The core premise and character arcs revolve around mental health struggles and the refusal to escape reality, with no identity-based conflicts or lectures inserted into the narrative. Hideaki Anno explicitly drew from his own clinical depression and psychological research to explore the human mind, with no statements or elements addressing systemic oppression, identity politics, or contemporary activism. The 1997 Japanese original features traditional casting with no established-character changes, as seen in the voice performances by Megumi Ogata as Shinji, Yuko Miyamura as Asuka, and the rest of the ensemble. This production approach keeps the focus squarely on personal existential themes without any forced diversity alterations or activist messaging, resulting in a work that prioritizes psychological self-exploration over ideological content.