EvaWiki:Standards and Conventions (Eva-Specific)

This page serves as the central hub for various standards, in matters specific to Evangelion, used by The NGE Fan-Geeks Project.

Rules governing the formal basics of how to edit with MediaWiki, and the internal policies for FGP Scribe-Minions, can be found at EvaWiki:Rules and Regulations.

General

• The original TV series is treated as the default for the entire site. The manga (and eventually the Rebuild and live-action movies, when there is substantial information on them) are to be mentioned in the context of being separate canons, by creating separate subsections on existing pages. For example, there will be one article for "Shinji Ikari" which focuses on Shinji from the TV series, although it would include subsections discussing his other incarnations. If any given subsection grows too large, it would be split off from the main page.
• The original Japanese version of Neon Genesis Evangelion is treated as the universal, "standard" version, superceding dubs into other languages on all matters.
• Pending the creation of "customized" FGC scripts for everything, the "standards" employed for citational purposes will be ADV's Platinum subtitles (for the TV series) and bochan_bird's EoE script translation. This policy will present certain issues, given these translations do not comply with conventions used by FGP, and there are some known inaccuracies (not "disagreements", inaccuracies) -- but this problem will be addressed.
• Every episode of the TV series, and both EoE episodes, have two names apiece. The first is usually in Japanese (there are exceptions, such as Air); the second is always in English. (Occasionally, the titles mean the same thing, or are otherwise "equivalent".) To maintain consistency and avoid confusion, always refer to the episodes by number, rather than title: e.g., "Episode 01", Episode 02", etc., with "Episode" capitalized and a zero in front of single-digit episodes. To reference the episodes by shorthand, use the form "e##" (for example, e26’).

• The episode numbers for the two segments of EoE (Air / Love is destructive and Yours Sincerely / I Need You are 25’ and 26’, respectively. (Note the special character ’. The reason for its usage is elaborated upon in the next section.)

"Director's Cut" Episodes

Designation

Episodes 21 through 24 underwent dramatic expansions and makeovers when released to Japanese video and laser disc, way back when. In Japan, these are simply referred to as the "Video & LD Versions", as opposed to the "OA Versions" (OA = On Air, or televised). However, All of the episodes technically have a "Video & LD Version", due to minute edits that distinguish them from their televised counterparts. This essentially means that there is no known term that officially designates 21 through 24 as a group.

In the English-speaking domain, "Director's Cut" is the most commonly employed designation -- so FGP is probably going to just give in and use it, even though the term "Special Edition" is more accurate. (We used "New Production Cut" at one point, but it turns out that term doesn't mean what Reichu thought it meant.)

Canonicity

The DCs are to be treated as the default versions of these episodes, superceding them in canonicity. (See: What is Canon?) As such, the episode pages as to be written "as if the OA versions do not exist". Differences between the DC and OA versions will be briefly summarized in a subsection, and explicated in excruciating detail in a separate page (that episode's entry in the Comparisons Guide series).

Numerical Notation

When referring specifically to the Director's Cut version of an episode or information contained within, an apostrophe (’) will be appended to the episode number. For example:

• OA: Episode 21
• DC: Episode 21’

Note that the apostrophe is the special character ’ rather than '. This is due to the fact that ' is utilized in MediaWiki coding, and thus using it would be more trouble than it's worth.

Japanese Language and Accessibility

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a Japanese work, and, as previously stated, this website is written with the original Japanese version in mind. But, since the majority of Eva fans do not know any Japanese (at least, any worth speaking of), providing information on the use of language within the show is one of our goals. Within our capabilities, of course: No one currently on the team is anything resembling "fluent".

On the more "formal" parts of the site, like the "Wiki" and whatnot, we are to keep things in an educational context. That is, you know, explain this, that, and the other, but not throw around Japanese terminology like a bunch of Weeaboos and violate the "keep it basic" principle upon which those particular pages are founded. However, being a Weeaboo is perfectly legal in the "fan-geek" portions of the site, such as FGC and any others where text is ascribed to specific persons, and those that are informal in general. "Within reason" meaning you can do things like call EVA-01 "Sho", and slap honorifics onto character names ("Poor Sachi-chan..."), but more intricate displays of nerdery will probably be out. 分かってる?

Character Names

The Westernized versions of the Japanese character names will be used: i.e., "Shinji Ikari", never "Ikari Shinji". This is primarily because the Japanese themselves usually swap the name order when employing the Roman alphabet, a trend evident within NGE itself and its many supplemental materials.

The Romanizations used by FGP will be:

• Asuka Langley Soryu
• Gendo Ikari
• Hikari Horaki
• Kaworu Nagisa
• Keel Lorenz
• Kensuke Aida
• Kozo Fuyutsuki
• Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu
• Makoto Hyuga
• Maya Ibuki
• Misato Katsuragi
• Naoko Akagi
• Pen-Pen
• Rei Ayanami
• Ritsuko Akagi
• Ryoji Kaji
• Shigeru Aoba
• Shinji Ikari
• Shiro Tokita
• Toji Suzuhara
• Yui Ikari

Notes

• "Keel" is used regardless of its technical inaccuracy (as a German name, it should be "Kiel") due to its proliferance in canonical materials.

• Even though the "name swap" custom is not extended to Asuka and Kyoko in the show or elsewhere, we employ it here; hence, their common Japanese surname (Soryu) is placed after their respective European surnames.

• "Pen Pen" is used rather than "Pen²" out of convenience, and due to being (apparently) the most prevalent Romanization of ペンペン (PENPEN) in the English-speaking domain.

• Rei's three incarnations are to be called Rei 1, Rei 2, and Rei 3. Note the Arabic numerals.

Angel Names

The official spellings of the Angels' names are: Adam, Lilith, Sachiel, Shamshel, Ramiel, Gaghiel, Israfel, Sandalphon, Matarael, Sahaquiel, Ireul, Leliel, Bardiel, Zeruel, Arael, Armisael, and Tabris.

"Lilim" will be used as opposed to "Lilin". (The official Romanization is unknown, but "Lilim" is in more prevalent usage.)

Always spell the NGE term "Angel" with a capital "A".

Eva Designations

Every Eva has two designations: extended and abbreviated.

Extended: "Evangelion Unit-##". In Japanese, this is エヴァンゲリオン～号機 (Evangelion ~gouki). The official English rendition can be heard in use by the First Branch in the EVA-03 start-up experiment [#18], although no known Japanese publication shows it in print. ("Evangelion" can also be shortened to "Eva" here.)

Condensed: "EVA-##". The Japanese equivalent is ～号機 (~gouki). Although "~gouki" literally translates to "Unit ##", the "Unit" rendition, however prevalent in subtitles and dubs, will not be used for the condensed form.

Gender

Evangelions, along with the Seeds of Life (Adam and Lilith), should always be referred to in the feminine ("she", "her", etc.). This convention is based upon their status within NGE as feminine/maternal beings (yes, even Adam). Whether or not they are technically female, in absolute scientific terms, is irrelevent here.

Given the lack of information, and the sour limitations of the English language, the other Angels default to "it". (Although, if you are very clever, you can minimize how often Angels are referred to as "its" and make the world a much better place.)

Terminology

A.T. Field

Always "A.T. Field": not "AT Field", "AT-Field", "A.T. field", etc. "Anti A.T. Field" will be spelled without a dash.

Interface Headset

The thingamabob that Eva pilots wear on their heads is called an interface headset -- not "A10 nerve connectors" or "hoo-hoos" or whatever, contrary to popular belief. Even though Asuka's are markedly different and look more like hair clips than anything else, we'll assume that they're an "interface headset", as well.

LCL

Refer to "LCL" as "LCL" not "L.C.L." The use of initials in the word on the series is inconsistent, and the explanation that it is an acronym standing for "Link Connect Liquid" might not be entirely canon.

Magi

"Magi", not "MAGI". See the Nerv-Seele-Gehirn problem for the "why".

Organizations

"Nerv" spelled with lowercase letters

Nerv, Seele, and Gehirn will be used, as opposed to their capitalized counterparts. Both within and outside of the show, "Nerv" is seen almost uniformily capitalized. This has probably resulted in the common (unofficial) practice of capitalizing "Seele" and "Gehirn", as well: NERV, SEELE, GEHIRN. However, there is no indication whatsoever that these are acronyms, which would be the only logical reason to capitalize them in normal English writing. Additionally, "Nerv" is occasionally spotted written just so (see image).

Seed of Life vs. Source of Life

There are a handful of terms used to reference Adam and Lilith collectively. Most prominent are "Source of Life" (after seimeitai no minamoto from e25') and Seed of Life (seimei no tane, from the NGE2 Classified Information). Although its usage in canon materials is restricted to the CI, the latter shall be used, primarily because it is more of a specific designation than a generic description. And it conveniently shortens to "Seed".

Shoulder Pylons

You know those big things on the Evas' shoulders? Officially, these things are (most consistently) referred to as the rather bland kata no pa-tsu, or "shoulder parts". This term isn't great for English-speaking fans, since the Japanese use the word "part(s)" somewhat differently from us. However, Ikuto Yamashita (who designed the Evas) refers to them as "shoulder pylons" in the book Sore o Nasumono: Neon Genesis Evangelion Concept Design Works -- so, for those not too eager to use "shoulder parts" (like us) this is the next best thing to "official".

Also, insert requisite "pylons" joke here.

Spear of Longinus

"Lance of Longinus" is heavily utilized by the English-speaking fan community, a habit reinforced by ADV and Manga Entertainment's localizations. In Japanese, the object is referred to as ロンギヌスの槍 (Longinus no yari), with yari being translatable as either "spear" or "lance". However, a computer display in #25' indicates that the official English rendition in NGE is "Spear of Longinus"; ergo, that is what we will use.

The initial form of the copies of this weapon that the Mass Production Evas wield will be referred to as "Heavy Spears" not "Heavy Lances".