Evangelion Would Have Been More Successful With More Romance, They Say

In the world of anime and manga, opinions on what makes a series successful can vary wildly. Recently, an anonymous comment on a discussion forum went viral claiming that what otakus are really looking for is to see the lead couple together at the end of the story. This statement has sparked passionate debate about whether this premise is true or not.

The commentary highlights that the "GRIDMAN" and "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED the Movie" franchises are highly valued due to the romantic relationship between the hero and heroine. According to the commentary's author, this emotional connection is the key to success and what otakus really want to see in a story. However, this statement poses a simplistic view of the taste of the otaku audience and underestimates the diversity of interests within the community.

It's true that romantic relationships between the main characters are a recurring theme in anime and manga, and that they can be a major factor for some viewers. However, reducing the success of a series solely to the presence of romance is too simplistic. Many big-name works, such as "Neon Genesis Evangelion," have been acclaimed for their thematic complexity, character depth, and thrilling narrative, despite not focusing exclusively on romance.

The commentary also criticizes the introduction of new romantic characters that disrupt the relationships established between the protagonists. Specifically mentioned is the case of "Rebuild of Evangelion", where a new character, Mari Makinami, was introduced, supposedly without justification, which generated mixed feelings among fans and was a factor that caused the conclusion to leave a bad taste in the mouths of some.

While it's understandable that changes in character relationships can lead to controversy, it's also important to allow the narrative to evolve organically. Introducing new elements can add depth to the plot and offer new perspectives that enrich the story rather than detract from it.

Interestingly, the commentary states that if the romance that had been spawned between Shinji Ikari and Asuka Langley in "Neon Genesis Evangelion" had been continued, the conclusion would have been much more satisfying overall. But what did Japanese netizens have to say about it?

"Well, yes, I'm not really interested in shows where all men appear."
"I guess this person just wanted to vent his frustration that Shinji didn't stay with Asuka."
"I think it completely depends on the genre. That is, if it's a romance anime or an adult anime, but what would you expect from an anime about mechas?"
"It's okay to see a romance when it makes some sense within the story. I don't know about you, but I get the message that otakus have to grow up. Although I don't think a romance determines whether a story is interesting or not."
"Looking at the way these shitty otakus talk and express a little bit, it's more and more understandable that Hideaki Anno sent them all to hell and made Rebuild of Evangelion end the way it did."
"He's got a point, but I don't tolerate the development where the hero and heroine come together and then the rival in love is suddenly replaced."
"It was interesting to see how the happy ending of Evangelion didn't fit what any fans of the franchise expected, especially from the older ones. In terms of torturing and punishing his followers, Evangelion couldn't have done better."
"This is just a whine from one of those Evangelion fans, how irritating they are."
"I'd like to see one of these damn Evangelion fans, they just wanted to see Shinji and Asuka fucking, didn't they? I want to say that to their faces."
"Love story between Shinji and Asuka? Was there such a thing?"
"Well, I can agree when the same topic is brought in but centered on Mikasa and Eren from Shingeki no Kyojin."