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Feature Presentation:
Finally, the Neon Genesis Evangelion series is finally out on DVD. There are a total of 26 episodes & the first 4 episodes is on this DVD. Not only you get the English & Japanese tracks, you even get the French & Spanish tracks. That is really cool. This series is pretty old, but it's one of my favorites series of all time. It's pretty confusing at first, but after watching it a few times, you will eventually understand the concept of Evangelion. I do note that you might find the beginning a little boring. I enjoy this series because you can actually relate yourself to the characters. Also, it make you think about yourself & how you see the world. Be prepare to watch one of the best Anime of all time.
Video:
This is the first DVD volume of the series, though this DVD have been release twice. The first time it was release, ADV Films was trying to introduce overlaying, basically, removing the Japanese text & replacing it with English text. As all of your Anime fans trying to keep our Anime as original as possible to the Japanese, we dislike it. They have re-release this DVD without the overlayed & slowly phasing out the first release. Though, they still kept the overlays in the introduction & ending theme. Also, the image quality wasn't great on the first release, they fixed that on the second release.
Well, you might find this annoying. In the earlier ADV Films DVD releases, they put ads & trailers right when you load the DVD. Well, you can just skip it all using your "menu" button on your remote control.
Dubbing: English:
ADV Films didn't change much, it's just re-release on DVD. it's the same as the original release that came out on VHS. The funny thing about it, the Evas still got no growls like the original Japanese track. Overall, the dubbing is well done. I say about 80% accuracy of the original Japanese version.
Dubbing: French:
This is pretty rare to see an Anime dubbed in French & release here in North America, which got also the original Japanese track, as well as the English track. I did watch it in French & to my surprise, it was actually better dubbing then the English track. In some part, I really find it funny how they dubbed it! I say about 85% accuracy of the original Japanese version.
Dubbing: Spanish:
Even more rare, the Spanish track was included. I found it really neat, problem is, I don't understand Spanish, so I can't really give you how well it is dubbed.
Audio 01: English 2.0:
No problem found.
Audio 02: Japanese 2.0:
The first time I watch the Evangelion series is in Japanese with subtitle & I still preferred it that way. It is because that they got the expressions that is lacking in the English dubbing. That is my point of view. Though, the Japanese track is a little bit louder then all the tracks on this DVD, but it works just fine. No problem found.
Audio 03: French 2.0:
No problem found.
Audio 04: Spanish 2.0:
No problem found.
Subtitle:
Even with 4 language tracks on this DVD release, there is only the English subtitle. The font that ADV Films used is a little special & you can actually read it quite well. However, there is only one track for the subtitle. The Japanese signs & texts are intergraded during the episodes & it can't be remove. Even the subtitle for the introduction theme isn't removable. Though, I did kinda wish they kept the subtitle font that they use on the VHS version.
Menu Option:
The menu is totally Evangelion style. The introduction theme is playing on the top of the menu, you got the option to "Launch", which plays the entire series. "Scene Access" for selecting which episodes you want to see. Then, just the extras & ADV trailers. However, the second release of the DVD menu is actually different then the first release. The only thing didn't like, it takes a while to load.
DVD Extras:
There isn't much of extras, just some character bios, some trailers, that pretty much it. I guess there wasn't space to put anything else because most of the DVD space was taken by the 4 audio tracks.
Packaging:
On the cover, there is Shinji & Evangelion Unit 01 in the background. In the back, detailed information on that's on the DVD as well as cool scene shots form the series. Inside, there is Misato on the insert. Nothing special on the DVD cover, just a plain gray cover with the title & the NERV logo.
Overall DVD Rating:
It is kinda sad that many Evangelion fans have to buy 2 releases of the DVD, if they really hate the overlaying that ADV Films did. Though, the series is very good & you will enjoy it. If you got & watch this first DVD, you got to watch it until the end or you will never get the story! | 
