Actually, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya does reminds me of Evangelion. Small stuffs like those glowing gigantic human shaped beasts kinda resembles the Angels, more precisely, Adam. And how Haruhi rejected the new world she would probably end up creating (as how Shinji rejected/accepted the new world in Evangelion as he is entrusted to decide whether to continue instrumentality).

But well, I'd vote Haruhi for entertainment anytime, Evangelion for serious brain thinking.

Btw ain't the first series suppose to be shown on 1st Sept 2007 at Japan? *googles for ahem*

There's a shop in Midvalley which still sells the Asian so called 'Limited Edition' EoE.
Too bad I can't manage to buy the Evangelion Platinum series. Couldn't do an overseas order.

Hmm.. Could it be Mayumi Yamagishi.. From the Evangelion Sega Saturn game.. Evangelion 2nd Impression. Though I'm not too sure if she'd be considered as a brunette..