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<div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" size="105%">''For the Evangelions of the ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' continuity, please see: [[Evangelions (Rebuild)]].''</div>
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{{quote|Misato Katsuragi: ''"What in hell *is* an Eva?!"''<br>Ritsuko Akagi: ''"It's a thing created by Man in Man's own image.  I really can't describe it any other way".'' <br>Misato: ''""Created by Man"?! You didn't create anything! You just copied something you found in the Antarctic!  What was the original? That's what I want to know!"''<br>Ritsuko:'' "This is ''not'' just a copy"''}}


An '''Evangelion''' (エヴァンゲリオン) is a giant cybernetic combat unit built by [[Nerv]] with the express purpose of defeating attacks by the [[Angels]].  At first glance, Evangelions (often called ''Evas'' for short) appear to be giant humanoid "robots".  However, most of an Evangelion is actually organic -- with external armor hiding their true appearance.  
An '''Evangelion''' (エヴァンゲリオン), or '''Eva''' for short, is a giant, cybernetically modified humanoid entity created by the organizations [[Gehirn]] and its successor [[Nerv]]. While the Evas' ostensible function is to serve as general-purpose weapons against the threat of the [[Angels]] and prevent the catastrophic event known as [[Third Impact]], a more sinister truth to their existence hides beneath the surface.


Evas are (''essentially'') genetically-modified clones of the First Angel, [[Adam]]. After being "grown", they receive cybernetic implants, namely in the spine and upper torso, which allows humans to control them -- both in terms of manipulating ("piloting") them, and keeping their incredible power under control.  A set of armor plating is also added which fully covers the Evas, and has the dual effect of hiding their true organic nature.  The armor plating and mechanical implements grafted onto their bodies actually act first and foremost as "restraints", although exactly how this works is never elaborated upon.  
==Biology and appearance==
===Anatomy===
Evangelions are often mistaken for giant robots, but as early as [[Episode 02]] Evangelion Unit-01 is seen without its helmet on, revealing that Evangelions are clearly not robots, but cyborgs, living creatures with mechanical components incorporated into their bodies.  


As Adam-based beings, Evangelions are capable of generating an [[A.T. Field]], a super-force field against which conventional attacks are useless. Due to the fact that an A.T. Field is the only thing that can neutralize ''another'' A.T. Field, the Evas are humanity's only means of combating the Angels.
Evangelions are covered from head to toe in metallic plate armor that hide their true organic form, and in part because they have pilots who sit in the cockpit-like [[Entry Plug]], located in their central nervous system. This armor also serves to restrain them and bind them to Nerv's control, and they are restrained heavily at all times when not in combat. Whether the binding armor serves to restrain them physically, or uses some other mechanism to restrict their power, is not fully known as the functioning of the bindings is not elaborated upon within the series. The shoulder pylons serve as part of the restraint system, attaching to external restraints as well as serving as storage for weapons like the [[Progressive Knife]] and Eva-02's spike launcher.


Evangelions are awesomely powerful beings and are, for all intents and purposes, a living God artificially created and wielded by the hands of Man.
An Eva has essentially the same physical form as a normal human, albeit with exaggerated torso/waist proportions and varying head forms. The limbs are identical to human limbs in structure, down to the point of the fingers having fingernails ([[Episode 03]]) and the feet having toes (as seen in [[End of Evangelion]]). Skull shape and features vary from Evangelion to Evangelion. Some of the failed Prototype Evangelions have a skull shape almost identical to that of a human, while the Mass Production Evangelions have no eyes and a vaguely cetacean head form. Production Model Evangelions vary in head shape, as well as in the number of eyes and nostril position. Evangelions do not have a fixed size in the show, and vary in size as the situation demands, going from 40 meters to a towering 200 meters in height.


==Biology==
Evangelions have internal organs including a complete digestive tract, as evidenced by display monitors and Eva-01's attack on Zeruel, and visually seen during the dismemberment of Eva-02. With the exception of Eva-02, which has blue-purple blood, all Evangelions have red blood, which sprays out of wounds in spectacular fashion.
====General====
Evangelions are gigantic humanoid organic creatures, totally covered by external armor plating.  While their "normal" height appears to be around 40 meters, based on the relative size of the entry plugs and people next to Evas, this is not consistent within the series.  There are several scenes where Evangelion height is exaggerated for dramatic effect, at times reaching what would appear to be  a towering 200 meters in height. The shape of an Evangelion's body is fundamentally that of a human being but with strongly exaggerated proportions, such as excessively broad shoulders and highly pinched waists. Evangelions have heavily muscled necks, in particular the Mass Production Evas, which extend their heads further away from their bodies in comparision to the other Evas. Mass Production Evas also have avian-like wings that retract into their backs, which appear to be natural wings of some form rather than artificial.


====Head shape, eye configurations====
===Relative Relation with Angels===
[[Image:19 C338 guooo.jpg|thumb|Eva 01's mouth opening when it goes berserk]] [[Image:02 C257 jaws 2.jpg|thumb|Eva 01's forcibly tearing open its wired-shut jaws]]Eva heads vary wildly in shape, with varying eye configurations. Eva-00 appears to have only a single eye, while Eva-02 has as many as four eyes, and the Mass Production Evangelions appear to have none at all. Some skulls from [[Failed Evangelion Prototypes|failed Evangelions]], seen in ''The End of Evangelion'', look very human-like, while others appear utterly alien. Mass Production Evangelion heads have an overall cetacean appearance.
A most surprising attribute of Evas, are that their entire basis and creation stem from the Angels themselves. Created from the remains of the [[Seed of Life]], [[Adam]] (with the exception of Eva-01, instead made from [[Lilith]]), their massive bodies are formed of [[Particle-Wave Matter]], but their shape appears to be determined genetically rather than through their A.T. Fields since they were born without souls, having their soul inserted in a [[Contact Experiment]] with a human being. With the exception of Eva-00 and possibly the Mass Production Evas, this is always the soul of the pilot's mother.


====Nostril and mouth configurations====
Like Adam and the Angels, all Evangelions have a [[core]], located on the solar plexus region in a similar manner to the more humanoid Angels. Eva-01 uniquely exhibits smaller cores of unknown function: two on either side at the main core's base, and another two positioned above and below axially. Nerv's technology allows the core to be prepared for a Contact Experiment or for piloting. Cores appear to be full of [[LCL]], and it's unknown if they produce their own supply. Despite this, these cores serve only as a holding source for the unit's soul, and while bearing some use, this use is limited, as it can power the Evangelion for a short period of time without the umbilical cable before its complete shutdown. While Angels are gifted with the Fruit of Life, being the S² Engine, Evangelions are incapable of generating an [[S² Engine]], which these cores are used to store them in; although later in the series, Eva-01 acquires one and Mass Production Evangelions are all equipped with them.
Evangelion Unit-01, Unit-02, and Unit-03 all have visible nostril holes on their helmets(very small on Eva-01 and seen in very few cuts), and Eva-01's nostrils are visible in production sketches, their nostrils being placed high on the head and above the eyes. Their actual organic jaw is integrated into their jawline armor, with their real teeth and tongue often covered with external armor that matches their toothy shape. Eva-00 does not have a jawline or nostril holes in its facial armor and does not ever open a visible mouth. It is not even clear if it has a mouth like the other Evas. Mass Production Evangelions have exposed tooth-filled mouths locked in a perpetual grin, surrounded by large red fleshy lips, and have a pronounced underbite.MP Evas also have large gray tongues, and salivate profusely.  


====Hands and Feet====
Like the Angels, Evangelions have regenerative capabilities. It is directly stated that they are capable of regenerating damaged or destroyed organs.{{fact}} Eva-01 in particular has demonstrated extremely fast, controlled regeneration, including the ability to convert foreign biomass to its own. Likewise, Evangelions can lose their limbs or even their head and have them reattached later. 
While Evangelion head configurations vary, Evangelion hands are almost identical to normal human hands, to the point that underneath their armor their organic hands actually have fingernails. It is not entirely clear if Evangelions have toes as their armor forms a single boot around the foot, though there is no reason to presume that they do not.
Eva-02's left leg is ripped off at the knee (which the script attributes to a blasting bolt), after which the torn off leg sinks deeper into the magma of the volcano, presumably beyond all hope of recovery; however, by next episode Eva-02 is seen to be fully repaired with a full left leg. Nerv is either capable of creating replacement limbs for the Evas (as opposed to simply being able to reattach limbs that have been severed), or of making Evas regrow lost limbs from their torso. Its not known how long or difficult of a process this might be, as it's not clear how much time passes between episodes during the fairly standalone "Action Arc" of the series, although in [[Episode 19]],  Eva-00 did not have time to grow a new left arm after the battle with [[Bardiel]], implying that the regenerative process is fairly slow (at least for Eva-00). Like with any Angel, if the core is damaged, the regeneration process is likely slowed further or even negated to the point of the death of the Evangelion.


====Core====
===Creation===
The central power organ of every Evangelion is the [[core]], a spherical red object which Angels also possess.  The [[S² Engine]] of Angels, which grants them unlimited power, is located within their cores, but Evas lack S² Engines in their cores as Nerv could not replicate this exotic power source (in the first set of Evas, though research into this continued until the Mass Production Evas were successfully equipped with S² Engines).  The core is located in the solar plexus region, just below the chest, and is attached to the Eva with what appears like blood vessels or veinous tissue.  As Evangelions are covered in armor and bindings, the core is not visible unless the armor above it is destroyed.  Indeed, that Evas actually possess cores is a secret, as even Nerv Tactical Operations branch commander [[Misato Katsuragi]] had no idea that they possess them (this information was possibly restricted in order to hide this hint about the connection between Evas and Angels from the public).


==Armor Design==
Evangelions seem to be created out a sort of asexual amoeba-like<ref>Bochan_bird: Incidentally, this image of Eva-01 being grown/separated from Lilith matches with the word used in "Air" to describe Eva-01 -- "bunshin".  This word can be used for "clone", but the constituent kanji "bun" (divide) and "shin" (body) also point to the more ameobic-type reproduction of growth and separation."</ref> fission process with either Adam or Lilith, in which the torso of the Eva is 'pulled' out of the Seed; [http://eva.onegeek.org/pipermail/oldeva/2001-August/040203.html Bochan_bird]'s translation of the Japanese liner notes, Genesis 0:12, in the "Eva Tomo no Kai" section:
===Experimental/Production Model Evangelions===
====Torso====
Evangelion torsos are covered with several segments of armor plating.  With the exception of Unit 01's chest, the armor segments all fit into each other due to their downwards-pointed "V"-shapeThey extend forwards to reach a point at the crest of the "V", forming a ridge down the Eva's front.


The "Production Model" Evangelions (Eva 02, Eva 03, and Eva 04) have five armor plates on their torsoThe lowermost segment is elongated downwards to also cover the crotch, above this are two more segments, and all three wrap around the sides of the Eva's body to meet a vertical line of armor segments that cover the spineThe fourth segment from the bottom is the central chest plate, which is somewhat larger than the other segment, and instead of going around the back, terminates where the arm meets the bottom half of the shoulders.  
<blockquote>"[...] Among these are an image of two giants lying stretched out.  These apparently are Lilith and Eva-01 at the stage of the experiment where Yui disappearedBoth are in the condition with most of their lower bodies missing, and the missing lower torsos appear to be joinedYui probably performed contact in the condition with Lilith and Eva-01 joined, and was taken/absorbed into [the Eva]."</blockquote>


Towards the end of this chest segment section on each side, near the shoulders, are small recessed cavities, painted an off-color from the majority of the armor.  Above the central chest segment, the fifth and last armor segment is smaller than the rest and is essentially in the position of the collarbone. Above this, there is a throat-armor region which is not composed of segments like the rest and is colored purple in the Production Model (while light orange on Eva 01 and pink on the MP Evas).  The throat armor section is composed of several sections and seems to be more flexible.
==Interaction and Human Interfacing==
===Naming system===
Evangelion Unit-00 is designated the "Prototype", being the first successful Evangelion in a long line of [[Failed Evangelion Prototypes|failures]]. Evangelion Unit-01 is designated "Test Type", possibly because of its unique method of creation, from [[Lilith]]. Eva-02 was the first "Production Model" Evangelion, and Evangelions 03 to 06 were designated "Production Model". The original Eva-05 and 06 were canceled and scrapped for parts, so the next Evangelions belonged to the "Mass Production Model" of identical Evangelions 05 to 13.


Eva Unit 00, the Prototype, originally had orange armor which was different from the Production Model version.  While it still had five V-shaped armor plates, essentially the smallest top segment had been moved to below the largest chest segment. Instead of having two small recessed cavities near its shoulders, it had two large white bulging armor sections.  The largest segment of chest armor was more compact and bulky as it was physically higher on Eva 00's chest.  These altered top two segments do not extend directly to the shoulder, but instead to the white armor bulge which itself touched the shoulder. After Eva 00 was heavily damaged in its first battle, against the Angel [[Ramiel]], it had to be heavily repaired and partially rebuilt, and it was outfitted with new blue armor which is identical to the armor used by the Production Model Evas in all aspects (save for the head).  
Eva-00 is referred to as "Zerogoki", which literally translates into "Zero Number Machine" (Although a loanword from English, Zero in Japanese is not pronounced the same as Zero in English) and Eva-01 as "Shogoki", literally "First Number Machine" as opposed to "One Number Machine". From Eva-02 (Nigoki, "Two Number Machine") onwards, the "#numeral Number Machine"''(-goki)'' convention is followed. Eva-00, 01 and 02 use the Kanji numerals for zero, one and two respectively. Eva-03 onwards are named with roman numerals instead.  


The Test-type Eva Unit 01's body armor is notably distinct from the Production Model armor: it only had three V-shaped armor plates below the chest (identical to those used by the other Evas), above which instead of having the V-shaped chest segment and collarbone segment, it has a single larger plate of armor which resembles pectoral muscles.  It has a light blue section of armor overlaid into it in which three holes are located on each side.
===Evangelion Pilots===
The Evangelion has been imbued with the soul of its pilot's mother.  Whether the soul or the pilot is chosen first is unknown.  A pilot can easily synch only with a compatable soul.  Synchronization depends upon the pilot's psychological condition. Synchronization rate and performance can be pulled down when the pilot is emotionally distressed and increase under duress or anger, reaching a high when in battle rage.


====Limbs====
In [[Episode 14]], Ritsuko's "mutual compatibility experiment" marked the first time that it was attempted to switch Eva pilots between Evangelions.  Rei could synch with Eva-01 fairly well, but when Shinji tried to synch with Eva-00, it went berserk. Evangelions are thus permanently associated with exclusively one pilot, and while Ritsuko considered the experiment enough of a success to begin work on the Dummy Plug system, pilots are never really switched between Evas in the series.<ref>Eva-00 and Eva-01 are said to have "very similar personal data patterns"; Rei's synch rate with Eva 01 is almost the same as it was with Eva-00, and Shinji's synch ratio with Eva-00 is only slightly lower than what it normally is with Eva-01.  However, Misato says that she thinks Eva-02 would definitely be incompatible:  why?  Further, it is strange that ''Misato'' is the one thinking this.  It's been implied that Misato does not really understand the true inner workings of the Evangelions, that they each contain a human soul.  If Rei, hypothetically, is synchronizing well with Eva-01 because she is a clone of Yui Ikari, who's soul is contained in Eva-01, Misato ''wouldn't'' know it at this point.  So if Eva-02 probably wouldn't be interchangeable because its soul would be unrelated to another pilot...why is Misato, who doesn't know Evas contain souls at all, the one thinking this?  There is always the possibility that the director for the episode just wanted to vary up the dialogue and gave Misato a line which was actually better suited to Ritsuko:  technically, Ritsuko is the only person in the room who knows the true nature about Evas and the souls they contain, and only giving relevant dialogue like that only to Ritsuko would have basically amount to a monologue by Dr. Akagi.
Special armor hardpoints have been added over the knuckles of Evangelions in addition to the standard external armor covering the rest of its body. Even bigger additional armor hardpoints are added over the thumb and index finger knuckles. 
*What makes it even stranger is that Misato was with Asuka and Shinji in [[Episode 08]], where both of them broke their synch records with Eva-02. Aside from the initial problems with Shinji "thinking in Japanese", there seems to have been no problem at all with Shinji synching with Eva-02, and if Misato herself noted it, why would she suddenly dismiss Shinji as being incompatible with Eva-02?</ref>


Evas have an extension of armor coming off of the top of their shin, which extends in front of and protects the kneecap when the leg is in a locked positionVery short "fins" of armor also extend along the ventral side of the arms, from the base of the wrist to just before the elbowThey do not extend over the elbow, and seem to just be an added measure of armored protection for the side of the arm which is typically raised to block incoming blowsThese short armor ridges on the edges of the forearm are actually quite small, to the point that they are not animated into many scenes.  Eva 00's original orange Prototype armor had much larger armor ridges on its arms, which besides extending further away from the body, actually did extend over the elbows. All Evangelions also have a section of armor above the front of their ankle, to protect the joint.   
===The Effect of Damage to the Evas upon their Pilots===
*An Eva pilot feels everything their Evangelion feels when synchronized with the Eva, experiencing the pain of injuries the Eva sustains, i.e. Shinji feels like his left arm has been broken when Eva 01's arm is brokenJust exactly what is the real extent of these injuries?
**Apparently, Eva pilots feel the pain of injuries but do not actually ''sustain'' these injuries:  Ritsuko points out to Shinji that "That's not your arm" when he feels the pain of Eva 01's arm being brokenSimilarly, in [[Episode 10]] Eva 02's left leg below the knee is completely bitten off, but Asuka's leg does not just spontaneously fall off as a result.  Also, in [[Episode 19]] both of Eva 02's arms are cut off, but Asuka's arms do not physically fall off.  Even in this episode, Eva 01 is shot through the head, destroying its eye (which it later regenerates) but Shinji does not instantly lose an eyeThe pilots appear to experience the pain and nervous system shock (which can actually result in severe forms of injury nonetheless) of injuries the Evas sustain, but do not ''actually'' suffer these injuries themselves.  That said, it appears that if an Evangelion is severely damaged enough (even if the Entry Plug containing the pilot is not directly damaged itself), the pilot can indeed die from physical shockFor example, in Episode 19 Misato shouts for technicians to quickly cut the synchronization connection between Asuka and Eva 02 moments before the Angel [[Zeruel]] decapitates Eva 02, the sheer pain and shock of which would probably have killed Asuka.  However, at odds with this is that during [[The End of Evangelion]] pilots appear to ''actually'' suffer the same physical injuries that their Eva Units suffer.   This may be explained by the fact that in ''The End of Evangelion'', the pilots were highly synchronized with their Evangelion UnitsAt an abnormally high synchronization ratio, it appears that pilots will really suffer injuries an Eva suffers.


====Shoulder and Vertebrae====
==Mechanics, Functions, and Technological Aspects==
===Piloting Modifications===
All Evas have an artificial section of spine, which is left incomplete by a circular gap that the [[Entry Plug]] fits in. Inserting the entry plug completes the nerve connections from the head to the the rest of the body. As an added precaution, a [[Entry Plug#Signal Termination Plug|Signal Termination Plug]] is often kept in place of the Entry Plug to prevent neural impulses from flowing. While in operation, the entry plug is kept covered by a flush-fitting armor plate, although it can be lifted to eject the entry plug in an emergency.


There is a vertical row of four armored vertebrae column segments along the backs of Evas, which are uniformly gray on all models except the MP Evas. The first segment is right above a small segment of armor in the tail-bone region, while the rest of the armor on the lower back extends from the front of the torso.
[[Image:01 C300 eva01-plug.jpg|thumb|Eva 01's back armor retracted to insert the Entry Plug]]


The top of the four pieces of spinal-column armor has a large electrical plug in it which the external power cable is inserted into.  Above this the back armor comes to a point rising away from the body, which has a segment in it which slides backwards to allow insertion of the Entry Plug. Another small segment in front of this one slides foward when the Entry Plug is inserted (and the head is positioned downwards).  
The end of the Entry Plug is inserted into the core, which has a cylindrical cavity drilled out to accommodate it. The depth of the Plug inside the core can vary according to the synchronization rate and other factors, such as the Eva going berserk. The Entry Plug is flooded with LCL, which is either generated by the core itself or is pumped in from external storage before being processed and purified by the life-support systems. It serves to both provide oxygen and establish the link between the Entry Plug's occupants and the Eva, although the Interface Headset would appear to be necessary to actually pilot the Eva.  


One large piece of armor plating extends around the top and back of an Eva's torso (above the differently colored throat-armor), also along the back of the neck.  The abdominal plates wrap around to the spine at an upward angle, and the chest armor goes to meet the shoulders, so another armor plate fills the small gap slightly below the shoulders which is on the reverse side of the chest plate; these are somewhat blocky, and colored black in all models. Separate armor plates also cover the top of the base of the shoulders (the actual top of the shoulder is directly covered by the shoulder pylon).  The shoulder pylon, top back armor plate, throat armor, and the top segment of chest armor all touch this piece of shoulder armor.
In addition, there appears to be an extensive computer interface between the pilot and the Eva, as the system must be set to the pilot's native language (the language in which the pilot thinks, see note below) to allow the Eva to activate and be piloted. It might also link to the viewscreens in the Eva cockpit (Which can flicker on and off depending on the activation state of the Eva).  


===Mass Production Evangelions===
The shoulder-armor pylons on Evangelions do not actually contain any biological part of the Eva, underneath the armorThe entire pylon is just an extension of the Eva's outer armor.  As seen in [[Episode 14]], the pylons can actually be ''removed'' should the need arise, in this case to fit them into external restraints; besides Eva-00, both Eva-01 and Eva-02, which ''always'' had shoulder-armor pylons, are here seen without them.
The Mass Production model Evangelions have drastically different designsTheir torso body armor is composed of only four armor plates, not 5, with each segment being larger as a result to make up the difference.  The plates are also more rounded due to the smaller angle with less plates.


The MP Evas notably possess no shoulder pylons, which all other Evas are characteristically outfitted with, as this would interfere with their wings.  While they still have kneecap-protecting armor, they appear to not possess armor ridges on the edges of their forearms at all.  Overall, their upper torso is much slighter than the broad-chested earlier models, but they have proportionately more developed hips and legs; it's possible that their reduced upper body mass is to compensate for the mass of their wings. 
===Operational Capabilities and Equipment===


The MP Evas have no need for an umbilical cord plug in their back due to their possession of S² Engines, so they only have three armored vertebrae segments in their back (which are colored white not gray), with the top vertebrae armor segment missing to make room for the the stubs where the MP Evas' wings retract into their bodiesThe small black blocker armor pieces on the part of the back opposite the chest plate in earlier Evas has also been removed to make room for these wing stubs.
Evas run off power from an umbilical cable, attached to a socket in the back of the artificial spine segment. How electrical energy is converted for the Eva's usage, or if the Eva indeed is capable of motion off raw electrical energy alone, is not elaborated in the show. If the cable is broken or disconnected (For increased speed and mobility), Evas have up to five minutes of [[Internal Battery]] power in reserve (Alternatively quoted as one minute at maximum and five minutes with gain- varying depending upon plot)<ref>Ritsuko explains in Episode 03 that Evangelions have limited [[Internal battery|internal battery]] power supply, and must rely on [[Umbilical Cable]]s to supply external power.  Ritsuko states that "In emergencies, it can switch to an internal battery with an active life of one minute at full power, and no more than five minutes using gain mode."  This "one minute" limitation mentioned here is disregarded in all subsequent episodes, except [[Episode 09]].  For all practical purposes, the Evas have a ''five'' minute operational time limit using battery power, not just one minute.  In [[Episode 11]] it is revealed that external batteries can be connected to all 3 Evas to extend their operational time limit when they are not connected to an [[Umbilical Cable]]They connect to an Eva's shoulder armor fins, and are so long that they extend below the hips.  Presumably these are not normally attached to an Eva because they restrict its mobility.</ref>.


The movable armor segment allowing insertion of the Entry Plug is located above this, however while on other Evas this is flush with the armor located in front of it, on the MP Evas it points upwards (probably so as not to interfere with the wings). Instead of having a large segment that retracts backwards and a smaller one retracting forwards on other Evas, on MP Evas there is only one armor segment that moves backwards to expose the Entry Plug.  It is thus almost level with the back of the head and is far more prominentMP Evas are missing the section of shoulder-armor next to where the shoulder pylons would be, increasing their overall streamlined appearance.
They are capable of creating protective A.T. Fields as well as eroding the A.T. Fields of Angels, and have tremendous strength in addition. In complete contrast to their size and mass, Evas are capable of acrobatic feats like drop-kicks and enormous spinning leaps into the air. Performance rises with increased synchronization, and an Eva in battle rage can inflict crippling physical damage on an Angel or even another Evangelion, or cast its A.T. Field as an offensive weapon. The height of Eva capabilities is the [[Berserk]] mode, when the resident soul has taken control from the pilot.  It is characterized by savage, animal-like behavior. A berserker Evangelion has greatly enhanced physical strength, and, at the height of berserker mode, can run without any electrical power at all<ref>Whenever an Evangelion screams when it goes "berserk" in the series, it is part of the episode's dialogue track, not just the background effects sound trackAs a result, when episodes such as this one are translated into different languages (such as the ADV Films English dub), the Evangelion screams have to actually be re-produced by different voice actors.  The result is that Eva screams sound noticeably different between the original Japanese and English dub versions.</ref>.


==Internal Power Limitations==
Evangelions have weapons and other equipment loaded on for combat purposes. Evas have computerized targeting systems, Radar and Sonar, as well as assorted weaponry.


Unlike Adam and the Angels, experimental and early production Evas do not have S² Engines in their cores, and are thus not capable of continuous operation, or sustaining high power levels indefinitely, relying instead on external power supplied through an [[umbilical cable]] running into their back.  This can be removed for greater mobility (or can be severed from battle damage), after which an Eva has to rely on internal battery power. Internal battery power is stated in [[Episode 05]] as being able to supply power only for "one minute at maximum usage or a maximum of five minutes with gain", however the one-minute rule is either applied or ignored as a particular dramatic situation deems in the course of the series, and was really only observed in the battles against [[Gaghiel]] and [[Israfel]] (even being ignored in the battle against [[Shamshel]] which occurred in the same episode that the power limitation rule was explained). For all intents and purposes, Evangelions have five minutes of internal power if their external power cable is disconnected. 
All Evangelions (With the exception of Eva-00 in its original armor) have a prog knife stored inside their left shoulder pylon, and Eva-02 has a spike launcher in its right shoulder pylon. Eva-00's shoulder pylons have a rocket system that allows the Eva to slow down when making large jumps (or presumably increases jump height as well).


Extra batteries can be attached to Evas, on their shoulder pylons, which give them a greater operational time period. These are used when fighting [[Matarael]] during the blackout in [[Episode 10]], but they are not seen again and neither is the extension of the time period granted by these batteries specified.  It is possible that these external batteries limit maneuverability and are thus not often used.  Indeed, the only times that umbilical power cables are intentionally disconnected from Evas is when Nerv wants them to have maximum maneuverability for a mission, so it wouldn't make sense to remove the umbilical cables only to then hamper them with a bulky external battery. 
==Ultimate Purpose==
Although Evangelions were supposedly created to combat the Angel threat, their most important function (and one of their greatest secrets) is to initiate a [[Third Impact]] to evolve humanity further. A few continuities of these purposes exist:


Exactly how much electrical power is required by an Evangelion is never mentioned, although Eva-02 can operate normally when linked to the nuclear reactor of a ''Nimitz''-class aircraft carrier. Eva-01, and for a brief interval, Eva-02, utterly ignore all power supply limitations when they go [[berserk]]. Even senior Nerv personnel like Science department chief Dr. Akagi are clueless on how a berserk Eva can operate without any power supply at all, so an Evangelion either has some form of emergency power supply organ or organs whose method of operation is beyond Nerv's knowledge and understanding, or the core itself is capable of generating vast quantities of energy for a short time under extreme conditions, while not capable of sustaining such energy levels without an S<sup>2</sup> engine.
===Neon Genesis Evangelion 2===
Upon the cloning of Adam's remains through [[Project E]], to recreate Adam through the Evangelions, [[Seele]], with the knowledge of the Dead Sea Scrolls, desired to unite both Fruits of [[Fruit of Knowledge|Knowledge]] (through mankind's study of the workings, biology, and physics of the First Ancestral Race and the Angels, were able to create a host body through genetics and cloning resulting in the Evas) and [[Fruit of Life|Life]] (the S² Engine, the Angel's basis for their incredibly monstrous powers), they would then destroy the Lance of Longinous, having host bodies rivaling the powers of Adam and the First Ancestral Race, which they would transfer their souls into, and become god like beings for time immemorial for the sake of proving "humanity's pinnacle dominance".


==Abilities==
===Rebuild of Evangelion===


Despite being 40 meters in height, an Evangelion shows incredible agility, capable of aerial acrobatics or even classical dance movements. In addition, their raw strength is fearsome to behold, an Eva being capable of dismembering some of the Angels or even a fellow Evangelion. Evas can leap over enormous distances, perform aerial drop-kicks, and, with A.T. Field assistance, sprint at extreme speeds.
==Creation and Design Concept==


Evangelions, like Angels, have an A.T. Field, and can use it to erode Angel A.T. Fields as well as using them as physical barriers to damage. [[Berserk]] Evangelion Units can use an A.T. Field offensively as well- a berserk Eva-01 savagely mauls Zeruel with an A.T. Field attack, and Asuka/Eva-02 in battle rage use an A.T. Field to destroy attacking JSSDF aircraft.
[[Image:Anno-eva-image-sketch.jpg|thumb|125px|right|Evangelions as Oni]]
The Evangelions were designed after a specific type of Japanese monster called "Oni", commonly translated into "demon" or "ogre". In the words of Anno himself[http://aoianime.animehq.hu/evangelion/index.php?page=interanno]-


In addition, Evangelions are armed with all manner of weaponry, ranging from melee weapons such as the progressive knife and the spear-like sonic glaive to enlarged versions of assault rifles and rocket launchers. Conventional ranged weaponry, including artillery and missiles, is rarely effective against Angels due to their A.T. Fields, although the combination of neutralizing an Angel's A.T. Field before directly attacking has proven effective on several Angels.
::''"There's a monster in Japan called the Oni; it has two horns sticking out of its head and the overall image of the Eva is based on that. I also wanted to give the impression that beneath this ‘robot monster’ image is not so much a robot, but a giant human."''


One of the most destinctive features of the Evangelions are their "shoulder pylons"; large plates of armor which look like fins stick out of their shoulders, which seem to protect their necks and heads from blows from the side.  The plyons are not part of the Eva itself but are part of the restraint system, actually extending around the arm. They also serve as attachment points for external batteries, and the left-hand pylon houses an Evangelion's progressive knife as well. [[Image:03 C284 progknife 1.jpg|thumb|Eva 01 retrieving its prog knife out of the hidden cavity in its left shoulder pylon]]
Corresponding with Anno, Ikuto Yamashita worked to develop the design of the Evangelions (With the exception of the Mass Production Evangelions and the altered Eva-02 design used in End of Evangelion). In his words-


Evangelion Unit-00, the prototype, did not originally have shoulder pylons but was retrofitted with them while being repaired from severe damage incurred in Episode 06, and has retro-rockets fitted within its new pylons. Eva-02's right-hand pylon houses a spike launcher, which is used to gruesome effect in Episode 25'. Pylons can be removed, as seen during the synchronization experiments in Episode 14 when the pylons are removed to fit the Evas with wall-mounted restraints. Eva-01 bursts off her pylons in both Episodes 19 and 26', when attaining her true power levels. Mass Production Evangelion Units have no shoulder pylons, having retractable wings in their place instead.
::''"So why did Evangelion wind up with that shape?" … The director instructed me to make, “the image of [an oni].” A giant just barely under the control of mankind. I get the feeling I've seen that correlation before … The image I had for the design concept was the fairy tale, Gulliver's Travels. Enormous Power Restrained. … What I came up with was a giant that looks like a relief on a wall. … I happily discarded the efficiency and feeling of giant size that you can guess at by sight alone. … after the designs were handed in, it caused a stir — even among the staff, positive and negative opinions were flying. And from here on out, I imagine it will cause a stir among comic readers and animation viewers."''


==Origin==
[[Image:Yamashita_eva_procession_drawings.gif|thumb|right|150px|Head changes during design]]


The Evangelions are essentially clones of Adam's genetic material, created by Nerv, which then had cybernetic components grafted onto them.  They were apparently using the recovered embryo of Adam as a genetic template. 


How an Evangelion is created is not specified in detail but Evangelion Unit-01 is unique in being "made" from Lilith in some way. Whether Eva-01 is a clone of Lilith or whether Lilith was merely a "surrogate mother" with genetic material from Adam "gestated" within her is unspecified. The only clue we get to really explaining this statement is a still-shot flashed in [[Episode 23]] of the creation of Eva Unit 01, in which it literally tears itself away from Lilith's lower body, leaving tattered ropes of flesh behind; a mockery of the natural birth process.  It is heavily implied that this is how Lilith lost her legs; their biomass was used to form Eva 01.
Instead of being boxy and angular like previous mecha such as the Gundams, Evangelion design is characterized by smooth curves and flowing lines, giving the impression not of a robot, but of a giant human being.


:''For more in-depth analysis, see "[[Theory and Analysis:Eva-01 and Lilith|Theory & Analysis: Eva-01 and Lilith]]."
The final Evangelion design is the result of a series of changes throughout early production. Most notably, the more "demonic" aspects of the Evangelions have largely been removed, such as the large horns (Although the Eva-02 design in Rebuild has two small horns on top of its head, suggesting a restoration of some of the older aspects of the design). Head design, in particular, has been subject to a lot of changes.


==Piloting==
Pilots are more or less dedicated exclusively to their particular Evangelion unit. A mutual compatability experiment in Episode 14 between Shinji and Rei was promising, but it came to an end when Eva-00 went berserk with Shinji inside.  [[Image:01 C300 eva01-plug.jpg|thumb|Eva 01's back armor retracted to insert the Entry Plug]]
Pilots use an [[Interface Headset]] and a [[Plug suit]], and sit in an [[Entry Plug]] which extends through the back of the Eva and close to (or possibly into) the core.  This allows the pilot to "synchronize" with the Eva's mind, controlling its basic movements as if they were the pilots' own just by thinking about them.  More complex tasks such as handling weapons, etc. are performed using a set of handle-bar controls.  Pilots also have computerized sights useable in a special drop-down scope, used for long-range, precision positron weapons.  The Entry plug is flooded with [[LCL]] to aid the synchronization.  LCL is an oxygenated liquid which the pilot can breath by taking it into the lungs, and is in original actually the blood of the Angel [[Lilith]]. 
How a pilot is chosen is not specified, but it appears that all prospective candidates must be 14 years old and have no living mother.
==Naming system==
Evangelions were numbered from Evangelion Unit-00 onwards, the prototype Eva-00 being the first successful Eva in a very long line of (unnumbered) failures.  Eva 01 is the "Test Type", possibly because it is the only one derived from Lilith.  Eva 02 was the "First Production Model" Eva.  Eva 03 and Eva 04 were sister units, identical copies; they are also called "Production Model" though there were some slight changes to the design (Production Model variant-B?). The cancelled Eva-05 and Eva-06 would presumably have been the Third Production Model. Finally came the Mass Production Evangelions. 
Eva-00, 01 and 02 use the Kanji numerals for zero, one and two respectively. Eva-03 onwards are named with roman numerals instead. All of them follow the -gouki system of numbering.


==Notes==
==Notes==
*According to Ritsuko in [[Episode 01]], the formal full name for the Evangelion Units (almost never actually used) is "Ultimate All-Purpose Humanoid Decisive Battle Weapon: Evangelion".
*Apparently, the internal controls of an Evangelion which interact directly with the pilot's mind which the pilot is synchronized with the Eva are set to the native language of the pilot, the "base thought language" which the Eva's systems are set to.  For example, Shinji's native language is Japanese, and therefore he "thinks in" Japanese, so Eva-01 is set to Japanese.  The language mode of Eva-02, however, is set to German, because Asuka's native language is German and she "thinks in" German.  However, Asuka speaks fluent Japanese, so she can apparently set the language mode to Japanese, but still function well enough (meanwhile, Shinji doesn't understand German at all, so he cannot function in an Eva set to anything other than Japanese).
*Ritsuko explicitly states that only 14 year old children can pilot Evangelions, but does not elaborate on why exactly this is so. 
**Possibly it is because hormonal changes in late puberty make it impossible for adults to synchronize with Evangelions, but they want the oldest possible child pilots (i.e. if the pilot has to be before the later stages of puberty, they'd rather use a 14 year old than a four year old).   
**All Evangelion pilots were conspicuously born in the year following [[Second Impact]]. There might be a connection with this.
**The pilot's mothers all died or were absorbed when the pilots were infants. The system may rely on suspended maternal instincts.
**Note that any supposition involving mothers will fail for Rei, as the [[Theory_and_Analysis:Eva-00's_Soul|soul in Eva-00]] is almost certainly [[Rei#Rei I|Rei I]].
*Evas are referred to as "copies" of Adam, and, in the [[Classified Information (Translation)|Classified Information]] files, by the awkward phrase "clonal regenerations" (in reference to the "Adam Revival Project", or [[Project E]]). In real life use, "clone" means an ''exact'' genetic copy, which, considering the differences the Evas exhibit amongst themselves, they clearly cannot be.
*Evas are referred to as "copies" of Adam, and, in the [[Classified Information (Translation)|Classified Information]] files, by the awkward phrase "clonal regenerations" (in reference to the "Adam Revival Project", or [[Project E]]). In real life use, "clone" means an ''exact'' genetic copy, which, considering the differences the Evas exhibit amongst themselves, they clearly cannot be.
*According to Ritsuko in [[Episode 01]], the formal full name for the Evangelion Units (almost never actually used) is "Ultimate All-Purpose Humanoid Decisive Battle Weapon: Evangelion".
* The term "Eva" is derived from the name "Eve" --in fact, this is how Eve is pronounced in most languages. In the Book of Genesis, Eve was created from Adam's rib, and the Evas were created as copies of Adam.


==See Also:==
==See Also:==
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**[[Evangelion ranged weapons]]
**[[Evangelion ranged weapons]]
*[[Evangelion equipment]]
*[[Evangelion equipment]]
*[[S² Engine]]
*[[Evangelion Power Sources]]
*[[Berserk]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{-}}


{{Evangelion List}}
{{Evangelion List}}
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Evangelions]]
[[Category:Evangelions]]
[[Category:Religious and Esoteric References]]

Latest revision as of 18:29, 17 July 2019

For the Evangelions of the Rebuild of Evangelion continuity, please see: Evangelions (Rebuild).


"When Aoba called B Wing's construction sloppy he hadn't seen anything like THIS!"
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An Evangelion (エヴァンゲリオン), or Eva for short, is a giant, cybernetically modified humanoid entity created by the organizations Gehirn and its successor Nerv. While the Evas' ostensible function is to serve as general-purpose weapons against the threat of the Angels and prevent the catastrophic event known as Third Impact, a more sinister truth to their existence hides beneath the surface.

Biology and appearance

Anatomy

Evangelions are often mistaken for giant robots, but as early as Episode 02 Evangelion Unit-01 is seen without its helmet on, revealing that Evangelions are clearly not robots, but cyborgs, living creatures with mechanical components incorporated into their bodies.

Evangelions are covered from head to toe in metallic plate armor that hide their true organic form, and in part because they have pilots who sit in the cockpit-like Entry Plug, located in their central nervous system. This armor also serves to restrain them and bind them to Nerv's control, and they are restrained heavily at all times when not in combat. Whether the binding armor serves to restrain them physically, or uses some other mechanism to restrict their power, is not fully known as the functioning of the bindings is not elaborated upon within the series. The shoulder pylons serve as part of the restraint system, attaching to external restraints as well as serving as storage for weapons like the Progressive Knife and Eva-02's spike launcher.

An Eva has essentially the same physical form as a normal human, albeit with exaggerated torso/waist proportions and varying head forms. The limbs are identical to human limbs in structure, down to the point of the fingers having fingernails (Episode 03) and the feet having toes (as seen in End of Evangelion). Skull shape and features vary from Evangelion to Evangelion. Some of the failed Prototype Evangelions have a skull shape almost identical to that of a human, while the Mass Production Evangelions have no eyes and a vaguely cetacean head form. Production Model Evangelions vary in head shape, as well as in the number of eyes and nostril position. Evangelions do not have a fixed size in the show, and vary in size as the situation demands, going from 40 meters to a towering 200 meters in height.

Evangelions have internal organs including a complete digestive tract, as evidenced by display monitors and Eva-01's attack on Zeruel, and visually seen during the dismemberment of Eva-02. With the exception of Eva-02, which has blue-purple blood, all Evangelions have red blood, which sprays out of wounds in spectacular fashion.

Relative Relation with Angels

A most surprising attribute of Evas, are that their entire basis and creation stem from the Angels themselves. Created from the remains of the Seed of Life, Adam (with the exception of Eva-01, instead made from Lilith), their massive bodies are formed of Particle-Wave Matter, but their shape appears to be determined genetically rather than through their A.T. Fields since they were born without souls, having their soul inserted in a Contact Experiment with a human being. With the exception of Eva-00 and possibly the Mass Production Evas, this is always the soul of the pilot's mother.

Like Adam and the Angels, all Evangelions have a core, located on the solar plexus region in a similar manner to the more humanoid Angels. Eva-01 uniquely exhibits smaller cores of unknown function: two on either side at the main core's base, and another two positioned above and below axially. Nerv's technology allows the core to be prepared for a Contact Experiment or for piloting. Cores appear to be full of LCL, and it's unknown if they produce their own supply. Despite this, these cores serve only as a holding source for the unit's soul, and while bearing some use, this use is limited, as it can power the Evangelion for a short period of time without the umbilical cable before its complete shutdown. While Angels are gifted with the Fruit of Life, being the S² Engine, Evangelions are incapable of generating an S² Engine, which these cores are used to store them in; although later in the series, Eva-01 acquires one and Mass Production Evangelions are all equipped with them.

Like the Angels, Evangelions have regenerative capabilities. It is directly stated that they are capable of regenerating damaged or destroyed organs.[Source needed] Eva-01 in particular has demonstrated extremely fast, controlled regeneration, including the ability to convert foreign biomass to its own. Likewise, Evangelions can lose their limbs or even their head and have them reattached later. Eva-02's left leg is ripped off at the knee (which the script attributes to a blasting bolt), after which the torn off leg sinks deeper into the magma of the volcano, presumably beyond all hope of recovery; however, by next episode Eva-02 is seen to be fully repaired with a full left leg. Nerv is either capable of creating replacement limbs for the Evas (as opposed to simply being able to reattach limbs that have been severed), or of making Evas regrow lost limbs from their torso. Its not known how long or difficult of a process this might be, as it's not clear how much time passes between episodes during the fairly standalone "Action Arc" of the series, although in Episode 19, Eva-00 did not have time to grow a new left arm after the battle with Bardiel, implying that the regenerative process is fairly slow (at least for Eva-00). Like with any Angel, if the core is damaged, the regeneration process is likely slowed further or even negated to the point of the death of the Evangelion.

Creation

Evangelions seem to be created out a sort of asexual amoeba-like[1] fission process with either Adam or Lilith, in which the torso of the Eva is 'pulled' out of the Seed; Bochan_bird's translation of the Japanese liner notes, Genesis 0:12, in the "Eva Tomo no Kai" section:

"[...] Among these are an image of two giants lying stretched out. These apparently are Lilith and Eva-01 at the stage of the experiment where Yui disappeared. Both are in the condition with most of their lower bodies missing, and the missing lower torsos appear to be joined. Yui probably performed contact in the condition with Lilith and Eva-01 joined, and was taken/absorbed into [the Eva]."

Interaction and Human Interfacing

Naming system

Evangelion Unit-00 is designated the "Prototype", being the first successful Evangelion in a long line of failures. Evangelion Unit-01 is designated "Test Type", possibly because of its unique method of creation, from Lilith. Eva-02 was the first "Production Model" Evangelion, and Evangelions 03 to 06 were designated "Production Model". The original Eva-05 and 06 were canceled and scrapped for parts, so the next Evangelions belonged to the "Mass Production Model" of identical Evangelions 05 to 13.

Eva-00 is referred to as "Zerogoki", which literally translates into "Zero Number Machine" (Although a loanword from English, Zero in Japanese is not pronounced the same as Zero in English) and Eva-01 as "Shogoki", literally "First Number Machine" as opposed to "One Number Machine". From Eva-02 (Nigoki, "Two Number Machine") onwards, the "#numeral Number Machine"(-goki) convention is followed. Eva-00, 01 and 02 use the Kanji numerals for zero, one and two respectively. Eva-03 onwards are named with roman numerals instead.

Evangelion Pilots

The Evangelion has been imbued with the soul of its pilot's mother. Whether the soul or the pilot is chosen first is unknown. A pilot can easily synch only with a compatable soul. Synchronization depends upon the pilot's psychological condition. Synchronization rate and performance can be pulled down when the pilot is emotionally distressed and increase under duress or anger, reaching a high when in battle rage.

In Episode 14, Ritsuko's "mutual compatibility experiment" marked the first time that it was attempted to switch Eva pilots between Evangelions. Rei could synch with Eva-01 fairly well, but when Shinji tried to synch with Eva-00, it went berserk. Evangelions are thus permanently associated with exclusively one pilot, and while Ritsuko considered the experiment enough of a success to begin work on the Dummy Plug system, pilots are never really switched between Evas in the series.[2]

The Effect of Damage to the Evas upon their Pilots

  • An Eva pilot feels everything their Evangelion feels when synchronized with the Eva, experiencing the pain of injuries the Eva sustains, i.e. Shinji feels like his left arm has been broken when Eva 01's arm is broken. Just exactly what is the real extent of these injuries?
    • Apparently, Eva pilots feel the pain of injuries but do not actually sustain these injuries: Ritsuko points out to Shinji that "That's not your arm" when he feels the pain of Eva 01's arm being broken. Similarly, in Episode 10 Eva 02's left leg below the knee is completely bitten off, but Asuka's leg does not just spontaneously fall off as a result. Also, in Episode 19 both of Eva 02's arms are cut off, but Asuka's arms do not physically fall off. Even in this episode, Eva 01 is shot through the head, destroying its eye (which it later regenerates) but Shinji does not instantly lose an eye. The pilots appear to experience the pain and nervous system shock (which can actually result in severe forms of injury nonetheless) of injuries the Evas sustain, but do not actually suffer these injuries themselves. That said, it appears that if an Evangelion is severely damaged enough (even if the Entry Plug containing the pilot is not directly damaged itself), the pilot can indeed die from physical shock. For example, in Episode 19 Misato shouts for technicians to quickly cut the synchronization connection between Asuka and Eva 02 moments before the Angel Zeruel decapitates Eva 02, the sheer pain and shock of which would probably have killed Asuka. However, at odds with this is that during The End of Evangelion pilots appear to actually suffer the same physical injuries that their Eva Units suffer. This may be explained by the fact that in The End of Evangelion, the pilots were highly synchronized with their Evangelion Units. At an abnormally high synchronization ratio, it appears that pilots will really suffer injuries an Eva suffers.

Mechanics, Functions, and Technological Aspects

Piloting Modifications

All Evas have an artificial section of spine, which is left incomplete by a circular gap that the Entry Plug fits in. Inserting the entry plug completes the nerve connections from the head to the the rest of the body. As an added precaution, a Signal Termination Plug is often kept in place of the Entry Plug to prevent neural impulses from flowing. While in operation, the entry plug is kept covered by a flush-fitting armor plate, although it can be lifted to eject the entry plug in an emergency.

Eva 01's back armor retracted to insert the Entry Plug

The end of the Entry Plug is inserted into the core, which has a cylindrical cavity drilled out to accommodate it. The depth of the Plug inside the core can vary according to the synchronization rate and other factors, such as the Eva going berserk. The Entry Plug is flooded with LCL, which is either generated by the core itself or is pumped in from external storage before being processed and purified by the life-support systems. It serves to both provide oxygen and establish the link between the Entry Plug's occupants and the Eva, although the Interface Headset would appear to be necessary to actually pilot the Eva.

In addition, there appears to be an extensive computer interface between the pilot and the Eva, as the system must be set to the pilot's native language (the language in which the pilot thinks, see note below) to allow the Eva to activate and be piloted. It might also link to the viewscreens in the Eva cockpit (Which can flicker on and off depending on the activation state of the Eva).

The shoulder-armor pylons on Evangelions do not actually contain any biological part of the Eva, underneath the armor. The entire pylon is just an extension of the Eva's outer armor. As seen in Episode 14, the pylons can actually be removed should the need arise, in this case to fit them into external restraints; besides Eva-00, both Eva-01 and Eva-02, which always had shoulder-armor pylons, are here seen without them.

Operational Capabilities and Equipment

Evas run off power from an umbilical cable, attached to a socket in the back of the artificial spine segment. How electrical energy is converted for the Eva's usage, or if the Eva indeed is capable of motion off raw electrical energy alone, is not elaborated in the show. If the cable is broken or disconnected (For increased speed and mobility), Evas have up to five minutes of Internal Battery power in reserve (Alternatively quoted as one minute at maximum and five minutes with gain- varying depending upon plot)[3].

They are capable of creating protective A.T. Fields as well as eroding the A.T. Fields of Angels, and have tremendous strength in addition. In complete contrast to their size and mass, Evas are capable of acrobatic feats like drop-kicks and enormous spinning leaps into the air. Performance rises with increased synchronization, and an Eva in battle rage can inflict crippling physical damage on an Angel or even another Evangelion, or cast its A.T. Field as an offensive weapon. The height of Eva capabilities is the Berserk mode, when the resident soul has taken control from the pilot. It is characterized by savage, animal-like behavior. A berserker Evangelion has greatly enhanced physical strength, and, at the height of berserker mode, can run without any electrical power at all[4].

Evangelions have weapons and other equipment loaded on for combat purposes. Evas have computerized targeting systems, Radar and Sonar, as well as assorted weaponry.

All Evangelions (With the exception of Eva-00 in its original armor) have a prog knife stored inside their left shoulder pylon, and Eva-02 has a spike launcher in its right shoulder pylon. Eva-00's shoulder pylons have a rocket system that allows the Eva to slow down when making large jumps (or presumably increases jump height as well).

Ultimate Purpose

Although Evangelions were supposedly created to combat the Angel threat, their most important function (and one of their greatest secrets) is to initiate a Third Impact to evolve humanity further. A few continuities of these purposes exist:

Neon Genesis Evangelion 2

Upon the cloning of Adam's remains through Project E, to recreate Adam through the Evangelions, Seele, with the knowledge of the Dead Sea Scrolls, desired to unite both Fruits of Knowledge (through mankind's study of the workings, biology, and physics of the First Ancestral Race and the Angels, were able to create a host body through genetics and cloning resulting in the Evas) and Life (the S² Engine, the Angel's basis for their incredibly monstrous powers), they would then destroy the Lance of Longinous, having host bodies rivaling the powers of Adam and the First Ancestral Race, which they would transfer their souls into, and become god like beings for time immemorial for the sake of proving "humanity's pinnacle dominance".

Rebuild of Evangelion

Creation and Design Concept

Evangelions as Oni

The Evangelions were designed after a specific type of Japanese monster called "Oni", commonly translated into "demon" or "ogre". In the words of Anno himself[1]-

"There's a monster in Japan called the Oni; it has two horns sticking out of its head and the overall image of the Eva is based on that. I also wanted to give the impression that beneath this ‘robot monster’ image is not so much a robot, but a giant human."

Corresponding with Anno, Ikuto Yamashita worked to develop the design of the Evangelions (With the exception of the Mass Production Evangelions and the altered Eva-02 design used in End of Evangelion). In his words-

"So why did Evangelion wind up with that shape?" … The director instructed me to make, “the image of [an oni].” A giant just barely under the control of mankind. I get the feeling I've seen that correlation before … The image I had for the design concept was the fairy tale, Gulliver's Travels. Enormous Power Restrained. … What I came up with was a giant that looks like a relief on a wall. … I happily discarded the efficiency and feeling of giant size that you can guess at by sight alone. … after the designs were handed in, it caused a stir — even among the staff, positive and negative opinions were flying. And from here on out, I imagine it will cause a stir among comic readers and animation viewers."
Head changes during design


Instead of being boxy and angular like previous mecha such as the Gundams, Evangelion design is characterized by smooth curves and flowing lines, giving the impression not of a robot, but of a giant human being.

The final Evangelion design is the result of a series of changes throughout early production. Most notably, the more "demonic" aspects of the Evangelions have largely been removed, such as the large horns (Although the Eva-02 design in Rebuild has two small horns on top of its head, suggesting a restoration of some of the older aspects of the design). Head design, in particular, has been subject to a lot of changes.


Notes

  • According to Ritsuko in Episode 01, the formal full name for the Evangelion Units (almost never actually used) is "Ultimate All-Purpose Humanoid Decisive Battle Weapon: Evangelion".
  • Apparently, the internal controls of an Evangelion which interact directly with the pilot's mind which the pilot is synchronized with the Eva are set to the native language of the pilot, the "base thought language" which the Eva's systems are set to. For example, Shinji's native language is Japanese, and therefore he "thinks in" Japanese, so Eva-01 is set to Japanese. The language mode of Eva-02, however, is set to German, because Asuka's native language is German and she "thinks in" German. However, Asuka speaks fluent Japanese, so she can apparently set the language mode to Japanese, but still function well enough (meanwhile, Shinji doesn't understand German at all, so he cannot function in an Eva set to anything other than Japanese).
  • Ritsuko explicitly states that only 14 year old children can pilot Evangelions, but does not elaborate on why exactly this is so.
    • Possibly it is because hormonal changes in late puberty make it impossible for adults to synchronize with Evangelions, but they want the oldest possible child pilots (i.e. if the pilot has to be before the later stages of puberty, they'd rather use a 14 year old than a four year old).
    • All Evangelion pilots were conspicuously born in the year following Second Impact. There might be a connection with this.
    • The pilot's mothers all died or were absorbed when the pilots were infants. The system may rely on suspended maternal instincts.
    • Note that any supposition involving mothers will fail for Rei, as the soul in Eva-00 is almost certainly Rei I.
  • Evas are referred to as "copies" of Adam, and, in the Classified Information files, by the awkward phrase "clonal regenerations" (in reference to the "Adam Revival Project", or Project E). In real life use, "clone" means an exact genetic copy, which, considering the differences the Evas exhibit amongst themselves, they clearly cannot be.
  • The term "Eva" is derived from the name "Eve" --in fact, this is how Eve is pronounced in most languages. In the Book of Genesis, Eve was created from Adam's rib, and the Evas were created as copies of Adam.

See Also:

References

  1. Bochan_bird: Incidentally, this image of Eva-01 being grown/separated from Lilith matches with the word used in "Air" to describe Eva-01 -- "bunshin". This word can be used for "clone", but the constituent kanji "bun" (divide) and "shin" (body) also point to the more ameobic-type reproduction of growth and separation."
  2. Eva-00 and Eva-01 are said to have "very similar personal data patterns"; Rei's synch rate with Eva 01 is almost the same as it was with Eva-00, and Shinji's synch ratio with Eva-00 is only slightly lower than what it normally is with Eva-01. However, Misato says that she thinks Eva-02 would definitely be incompatible: why? Further, it is strange that Misato is the one thinking this. It's been implied that Misato does not really understand the true inner workings of the Evangelions, that they each contain a human soul. If Rei, hypothetically, is synchronizing well with Eva-01 because she is a clone of Yui Ikari, who's soul is contained in Eva-01, Misato wouldn't know it at this point. So if Eva-02 probably wouldn't be interchangeable because its soul would be unrelated to another pilot...why is Misato, who doesn't know Evas contain souls at all, the one thinking this? There is always the possibility that the director for the episode just wanted to vary up the dialogue and gave Misato a line which was actually better suited to Ritsuko: technically, Ritsuko is the only person in the room who knows the true nature about Evas and the souls they contain, and only giving relevant dialogue like that only to Ritsuko would have basically amount to a monologue by Dr. Akagi.
    • What makes it even stranger is that Misato was with Asuka and Shinji in Episode 08, where both of them broke their synch records with Eva-02. Aside from the initial problems with Shinji "thinking in Japanese", there seems to have been no problem at all with Shinji synching with Eva-02, and if Misato herself noted it, why would she suddenly dismiss Shinji as being incompatible with Eva-02?
  3. Ritsuko explains in Episode 03 that Evangelions have limited internal battery power supply, and must rely on Umbilical Cables to supply external power. Ritsuko states that "In emergencies, it can switch to an internal battery with an active life of one minute at full power, and no more than five minutes using gain mode." This "one minute" limitation mentioned here is disregarded in all subsequent episodes, except Episode 09. For all practical purposes, the Evas have a five minute operational time limit using battery power, not just one minute. In Episode 11 it is revealed that external batteries can be connected to all 3 Evas to extend their operational time limit when they are not connected to an Umbilical Cable. They connect to an Eva's shoulder armor fins, and are so long that they extend below the hips. Presumably these are not normally attached to an Eva because they restrict its mobility.
  4. Whenever an Evangelion screams when it goes "berserk" in the series, it is part of the episode's dialogue track, not just the background effects sound track. As a result, when episodes such as this one are translated into different languages (such as the ADV Films English dub), the Evangelion screams have to actually be re-produced by different voice actors. The result is that Eva screams sound noticeably different between the original Japanese and English dub versions.



Evangelions
Evangelions (general)
Failed Evangelion Prototypes | Simulation Bodies
Eva-00 | Eva-01 | Eva-02 | Eva-03 | Eva-04 | Mass Production Evangelions (Evas 05~13)
Rebuild of Evangelion: Mark.04 | Eva-05 | Mark.06 | Eva-08 | Mark.09 | Eva-13
Eva 8+2 | Mass Production Evangelions | Failures of Infinity
Other: Extracanonical Evas