Tributes to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Anime and Manga

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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. This is a work in progress.

Contents

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.

An Evangelion Poster on the wall


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.

Yayoi makes a mention of Nerv


Baka to Test to Shokanju (バカとテストと召喚獣)

Advanced placement into a school of higher grade proof-reading is determined by the results of the Promotion Test strictly for class type. Ranging from A class with the best facilities anyone can offer all the way down to F Class which is composed of low dining tables, rotten tatami mats and other worn out facilities. Students can change classes by competing using the Examination Summons Battle system or ESB. Students summon characters with their equivalent test mark scores and use them to compete with other classes.

  • About 85% of episode 8 is a running Evangelion reference. Everything from Nerv HQ, Berserk Evas, Instrumentality, and various lines from the original show are present in this episode.


Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (僕は友達が少ない)

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai is a harem-ish school romance/comedy that started airing in October 2011 which features a boy main character that recently transferred schools. One of the girls, Rika Shiguma, one of the love interests, is a fujoshi and likes doujins featuring mecha and sex. In episode 4, she's describing one of these doujins that features a Gundam ZZ and Evangelion Unit-02.

Rika describes her doujin as ZZ x Unit-02

Rika then starts to imagine scenes from her doujin:

Evangelion Unit-02
Unit-02 deploying a DT Field


An entry plug ejects
Revealing Rika in a plugsuit


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.

Burn Up W/Excess
"El Heggunte" from episode 2
Nanvel's display and scrolling text
Rio and Lilica's synchronized somersault
Rio and Lilica's double kick after the somersault
The giant transvestite rushing
The giant transvestite doing a somersault, with umbilical cable clearly visible


Carnival Phantasm (カーニバル・ファンタズム)

Carnival Phantasm is a 12 episode OVA that consist of parodies of popular Type-Moon characters from series like Tsukihime and Fate/Stay Night. In episode 12, Shiki is holding a bunch of movie tickets and one of them has a picture of Mari Makinami in her plugsuit.

A movie ticket with Mari on it


Desert Punk (砂ぼうず)

Desert Punk focuses on the adventures of a desert handyman called Kanta Mizuno, nicknamed Desert Punk (Sunabōzu), due to his seemingly incredible feats of skill and daring while on the job. Throughout the series, he acquires an apprentice and makes a few friends as well as enemies.

  • In ep. 14, during one of Taiko's (Kanta's apprentice) daydreams of being a top-notch, super-beautiful Handyman, she is seen being surrounded by bandits and Kanta all congratulating her with applause like that seen in Episode 26'.
Taiko being congratulated.


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.

The backs of Asuka, Rei, and possibly Misato and Fuyutsuki

Gear Fighter Dendoh (GEAR戦士 電童)

Gear Fighter Dendoh is a lesser-known mecha series by the Gundam SEED director Mitsuo Fukuda. The show makes numerous humorous references to older mecha shows, and two of its episodes are largely dedicated for parodying Evangelion.

Episode 14 of Gear Fighter Dendoh is practically Evangelion's Episode 6 on super robot crack. When the Gulfer aliens use a swarm of tiny machine beasts to sap all electricity from Earth's power plants, GEAR HQ must devise an alternate way to recharge their battery-powered giant robot. Their ingenious solution is to harness together a huge number of small stand-alone power sources, including gasoline-powered generators, car and motorcycle engines, bicycle dynamos and even batteries from household appliances and children's toys. The ludicrous recharging operation becomes a race against time as a huge, slowly-crawling machine beast (looking vaguely like a cross-breed between Ramiel and Matarael) begins to home in on Dendoh's location in the mountains. In the ensuing beam sniping match Dendoh's Final Attack pushes back the machine beast's beam, destroying the invader. The episode ends with a public service announcement urging viewers to save electricity.

In Super Robot Wars MX, the series roster of which includes both Evangelion and Dendoh, their respective episode scenarios are combined and Operation Yashima is powered by people pedaling bicycles. (See Deranged's walkthrough on Gamefaqs.)

Dendoh's episode 18 is another, less inventive medley of Evangelion spoofs. Gulfer emperor's pet, Ragoh, has infected Dendoh's Data Weapons with a deadly computer virus, which is now slowly taking over their bodies. Scientists at the GEAR base desperately try to counterhack the virus (mimicking Evangelion's Episode 13), but when their attempts prove unsuccesful, the Dendoh pilots are sent to retrieve a sample of Ragoh's body from the bottom of the Japan Trench so that a vaccine could be based on it. The descent to the bottom of the Trench mimics Evangelion's Episode 10, and the subsequent battle against a marine-adapted machine beast recycles imagery from Episode 08.

Gear Fighter Dendoh
Episode 14: Blackouts spread as aliens hijack power plants
Jury-rigged energy transfer system being prepared
Ginga's family members pedal for power
Standing on a mountainside, Dendoh fires its Final Attack
The beams collide mid-air
Episode 18: Ragoh's computer virus spreads segment by segment
Descent to the bottom of the Japan Trench
Dendoh does battle with a fabulous metal shark



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.

Cosplayer Ohno Kanako 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.

Doujin with Asuka and Rei in bikinis

In volume 1, chapter 3, of the manga, a panel of "Best Selling Fan-zines" (or Doujinshi), you can see one of them being an Asuka doujin.

"A one" can be seen in the list

In volume 7, chapter 39, of the manga, when Ohno's 2 friends Susanna Hopkins 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. (Sue's outfit - a dress andd two hair-ties - also somewhat resembles Asuka's outfit when she first appeared in "Asuka Strikes!" using that phrase.) 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).

Sue saying "Anta Baka"

Gintama (銀魂)

Gintama is an action/comedy/parody show that started airing in April 2006.

Parody of Gendo Pose in episode 43.

Gintapose.jpg

A.T. Field mentioned in episode 122

GintamaAT.jpg

Oiwa's 'Hora-hora-hora' punches on Gintoki in episode 133 causes a cross-shaped explosion parodying explosions in Evangelion.

Gintamaexplosion.jpg

There was a parody of Evangelion's Episode 26 in episode 150.

Comparison between Gintama episode 150 and Evangelion episode 26 (Source: 2ch)

In episode 151, the barber says that, for a samurai, wearing a helmet causes baldness so everybody in society cuts their hair into a topknot so everybody will be the same. Gintoki responds by saying "What the hell is that about? The Human Instrumentality Project?"


Everybody goes bald and becomes one.
"What the hell is that about?
The Human Instrumentality Project?


Episode 158 had a few parodies of Evangelion.

Parody of Episode 1 seen here
Parody of Evangelion's eyecatch
Parody of Episode 1's subtitle seen here
Parody of End of Evangelion's live action part


In episode 162, an A.T. Field appears.

Gintama 162.jpg

In episode 240, Gintoki controls puppets to go on dates for him. The puppets are labeled with units parodying the Unit names of Evangelions

Gintama units.jpg


Also in episode 240, Tae bites into the Unit 01 puppet parodying when Unit 01 eats Zeruel in Episode 19. The sound made during the scene is similar to the sound Unit 01 makes during Berserker Mode in Episode 19. Tae's red eyes are similar to Unit 01's eyes in Evangelion 2.0 when it is in Berserker Mode.

Gintama berserker.jpg

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. Evangelion is probably the second-most referenced anime in GTO after Gundam, and only some of the spoofs are illustrated here.

  • 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. Onizuka also occasionally sports a red scarf that has the seven-eyed mask.
  • 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.
  • In episode 12 of the anime, Teshigawara Suguru, the devious 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.
  • See also: Yoshikawa's sand pyramid.
Great Teacher Onizuka
Posters of Rei and Asuka line Yoshikawa's walls
Volume 4, page 114, of the GTO manga
Volume 11 of the GTO manga
Volume14 of the GTO manga
Onizuka's red scarf
Teshigawara pushing his glasses up in a similar fashion as Gendo Ikari


Gundam Evolve (ガンダムEVOLVE)

Gundam Evolve (2001-2003) is a series of 15 animated short films, taking place in various timelines across the sprawling franchise. Although many of these films are built around more or less ununsual "what if" scenarios, Evolve 9 is arguably the most bizarre entry in the series.

This Zeta Gundam spin-off features Amuro Ray and a person who may or may not be Shin Matsunaga, baffling Buddhist and Illuminati references, Newtype hax shenanigans and a whole slew of apparently very intentional Evangelion shout-outs. These include a Karaba base commander who looks suspiciously like Gendo, a Systema Sephiroticum shaped chart that is briefly visible on one of the base monitors, cross-shaped light effects and an octahedron-shaped beam-spitting psycommu mobile weapon that resembles Ramiel (in its un-transformed mode). Furthermore, there's also some Newtype mind rape, with a female pilot inside a red mobile suit being at the receiving end.


Gundam Evolve 9
Karaba's very own Gendo
Systema Sephiroticum?
An octahedron-shaped enemy appears on Karaba's screens
The enemy mobile weapon fires a beam
Red Zeta's cross-shaped Newtype hax aura
Yurii gets her mind probed


Haiyore! Nyaruko-san(這いよれ! ニャル子さん)

A set of very short stories about the life of Nyaruko, contains a scene in the 4th story on an elevator that mimics the elevator scene between Asuka and Rei from Episode 22.

Haiyoru Nyaruani ep4 elevator.jpg


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.

  • A Nerv logo look-alike can be seen in one of the baths:
Nerv logos in a bath house
The comparison from Episode 24' when Shinji and Kaworu are in the bath
  • In episode 01, Hayate's boss does the Gendo pose
  • In episode 03, Hayate appears to be impaled with multiple Lances.
  • In episode 05, Hayate recites Shinji's "I mustn't run away" mantra.
  • During episode 10 with an extended parody of the game "Dragon Quest", the head of Giant Rei/Lilith popped out of the enemy everyone was fighting, as well as the right arm of Evangelion Unit-00 falling from the sky.
  • In episode 18, a character named Schmidt is seen in what looks like Evangelion Unit-01's cockpit and he appears to be wearing the headset of Asuka.
  • There is a sequence that parodies the first launch of Evangelion Unit-01 in episode 21. A giant nursing robot (which looks alarmingly like Snoopy) goes berserk.
  • Hayate sits on a rock and talks like Kaworu in episode 22.
  • 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 Lance in his back 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." Following that, Hayate tells Nagi "Right now, he might be getting consumed by the Dirac Sea" in reference to Klaus, in which she responds "Then get a forced salvage operation going or something!" Later in the episode, Klaus is seen sulking in a corner with the Lance in him again.
  • In episode 38, Himegami returns wearing a one-eyed mask. Klaus repermands him by saying "And what is that mask? Is it from that? That strange white crucified thing? Then hold a spear, too!"
  • 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. A golden snake head then appears and its eye glows like Evangelion Unit-01 and roars like going berserk. Following that, Himegami blocks a beam attack with a cube that looks like Ramiel.
  • 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 43, Nagi is seen in the eva launch sequence.
  • In episode 46, while Saki does a short monologue a Seele monolith (Seele 01) appears in front of her.
Hayate no Gotoku
Gendo pose.
Hayate getting impaled by the Lance.
Hayate mustn't run away.
Rei/Lilith makes an appearance
00's right arm in episode 10.
Schmidt sitting in 01's cockpit wearing Asuka's headset.
The shoulder pylon locks are released.
The giant nursing robot takes its first tentative steps.
The giant nursing robot roars.
Hayate talking like Kaworu.
A mutated SD version of Eva-01?
The mecha dies in a cross-shaped explosion.
A teal colored plugsuit makes a cameo.
A depressed Klaus generates an A.T. Field.
Klaus with the Lance again.
An Eva Lift opens up and the rails extend.
Snake head roaring like a berserk 01.
Himegami blocking a beam attack with what looks like Ramiel.
Instrumentality Project and the Nerv trucks.
The ocean waves on the beach
Eva launch sequence brackets.
Nagi on the launch platform.
Seele 01 appears before Saki Kijima.



Continuing with Hayate no Gotoku!! season 2, there are also several references.

  • In the OVA, which is episode 00, the narrerator, Wakamoto, says: "Meanwhile, a girl stood in front of the mansion in thought, much like a boy forced to sit in a giant robot."
  • In episode 2, Sister is seen on the hand of her robot, which looks like Evangelion Unit-01.
  • In episode 8, Nagi is holding her new kitten saying: "Like showing the entire series of Mobile Suit, Multipurpose Humanoid War Machine,[....]" which is a reference to what Ritsuko described the Evas as to Shinji in the first episode.
  • In episode 12, the title is "Cruel Big Foolish Guy's Thesis," harking to the OP of the show. As a matter of fact, later in the episode Hinagiku is forced to sing the song "Cruel Angel's Thesis" at her birthday party. The scenery during her singing is also a parody of the OP of the show as well.
Hayate no Gotoku!! season 2
Sister on the hand of her robot that looks like 01.
Hayate doing the face of Shinji at the start of Hinagiku singing the OP song.
Hinagiku doing Misato's finger motion.
Hinagiku leaning back and looking up like Misato.


History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi (史上最強の弟子ケンイチ)

In the History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi manga, Volume 25, Chapter 1, Battle 218: For The Sake Of Getting Stronger, Kozo Ukita is seen hunched over repeating I mustn't run away over and over again, a catch phrase made popular by Shinji in Evangelion.

Ukita doing his Shinji Ikari impression


Jungle wa Itsumo Hare nochi Guu (ジャングルはいつもハレのちグゥ)

The surreal, comical, and occasionally serious series focuses on the story of a 10-year-old jungle boy named Haré and his misadventures with Guu, a liminal being who usually presents herself as a young girl.

  • A character in Guu's stomach, Hiroko Yamada ("Angry Yamada"), is seen sitting in a chair under a spotlight in season 1: episode 8, similar to those seen in Evangelion's TV ending.
Yamada under the spotlight
  • Guu is seen in season 3: episode 7 with a Sachiel face on her shirt.
Guu with Sachiel shirt

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.

Gakushin Bunken is seen wearing Rei's plugsuit

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.


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.

An image of Naru dressed in Asuka's plugsuit
Keitaro has gone All Shinji

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.

Asuka and Rei figures behind Soujirou


Macademi Wasshoi (まかでみWAっしょい!)

A show about a magic academy that aired in the Fall of 2008, had a short sequence that parodied Evangelion in episode 5. Within the command center, Eitarou Sakuma (as Gendo) sits in the typical pose with Eneus as Fuyutsuki while mayhem breaks out all over the command center, clammoring about "The 4th defense line has been penetrated!" and the like. He then declares that The Evangelist has been resurrected, followed by screams that "The tragedy is going to be repeated!".

Gendo and Fuyutsuki?


Maria+Holic (まりあ†ほりっく)

A comedy that aired at the start of 2009, Maria+Holic features an all girl's school and yuri. Near the end of episode 6, Honoka is missing her underwear from the infirmary and when Kanako (main character, she likes girls) is accused, Maria puts up an A.T. Field to protect herself, either against Kanako's pervertedness or against the inevitable blood pouring out of her nose from a nosebleed.

Maria protects herself with an A.T. Field


Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱)

Season 1 had a brief reference during broadcast episode 7 in an assortment of books. "Emangelivion Storyboards Volume One" can be seen on the spine of the first-to-last subtitled book.

"Emangelivion Storyboards Volume One"

During the second season of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, in episode 16 (combined, or episode 6 of only the second season) during the Endless Summer arc, Kyon mentions "Now I know how Zero-gouki felt after being hit by a beam." after coming back from the part-time job. In episode 11 of the second season, Kyon asks a question to Haruhi concerning Mikuru's outfit. Also in episode 13 in the second season (episode 23 in 2009 Renewal), Kyon is filming Yuki and Mikuru wrestling on the ground and says "Target in the center" like Shinji does in the beginning of Episode 03.

Kyon mentions Unit-00 getting hit with a beam
asks a question to Haruhi concerning Mikuru's outfit.

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.

Miami Guns
Yao starts going Berserk
Yao starts to punch through the glass that her Father and Kaken are at
Another angle of Yao punching the glass
The warm water is turned on to contain Yao (instead of Bakelite)
Yao's Father behind his desk


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.

An unholy fusion of an Ingram and an MP Eva


MM! (えむえむっ!)

In the 2nd opening for the TV series MM! (2010), Manage Domyoji is onscreen with what looks like an plugsuited Asuka figurine in the background.

Asuka figurine in the background

Nisemonogatari (偽物語)

In episode one, there is a parody of Shinji and Rei's conversation in Episode 6.

You won't die
Because I'll protect you.
I'd prefer to enjoy these conversations
with no unnecessary Evangelion references.

Otaku no Musume-san (おたくの娘さん)

This scene in Volume 10 is a parody of Episode 26.

Otaku ep 26.jpg
Otaku ep 26 2.jpg


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.
Pani Poni Dash!
Ichijou, looking kinda cool
Himeko holding Serizawa like Eva-01 holds Kaworu
Kurumi in a Tokyo-3 school uniform and Rokugo dressed up as a harpy
A brief switch from Picard to Keel
More Star Trek/Eva fun
Miyako getting mind-crushed
The final form of Pani Poni X. Notice the G Gundam reference
A fossilized "Angel skull"
Sachiel in a pool
Rei dressed as Misato in episode 20 eyecatch
Nerv fig leaf shaped split screens
Penpen siting under a Nerv umbrella
A Becky doll in an Asuka plugsuit complete with a Positron Rifle in the background
A berserk Eva-01 in the background
Becky doing the Gendo pose and Mesousa as Fuyutsuki.



The more recent OVA had a few references as well. The last two images (left to right) were in a sequence that resembled when Shinji sees Eva-01's eye in the building windows. Right after the "hand eye" is shown to Becky, she screams just like Shinji did.

Pani Poni Dash! OVA
Random NPCs working it what looks like the Nerv bridge
Shu standing on the Nerv bridge. Notice the Pokemon reference in the subtitle as well
Becky's eye gets big like Shinji's
The eye in Ichijou's hand moves like 01's did in the building windows, followed by Becky screaming


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 2, there's a shot of UCC Coffee cans with Gendo on them.
  • 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'".
  • From the second season, Zoku Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei, 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. Later in the episode, Kafuka goes on to describe Hirumi Fujiyoshi's long history of "counter currents" including: "Studying Greek mythology because of Saint Seiya", "Listening to classical music because of Eva", "Reading the bible because of Eva", "Dabbling in psychology because of Eva". The ending of this short sequence has an eye catch that says "キモチ ワルイ" (kimochi warui), the last line from the End of Evangelion. Following that, we see the classroom and a Sachiel mask in the background (lower right) followed by a quick shot of Kaere Kimura changing in a locker room with an Angel designation.


Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei
Gendo UCC Coffee cans
7 Mistakes in Life
Shinji/Kaworu doujin
Kaere on Lilith's cross in episode 11
Eva-01 on the TV screen in episode 12
A Sachiel mask in the lower right of the background
Drawing of Eva-01
Drawing of Rei
Drawing of Kaworu
Kaere designated as the 21st Angel




  • In episode 4 of the second season, 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.


Chiri's fight in episode 4
Chiri dashing toward her first enemy
Asuka and Eva-02 dashing toward their first enemy
Chiri destroying the first enemy robot
Asuka and Eva-02 destroying the first MPE
Chiri choking an enemy robot
Asuka and Eva-02 choking an MPE
Chiri pushing an enemy robot's head through a wall
Asuka and Eva-02 pushing an MPE's head through a wall
Chiri then takes the same robot and throws it at another
Asuka and Eva-02 takes the same MPE and throws it at another
Click image for animation



In the third season, called Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei:

  • During episode 2, Chiri is talking about Harumi's glasses also being "restraints"
  • Also during episode 2, there is a mention of the production of "Quickening", which is a possible reference to the 3rd Evangelion movie.
  • There is a screen of text about different kinds of "moe" with a crudely drawn Asuka.
  • Harumi is seen drawing comics, you can see a Nerv mug on her table and a "Secrets of Eva" book on her bookshelf.
  • Also in episode 2, Harumi is seen reading yaoi manga with what vaguely looks like Shinji and Kaworu on the cover. The manga is titled "ShinKawo".
  • At the beginning of episode 9, there's a "Congradulations" sequence mimicking the sequence at the end of Episode 26 when everyone is congradulating Shinji. Youtube link
  • Also in episode 9, there's a scene with "Complaints about Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei" and one of them is to "make an anime more interesting than Eva"
  • Also in episode 9, the Nerv mug makes another appearance.
  • An "Evangelion Movie" sign can be seen in episode 9.
  • In episode 10, there's a list and one of the items is "How many newly-timely Eva gags we can make"
  • Also in episode 10, Chiri mentions that Evangelion 2.0, You can (not) advance, is getting rave reviews.
  • In episode 13, Nami is asked if she saw the new Evangelion movie yet.


Chiri talking about restraints
A mention of "Quickening"'s production
Asuka and moe
Harumi drawing comics
Harumi reading manga
"Come on, make an anime more interesting than Eva"
Nerv mug
Evangelion Movie
newly-timely Eva gags
Evangelion 2.0 is getting rave reviews



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.

Rei and Asuka amongst the crowd


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 episode 9, Saguro invades the Hinata house, an "Emergency" alarm goes off (a copy of the one from Evangelion), followed by an A.T. Field blocking the front door, followed by Saguro breaking in and descending down a long tube (just like Kaworu did with Eva-02 in Episode 24), culminating in the introduction of the Kululu character; Harold Ancell says Kaworu's original seiyuu (Ishida Akira) reprised his role
  • 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.


Sgt. Frog
Corporal Giroro...
...revives like Eva-02
Sgt. Keroro as a Seele Monolith
Saguro invades, an A.T. Field appears
Another of Kururu's experiments gone horribly wrong
Congratulations!


Shinryaku! Ika Musume (侵略!イカ娘)

Shinryaku! Ika Musume, a 12 episode TV series from 2010, has a quick shot of the 3 M.I.T. scientists attempting to protect themselves from the wrath of Chizuru after they made the store disappear in episode 9. One of the scientists is wielding a clear pane of glass (or something) with an A.T. Field painted on it.

Ikamusume 09 atf.jpg


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.

Slayers Evolution-R, a sequel to Slayers Revolution, has a scene in episode 13 where Xelloss invokes a sheild that looks similar to an AT-Field.

The Slayers
Misato, Asuka, Shinji, and Rei in the Slayers manga
Kerel on top of a rock, looking over a lake
Lila says "Kerel" in an odd way that makes it sound like "Kaworu"
Kerel turns around to find Lila (a fish)
Xelloss uses a shield that looks like an AT-Field



Softenni (そふてにっ)

Softenni, an ecchi gag anime from 2011 about a tennis club, featured a couple of Evangelion tributes. In episode 3, when everyone was on their way to the public baths, they ride down a long escalator with the Prelude of Bach's Cello Suite No.1 playing in the background (the piece that Shinji plays on his cello) followed by a conversation between Kurusu and Kotone about Kotone's father, which was then followed by a slap. This sequence is almost identical to Shinji and Rei riding down the escalator in Episode 05 and Rei slapping Shinji for not having faith in his father.

Comparison between Softenni episode 3 and Evangelion episode 5

In episode 8 of Softenni, as the club faces Misaki Shidou's tennis trials, Kurusu throws a daifuku to the other side of the first trial, a moving conveyor belt with moving hurdles, so that Chitose (the busty green haired girl) would go berserk over it, all the while, Ode to Joy from Beethoven's 9th symphony is playing in the background. This is similar to Episode 19 when Evangelion Unit-01 goes berserk while fighting Zeruel.

Comparison between Softenni episode 8 and Evangelion episode 19

Train Man: Densha Otoko (電車男 ~ネット発、各駅停車のラブ・ストーリー~)

In the Train Man manga, in chapter 19, page 5, when Densha Otoko is cleaning his room he finds a mecha figure that looks remarkably like an Evangelion along with the logo (which says Gangelion).

Page 5 of Chapter 19 of Train Man

Welcome to NHK (NHKにようこそ!)

The Welcome to NHK manga, which started its publication run in June 2004, features an antisocial, unemployed, uneducated main protagonist who fears going outside and a girl that tries to help him. In chapter 5 of the manga, a page with Satou and Misaki, Evangelion Unit-01 has a cameo.

Satou about his plan to make eroge, with Misaki and Eva-01 in the background

Also, in Chapter 37, the title page shows the characters dressed in plugsuits and the first 3 pages has Satou playing an Evangelion pachinko game.

"Welcome to NHK, Chapter 37"
Title page
Asuka fighting Israfel
Satou losing
Picture of the pachinko machine with the Evangelion logo



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.

Kaoru's psychic shield

In episode 16, a laptop depicting Seel with a Sound Only designation on a laptop

Seel, Sound Only

In episode 26, during a "dream" sequence, Minamoto is on a rooftop talking with an adult version of Kaoru, with a gun pointed at her. She starts a sentence with "I...", then the rest of her dialogue is muted. Afterwards, Minamoto fires his gun and she is struck by the bullet and flies backwards. This is similar to the exchange between Gendo and Ritsuko during the End of Evangelion where Gendo's line is similarly muted and Ritsuko takes a bullet and flies backwards.

Kaoru after being shot

Zone of the Enders

Some visual details in the two Zone of the Enders anime appear to be Evangelion homages. The titular AI mecha of Dolores, i has a female personality (at least partly based on memory imprints) and a nasty propensity for going berserk. Especially the scene in episode 18 where berserk Dolores brutally mauls her downed opponent seems to borrow heavily from the Bardiel fight. Episode 22 has another Bardiel reference, when the orbital frame Hathor extends its arm to an unnatural length to grab Dolores's head.

In the prequel OAV Idolo, Dolores Hayes, the human whose memories would be imprinted into Dolores the mecha, is shown wearing a Greek cross pendant similar to that of Misato's.

"Zone of the Enders"
Berserk Dolores going stabbity.
Baby Hathor humiliates Dolores.
Dolores Hayes wearing her cross pendant.


Tributes Pages
Tributes to Other Shows in Neon Genesis Evangelion | Tributes to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Anime and Manga
Similarities to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Anime and Manga | Tributes to Neon Genesis Evangelion in other Media
Gainax: Evangelion References and Cross References