Shinji Ikari Raising Project (Manga)
The Shinji Ikari Raising Project is an Evangelion-based manga spin-off of the video game, which was set in the original series timeline. The series was created by Takahashi Osamu, but is actually set in the Alternate Universe seen in Episode 26. This is similar to how Girlfriend of Steel 2 was also a video game based on Shinji's alternate reality dream-world from Episode 26, and then spawned its own manga spin-off.
The series ran from June 2005 until February 2016 in Shōnen Ace, which was the same magazine the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga was published in. The series' final Tankōbon volume was published in May 2016. The series has a total of eighteen volumes and is published in Japan by Kadokawa. An English translated version of the manga is currently being published by Dark Horse Comics in the U.S., and has just released Volume 16. Volume 17 comes out in January 2017.
Summary
The series follows Shinji, Rei and Asuka as they go through their junior high school life, with accompanying hormones, while also helping out helping out with research at the Artificial Evolution Research Lab, headed by Shinji's parents, Gendo and Yui. A secret organization, named SEELE plans to disrupt the Artificial Evolution Research Lab's experiments in order to reach its goals. SEELE's main target is the MAGI System, and Shinji, because of his parental connections to the lab. SEELE uses computer viruses (which look and act like the angels from the series) to try and infect the MAGI system. The three children are put into a virtual reality (with plugsuits) to stop the advancing computer viruses. SEELE tries to use Kaworu Nagisa to distract Shinji from being able to sync and defend the MAGI with either Asuka or Rei.
The links to the individual volumes of the manga are listed below:
| The Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volumes |
| Volume 1 | Volume 2 | Volume 3 | Volume 4 | Volume 5 | Volume 6 | Volume 7 | Volume 8 | Volume 9 |
| Volume 10 | Volume 11 | Volume 12 | Volume 13 | Volume 14 | Volume 15 | Volume 16 | Volume 17 | Volume 18 |
Differences Between the Original Series and this Manga
- The psychological issues present in the anime and manga are not as prevalent.
- However, personality wise, Shinji comes off as a clutz and a perv (as shown in briefly in Episode 26).
- Asuka can be neurotic and possesive of Shinji at times, (which may be based on her line from End of Evangelion).
- Shinji and Asuka now have a much less antagonistic relationship, they are childhood friends, having met when they were both 4.
- Yui is still alive, and is working alongside Gendo at NERV as head scientist, instead of Ritsuko.
- Kyoko is still alive, works at NERV and wants Asuka and Shinji to marry.
- Rei is introduced as a distant relative of Shinji's from Yui's side of the family. She is also Shinji's love interest (keeping in mind that Japanese or even European definitions of incest do not extend to cousins of various degrees; this is a common occurrence in various anime series).
- Gendo and Shinji's relationship is less negative and more complex, with each in competition with the other and always trying to outdo each other.
- Misato is the homeroom teacher at Shinji's school and Ritsuko is the school nurse, although both still have some sort of connection with NERV.
- Kaworu has some sort of connection with Ritsuko, and seems attracted to Shinji. This forces Asuka and Rei to put aside their mutual differences to prevent Kaworu from stealing Shinji away.
- Mana Kirishima also appears in the manga as more competition for Shinji's affections, and another source of ire for Asuka and Rei.
