Neon Genesis Evangelion

***Neon Genesis Evangelion*** (Japanese: 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン, Hepburn: *Shinseiki Evangerion*, lit. "New Century Gospel") is a Japanese mecha anime television series produced by Gainax and Tatsunoko Production, directed by Hideaki Anno and broadcast on TV Tokyo from October 1995 to March 1996. The cast included Megumi Ogata as Shinji Ikari, Kotono Mitsuishi as Misato Katsuragi, Megumi Hayashibara as Rei Ayanami, and Yūko Miyamura as Asuka Langley Soryu. Music for the series was composed by Shirō Sagisu. *Neon Genesis Evangelion* received critical acclaim but also garnered controversy. Particularly controversial were the last two episodes of the show. In 1997 Hideaki Anno and Gainax released the feature film *The End of Evangelion*, providing an alternative ending for the show.

## Plot/Synopsis:

In the year 2015, the world stands on the brink of destruction. Humanity's last hope lies in the hands of Nerv, a special agency under the United Nations, and their Evangelions, giant machines capable of defeating the Angels who herald Earth's ruin. Gendou Ikari, head of the organization, seeks compatible pilots who can synchronize with the Evangelions and realize their true potential. Aiding in this defensive endeavor are talented personnel Misato Katsuragi, Head of Tactical Operations, and Ritsuko Akagi, Chief Scientist.

Face to face with his father for the first time in years, 14-year-old Shinji Ikari's average life is irreversibly changed when he is whisked away into the depths of Nerv, and into a harrowing new destiny—he must become the pilot of Evangelion Unit-01 with the fate of mankind on his shoulders.

Written by Hideaki Anno, *Neon Genesis Evangelion* is a heroic tale of a young boy who will become a legend. But as this psychological drama unfolds, ancient secrets beneath the big picture begin to bubble to the surface...

## MAL info:

**Score:** 8.31

**Ranked:** #206

**Popularity:** #54

**Licensors:** ADV Films,  Netflix

**Studios:** Gainax,  Tatsunoko Production

**Source:** Original

**Duration:** 24 min. per ep.

**Rating:** PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

**Producers:** TV Tokyo,  Kadokawa Shoten,  Nihon Ad Systems,  Audio Tanaka

## Characters:

* **Ikari Shinji:** (Main) is the Third Child ("Third Children" in Japanese), who pilots Unit 01. He is the son of Gendo and the late Yui Ikari. Abandoned by his father, Gendo, when he was a toddler, Shinji often ran away from difficult situations. As a pilot, he panics easily and reacts very poorly to unexpected events. Over time and with encouragement from Misato, he learns to be less cowardly, more outspoken, and more confident.
* **Ayanami Rei:** (Main) is the "First Children" of the Marduk Report and the pilot of EVA-00. Shrouded in mystery, she is socially withdrawn and rarely shows emotion. Seemingly completely devoted to her duty as an EVA pilot, her only apparent human relationship being with Nerv commander Ikari Gendou. However, Rei comes to know Ikari Shinji and after some initial mistrust they come to better understand each other, revealing more of Rei`s emotional side and helping Shinji trust others again.
* **Souryuu Asuka Langley:** (Main) is the Second Child ('Second Children' in the Japanese versions of NGE), who pilots Evangelion Unit 02. She is from Germany, but with an American father and a half-German, half-Japanese mother. In the Rebuild of Evangelion series of movies, her name is changed to Asuka Langley Shikinami.
* **Katsuragi Misato:** (Main) is the chief operations officer at NERV, initially holding the rank of Captain (with a later promotion to Major). She is the field commander for the Eva pilots, issuing orders and giving battle strategies. She also acts as Shinji and Asuka's guardian, letting them live in her apartment rather than have them living alone. While she is professional and diligent in her duties, she is a slob and a drunkard while off-duty. She and Ryoji Kaji were lovers during college, and slowly rekindle their romance over the course of the series. She was also friends with Ritsuko Akagi in college and their relationship unravels as Misato learns more about NERV and SEELE.
* **Nagisa Kaworu:** (Supporting) Since Kaworu was delivered to NERV by SEELE, it is believed that Kaworu has been living under SEELE's surveillance prior to his appearance in the series. Kaworu is brought to NERV to replace Asuka, who is no longer able to pilot Unit-02. He is only able to pilot Unit-02 because its soul is in hiding. In his first test, Kaworu immediately achieves impressive synchronization results. It later emerges that Kaworu is able to achieve whatever level of synchronization he chooses with Unit-02.
* **Ikari Gendou:** (Supporting) Gendou Ikari, formerly Gendo Rokubungi, is the Commander of NERV and is responsible for research and development of Project E and the Human Instrumentality Project. He is the father of Shinji Ikari, the Third Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-01. He is also the guardian of Rei Ayanami, the First Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-00 and the only person Rei reliably interacts with at the start of the series.
* **Akagi Ritsuko:** (Supporting) Ritsuko Akagi is NERV's head scientist and is heavily involved in the repairs and maintenance of Tokyo-3's defenses against the Angels, particularly the Evas. Ritsuko is extremely intelligent, with a strong dedication to her work and a stoic, detached attitude which is frequently contrasted against Misato Katsuragi's hot-headness, especially during Eva combat. She has a great affinity for cats, and Misato chides her at one point for substituting her cats for human affection. She also is a heavy smoker.
* **Pen Pen:** (Supporting) is a hot-spring penguin who lives with Misato Katsuragi as her pet. He lives in a refrigerator and is a source of company and comfort to Misato, who has problems of her own.
* **Kaji Ryouji:** (Supporting) while only being a special inspector, secretly works for SEELE investigating NERV's true intentions. He is always called by his last name, Kaji. During college, he had a serious relationship with Misato, but after having long broken up, they see each other again on the UN fleet ferrying Unit 02 and its pilot, Asuka Langley Soryu, to Japan.

## Official sites:

https://myanimelist.net/anime/30/Neon\_Genesis\_Evangelion?q=neo&cat=anime

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon\_Genesis\_Evangelion#Characters