Tributes to Other Fiction in Neon Genesis Evangelion
As the title says, this page is for listing references or tributes to other shows found in evangelion.
My Neighbor Totoro
In Episode 04, after exiting the bus, Shinji rests by a statue of Jizo-san, the patron deity of travelers and children. This shot is aparently a tribute to a similar shot from Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro.
Oniisama E
In Episode 18, a scene from the Shoujo classic Oniisama E aka Brother Dear Brother is reconstructed almost shot-by-shot. First they establish that two close friends are chatting in a park.
Then there is a lingering shot of their feet...
and then a shot of a nearby sandbox including a pail and shovel. The cast of Oniisama E also includes characters named "Rei Asaka" aka "Hana no Saint Juste" (Saint Juste of the Flowers), and "Kaworu Orihara" aka "Kaworu no Kimi" (Prince Kaworu).
The Andromeda Strain
(This list details some of the more notable references to Wise's 1971 movie version of The Andromeda Strain. As the movie is a very loyal adaptation of Crichton's original novel, the thematic and plotline similarities between the book and Evangelion Episode 13 are largely present in it as well and are not repeated here. Most of these findings originate from the Evangelion Mailing List FAQ (although they never had screenshots), so once solid SAUCE guidelines are in place, we must give credit where credit is due.)
Interrupted call
Dr. Stone has been hauled away from his home by some "army types with guns". His wife Allison is distressed and tries to call her father who is a senator.
- Allison: You tell the senator it's his daughter!
- Senator: Allison?
- Allison: Dad, something very peculiar has just happened, even for Jeremy. A few minutes ago...
- (Phone begins to beep.)
- Allison: Dad, are you there? What's going on?
- Female voice: This communication is being monitored. The connection has been broken for reasons of national security. You will be briefed at the appropriate time. Thank you for your cooperation, Mrs. Stone.
In Episode 19 (Platinum subtitles):
- Kensuke: Are you there, Shinji? Is it true that you're leaving? It's true, isn't it? But why? Why are you running away now? I wanted to be like you. I envied you. You're different from us. Damn! Even Toji became an Eva pilot, while I...
- (Phone beeps.)
- Female voice: This line is monitored. For security reasons, we have terminated this call. We appreciate your cooperation.
Flashes in the sky
- Hall: Up there! Look.
- Stone: An Air Force jet. If we don't make it to Wildfire, he'll see the helicopter does... or shoot it down.
- Hall: Well, for Dempsey's sake, we better not slip up.
In Episode 10 (Platinum subtitles):
- Shinji: What are those?
- Ritsuko: The UN's Air Force is on standby alert.
- Ibuki: Until this mission has been completed.
- Asuka: Are they going to help us?
- Ritsuko: No, they're here to clean up.
- Ibuki: In case we fail.
- Asuka: What do you mean?
- Ritsuko: They will use N2 depth charges to destroy the Angel, and us with it.
- Asuka: That's awful!
Open transmission
- Stone: The town is finished, contaminated beyond all...
- Major Manchek: Careful, sir. This is an open transmission.
- Stone: I'm aware of that, Manchek. Order up a 7-12.
- Major Manchek: Only the president...
- Stone: Precisely. Get on it. The town must be neutralized immediately.
In Episode 10 (Platinum subtitles):
- Misato: There's no doubt, it's an Angel. As of now, this laboratory will be completely sealed off! It's under Nerv's jurisdiction now! Any and all access to the outside world is prohibited, and all records of the events of the past six hours are classified. Request an A-17 from Commander Ikari, top priority!
- Aoba: Watch what you're saying. This is an open line.
- Misato: I know. Hurry up and switch to a scrambled line.
Code 601
During a simulation of how the Andromeda Cell functions, an error message appears on the main computer monitor.
- Dutton: What the devil?
- Stone: 601? The computer's overloaded! Too much data coming in too fast.
In Episode 05 (Platinum subtitles):
- Misato: What the heck is this?
- Ritsuko: That's the code number for "cannot be analyzed".
- Misato: You mean, you don't know what the heck it is?
Other visuals
- As opposed to the usual octagonal, Ireul's A.T. Field projections are hexagonal in shape. Andromeda Cells, although constantly evolving, most often assume a form of a hexagonal crystal.
- Patterns of electronic circuitry from the movie are directly recycled in Episode 13, during Ireul's hacking spree.
- The placards in Episode 20 use the same method of counting time (black background with Nth DAY).
The Orphan Conversation
Hideaki Anno has made multiple uses of what has been dubbed, the "Orphan Conversation". Which always ends with some variation on "we're the same".
From Nadia, the Secret of Blue Water (Anno's series before Evangelion):
(Jean and Nadia have just escaped from the Grandis Gang and are traveling down river by boat.)
Jean: "Where will you go now? Back to the circus?"
Nadia: "I can't go back."
Jean: "What about your folks?"
Nadia: "I don't have any."
Jean: "I see. It's the same with me."
From Neon Genesis Evangelion:
(Shinji has met Kensuke in the wilderness)
Kensuke: "I really envy you. Living with such a beautiful woman and getting to pilot Evangelion. Oh, I wish I could get behind the controls just once!"
Shinji: "You'd better not. Your mother would be worried."
Kensuke: "Ah, that's okay. I don't have one."
Shinji: "Ah…"
Kensuke: "I'm the same as you, Ikari."
From Kareshi Kanojo no Jijo (aka Kare Kano, aka His and Hers Circumstance) (Anno's series after Evangelion)
(Yukino's parents, Hiroyuki and Miyako pass by three children in a sandbox with the ubiquitous pail and shovel.)
(In a flashback episode about Yukino's parents' courtship, Hiroyuki and Miyako are hiding on top of a public restroom while playing hide and seek.)
Miyako: "Hey, Hiro."
Hiroyuki: "Yeah?"
Miyako: "Hiro, is it true that you don't have a father or mother?"
Hiroyuki: "Yeah, that's right."
Miyako: "Um, you know? I don't have a mother either. Guess were the same."
Hiroyuki: "The same?"
