Shinji Ikari
| Shinji Ikari | |
|---|---|
| Neon Genesis Evangelion character | |
 |
|
| First appearance | "Angel Attack" |
| Created by |
Gainax Yoshiyuki Sadamoto |
| Voiced by |
Japanese: Megumi Ogata English: Spike Spencer |
| Profile | |
| Title | Third Child #1 |
| Relatives |
Gendo Ikari (father) Yui Ikari (mother) Rei Ayanami (clone of mother) Misato Katsuragi (guardian) |
Shinji Ikari (碇 シンジ Ikari Shinji?) is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Gainax. He is the franchise's poster boy and protagonist who is generally regarded highly by critics. Shinji Ikari is a young boy who was abandoned by his father, Gendo Ikari, who later requests Shinji to pilot a mecha known as the Evangelion Unit 01 to protect the city of Tokyo-3 from creatures known as Angels that threaten to destroy mankind. Shinji pilots Unit 01, at first rigorously and later excellently, and during his time in Tokyo-3 he is gradually freed from his Hedgehog's Dilemma as he socializes with comrades and gains friends. His talent for piloting and synchronizing Unit 01 has earned him praise from the commanding officers of NERV, an organization which Gendo leads. His toilsome duty and the cruel events of his life bring him severe stress and suffering. At some point in the series he begins to confront his inner self, forming arguments and questions about life and reality.
Shinji's portrayal differs depending on the media in which he is shown such as in the official manga adaptation where he is written from the author Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's point of view as well as other spinoff series. Shinji became highly popular, having appeared and topped in multiple popularity polls. Nick Verboon of Unreality Mag states "poster boy/protagonist Shinji is one of the most nuanced, popular, and relatable characters in anime history.
Director Hideaki Anno described the hero, Shinji Ikari, as a boy who "shrinks from human contact", and has "convinced himself that he is a completely unnecessary person, so much so that he cannot even commit suicide." He describes Shinji and Misato Katsuragi as "extremely afraid of being hurt" and "unsuitable — lacking the positive attitude — for what people call heroes of an adventure." When compared to the stereotypical hero, Shinji is characterized more by lack of energy and emotion than by heroism or bravery.
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