Original artwork, not a still
The cast, the closing scene of episode 26, "Take Care of Yourself"
Congratulations!
— Neon Genesis Evangelion ‧ 1995
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
After twenty-five episodes of dread, the show ends by applauding its hero for deciding that he may exist. Fans argued for years over whether it was a happy ending, an anticlimax or a dodge, and that argument is why "Congratulations!" became a meme. It works as shorthand for any ending that thanks you for something you didn't expect to earn.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Neon Genesis EvangelionShow the scene
The last scene of the TV series, episode 26, "Take Care of Yourself." Shinji has spent the episode inside the Human Instrumentality Project, facing his fear of being unwanted, until he sees a world in which he is not a pilot and breaks the shell he built around himself. The other characters from the series gather, applaud and congratulate him, and he thanks them. The episode then ends on captions thanking his father, bidding his mother farewell, and ending: "And to all the Children: Congratulations!"
Sources (2)
- Evangelion Wiki: Episode 26Overview, Synopsis and notesReference checked
- Evangelion Wiki: Neon Genesis Evangelion (anime)Reception sectionReference checked
Context reviewed
