Although Neon Genesis Evangelion is a classic in the genre of giant robot tales—known as “mecha”—it is at root a story about growing up and what it means to be human. So, like many classic coming-of-age stories, it works for young and old alike, depicting the awkwardness and power of youth and the struggle we have to find our own truths in a world that’s necessarily designed by others.

The new version has some notable changes, including an updated English translation. It’s also missing the show’s beloved outros—different karaoke-style versions of “Fly Me to the Moon”—which has outraged some fans.

Still, anime devotees, including notable creators of our times, have been commenting on it and binge-watching all weekend. Eisner Award-winning comic book writer and illustrator Becky Cloonan of Gotham Academy and Batman fame, for example, noted on Twitter on June 22 that her partner and fellow creator, Michael Conrad, was in deep.

Even if you aren’t mad for anime, the series is worth watching. You may never have to pilot a giant robot, but we are all trying to figure out who we are and what we have to offer in a world dominated by technology.

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