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| − | ==Profile==
| + | '''Rei Ayanami'''<ref>Rei is a pun on the Japanese word for "zero", and Ayanami is the name of a warship, the [[http://wiki.evageeks.org/Warships_in_Evangelion#IJN_Ayanami.28.E7.B6.BE.E6.B3.A2.29| Ayanami destroyer]]. For more information on how Rei and the other characters were named, see [[Character Name Origins#11/02/2000 (Entry 1)|Character Name Origins]].</ref> is the First Child, designated pilot of [[Evangelion Unit-00]]. |
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| − | Rei Ayanami is the First Children and exclusive Pilot of [[Eva-00]]. Officially, Rei Ayanami is fourteen years old, but it is stated that all records of her background have been erased. Unusually for a child her age, Rei lives alone in an decrepit apartment. Rei attends Tokyo-3 Junior high school and is a member of [[Class 2-A.]]
| + | ==Character Summary== |
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| − | Rei Ayanami is most famous for her distinctive appearance. She has blue hair, pale skin, and red eyes. It has been stated that Rei's unusual appearance was intended by the creators of the series to make her stand out. Strangely, Rei's unusual appearance is never commented upon throughout the series, even by Asuka.
| + | ===Creation=== |
| | + | ''Main articles: [[Episode 21]], [[Episode 22]], [[Episode 23]]'' |
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| − | Rei is a vegetarian. This is seen in [[Episode 12]].It is not clear whether this is by choice, or through quirk of her physiology. It should be noted that series creator Hideaki Anno is also a vegetarian, as was Nadia Ra Alwar of Nadia: Secret of the Blue water<ref>[[Statements_by_Evangelion_Staff#Hideaki_Anno.27s_Roundtable_Discussion|Hideaki Anno's Roundtable Discussion]]</ref>. | + | Rei Ayanami is a clone of [[Yui Ikari]]. On some level, she may also incorporate DNA from the Second Angel, [[Lilith]], seeing as she is the vessel for Lilith's soul. Rei Ayanami was created sometime between the year 2004, and 2008, as suggested by her appearance in [[Episode 21]]. At this stage, she is a child capable of walking unaided, apparently around four years old in 2010. She is later seen in 2015 apparently aged 14. This would suggest that on some level, Commander Ikari has the ability to manipulate her growth. In [[Terminal Dogma]], a large tank of spare Rei clones are maintained. These are referred to by [[Ritsuko Akagi]] as being 'Spare Parts' for the [[Dummy Plug]] system. |
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| − | Outwardly, Rei can seem somewhat cool and aloof, often spending time on her own reading books. Yet, she can easily be confused by emotions, and is somewhat detached from her own. This is most obvious in [[Episode 6]], when Rei finds her self unsure how she is supposed to feel after being rescued by [[Shinji Ikari]]. In Episode 12 Rei did not come to Misato's party, even though she was specifically invited by Asuka. Rei was specifically brought to the synch-training party at Misato's apartment in [[Episode 09]], but that seems to be because Misato actually brought her. Rei isn't simply mysterious to people she doesn't know at first (i.e. during the introductory episodes): Rei is disconnected socially even from the other Eva pilots. When Rei is invaded by [[Armisael]] in [[Episode 23]], the Angel forces her to feel her own true loneliness and pain. In the next scene, Rei is shown crying and not even understanding why she is crying. [[Episode 25]] further shows that Rei has a deep despair and a wish to return to nothingness.
| + | Rei's reason for creation was as a controllable link between Gendo Ikari, and Lilith. It appears to have been his intention to use Rei to control [[Third Impact| Human Instrumentality Project]], and allow him to see Yui again in the [[End of Evangelion]]. The reason why the DNA of Yui Ikari was used is not explicitly stated. It may be due to Commander Ikari's desire to be with his wife once more, in whatever way possible. |
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| − | Rei has been shown to place no value on her own existence. In [[Episode 19]] she states that If she dies, she can just be replaced. It is only in [[Episode 23]] that finally we understand what she means by this. This is further shown by her indifference towards her own comfort or personal space. In Episode 5, she shows nothing but indifference to Shinji when he accidentally falls on top of her, in what would be seen as a compromising position. Yet, she is also aggravated enough when he makes disparaging remarks about [[Gendo Ikari]] to slap Shinji in the face for it.
| + | ===Introduction and Injury=== |
| | + | ''Main articles: [[Episode 1]], [[Episode 2]], [[Episode 3]]'' |
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| − | Yet she is also capable of placing value in investing herself in people. She has a strong connection with Gendo Ikari throughout the series. Rei keeps a broken pair of Commander Ikari's glasses as an memento of his rescuing her after EVA-00's failed activation test shown [[Episode 4]]. It can be suggested that Rei is seeking to stave off her own despair, by investing herself fully towards the needs of one single person, in order for her to be recognized as a person.
| + | The very first time we see Rei is Rei 3's appearance to Shinji on the street near the beginning of the episode. The first time we see Rei 2, the Rei we meet for most of the series, she is badly injured and wrapped in bandages. Rei is in so much pain that she has trouble even sitting up. This evokes a sense of sympathy in us and Shinji. An extra piece of animation showing Rei collapsed on the floor in this scene was added in [[Evangelion: Death and Rebirth|Death]]. |
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| − | As the series progressed, Rei began to distance herself more from the Commander. Meanwhile a bond of somesorts began to develop between herself and Shinji Ikari, beginning shortly after the attack of the Sixth Angel, Rei was shown talking with Shinji on several occasions, something stated within the series that she almost never does to anyone else. As the series finale approached, Rei eventually chooses Shinji over Commander Ikari, and allows Shinji to control Third Impact through her. She also destroys Commander Ikari's glasses, the symbol of her bond with him.
| + | We learn later that these injuries were caused during the activation experiment with Eva-00 which Gendo supervised. While Gendo was concerned enough for Rei's safety during the activation test to rescue her himself<ref>Remember that Rei is actually part of a series of clones produced in Nerv HQ; the Rei we see here is actually the second Rei, or "Rei II". When one Rei dies, she can be replaced with another. So why would Gendo risk badly injuring his hands to save Rei if, by her own admission later in the series, she can be replaced? |
| | + | *Gendo might be trying to keep up the charade that Rei is not a clone to the other Nerv personnel involved in the activation experiment; most of them do not know that she is a clone. |
| | + | *Gendo might have just been swept up in the moment; he cares a great deal about Rei because of her connection to Yui, and might just not want to see any harm come to her even if she can be resurrected.</ref>, he now treats her coldly when Kozo questions Gendo sending out Rei in Eva-01. It has been suggested that using Rei in this way was a ruse to get Shinji to pilot Eva-01 when Misato and Ritsuko couldn't convince him. |
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| − | ==Origin==
| + | During [[Episode 02|episode 2]], Rei is wheeled pass Shinji in a hospital bed, mirroring episode 1. Instead of vacantly staring up as she was in episode 1, Rei now glares at Shinji as she passes. In [[Episode 03|episode 3]], Rei has crutches propped up against her school desk but isn't seen using them. |
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| − | Rei's true origins are revealed in their majority through Episodes 21 and 23. Rei Ayanami is a clone of [[Yui Ikari]]. On some level, she may also incorporate DNA from the Second Angel, [[Lilith]], seeing as she is the vessel for Lilith's soul. Rei Ayanami was created sometime between the year 2004, and 2008, as suggested by her appearance in [[Episode 21]]. At this stage, she is a child capable of walking unaided, apparently around four years old in 2010. She is later seen in 2015 apparently aged 14. This would suggest that on some level, Commander Ikari has the ability to manipulate her growth. In [[Terminal Dogma]], a large tank of spare Rei clones are maintained. These are referred to by [[Ritsuko Akagi]] as being 'Spare Parts' for the [[Dummy Plug]] system. The Dummy System in [[Eva-01]] also shows the name REI on it's side when it is activated during [[Episode 18]]. These clones are the origin of Rei's "If I die, I can be replaced" statement from [[Episode 19]].
| + | ===Living Conditions=== |
| | + | ''Main article: [[Episode 5]]'' |
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| − | Rei's birthplace in [[Central Dogma]] is also shown in Episode 23. It is noted by Shinji Ikari as being remarkably similar to Rei's apartment. On the concrete walls, different states of quantum particle spin and different quark names are painted. (Up, Down, Strange, Charmed, Top, Bottom- Up and Down quarks form normal matter, the other four are much rarer and have been generated only in particle accelerators so far). It is likely that this is where Rei spent the majority of her early years. | + | During [[Episode 05|episode 5]] we learn that Rei lives alone in her apartment, numbered 402. Her apartment is part of a large block of apartment buildings on the [http://evageeks.org/FGP/Image:Hakone_Region.gif western edge of Tokyo-3] that is in the process of being demolished<ref>When Shinji enters Rei's apartment, he notices that her floor is conspicuously dirty and badly scuffed by her shoes, before proceeding to take off his own shoes. In Japan, it is of course customary to take off one's shoes when entering a home, and this is a telltale sign to a Japanese audience (perhaps not quite as noticeable to a North American audience) that Rei is indifferent and aloof to her surroundings. Also, she apparently hasn't opened any of her mail in quite some time, but just lets her mailbox overflow. There is still blood on Rei's pillow from when she was injured. As she is not injured now, and wasn't wearing bandages even the day before, it appears that she just didn't bother to wash it.</ref>. From this episode it becomes clear just how little Rei values her own personal space and comfort. When Rei emerges from the shower naked, she seems completely unconcerned that Shinji can see her. Instead, she is upset that he is handling Gendo's Glasses. Even when he falls on top of her, she treats it as a minor annoyance, and asks him to please move. She then gets up and dresses in his presence quite casually. It should be kept in mind that this scene is the first time they actually spoke to each other. When Shinji later brings the event up in order to apologize Rei doesn't seem to care. This seems to show that Rei has so little experience with other people that she has no idea of the effect that her nudity might have upon a teenage boy.<ref>Similarly, it is possible that her Adamite counterpart, Kaworu, has no idea of how his suggestion that he and Shinji go to bed together might be interpreted.</ref> Rei is only roused to anger in this episode when Shinji speaks disparagingly about his own father and Rei slaps him. |
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| − | Rei's reason for creation was as a controllable link between Gendo Ikari, and Lilith. It appears to have been his intention to use Rei to control [[Third Impact| Human Instrumentality Project]], and allow him to see Yui again in the [[End of Evangelion]]. The reason why the DNA of Yui Ikari was used is not explicitly stated. It may be due to Commander Ikari's desire to be with his wife once more, in whatever way possible.
| + | ===Unit-00 Activation=== |
| | + | ''Main articles: [[Episode 5]], [[Episode 6]]'' |
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| − | In [[Episode 24]], Shinji Ikari is able to make the link between Rei Ayanami and his own mother, wondering what Commander Ikari has planned for them. He also states in [[Episode 15]] that Rei's hands while washing remind him of a mother's while she is washing the classroom floor.
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| − | ==Incarnations==
| + | Rei participated in Eva-00's activation experiment in Test Facility 2. When the process of synchronization reached phase 3, approaching the absolute borderline, Eva-00 suddenly went [[berserk]] and the entry plug was auto-ejected. Rei was badly injured as a result of the ejection of the entry plug, her left arm and eye being damaged. This is when Rei obtains Gendo's glasses and this is the moment when we learn why Rei treasures them. |
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| − | Through the run of the series, Rei Ayanami died at least twice. On these occasions, she was apparently resurrected through the use of the Dummy Plug system and the tank of cloned bodies. This is not without flaws, as is seen in Episode 23 when after her death fighting the Sixteenth Angel, Rei is apparently able to recognize that she is her own third incarnation. Her new incarnation differs from the preceding one (See below).
| + | Just prior to the re-activation experiment, Rei smiles as she puts on her plugsuit, as she recalls when Gendo came to her aid during the failed activation experiment. In the [[Neon Genesis Evangelion (manga)|manga]], Gendo's glasses case is present on the bench next to Rei in this scene. |
| − | ===Rei I===
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| − | Rei one was first Introduced in Episode 21. She is show as a small child wearing a simple red dress. She is later murdered by [[Naoko Akagi]], for revealing that [[Gendo Ikari]] referred to her as an 'old hag' behind her back. Rei 1 is also shown alongside her two 'sisters' and Yui Ikari during Commander Ikari's final scene in [[Episode 26'|End of Evangelion]].
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| − | ===Rei II===
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| − | Rei 2 was the incarnation of Rei for the majority of the series, until Episode 23. This Rei is shown to have a strong attachment to Gendo Ikari, and a building attachment to Shinji Ikari. It is likely that Rei 2 was created sometime after the death of Rei 1. Given that this occurred in 2010, this would suggest that in reality, Rei 2 is approximately four years old, despite appearing to be fourteen years old. She is shown with her sisters in Episode 26' wearing the same bandages that she first wore after being injured in Eva-00's failed activation test.
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| − | ===Rei III===
| + | Rei takes Gendo's glasses with her into the Entry Plug during the re-activation experiment which helps to calm her and thus the re-activation experiment is successful. After the re-activation is complete, Rei tilts her head back in the entry plug and a number of air bubbles escape her mouth<ref>Rei appears unusually relaxed when sitting in the [[LCL]] of the Entry Plug, after the reactivation test ends. At several points throughout the series, Rei almost seems to "bathe" in LCL.</ref>, this indicates that Rei had held her breath throughout the entire re-activation experiment, showing how nervous she was. Rei also takes Gendo's glasses with her into the entry plug prior to the fight with Ramiel, as she believed she was going to die during the battle. |
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| − | The Third incarnation of Rei Ayanami is first seen in Episode 23, after the death of Rei 2. This incarnation of Rei shows little attachment to Gendo Ikari, attempting to break the glasses that Rei 2 had kept after being rescued by Gendo Ikari from Eva-00 after its berserker incident. This comes to a head, when Rei 3 decides to betray Gendo. In Gendo's final scene in Episode 26' Rei 3 is shown naked with her "sisters", Rei 1 and Rei 2.
| + | Towards the end of episode 5, Rei curiously watches Shinji and Eva-01 as he moves out from the cage. |
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| − | ==Rei's depiction in the anime== | + | ===The End of Evangelion=== |
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| − | For information regarding Rei's psychology and for a examination of her character throughout the anime:
| + | ==Profile and Relationships with Other Characters== |
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| − | :See ''[[Rei Ayanami (In-Depth)]]''
| + | ===Item 1=== |
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| − | ==In Rebuild == | + | ===Item 2=== |
| − | {{Rebuildcontentstart}}
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| − | {{spoilers}}
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| − | Rei as seen in [[Rebuild of Evangelion]] is much the same as her anime counterpart. So far, she has been seen to have the same relationships with [[Gendo Ikari]], and maintains much the same distance from her classmates. Rei sits on her own while other members of her class are swimming, or talking in groups.
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| − | [[Image:Rei Smile 1.11.png|left|thumb|300px|[[Rei Ayanami|Rei]] smiles warmly at [[Shinji Ikari]] after Operation Yashima ends.]]
| + | ===Item 3=== |
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| − | Two important differences are worth noting in [[Evangelion 1.0]]. After the battle with [[Sachiel]], Shinji is visited by an apparition of Rei in the first of the Personal Hell traincar scenes in the movie series. [[Gendo Ikari|Gendo]] and [[Yui Ikari|Yui]] discuss how Shinji would've been named Rei, if he had been born a girl. Rei is heard repeating the names "Shinji Ayanami" and "Rei Ikari" before correcting herself with "No, Rei Ayanami." when an apparition of a naked and demented looking Rei appears--in much the same way as the moment [[Eva-00]] runs berserk in [[Episode 14]]. Shinji wakes up in the infirmary after this.
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| − | In the film's final scene where Shinji is with Rei in the entry plug of Eva-00, Rei is depicted holding Shinji Ikari's hand.
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| − | Rei's character continues to develop in [[Evangelion 2.0]], with Rei even asking Gendo for permission to hold a dinner for her fellow pilots, and putting a very determined effort at cooking for the party. Although, Shinji is unaware that Rei invited Gendo to the party. Rei shows visible shock after hearing about the [[Bardiel#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Ninth Angel]] incident and Asuka's fate.
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| − | [[Image:Eva2-22 C1826.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Rei being rescued by Shinji at the end of the second film.]]
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| − | After Shinji's inability to fight the [[Bardiel#In Rebuild of Evangelion|9th Angel]]-possessed [[Evangelion_Unit-03#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Eva-03]] which carried Asuka, Gendo activates the [[Dummy System#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Dummy System]] and through this, prompts Shinji to leave Nerv. Rei decides to pilot [[Evangelion_Unit-00#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Eva-00]] against the attacking [[Zeruel#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Tenth Angel]] with [[Mari Illustrious Makinami|Mari]]'s help. However, Rei is swallowed by the Angel and trapped, until Shinji pilots [[Evangelion_Unit-01#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Eva-01]]. Rei at first protests from the Angel's core, saying that she can be replaced, but Shinji says that there is only one Rei before saving her. Shinji embraces Rei and thanks her for her efforts of trying to get Gendo and Shinji on good terms. Shinji's decision to save Rei forces [[Eva_Pseudo-Evolution|Eva-01 into awakening]] and causes [[Third_Impact#Near_Third_Impact|Near Third Impact]], only to be halted by [[Kaworu Nagisa#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Kaworu]]'s intervention, spearing Eva-01.
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| − | Rei's character is more significant in [[Evangelion 3.0]], as she is a major plot point. After Shinji's initiation of the [[Near Third Impact]] at the end of Rebuild 2, Rei is trapped inside the Core of Eva-01, along with Shinji's mother. While the Rei that is seen in the first two Rebuild movies is not technically dead, her body is completely gone, leaving only Shinji's cassette player in the Eva. Because of this, Gendo clones a new Ayanami, which has almost no memory of Shinji, or of her old life. She is assigned as the pilot of [[Evangelion Mark.09]]. Piloting the Mark.09, she boards the [[AAA Wunder]] in order to retrieve Shinji from [[Wille]] and bring him to Nerv. She breaks through the wall of Shinji's interrogation chamber and manages to rescue him. Before she can escape, the Mark.09 is attacked by Mari in [[Evangelion Unit-08|Eva-08]]. Eva-08 succeeds in shooting off the Mark.09's head with a handgun, but neither Rei or her Eva appear to be affected and the Mark.09 escapes by using a bizarre piece of equipment on its back that forms an elongated rocket booster. When Shinji comes back to the now-decimated [[Nerv]], he asks Rei for confirmation that he saved her, to which her response was simply a series of blank looks. Rei no longer resides in her old apartment and instead lives in a small makeshift hut directly overlooking the LCL tube Rei was seen "bathing" in previously. While inside the tube, Rei briefly sees an apparition of herself in school uniform, similar to the apparition seen on the road by Shinji in ''1.0''.
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| − | Despite the loss of memory it seems that the Rei from 3.0 begins to start up relations with Shinji after he breaks down and declares that she was not "his" Rei. Rei followed Shinji and [[Kaworu Nagisa#In Rebuild of Evangelion|Kaworu]] down to [[Central Dogma]] in a decapitated Eva-00 when the two boys tried to reverse the effects of the Near Third Impact. Eva Mark.09 is equipped with a large scythe in order to protect Eva-13. Shortly after they reached Central Dogma, Eva-02 and Eva-08 attacked, attempting to prevent Eva-13 from starting Fourth Impact. Rei attempted to drive Eva-02 away from Eva-13 with the Mark.09's scythe, but was sniped from above by Mari and was forced to take cover under Lilith's fallen cross. Mari advises Rei to eject from the Mark.09 before she becomes an "Adam's vessel", but Rei says that it was not the order she received. Mari comments on how boring Rei is and says her "original" was more friendly, causing Rei to remember the apparition of herself she saw earlier. from Under orders from Gendo, she decapitates [[Evangelion Mark.06]] with Mark.09's scythe, releasing the [[Twelfth Angel]] that was trapped within it. After the Twelfth interacts with Lilith's liquefied remains, it forms a distorted giant Rei head, which horrifies Rei and causes her to question her identity. Shortly after this, the Mark.09 is taken over by a [[Seele]] program, which brings it under Seele's control and prevents Rei from controlling it (this causes several glowing Seele emblems to appear on the displays in the entry plug). After Eva-13's awakening and the beginning of Fourth Impact, Eva Mark.09 develops a halo and rises into the sky with the awakened Eva-13. Rei remains trapped in the entry plug as the Mark.09 assaults the Wunder to protect Eva-13. The Mark.09 proceeds to board the Wunder and extends blue tendrils from its legs, attempting to take over control of the Wunder from Eva-01. Eva-02 leaps onto the Wunder activates its [[Beast Mode]] and assaults the Mark.09to prevent it from taking over the Wunder. During the battle Rei manages to make contact with Asuka. Eva-02 bites off part of the Mark.09's head, temporarily disabling Seele's program. Rei asks Asuka what Rei Ayanami would do in this situation and decides to eject her entry plug, which allows Asuka to fire through the empty entry plug slot directly into the Mark.09's core (this turns out to be futile, as the entirety of the Mark.09's body is a core).
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| − | After her entry plug lands, Rei sets out through the red desert left behind by Fourth Impact and eventually finds Shinji and Asuka. Asuka notes that she is the pilot she encountered eariler and that she is from "an early lot of [[Ayanami Series]]", although Rei only responds with a blank stare. Rei shows interest in Shinji's fallen [[SDAT]], although it is left ambiguous if she picked it up. The final scene shows Rei accompanying Asuka and Shinji as the head to "where the Lilin are".
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| − | {{Rebuildcontentend}}
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| − | ==In Other Media== | |
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| − | Rei Ayanami features in much of the officially licensed Gainax media.
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| − | *Rei features as a character in all officially licensed Eva manga: Evangelion Academy, Angelic Days, and Shinji Ikari Raising Project.
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| − | *Ayanami Raising Project is a dating game licensed by Gainax that features Rei as the main character.
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| − | *Neon Genesis Evangelion on the N64 features Rei and Eva-00 as playable characters.
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| − | *Akihabara Hobby released a 1:1 scale model of Rei in 2007 (along with a large model of Eva-01) as part of Gainax's Eva Works series.
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| − | *The OST The Birthday of Rei Ayanami features recordings of [[A Cruel Angel's Thesis]], [[Soul's Refrain|Tamashii No Refrain]], and [[Fly Me to the Moon]] sung by [[Megumi Hayashibara]], Rei's voice actress. The OST also features most of the music in NGE that came to be associated with Rei.
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| − | There is also much unofficial media circulating which is cantered around or featuring Rei: garage kit models, dojinshi, etc.
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| − | ===Manga adaption=== | |
| − | [[Image:Reimangainjuries.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Rei bleeds from her injured eye.]]
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| − | In the manga adaptation by [[Yoshiyuki Sadamoto]], Rei's character comes off as being a much warmer and more open, at least with regards to Shinji and despite having the same initial reaction to Shinji in the anime, she soon becomes Shinji's romantic interest.
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| − | Unique to the manga, in Vol. 01 she pilots Eva-01 against [[Sachiel]] and loses, her injuries seemingly being a direct result of the defeat. Though Vol. 03 of the manga includes the Eva-00 berserk incident from Ep. 05 of the anime, and seems to be implying that she received her injuries at that time. If so, then she was piloting Eva-01 while badly injured, and when Gendo tried to shame Shinji into piloting, he was threatening to send a severely injured Rei into battle for the second time that day! Including the Ep. 05 material may have been an attempt by Sadamoto to retroactively correct the source of Rei's injuries to match the anime.
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| − | For information regarding Rei's psychology and for a examination of her character throughout manga:
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| − | :See ''[[Rei Ayanami (In-Depth)]]''
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| − | ===Rei in other Eva based Manga===
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| − | Most notorious is Rei's appearance in the [[Angelic Days|Girlfriend of Steel 2]] manga. She is regarded by some as being Rei in Appearance Only (RiAO), in that while she shares the same basic character design, her entire personality is different. Being based on the AU from [[Episode 26]], Girlfriend of Steel 2 depicts Rei as a bubbly and excitable transfer student to Shinji's school, almost a mirror image of her character in the original animé series.
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| − | In the latest [[Neon Genesis Evangelion Academy]] manga, Rei is seen to be acting in a much more Rei-like manner.
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | {{notesdump}}
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| − | *'''Rei''' in Japanese (レイ) is sometimes a synonym for "zero". Fitting, as Rei is the pilot of Eva-00, or that Rei is "zero" (or "nothing"), a case of identity that troubles her throughout the series. "Rei" spelled with different Kanji is the word for "spirit" (霊). Rei's name thus becomes a double pun, she is the pilot of Eva-00, and the vessel for the spirit of [[Lilith]].
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| − | **In [[Episode 20]] Shinji(dissolved inside Eva-01) hears a conversation between [[Gendo]] and [[Yui]] before his birth, where Gendo says, "If it's a boy, Shinji. If it's a girl, Rei." While it need not mean that Gendo alone had given Rei her name, it shows that Gendo wanted to give his own daughter that name, and suggests to some extent that he sees Rei as his daughter.
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| − | **Rei Ayanami's first name comes from the character ''Rei Hino'' of the anime and manga series ''Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon''. This was done in an effort to get one of the series directors, Kunihiko Ikuhara, to work on Evangelion <ref>[[Resources:Character_Name_Origins#Rei_Ayanami_.28.E7.B6.BE.E6.B3.A2.E3.83.AC.E3.82.A4.29|Character Name origins]]</ref>. While this effort failed, some of the staff and voice actors of ''Sailor Moon'' did work on Eva as well, including one of ''Sailor Moon's'' series directors' [[Jun'ichi Satoh]] under the pen-name Kiichi Jinme. As well as the voice actresses [[Kotono Mitsuishi]] (Usagi Tsukino) and [[Megumi Ogata]] (Haruka Tenoh).
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| − | ***In the original Japanese dub of the series the characters refer to Eva-00 using the half-English term "zerogouki" ("-gouki" = "unit"). "Reigouki", however, wouldn't be an entirely inaccurate alternate rendering of it's name.
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| − | *'''Ayanami''' (綾波) literally means "twill wave", the Kanji meaning "twill" and "wave". ''Ayanami'' was one of the Fubuki class destroyers of the former Imperial Japanese Navy. The ''Nihon Kaigun'' website's page on warship names <ref>[http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijnnames.htm http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijnnames.htm]</ref> gives the (nonliteral) alternative "wave patterns" or waves "whose beauty suggests figures woven in silk".<ref>[[Historical_Warships_in_Evangelion#IJN_Ayanami.28.E7.B6.BE.E6.B3.A2.29|Historical Warships in Evangelion]]</ref>
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| − | *For a discussion over whether Rei 1's soul is present in Eva-00:
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| − | :See ''[[Eva-00's soul]]''.
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| − | *For information regarding Rei's repeated association with the Moon:
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| − | :See ''[[Rei and the Moon]]'' for more details.
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| − | *For information regarding Rei's psychology and for a examination of her character throughout the TV series and manga:
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| − | :See ''[[Rei Ayanami (In-Depth)]]''
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| − | *For an interpretation of Rei's monologue or poem:
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| − | :See ''[[Rei's Monologue]]''.
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| − | *For an interpretation of the relationship between Gendo and Rei:
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| − | :See ''[[Rei's relationship with Gendo]]''.
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| − | *In [[Episode 01]], Rei mysteriously appears before Shinji in a brief instant before disappearing once more. This same scene is repeated during the final scene of [[Episode 26']]. This effectively creates two "bookends" at either end of the series.
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| − | :See ''[[Rei's Ghostly Appearances and Quantum Mechanics]]'' for more information.
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| − | *Rei’s blue hair and red eyes are the inverse of [[Asuka Langley Soryu]]’s blue eyes and red hair, a visual reminder of their opposite personalities.
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| − | *Rei 2's and 3's height is 145cm (4'9").{{fact}}
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| − | *According to Misato it took seven months for Rei to synchronize with Eva-00. It is not clear if Rei's accident in which Eva-00 went berserk, which chronologically seems to happen right before this episode (and is seen in flashbacks in [[Episode 05]], is what Misato is referring to as Rei's first synchronization, or if it happened sometime earlier.
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
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"Making something... Nurturing something is really great. You can see and learn so many things from the process."
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| Rei Ayanami
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| 綾波レイ
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| Rank / Title
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First Children
(Rebuild): First Girl
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| Affiliation(s)
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Nerv
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| National Heritage
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Japanese
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| Relations
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Yui Ikari (cloned from), Gendo Ikari (Nerv Commander),
Shinji Ikari (son of Yui Ikari)
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| Age
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14 (biologically)
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| Birthday
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Unknown
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| Seiyū
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Megumi Hayashibara
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| Voice Actor
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(English): Amanda Winn Lee (TV/Films), Brina Palencia (Rebuild)
(Italian): Valentina Mari
(Brazilian): Priscila Concépcion
(French):Stéphanie Lafforgue
(Spanish, Spain): Gaby Ugarte,
(Spanish, Latin America): Circe Luna
(German): Marie Bierstedt
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Rei Ayanami[1] is the First Child, designated pilot of Evangelion Unit-00.
Character Summary
Creation
Main articles: Episode 21, Episode 22, Episode 23
Rei Ayanami is a clone of Yui Ikari. On some level, she may also incorporate DNA from the Second Angel, Lilith, seeing as she is the vessel for Lilith's soul. Rei Ayanami was created sometime between the year 2004, and 2008, as suggested by her appearance in Episode 21. At this stage, she is a child capable of walking unaided, apparently around four years old in 2010. She is later seen in 2015 apparently aged 14. This would suggest that on some level, Commander Ikari has the ability to manipulate her growth. In Terminal Dogma, a large tank of spare Rei clones are maintained. These are referred to by Ritsuko Akagi as being 'Spare Parts' for the Dummy Plug system.
Rei's reason for creation was as a controllable link between Gendo Ikari, and Lilith. It appears to have been his intention to use Rei to control Human Instrumentality Project, and allow him to see Yui again in the End of Evangelion. The reason why the DNA of Yui Ikari was used is not explicitly stated. It may be due to Commander Ikari's desire to be with his wife once more, in whatever way possible.
Introduction and Injury
Main articles: Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
The very first time we see Rei is Rei 3's appearance to Shinji on the street near the beginning of the episode. The first time we see Rei 2, the Rei we meet for most of the series, she is badly injured and wrapped in bandages. Rei is in so much pain that she has trouble even sitting up. This evokes a sense of sympathy in us and Shinji. An extra piece of animation showing Rei collapsed on the floor in this scene was added in Death.
We learn later that these injuries were caused during the activation experiment with Eva-00 which Gendo supervised. While Gendo was concerned enough for Rei's safety during the activation test to rescue her himself[2], he now treats her coldly when Kozo questions Gendo sending out Rei in Eva-01. It has been suggested that using Rei in this way was a ruse to get Shinji to pilot Eva-01 when Misato and Ritsuko couldn't convince him.
During episode 2, Rei is wheeled pass Shinji in a hospital bed, mirroring episode 1. Instead of vacantly staring up as she was in episode 1, Rei now glares at Shinji as she passes. In episode 3, Rei has crutches propped up against her school desk but isn't seen using them.
Living Conditions
Main article: Episode 5
During episode 5 we learn that Rei lives alone in her apartment, numbered 402. Her apartment is part of a large block of apartment buildings on the western edge of Tokyo-3 that is in the process of being demolished[3]. From this episode it becomes clear just how little Rei values her own personal space and comfort. When Rei emerges from the shower naked, she seems completely unconcerned that Shinji can see her. Instead, she is upset that he is handling Gendo's Glasses. Even when he falls on top of her, she treats it as a minor annoyance, and asks him to please move. She then gets up and dresses in his presence quite casually. It should be kept in mind that this scene is the first time they actually spoke to each other. When Shinji later brings the event up in order to apologize Rei doesn't seem to care. This seems to show that Rei has so little experience with other people that she has no idea of the effect that her nudity might have upon a teenage boy.[4] Rei is only roused to anger in this episode when Shinji speaks disparagingly about his own father and Rei slaps him.
Unit-00 Activation
Main articles: Episode 5, Episode 6
Rei participated in Eva-00's activation experiment in Test Facility 2. When the process of synchronization reached phase 3, approaching the absolute borderline, Eva-00 suddenly went berserk and the entry plug was auto-ejected. Rei was badly injured as a result of the ejection of the entry plug, her left arm and eye being damaged. This is when Rei obtains Gendo's glasses and this is the moment when we learn why Rei treasures them.
Just prior to the re-activation experiment, Rei smiles as she puts on her plugsuit, as she recalls when Gendo came to her aid during the failed activation experiment. In the manga, Gendo's glasses case is present on the bench next to Rei in this scene.
Rei takes Gendo's glasses with her into the Entry Plug during the re-activation experiment which helps to calm her and thus the re-activation experiment is successful. After the re-activation is complete, Rei tilts her head back in the entry plug and a number of air bubbles escape her mouth[5], this indicates that Rei had held her breath throughout the entire re-activation experiment, showing how nervous she was. Rei also takes Gendo's glasses with her into the entry plug prior to the fight with Ramiel, as she believed she was going to die during the battle.
Towards the end of episode 5, Rei curiously watches Shinji and Eva-01 as he moves out from the cage.
The End of Evangelion
Profile and Relationships with Other Characters
Item 1
Item 2
Item 3
References
- ↑ Rei is a pun on the Japanese word for "zero", and Ayanami is the name of a warship, the [Ayanami destroyer]. For more information on how Rei and the other characters were named, see Character Name Origins.
- ↑ Remember that Rei is actually part of a series of clones produced in Nerv HQ; the Rei we see here is actually the second Rei, or "Rei II". When one Rei dies, she can be replaced with another. So why would Gendo risk badly injuring his hands to save Rei if, by her own admission later in the series, she can be replaced?
- Gendo might be trying to keep up the charade that Rei is not a clone to the other Nerv personnel involved in the activation experiment; most of them do not know that she is a clone.
- Gendo might have just been swept up in the moment; he cares a great deal about Rei because of her connection to Yui, and might just not want to see any harm come to her even if she can be resurrected.
- ↑ When Shinji enters Rei's apartment, he notices that her floor is conspicuously dirty and badly scuffed by her shoes, before proceeding to take off his own shoes. In Japan, it is of course customary to take off one's shoes when entering a home, and this is a telltale sign to a Japanese audience (perhaps not quite as noticeable to a North American audience) that Rei is indifferent and aloof to her surroundings. Also, she apparently hasn't opened any of her mail in quite some time, but just lets her mailbox overflow. There is still blood on Rei's pillow from when she was injured. As she is not injured now, and wasn't wearing bandages even the day before, it appears that she just didn't bother to wash it.
- ↑ Similarly, it is possible that her Adamite counterpart, Kaworu, has no idea of how his suggestion that he and Shinji go to bed together might be interpreted.
- ↑ Rei appears unusually relaxed when sitting in the LCL of the Entry Plug, after the reactivation test ends. At several points throughout the series, Rei almost seems to "bathe" in LCL.
