ANIMA is an Evangelion spin-off based on a what-if scenario: What if the Instrumentality didn’t occur at all?
Though, in actuality, it diverges way more than just that. The story takes place a few years after the alternate events of End of Evangelion.

I didn’t finish reading ANIMA and I’m not sure if I will?

The highlight for me were the characters Toji, Fuyutsuki and Six (alongside the staff of Nerv Japan). I liked them way more than any of the other characters. That might be down to the fact their interactions are more enjoyable to witness than with any of the others.
Character-wise, I didn’t like how they characterized Ibuki Maya at all: she was just turned into Ritsuko 2.

One thing that irritated me about ANIMA was that it felt like constant action with no breathing room.

I was also expecting it to be a fairly simple what-if scenario, only for it to be way more different than what I was expecting.

Misato became the director/commander of Nerv after…shenanigans.

She is quite literally the same old Misato and continues to take care of Shinji.

Over concerns of monopolisation or whatever, she splits Nerv into multiple branches, taking control of Nerv Japan. She also sets up the Ayanami satellite belt for the purpose of protecting the world from mass production Evas and SEELE.

She vanishes at some point.

After his main-series injury, he gets given a robot arm. Because of his status as a former pilot, Nerv Japan can’t get rid of him so he’s made Misato’s second-in-command.
Misato then vanishes, which leaves him in charge. Since he’s concerned that he just won’t be good enough, he goes and convinces Fuyutsuki to come back as vice-director.

He gets along very well with Six.

Following the events of End of Evangelion, Rei 3.0 was granted three extra clones who got connected to her via some neural thing. These three were placed into a satellite network of evangelions. One of them was Six.

Six is unique among the clones for appearing like a child. She is a kid Rei. Her attitude is also a lot more child-like: unlike the other Reis, her emotions can end up overwhelming her more often (resulting in crying). She can also get bored and is the only Rei who can get bored.

She likes dogs, doesn’t like being called a kid and she is objectively one of the best characters.

• I’ll put something here eventually.