Cross

Examples of crosses in NGE.

The cross (十字架, juujika) is a symbolic religious reference frequently used in Neon Genesis Evangelion, though often particularly loosely. Many of the uses of crosses in the series don't actually have a particularly higher meaning or correlation to narrative events, beyond simply that someone is "sacrificed", etc. Also, many times things such as cross-shaped energy explosions are used, but these instances in particular don't really seem to have a higher meaning.

The creators themselves admitted using the emblems of Christianity simply because they "looked cool," according to Evangelion Assistant Director Kazuya Tsurumaki, who at the Otakon 2001 anime convention said:

"There are a lot of giant robot shows in Japan, and we did want our story to have a religious theme to help distinguish us. Because Christianity is an uncommon religion in Japan we thought it would be mysterious. None of the staff who worked on Eva are Christians. There is no actual Christian meaning to the show, we just thought the visual symbols of Christianity look cool. If we had known the show would get distributed in the US and Europe we might have rethought that choice."

There are 5 types of crosses used in Evangelion:

1. Latin cross
2. Inverted Latin cross
3. Greek cross
4. Tau cross
5. Cross of Lorraine

See image on right for examples of crosses from the show.

List of Appearances

• Opening Credits - A starburst of crosses appear just prior to the title Neon Genesis Evangelion appearing on screen.
• Episode 01 - Inverted and regular cross-shaped explosions are produced by Sachiel's particle beam.
• Episode 04 - Shinji walks along a country-path that is in the form of a cross.
• Episode 12 - Dr. Katsuragi's/Misato Katsuragi's pendant.
  • This object is effectively crucified during The End of Evangelion
• Episode 15 - The tau cross Lilith is crucified upon.
• Episode 16 - A cross on top of a church is seen when preparing for the attempt to destroy the Angel Leliel.
• Episode 18 - Eva-03 is airlifted by a flying-wing transport jet on cross-shaped scaffolding.
• Episode 19 - Cross-shaped explosions are produced by Zeruel's particle beam.
  • The point of light within the circle when Shinji is absorbed into Eva-01 is in the form of a cross.
• Episode 21 - The underside of Tokyo-3 as visible from the GeoFront cavern is configured in a large cross formation, this is also discernible from Episode 01.
  • The architecture forms a cross behind Kaji where he is shot.
  • A shadow behind Gendo Ikari makes it appear he is bearing a cross as he speaks about mankind's evolution.
• Episode 22 - A crucifix is on top of the church next to the graveyard where Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu is being buried.
• Episode 23 - The "Eva graveyard" is in part in the form of a Cross of Lorraine.
  • There are tau crosses within each of the pentagrams in the Dummy Plug Plant.
  • Cross-shaped depression is seen where Eva-01 was "born" in Terminal Dogma.
• There are numerous crosses used in The End of Evangelion:
  • Cross-shaped configuration of Eva-01's four wings.
  • Eva-01 is crucified by the Mass Production Evangelions.
  • The architecture forms a cross around the door Misato is heading for when she is shot.
  • The souls of disembodied humans are accompanied by crosses of light.
  • Eva-01 departs for outer space in the form of a cross.
  • The Mass Production Evas fall to Earth in the form of crosses.

Notes

• A crucifix refers to a Latin cross that has the figure of Jesus on it. A cross that appears without the figure of Jesus is correctly referred to as a cross and not a crucifix.