Asuka Langley Soryu: Difference between revisions

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==Past==
==Past==


Asuka's mother went insane and committed suicide after her [[Contact Experiment]] with [[Evangelion Unit-02]]. <insert related childhood trauma and aftermath here>
Asuka's mother went insane and committed suicide after her [[Contact Experiment]] with [[Evangelion Unit-02]]. Before Kyoko killed herself, she would talk to a doll that she thought was Asuka, and ask her daughter to die with her, as her father wanted neither of them. Asuka also opened the door one day to see that Kyoko had hung herself.


Until some point in 2015, Asuka lived in [[Germany]], where she met [[Misato Katsuragi]] and [[Ryoji Kaji]].
Until some point in 2015, Asuka lived in [[Germany]], where she met [[Misato Katsuragi]] and [[Ryoji Kaji]].
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==Present==
==Present==


After traveling to Japan with Kaji, Asuka moved in with Misato and [[Shinji Ikari]].  She is very vain and proud, and thus she treats her fellow pilots Shinji and [[Rei Ayanami|Rei]] like rivals instead of teammates.  After arriving in Tokyo-3, Asuka becomes close friends with her classmate, [[Hikari Horaki]].
After traveling to Japan with Kaji, Asuka moved in with Misato and [[Shinji Ikari]].  
   
==Profile==
When [[Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu|her mother]] told Asuka that she was not wanted, and so should die with her, it might have been the impetus for Asuka’s entire teenage personality, as she certainly tries to make people "notice"= her, and also to assert her independence and adulthood.


Asuka has a crush on Kaji, as well as feelings for Shinji (as [[Episode 22]] reveals), although the former politely declines her various advances while the latter appears to be oblivious to her true feelings.
As a consequence of these needs, Asuka loves to pilot an [[Evangelion]] because it gets people to pay attention to her, but beyond that, Asuka seems to have a genuine zest for piloting, that it makes her feel powerful. But because Asuka does not pilot out of a pure warrior’s spirit, she is trapped in the same bind that [[Shinji Ikari]] is, of being unable to have an identity separate from an <nowiki>Evangelion</nowiki>.
 
As the series progresses, Asuka develops hatred towards Rei because Asuka feels that Rei acts like "a doll", doing only what she's ordered to instead of thinking for herself. A doll relates to a traumatic childhood experience Asuka went through which dealt with Kyoko's insanity and eventual suicide.  
Asuka is so identified with piloting that the loss to [[Zeruel]] in [[Episode 19]] devastates her. This, followed by a mind-rape from [[Arael]] that forced Asuka to relive childhood trauma, and then being rescued by [[Rei Ayanami]], whom she despised, started a breakdown that lead to a nearly comatose state in which she cared about nothing.
 
Asuka tends to push people away, acting abrasive towards others if not snubbing them completely. She also tends to avoid relationships with boys of her own age (despite her popularity with them), possibly to enhance her own image of "maturity". For this same reason, Asuka prefers to chase after the adult [[Ryoji Kaji]] though he ignores her advances. Asuka also attended college, despite being a minor. It is unknown what degree she received.
 
[[Episode 22]] demonstrates that Asuka also tries to appear totally independent in order to distance herself from the sadness caused by her mother’s death, swearing that she would never cry again. [[Episode 25]], however, reveals that Asuka really doesn’t want to be alone, that retreating from others didn’t cure her pain. Despite her outer strength, Asuka does not have inner happiness.


It's revealed that the reason Asuka so vain and proud is due to her mother's suicide. After Kyoko went insane, she had a doll who Kyoko thought was Asuka and wanted them to die together because "they weren't needed". Asuka's father was having an affair with [[Minor Characters#Frau Doktor|Kyoko's doctor]] (who later become Asuka's stepmother). Asuka's mother hung herself and the doll the same day Asuka found out she would become an Evangelion pilot. Not wanting to die as well as wanting her mother to pay attention to her, Asuka decided at her mother's funeral that she wouldn't cry or act in ways that are childish, all in an effort to become an adult sooner to forget about her problems.  
Asuka is attracted to [[Shinji Ikari]], which appears to cause conflict in her. Initially Asuka seemed to view Shinji as competition in [[Episode 08]] because of all the praise he was getting, and she tried hard to show off to him, even though Shinji didn’t act like competition. Following this, Asuka showed frustration with Shinji’s accepting nature and reflexive apologies, often arguing with him, but Asuka also flirted with Shinji and seemed disappointed when he didn’t respond.


In [[Episode 25']], Asuka discovers her mother has always been with her inside Eva. However, it's matter of debate as to whether or not Kyoko was partly insane; i.e., if her soul in Eva didn't just contain her "maternal component", but the part that remained in her body. For more information, see
While sometimes Asuka’s behavior towards Shinji can be viewed as standard romantic-comedy ribbing, there are darker undertones to it, as when she almost suffocates Shinji while she kisses him, by holding his nose shut at the same time ([[Episode 15]]). [[Episode 22]], though, shows Asuka complaining of Shinji, "You won’t help me, you won’t even hold me!", (after the "wall of Jericho" sequence from [[Episode 09]], in which Shinji didn’t take to her reverse psychology), demonstrating the true nature of her feelings.
[[Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu|this page]].


==Psychology==
Asuka’s relationship with [[Rei Ayanami]] is similarly strained. Though it starts with Asuka often mocking Rei, later in the series Asuka acts blatantly hostile towards her, likely reflecting Asuka’s own deteriorating level of control. But the motivation is the same in either case: Asuka hates Rei because she’s the opposite of everything Asuka has tried to be.  
Asuka seems to suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder, as she shows off piloting and claims she's the best pilot (her superiority complex), but internally she actually feels inferior (not thinking she can do anything without Eva as well as not wanting to be alone despite pushing everybody away) instead.  


Despite her suicide attempt in [[Episode 24]] as well as her claims of not wanting to live since there's no longer a need for her, both [[Episode 25]] and [[Episode 25']] reveal she doesn't want to die or disappear, indicating that she may suffer from Thanatophobia as well.
In [[Episode 25%27]] Asuka appeared to have regained her power through contact with her mother’s soul, but it is debatable as to how much Asuka was in control, and how much was Eva-02 acting independently.


The final scene in [[Episode 26']] shows her alive and bandaged (the bandages of her right arm and left eye coincide with her injuries during her final battle), laying down next to Shinji. Because [[Yui Ikari|Yui]], Rei, and [[Kaworu Nagisa|Kaworu]] all said anybody who can imagine themselves in their own heart are able to restore their bodies, it appears Asuka is one of these strong-willed people.
During the beginnings of Complementation, Asuka told Shinji that she knew how he thought of her, and said to "Do it again like usual... I'll even stand here and watch." But if she couldn’t have Shinji all to herself, she didn’t want anything to do with him, indicating that she wanted to possess him utterly. She also told Shinji to stay away, for all he ever did was hurt her, and accused him of only going to Asuka because she was the person who would hurt him the least.


The fact it took Asuka an undetermined amount of time to return could also indicate that she came to terms with her contradictory views on live and death, as well as her desire to keep on living
Though Asuka was the first person to return to human form after Shinji Ikari rejected Instrumentality it was unclear what her future state would be. She may have been motivated by a strong will to live, or merely a desire not to be so close to others’ souls, as one of her earlier lines was, "But, if I have to be with you, I'd rather die!"


==Asuka in the Manga==
==Asuka in the Manga==
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*"Anta baka?" becomes a trademark line delivered by Asuka frequently, usually directed at Shinji. The best translation is "Are you stupid?".  Throughout the series and movies, "Anta baka" is said 15 times, "baka" by itself is said 10 times and "baka Shinji" ("Stupid Shinji") is said 9 times.
*"Anta baka?" becomes a trademark line delivered by Asuka frequently, usually directed at Shinji. The best translation is "Are you stupid?".  Throughout the series and movies, "Anta baka" is said 15 times, "baka" by itself is said 10 times and "baka Shinji" ("Stupid Shinji") is said 9 times.
*Though Asuka does use some German language in the original script, in the English dub, voice actress Tiffany Grant added much more to Asuka's speech, both in the TV series and [[Episode 25%27]]. Sometimes the extra German is equivalent to the original Japanese speech, sometimes not.
*Though Asuka does use some German language in the original script, in the English dub, voice actress Tiffany Grant added much more to Asuka's speech, both in the TV series and [[Episode 25%27]]. Sometimes the extra German is equivalent to the original Japanese speech, but usually not.
*Asuka is the character with the most consistent "color scheme" in the series. Her [[Plug suit]], [[Interface Headset]], [[Evangelion Unit-02|Evangelion]], and hair are all red. This might be meant to symbolize her temperamental personality.
*Asuka is the character with the most consistent "color scheme" in the series. Her [[Plug suit]], [[Interface Headset]], [[Evangelion Unit-02|Evangelion]], and hair are all red. This might be meant to symbolize her temperamental personality.
*Asuka is also the only Children whose number designation matches with her <nowiki>Evangelion's</nowiki>
*Asuka is also the only Children whose number designation matches with her <nowiki>Evangelion's</nowiki>

Revision as of 00:55, 17 September 2007

Asuka Langley Soryu
惣流・アスカ・ラングレー
Age 14
Birthday 12/04/2000
Seiyū Yuko Miyamura

Asuka Langley Soryu is the Second Children, designated pilot of Evangelion Unit-02. She is 1/4 Japanese and 1/4 German (from her mother Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu's side), although her nationality is American, as is, apparently, her father's.

Past

Asuka's mother went insane and committed suicide after her Contact Experiment with Evangelion Unit-02. Before Kyoko killed herself, she would talk to a doll that she thought was Asuka, and ask her daughter to die with her, as her father wanted neither of them. Asuka also opened the door one day to see that Kyoko had hung herself.

Until some point in 2015, Asuka lived in Germany, where she met Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji.

Present

After traveling to Japan with Kaji, Asuka moved in with Misato and Shinji Ikari.

Profile

When her mother told Asuka that she was not wanted, and so should die with her, it might have been the impetus for Asuka’s entire teenage personality, as she certainly tries to make people "notice"= her, and also to assert her independence and adulthood.

As a consequence of these needs, Asuka loves to pilot an Evangelion because it gets people to pay attention to her, but beyond that, Asuka seems to have a genuine zest for piloting, that it makes her feel powerful. But because Asuka does not pilot out of a pure warrior’s spirit, she is trapped in the same bind that Shinji Ikari is, of being unable to have an identity separate from an Evangelion.

Asuka is so identified with piloting that the loss to Zeruel in Episode 19 devastates her. This, followed by a mind-rape from Arael that forced Asuka to relive childhood trauma, and then being rescued by Rei Ayanami, whom she despised, started a breakdown that lead to a nearly comatose state in which she cared about nothing.

Asuka tends to push people away, acting abrasive towards others if not snubbing them completely. She also tends to avoid relationships with boys of her own age (despite her popularity with them), possibly to enhance her own image of "maturity". For this same reason, Asuka prefers to chase after the adult Ryoji Kaji though he ignores her advances. Asuka also attended college, despite being a minor. It is unknown what degree she received.

Episode 22 demonstrates that Asuka also tries to appear totally independent in order to distance herself from the sadness caused by her mother’s death, swearing that she would never cry again. Episode 25, however, reveals that Asuka really doesn’t want to be alone, that retreating from others didn’t cure her pain. Despite her outer strength, Asuka does not have inner happiness.

Asuka is attracted to Shinji Ikari, which appears to cause conflict in her. Initially Asuka seemed to view Shinji as competition in Episode 08 because of all the praise he was getting, and she tried hard to show off to him, even though Shinji didn’t act like competition. Following this, Asuka showed frustration with Shinji’s accepting nature and reflexive apologies, often arguing with him, but Asuka also flirted with Shinji and seemed disappointed when he didn’t respond.

While sometimes Asuka’s behavior towards Shinji can be viewed as standard romantic-comedy ribbing, there are darker undertones to it, as when she almost suffocates Shinji while she kisses him, by holding his nose shut at the same time (Episode 15). Episode 22, though, shows Asuka complaining of Shinji, "You won’t help me, you won’t even hold me!", (after the "wall of Jericho" sequence from Episode 09, in which Shinji didn’t take to her reverse psychology), demonstrating the true nature of her feelings.

Asuka’s relationship with Rei Ayanami is similarly strained. Though it starts with Asuka often mocking Rei, later in the series Asuka acts blatantly hostile towards her, likely reflecting Asuka’s own deteriorating level of control. But the motivation is the same in either case: Asuka hates Rei because she’s the opposite of everything Asuka has tried to be.

In Episode 25' Asuka appeared to have regained her power through contact with her mother’s soul, but it is debatable as to how much Asuka was in control, and how much was Eva-02 acting independently.

During the beginnings of Complementation, Asuka told Shinji that she knew how he thought of her, and said to "Do it again like usual... I'll even stand here and watch." But if she couldn’t have Shinji all to herself, she didn’t want anything to do with him, indicating that she wanted to possess him utterly. She also told Shinji to stay away, for all he ever did was hurt her, and accused him of only going to Asuka because she was the person who would hurt him the least.

Though Asuka was the first person to return to human form after Shinji Ikari rejected Instrumentality it was unclear what her future state would be. She may have been motivated by a strong will to live, or merely a desire not to be so close to others’ souls, as one of her earlier lines was, "But, if I have to be with you, I'd rather die!"

Asuka in the Manga

"It's almost as if she's a different person!"

Asuka's origins and nature in the manga differ significantly from the anime. In the manga, it is revealed that she is a test tube baby, and that she is capable of putting an actual physical fight, indicating that she is trained in the martial arts. Different family situation, etc. Was actually throttled by Kyoko as a child; later "reenacts" this with Shinji while she's hospitalized.

Notes

  • "Anta baka?" becomes a trademark line delivered by Asuka frequently, usually directed at Shinji. The best translation is "Are you stupid?". Throughout the series and movies, "Anta baka" is said 15 times, "baka" by itself is said 10 times and "baka Shinji" ("Stupid Shinji") is said 9 times.
  • Though Asuka does use some German language in the original script, in the English dub, voice actress Tiffany Grant added much more to Asuka's speech, both in the TV series and Episode 25'. Sometimes the extra German is equivalent to the original Japanese speech, but usually not.
  • Asuka is the character with the most consistent "color scheme" in the series. Her Plug suit, Interface Headset, Evangelion, and hair are all red. This might be meant to symbolize her temperamental personality.
  • Asuka is also the only Children whose number designation matches with her Evangelion's
  • Asuka’s blue eyes and red hair are the inverse of Rei Ayanami’s blue hair and red eyes, perhaps a reference to their opposite personalities.


This article bears the unpleasant designation of "Stub." This is a Bad Thing. Provide a great service to NGE fan-geeks everywhere by making it awesomer!

Characters
Main characters: Shinji Ikari | Rei Ayanami | Asuka Langley Soryu
Nerv staff: Misato Katsuragi | Gendo Ikari | Ritsuko Akagi | Kozo Fuyutsuki | Ryoji Kaji | Maya Ibuki | Makoto Hyuga | Shigeru Aoba
Classmates: Toji Suzuhara | Kensuke Aida | Hikari Horaki
Other characters: Kaworu Nagisa | Yui Ikari | Naoko Akagi | Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu | Dr. Katsuragi | Mr. Langley | Keel Lorenz | Pen Pen
Rebuild of Evangelion: Asuka Shikinami Langley | Mari Makinami Illustrious | Sakura Suzuhara | Ryoji Kaji (Jr)
Miscellaneous: Minor Characters | Minor Characters (Rebuild) | Extracanonical Characters
Theory and Analysis: Name Origins (Warships) | Designs | Relationships | Profiles
Resources: 2015: The Last Year of Ryohji Kaji