Evangelion Unit-04
"When Aoba called B Wing's construction sloppy he hadn't seen anything like THIS!" |
"The story presented to the public was just a cover-up." |
Evangelion Unit-04 | |
エヴァンゲリオン4号機 | |
Model Type | Production |
---|---|
Pilot(s) | Unknown |
Soul(s) | Unknown |
First Sortie | None |
Profile
Evangelion Unit-04 (エヴァンゲリオン4号機, Evangerion Yongouki) is the fifth completed Evangelion and the third "Production Model" Evangelion. Eva-04 is one of the two units constructed in the United States. Nerv's second branch base (Nerv-2) was destroyed along with Eva-04 in Episode 17, when the Eva's S2 Engine failed upon activation. A Dirac Sea developed as a result, and enveloped the Second Branch. It is heavily implied that the failure of the S2 engine was the result of an accident, not sabotage. After this incident, the United States immediately shipped Eva-03 to Japan, leading to the events of Episode 18.
Features
Although never seen on screen, GAINAX occasionally releases production art of the unit. It is depicted as being silver in color and physically identical to Eva-03. Like the other Production Models, it uses the same 5-plate torso armor design and shoulder mounted storage pylons. Its unique feature is its S² Engine, assumed to be a restored version of Shamshel's remains (which we see in Episode 05.)
Pilot
Speculation suggests Eva-04 could have been initially equipped with a Dummy Plug instead of a human pilot, much like the Mass Production Evangelions. However, because the unit is never shown in action, it is unknown as to what sort of control system the unit contained. A reasonable assumption to make is that if a dummy plug was not used, one of the students from Class 2-A would have been the pilot.
Kensuke Aida is depicted as being the Pilot of Eva-04 in some spin-off materials.
Soul
Because the identity of the pilot is a mystery, we cannot know the owner of the soul inside the unit.
Given that some spin-off materials have shown Kensuke Aida as Pilot of Eva-04 and that Kensuke does not have a mother, some fans believe that the soul designated for Eva-04 would have been Kensuke's mother if the Eva ever been put into active service.
Otherwise, taking into account what Gendo says regarding the availability of a suitable core for Eva-03 in Episode 17, it is possible that Eva-04 never had a soul inserted into it.
In Other Continuities
"Making something... Nurturing something is really great. You can see and learn so many things from the process." |
Angelic Days
In the Girlfriend of Steel 2/Angelic Days manga, Kensuke Aida is depicted as the pilot of Eva-04.
Neon Genesis Evangelion 2
In Neon Genesis Evangelion 2, Kaworu Nagisa is Eva-04's pilot.
CR Neon Genesis Evangelion
In Shito, Futatabi, Kaworu pilots Eva-04 and can dispatch of Angels with the Spear of Longinus.
Saigo no Shisha includes a scenario featuring a Rebuild version of Eva-04 being controlled by Kaworu from outside the cockpit (similar to Eva-02 in Episode 24) battling the Sixth Angel, equipped with an Eva-sized riot shield (a mainstay of Eva-04 action figures) and the Spear of Longinus.
Neon Genesis Evangelion 2
If Shinji convinces Kaworu to choose life over death, and additional conditions are met, Kaworu will retrieve Eva-04 from the Dirac Sea and become its pilot. Kaworu refers to the Eva as "he" (kare).
In the PSP version, Kaworu and Eva-04 can get sucked into Leliel's Dirac Sea. Once the self-revelatory dialogue within is successfully navigated, Eva-04 goes berserk and rips out of the Angel.
Secret of Evangelion
In Secret of Evangelion, protagonist Kyoya discovers that the story about Eva-04's S2 Engine was fabricated and that the unit is being brought to Nerv Headquarters.
Evangelion New Theatrical Edition
Eva-04 served as a next generation test bed for a new internal power unit. The research was brought to an abrupt end when the Eva vaporized and took out the Second Branch with it. From space, a flaming cross can be seen rising from the epicenter, and a dark red disc with two bright red rings spreads out from the site over the earth's surface. The only confirmed data is that of an A.T. Field collapse.
Once again, the Eva itself is never seen.
Notes
Evangelions |
Evangelions (general) |
Failed Evangelion Prototypes | Simulation Bodies |
Eva-00 | Eva-01 | Eva-02 | Eva-03 | Eva-04 | Mass Production Evangelions (Evas 05~13) |
Rebuild of Evangelion: Mark.04 | Eva-05 | Mark.06 | Eva-08 | Mark.09 | Eva-13 |
Eva 8+2 | Mass Production Evangelions | Failures of Infinity |
Other: Extracanonical Evas |