Similarities to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Anime and Manga
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. See also: Tributes to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Anime and Manga, Tributes to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Media, and Tributes to Other Shows in Neon Genesis Evangelion
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.
Full Metal Panic! (フルメタル パニック！)
In episode 8 of Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid, there is a scene depicting the bridge that looks very similar to the Nerv Command Center. While the basic bridge layout isn't that unique, an intentional homage is not out of question, especially when considering Kyoto Animation's fondness for references.
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.
Re: Cutie Honey (Re:キューティーハニー)
A short 3 episode OVA that was directed by Hideaki Anno in 2004. About 30 minutes into the first episode, when Honey Kisaragi does her Honey Flash, there is a set of flashes over a black background that is very similar to the ones seen in the Neon Genesis Evangelion opening.
In episode 3, at the very beginning, there is a water drop motif similar to the water drops often used throughout Neon Genesis Evangelion to segway between the "real world" and the "internal world".
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.
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.
