics and a german title for this song in his movie, giving the scene a potentially more global feeling enforcing the idea that the themes of isolation and existential angst are universal. The upbeat pop style of this song also gives what would be a somber tragic moment of the apocalypse into something more complex and interesting.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: A Primer ...


A  few lyrics that really stuck out to me were:


“I wish that I could turn back time

'Cause now the guilt is all mine

Can't live without the trust from those you love

I know we can't forget the past

You can't forget love and pride

Because of that, it's killing me inside”


These lyrics came right after the person in the song claimed that they were leaving forever. This stuck out to me because this mirrored what the main character would end up doing when he originally chooses to merge all of humanity into one consciousness before  immediately regretting it. This really plays into the message of the story of needing social connections and self forgiveness.  Humans are social creatures and therefore cannot remove themselves from social connections and expect to stay in any form of health. I believe this is the core of what the song (and larger premise of the movie) is trying to say.  



Over all I would say this a very interesting song that adds a lot to the context of a very complex film. I would recommend you would give it a watch if it seems interesting to you.





-Jaxon









citation:



“Humanity Turned into LCL Scene.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArPEa7rRyUk&ab_channel=SockSensei. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024. 

“The End Of Evangelion - Komm Süsser Tod - Come Sweet Death (HQ).” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kguaGI7aZg&ab_channel=BatrickPateman. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024. 

frida. “The History of the End of Evangelion.” The Frida Cinema, thefridacinema.org/2024/03/18/the-history-of-the-end-of-evangelion/. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024. 

Evangelion, Contributors to. “Komm, Süsser Tod.” Evangelion, Fandom, Inc., evangelion.fandom.com/wiki/Komm,_s%C3%BCsser_Tod. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024. 







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