Gendo and Shinji (Relationship)

Gendo and Shinji

Gendo and Shinji have one of the most complicated, and central relationships in all of Evangelion. The relationship is ostensibly one of mutual distance, but underlying feelings -- positive and negative -- remain.

Summary

Birth and Naming

Shinji is Gendo's only child with Yui. While Shinji is inside Eva 01, he hears a memory of Yui and Gendo discussing what their child will be named. Gendo chose the name "Shinji" for a boy, and "Rei" for a girl.

Abandonment

Abandonment

Gendo abandoned Shinji some time after Yui disapeared into Eva-01, sending him to live with his "sensei". A recurring visual associated with this an image of a young Shinji, crying next to a train line. During a dreamscape inside the angel Leliel, this image is expanded on with one of Gendo walking away from the platform, his back to Shinji, suggesting that this was the place where Gendo personally abandoned Shinji.

Additionally, in the Leliel dreamscape, Shinji is accused of running away from the relationship himself. It is suggested that the young Shinji's own reaction to Gendo's trial for Yui's murder was a factor in their poor relationship. During the his dreamscape inside Eva 01, Shinji openly accuses Gendo of having killed Yui.

Subsequent to this abandonment, Gendo and Shinji did appear to make yearly visits to Yui's grave on the anniversary of her "death". On the last of these -- three years before the series begins -- Shinji ran away from the graveside and did not meet Gendo again.

Reunion in Tokyo-3

Torn-up letter from Gendo.

Cage Encounter
Gendo: It's been a while. Shinji: Father... Gendo: Sortie. Shinji: Father, why did you send for me? Gendo: You know exactly why. Shinji: So, you're asking me to take this thing and fight that thing? Gendo: That's right. Shinji: No way! Why are you doing this now?! I thought you didn't need me! Gendo: I called you because I have a need for you. Shinji: Why me? Gendo: Because no one else can. Shinji: No, I can't... I've never even seen anything like this before! I can't do this! Gendo: You will be instructed. Shinji: But there's no way I can do this! I can't pilot it! Gendo: If you're going to pilot it, do it now and quickly. If not, leave!

Shortly after the Eva 00 Accident, with Rei incapacitated, Gendo summon's Shinji to Tokyo-3 to act as a backup pilot.

On his arrival at Nerv HQ, when Misato asks Shinji for his ID card, Shinji hands her the letter Gendo sent. All of the printed words on the letter have been erased with black highlighter, replaced with a handwritten message in the same from Gendo which reads "COME -- Gendo Ikari". Moreover, Shinji has scribbled over Gendo's words in red pen and torn up the paper out of frustration at his father, later taping the pieces back together(Perhaps after getting a load of Misato's picture!).

Later, while he is inside Eva 01, it is revealed that Shinji's original intention in coming to Tokyo-3 was to tell Gendo that he hated him.

Following Sachiel's attack, Shinji is brought to Eva-01's Cage to meet his father, who is standing above in the control room. Gendo orders Eva 01 to sortie. When it becomes clear that Shinji is the intended pilot, he still asks Gendo why he has been summoned, after his previous abandonment, and with no prior notice. Gendo explains that he has need of Shinji now, and that Shinji will be shown how to pilot, but when Shinji persists in declaring that he is unable, Gendo loudly issues an ultimatum: Pilot the Eva now -- or leave. Shinji is stunned by this, and afterwards cannot muster the courage to pilot.

Gendo ascertains the situation, then orders Rei to pilot Eva 01, as her "spare" Shinji is "unusable". Shinji, recalling his abandonment, concludes that he was not needed all along.

Shinji eventually does agree to pilot, after seeing Rei's sufferring, and after being saved from falling hanger lights by Eva 01 -- which drew a confident smirk from Gendo. However, Shinji later recalls this encounter, and Gendo's cold ultimatum to "leave", on several occasions.

"Natural to be Apart"

"Natural to be Apart"
Ritsuko: Are you sure? They don't want to live together? Fuyutsuki: I think that living apart is natural for Ikari and his son. Ritsuko: And being together is unnatural?

Gendo's Burns
Shinji: Well, it's just that my father seems to have burned his hands. Misato: Burned? Shinji: I was just wondering how it happened. Misato: Burns? Do you know? Ritsuko: It was before you arrived at Nerv. Unit 00 went berserk during the activation experiments. You've heard about that, right? Shinji: Yes. Ritsuko: The pilot was trapped inside. Shinji: Pilot? You mean Ayanami, right? Ritsuko: It was Commander Ikari who rescued her. He opened the super-heated hatch with his bare hands. Shinji:: My father did that? Ritsuko: That's how he burned his hands.

Shinji and Gendo live separately in Tokyo-3 and rarely interact with one another. While leaving the hospital after his first sortie against Sachiel, Shinji encounters Gendo at an elevator. The pair silently stare, not speaking a word, with Shinji eventually turning away, refusing to enter the elevator with his father.

Shinji is initially assigned to live on his own, though he is instead taken in by Misato. When Ritsuko asks about this, Fuyutsuki explains to her that for Gendo and his son, it is more natural to live apart than together. When Shinji attempts to leave Tokyo-3, Gendo makes no effort to stop or dissuade him.

While touring Shamshel's remains, Shinji sees the burns on Gendo's hands, and learns from Ritsuko that they were the result of Gendo's rescue of Rei during the Eva 00 accident. Later in Eva Cages, to his amazement, Shinji witnesses Gendo and Rei speaking cordially together.

During Gaghiel's attack, Gendo tells Kaji that he has sent Shinji as a reserve pilot. During the mission to capture Sandaphlon, Shinji learns Gendo has ordered the UN Forces to bomb the area with N^2 weapons if the mission fails.

Phone Call

Phone Call
Telephone Operator: Yes, please hold for just a moment. Gendo: What? Shinji: Um, Father... Gendo: What is it? Spit it out! Shinji: Well... Actually today... We were told to tell our parents... ...that they're having a career discussion interview at school. Gendo: I've delegated all such things to Captain Katsuragi. Don't call me over such nonsense. Don't forward any more of these calls to...(Phone line cuts out)

Shortly before the blackout at Nerv and Matarael's attack, Shinji calls Gendo from a payphone somewhere in the city above. After being placed on hold by an operator -- and subjected to phone system chimes -- Shinji is connected to a curt and impatient Gendo. Shinji requires a few seconds to find his voice, then hesitantly tells Gendo that the children in school have been asked to tell their parents of an upcoming career discussion interview. While Shinji has taken this literally, Gendo contemptuously dismisses the notion, telling Shinji that he has delegated such matters to Misato, who is now Shinji's guardian. As Gendo tells Shinji not to call him again over such trivialities, the phone line is cut off as power fails.

Praise from Gendo...

Manual Preparations
Ritsuko: It was all done by hand. It was the Commander's idea. Shinji: My father's? Ritsuko: Commander Ikari had faith that you would come, and prepared everything.

During the blackout and Matarael's attack, Shinji witness Gendo manually preparing the Evangelions for launch. Ritsuko tell Shinji that Gendo had faith that the pilots would arrive.

Praise from Gendo...
Gendo: By the way, is the pilot of Unit 01 there? Shinji: Yes, Sir! Gendo: I've received the report. Good work, Shinji. Shinji: Yes, Sir. Gendo: Now, Major Katsuragi, I'll leave the rest in your hands. Shinji: When I heard my father's words earlier, I think I finally understood what it's like to feel happy when you're praised. And I also realized that maybe I pilot the Eva because I wanted to hear those words from him.

While Gendo is absent at the South Pole, Sahaquiel attacks. Following the angel's defeat, and Shinji's role in this, Gendo contacts Nerv HQ and praises Shinji personally, calling him by name for the first time since they met in Tokyo-3. Shinji later tells Misato that he pilots Eva 01 in order to hear such words of praise from his father. Gendo's praise and Shinji's need for it become a recurring topic in many of the psychological dreamscapes Shinji later experiences.

Yui's Graveside

Yui's Graveside
Gendo: It's been three years since the last time we came here together. Shinji: I ran away then, and haven't been back since. It just hasn't sunk in that Mother is resting here. I don't even remember her face. Gendo: Man survives by forgetting his memories, but there are some things a man should never forget. Yui taught me about the irreplaceable things. I come here to confirm that. Shinji: You have no pictures of her? Gendo: There are none left. This grave is just a decoration too. There's no corpse. Shinji: So, the teacher was right. You threw them all away. Gendo: I keep everything in my heart. That is enough for now. Gendo: It's time. I'm leaving now. Shinji: (Catching glipse of Rei) Father! Shinji: Um, I'm glad I got to talk to you today. Gendo: I see.

Shinji is scheduled to visit Yui's Grave along with Gendo. It will be the first time the two have been there in three years. On the day beforehand, Ritsuko notices that Shinji is downcast over the prospect. Shinji attempts to ask Rei for advice on what to say, and asks her what Gendo is like, but Rei claims not to know. At home, Shinji reflects on his encounters with Gendo: at the Cage, the elevator, during his manual preparations, and on Gendo's words of praise.

The next day, Gendo and Shinji visit Yui's grave, which lies in a huge Second Impact Graveyard. Shinji lays a wreath of flowers, and Gendo comments that it has been three years since they visited the grave together, Shinji admitting that he ran away at that time. Evidently this was the last time the pair met before Shinji came to Tokyo-3.

Shinji says that he cannot remember what Yui looked like. Gendo tells him that people survive by forgetting their memories, but that some things should not be forgotten. Gendo says that Yui taught him about what is irreplaceable, and that he comes to her grave to confirm this. Shinji asks Gendo about pictures of Yui, but Gendo tells him that they have all been destroyed, and that the Grave is decorative as Yui left no corpse. Gendo says that he keeps everything in his heart.

As VTOL arrives, Gendo announces he is leaving. The pair regard each other for a moment before Gendo starts to walks off. Shinji, catching a glimpse of Rei aboard the VTOL, suddenly calls out to Gendo, causing him to stop and turn. Shinji tells Gendo that he is glad to have had the chance to talk. Gendo gives a brief acknowledgement and departs, with Shinji leaving separately. When he arrives home, Shinji plays on his cello.

This encounter constitutes Gendo and Shinji's only face-to-face conversation.

Shinji inside Ireul

Shinji inside Iruel
Rei: Don't you have faith in your father? Shinji: I think I hate him, but now I'm not sure. Gendo Good work, Shinji. Shinji: My father called me by my name. I was praised by my father! Younger Shinji: You're going to spend the rest of your life ruminating on that happiness? Shinji: If I believe in those words, I can keep on living. Shinji: Father, am I unwanted? Father! Young Shinji: You're the one who ran away. Man: That's right! He may be guilty of killing his own wife! Man: He killed his own wife! Shinji: No! Mother was... Smiling... Misato: You did a very praiseworthy thing today. Gendo: Shinji, you must not run away. Misato: 'Do your best.

Eva 03

Eva 03
Fuyutsuki: Not good! Cut the synch rate to 60%! Gendo: Wait! Fuyutsuki: But Ikari, at this rate, the pilot will die. Gendo: Shinji, why don't you fight? Shinji: But there's a person in there, Father! Gendo: Irrelevant! It is an Angel! Our enemy! Shinji: But... but I can't! I've got to save them! I can't just kill somebody! Gendo: You'll die. Shinji: I don't care! It's better than killing someone! Gendo: Never mind! Cut all synchronization between the pilot and Unit 01. Ibuki: Cut it? Gendo: Correct. Switch the control circuit to the dummy plug. Ibuki: But the dummy system still has a lot of problems, and without Dr. Akagi's approval... Gendo: It'll be of more use than the pilot. Do it! Shinji: Stop it! Father, stop! Stop doing this! Damn! Stop! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop! STOP!

Fallout and Crisis

Fallout
Shinji: My father... That bastard tried to kill Toji! With my hands... Father, you're there, aren't you? Say something! Answer me! Gendo: Increase the pressure of the LCL to maximum. We have no time to waste on a childish tantrum. Shinji: I've still got a direct control circuit... Damn! Damn! Damn... Gendo: Disobeying orders, private appropriation of an Eva, blatant intimidation...These are all criminal offenses. Shinji: ...... Gendo: Do you have anything to say? Shinji: Yes, I don't want to pilot an Eva anymore. I don't want to stay here either. Gendo: Then leave. Shinji: Yes. I'll go back to my teacher's place. Gendo: So you're running away again? Shinji: ...... Gendo: You disappoint me. I doubt we'll ever meet again. Shinji: Yes, that's my intent.

Return to the Eva Cage
MAN: It's rejecting the dummy plug. MAN: It failed! No response detected! Gendo: Keep trying. Repeat the process from step 108. Shinji: Let me pilot it! I... I... Let me pilot Unit 01, please! Shinji: Father... Gendo: Why are you here? Shinji: I... I... I am the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01! Shinji Ikari!

Shinji inside Eva 01

Shinji inside Eva 01
Shinji: Enemy! Enemy! Enemy! Enemy! My enemy! My enemy! Damn! Damn! Damn! How dare you hurt Toji and kill my mother! Father! Rei: Why do you hate your father? Shinji: Of course! Anyone would. Rei: You can't understand your father? Shinji: Of course not. I've hardly ever seen him. Rei: Is that why you hate him? Shinji: Yes, my father doesn't need me! My father deserted me! Rei: And am I the substitute? Shinji: That's right! That's got to be it! He abandoned me because he had you! Rei: As if you didn't run away all by yourself. Shinji: Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! It's all his fault!! That time, I was actually going to tell him I hate him! Shinji: Are you telling me to get on that thing and put myself in danger, Father? Gendo: Correct. Shinji: What's with that?! I don't want to! Why are you saying this now?! I thought you didn't need me, Father! Gendo: I merely called you because I needed you. Shinji: Why me? Gendo: Because it's impossible for anyone else. Shinji: But that's impossible. I've never even seen or heard of it. There's no way I could do it! Shinji: No, I knew. That's right! I knew the Eva. And that time, I ran away! Away from Mother and Father!

Lockdown

Lockdown
Shinji: I'll go out there in Unit 01! Fuyutsuki: No! The target corrodes the pilot's psyche. Gendo: Right now, we must avoid the corrosion of Eva 01. Shinji: Then I just have to keep from getting hit, right?! Gendo: Your success is not guaranteed. Shinji: But at this rate, Asuka will... Gendo: I don't care. Rei, go down into Dogma and use the Lance.

Gendo's Confession

Gendo's Confession
Gendo: I've been waiting for this moment for so long... To finally be with you again, Yui. When I'm with Shinji, I only hurt him. So, it's better that I do nothing. Yui: So, you were afraid of Shinji. Gendo: I don't believe that I can be loved by others... I'm not worthy of love. Kaworu: You're just running away. You simply reject the world before you get hurt. Yui: Afraid of the shapeless, invisible barriers that separate people... Rei: You just closed your heart to others. Gendo: So, this is my retribution. Forgive me... Shinji.

Assessments and Interpretations

Shinji still longs for words of praise from Gendo, despite the times his father has abandoned him. It is a very vicious cycle; Shinji will yearn for praise and be continually disappointed until it is given, which lulls him into a false sense of security only for Gendo to swoop down and ruin it.