Hedgehog's Dilemma (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
"Hedgehog's Dilemma" | |
---|---|
Neon Genesis Evangelion episode | |
Episode no. | Episode 4 |
Directed by | Tsuyoshi Kaga |
Written by | Akio Satsukawa |
Original air date | October 25, 1995 |
Running time | 22 minutes |
"Hedgehog's Dilemma", also known by the Japanese title "Rain, After Running Away",
Production of "Hedgehog's Dilemma" took place after the fifth and sixth episodes were made, and the content varied from the staff's original ideas. It is the only episode in which Neon Genesis Evangelion director
Plot
Special agency Nerv Major
Production
[Shinji] tries to live in a closed world where his behavior dooms him. ... He has convinced himself that he is a completely unnecessary person, so much so that he cannot even commit suicide. And there is a 29-year-old woman [Misato] who lives life so lightly as to barely allow the possibility of a human touch. She protects herself by having surface-level relationships, and running away. Both are extremely afraid of being hurt. Both are unsuitable — lacking the positive attitude — for what people call heroes of an adventure. But in any case, they are the heroes of this story.
—Hideaki Anno, July 17, 1995[1]
"Hedgehog's Dilemma" was once omitted in terms of the series composition, and it was planned that the fifth episode "
The episode's script was written after the fifth episode's script had already been finalized, making "Hedgehog's Dilemma" the only episode in which director Anno did not have direct input into the plot and script.[6][7] Akio Satsukawa wrote the episode,[8] while Junichi Sato, who is credited as Kiichi Jinme, drew the storyboard.[9][10] Tsuyoshi Kaga directed the episode[11][12] and Satoshi Shigeta served as chief animator.[13][14] In 1993, a presentation volume of Neon Genesis Evangelion named New Century Evangelion (tentative name) Proposal (新世紀エヴァンゲリオン (仮) 企画書, Shinseiki Evangelion (kari) kikakusho) was published.[15] In the original project, the fourth episode should have been titled "14 years, the first day" (14歳、 始まりの日, 14-sai, hajimari no hi);[16][17] during the episode, Shinji's birthday would occur, but his father Gendo would have ignored the son without wishing him a happy birthday. Rei Ayanami would then attempt to make dinner for both of them,[18] while Misato would decide something for Shinji.[19]
During production, the staff thought about opening and closing the episode with Misato reading the day's notes from her diary, but the idea was dropped and used for the movie
During the episode, existing geographical places such as
Cultural references and themes
The episode's English title "Hedgehog's Dilemma" references the
Schopenhauer originally named his concept after the porcupine, or Hystricidae (Stachelschweine in German); Evangelion staff however chose an alternative translation, since they wanted to portray Shinji as a hedgehog,[49][50] an animal with smaller, blunter spines than those of a porcupine, suggesting more delicacy for the character.[2][51] Furthermore, according to director Anno, when Shinji says "I'm back" at the New Hakone Yumoto station, the first stage of his growth journey ends.[52]
Shinji's temporary resignation from Nerv is a tribute to the television series
The main theme of "A Transfer" and "Hedgehog's Dilemma" is interpersonal communication.
Reception
"Hedgehog's Dilemma" aired on October 25, 1995, and scored a 5.8% rating of audience share on Japanese TV.[67][68] The episode was generally well received by critics.[69][70][71] Stephen Bijan, writing for The Verge, described "Hedgehog's Dilemma"'s plot as one of the great tensions of the series and Shinji's reactions as instructive; he also considered the episode as an example of the show capacity of "synthesizing its philosophical influences into a coherent, cohesive whole".[72] Anime News Network's reviewer Nick Creamer described it as "harrowing" and a "wholly tonal, visually driven experience".[71]
EX.org's Peter Cahill praised "A Transfer" and "Hedgehog's Dilemma", but also stated "action fans might be a little disappointed in the story", since character psychology has a more prominent role in it than mecha fights.[73] Max Covill of Film School Rejects ranked "Hedgehog's Dilemma" among the lowest of Neon Genesis Evangelion episodes; he criticized Shinji for being "whiny and unlikable", attributing the negative traits to the exclusion of Anno from the screenplay,[74] but he also listed the scene of the colloquy between Shinji and Misato, with the Nerv logo in the background, among the "perfect shots" of the series.[75] Anthony Gramuglia from Comic Book Resources defended Shinji's refusal to pilot the Eva and his weakness, comparing him to Amuro Ray from Mobile Suit Gundam, which he said was viewed "more favorably" by anime fans.[76]
The Animé Café Japanese reviewer Akio Nagatomi described the scene in which Kensuke plays a survivor game alone as an example of the "incongruous character traits" presented in the episode. He also said that the viewer is never concerned about the plot development, since "It's just not that well written". Jane Nagatomi similarly described the ending as "predictable enough", but praised the scene in which Shinji, Toji and Kensuke talk as "really cute", "definitely a touch different".[77] For writer and anime critic Dani Cavallaro, Shinji's train ride in "Hedgehog's Dilemma" supplies a "paradigmatic example" of the series' directorial style, and said the silence surrounding Shinji as he attempts to flee his responsibilities "evokes with admirable conciseness his pathological separation from his fellow humans".[78] Cavallaro also praised the exchange between Shinji and Misato after he escapes from home as "emotionally intense".[79] Writer Dennis Redmond described the natural scenery around Tokyo-3 shown in the episode as "gorgeous".[54] Forbes Lauren Orsini praised the final scene's still frame of Shinji and Misato, describing it as a "refreshing alternative" from the frenetic action of modern shows and "a silent response to the noise that allows us to look inward alongside these characters".[80] The episode's philosophical component was generally appreciated by critics.[70][72]
Psychology Today's Walter Veit attributed the popularization of the concept of the porcupine dilemma to Evangelion.[81] Official merchandise based on the episode has also been released, including lighters,[82] umbrellas,[83] and t-shirts.[84][85]
References
Citations
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Bibliography
- Cannarsi, Gualtiero (1998). Evangelion Encyclopedia (in Italian). Vol. 2. Dynamic Italia.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3234-9.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-3376-6.
- Porori, Syunsou (2009). The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A. ISBN 978-2-7234-7120-6.
External links
- "Hedgehog's Dilemma" at IMDb