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.
A.I. Love You (ＡＩが止まらない)
A romantic comedy manga series by Ken Akamatsu, A.I. Love You has a panel from volume 8, chapter 53, where the protagonist's sister, Yayoi, mentions that the subterranean section of the house looks like Nerv.
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.
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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.
FLCL/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"
In the third episode, Naota’s teacher "Miya-Jun" (Junko Miyaji) is seen wearing bandages similar to Rei Anayami’s after an accident.
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.
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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.
- In Episode 05, Hayate recites Shinji's "I mustn't run away" mantra.
- 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.
- A Nerv logo look-alike can be seen in one of the baths:
- There is a sequence that parodies the first launch of Evangelion Unit-01. A giant nursing robot (which looks alarmingly like Snoopy) goes berserk.
- In Episode 25, after Nagi is abducted, a Mecha comes to fight Hayate that looks somewhat like a strange SD version of Evangelion Unit-01, and displays a cross-shaped explosion after it is destroyed.
- 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."
- In Episode 39, Hayate and the school's superintendent are talking in the battle arena and the superintendent summons a treasure among butlers. It is delivered through the floor by a large mecha that emerges from the ground using an Eva lift.
- In Episode 40, while Hayate and Nagi are on a bicycle, Hayate mentions to Nagi about coming up with a new Instrumentality Project while trucks pass them in the background with parody Nerv emblems. Also in this episode, several ocean waves shots were used to segway between scenes, a possible homage to the many times it was used in Evangelion
- In Episode 46, while Saki does a short monologue a Seele monolith (Seele 01) appears in front of her.
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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 in episode 8 where several female characters from different productions of the studio show up as chibi-dolls on a shelf. The characters are:
- Top left shelf: Glenda, Elmina, Yucie and Cocoloo from Petite Princess Yucie.
- Middle left shelf: Mitsuki, Izumi and Anna from He is My Master.
- Lower left shelf: Mayumi from Neon Genesis Evangelion: Second Impression, Misato, Asuka and Hikari.
- Top right shelf: Mamimi from FLCL, Noriko from Gunbuster, and Nono and Tycho from Diebuster.
- Middle right shelf: Patricia Burnmite (sp? - from パトリシア・バーンマイト), the main character from the Gainax-produced game Grapple Gear, with character design by Mine Yoshizaki; Mahoro and Minawa from Mahoromatic, and Melody from Melody of Oblivion.
- Lower right shelf: Nadia from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, Yukino from His and Her Circumstances, alternate reality Rei from Evangelion Episode 26, and Arumi from Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi.
Also from episode 2, there is a quick shot of the inside of a computer room after Mitsuki unlocks a secret on her PC. The computer room looks exactly like the shot of the inside of the Magi computers in End of Evangelion when Misato is hacking to find Nerv's secrets, right down to the metal grating.
Kanokon (かのこん)
Kanokon is an ecchi fanservice show that started airing in April of 2008. In the 3rd episode, Nozomu Ezomori purposely runs into Kouta Oyamada by running around a corner with toast in her mouth shouting "Ahhh, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late..." similar to Rei in the alternate universe scene 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.
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.
In Volume 8, after an especially pathetic speech by Keitaro, Naru exclaims: "Hey, who told you to go all Shinji on me?!"
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. In a non-Eva related reference, the Space station looks exactly like Ultraman's face. Also, in episode 3, during the brief flash of the "Anime Pyramid", you can see Eva-01's head in the 3rd tier. Other notable anime references here include mechs from Mobile Suit Gundam and Mazinger Z, the Space Battleship Yamato, Tetsuo from Akira, the Scopedog from VOTOMS, a guardian robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and what seems like the robot Godmars. 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.
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Miami Guns (マイアミ☆ガンズ)
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. Also, in the opening animation there is a quick shot of Yao's father behind his desk wearing white gloves in a Gendo Pose. This shot is also re-used occasionally in the show itself.
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Minipato (ミニパト)
The short Patlabor parody OAV Minipato (2002) spoofs the many tropes of the mecha genre by making references to various other mecha anime, including Evangelion. In Episode 2 one of the alternative Patlabor designs, translated as "Large quantity style" in the offcial subs, is based on a Mass Production Evangelion.
Pani Poni Dash! (ぱにぽにだっしゅ！)
Pani Poni Dash! is a gag anime that aired in July of 2005. As the show constantly references other anime (and other works of popular culture), it also contains numerous Evangelion parodies. To list just a few:
- In the super robot parody sequence in episode 12, Rebecca plays the role of a base commander in a Gendo Pose.
- In episode 18, one of the explosions following a bomb-defusal training gone wrong resembles the awakening of Eva-01 in The End of Evangelion.
- In episode 19, Akane Serizawa is seen holding a miniature Spear of Longinus. In the same episode, Ichijo's character design undergoes a brief Rei-ish (or Yui-ish, if you prefer) transformation.
- In episode 21, a giant Himeko is holding Serizawa (dressed up as Rebecca) in a similar fashion as Eva-01 holds Kaworu Nagisa during the long single still shot in Episode 24. Immediately following, Rei Tachibana makes an Evangelion-themed appearance as a Betamax Seele monolith.
- Episode 20 features fig leaf shaped split screens and random Evangelion cosplay.
- Episode 25 is another mecha parody episode. The alien captain's human form alternates briefly between the standard Jean-Luc Picard and Keel Lorenz .
- The crew of Pani Poni X is trapped in a series of fake worlds, resembling Evangelion's TV-ending version of Instrumentality. After breaking free, their mech is transformed into what looks like a hybrid of Eva-01 and Diana A from Mazinger Z.
- And finally in episode 26, there are a number of minor references.
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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.
Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei (さよなら絶望先生)
- In episode 9, there is a short eye-catch that appears after Itoshiki Nozomu says to name 7 mistakes in life. The second mistake listed in the eye-catch is "'Getting hooked on Eva while failing to get into college'".
- In episode 4 of the second season, Zoku Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, using the text from an ancient civilization to find a weapon capable of defeating the alien invaders, Chiri Kitsu gets turned into a giant and fights the onslaught of giant robots. She defeats them in a similar manner as Asuka and Evangelion Unit-02 defeats the Mass Production Evangelions in the first half of End of Evangelion.
- Chiri, like Asuka, shouts Erster! (German for "First") after destroying the first enemy, and continues as she destroys the others.
- Chiri then takes out a Proper Sword, which looks very similar to Eva-02's Progressive Knife, and continues the onslaught against the enemy robots, where she kicks 2 of them in a similar manner as Asuka and Eva-02 kicks 2 of the VTOLs before the Mass Production Evangelions arrive.
- Also from the second season, in episode 11, there is a shot of Kaere Kimura on Lilith's cross with a Spear of Longinus through her chest.
- Also from the second season, in episode 12, Evangelion Unit-01 appears briefly on the TV set.
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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 aka Keroro Gunsou (anime and manga) has too many Evangelion references to possibly list them all, so a few will have to do:
- In Vol. Eleven of the Manga, there is a sequence in which Corporal Giroro revives like Eva-02 in EOE.
- In both the anime and the manga, Sgt. Keroro has been known to dress up like a Seele Monolith.
- In one 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.
- In another episode, there is a tribute to the "congratulations" scene.
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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.
Slayers Try, is a sequel to Slayers Next and Slayers that aired starting in April of 1997. In episode 17, there is a scene where Kerel is sitting atop a rock, mimicking the scene in the beginning of Episode 24 where Kaworu is humming atop of a broken statue looking over a lake. Also, Kerel is played by Kaworu's seiyuu, Akira Ishida, taking a break from his regular Slayers character, Xellos.
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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. The girls are, from left to right, Rei, Mahoro from Mahoromatic, Nono from Diebuster, Asuka, and Lal'c from Diebuster.
In episodes 24 and 26, Nia is depicted as a giant white figure in space. This is a possible reference to the giant Rei from End of Evangelion.
This Ugly Yet Beautiful World (この醜くも美しい世界)
In episode 9 of This Ugly Yet Beautiful World, a 12 episode series produced by GAINAX (amongst others), the foriegn lush, Jennifer Portman, mimicked Misato drinking a beer. Normally, a chug and a yelp would be considered an unconfirmed reference. However, this one used nearly the same framing, camera angle, and motions as Misato, and being a show produced by GAINAX, it's very possible that this was an intentional tip of the hat to Evangelion.
Unconfirmed References and Coincidental Similarities
These are possible references to Evangelion from other anime and manga, but have not been confirmed yet (despite all appearances), or are 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)
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. 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.
Also, in episode 1, Gourou, the president of the cosplay club can be seen doing a Gendo Pose.
Excel Saga (へっぽこ実験アニメーション エクセル・サーガ)
In the last episode (26) of Excel Saga, Hyatt falls over on the sidewalk, starts to bleed, and continues to bleed, covering the earth in blood, which looks similar to the start of Third Impact in End of Evangelion.
Full Metal Alchemist (鋼の錬金術師)
In the Full Metal Alchemist manga in Chapter 75, as all the souls in the town are being collected, an eye similar to the one seen in End of Evangelion when the black moon rises out of hakone can be seen rising out of the ground.
Galaxy Angel (ギャラクシーエンジェル)
In the first season of Galaxy Angel, episode 24, Mint is explaining to the rest of the crew that the attacking Dice is heading straight for their ship (marked as <Angel>). This makes their ship look suspiciously like Ramiel.
In episode 16 of Galaxy Angel A, the third season, there's a short clip of Ranpha Franboise dressed in a school uniform with toast in her mouth repeating "I'm late, I'm late, I'm late", followed by her running into Forte, falling to the ground, then covering up her skirt when she realized she was possibly exposing herself.
Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. 2nd GIG (攻殻機動隊 S.A.C. 2nd GIG)
In Episode 17 of 2nd Gig, Motoko Kusanagi charges down a group of Yakuza threatening to kill a street kid in the same manner as Misato gunning down the JSSDF troops threatening to kill Shinji in End of Evangelion.
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.
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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.
Nurse Witch Komugi (ナースウィッチ小麦ちゃんマジカルて)
In episode 1 of the Nurse Witch Komugi OVA, there was a giant Hikkii (a virus, and also happens to be the cat mascot of 2ch) that Komugi has to fight, which happens to have power cable attached to its back similar to the Evas. Eventually, Komugi defeats the Hikkii by cutting the cable.
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.
Submarine 707R (サブマリン707R)
The opening animation of this two-episode OAV from 2003 was directed by Hideaki Anno. As an apparent nod to Evangelion, the poem passage which was used in Nerv's logo, "God's in his Heaven, all's right with the world", makes a (slightly misspelled) appearance in it.
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.
Zettai Karen Children (絶対可憐チルドレン)
In episode 7 of Zettai Karen Children, Kaoru Akashi, a 10 year old with telekinetic powers, unleashes a psychic shield that looks similar to an A.T. Field.
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.
RahXephon (ラーゼフォン)
References in the January 2002 show RahXephon are usually a very hot topic for debate. But for the purposes of this section, 2 pyramids can be seen throughout the series, but cannot be confirmed as references to 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.
