"Jose Diaz" <jrdelirio@earthlink.REMOVTREPLYnet> wrote in message news:<grkNb.8416$i4.6931@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net>...
> On top of that, in EVAs case remember Gainax has this self-established image
> as an Otaku-born outfit -- it's in perfect character for *GAINAX* to do this
> to its own creations, essentially saying: "hey, we KNOW you hentai are going
> to go ahead and do this to the characters *anyway*, so now WE go ahead and
> do it, in the process milking some more money out of the property."
> Because, of course, in the final analysis the reason Rei, Asuka and all the
> other representations of those fictional characters exist
> *In*Our*Real*World* is to make money for Gainax.  NGE was not a Public
> Service Announcement.

I know. I think the problem here is that I look at EVA in terms of
story and characters, before I think of it images and real-world
interests, which sometimes lets me run into snags. I'm not saying that
it's surprising/abominable that there's EVA fanservice merchandise out
there, just that I disagree with how it depicts the characters.

Shez <UseReplyToAddress@nospam.demon.co.invalid.uk> wrote in message news:<Tz1+v0L6OyBAFwSP@xerez.nospam.co.uk>...
> In the mythical land of rec.arts.anime.misc, Amanda Wells
> <incisivis@hotmail.com> said:
> >I guess you could say those who idolize EVA's females look at their
> >bodies rather than their personalities, but I'd like to believe it's
> >not that simplistic. There are plenty of anime and manga out there
> >which have attractive female characters without mental problems, so
> >I'm wondering why so many turn to Evangelion.
> 
> In part I think they cleverly hit all bases with Evangelion, from cheesy
> fanservice through giant robots to angst-filled characters and
> mysticism.

I'm still having a hard time seeing EVA as having a wide-ranging
appeal. Obviously it does, somehow, but I just don't get that
impression.
> 
> As for the females, I think it's precisely the complexity of their
> warped psyches which makes them more appealing, as it makes them three
> dimensional unlike the shallow bimbos you see in some series. When you
> listen in on Rei's thoughts you glimpse great and murky depths that
> leave you wanting to know more; physically she has perfect poise and a
> beautiful figure yet her flat is like something from otaku hell and her
> soul is an enigma hidden inside a mystery. To Shinji she seems cool and
> courageous, but seen from the inside those same facets of her
> personality come across as suicidal despair. I think a lot of people are
> drawn to characters who let them explore these dark paradoxes that they
> have probably glimpsed inside their own lives from time to time.
> 
> -Shez.

Mn. I like that analysis, is all I have to say. :)