FGC:Episode 07 Scene 08

Air Briefing ~ Boarding JA

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Screenshots	Cut #	Description/Dialogue	Commentary
	222	Auxiliary take-off boosters igniting. Close-up of the rockets! SE <<FWOOOOSH>>	UrsusArctos: For military nerds out there, the Eva transporter looks like a scaled-up Northrop XB-49, a jet-powered flying wing from the late 1940s/early 1950s. Rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) was used during the turbojet era, but it fell out of service because modern turbofan engines generate their maximum thrust at sea level. ath: Wait, wasn't Northrop's aircraft called YB-49? If I remember correctly, the 'Y' prefix designates a prototype of an aircraft intended for production, while the 'X' prefix is reserved for purely experimental aircraft. That said, the distinction can be a little fuzzy at times (compare YF-22/YF-23 to X-32/X-35, for example). The Evangelion Encyclopedia seems to be confused on this point. It notes the resemblance to a real aircraft they call "XB-49"; but seems surprisingly sure that the official designation of this aircraft in the Evangelion universe is in fact "YB-49". Does any official source confirm this? UrsusArctos: Interesting! You're right, and I was mistaken. There's no XB-49, the designation jumps straight to YB-49. I suppose the XB-35 was meant to be the prototype to the YB-49 pre-production aircraft? This is new to me. EDIT: Confirmed, the real-world aircraft is a YB-49 (no "XB" involved), developed straight from the XB-35 and YB-35.
	223	The large-scale transport aircraft taking off. SE <<ROOAR>>
	224	Missing Number Out from a full screen of clouds (show for 12 frames), suddenly (use about 4 frames), when the clouds part, the giant aircraft can be seen. It is flying at a fairly low altitude. SE <<Engine roar>>	ath: That plane is ridiculously huge. Assuming a Reichu Standard Measurement (RSM) for the height of an Evangelion unit of 40 meters, we can roughly estimate the wingspan of that aircraft at around 350 meters (almost 1150 ft). The current record holder for "largest wingspan" is the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch at only 117 meters. For comparison, the real YB-49 is way down the list at slightly less than 53 meters.
	225	Shot from behind the back of the Eva looking forward. The scene is only lit by interior lights. MISATO (OFF to begin with):“The target is J.A. There's a danger that its reactor could melt down within the next five minutes.”	imprimatur13: What is it with these people and their arbitrary (and true for any given value of "5") 5-minute limits?
	226	The unexpectedly narrow interior. Misato and Shinji, seen through gaps in the ceiling. It is so cramped that their knees are almost pressed together. MISATO:“Therefore, we cannot allow the target to get closer to a more densely populated area. (Looking towards Hyuga) Hyuga-kun?”	Kendrix: They're sitting across from each other, both in action gear. This time its a lot more apparent that they'll be risking their lives together and that if she could be with him on the front lines all the time, she would be.
	227	Hyuga, in the co-pilot's seat, with Misato and Shinji in the foreground. HYUGA:“Yes?” MISATO (BACK):“Withdraw immediately once you've released the Eva. Ascend until you reach a safe altitude.”	UrsusArctos: Yet another instance of "the main characters do everything". Hyuga being qualified to sit in the pilot's seat is a bit of a stretch - they could've gotten a nameless pilot to follow Misato's orders just as well. imprimatur13: Obviously, what happened is, they put out a notice on the NERV PA system: "We need someone to pilot the transporter to pick up Captain Katsuragi. Any-" Hyuga: "I'll do it." Maya: "But you don't know how to fly a plane!" Hyuga: "Maya, there comes a time in every man's life when he must do the impossible, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety. That time, is now." singing quietly to himself: "Do the impossible, see the invisible; Row Row, fight the power..." ath: To be fair, the scripts says he's sitting in the co-pilot's seat. Note that he's actually sitting in the left seat, which in reality is the captain's seat in virtually every fixed-wing aircraft. Right-hand-drive confusion on part of the storyboarder, I guess... imprimatur13: Well, I see your point... Counterpoint! Misato tells Hyuga to withdraw the transporter, not the pilot (whom we don't actually see at all; and who, for all we know, isn't even there). Apparently, he is expected to know how to pilot it on his own. Somehow. (Spiral Power, I guess.)
		Misato turns her face back towards Shinji. MISATO:“(Looking towards Shinji) Shinji-kun.”
	228	Misato and Shinji seen through gaps in the ceiling. SHINJI:“Yes.” MISATO:“Run alongside the target, and place me on its back. After that, prevent the target from moving as much as you can.”
	229	Shinji with Misato in the foreground. Shinji is alarmed. SHINJI:“You're going to board it? Misato-san?”
	230	Misato, speaking readily, with Shinji in the foreground. MISATO:“That's right.”
	231	Shinji, alarmed. SHINJI:“You're doing something that crazy!?”
	232	Misato, composed, speaks matter-of-factly. MISATO:“I know that it's crazy. There's just no other or better way.”
	233	Shinji trying to put a stop to it. That's understandable. SHINJI:“But it's too dangerous!”
	234	Here, too, she speaks straightforwardly. Misato knows what he meant but diverts the conversation. MISATO:“Don't worry. If it comes down to it, the Eva can withstand a direct explosion.”
	235	Shinji's concern is seriously felt. He becomes irritated, not realizing that she had missed the point deliberately. SHINJI:“That's not what I meant! I meant you, Misato-san, will...”	Sailor Star Dust: Episode 07 always felt somewhat underrated to me, but this exchange is so important. Shin-chan's already begun to think of Misato as family that he doesn't want to lose (again?). Kendrix: Here at first Misato thinks he's afraid for his own sake, but he's reached a point where he's way more worried about her.
	236	Close-up of Misato in profile. Her face is kind as she speaks. She finishes with a slight smile. MISATO:“Well, if I don't give it my best shot (her facial expression becomes kind) it will leave a bad taste in my mouth afterwards.”	Kendrix: Life lesson time, I guess, as well as a bit of a telling moment. She pursues these wacky dangerous strategies because she couldn't forgive herself if she didn't try her best - which, for all her flaws, makes her pretty inspirational. And we've previously see in Episode 06 that Shinji has a certain admiration for people who seem to have the kind of determination he can't always bring himself to muster.
	237	Shinji is worried, but he is persuaded by Misato's resolution. His face becomes stern. SHINJI:“...”	Kendrix: ...and here, too, the result is that he tries to live up to their example.
	238	Hyuga's words break in as though interposing between the two. HYUGA:“Direct visual confirmation of the target.”
	239	J.A. running through the wasteland, casting a long shadow. SE <<(Distantly) Thud thud thud thud>>	Kendrix: JA has this creepy long wispy shadow UrsusArctos: Yes, the shadow gives it a touch of the Lovecraftian, something like a Flood carrier form from Halo.
	240	BGM End: E-1 rhythm only [Spending Time in Preparation] Misato and Shinji on the other side of the window, looking out with serious expressions. Shinji displays a reaction. SE <<Distantly heard footsteps OFF>> MISATO:“Okay, let's go.”	Kendrix: Let's appreciate that little nod of determination they give to each other - in a sense they're already functioning as an unit, at least to a certain extent (It's telling that most of Shinji's greater fuckups happen when they're cut off from each other).
	241	Eva, within the aircraft. The socket on the back is disconnected with a "GAN". BGM Start: A-3 [NERV] SE <<GAN>>
	242	Unit-01 is withdrawn backwards out of the aircraft. After it stops moving Hyuga is heard on the radio. SE <<Whirrrrrrrr>> HYUGA (OFF・RADIO):“Eva in drop position.”
	243	Misato, speaking from between the fingers of Unit-01. MISATO:“Docking release!”	UrsusArctos: This is actually crazier than boarding JA. Had Shinji accidentally clenched Eva-01's hand in the drop, or had Misato slipped out, she would have been killed instantly. She would have done better to lash herself to Eva-01's horn on the way down! ath: Not sure that's necessarily a good idea.
	244	Shinji within the entry plug. SHINJI:“Roger!!”
	245	The locks all disengage at once. The Eva's body drifts backwards. SE <<Ka-chack. Vooooosh>>
	246	Unit-01 falling away from the giant aircraft.
	247	The sky. Unit-01's legs enter the frame. SE <<WHOOSH>> It passes onwards from there.
	248	Close-up of the legs hitting the ground with a SKREEEEE!!
	249	Unit-01 bracing itself against the shock of landing. As soon as the camera stops, it immediately dashes forwards!! SE <<SKREEEEEEE>>	Mr. Tines: Momentum, how does it work...
	250	The giant aircraft, turning right and ascending. Unit-01 running in the foreground. SE <<Rooooooar thudthudthudthud>>
	251	Close-up of Unit-01, running. SE <<Thud thud thud>>
	252	The two giant humanoids running on through the ruins of Old Tokyo.	The Flying Fortress: I always found it very strange how Eva-01 runs so quickly to catch up to JA, compared to when the Eva's rush to stop Sahaquiel from invading the Geo-Front in Episode 12. The way they run there makes much more sense, considering their height and weight.
	253	Shinji in the entry plug. SHINJI:“We've caught up!”
	254	Misato, speaking from between the fingers of Unit-01. MISATO:“We have less than four minutes left. Put me on now! (bleed)”
	255	Missing Number Close-up of Unit-01 running. Reuse from previous. SE <<Thud thud thud>>	Translator's Note: The direction on the image indicates the background element is to be moved.
	256	Unit-01, right on the heels of J.A. SE <<Thud thud thud.>>	Joseki: This is one of the worst looking cuts in the entire Evangelion. Oddly animated, totally uninspiring; Unit 01 is too dark and it doesn't match the Jet Alone style at all. They look like they're mecha from two different shows, with different character designers and animators.
	257	Its hand draws near to the rear section! SE <<Thud thud thud. Thud thud.>> It grabs onto it. SE <<KATHUNK>> J.A. is pulled backwards with a jerk.
	258	Shinji firmly pulling back the lever. SE <<Pull>>
	259	J.A. trying to move forward despite that. Unit-01, being dragged, slips. SE <<Skreeeeee>>
	260	Unit-01's feet, sliding, being dragged forwards. Dragged along, they slide across the ground's surface. SE <<Skreee. Sliiiide>>
	261	Misato, speaking from between the fingers. MISATO:“It doesn't matter! Do it!!”
	262	Unit-01 holds out its right hand. It stretches it forth.
	263	The palm of the hand in the foreground, with J.A.'s backpack beneath. Misato jumps down.	imprimatur13: Yet another of the MANY MANY hand shots. (Open palms, fists... The list goes on and on and on.)
	264	She lands with a thud, but due to the instability beneath her she loses her balance and falls.	Sailor Star Dust: Despite the dangerous situation, Misato's little shriek is kinda cute.
	265	Shinji, in a panic, leans forward. SHINJI:“MISATO-SAN!!”
	266	Misato rolls down the sloping surface of the backpack. Luckily she is able to grab hold of a ladder.
	267	Shinji, relieved. Smiling, he speaks. SHINJI:“*Phew* (Smiling) Be careful.”
	268	Close-up of Misato on the monitor. Even in so dangerous a situation she flashes a peace sign.	Joseki: In an episode that I could rate as mediocre at best, this cut shines bright. The same shot is used again for Episode 26 for a reason: it's pleasant, and Misato's smile is full of positive emotions.
	269	Misato rotates the lever of the emergency hatch half-way and then pulls on it. When the hatch opens with a “"hsssh",” an extreme heat comes flowing out!! SE <<Hsssh!! ROAR>>
	270	Her visor becomes fogged up immediately. Heat rises up from Misato's body. MISATO:“Incredible heat.”
	271	The interior of the hatch, shot from within. This is a world of diffusion filters, ripple glass, and red filters. MISATO:“This isn't good.”
	272	BGM End: A-3 [NERV] Shinji, straining himself. SHINJI:“STOP! YOU-- !!”
	273	Unit-01, suddenly thrusting its right hand into the foreground. Towards the camera.
	274	An enormous hand enters the frame from the foreground and grips J.A.'s head, holding it back. SE <<Gwah-WHAM>>
	275	The left hand against the chest area, Unit-01 holds it back.
	276	J.A. with Unit-01 in the foreground. After a while steam suddenly starts to spout out from the top of its shoulder! SE <<CRACK!!>> SE <<FSSSSSSHHHHHH>>
		Unit-01 hastily uses its right hand to hold back the steam.
	277	Shinji in a panic. He is holding down the levers. SHINJI:“Misato-san, hurry!”

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