Evangelion Unit-01

Evangelion Unit-01
{{{japanese}}}
Model Type	Test Type
Pilot(s)	Shinji Ikari
Soul(s)	Yui Ikari
First Sortie	Episode 01

Creation

Eva-01 is the second Evangelion completed, and although originally intended as a test-type model, like the prototype Eva-00 she was forced into combat against the Angels. Eva-01 was, in fact, the first to face combat.

Ostensibly, like all the Evangelions, Eva-01's stated purpose is to defend Tokyo-3 and the whole world from the Angel threat. However, being created from Lilith (and referred to as "Lilith no Bunshin") unlike the other Evangelions, she appears to have been intended as a substitute for the real Lilith and so is of critical importance in Third Impact.

The relationship between Eva-01 and Lilith is a matter of debate, since Eva-01 has the same characteristics as an Adam-based (i.e. any other) Evangelion. For more, see: Theory and Analysis: Eva-01 and Lilith

Eva-01 is infamous for going berserk and moving without any power supply (Prior to the acquisition of the S² organ from the Angel Zeruel). While Eva-00 has gone out of control before and Eva-02 goes berserk immediately before being destroyed, Eva-01 is the only Eva that has gone berserk in direct combat, to deadly effect.

Eva-01 has a distinctive chest plate that resembles pectoral muscles, as opposed to the V-shaped chest plate seen on other Evangelions, and her pylons are slightly different in shape from those used by the production model Evangelions. The Eva's distinctive helmet visually evokes the horn and frill of a ceratopsian dinosaur. The reason for the differences in design has never been explained.

Chrome Eva-01 in the Proposal

Operational History

Eva-01's operational history is the longest of any Evangelion. It is the first Eva to see combat against an Angel, sortieing when the Third Angel, Sachiel attacks. She exhibits her infamous tendency to go berserk from the very beginning, first when she moves her arm to shield her to-be pilot, Shinji Ikari, from falling lights, and again in battle with Sachiel, attacking the Angel until it dies. She sustains moderate damage during Sachiel's suicide explosion.

Eva-01 suffers damage again at the hands of the Fourth Angel, Shamshel, which she defeats, and it takes down the Angel Ramiel with a shot from a positron rifle, being shielded by Evangelion Unit-00. The Eva takes part in stopping the out of control robot Jet Alone and in the defeats of Matarael and Sahaquiel.

Once again, Eva-01 brutally puts the Angels Leliel, Bardiel and Zeruel to death. After being sucked into Leliel for over sixteen hours, the resident soul of the Eva makes contact with the pilot and the Eva goes berserk, moving without a power source and ripping open the Angel from the inside. Under the control of the Dummy Plug, Eva-01 rips apart the Angel Bardiel infected Eva-03, and goes berserk again in the battle against Zeruel, killing it and eating the Angel's S² organ. Eva-01 remains grounded during the battle against Arael and sorties against Armisael to rescue Eva-00, but to no success.

In End of Evangelion, Eva-01 sets off a crucifix explosion and is completely under the control of her resident soul from that point forwards. It plays a critical role in Third Impact and Instrumentality, eventually floating off into space as a memorial for all mankind.

Soul

Eva-01's soul is that of Yui Ikari. For this reason her son, Shinji Ikari was chosen as her pilot. Yui's exact motivations for becoming the resident soul of Eva-01 are not completely understood, but it is known that she was against Seele's interests, and in threat of being eliminated. Being inside the Evangelion allowed her to influence events far more than she could possibly could as a normal person. That Yui may have foreseen Eva-01's deployment in combat against the Angels and became the resident soul of the Eva to protect Shinji is another possibility.

Eva-01 in Rebuild of Evangelion

Eva-01 has more humanlike and less exaggerated proportions in Rebuild, including smaller pylons and a slightly redesigned helmet. The overall purple color scheme is added upon by prominent, luminous green stripes on the torso and the helmet. Eva-01's hands, revealed in the Shamshel battle, appear to be of a lighter skin tone than in the television series, and Eva-01's actual head is not revealed. Eva-01's role in the first Rebuild movie is identical to its role up to Episode 06 of the TV series.

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