Neon Genesis Evangelion

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=93 BGCOLOR="#CC0033" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Temp. Home Page</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>    </B></FONT><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Temp. Home Page"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id176.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cardcaptor Sakura"><U>Cardcaptor Sakura</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cowboy Bebop"><U>Cowboy Bebop</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dragon Ball"><U>Dragon Ball</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Flame of Recca"><U>Flame of Recca</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id28.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fushigi Yuugi"><U>Fushigi Yuugi</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GForce"><U>G-Force</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hand Maid May"><U>Hand Maid May</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Love Hina"><U>Love Hina</U></A>   |   <B>Neon Genesis Evangelion</B>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Noir"><U>Noir</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rurouni Kenshin"><U>Rurouni Kenshin</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id35.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Speed Racer"><U>Speed Racer</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id36.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TenchiMuyo!"><U>Tenchi-Muyo!</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id37.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Trigun"><U>Trigun</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#009999" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="08eaa850.gif" border=0 width="170" height="133" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <I><B>Neon Genesis Evangelion</B></I></div> <div> Click here to go to the <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I> Picture Gallery!</div> <div> <B><U>DID YOU KNOW:</U></B></div> <div> <B>Anime Nation sells the most-wanted DVD, </B><I><B>Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth </B></I><B>on their site. Now, look for</B><B> </B><I><B>End of Evangelion </B></I><B>on DVD for sale (read about it in September's </B><B><U>Animerica</U></B><B> magazine!)</B><B>. Preorder the breathtaking, critically-acclaimed Anime film that ends it all now at Anime Nation. Look for banners on the Linkage! page of my site. Plus, you can also order the </B><I><B>NGE </B></I><B>Perfect collection -- ah, yes…a 26-ep. anime collection just as perfect as Asuka! Go figure! ^_^ Go, get these hot flicks today like you wanna win…oh, great, I've got </B><I><B>Eva</B></I><B>-on-the-brain</B><B>!</B></div> <div> Let me start out by saying that <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I> has the best dang music I have ever heard! Cool background music and incredibly beautiful opening/closing themes are certainly in this series. Symphonic, dynamic, and incredible!</div> <div> The ending theme of <I>Evangelion</I> is performed in English by various Japanese female vocalists (even the voice of Asuka L. Soryu!). The song is either played at a soft, mellow pace, or at a fast, techno-like pace. This song was made famous by many singers, including "Old Blue Eyes" himself, Frank Sinatra. It's a very sweet and romantic song, and it fits <I>Eva</I> pretty well (albeit there's not much romance going on…don't count the tiny spark between Kaji and Misato!).</div> <div> <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion </I>is also famous for its number of awesome soundtracks. One of the coolest soundtracks of all is one entitled “<I>NGE</I>: The Birthday of Rei Ayanami”. This is a very special CD soundtrack that celebrates the 34th birthday of the enchanting voice actress/vocalist of Rei Ayanami herself, <B>Megumi Hayashibara </B>(in 2001). On the CD, you'll hear Megumi's (Rei's) version of “The Angel's Cruel Thesis”. Did you know that Ms. Hayashibara is a Japanese pop idol? Not only does she do voices for lots and lots of animes, soundtracks, and videogames (over 200 voices and counting!), but she also has a very prominent singing career, with numerous records (including her first in 1991) and a lovely voice to back it up. Nowadays, Megumi does more voice acting and much less singing. Here's a small list of some of the MANY animes that Megumi has starred in and/or has sung for:</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">3x3 Eyes </I>(as Pai)</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Blue Seed </I>(as Momiji Fujimiya/performed closing song “Touch and Go”)</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Cowboy Bebop</I> (as Faye Valentine)</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Love Hina</I> (as Haruka Urashima; performed the KOOKY but cool theme song)</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Neon Genesis Evangelion</I> (as Rei Ayanami's voice/singing voice, of course!)</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Saber Marionette J </I>(as Lime)</div> <div> <I><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Slayers </I>(as Lina Inverse; also performed the opening song “Get Along”)</div> <div> This is simply one incredible, versatile woman that you really must get acquainted with. Do not forget her name - Megumi Hayashibara! She is a <I>megami-sama </I>(“goddess”) in her own right, and I hope someday, if I ever have an anime series, I want her to be one of my choice Japanese <I>seiyuu</I>!</div> <div> The First and Second Impacts mentioned in the series refer to the terrorizing, destructive meteorite attacks on Japan not associated with the Angels; in fact, both impacts were meteor showers. The Evangelions were invented so that a Third Impact would never become possible.</div> <div> The Japanese district mentioned in the series is Tokai. Within Tokai, you will find two of many towns, such as Shubu and Kanto.</div> <div> In an Evangelion unit, the pilot wears an airtight vacuum suit, and then the cockpit area is filled up with a substance called LCL, which is a liquid compound that oxygenates the blood in the pilot before he or she can start maneuvering the Eva. Airtight suits only look good on girls. Only. Pay no attention to Shinji and Toji, okay? (just kidding!)</div> <div> Around Pen-Pen's neck is a necklace that resembles a dog-tag (or in this case, a "penguin tag"), which says "Pen²" ("Pen squared"). Also notice that Pen-Pen eats out of a dog bowl. When will Misato come to her senses and just buy a dog?</div> <div> Misato believes that beer is the best beverage of all mankind. In episode #2, she says that air conditioning is "mankind's greatest treasure and a triumph of science over nature". Do you ever wonder…does beer make Misato more philosophical? You make the call!</div> <div> In one episode, Misato shows Shinji something "really cool" (without taking her clothes off, mind you!). She takes him to a place where Shinji saw "growing buildings". These growing buildings are actually the city known as "Tokyo-3". The fictional city of Tokyo-3 is the city on <I>Evangelion</I> that is designed to be protected from Angel attacks. So how does the city work? Well, the buildings are all mechanically built and set to rise above ground level, and lower to the underground at specific times. In other words, Tokyo-3 is the fortress city that can be seen both right side-up and upside-down!   </div> <div> As roommates, Shinji and Misato have a lot of fun. For picking out who does what daily chores, they both play paper-scissors-rock to find out (Misato beats Shinji like crazy!). Also, Misato puts a Japanese sign on Shinji's door that reads "Shinji's Lovely Suite". Sounds like they make a lovely pair, doesn't it?</div> <div> Misato has a habit of showing Shinji her "true behavior" -- that is, she acts like her normal, sloppy, beer-drinking-in-the-A.M. self only around him. As pointed in episode #7 by Kensuke, "Misato shows him the side of her that she would show nobody else." How about that? Shinji's lucky, he is!</div> <div> Here's my favorite Kaji line: "So (Shinji), you live with Misato now, right? Tell me…is she still wild in bed?"</div> <div> When she was a teenager, Ritsuko was a brunette. This was way before she met Misato, and way before she joined NERV. Either way, blonde or brown, she looks great! Also, here's another beauty fact about Ritsuko: She has a beauty mark (a.k.a. "mole") on her cheek just under her left eye. Now she's what I call a doctor of loveliness!</div> <div> Shinji's main complaint about Misato is that she's "embarrassing, sloppy, and lazy". Misato's main complaint about Shinji is that he says the word "yes" way too much. I can hear the <I>Odd Couple</I> theme song in my head right about now…</div> <div> In the second episode, Shinji becomes Misato's new roommate, and one time, he forgets to put on a towel after taking a shower. And of course, to censor out Shinji's private area, something had to be used, and that object was…a canister of <I>toothpicks</I>! Now that's an ingenious way to cover up Shinji's you-know-what!</div> <div> Episode #4 is sub-titled "Hedgehog's Dilemma". This title is based on the "Hedgehog fable", which is a theory regarding Shinji that states, "No matter how close someone gets to you, someone always gets hurt". In other words, when people try to get close to Shinji, they end up getting hurt in one way or another. It's not always the truth, but Shinji seems to not make instant friends, just like his fellow Eva pilot Rei Ayanami, and his father, Gendo.</div> <div> Probably the most father-and-son-ish thing that Gendo and Shinji have done in the series is that they both went to visit and put flowers on the grave of Shinji's mom/Gendo's wife, <B>Yui Ikari</B>. Yui, who lived from 1977-2004, as the series indicates, was a former professor who worked with Fuyutsuki (a former school professor), and Gendo's first love (and the reason why he changed his surname from "Rokubungi" to "Ikari").</div> <div> We all know that Asuka used to have a mom. Unfortunately, she lost her due to her committing suicide. So, what is her name? It's <B>Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu</B>. She lived from 1974-2005. She hung herself when Asuka was only four years of age. It was a tremendously sad happenstance, and it's definitely linked to Asuka's "super-proud" attitude and demeanor.</div> <div> Before there was NERV...there was Gehrin! The Gehrin Research Organization is NERV's predecessor. Yep, all of the same faces were rhere, just younger -- Gendo Rokubungi, Fuyutsuki, Ritsuko, Ritsuko's mom, Misato, Misato's father, and Yui Ikari. One big happy family (minus the "happy" part) turned into NERV after the first Angel attack. If you watch ep. #21, you'll learn all about the organization that turned into the mecha-dependent group it turned out to be.</div> <div> Did you know that there was a Fifth Child? Well, there was, and there <I>wasn't</I>. Let me explain: There was once a character named <B>Kaoru Nagisa</B>, a super-nice and clingy 14-year old who loved to sing. Born on the day of the Second Impact (he says he's born from Adam), Kaoru was going to be the Fifth Child, until all of NERV had to find out that he was the 17th Angel! Kaoru "lived" for a very short time, and he really never got a chance to pilot an Eva. Saddening…but that's how it goes sometimes, I guess.</div> <div> Misato's father (whom she mentions in the first episode, and is mentioned much later in ep. #21), was a doctor, and he led an research team on an expedition in Antarctica that occured around the same time as the Second Impact. As you may or may not know, Misato is the only survivor of the research team.</div> <div> The city of Chicago, IL is famous for the Loop (the circular-like downtown area comprised of lots of stores and office buildings, as well as train service). In the series, you'll see Shinji ride the "Loop Line", which is the name of Tokyo's subway line (I think it's fictional…correct me if I'm wrong).</div> <div> Toji, who's not totally a hit around the opposite sex, can come up with some snappy lines. Here's two of them:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Regarding Misato: "She was a real babe, wasn't she?"</div> <div> "She's gorgeous, she's gorgeous!"</div> <div> "I wish she was my girlfriend!"</div> <div> "This is a date?? I brought this hat just for this date!" (he's actually in a plane with Shinji, Kensuke, Misato, and a pilot -- it's a field trip, not a date!)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Regarding Rei: "Those breasts…those thighs…those <I>calves</I>!"</div> <div> Remember, there's always a hungry character in every anime. In <I>FY</I>, it's Miaka Yuuki. In <I>Slayers</I>, it's Lina Inverse (and her partner, Gourry Gabriev). If <I>NGE</I> had a "super-metabolistic" character, it would probably be Toji or Misato. Their tastes in food could run all Japanese supermarkets out of business!</div> <div> Is it just me, or does Kaji need to shave off the little stubble on his chin (and while he's at it, get a haircut)? Maybe Misato likes clean-shaven, short-haired men…</div> <div> Misato and Ritsuko were roommates when they were in college, Tokyo-2 University in Nagano, Japan. Not only that, Kaji went to the same college as both the two ladies, which is how those three got to know each other. I wonder how many times Kaji planned panty raids around the campus…</div> <div> Now we know that Asuka Soryu doesn't like boys, like Shinji and Toji, as much as she likes older, mature men, like Kaji. When it comes to Shinji, Asuka never totally liked him at all. She calls Shinji "boring", a "wonder boy" (all sarcasm and jealousy there!), and an "animated turnip". When it comes to Toji, boy does the boy get fresh! In episode #8, “Asuka Strikes”, Toji gets slapped twice by Asuka -- once for looking up her dress into her "German nether-region" (how forward!), and once for showing her his "Japanese nether-region". As you can see, Asuka likes Shinji slightly better than Toji. Just <I>slightly</I>. Now you know why Asuka likes and respects males that keep their pants on! It's exposure and perversion-a-go-go on <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I>!</div> <div> Episode #6 of <I>Evangelion</I> has to be one of the most memorable episodes. In this episode, one of the most beautiful things happens -- Rei <U>smiles</U>! When I saw that smile on Rei's face, my heart virtually melted. That had to be one of the most beautiful and heartwarming smiles I've ever seen in any anime. And I bet it was a new experience for Rei -- a girl who never smiled until then. Truly a great <I>Eva</I> moment (some may consider it weird, since Rei hardly smiles, anyway!)!</div> <div> Here's another fact about the lovely Rei: Her name means "spirit" in Japanese, just like the Japanese word "ki" or the Chinese word “chi”. On the other hand, “rei” can also mean “zero". Ironic, no?</div> <div> The number "601", in NERV terms, stands for "cannot be analyzed".</div> <div> The traditional Japanese breakfast consists of rice, Miso soup, and sake, which is an alcoholic Asian beverage. The traditional Misato breakfast consists of beer, and anything she can make in the microwave! Speaking of beer, two of the brand names of beer that Misato proudly buys are "Yebisu" and "Boa".</div> <div> Ritsuko's mother is the creator of the Magi, which is a trio of supercomputers that is the power and command behind all of NERV headquarters. The Magi is comprised of three supercomputers: Melchior-1, Balthasar-2, and Casper-3. The Magi represents three aspects of Ritsuko's mother's life: her as a scientist, a mother, and a woman. As you can tell, the supercomputer trio is named after the three wise men of the East from biblical times. <I>Evangelion</I> makes numerous biblical references. For instance, the 1st Angel is named "Adam", as in the very first man found in the Bible. Keep your eyes and ears pierced as you watch this series…the heavy religious influence the show has is hard to decipher.</div> <div> Where will you find the cute Asuka next? Hmm…<I>O-ki-na-wa</I>, perhaps? Okinawa is the Japanese city where Asuka and all of her classmates, in one episode, were going to go for a class trip. Obviously, she (along with Rei and Shinji) had to stay and do their business with the Evas and NERV. And her heart was set on a two-piece bikini! Aww, man… </div> <div> Notice that episode #24 is sub-titled "Knockin' on Heaven's Door". Ironically, that is the title of a great anime movie, <I>Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door</I>. </div> <div> Episode #14 talks about SEELE, which is the secret organization that controls NERV, as well as the Human Instrumentality Project.</div> <div> We all know how "perfect" Miss Asuka Soryu is (well, she only thinks so!). She's so perfect, her skin-tight plug suit perfectly matches the color of her Eva Unit-02 - red! Shinji's Eva-01 is predominantly purple, but his suit is blue and white. Rei wears a predominantly white suit, and her Eva-00 is basic blue. Toji's Eva-03, which is blue and white, and his suit, which is black and blue, don't exactly match…noticing a pattern? Yeah, me neither. Who really cares about color-coding? Just jump in your plug suit and go kick some Angel ass! Don't worry if your suit doesn't match your Eva (although Asuka prefers a nice cosmetic touch to everything)!</div> <div> Here's a fact about Asuka's name: Did you know that her name is actually the name of a famous period in Japan? The Asuka period in ancient Japan ran for 107 years, from A.D. 538-645. Other periods in ancient/modern Japan are:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Edo (1615-1868)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Meiji (1868-1912; think about <I>Rurouni Kenshin</I>)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c800000000.gif" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Heisei (1989-present)</div> <div> Has the manga series gone completely crazy over the hair colors of Hiraki and Toji? Now, we all know that (originally) Hikari's a brunette and Toji has jet-black hair. Imagine Hiraki with purple hair and Toji with dark blonde hair. Having a hard time picturing it in your mind? Well, here's two pictures from animerica that will show you (and, no, Hiraki didn't steal Misato's style!)!</div> <div> Shinji has been playing the cello since he was five years of age, and it was his marvelous cello playing that was the only thing that impressed Asuka! Hey, if the whole NERV gig doesn't work out, do you think he could join some symphony orchestra in Japan? Nah…</div> <div> Misato drives a pretty nice car. Her sleek blue Alpina is the “Misato-mobile” for herself, Shinji, and whomever else wants to take a ride with Misato…and, hey - who doesn't? (<I>rowr-rowr</I>!) In the manga version of <I>NGE</I>, Misato is portrayed as a sort of “demolition derby driver” when it comes to saving herself from things (including getting to NERV in a jiffy!).  </div> <div> Okay, I saved the best line of the whole <I>Evangelion</I> series for the end, and here it is! Visualize Shinji and Asuka trying to work together (ha!) in Asuka's Eva Unit-02…</div> <div> <U>SHINJI:</U> “What's happening?”</div> <div> <U>ASUKA</U>: "You're thinking in Japanese, aren't you? Try thinking in German!"</div> <div> <U>SHINJI</U>: "Ohh, okay…<I>strudel</I>?"</div> <div> <U>ASUKA:</U> ”<I>Baka</I>!”</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=387 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>Neon Genesis Evangelion</B></I></div> <div> <I><IMG SRC="11b02e00.gif" border=0 width="770" height="480" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I></div> <div> Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1997 Gainax/NAS/Project Eva/TV Tokyo/Tatsunoko Prods, in association with ADV Films</div> <bR> <div> Produced by: Noriko Kobayashi, Yutaka Sugiyama, and many others</div> <div> Directed by: Hideaki Anno, Kazuya Tsurumaki, Masayuki, and numerous others</div> <div> Opening Animation Animators: Takeshi Honda and Shinya Hasegawa</div> <div> Opening Animation Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki</div> <div> Music by: Yoko Takahashi</div> <div> “Evangelion” mechas designed by Ikuto Yamashita and Hideaki Anno</div> <div> Distributed by King Records, Pioneer, and ADV Films</div> <bR> <div> <U>Opening Theme: “Zankoku na Tenshi no Thesis” (“The Angel's Cruel Thesis”)</U></div> <div> Lyrics: Neko Oikawa</div> <div> Melody: Hidetashi Sato</div> <div> Arrangement by: Toshiyuki Ohmori</div> <div> Performed by: Yoko Takahashi</div> <bR> <div> <U>Closing Theme: “Fly Me to the Moon”</U></div> <div> Lyrics/Melody: Bart Howard</div> <div> Arrangement by: Toshiyuki Ohmori</div> <div> Performed by: Various (Yoko Takahashi, Claire, Megumi Hayashibara [Rei], Toshiyuki Ohmori [Asuka], etc.)</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>GENRE:</B></div> <div> Action/Comedy/Drama/Mechas/Psychology/Sci-Fi/Suspense</div> <bR> <div> <B>CHARACTERS:</B></div> <div> Shinji Ikari, Gendo (Rokubungi) Ikari, Misato Katsuragi, Ritsuko Akagi, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Soryu, Toji Suzuhara, Kensuke Aida, Hikari Horaki, Ryoji Kaji, Kozo Fuyutsuki, Maya Ibuki, Makoto Hyuga, Shigeru Aoba, Kaoru Nagisa, Yui Ikari, Pen-Pen (the penguin), Keel Lorenz, Takahashi Shouichi, Chiba Kimio, the members of SEELE, and many others (including 17 Angels)</div> <bR> <div> <B>SYNOPSIS:</B></div> <div> In Japan, at a time of great crisis and danger caused by destructive invaders known as Angels, a secret organization called NERV run by a motley, yet serious crew answers to the call of fear by creating larger-than-life mecha units known as Evangelions. These robotic forms, reminiscent of humans, numbered 00 and beyond, are only piloted by 14-year old schoolchildren, and these "Childs" who are selected all have deep problems going on in their lives. The Evas (as they are nicknamed) are their only source of praise and escape, while the Evas are also the only mechas that can save the world and destroy the deadly Angels.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> If you're a true anime otaku, and if you have seen it all, then you must be happy and proud to say that you have seen this fantastic series -- I sure am! The name of this anime is called (let me say it before I forget it!) <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I>, all about the wonderful world of hapless secret organization personnel, pressured schoolchildren, and gigantic robots! anime heaven, no doubt!</div> <bR> <div> <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion </I>is set in the year 2015 A.D. At this time, a threat to the country of Japan has arrived in the form of deadly, diverse beasts, known as Angels. Yeah, it's pretty funny that the adversaries are called Angels, right? Actually, this is no laughing matter. These destructive lifeforms called Angels use their immense strength and superhuman powers to destroy the towns, buildings, and people of Japan and beyond. To stop these Angels from manipulating the world, the United Nations controls a new organization called NERV. This secret organization is the place where new technological and scientific discoveries and creations are made. Aside from their main project, known as the Human Instrumentality Project, the big creation at this place is known as the <B>Evangelion</B>. Dubbed as "man's ultimate humanoid fighting machine", this humongous, lofty, power-packed synthetic life form (also known as a "giant mecha robot"), the Evas, as they are nicknamed, are considered to be man's only hope for survival and life against the negatory powers of the Angels. With the flick of a few switches, an insertion of an entry plug, and a young pilot to maneuver the mecha, NERV settles the score between Earth and the Angels.</div> <bR> <div> Now, even with modern advanced technology, these Evangelions cannot move by themselves (unless a special plug called a "dummy plug" is in use), so NERV looks toward using 14 year-old students to pilot the Evas. Talk about starting the new generation off young! The 14 year-old pilots are numbered and called "First Child", "Second Child", etc., and they each get to wear a cool suit (!) and so many other benefits. Say, who are these pilots, and the crew behind them? Let's meet the wide range of characters that you'll find in <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I>.</div> <bR> <div> First, let's start off with the main character, the young pilot of Eva Unit-01, whose name is <B>Shinji Ikari</B>. Shinji is 14 years old (14? Oh my gosh!), and he is described as shy, introverted, stubborn, reluctant, and a loner. He can be self-degrading at times, constantly blaming himself when the chips are down. Okay…so far, you must think this Shinji character is a real loser, right? Well, think again. He's a little bit more interesting that you think. In his spare time, he enjoys either listening to his digital cassette stereo, or playing the cello (which he is pretty good at). Shinji is also a clean person, and he has a lot of respect…well, to an extent. Being an Eva pilot for Shinji was no (barefoot!) walk in the park at first, since the "reluctant one" was literally dragged into being the "Third Child". Surprisingly, after an apparent short period of time, he gets the piloting down pretty well. Shinji also is one of those people who usually believes that he's all alone in the world, although he has a father and tons of people around him. And Shinji is doing a respectable job piloting the 01, since he's carrying a bigger burden than you can imagine -- for one thing, his mom died when he was young, he rarely made friends or social groups at school, and his father never really took care of him. Speaking of his father, Shinji never had a real close relationship with him (in other words, he totally hates his dad!), and you'll hear more about Ikari-kun's dad later on this page. But that's all for now about the teen inside the Eva Unit-01. </div> <bR> <div> Now, let's meet the woman who picked up Shinji one day, and brought him into the world of NERV -- her name is <B>Misato Katsuragi</B> -- and that's Captain Katsuragi to you, buddy! This sexy, single, outgoing, vivacious, and fun-loving young woman is the Director of Operations at NERV. She is very serious when it comes to her work…but all work and no play makes Miss Misato a dull girl! When she's chilling out at home, she loves to pop the top of an ice-cold beer (which would then lead to a violent, orgasmic scream, and kind, passionate words about how the world is greater with beer), or whip up some instant food that <I>only </I>tastes good to her. Well, hey, she's a NERV employee, not a gourmet cook! The beautiful Misato does have her faults…she is an untidy housekeeper, and she can be a sassy nag towards her houseguests. Also, Misato can also be embarrassing, lazy, and other factors. But hey, nobody's perfect, and as one of the most beautiful ladies in anime, she rocks! Misato is a very honest, open person, and she's never afraid to show affection. She is the woman responsible for bringing Shinji into NERV headquarters, and she also makes him a permanent roommate, along with her and her other non-human roommate, named <B>Pen-Pen</B>. Pen-Pen is Misato's warm-water penguin roommate, and he totally acts human -- he takes showers, reads newspapers, and eats just like normal people…yet, why does Misato make him drink beer and eat out of a dog bowl sometimes? Not only that...he lives in an refrigerator! Oh well…Shinji now lives with the hottie Misato and the cool penguin Pen-Pen, and he creates a lot of funny domestic adventures with them.</div> <bR> <div> Misato's closest personal friend and co-worker is the serious Dr. <B>Ritsuko Akagi</B>. Here's one blonde who knows how to have fun…she works hard! She is the chairperson of E Project Technical Department Division 1, and she's one of NERV's finest workers, supervising over all to make sure the Evangelion units are in top-notch working order. When she's not watching computer screens or data gauges, she enjoys the occasional cigarette. Although she is not as outgoing as her pal Misato, she tries to be kind and patient under pressure, taking things one step at a time, and always creating new ideas for swift NERV efficiency. She's a gorgeous, brilliant woman who loves her job, and takes pride in all that she does. Even with the loss of her mother, a doctor herself, Ritsuko carries an everlasting aura of professionalism and optimism with her always.</div> <bR> <div> The man who is the leader of the NERV agency (and Shinji Ikari's dad) is named <B>Gendo (Rokubungi) Ikari</B>. This man simply breathes patience, strictness, and power. As the leader of NERV, he always put work before other responsibilities…as in taking care of his son! It's sad, really…Gendo is always too enveloped in board meetings and Eva testing to be wrapped up in other, more important affairs. Still, he sees his son as much as he can, but I think he should appreciate his son a lot more -- Mr. Ikari is one of those people who doesn't make friends easily and instantly, which, in turn, sadly, runs in the family, since Shinji has the same problem. Gendo is often the unfriendly type, and he rules NERV with solemn eyes, solemnly clenched hands, and a solemn heart, keeping a very silent personality behind his tinted shades. He's the one who brings Shinji into the world of the Evas, and he believes that he is another "chosen one". Alongside Gendo is NERV's Vice Commander <B>Kozo Fuyutsuki</B>. He is a former professor who traded in his gradebooks for a high-grade position at NERV. Fuyutsuki is described as quiet, serious, and straightforward. Just like Gendo, he is strong-willed and sometimes soft-spoken.</div> <bR> <div> Now, let's move on to the other Eva pilots, as well as the other characters. First up, we meet the alluring, radiant, and mysterious girl known as <B>Rei Ayanami</B>. She is a riddle wrapped in a paradox and enclosed within a puzzle. And if you think that line will work on her, think again! Rei is known as the "First Child", and she pilots the cool blue Eva Unit-00. She's the first "test subject" of the Evangelions, and with her quiet intelligence and passion for piloting, she became a true success, and was one of Gendo's favorite people (and Gendo is one of her favorite people) -- she was brought up by Gendo, believe it or not (but what about Shinji?)! Rei is also a 14 year-old schoolgirl, who goes to the same school as Shinji does, and she is considered to be overly shy (in a mysterious way), and she also suffers from a loss of memory, and a lack of emotion. Still, she is one of the most attractive girls in anime, and even though she was badly hurt in an experiment involving the Eva, she still pilots with finesse.</div> <bR> <div> Next, let's meet the "import girl" of the series, the pilot of the fiery red Eva Unit 02, <B>Asuka Langley Soryu</B>. Originally from Germany, she's the "Second Child" who's got one heck of an attitude! This bold, blue-eyed redhead is described as spunky, self-absorbed, obnoxious, bossy, and bratty, and she knows how to show-off and complain like a pro! Nevertheless, this young and lovely redhead likes to have fun, and tries to act proper as much as she can (yeah…like 2% of the time!). Asuka is also a real smarty-pants, since she is an 8th grader who studied overseas in Germany and then moved over to Tokyo to go to Shinji's school, use her Eva in battle again, as well as stay as another roommate with Misato! Believe me, it must bring Shinji, Pen-Pen, and Misato to tears…anyhoo, Asuka is very temperamental, and when it comes to friendship, she can be super-picky. She can make friends with older men and some girls, but she totally dislikes perverts and older women (the word "whore" has come out of her little mouth once or twice in the series!). One of her good friends is <B>Hikari Horaki</B>, who's the super-proper, responsible and preppy class representative at their school. As for Asuka's relationship with Shinji, it seems that she and Shinji can get along in a few rare cases, but most of the time, she can be very envious and bi***y around people -- especially him. But it's all psychological…you see, Asuka has gone through losing one mom and living with two stepmothers, and when you don't have someone to support you and love you in your life, well, then, you would probably sympathize a little bit more with Asuka. Basically, she's a strong, sassy, and independent girl who just needs some attention and recognition in her life. All that she wants is to be the best at everything so people will notice her, instead of noticing others like Rei and Shinji. So, before you start pointing fingers and slapping the derogatory "B" word on her, watch the series first, and they you'll learn all about her…in all honesty, she's a beautiful young female -- inside and out!</div> <div>  </div> <div> Okay, let's move on over to the male side of Evangelion. Let's start out with the 14 year-old known as <B>Toji Suzuhara</B>. An often loud, disgruntled and outspoken person (just like Asuka!), he is totally angry at the fact that his younger sister was crushed in debris due to a war involving the Evangelions. His sister was still hospitalized and in critical condition, and to release his anger, he took it all out on his classmate Shinji, since he found out that he was an Eva pilot. But after a while, he and Shinji actually became good friends, putting all differences aside. Here's more about Toji: He's basically your no-nonsense anime tough guy. He's tactless, quick-thinking, and defensive…not to mention a hearty eater! But he does have an eye for beautiful women…especially Rei and Misato! But when it comes to Asuka…total perversion (well, that's what Asuka thinks, at least)! Honestly, he doesn't have a way with women, but he does have a strong heart and lots of love for his sister, which is very respectable. And believe it or not, Toji becomes what most 14 year-olds wish to become -- an Eva pilot! Yes, you heard it right here…Toji becomes the "Fourth Child" and the pilot of the Evangelion Unit-03. Although it's for a relatively short time, he does become a pilot. That's all that matters, right? Now with four pilots, NERV becomes more powerful than ever…or do they? You decide!</div> <bR> <div> One of Toji's and Shinji's buddies is another 14 year-old classmate (have you noticed a pattern yet?) named <B>Kensuke Aida</B>. A proud enthusiast of aviation, battleships, military stuff, and mechas like the Eva, Kensuke is a friendly and kind person whose main hobby is filming. Whenever there's something cool and memorable around him, like the Eva, a naval ship, or even Misato (oh yeah!), he's ready, willing, and able to record it on his camcorder. Kensuke is also another character that doesn't have a mom, but that doesn't stop his nice personality from ceasing. At first, he was a stickler with Toji, and he was just a stranger to Shinji. But as the series continued, he became great friends with Shinji. Now the three boys are good friends and classmates together, and when Shinji thought that he had nobody to call on, he was wrong!</div> <bR> <div> Here's another guy that I'd like to talk about. His name is <B>Ryoji Kaji</B>. Some people may consider him the "ladies' man" of the series (I sure don't!), while others may think that his mojo is out of control. But this smooth operator (and Asuka's favorite person) is the Captain of the Special Inspection Dept. at NERV…and on the side, he also works for the Japanese Dept. of the Interior. Undercover-ific! Anyhoo, here's the biggest thing about Kaji that you must know: He is Misato's ex-boyfriend! Yes..that's correct. You see, Misato was dealing with numerous problems in her teenage-adult years in college, and she had to turn to a man named Kaji for some "spiritual boosts" (get my drift? Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, say-no-more!). Well, hey, there's nothing wrong with promiscuity...I think! Anyway, to change the subject, Kaji likes to act cool and flirt like crazy, and on the side, he pursues a hobby in gardening -- watering watermelons. Wow…a gardener, an undercover moonlighter, an all-nighter, a sex machine, and a Casanova in his own right -- how can you not love this character?</div> <bR> <div> Well, that seems about it for the main characters. There are a whole lot of other characters that I'd like to talk about, but there are too many! Well, at least there's one more group I'd like to talk about -- the enemies of the Evangelions known as the <B>Angels</B>. These destructive, massive, non-human-friendly creatures are the only thing separating Japan from achieving peace. Each Angel is numbered and given a name that sounds like it came from the Bible. While Evas can use gargantuan machine guns, swords, and other weapons (including their teeth -- robots <I>can</I> bite, you know!), each Angel also has a number of different, special powers, and both the Evas and the Angels protect themselves with a special invisible-except-when-touched barrier called an "A.T. Field". The A.T. Field is a thin, protective barrier that is extremely difficult to break through. Once that barrier is broken, it makes attacking and destroying the opposing side very easy. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I>, is without a doubt, the #1 anime series ever. It has something for every anime fan out there, and it covers every aspect of a good anime -- seriousness, suspense, action, humor, psychology, and social struggles -- it has everything you could ask for, and much more. The action between the robotic Evas and the unpredictable Angels in nothing short of intense and amazing. The numerous conflicts and bitter dialogue between certain pairs of characters is very deep and interesting. I am so amazed at how some characters carry themselves…almost every character is going through some sort of family problem or unhappiness in their life, and it is so bewildering to see how they keep it all behind them. Most of all, the series can take many turns -- it can be lighthearted and funny at one point, serious and powerful at another point, and mind-blowing and psychotic at another point. I just cannot say enough good stuff about <I>Evangelion</I>! It is the ultimate series, and more than words can say, this is the best I've ever seen. The best part is the feeling you get when you finally understand what the main focus is in this series (fighting mechas is a very small part of it). This is, undoubtedly, Hideaki Anno's greatest work, and he, next to such big names as Hayao Miyazaki (<I>Princess Mononoke</I>, <I>Spirited Away</I>, <I>Kiki's Delivery Service</I>), Katsuhiro Otomo (<I>Akira</I>) and Osamu Tezuka (<I>Metropolis</I>), is one of anime's most greatest and prized personalities. If you want to see how the whole <I>Evangelion</I> saga ends, then I suggest watching the 2 <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I> movies (one of them is called <I>Death and Rebirth</I>), and for more fun, you can buy scaled-down versions of the Eva units online at various toy and anime sites.</div> <bR> <div> So, everybody, "stand tall and embrace the fire of the legend…embracing the universe like a blazing star!" Since you don't understand that at all (it's actually the last line of the opening theme song), let me put it in simpler terms -- if you haven't seen <I>Evangelion</I>, then do it today…and that's your "top priority"!!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>AN ADDED SUPPLEMENT:</U></B></div> <div> Here's a list of the names of the seventeen Angels that are seen throughout the 26 episodes of <I>Neon Genesis Evangelion</I>. Notice that the 2nd Angel has no name. Here's an explanation for that: In the series, the first couple of episodes start out with the 3rd Angel, Sachiel. The 1st Angel, named Adam, was only shown in one episode, and it was the very first one that NERV had to deal with. The 2nd Angel, however, was never mentioned in full…in fact, I don't believe that there was a “2nd” Angel. Without further ado, here's the Angel list!</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="232" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 BGCOLOR=#CC0033 HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="220"><div> <B>THE ANGEL LIST</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#009999 HEIGHT= 20 ><NOBR><div> <B>Number</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#009999 WIDTH="143"><div> <B>Name</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 1</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Adam</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> (none)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 3</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Sachiel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 4</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Shamsel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 5</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Ramiel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 6</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Gaghiel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 7</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Israfel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 8</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Sandalphon</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 9</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Matariel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 10</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Sahaqiel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 11</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Ireul</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 12</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Leliel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 13</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Bardiel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 14</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Zeruel</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 15</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Arael</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 16</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Armisael</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="74"><div> 17</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#EEEEEE WIDTH="143"><div> Kaoru Nagisa</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>EPISODE GUIDE:</U></B></div> <div> 1: Angel Attack!</div> <div> 2: Unfamiliar Ceiling (The Beast)</div> <div> 3: The Phone that Never Rings (A Transfer)</div> <div> 4: Rain, Escape, and Afterwards (Hedgehog's Dilemma)</div> <div> 5: Rei, Beyond her Heart (Rei I)</div> <div> 6: Showdown in Tokyo 3 (Rei II)</div> <div> 7: The Human Creation (A Human Work)</div> <div> 8: Asuka Strikes!</div> <div> 9: With One Accord in a Flash (Both of You, Dance Like you want to Win!)</div> <div> 10: Magma Diver</div> <div> 11: In the Still Darkness (The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still)</div> <div> 12: The Value of a Miracle is… (She said, "Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred.")</div> <div> 13: Angel Invasion (Lilliputian Hitcher)</div> <div> 14: SEELE, Throne of Souls (Weaving a Story)</div> <div> 15: Lies and Silence (Those Women longed for the touch of others' lips and thus invited their kisses.)</div> <div> 16: Sickness into Death, and… (Splitting of the Breast)</div> <div> 17: The 4th Child (Fourth Children)</div> <div> 18: The Judgment of Life (Ambivalence)</div> <div> 19: A Man's Fight (Introjection)</div> <div> 20: Form of the Mind, Form of the Man (Weaving a Story II: Oral Stage)</div> <div> 21: The Birth of NERV (He was aware that he was still a child)</div> <div> 22: At Least, Be Humane (Don't Be)</div> <div> 23: Tear (Rei III)</div> <div> 24: The Last Angel (The Beginning and the End, or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door")</div> <div> 25: Ending World (Do you love me?)</div> <div> 26: The Beast that Shouted "I" at the Heart of the World (Take Care of Yourself)</div> <bR> <div> <B><U>MOVIES:</U></B></div> <div> <I>Evangelion: Death and Rebirth</I></div> <div> <I>End of Evangelion </I><B>(the TRUE ending!)</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Anime Site"><U><B><U>^v^ BACK TO THE ANIME PAGE ^v^</U></B></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>