Evangelion Home | Characters | Character Vote | Gallery

Evangelion Episode Synopsis

Episode:1 ANGEL ATTACK

The story opens with Katsuragi Misato taking Ikari Shinji to Tokyo-3, base of Project EVA on behalf of Ikari Genou (Shinji's father) while the UN is attempting to neutralize an attacking Angel. The catch is Shinji did not know that his father had chosen him to become the pilot of EVA, the secret weapon against the Angels. After some drama, Shinji reluctantly accepts the mission to confront the attacking Angel. The EVA is launched on its first mission, thus the story begins.

Episode:2 THE BEAST

Since this is Shinji's first ride on the EVA, he wasn't able to control its actions. The Angel takes advantage of this and critically damaged the EVA unit. Shinji wakes up in bed. The enemy had been defeated, but we don't know how until the in the second half of the episode. The EVA unit was somehow able to pilot itself after Shinji had lost synchronization with it. The EVA proceeded to defeat the attacking Angel. However, the Angel self destructed, and nearly destroyed the EVA unit. Since Shinji had no place to stay in Tokyo-3, Misato offered to let him stay in her apartment.

Episode:3 A Transfer

Shinji undergoes virtual training for piloting the EVA. Shinji also begins school in his new neighborhood. He apparently has not made friends for a while. Ritsuko comes up with a porcupine analogy where the closer you try to get to someone, the more likely your are to hurt him or her. His status instantly changed once everyone found out that he is an EVA pilot. Suzuhara Touji's sister was injured during the encounter with the last Angel. He was not happy with Shinji and beats him up. On the same day, the third Angel appeared. Everyone was required to go to their respective shelters. Aida Kensuke and Suzuhara Touji wanted to witness the battle and sneaked out of the shelter. Unfortunately, the area they chose was too close to the combat. Shinji had to end up letting them into his EVA unit in order to rescue them. Touji realized what Shinji had to go through for the first time.

Episode:4 Hedgehog's Dilemma

Shinji Runs away from "home." Aida Kensuke and Suzuhara Touji comes looking for him. Kensuke somehow "bumps" into Shinji. Shinji finds out that Kensuke has no parents. Shinji decides to leave NERV. Touji and Kensuke were there to bid him farewell. Shinji feels weak and useless. Finally he could not bear to leave like that.

Episode:5 Rei I

EVA-00 was tested. Rei Anyami was chosen to be the pilot of this particular unit. The test failed and EVA-00 lost control. The plug was ejected and Gendou burned his hands to open the door in order to get her out. Ritsuko suspected that Rei's psychological state was not in shape to control EVA. Ritsuko actually believed that it was for another reason. The 4th Angel was dissected and analyzed. An astonishing similarity with human DNA was discovered. The Angel's DNA was 99.89% like humans. There is something about Rei that attracted the attention of Shinji. He was extremely curious why his father was especially affectionate towards her (the fact that Gendou burned his hands to rescue her from the plug). Shinji comes in contact with Rei for the first time when he as to deliver a security card to her. The 5th Angel arrives shortly after a successful synchronization test with EVA-00 was conducted. EVA-01 was sent to intercept.

Episode:6 Rei II

The 5th Angel, using a high energy beam attacks EVA-01 as soon as he surfaced from the base and boils the LCL inside the plug. Shingji was seriously injured and was he was immediately retrieved for emergency treatment. The Angel moved directly above NERV and proceeded to drill into the ground towards the base. The drill bit will reach the base in approximately 10 hours. A large AT Field surrounds the Angel. Misato planned to use the Automatic Positron Cannon to penetrate the AT Field. This cannon would also require the use of all the electrical power of Japan. The MAGI system calculated a 8.7% success rate with the plan (a high figure according to Misato). Gendou approved the plan. Shinji was responsible for firing the beam while Rei protected him with EVA-00 using a shield that will stand the Angel's blast for 17 seconds. Shinji missed the first shot. EVA-00 blocked the blast from the Angel while the beam recharged. Shinji neutralized the enemy just before the shield completely melted.

Episode:7 A HUMAN WORK

Ritsuko explains the real reason behind the second impact. The UN claimed that a meteorite destroyed all of Antarctica and melted all the ice. But the real reason is that an Angel was discovered in that area and a mysterious event caused an explosion.

Ritsuko and Misato attended an experiment developed by a Nippon Heavy Industry Association. The product is a giant JA unit powered by a nuclear reactor. During the experiment, the reactor went out of control, facing a meltdown. Misato suggested that she enter the unit and erase the internal computer system, thus resetting everything. Shinji arrived to assist. She manages to stop the reactor at the last minute, despite that the system privileges had been changed. Everyone thought it was a miracle. Misato somehow believed that this miracle was pre-arranged.

Episode:8 ASUKA STRIKES!

We meet Souryu Asuka Langley, pilot of the EVA-02 unit for the first time in this episode when Misato and Shinji randaveaux with her on a fleet of battleships. She turns out to be a cheerful and lighthearted character. Yet her pride is equally outstanding. Misato also reunites with an old flame, Ryouji Kaji, who is responsible for delivering the EVA unit. Coincidentally, a sea-based Angel attacks the fleet. Misato believed that the Angel was probably interested in the EVA unit. However, we discover at the end what Kaji was really delivering was an embryo called "ADAM" for Ikari Gendou, and that is what the Angel was actually after.

Episode:9 Both of You, Dance Like You Want To Win!

NERV is confronted with an Angel that has a double core. Destroying it requires a simultaneous attack on both cores. Misato recommended that Shinji and Asuka live and train together with music to coordinate the attack. Even though both of them may deny it, Shinji and Asuka became a lot closer as a result.

Episode:10 MAGMADIVER

An Angel at the embryo state was discovered deep inside a volcano. Asuka is assigned with the task of retrieving the specimen. With a special magma diving suit, she submerge into the magma with her EVA unit. However, the embryo matured before she was able to resurface with it.

Episode:11 The Day Tokyo-3 Stood Still

It was an unfortunate day for Tokyo-3. All the power sources including the auxiliary power was unavailable. The staff of NERV began to realize how dependent they were on electricity and more importantly technology. "Technology is omnipotent. There is nothing that it cannot accomplish" as one member of NERV mentioned in the beginning. Life has become so dependent on technology that people began to kid themselves that it is omnipotent only to realize a little later that it has such a fragile dependency on electricity. An Angel has also picked the perfect time to attack. Through the cooperation of people, the three EVA units were manually launched and prevailed the attacking Angel.

Episode:12 She said, "Don't make others suffer for your personal hatred."

We learn a little bit more about Misato's past as the opening scene flashed back to 15 years ago when the Second Impact occurred. Her father saved her life by putting her in a capsule. Her father also happened to be a research scientist. Like the way Shinji felt about his father, Misato also hated her father for neglecting her and her mother. However, on the "present" side, Misato received her promotion and a small party was organized for her. This time, an orbital satellite-like Angel spoils the party. It attacks the target by dropping down from orbit. Its momentum can generate massive energy that can destroy Tokyo-3 in a single attack. Misato calls for an attack on the Angel, against the MAGI's advice to retreat.

Episode:13 LILLIPUTIAN HITCHER

An Angel in the form of many nano-bots (micro-machine) invades (infects) the facility. It spreads its infection with amazing speeds. It also evolves very rapidly to adapt to any environment with an ultimate evolutionary goal of self-destruct. The Angel quickly infects the facility and took over the Melchior and Balthasar components of the MAGI system with an attempt to destroy the entire system by activating MAGI's self-destruct. But all three components must concur to activate the self-destruct. The Casper component has yet to be infected. Ritsuko finally altered the processing speed into 15 second intervals to slow the infection, thus buying two hours of time to plan a counter measure. Ritsuko believed that if she could speed up the Angel's evolution, it may realize its fate and co-exist with the MAGI system. The algorithm was written and inserted just in time. Ritsuko's gamble succeeded. Ritsuko then reveals that the MAGI system is the first computer system to incorporate human personality within it. Human decision is based on internal conflict between one's own personalities. Ritsuko's mother's mind is actually part of the three personalities of MAGI: Melchior, Balthasar and Casper. They are the "mother", the "scientist" and the "woman." Ritsuko never understood the "mother", but respected the "scientist". However, she hated the "woman." Casper is the "woman." Her mother has always been a woman.

Episode:14 WEAVING A STORY

The board of the Human Complementation Project reviews all the Angel attacks and was not completely satisfied with NERV's performance. Gendou denied that an Angel penetrated into the NERV facility. The board was not convinced with his story. Nonetheless Gendou felt confident that he has the upper hand. An experimentation of cross piloting EVAs was performed between Rei and Shinji's EVAs. While Rei was inside Shinji's EVA, she did not feel completely herself. She felt like there was someone else there. When Shinji was inside EVA-00, like before, it tried to take control of the pilot. No one knows what EVA-00 was after. Risuko was certain that it was trying to kill her.

Episode:15 Those women longed for the touch of other's lips, and thus invited their kisses

Shinji felt extremely anxious about meeting his father to visit his mother's grave. He never knew his father, so he asked Rei about him. Misato, Ritsuko and Kaji attended a wedding banquet together. The three of them had not been together for a long time. Ritsuko later left the two of them along. She told Kaji that she liked him because he was like her father. Yet at the same time she hated her father. She joined NERV because she wanted to escape from that feeling. The next day, Misato confronted Kaji about his role as a special agent for the Japanese government. Kaji shows her ADAM, the experiment which has been kept hidden from her.

Episode:16 Splitting of the Breast

In another synchronization test, Shinji's synchronization was well ahead of Asuka and Rei. After Misato's praises, Shinji became very proud of himself. Perhaps too proud.

A new type of Angel appeared in the city. It's shaped like a balloon that floats in the sky. But its material body is really in the shadow of which 1/30th of an meter thick. The "shadow" engulfs objects and holds them inside another dimension within itself. The dimension is known as the Sea of Dirac. The Angel inverts its AT Field to maintain that dimension. The three EVAs were launched to intercept it. Because of his pride, Shinji went ahead of the group and fell into the Angel's trap by stepping into the "shadow." He was confined within the Sea of Dirac. The EVA's life support system could only sustain 16 hours. The next day, before the rescue attempt took place, EVA-01 miraculously had enough power to break through the Angel's AT Field and get out by destroying its body.

When the oxygen levels began to run low began to go through a trance. A voice (his own voice) calls out to him. That voice is Shinji, his alter ego. His own voice reminds him not to escape from reality. Many people do not want to confront their inner conflicts. They ignore the negative side of things by deceiving themselves that everything is of bliss. In Shinji's case, he has mixed feelings about his father, but he only wanted to remember his father praising him.

Episode:17 FOURTH CHILDREN

An explosion occurred in Nevada and destroyed everything within 89km except for the EVA-04 unit. The unit subsequently disappeared. The US delegated the responsibility of EVA-03 to Japan and Ritsuko chose a fourth pilot. A dummy plug was developed to pilot an EVA unmanned. Although Ritsuko was able to replicate most of the pilot's personal attributes within the plug there were still many problems. Gendou did not care as long as it is capable of piloting EVA. Kensuke informed Shinji of the accident and the existence of a fourth pilot. No one knows who the fourth pilot was and Kensuke wanted to be that fourth pilot.

Episode:18 AMBIVALENCE

EVA-03 arrived in Japan and the synchro test for the fourth pilot was immediately conducted. The 13th Angel was subsequently found to have overtaken the unit during the synchro test. The Angel destroyed the test site. The other three units were sent to intercept EVA-03. After both EVA-00 and EVA-02 have been immobilized, Shinji could not attack the Angel since he did not want to injure the pilot. Gendou ordered the dummy plug to take over the control of EVA-01. EVA-003 was completely destroyed. Shinji later discovered that the fourth pilot was Touji, and that he survived.

Episode:19 INTROJECTION

Shinji is extremely angry with his father for letting the dummy plug take over, nearly killing Touji. Once again, he resigns as pilot of EVA-01. At the same time, a powerful Angel penetrated NERV's underground base. Gendou wanted Rei to pilot EVA-01, but the unit refused to synch with her. EVA-01 rejected the dummy plug as well. Left with little options, both EVA-02 and EVA-00 were launched against the attacking Angel. Both units were severely damaged and immobilized. Shinji could not bare to watch the destruction as a bystander only and decided to pilot EVA-01 again. Shinji intercepted the Angel just in time, but unfortunately, he ran out of power before the battle was over. At the most critical moment, EVA-01 "awakens" and quickly defeated the Angel. Ritsuko explained that EVA is capable of controlling itself, but restrainers (what appeared to be the armor of EVA) were implemented in order to exercise control over the unit. EVA finally broke free of the restraint. It was also able established to synchronize with Shinji at 400%. EVA is no longer under the control of its creators.

Episode:20 WEAVING A STORY 2: oral stage

At 400% synchro, Shinji's material body have disappeared and his soul has become part of EVA-01. Everything that is part of his material body is still inside the plug. Once his pysche is stabilized, his body can be reconstructed. The team outside can only do so much to help him. Ultimately, he must want to come back. He had always wanted to escape from the cruel reality. He finally overcame his conflict and re-materialized.

Episode:21 He was aware that he was still a child

Probably one of the most revealing episodes after leaving behind so many mysteries from the previous episodes as we travel back to 1999. Fuyutsuki Kouzou was a professor at the time. A colleague introduced him to Ikari Yui because of her research project on life science. At the same time he also met who was Gendou and also found out that he is dating Ikari Yui. It was believed that Gendou was interested in the organization that Ikari Yui belonged to called SEELE. The two of them did get married and had a child called Shinji. After the Second Impact, the UN simply covered up the incident as a meteorite impact with no mention of SEELE or Gendou. Fuyutsuki believed that SEELE had tremendous influence on the media. When he confronted Gendou about this, Gendou revealed the existence of GEHIRUN (which later evolved into NERV), an organization behind the Human Complementation Project. Gendou also invited Fuyutsuki to join the team. Project EVA was also revealed. EVA was a human replication of ADAM, the giant creature behind the Second Impact. Later, we also find out that Ikari Yui dies of an accident during an experiment. What the experiment was is not revealed. Subsequently Rei appeared. She has tremendous resemblance to Ikari Yui. We still do not know where and how she came about.

Episode:22 Don't be

We find out that Asuka's mother broke down emotionally and committed suicide. From then, she had immersed herself in her own pride in order to forget the past. That is also why she does not like anyone's sympathy. The past is coming back to her and her synchronization ratio is falling. The 15th Angel appeared, and Asuka volunteered herself to attack. However, this Angel is capable of delivering an emotional attack from orbit, staying out of range of most weapons. Asuka came to the verge of an emotional break down when the Angel tried to reach inside her emotions, something that Asuka was desperately trying to hide and protect. Gendou then decided that the only way to destroy the target is by using the Spear of Longinus, embedded in ADAM. Rei proceeded with the plan and succeeded.

Episode:23 Rei III

The 16th Angel appeared in the form of light. EVA-00 was sent to intercept it while EVA-02 stands by. EVA-01 remained in hibernation. The Angel attacks EVA-00 by piercing its armor and trying to take control of it and its pilot. EVA-02 was immediately launched to assist, but due to her recent emotional breakdown, Asuka's synchronization was below 10% and therefore unable to control EVA. She had given up everything she was once proud of. EVA-01 had to be released instead. Just before the Angel was able to successfully attack Shinji, Rei reversed her AT Field to hold the Angel at bay which subsequently lead to the destruction of both the Angel and EVA-01. For a moment, she realized that she did that because she cared about Shinji. Later Shinji asked her about it, but she did not remember. "Perhaps that was another part of me" she says. This episode concludes with revealing one of the biggest mysteries about Rei. She is actually a product of genetic research. Ritsuko revealed the laboratory that created her. It was also the same laboratory where the EVA prototypes were built. Man had wanted to re-create God through technology and came up with ADAM. Based on ADAM, God-like entities were created (EVA). EVA is just a shell which requires a soul. There are many clones of Rei, but the real Rei is the Rei with a soul.

Episode:24 The Beginning and the End, or "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"

SEELE sends over the 5th pilot, Kaworu Nagisa. His origin is similar to Rei. He quickly befriends Shinji. He even felt attracted to Shinji because of Shinji's weakness. Shinji had always shied away from what may potentially injure his emotional self. As it turns out, he is the 17th Angel, capable of controlling EVA at will. He took EVA-02 and headed for ADAM. Shinji was sent to stop him. Absolute Terror Field is a scared area where nothing can harm you. It is energy created from the heart and soul. Everyone has his or her AT Field. Kaworu finally reached ADAM. At the last minute, he realized that maybe it is wrong to return to the originator and destroy mankind. He realized that even though his life was bound by destiny to end, he had the freedom to choose how he wants to end it. End it by taking all man, or just himself. He chose the latter.

Episode:25 Do you love me?

Shinji became extremely confused after the last Angel was destroyed. Misato and Asuka voiced out their inner feelings. They both accepted that the fate of the world lies in Shinji's mind.

FINALE: Take care of yourself

Everything that has a beginning has an end. Is mankind heading down a path with no hope? Are we bound for death and destruction?