Works within the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise typically have the same setting, characters and theme, but can vary in their portrayal of the storyline with alternate re-tellings of the original anime.Evangelion ' s fictional setting takes place after the Second Impact, a cataclysmic explosion in Antarctica which resulted in the deaths of billions and threw the Earth. Neon Genesis Evangelion was a Japanese anime that came out in October 4,1995. It was latter released in the USA, Cartoon Network aired the first two episodes in February 24, 2003, the whole series was latter aired on Adult Swim in October 25, 2005. Cartoon Network heavily censored the anime due to being a children's network.

Kozo Fuyutsuki Main article:Kozo Fuyutsuki ( 冬月 コウゾウ , ' Fuyutsuki Kōzō') is NERV's Deputy Commander and Gendo Ikari's right hand man. He is voiced by in the Japanese series. His English voice actors are in the series, Michael Ross in the films, and in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. 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. Later, after the Second Impact, Fuyutsuki traveled with Gendo to the ruins of Antarctica, and began to suspect that Gendo and his associates in SEELE were more powerful and dangerous than he originally realized.

In 2003, Fuyutsuki discovered for himself the true nature of the events leading up to Second Impact and SEELE's involvement in initiating that catastrophe. Gendo led him into the GeoFront and, and asked Fuyutsuki to join him in 'creating a new future for mankind.' During a flashback scene in The End of Evangelion, Fuyutsuki mentions that SEELE had threatened to make him 'disappear', implying that his recruitment may have been extortionary. 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. Misato Katsuragi Main article:Misato Katsuragi ( 葛城 ミサト , ' Katsuragi Misato') is the chief operations officer at NERV.

Kingdoms and castles mods. Voices her in Japanese, and in English. In the series, she initially holds the rank of Captain, with a later promotion to Major; in the first new movie in the project, she holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and then Colonel in the second movie.

She is the field commander for the Eva pilots, issuing orders and giving battle strategies as well as handling some bureaucratic matters. She is also Shinji and Asuka's guardian,; 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.

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. She and Ryoji Kaji were lovers during college, and slowly rekindle their romance over the course of the TV series. Ritsuko Akagi Main article: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. Voices her in Japanese, in the English series, and in the English Rebuild of Evangelion series. She is a workaholic and heavy smoker, and has been friends with both Misato and Kaji since college.

She is also romantically involved with Gendo., 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. Ryoji Kaji Main article:Ryoji Kaji ( 加持 リョウジ , ' Kaji Ryōji') appears to be a triple agent, working as a special inspector for NERV (Internal Affairs) 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 - in addition, he appears to have his own personal agenda independent of any organization, searching for the 'truth' behind NERV, SEELE and the Human Instrumentality Project.

During college, he and Misato were lovers, but broke up at Misato's insistence. Years later, they are reunited on the UN fleet ferrying Unit-02 and Asuka to Japan. 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 his employers one time too many, but not before giving Misato information regarding the truth of the Instrumentality Project. His Japanese voice actor is, and his English voice actor is. Maya Ibuki Main article:Maya Ibuki ( 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 nauseated and averting her eyes during battles with the Angels. In The End of Evangelion, Maya is the only NERV officer who is shown refusing to fight back against the invaders. 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 Maya is actually in love with Ritsuko. Rei/Lilith penetrates Maya's AT field by assuming the form of Ritsuko. Maya exclaims 'Ritsuko!/Senpai!' , eagerly returns 'Ritsuko's embrace, and immediately reduces into. She is voiced by in the Japanese series.

Her English voice actress are Kendra Benham during the series, Amy Seeley in the films, in the 'Director's Cut' episodes, and in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Shigeru Aoba Main article:Shigeru Aoba ( 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.

In the Japanese series he is voiced. His English voice actors are in the series and films, during the 'Director's Cut' episodes, and in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Gehirn Staff Naoko Akagi Main article:Naoko Akagi ( 赤木 ナオコ , ' Akagi Naoko') was Ritsuko's mother. She was the creator of the system and the former 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 committed suicide.

Soon afterward, Gehirn was disbanded and the organization NERV was formed in its place. 10 of, Naoko is shown to commit suicide after killing Rei I. Ritsuko witnesses both Rei's murder and Naoko's suicide. Her Japanese voice actress is, and her English voice actress is. Yui Ikari Main article: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.

Though proclaimed dead, a part of her (her 'soul') lives on within Unit-01. Her Japanese voice actress is, who also voices Rei. Her English voice actresses are in the series, Amanda Winn-Lee in the films, and in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Other characters Keel Lorenz Main article:Keel Lorenz ( キール・ローレンツ , ' Kīru Rōrentsu') 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. The inspiration for his name (and, arguably, his character) originates from, a zoologist known especially for his research on animal psychology. In the manga, his name is given as Lorenz Kiel. He is voiced by in the Japanese series.

His English voice actors are Richard Peeples during the series, Tom Booker in the movies, and Bill Jenkins in the Rebuild Of Evangelion series. Kensuke Aida Main article:Kensuke Aida ( 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. 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. Like Toji, Kensuke has a crush on Misato Katsuragi. He is rarely seen without his camcorder at hand.

In the PS2 game, Kensuke is the appointed pilot to the EVA Unit-04, wearing a green plugsuit. He is voiced by in Japanese, Kurt Stoll in the English adaptation, and in the Rebuild of Evangelion series.Hikari Horaki Main article:Hikari Horaki ( 洞木 ヒカリ , ' Horaki Hikari') is the class representative of the class that Shinji and the other Eva pilots attend. 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.

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. In a Gainax artwork picture she is shown in an orange plugsuit as the pilot for EVA Unit-05. She is also featured in a live action deleted scene in The End of Evangelion.

She is voiced by in Japanese, by Carol Amerson in the English adaptation, and in the Rebuild of Evangelion series. Pen Pen Main article:Pen Pen, or Pen² ( , ' ペンペン', Penpen) is a 'hot spring 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. He is voiced by in the Japanese series.

His English voice actors are Amanda Winn-Lee during the series and movies, in the 'Director's Cut' episodes, and in the Rebui.

Marie VincennesMarie Vincennes is an American pilot in the tabletop role-playing game. She's 'an Eva pilot for the time being, but she has not participated in any actual fighting.' Marie is 14 years old and a child prodigy who holds a Ph.D. She 'acts meek and polite, but it's only superficial - she's haughty and domineering.'

In this way, Marie sounds somewhat similar to in Sadamoto's manga. Like so many other characters, she's named after a warship.

Most likely it was the USS Vincennes (CA-44) that was sunk during the Battle of Savo Island in 1942, rather than its namesake Ticonderoga-class cruiser (CG-49) that was involved in the infamous Iran Air shootdown incident.Girlfriend of Steel Mana Kirishima. Mana introducing herself to the classMana Kirishima (霧島 マナ) appears in the video game, voiced by, as love interest. She is characterized as an amalgamation of and and pilots the. She is enrolled in Shinji's class, and Asuka is extremely jealous of her. As with many other Evangelion characters, her family name comes from a World War II warship; in this case, the.She also appears in the.Musashi Lee StrasbergMusashi Lee Strasberg (ムサシ・リー・ストラスバーグ) is one of Mana's fellow TRIDENT pilots from the Girlfriend of Steel game. He is voiced.

He is named after the mighty Yamato-class battleship Musashi and possibly acclaimed actor, director and founder of method acting, Lee Strasberg. Alternatively, his middle name and surname could have been derived from warships: the Battlecruiser/Light Battleship Strasbourg and the American destroyer USS Lee (the choice of middle name is unlikely, since the destroyer is obscure and Lee is a very common name). Mayumi YamagishiMayumi Yamagishi (山岸 マユミ) appears in the video game. She wears glasses, likes to read books, and somehow has a core of an inside of her. She is voiced by Kyoko Hikami.