| "The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still" | |
|---|---|
| Neon Genesis Evangelion episode | |
 Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu discuss the reasons for the attacks of the Angels lying on a hill as they see the stars of the Milky Way. Analyzing the scene, writer Dennis Redmond described Rei as a symbol of an empty and "lyric neonational interiority", while Asuka as a mirror of a pragmatic and "outrageous multinational exteriority". | |
| Episode no. | Episode 11 |
| Directed by | Tetsuya Watanabe |
| Written by | Hideaki Anno, Yoji Enokido |
| Original air date | December 13, 1995 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
"The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still"[a] is the eleventh episode of the Japanese anime television series Neon Genesis Evangelion, which was created by Gainax. The episode, written by Hideaki Anno and Yoji Enokido and directed by Tetsuya Watanabe, was first broadcast on TV Tokyo on December 13, 1995. The series is set fifteen years after a worldwide cataclysm named Second Impact and is mostly set in the futuristic, fortified city of Tokyo-3. The series' protagonist is Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy who is recruited by his father Gendo to the special military organization Nerv to pilot a gigantic, bio-mechanical mecha named Evangelion into combat with beings called Angels. In this episode, the special agency Nerv suddenly experiences a blackout due to sabotage by unidentified third parties. The three Evangelion mecha pilots, Shinji, Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu, join forces to take down the ninth Angel, Matarael.
The episode, part of the series' action arc, blends comedy and action together and is markedly positive in its portrayal of the characters' relationships, particularly those of the three main characters. "The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still" echoes Hideaki Anno's typical themes, seeking to philosophically explore the value of technology and its role in the contemporary world. Several companies were involved in the production of the episode, including Studio Ghibli.
"The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still" drew a 9.0% audience share on Japanese television, and was positively received by critics. Reviewers repeatedly praised Matarael's battle, pacing, script, positive tone, and the exploration of philosophical themes presented in the installment.
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