Tributes to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Anime and Manga
As the name implies, this page is for references to Evangelion. This is a work in progress, there's still much cleanup that needs to be done.
Confirmed References
This is the list of confirmed references to Evangelion from other anime and manga. These are either confirmed by authoritative sources or are obvious references.
801 T.T.S. Airbats (青空少女隊)
In 801 T.T.S. Airbats, an OVA that was released from 1994 to 1996, an Evangelion poster can be seen on the wall of Takuya Isurugi's bedroom.
Aoi House
In volume 1, episode 4, page 19 of the English language manga, Aoi House, published by Seven Seas Entertainment, there is a mysterious character called Oniisan which provides Morgan McKnight high-tech equipment that appears as a Seele Monolith.
Burn Up W/Excess (バーンナップ W/EXCESS)
Burn Up W, a 4 episode OVA release starting in April of 1996. Although it was released the same year the Evangelion TV Series was aired, in episode 2, Nanvel produces a robot named "El Heggunte'" which is very obviously a reference to Evangelion Unit-01.
There is a sequence of Nanvel's display with a timer and text scrolling by. The text is the episode list of the Evangelion TV Series.
In the second half of episode 8 of Burn Up Excess, the follow-up TV series, Rio Kinezono and Lilica Ebett perform a synchronized somersault and double kick like Eva-01 and Eva-02 do in Episode 08.
Also in the second half of episode 8, a giant transvestite performs a rush and somersault mimicking Eva-01 in Episode 02 against Sachiel.
Diebuster (トップをねらえ2！)
Diebuster, or Gunbuster 2, is an OVA from 2004 by Gainax. In episode 6, the final episode, there is an overt reference to Gendo putting his hand over Rei's left breast and it going inside her body.
Elf ban Kakyuusei (エルフ版 下級生)
Elf ban Kakyuusei is a 4 episode OVA that was released in November of 1997 and based on a dating sim. In episode 4, during a scene in a theatre, several characters from Evangelion are clearly depicted sitting in the theatre.
Fooly Cooly (フリクリ)
The Gainax/Production I.G. OVA Fooly Cooly(Furi Kuri or FLCL), naturally contains several Evangelion references.
In the second episode of the series, main character Noata Nandaba remarks that his father, Kamon "wrote an ‘Eva’ book a long time ago"
Hideaki Anno also provides the vocal effects for Miyu Miyu, the Nandaba family cat.
Genshiken (げんしけん)
In the Genshiken manga by Shimoku Kio, which started in December of 2002, one of the short Omake strips has Ohno Kanako, an avid cosplayer, dressed up as Asuka.
In the second season of the Genshiken anime, near the end of episode 2 you can see 2 stacks of doujin on a table. The one on the right features Asuka and Rei in bikinis on the cover and Asuka is holding a beach ball that looks like Leliel.
In volume 7, chapter 39, of the manga, when Ohno's 2 friends from the States come to visit, one of her friends, Sue, introduces herself by saying "Anta Baka", a saying made popular by Asuka. The reference is made even more evident in episode 10 of the second season TV series where she even mimics the way Asuka says it. Ohno then tells her she can't just say stuff like that and that she's lucky Madarame (the person she says it to) understands that it's a parody (of Evangelion).
Great Teacher Onizuka (グレート・ティーチャー・オニヅカ)
Great Teacher Onizuka is a show that first aired in June of 1999 and based on a manga series that started in February of 1997. In the manga, when Onizuka walks through Yoshikawa's room, you can see several posters of Rei and Asuka hanging on the walls.
In the manga, after winning the swimming contest against Mr. Fukuroda, he says that he'll use the winnings to buy Evangelion trading cards.
In volume 11 of the manga, when Miyabi was setup with an S&M crowd, there is a Seele mask on one of the S&M implements against the wall.
In volume 14 of the manga, when Miyabi came to school after dying her hair blue, Onizuka hugs her and tells her how big of a Rei Ayanami fan he is, believing that Miyabi dyed her hair to look like Rei.
Hayate the Combat Butler (ハヤテのごとく！)
Hayate no Gotoku, or Hayate the Combat Butler, is a show that started in April of 2007. This show contains so many parodies and references to other anime, TV shows, and games, that it is nearly impossible to catch them all.
During an episode with an extended parody of the game "Dragon Quest", the head of Giant Rei/Lilith popped out of the enemy everyone was fighting:
Nerv logo look-alike can be seen in one of the baths:
This following sequence parodies the first launch of Evangelion Unit-01. This is a giant nursing robot that goes berserk.
In Episode 34, during a scene in the school festival that suspiciously looks like Comiket, there's a girl holding a sign wearing a teal colored plugsuit.
In Episode 36, Klaus, the old Sanzenin Family butler, is sulking in a corner repeating "I mustn't run away" over and over again, with a Spear through his chest that looks remarkably like the Spear of Longinus. When Hayate approaches him, an A.T. Field appears, which Maria the maid immediately responds with "An A.T. Field. It's a barrier made by the soul."
He Is My Master (これが私の御主人様)
From the anime He Is My Master, a 12 episode TV show by GAINAX, there is a scene where several Evangelion characters show up as dolls on a shelf. On the bottom row on the left, there are chibi versions of Mayumi, Misato, Asuka, and Hikari. On the bottom row on the right, there is a Rei Ayanami wearing the school uniform from the alternate reality from Episode 26.
Ikki Tousen (一騎当千)
In the second season of Ikki Tousen (Dragon Destiny), the mid-episode eyecatch in episode 8 featured Gakushin Bunken in Rei's plugsuit as well as the interface headsets.
Koi no Mon
Suzuki Matsuo's 2004 romantic comedy Koi no Mon features, among its countless anime and manga references, a cosplay bordello that capitalizes on Rei Ayanami's fame as an otaku idol. Hideaki Anno makes a small cameo appearance in the movie as an inn keeper. Sauce.
Love Hina (ラブ ひな)
In the Love Hina manga, Keitaro was following Naru around when she stops at a Cosplay Cafe, he imagines her wearing Asuka's red plugsuit.
Lucky Star (らき☆すた)
The cover of the Vol 11 Lucky Star Character Song CD, featuring Soujirou and Kanata (Hirokazu Hiramatsu and Sumi Shimamoto), shows Soujirou standing in front of a wooden cabinet that's seen in the TV series. However, unlike in the series, you can see Asuka and Rei figurines sitting on it behind Soujirou's left shoulder.
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi (アベノ橋魔法☆商店街)
Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi is a 13 episode series by Gainax that aired in April of 2002. In episode 3, when Satoshi realizes what's going on in this world, you can see grey Evangelion Unit-01 floating in space in the same fashion at the very end of End of Evangelion, with flowing hair.
Also, in episode 3, during the brief flash of the "Anime Pyramid", you can see Eva-01's head in the 3rd tier.
Also, in episode 3, after Satoshi gets inside the pilot's seat, the Evangelion background music, Decisive Battle, can be heard in the background. In episode 8, Satoshi's sister is seen running down the street, toast in mouth, wearing Rei's school uniform, saying "I'm late, I'm late", taken directly from the alternate reality in Episode 26 of the Evangelion TV Series.
Miami Guns (マイアミ☆ガンズ)
Also, in episode 7, Yao reverts to a primitive state after her father takes her money and priviledges away, and is being monitored from a control room. She goes berserk and punches the glass that separates her and her father and Kaken. Kaken orders the warm water to be turned on to contain the berserk Yao. This entire sequence mimicks Eva-00's activation test in the beginning of Episode 05.
Pani Poni Dash! (ぱにぽにだっしゅ！)
Pani Poni Dash! is an anime that aired in July of 2005. In one of the episodes, a giant Akane Serizawa is holding Rebecca Miyamoto in a similar fashion as Eva-01 holds Kaworu Nagisa during the long single still shot in Episode 24.
Rurouni Kenshin (るろうに剣心)
According to the author of the Rurouni Kenshin manga, Nobuhiro Watsuki, the visual design of Yukishiro Tomoe ended up being like Rei Ayanami and Honjo Kamatari's face was based on Yui Ikari.
Seto no Hanayome (瀬戸の花嫁)
Seto no Hanayome is a series that aired in April of 2007. In episode 16, Rei and Asuka can be seen in the crowd in the school's hallway wearing the school's uniforms.
Sgt. Frog (ケロロ軍曹)
Sgt. Frog (anime and manga) has too many Evangelion references to possibly list them all, so a few will have to do.
In this sequence from Vol. Eleven of the Manga, Corporal Giroro revives like Eva-02 in EOE.
In this episode, the Keron Force tries to conquor Earth by making everyone lethargic with "May Disease", which seems to be the Japanese equivalent of Spring Fever. This somehow escalates into a Third Impact-style disaster.
Slayers (スレイヤーズ)
In the Slayers manga, there is a frame where you can clearly see Misato, Asuka, Shinji, and Rei in the background.
Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann (天元突破グレンラガン)
Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, an anime by Gainax that aired starting in April of 2007, in episode 6, the animators were said to have "gone crazy" (according to Hiroyuki Yamaga, at the Fanime 2007 Gurren-Lagann panel, concerning how the cameos weren't scripted to turn out like that) and stuck several females from other Gainax shows in the bathhouse, all wearing bunny outfits similar to the Daicon III and IV animations. Among them, were Rei and Asuka.
Unconfirmed References
These are possible references to Evangelion from other anime and manga, but are either unconfirmable or unlikely, but still worth noting.
Azumanga Daioh (あずまんが大王)
Azumanga Daioh, an anime that aired in 2002 and based on a 4-koma manga of the same name by Kiyohiko Azuma, in episode 3, Yukari mimics the way Misato drinks beer, slamming the empty glass down and yelling. Although it is debatable whether this was a direct reference, the similarities are clear.
Cosplay Complex (こすぷれCOMPLEX)
In the beginning of episode 3, there is a shot of a medical monitor that is taken from the beginning of End of Evangelion, where there is a medical monitor in Asuka's hospital room.
Great Teacher Onizuka (グレート・ティーチャー・オニヅカ)
In the anime, Onizuka can be seen occasionally sporting a red scarf that has the 7 eyed mask, similar to Lilith's Mask. Since the 7 eyes is symbolic outside of the Evangelion series, it's possible that this is not a reference at all to Evangelion.
In episode 12, Teshigawara Suguru, the Math teacher, wears a white glove on his right hand that looks very similar to the ones that Gendo Ikari wears, and can be seen pushing his glasses up several times in this episode.
Hanaukyo Maid Tai (花右京メイド隊)
In Hanaukyo Maid Tai, and anime TV series and OVA, an angelic Rei Ayanami makes a cameo in episode 1 as a statue when Taro first enters the mansion.
Lucky Star (らき☆すた)
Lucky Star, an anime by Kyoto Animation that aired in 2007, in episode 6, Kuroi-sensei mimics the way Misato drinks beer.
Puni Puni Poemy (ぷにぷに☆ぽえみぃ)
Puni Puni Poemy, a 2 part OVA released in March of 2001, there is a massive alien mecha that attacks the city. One of the legs of the alien mecha belongs to Evangelion Unit-01.
The Melacholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱)
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was a show by Kyoto Animation that started in April of 2006. Although the scene near the end of the show where Haruhi chokes Kyon (for apparently no reason at all) may or may not be a direct reference to the final scene in the End of Evangelion, the circumstances, the desolate surroundings, and the lighting of this scene has many fans believing it is a direct reference.
Trinity Blood (トリニティ・ブラッド)
Although this is a debatable tribute, during an episode of Trinity Blood, an anime that aired in April of 2005, one of the vampires produce something that looks like an A.T. Field.
The Gendo Pose
The Gendo Pose, as it has been known to be called, is popularized by Gendo Ikari sitting at his desk with his hands in front of his mouth and fingers entwined, generally looking very intimidating. Since this pose wasn't something that Evangelion invented and has shown up in shows prior to the making of Evangelion, it is difficult to ascertain whether these are real references or not, although some may be more obvious than others. This section will be dedicated to these confirmed and unconfirmable references to this pose.
Cosplay Complex (こすぷれCOMPLEX)
Cosplay Complex, a 3 episode OVA released in May of 2002, has a character, Jenny Matel, who went around repeating "I mustn't run away!" over and over again, like Shinji does, during the beach episode. Also, during the beginning of episode 1, Gourou, the president of the cosplay club can be seen doing a Gendo pose while video conferencing.
Miami Guns (マイアミ☆ガンズ)
In the opening animation of Miami Guns, there is a quick shot of Yao's father behind his desk wearing white gloves in a Gendo pose.
Also, in episode 7, Yao's father repeats the pose
The Pyramid
Similar to the Gendo Pose, The Pyramid as seen by the Nerv pyramid and in End of Evangelion's sandbox, has appeared in many other anime and manga, but cannot always be confirmed as a reference, since this particular three dimensional shape has existed for millennia. Some instances of the pyramid are more obvious an Evangelion reference (particularly to the sandbox scene), while others may simply be just a pyramid.
Great Teacher Onizuka (グレート・ティーチャー・オニヅカ)
While the class was in Okinawa, Yoshikawa can be seen building a sand castle similar to child Shinji's sandcastle (a pyramid) in the Sandbox Sequence in the End of Evangelion.
Yakitate! Japan (焼きたて!!ジャぱん)
Yakitate! Japan (manga) by Takashi Hashiguchi and serialized starting in 2002 and getting a U.S. release starting in September of 2006, in the U.S. release volume 10, chapter 83, page 6, during Pierrot's flashback on a beach, his child self can be seen building a sandcastle, which turns out to be a pyramid and includes a frame very similar to the Sandbox Sequence in the End of Evangelion.
