List of Neon Genesis Evangelion characters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of characters in the Japanese anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and the movies Evangelion: Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion. The characters were designed by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto.

Contents 1 Characters' ages and birth years 2 Children 2.1 First Child (Children) Rei Ayanami 2.2 Second Child (Children) Asuka Langley Soryu 2.3 Third Child (Children) Shinji Ikari 2.4 Fourth Child (Children) Toji Suzuhara 2.5 Fifth Child (Children) Kaworu Nagisa 3 NERV Staff 3.1 Commander Gendo Ikari 3.2 Deputy Commander Kōzō Fuyutsuki 3.3 Captain / Major /Lt. Colonel Misato Katsuragi 3.4 Head Scientist Ritsuko Akagi 3.5 NERV Special Inspector Ryoji Kaji 3.6 First Lieutenant Makoto Hyuga 3.7 First Lieutenant Maya Ibuki 3.8 First Lieutenant Shigeru Aoba 4 GEHIRN Staff 4.1 Naoko Akagi 4.2 Yui Ikari 4.3 Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu 5 Other characters 5.1 SEELE Leader Keel Lorenz 5.2 Kensuke Aida 5.3 Hikari Horaki 5.4 Pen Pen 6 Incidental Characters 7 Non-Canonical Characters 7.1 Mana Kirishima 7.1.1 Other Characters from Girlfriend of Steel: 7.2 Mayumi Yamagishi 7.3 Miscellaneous NERV Technicians 8 Trivia 8.1 Characters directly named after WWII naval vessels 8.2 Characters named after parts of ships 9 References 10 See also

[edit] Characters' ages and birth years

Most of Evangelion 's characters' ages were plotted before broadcasting the TV series, but their birthdays were not settled^[1]. After the TV series finished, GAINAX released birthdays which were similar to those of each character's seiyuu, except Rei Ayanami, Toji Suzuhara, Kensuke Aida and Kaworu Nagisa^[2].This time, the characters' birth years were still not revealed.

Adult characters' birth years were simply calculated from their age, but there was an additional aspect in determining the children's ones. According to the Japanese educational system, in 2015 second graders of junior high school (eighth graders) are basically made up of children who were born from April 2, 2001 to April 1, 2002^[3]. Children's birth years were set in proportion to this rule. However these birth years did not change the children's ages of 14 in year 2015. This is the reason why Asuka Langley Soryu and Toji Suzuhara were born in December 2001 and Hikari Horaki was born in February 2002, despite all children except Kaworu are 14 in 2015.

[edit] Children

In the Japanese dialogue for the original anime, the Eva pilots were always referred to as "Children," even when referring to an individual pilot. The English translation referred to the individual pilots as First Child, etc. In the Rebuild of Evangelion series, the expression "(n)th Children" is not used. Instead, the pilots are referred to as "一番目の適格者(Ichibanme no tekikaku-sha: lit.The First Qualified Person/Candidate)", "第一の少女(Dai-ichi no Shojo: lit.The First Girl), "三人目の子供(San'nin-me no kodomo: lit.The Third Child)", or "第三の少年(Dai-san no Shonen: lit.The Third Boy).

[edit] First Child (Children) Rei Ayanami

Main article: Rei Ayanami

Age: 14
Sex: Female
Birthday: unknown
Relations:

Other cloned vessels of Rei ("spare parts")
Guardian: Gendo Ikari
Source of genetic material: Yui Ikari and Lilith, the Second Angel.

Japanese seiyū: Megumi Hayashibara
English voice actor: Amanda Winn-Lee

Rei Ayanami (綾波 レイ Ayanami Rei) is the First Children, and the pilot of Unit 00. At the start of the series, she is shown to be socially withdrawn, seemingly emotionless, and remote, with her only apparent relationship being with Gendo Ikari.^[4] As the series progresses, she and Shinji grow closer^[5]; Asuka, however, has little to do with her, insulting her by calling her a "doll" or "puppet."^[6] Rei and Asuka are in many ways polar opposites, and their contrasts factor heavily into their respective relationships with Shinji. It is eventually revealed that Rei is a vessel for the soul of the Angel Lilith^[7], and was created specifically by Gendo to be used as a tool for accomplishing Instrumentality^[8]. Soulless clones of her are kept hidden in the deepest levels of NERV headquarters to be used as the supposed "cores" of the Dummy Plugs.^[9]

In The End of Evangelion, Rei usurps control of Instrumentality from Gendo by absorbing Adam into herself and merging with Lilith on her own, becoming a god-like being.

[edit] Second Child (Children) Asuka Langley Soryu

Main article: Asuka Langley Soryu

Age: 14
Sex: Female
Birthday: December 4, 2001
Relations:

Mother: Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu
Father: "Papa"
Step-mother: "Mama"
Guardian: Misato Katsuragi
Former guardian: Kaji Ryouji

Japanese seiyu: Yuko Miyamura
English voice actor: Tiffany Grant

Asuka Langley Soryu (惣流・アスカ・ラングレー Sōryū Asuka Rangurē) is the Second Children and the pilot of Unit 02. She is of mixed German and Japanese descent, but her nationality is German. Asuka is brash, egotistical, and often verbally abusive (especially to Shinji)^[10], and has a very high opinion of her appearance and her considerable skill as an Eva pilot.^[11] She also has a fierce desire for independence. Her attitude, however, is a front masking deep-seated insecurities stemming from her traumatic childhood.^[6] Asuka is openly infatuated with Ryoji Kaji, but is also attracted to Shinji; however, she cannot properly express her affections.^[12] She also deeply dislikes Rei, seeing her as a cold, emotionless doll.^[6]

Over the course of the series, Asuka's effectiveness as a pilot dwindles, culminating in a decisive defeat by the Angel Arael. She becomes depressed and ultimately comatose^[13], and is tended to in NERV's infirmary until The End of Evangelion. In The End of Evangelion, Asuka is saved from being assassinated and engages and defeats both the JSSDF forces attacking NERV headquarters and the Mass-Produced Evas. However, the MP Evas return to life and destroy Unit 02, ostensibly killing Asuka. At the end of the film, she and Shinji are the first humans to regain physical form.

[edit] Third Child (Children) Shinji Ikari

Main article: Shinji Ikari

Age: 14
Sex: Male
Birthday: June 6, 2001
Relations:

Father: Gendo Ikari
Mother: Yui Ikari
Guardian: Misato Katsuragi

Japanese seiyu: Megumi Ogata
English voice actor: Spike Spencer

Shinji Ikari (碇 シンジ Ikari Shinji) is the Third Children and the pilot of Unit 01. He is the son of Gendo and the "late" Yui Ikari. Abandoned by his father when he was a toddler^[14], Shinji has grown up to be reclusive and withdrawn, choosing to often run away from difficult situations.^[15] Over time and with encouragement from Misato, he learns to be less cowardly, more outspoken, and more confident, but his progress is undone near the end of the series.^[13] He becomes friends with Toji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida, something akin to a sibling relationship with Rei, and enters into a confused love-hate relationship with Asuka. The vicious cycle of his and Asuka's relationship becomes the focal point of Shinji's emotional turmoil, coming to a head near the end of the series and in The End of Evangelion. He struggles to make his father more involved in his life^[16], but gives up hope of reconciliation after the battle against the Angel Bardiel (see Toji's section for details).

In The End of Evangelion, Shinji is saved from assassination by Misato, and is able to leave the GeoFront in Unit 01, only to be forced to become part of Instrumentality by the MP Evas. The merged Rei/Lilith being gives Shinji control of Instrumentality, and Shinji opts to live as a separate human being. At the end of the movie, he and Asuka are the first humans to regain physical form.

[edit] Fourth Child (Children) Toji Suzuhara

Main article: Toji Suzuhara

Age: 14
Sex: Male
Birthday: December 26, 2001
Relations: Sister, father, grandfather
Japanese seiyu: Tomokazu Seki
English voice actor:

Brett Weaver
Joe Pisano
Michael O'Connor

Toji Suzuhara (鈴原 トウジ Suzuhara Tōji) is the Fourth Children. Toji is a tough boy, the stereotypical "jock," and is in constant conflict with Asuka. His younger sister was injured in the battle between the third Angel, Sachiel, and Unit 01, and he beats Shinji up soon after for being indirectly responsible. However, after witnessing firsthand the suffering Shinji experiences piloting Unit 01 in the battle against Shamshel, Toji comes to respect Shinji and the two eventually become friends.^[17]

Toji's Eva, Unit 03, is taken over by the thirteenth Angel, Bardiel, and is eventually destroyed by Unit 01, which was under the control of the Dummy Plug system. ^[18] He is severely injured when his Entry Plug is crushed; in the manga, he is killed.

[edit] Fifth Child (Children) Kaworu Nagisa

Main article: Kaworu Nagisa

Age: 15
Sex: Male
Birthday: September 13, 2000
Relations: None
Japanese seiyu: Ishida Akira
English voice actor:

Kyle Sturdivant (series)
Aaron Krohn (movies)
Greg Ayres ("Director's Cut" episodes)

Kaworu Nagisa (渚 カヲル Nagisa Kaworu) is the Fifth Children, and the seventeenth Angel, Tabris. He is sent to NERV by SEELE as a replacement pilot for Unit 02 after Asuka's synchronization ratio falls below viability; however, his true purpose is to hasten the Human Instrumentality Project's implementation. He verbally expresses love toward Shinji, though the show's creator denied allegations that Kaworu was homosexual. He breaks into Terminal Dogma to return to Adam and initiate the Third Impact, but upon discovering that the being there is actually Lilith, he implores Shinji to destroy him.^[13] After his death, Kaworu is not seen again until The End of Evangelion, where he appears in the beginning and middle of Third Impact.

[edit] NERV Staff

[edit] Commander Gendo Ikari

Main article: Gendo Ikari

Age: 48
Sex: Male
Birthday: April 29, 1967
Relations:

Son: Shinji Ikari
Wife: Yui Ikari
Guardian of: Rei Ayanami

Japanese seiyu: Fumihiko Tachiki
English voice actor:

Tristan MacAvery (series and movies)
John Swasey ("Director's Cut" episodes)

Gendo Ikari (碇 ゲンドウ Ikari Gendō) is the commander of NERV. He is responsible for the research done on the Evas, Rei Ayanami, and the Human Instrumentality Project. He is the father of the Third Child, Shinji Ikari, and the guardian of Rei. His original surname was Rokubungi, but he changed it to Ikari following his marriage to Yui.^[19] At the start of the series, he is the only person having an effective connection to Rei.^[4] As the series progresses, his unscrupulous past is revealed, as is the intensity with which he loved Yui. He also bears a resemblance to director Hideaki Anno.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Deputy Commander Kōzō Fuyutsuki

Age: Unknown (about 60)
Sex: Male
Birthday: April 9
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Motomu Kiyokawa
English voice actor:

Guil Lunde (series)
Michael Ross (movies)

Kōzō Fuyutsuki^[20] (冬月 コウゾウ Fuyutsuki Kōzō) is NERV's Deputy Commander and Gendo Ikari's right hand man. He does not especially like Gendo, but he is the closest thing to a confidant that Gendo has in the series.

Once a professor of meta-biology at Kyoto University, Fuyutsuki became interested in the research and theories undertaken by Yui Ikari, and became her sponsor and mentor. Shortly thereafter, he was directed by his superiors to initiate a similar arrangement with Gendo Rokobungi. He bailed Rokobungi out of jail, and took him on as a research assistant, although he took an instant disliking to Gendo (thinking of him as a "real bastard"^[21]) and was stunned when Yui later announced that she and Gendo were getting married. Later, after the Second Impact, Fuyutsuki traveled with Gendo to Antarctica and began to suspect that Gendo and his associates in SEELE were more powerful and dangerous than he originally realized. During this voyage, Gendo revealed that he had taken the name of Ikari. In 2003, Fuyutsuki discovered the true nature of the events leading up to Second Impact and SEELE's involvement in initiating that catastrophe for himself, and threatened Gendo with exposure of the massive deception concerning Second Impact to the public. Gendo led him into the GeoFront and Central Dogma, revealed to him an incomplete prototype Eva, and asked Fuyutsuki to join him and "create a new future for humankind, together with me." Fuyutsuki accepted the offer, but whether this agreement was out of idealism or self-preservation is not made clear in the series. In The End of Evangelion it is mentioned that SEELE had threatened Fuyutsuki with being 'disappeared', implying that his recruitment may have been extortionary.^[19]

Although Fuyutsuki was never more than a mentor and friend to Yui, it is implied that he was in love with her to some degree, as he was shocked to learn that she was marrying Gendo. In The End of Evangelion Lilith/Rei takes the form of Yui to achieve Fuyutsuki's Instrumentality.^[22]

[edit] Captain / Major /Lt. Colonel Misato Katsuragi

Main article: Misato Katsuragi

Age: 29
Sex: Female
Birthday: December 8, 1986
Relations:

Father: Dr. Katsuragi
Guardian of: Shinji Ikari, Asuka Langley Soryu
Owner of: Pen Pen

Japanese seiyu: Kotono Mitsuishi
English voice actor: Allison Keith

Misato Katsuragi (葛城 ミサト Katsuragi Misato) is the chief operations officer at NERV. She initially holds the rank of Captain, with a later promotion to Major^[23] in the series; in the first new movie in the Rebuild of Evangelion project, she holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She is the field commander for the Eva pilots, issuing orders and giving battle strategies as well as handling some bureaucratic matters. She also acts as Shinji and Asuka's guardian,^[24] letting them live in her apartment rather than have them live alone. While she is professional and diligent in her duties, she is a slob and a drunkard while off-duty.^[25] She is the only survivor of the Katsuragi Expedition, the scientific study led by her father which triggered the Second Impact; the cross pendant she wears was given to her by her father just before his death.^[19] She and Ryoji Kaji were lovers during college, and slowly rekindle their romance over the course of the series.^[26] She was also friends with Ritsuko Akagi in college, but their relationship unravels as she learns more about the ultimate goals of NERV and SEELE.

In The End of Evangelion, Misato saves Shinji from JSSDF soldiers and is able to get him to Unit 01 to escape the GeoFront, but is mortally wounded in the effort.

[edit] Head Scientist Ritsuko Akagi

Main article: Ritsuko Akagi

Age: 30
Sex: Female
Birthday: November 21, 1985
Relations: Mother: Naoko Akagi
Japanese seiyu: Yuriko Yamaguchi
English voice actor: Sue Ulu

Ritsuko Akagi (赤木 リツコ Akagi Ritsuko) is NERV's head scientist and, along with Gendo and Fuyutsuki, is the only person at NERV fully aware of the Evas' true nature and the purpose of the Instrumentality Project. She is a workaholic and heavy smoker, and has been friends with both Misato and Kaji since college.^[19] She is also romantically involved with Gendo.^[13], but feels betrayed by Gendo when she realizes that he was using her in the same way that he used her mother. As revenge, she destroys the Dummy Plug system. She is shot dead in The End of Evangelion, when she tries and fails to activate NERV's self-destruct mechanism to stop Gendo from initiating Third Impact.

[edit] NERV Special Inspector Ryoji Kaji

Main article: Ryoji Kaji

Age: 30
Sex: Male
Birthday: June 17, 1985
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Kōichi Yamadera
English voice actor: Aaron Krohn

Kaji appears to be a triple agent, working as a special inspector for NERV while secretly investigating NERV for the Japanese government, and at times seemingly acting as a cat's-paw both for and against Gendo Ikari and SEELE. During college, he and Misato were lovers, but after having long broken up, they see each other again on the UN fleet ferrying Unit 02 and Asuka to Japan.^[11] After he returns to NERV headquarters, Kaji and Misato rekindle their romance following a period of teasing and insults, when Misato confesses that she broke up with him because she realized that he reminded her of her father. He is eventually shot and killed by an unnamed assailant after defying SEELE one time too many^[27], but not before giving Misato information regarding the truth of the Instrumentality Project.

[edit] First Lieutenant Makoto Hyuga

Age: Unspecified (about 24)
Sex: Male
Birthday: February 13
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Hiro Yuuki
English voice actor:

Matt Greenfield (series)
Keith Burgess (movies)

Makoto Hyuga^[20] (日向 マコト Hyūga Makoto) is a First Lieutenant at NERV and one of the three main computer technicians directly serving under Commanders Ikari and Fuyutsuki in the command post of Central Dogma, the others being Aoba and Ibuki. Hyuga at first gives the impression of being something of a nerd, reading manga while on his break time, but is a highly skilled technician. His quick thinking and bravery help save NERV headquarters from the attack by Matariel, and he acts as a spy for Misato, helping her obtain information regarding NERV's machinations. He also arms NERV's self-destruct mechanism at Misato's order during Kaworu's attempt to breach Terminal Dogma.^[13] Hyuga states that he couldn't think of a better way of ending his life than being beside Misato. The true extent of his feelings for Misato is shown in The End of Evangelion as Rei/Lilith takes the form of Misato during Instrumentality and passionately kisses him; as he embraces her, he reverts to LCL.^[22]

[edit] First Lieutenant Maya Ibuki

Main article: Maya Ibuki

Age: 24
Sex: Female
Birthday: July 11, 1991
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Miki Nagasawa
English voice actor:

Kendra Benham (series)
Amy Seeley (movies)
Monica Rial ("Director's Cut" episodes)

Maya Ibuki^[20] (伊吹 マヤ Ibuki Maya) is a First Lieutenant at NERV and a computer technician who works primarily with Ritsuko Akagi. Her main role during the battles against the Angels is to constantly monitor the Eva pilots’ synchronization ratios and send various emergency commands to the Evas as ordered by Misato or Gendo. In spite of her profession, Maya despises violence of any sort, and is frequently shown becoming nauseous and averting her eyes during battles with the Angels, especially after Unit 01's battles with Bardiel and Zeruel. In The End of Evangelion, Maya is the only NERV officer who is shown refusing to fight back against the JSSDF invaders. She rejects the gun Aoba hands her to defend herself, saying, "I can't shoot this thing!", and spends much of the second half of The End of Evangelion hiding under her desk with her face buried in a pink pillow.

Maya holds Ritsuko in very high regard, and always refers to her as "senpai" in the original anime; The End of Evangelion heavily implies that Mayai is actually in love with Ritsuko. Rei/Lilith penetrates Maya's AT field by assuming the form of Ritsuko, typing "I need you" on Maya's laptop, and embracing her. Maya exclaims "Senpai!", eagerly returns "Ritsuko"'s embrace, and immediately reduces into LCL.^[22]

[edit] First Lieutenant Shigeru Aoba

Age: Unspecified (about 24)
Sex: Male
Birthday: May 5
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Takehito Koyasu
English voice actor:

Jason C. Lee (series and movies)
Vic Mignogna ("Director's Cut" episodes)

Shigeru Aoba^[20] (青葉 シゲル Aoba Shigeru) is a First Lieutenant at NERV and a computer technician. At times a stereotypical metalhead, he is a cynical nihilist and plays guitar (he can also sometimes be seen playing air guitar). Of the three technicians seen regularly in Central Dogma, his character is explored the least in the series.

In The End of Evangelion, during Instrumentality, Rei/Lilith appears to him not as any loved one but rather as a bombardment of Reis which forces their way through his AT Field while he cowers and screams in horror under his desk.^[22]

[edit] GEHIRN Staff

[edit] Naoko Akagi

Age: Unspecified
Sex: Female
Birthday: Unknown
Relations: Daughter: Ritsuko Akagi
Japanese seiyu: Mika Doi
English voice actor: Laura Chapman

Naoko Akagi^[20] (赤木 ナオコ Akagi Naoko) was Ritsuko's mother. She was the creator of the MAGI system^[28] and the former GEHIRN head technician. Naoko was involved in a romantic relationship with the recently-widowed Gendo Ikari while working at GEHIRN. However, after Rei I called her an "old hag" and said that Gendo himself called Naoko that frequently, she realized that he had merely been using her affections to ensure her performance for him. In a fit of rage, Naoko strangled Rei to death and then either committed suicide or was murdered by an unknown assailant.^[19] Soon afterward, GEHIRN was disbanded and the organization NERV was formed in its place.

In vol. 10 of the manga, Naoko is shown to commit suicide after killing Rei I. Ritsuko witnesses both Rei's murder and Naoko's suicide.

[edit] Yui Ikari

Main article: Yui Ikari

Age: 27 (at the time of her disappearance)
Sex: Female
Birthday: 1977 (day/month unknown)
Relations:

Son: Shinji Ikari
Husband: Gendo Ikari
Genetic: Rei Ayanami (possibly)
Associated Eva: Unit 01

Japanese seiyu: Megumi Hayashibara
English voice actor:

Kim Sevier (series)
Amanda Winn-Lee (movies)

Yui Ikari (碇 ユイ Ikari Yui) was a student of genetic engineering at Kyoto University, where she met her future husband Gendo and her mentor and trusted friend Kozo Fuyutsuki. Afterwards, she joined the UN Artificial Evolution Laboratory (the future GEHIRN) in Hakone, Japan, and played an integral role in the E Project. She served as the test subject for the Contact Experiment of Unit 01 in 2004, but "disappeared" during testing.^[19] Proclaimed to be dead, she lives on as the resident soul inside Unit 01.^[14]

[edit] Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu

Age: 31
Sex: Female
Birthday: 1974 (day/month unknown)
Relations:

Daughter: Asuka Langley Soryu
Husband: "Papa"
Associated Eva: Unit 02

Japanese seiyu: Maria Kawamura
English voice actor: Kimberly Yates

Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu^[20] (惣流・キョウコ・ツェッペリン Sōryū Kyōko Tsepperin), Asuka's mother, was a key scientist in the German division of GEHIRN (what would later become NERV's Third Branch) and the development of Unit 02, the first Production Type (the second and third of which were later produced by the two American branches of NERV). She was the subject of the contact experiment with Unit 02, but only the maternal aspect of her soul was bound within the Eva.^[29] Kyoko became mentally unstable, believing that one of Asuka's dolls was her daughter rather than Asuka, who she referred to as "that girl over there."^[6] She was admitted to a mental institution shortly after the experiment. Her husband entered an affair with Kyoko's own doctor, which eventually prompted Kyoko's suicide in 2005; by the time of Kyoko's funeral, the doctor had already become Asuka's stepmother.

In the manga, Kyoko and her husband were unable to conceive a child, and divorced after he had an affair. He re-married and had a daughter, while Kyoko visited a sperm bank and was impregnated. She tried to poison Asuka against her ex-husband's daughter, referring to her as "that girl," but after the contact experiment this dissociation was transferred to Asuka's doll. At one point, Kyoko tried to strangle Asuka.

[edit] Other characters

[edit] SEELE Leader Keel Lorenz

Age: Unspecified
Sex: Male
Birthday: Unknown
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Mugihito
English voice actor:

Richard Peeples (series)
Tom Booker (movies)

In both the series and the manga, Keel Lorenz (キール・ローレンツ, Kīru Rōrentsu^?)^[20] is the leader of SEELE, represented as SEELE 01 in the monoliths. Among his most defining characteristics are his ancient appearance and the futuristic visor that he wears throughout the series. Little is revealed about him in the series, but he is believed to hold great political power in the UN. At some time between Second Impact and 2015, most of his body below the neck was replaced with cybernetic implants. Although he uses his visor to see, production drawings show that he still has eyes.

Some fans believe him to be the character from the anti-Semitic legend of The Wandering Jew, but there is no evidence in the series or from any other source to support this claim. News clippings with Lorenz's picture dating 20 years prior to the story show him visibly younger.

The inspiration for his name originates from Konrad Lorenz, a zoologist known especially for his research on animal psychology.^[20]

In the manga, his name is given as Lorenz Kiel.

[edit] Kensuke Aida

Age: 14
Sex: Male
Birthday: September 12, 2001
Relations: Father (unnamed) (works for NERV, unknown division)
Japanese seiyu: Tetsuya Iwanaga
English voice actor: Kurt Stoll

Kensuke Aida^[20] (相田 ケンスケ Aida Kensuke) is an otaku, a military buff, Toji's best friend, and one of the "Other Children," Eva pilot candidates in the same class as Shinji, Toji, Rei, Asuka, and Hikari. His hobbies include camping in the mountains surrounding Tokyo-3 and playing at simulated war reenacting - by himself. Kensuke solidifies his friendship with Shinji after Shinji saves him and Toji during the fight against the fourth Angel, Shamshel.^[17] Kensuke dreams of becoming an Eva pilot and ceaselessly begs Shinji to pull strings in NERV so he can be selected as a pilot, despite Shinji telling him that he has no say in the matter. He also seems oblivious to the intense physical and psychological distress endured by Eva pilots. Nevertheless, Kensuke enjoys the privileges of being the friend of an Eva pilot; he and Toji accompany Shinji on the excursion to the UN combined naval fleet during the transportation of Unit 02.^[11] Like presumably every one of Shinji's classmates, Kensuke's mother is deceased.^[15] Like Toji, Kensuke has a crush on Misato Katsuragi. He is rarely seen without his camcorder at hand.

In the PS2 "Battle Orchestra" game, Kensuke is the appointed pilot to the EVA Unit 04, wearing a yellow plugsuit. In a Gainax artwork picture he is also shown in a olive-green plugsuit, but as the pilot for EVA Unit-06. ^[30]

[edit] Hikari Horaki

Age: 14
Sex: Female
Birthday: February 18, 2002
Relations: Sisters: Kodama, Nozomi
Japanese seiyu: Junko Iwao
English voice actor: Carol Amerson

Hikari Horaki^[20] (洞木 ヒカリ Horaki Hikari) is the class representative of the class that Shinji and the other Eva pilots attend. Like all of her classmates, she is an unknowing Eva pilot candidate. She has a by-the-book demeanor and takes her responsibilities as "class rep" seriously. Although she frequently bickers with Toji, she reveals to Asuka that she has an enormous crush on Toji but is unable to openly express her feelings to him. She also appears to be Asuka's only friend. After the battle with Arael, Asuka seeks out Hikari and stays with her for an unspecified time. During a late evening she reveals her inner insecurities to Hikari, a testament to their friendship; however, Hikari appears saddened by the hateful words Asuka uses.

Hikari is an accomplished cook who appears to take care of her two sisters. Like presumably every one of Shinji's classmates, Hikari's mother is dead. However, no references were ever made as to whether her father is, either.

Her given name, and that of her unseen younger sister, Nozomi, and elder sister, Kodama, is also in reference to the names of the trains of the Tokaido Shinkansen line.^[20]

In a Gainax artwork picture she is shown in an orange plugsuit as the pilot for EVA Unit-05 ^[30]

[edit] Pen Pen

Age: Unspecified
Sex: Male
Birthday: Unknown
Relations: Owner: Misato Katsuragi
Japanese seiyu: Megumi Hayashibara
English voice actor:

Amanda Winn-Lee (series and movies)
Mandy Clark ("Director's Cut" episodes)

Pen Pen, or Pen²^[20] (ペンペン Penpen) is a "warm-water penguin" and Misato's pet. He lives in a custom refrigerator in Misato's apartment, enjoys taking warm baths, eating whatever food he can get his hands (or wings) on, and going to hot springs. He also appears to have a relatively high degree of intelligence, as he is also shown watching TV and reading newspapers.

According to the manga, he is the result of a genetics experiment at Misato's former workplace, and she adopted him after the experiment's conclusion rather than let him be euthanised. His wingtips have retractable claws, which normal birds do not have.^[31]

[edit] Incidental Characters

Asuka's "Papa"

(Seiyu: Toshihiko Seki) Asuka's father, lost custody during the divorce, regained custody after Kyoko's suicide.^[6]

Asuka's "Mama"

(Seiyu: Masako Katsuki) Married Asuka's father after the divorce, raised Asuka after Kyoko's suicide.^[6]

"Doll" Asuka

A doll that Kyoko, Asuka's mother, treated as the real Asuka when she went insane. When Kyoko committed suicide, she also "killed" the doll.^[6]

Shiro Tokita

(Seiyu: Yoshitada Ōtsuka) Team leader for the Jet Alone project.^[32]

Other SEELE Council members

In addition to Lorenz, the SEELE Council has membership from the USA, UK, France and Russia.^[33]

[edit] Non-Canonical Characters

[edit] Mana Kirishima

Age: 14
Sex: Female
Birthday: April 11, 2001
Relations: Unknown
Japanese seiyu: Megumi Hayashibara

Mana Kirishima (霧島 マナ, Kirishima Mana^?)^[34] is the main focus of Girlfriend of Steel (鋼鉄のガールフレンド, Kōtetsu no Gārufurendo^?), a game that is like an episode of the series. She appears as a transfer student at the Children's school, and becomes the focus of Shinji's interest and Asuka's jealous ire. She is the pilot of another man-made replacement for the Evas, the Trident, whose combat skills are somewhat more on par with the Evangelions', to whom they bear a resemblance in design compared to the Jet Alone robot. She also appears in Shinji Ikari Raising Project. Like many Evangelion characters, Mana's family name, Kirishima, is taken from a World War II battleship.^[35]

A shy female character, Mana Kirishima, starts at Shinji Ikari's school and immediately admits to finding him cute. Gradually, a relationship unfolds and they end up going on a date where they kiss. It turns out, however, that she is one of three test pilots of TRIDENT, a new competitor to the Evangelions, similar to Jet Alone (thus the name "Girlfriend of Steel"). Eventually, the other robot goes berserk and the Evas have to destroy it. Throughout the game, Asuka is constantly jealous of Shinji and Mana's relationship, consistent with her widely-speculated romantic feelings for Shinji. Rei is present but plays a rather background role in the story.

[edit] Other Characters from Girlfriend of Steel:

• Musashi Lee Strasberg (ムサシ・リー・ストラスバーグ, Musashi Rī Sutorasubāgu^?)^[34] (Seiyu: Hiro Yuki)
• Keita Asari (浅利 ケイタ, Asari Keita^?)^[34] (Seiyu: Tetsuya Iwanaga)

These two boys are test pilots for the Trident alongside Mana Kirishima.

[edit] Mayumi Yamagishi

Sex: Female
Japanese seiyu: Kyoko Hikami

Mayumi Yamagishi (山岸 マユミ, Yamagishi Mayumi^?)^[36] is the new character introduced in the Sega Saturn game Evangelion 2nd Impression. In the game, Mayumi is a bespectacled bookworm who somehow has the core of an Angel inside her body. She joins Shinji's class and befriends him, and like many of the Evangelion cast, has a dark history (her mother apparently committed suicide while Mayumi was a girl, much like Asuka's mother).

[edit] Miscellaneous NERV Technicians

In both the game and manga of Shinji Ikari Raising Project (碇シンジ育成計画, Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku^?), three new female NERV technicians are introduced:

• Kaede Agano (阿賀野 カエデ, Agano Kaede^?)^[37] Seiyu: Ai Shimizu
• Satsuki Ooi (大井 サツキ, Ōi Satsuki^?)^[38] Seiyu: Maria Yamamoto
• Aoi Mogami (最上 アオイ, Mogami Aoi^?)^[39] Seiyu: Yui Horie

[edit] Trivia

The Director Hideaki Anno was influenced by Ryu Murakami's war novel Fascism in Love and Fantasy (愛と幻想のファシズム, Ai to Gensō no Fashizumu^?), and the names "Toji Suzuhara," "Kensuke Aida," and the surname "Horaki" come from this story, which was based on Kanji Ishiwara, a Lieutenant General in Imperial Japan.^[20]

Many of the surnames of the characters in Evangelion are named after Japanese warships in World War II.^[20]

[edit] Characters directly named after WWII naval vessels

Character	Ship class and name	Ship fate
First Child (Children) Rei Ayanami	Fubuki-class destroyer Ayanami	Sunk after the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal by the USS Washington on November 15, 1942.
Second Child (Children) Asuka Langley Soryu	Aircraft carrier USS Langley Sōryū-class aircraft carrier Sōryū	USS Langley wrecked by a Japanese air attack on February 27, 1942, and scuttled by her own escorts. Sōryū sunk at the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942, by dive bombers from the USS Enterprise.
Deputy Commander Kozo Fuyutsuki	Akizuki-class destroyer Fuyuzuki	Badly damaged, then scrapped and used as a breakwater in 1948.
Captain/Major Misato Katsuragi	Unryū-class aircraft carrier Katsuragi	Captured, then scrapped in 1947.
Head Scientist Ritsuko Akagi	Aircraft carrier Akagi	Damaged by US air attack at the Battle of Midway and scuttled on June 4, 1942.
First Lieutenant Maya Ibuki	Aircraft carrier Ibuki Takao-class heavy cruiser Maya	Ibuki was not completed, then scrapped in 1947. Maya was sunk at Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 23, 1944
First Lieutenant Makoto Hyuga	Ise-class battleship Hyūga	Sunk in the port of Kure by US planes on July 28, 1945.
First Lieutenant Shigeru Aoba	Aoba-class heavy cruiser Aoba	Sunk in the port of Kure by US planes on July 28, 1945.

[edit] Characters named after parts of ships

Character	Part of ship
Third Child (Children) Shinji Ikari Head Commander Gendo Ikari Yui Ikari	Ikari (いかり) Anchor
GEHIRN Staff Gendo Rokubungi	Rokubungi (ろくぶんぎ) Sextant
NERV Special Inspector Ryoji Kaji	Kaji (かじ) Rudder, Helm
SEELE Leader Keel Lorenz	Keel

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of ships of the Japanese Navy

v • d • e Neon Genesis Evangelion Creators Hideaki Anno · Yoshiyuki Sadamoto · Gainax · Studio Khara TV series Neon Genesis Evangelion · List of episodes Films Evangelion: Death and Rebirth · The End of Evangelion · Revival of Evangelion · Neon Genesis Evangelion (live-action movie project) Rebuild of Evangelion Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone · Evangelion: 2.0 Division Manga Neon Genesis Evangelion · Angelic Days · Shinji Ikari Raising Project · Gakuen Datenroku Video games Ayanami Raising Project · Shinji Ikari Raising Project · Iron Maiden · Iron Maiden 2nd · Evangelion 64 · Shinji and Good Friends · Evangelion 2 · Battle Orchestra Music Songs "A Cruel Angel's Thesis" · "Komm, süsser Tod" · "Beautiful World" Albums Neon Genesis Evangelion (OST) · Neon Genesis Evangelion II · Neon Genesis Evangelion III · Neon Genesis Evangelion Addition · The End of Evangelion OST · Neon Genesis Evangelion: S² Works · Evangelion: The Birthday of Rei Ayanami · Refrain of Evangelion · Shiro SAGISU Music from "Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone" · Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone Original Sound Track Characters Shinji Ikari · Rei Ayanami · Asuka Langley Soryu · Misato Katsuragi · Ritsuko Akagi · Gendo Ikari · Ryoji Kaji · Kaworu Nagisa · Toji Suzuhara · Yui Ikari Glossary Evangelions · Angels · Human Instrumentality Project · Timeline Misc List of media and episodes · Red Cross Book · Topics