It's got a fair bit of the classic "teens in mechs" tropes to it, but there's definitely more to it under the hood, and it's universe is rather well put together in my opinion.
I'd try to walk into it without focusing on it being animated though. It's cinematography like anything else, it's just a different medium and a different style that makes use of the flexibility it's medium provides.
Thank you, I will. The only thing I know about NGE is that ending(?) song, Komm Susser Tod.
NGE is quite Freudian and psycho-sexual. If you're worried about fan service moments, I'd say stay away. NGE isn't quite the worst when it comes to fan service, but its pretty up there IMO. This ain't a "waifu-simulator" or a harem but... its like 80% of the way there.
I mean, full on themes of Oedipus complex, teenagers discovering their sexuality, and other such sexual issues. Its certainly a mature theme and if you're worried about it... maybe its a better idea if you do stay away.
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There's a reason why I push "Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood" in my other post. There's almost no fan-service in that show. (Like, "Lust", the character representing the deadly sin has a low-cut dress but that's about it in Full Metal Alchemist, and its kind of acceptable for her character to do that cause she's Lust after all. Despite the name, she has almost no themes of sexuality and mostly serves as an incredibly powerful villain for the heroes to take down).
In contrast, NGE takes sexuality front and center in many episodes. In most cases, I think it does advance the story and is therefore acceptable, but plenty of blush-worthy scenes that are largely explained by "fanservice".
Blast from the past: anyone remember the pink hair girl with green bouncing her anime titties? https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fairy-bounce
* The Promised Neverland (Thriller / Shonen)
* Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle (Comedy)
* Spirited Away (And really, virtually everything by Miyazaki has no fanservice)
* Oddtaxi (Film Noir / Zootopia world)
* Little Witch Academia (Iyashikei / Healing genre / School)
* Full Metal Alchemist (Battle / Epic Journey anime)
* Fate / Zero (while the Fate/series in general has fanservice and/or harem tropes, Fate/Zero has none)
* Your Lie in April (Romance / Drama)
I know some people just find the fanservice scenes icky, so I try to keep an eye out for the fanservice-free shows for them.
There are also some kinds of nudity which are more artistic in nature rather than fanservice. I think Spice and Wolf handled that sort of thing well for example: Holo's occasional nudity is somewhat representative of her Wolf Goddess form / Pagan diety background, and I don't think it was really used too much for what most would call fanservice (and certainly fit the setting of "Pagan Diety travels across Europe with Merchant").
Now don't get me wrong, I like Konosuba, but if people don't like sexual scenes, I'm going to keep those kinds of shows away from them.
Its mostly a matter of matching tastes with people's expectations. If something thinks that sexy / horny scenes are bad, then its best to find anime that avoid those kinds of "fanservice".
Anime as a whole is pretty bad in quality, so its not surprising that people look down on anime viewers, especially if they are awkward men. There are excellent animes, and there are mature cartoons, but inexperience with the genre and the pareto principal gives it a very realistic assessment, especially since if you liked it in the 90s, all the anime fan sites linked to hentai in a few clicks. Remember this? https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fairy-bounce
The more off the beaten path animes like NGE, Hellsing, etc. didn't become as popular until a few years later when I hit high-school.