1995 and all that.
OK, NGE has been analysed far too much already so lets just bullet point this mother.
- To dismiss the popculture references as in-jokes in favour of the more highbrow references is to miss the point of the show. It's a science fiction TV show about science fiction TV shows, as much as it is about whatever psychological problems Anno is working through.
- It's created another Year Zero in the minds of some anime fans, where anything pre-1995 is considered “old school”. Of course this sort of thinking isn't confined to anime. Younger hip hop can often do the same, with Tupac and Biggie being their Evangelion. BOTH GROUPS OF PEOPLE ARE VERY WRONG.
- Regardless of what you think of it's merits, the show's success DID change the industry, shifting the focus back to TV animation from OAVs, and leading to the massive amount of Japanese animation made in the last decade. And considering the damage the low costs forced on these productions have done to their animation talent pool, it's safe to say TOO much has been made.
Personally the show leaves me a little cold, though I do admire the execution. It takes a very simple structure, obfuscates it with a overly arcane plot and backstory and then piles on layers of reference and homage. Which leads people to mistaking the mess that sits on top it's monster of the week/Tomino mecha show structure with depth. It's complicated, yes, but it's not deep and meaningful. Like the second series of Twin Peaks, you can put on so many layers on a show that you end up hiding the emotional core of the show too (Hello Lost!).
Post-NGE, Gainax's work has been somewhat variable, alternating between divine shows like FLCL and absolute pump like He Is My Master. And of course they've been ever eager to milk-NGE for all it's worth in the last 10+ years, culminating in the sequel movies due shortly.
Anno's career has mainly involved live action films since NGE. He directed the first 17 episodes of KareKano before a dispute led to him leaving. He also supervised Gainax's Re:Cutey Honey, though others directed. He'll also be the general director on the 4 new NGE movies.