Wes Anderson’s favorite anime is a stunning classic

Wes Anderson’s favorite anime isn’t a movie, it’s a television series, the 1995 cult classic “Neon Genesis Evangelion” by Hideaki Anno. In a Goop article that had directors citing their favorite films, Anderson actually named the series and described how he all 26 episodes pretty eagerly watched. “We saw them all in less than a week because you’re starting to want to believe it’s real,” he said. “That could create something like Scientology.

It might be hard to believe that Anderson is such a fan of “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” a series in which a teenager must battle ancient monsters while using bio-machines called Evangelions. This sci-fi tale seems a far cry from Anderson’s interest in 20th-century culture and deadpan, even goofy, humor. But the anime’s themes of sons estranged from their families, human alienation and loneliness, and personal freedom are also very present in the Texas filmmaker’s work. No wonder he connected so deeply with the story.

And while Anderson hasn’t really delved into science fiction in his films, one of his most recent films, Isle of Dogs, was a comprehensive tribute to Japanese culture and history. Who knows? Perhaps Neon Genesis Evangelion influenced his work more than anyone even knew.