Where the manga differs most from End of Evangelion is in its epilogue, which is far more optimistic. Shinji is initially convinced that Instrumentality would be good for everyone, but realizes this isn't the case, and ends up cancelling the apocalypse. The manga ending is similar to End of Evangelion, with a few key differences, such as Shinji arriving in time to rescue Asuka from the Mass Production EVAs. RELATED: Raise Your Own Terrifying Baby Angel with Evangelion's Tamagotchi Collab The Manga EndingĮvangelion's manga started alongside the anime, but didn't end until 2014. If this seems bleak, then just be grateful they didn't go with their alternate plan for the final scene, where Shinji, having lost his mind, is laying on the beach, clutching Rei's detached hand. However, the only person show to return is Asuka, who he starts choking before she strokes his cheek. Like in the original series, Shinji ultimately ends Instrumentality, allowing mankind to return. However, Rei doesn't allow Gendo to use Instrumentality to unite with Yui, and rather hands the reigns over to Shinji, who, in his grief and frustration, condemns all humanity to blending into a hive mind. Gendo uses Rei to trigger Third Impact and start the Human Instrumentality Project - directly contradicting the original proposed ending. By the time Shinji can assist Asuka, though, her Evangelion has run out of energy and the Mass Production EVAs have devoured her. Misato gets Shinji to his Evangelion, but dies in the process.
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Asuka breaks out of her catatonic state to defend NERV from the Mass Production Evangelions in one of the coolest fights in the entire series. Most of NERV's staff gets gunned down, cut open and/or roasted alive, with only Misato protecting Shinji. Nine Mass Production Evangelions descend on NERV as part of a brutal attack on the organization.
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EVANGELION SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT MAL TV
However, whereas the TV ending takes place inside its characters' heads, End of Evangelion is external. End of Evangelion is narratively similar to the TV ending, to the point many argue they're happening simultaneously. RELATED: One & Done: The Best Single-Season Anime to Binge Right Now End of EvangelionÄue to Evangelion's popularity and fan complaints about the last two episodes, Gainax was given the opportunity to create a cinematic finale to the series, one that offered a drastically different ending - sort of. This is arguably why, in Rebuild of Evangelion, Kaworu appears aware that this isn't the first time he's met Shinji, stating that "This time, I'll make you happy," indicating he's the only one aware that the timeline is repeating.
![evangelion shinji ikari raising project mal evangelion shinji ikari raising project mal](https://cdn.myanimelist.net/images/characters/5/225177.jpg)
Manga spin-offs like Evangelion: Angelic Days and Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project, as well as popular fan material like Evangelion: RE-TAKE, took this theory and ran with it. Some fans have interpreted this to mean that Human Instrumentality creates numerous alternate happier timelines for Shinji. The most comprehensible part of this ending is a "dream" sequence where the cast is placed in a stereotypical school comedy setting. There are hints that something bad happened, as seen with Misato being shot and Ritsuko floating in water, but otherwise, visual action has taken an abrupt stop. These two episodes are portrayed entirely through minimalist animation. This is ultimately resolved with Shinji coming to the realization that his life is worth living, leading to the infamous "Congratulations" scene. After Shinji defeats Kaworu, the characters descend into an existential inner conflict as a result of Human Instrumentality. Both factors of Anno's self-therapy and Gainax's limited animation peaked with the final two episodes.
EVANGELION SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT MAL SERIES
The changes between the original proposal and the actual second half of the Evangelion TV series were the result of a combination of Anno dealing with his depression and Gainax running into budgetary problems.