Byrd and Matt are joined by author/blogger Kevin Derendorf (Maser Patrol, Kaiju for Hipsters) to take a deep dive into the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime TV series.  Hideaki Anno's colossally popular series was an inversion on classic mecha and tokusatsu, twisting the tropes of these genres into an abstract and existential examination of mental illness.  At this point, the show's reputation as a groundbreaking classic proceeds it.  Do we find the show worthy of its immense popularity?  Listen and find out!  But first, we talk about the early careers of Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi and their cohorts and the birth of Gainax!