If you google the two items together, it seems that the similarities haven't gone unnoticed by the masses. People (nobodies) are even accusing PR to be a ripoff.

I'm not a big anime fan (I think there's some weird-ass term for that), but does Pacific Rim remind anyone of Evangelion?

I've only seen a little of the marketing and it looks like generic anime stuff to me rather than specifically Evangelion.

'Otaku' is probably the weird-ass term you're looking for.

Giant Fucking Robots.

Evangelion:


Pacific Rim:

I'm not too knowledgable on Evangelion, but what are the specifics that correlate the two?

Talented human drivers neurally linked to government-funded giant mechs.

Other than that they are pretty different. Pacific Rim monsters are giant sea "godzilla"esque creatures, while Evangelion enemies are all "angels" aka alien entities that have very wacky and ridiculous abilities far more outlandish than giant sea creatures.

Also the themes are different; the Evangelion series is about teen angst and a struggle between self-preservation and caring for others, while Pacific Rim is about humanity vs baddies.

Evangelion actually has plenty of the perv fantasy / artsy fartsy (Japanese mindset) stuff which I find bizarre. I believe Hikkomori is more a Japanese thing than American. I guess it's fairly common for 40 year old virgins to still live in their parents house in Japan.

I'm pretty sure Pacific Rim, being produced by Hollywood (and Del Toro), will not be that bizarre.