Как пишется аска на английском

Asuka Langley Soryu
Neon Genesis Evangelion character
Three forms of a red-haired female fictional character showing her child self (left), her with a red suit (middle), and her with a yellow dress (right)

Asuka with her Eva-02 (in the background) as a child (left), as a pilot (center) and in civilian clothes (right)
First appearance Neon Genesis Evangelion episode 8: «Asuka Strikes!» (1995)
Created by Gainax (collectively)
Voiced by Japanese:
Yūko Miyamura
English:
Tiffany Grant (ADV Films dub, Rebuild)
Stephanie McKeon (Netflix dub)
In-universe information
Full name Asuka Langley Soryu (Original)
Asuka Shikinami Langley (Rebuild)
Species Human
Gender Female
Title Second Child
Captain (Rebuild)
Relatives Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu (mother)
Ryoji Kaji (guardian)
Misato Katsuragi (guardian)
Nationality American[1][2][3][4][5]

Asuka Langley Soryu (惣流・アスカ・ラングレー, Sōryū Asuka Rangurē, IPA: [soːɾʲɯː asɯ̥ka ɾaŋɡɯɾeː])[a] is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Gainax. She first appears in the original anime series, and also appears in the franchise’s animated feature films and related media, including video games, the Rebuild of Evangelion films, and the manga adaptation by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. Yūko Miyamura voices Asuka in Japanese in all her animated appearances and merchandise. In English, Tiffany Grant voices her in the ADV Films dub, while Stephanie McKeon voices her in the Netflix dub.

Within the franchise, Asuka is designated as the Second Child and the pilot of a giant mecha named Evangelion Unit 02 to fight against enemies known as Angels for the special agency Nerv. Because of childhood trauma, she has developed a competitive and outgoing character to get noticed by other people and affirm her own self. In the Rebuild of Evangelion films, her Japanese surname is changed to Shikinami (式波) and she differs significantly in her background and characterization from her TV series incarnation.

Series creator and director Hideaki Anno originally proposed her as the main protagonist of the series. Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto asked Anno to include a male main character instead, downgrading her to the role of co-protagonist with Shinji Ikari. Anno based her psychology on his personality, bringing his moods into the character, acting instinctively and without having thought about how the character would evolve. During the first broadcast of the series, he changed his plans, creating an evolutionary parable in which Asuka becomes more dramatic and suffers, intentionally going against the expectations of the fans. The Japanese voice actress Miyamura was also influential, deciding some details and some of Asuka’s lines.

Asuka maintained a high ranking in every popularity poll of the series and has appeared in surveys to decide the most popular anime characters in Japan. Merchandising based on her has also been released, particularly action figures, which became highly popular. Some critics took issue with her hubris and her personality, judging these as tiresome and arrogant; others appreciated her realism and complex psychological introspection. Asuka is also one of the most successful and influential examples of the tsundere stereotype, characteristic of grumpy and arrogant characters with a fragile hidden side, helping to define its characteristics.

Conception[edit]

Sketches of designs for Asuka contained in the original proposal to Gainax

In the early design stages of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, creator and director Hideaki Anno proposed including a girl similar to Asuka as the protagonist.[6] Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto proved reluctant to accept the idea of a female character in the lead role after Gainax’s previous works like Gunbuster and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water; he said: «A robot should be piloted by a trained person, whether it is a woman or not makes no difference, but I cannot understand why a girl should pilot a robot».[7] He thus asked the director to use a boy in the role of main character, downgrading Asuka to the role of female co-protagonist. He modeled the relationship between her and the male protagonist Shinji Ikari taking inspiration from Nadia and Jean from The Secret of Blue Water. Asuka should have represented «[Shinji’s] desire for the female sex», as opposed to Rei Ayanami’s «motherhood»,[8] and should have been the idol of Neon Genesis Evangelion.[7] Anno also thought of her as Nadia La Arwal from The Secret of Blue Water with a different hairstyle.[9] In the initial project, she was described as «a determined girl» who adapts to the situation in which she finds herself, passionate about video games and «aspires to become like Ryoji Kaji».[10] In the nineteenth episode, she would have had to be seriously injured in her attempt to protect Shinji, who would have thus «proved his worth» trying to save her.[11][12]

For the character’s name, Anno took inspiration from Asuka Saki (砂姫 明日香, Saki Asuka), the protagonist of the manga Super Girl Asuka (超少女明日香, Chō Shōjo Asuka), written by Shinji Wada; for the surname, he merged the names of two ships used in the Second World War, the Japanese World War II aircraft carrier Soryu and the American aircraft carrier Langley.[13][14] Despite her multi-ethnic origins, the staff made Asuka’s skin the same color as that of Rei Ayanami.[15] For the German language terms used in the scenes with Asuka, staff asked for help from an American employee of Gainax, Michael House, who exploited his basic knowledge of the language, acquired in high school, and a Japanese-German dictionary from a local library.[16] According to Anime News Network’s May Callum, Gainax did not pay attention to the dialogue’s German grammar, believing the series would never be successful enough to be watched by native German speakers.[17] For Asuka’s psychology, Anno relied on his personality, as with the other characters in the series.[18][19] Staff originally inserted her after the first six episodes to lighten the tones of the series. She was presented with an exhilarating personality without foreshadowing her eventual depressing moments in the latter half. Anno said that he didn’t intend to go «that far» at first and that he didn’t completely grasp the character of Asuka until he made her «Are you stupid?» (あんたバカ?, Anta baka?) catchphrase, with which the character was definitively born.[20]

During the series’s first airing, the director began to criticize otaku, Japanese obsessed animation fans, accusing them of being excessively closed and introverted; therefore, he changed the atmosphere of the second half of the series, making the plot darker, violent, and introspective. Asuka’s story reflected the changes: although she had been introduced in an essentially positive role, her character became increasingly dramatic and introverted, going against the expectations and the pleasure principle of anime fans.[21][22] In the twenty-second episode, Anno focused on Asuka’s emotional situation, harassed by her first menstrual cycle, but not considering himself capable of exploring such a feminine theme, he condensed everything into a single scene.[23] Miyamura’s interpretation was also important.[20] During the production of the last episodes he inserted scenes in which he represented Asuka with simple hand-drawn sketches, remaining satisfied with the result, saying: «After having drawn Asuka with a marker, as soon as Yuko Miyamura gave it her voice, it was more Asuka than ever».[24] Furthermore, the author’s original intent was to insert a long live action segment for the film The End of Evangelion (1997) centered on the character.[25] The original segment focused on a normal day of Asuka, who would wake up in an apartment after drinking and spend the night with Tōji Suzuhara, with whom she would embark on a sexual and sentimental relationship. Misato Katsuragi would have been the roommate in the apartment next to her; Rei Ayanami would have been her colleague and her senpai. In the alternate universe of live action, Shinji would never have existed; walking the streets of Tokyo-2, however, Asuka would hear his voice calling her.[26][27]

Voice[edit]

Neon Genesis Evangelion[edit]

Yuko Miyamura at the 2017 Saboten Con.

«Just to let you know, Asuka wasn’t the most open-hearted character I’ve met. When I act Asuka’s part, I try to synchronize myself with her 400%. But every time I tried to draw myself in closer synchronization, Asuka would never allow herself to synch with me. Even in the end, she would never step across the line and draw closer to me. One day, I figured out that there was a wall in Asuka’s heart.»

Yūko Miyamura voices Asuka’s character in all her appearances in the original series, and the later films, spin-offs, video games,[29][30] and the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. The only exception is an introspective scene from the twenty-second episode, when other female members of the cast replace the character’s voice during a metaphysical sequence.[31] She had originally auditioned for the role of Rei,[32] but staff felt her voice was too energetic, so she was offered Asuka instead.[33] According to Miyamura, Asuka’s dubbing proved difficult. She said she wished to «erase Evangelion» and forget her experience with it.[34] Towards the end of the first broadcast, Miyamura suffered from bulimia and found herself in a disastrous psychic state, similar to that of Asuka’s character.[35] After the release of the movie The End of Evangelion (1997) she said, «I think I had a kamikaze feeling during the voice-over».[36] The voice actress identified herself so much with the character she took a conversation course in German, decided some of the character’s lines, and Asuka’s details, such as the cloth puppet in the shape of a monkey featured in her childhood flashbacks.[37][38] One of her ideas was the German sentences Asuka utters in the twenty-second episode of the series in a telephone conversation with her stepmother.[39]

When dubbing the last scene of The End of Evangelion, in which Shinji strangles Asuka, Shinji’s voice actress Megumi Ogata physically imitated his gesture and strangled her colleague. Because of her agitation, Ogata squeezed her neck too hard, risking having her not properly recite the rest of the film’s lines.[40] With Ogata’s gesture, Miyamura could finally produce realistic sounds of strangulation and thanked her colleague for her availability.[41] Anno based the scene on an incident that happened to one of his female friends. She was strangled by a malicious man, but when she was about to be killed, she stroked him for no reason. When the man stopped squeezing her neck, the woman regained a cold attitude,[42] speaking the words that Asuka would have said to Shinji in the original script: «I can’t stand the idea of being killed by someone like you» (あんたなんかに殺されるのは真っ平よ).[43][44] Dissatisfied with Miyamura’s interpretation, Anno asked her to imagine a stranger sneaking into her room, who could rape her at any time, but who prefers to masturbate by watching her sleep. The director asked her what she would say about this if she woke up suddenly, noticing what had happened. Miyamura, disgusted by the scene, replied saying «Kimochi warui« (気持ち 悪い, «How disgusting» or «I feel sick»). After the conversation, Anno changed the line by echoing the voice actress’s reaction.[45]

Rebuild of Evangelion saga[edit]

Further difficulties arose during the dubbing sessions for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), the third installment of the Rebuild saga, set fourteen years after the previous movies. According to Miyamura, the scenario gave her «very confused feelings» and «a constant feeling of light-headedness». Hideaki Anno did not explain the plot and setting of the film to her, complicating her work.[46] At the beginning, however, she didn’t want to go back to dubbing the Rebuild and she was scared, given the suffering caused by The End of Evangelion.[47] Even after finishing the final film of the saga, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), Miyamura stated: «I felt like a mother to Asuka at times. I cannot watch End of Evangelion even now because it’s too painful.»[33] Recording for Thrice Upon a Time was less stressful, but also taxing due to the many delays and revisions in production.[48] At the end of the recording, Anno thanked her for playing the role of Asuka for twenty-five years; Miyamura furthermore noted Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki orientated her far more than before.[48]

During the recording of the feature film, she had to dub a scene in which Asuka screams in pain as she pulls an anti-Angel seal from her eye. When she recorded, the drawings for the sequence had not yet been completed, so she imagined the scenes involved, listening to the director’s explanations and trying to do her best to feel the required sensations. Screaming, she tried to use all her imagination and pretended to stab herself, as if flesh were being torn from her. The support of Megumi Ogata, Shinji’s voice actress who was already used to screaming in other Evangelion scenes, also helped her in the process.[48] The last thing asked of her was to write the character’s full name in cursive herself to be used in the film. She had lived in Australia for the past two decades, but was still unsure of how to write «Langley».[49] Miyamura also played Soryu and Shikinami as two different people,[50] but both with a strong desire to be better.[47][51] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, her sessions were already finished; later, some points were resumed and re-recorded, so there was no precise prediction as to when the work would be finished.[52] She still had difficulties in understanding the story, and had taken the habit of reading fan-made analysis.[53][54]

English dub[edit]

Asuka is voiced by Tiffany Grant in English in the ADV films dub, and Stephanie McKeon in the Netflix dub.[55] Grant felt playing Asuka was «refreshing», as «she says the most horrible things to people, things that you’d like to say to people and can’t get away with».[56] Grant says she greatly identified with the character, to the point of Asuka becoming a part of her: «She’s kinda like my kid sister, which is why I feel the need to stick up for her».[57] Grant met Miyamura in conventions in the early 2000s and, discussing their experiences portraying Asuka, Miyamura rekindled their shared love and concern for the character’s happiness.[58]

Appearances[edit]

Neon Genesis Evangelion[edit]

Asuka Langley Soryu was born on December 4, 2001.[59] She is the daughter of Dr. Soryu Kyoko Zeppelin, an employee of a research center named Gehirn. She has German and Japanese blood and US citizenship.[1] In 2005[60] her mother participates in a contact experiment with Unit 02, but, because of an accident, she suffers a severe mental breakdown, becoming permanently hospitalized. These injuries render her unable to recognize her child. Asuka is deeply hurt by her mother’s behavior, who speaks to a doll believing it to be her daughter. After some time, Asuka is chosen as the Second Child and Eva-02’s official pilot.[61][62] Hoping that her selection could lead her mother to pay attention to her again, she excitedly runs to her room to announce the news, finding her mother’s corpse hanging from the ceiling.[60] Shocked and traumatized by her mother’s suicide, Asuka adopts self-affirmation as the only reason to be, participating in training sessions to become a pilot and meet other people’s expectations.[63]

Her custody is assigned to Ryoji Kaji, towards whom she is infatuated. At fourteen, after graduating from a German university, Asuka leaves there, accompanied by Kaji and Unit 02, on board a United Nations aircraft carrier escorted by numerous warships to protect the Eva. During the trip, she meets Shinji Ikari, Third Child and pilot of Unit 01, and her new classmates Tōji and Kensuke. The United Nations fleet is then attacked by Gaghiel, the sixth Angel.[64] Recognizing this event as a good chance to demonstrate her skills, Asuka independently activates her Eva, coercing Shinji into joining her in the cockpit.[65] Despite struggling to work together, and the Eva not yet being equipped to operate underwater, the two children destroy the enemy. She is later placed in class 2-A of Tokyo-3 first municipal middle school,[66] living with Shinji under Misato Katsuragi’s care.[67][68] She teases Shinji continuously about his passivity and perceived lack of manliness, but gradually comes to respect and like him as they fight Angels together. She is rarely able to express these feelings. However, following a series of Angel battles where Shinji outperforms her, she grows increasingly unable to continue to suppress her traumatized psyche, drastically lowering her pilot skills.[69][70] This comes to a head when the Angel Arael attacks; Asuka, burdened by her continually worsening performance in tests, tries to attack the Angel alone, but is overwhelmed by the Angel’s attack, a beam that penetrates her mental barrier and forces her to relive her darkest memories.[71] In the battle with the next Angel, Armisael, she cannot activate the Evangelion.[72] As a result of this, Asuka loses all will to live, runs away and goes to the home of her friend Hikari Horaki,[73][74] spending time aimlessly roaming the streets of Tokyo-3. She is eventually found by Nerv personnel, naked and starving in the bathtub of a ruined building. The main series ends with her lying in a hospital bed in a catatonic state.[75][76]

The End of Evangelion[edit]

In the movie The End of Evangelion (1997), as the Japanese Strategic Self-Defense Force invades Nerv headquarters, Asuka is placed inside Unit 02, which is then submerged in a lake for her protection. As she is bombarded by depth charges, Asuka wakes up, declares she does not want to die, and, in a moment of clarity, feels her mother within the Eva.[77] Her self-identity regained, she emerges and defeats the Self-Defence Force, before encountering nine mechas named Mass-Production Evas.[78] Though she successfully disables all nine opponents, Eva-02’s power runs out; the power of the mass-produced Evas allows them to eviscerate and dismember Unit 02.[79] Seeing Asuka’s destroyed Evangelion makes Shinji go into a frenzy, which eventually culminates in him starting a catastrophic event named the Third Impact. Shinji and Asuka have an extended dream-like sequence inside Instrumentality, a process in which the soul of humanity merges into one collective consciousness. Shinji claims he wants to understand her, but she refuses. He is furious at her rejection and lashes out by choking her. At the end of the process, Shinji rejects Instrumentality, and she returns after him in a new world. In the film’s final scene, Shinji begins strangling Asuka, but stops when she caresses his face. Shinji breaks down crying and the film ends with Asuka disdainfully looking down on Shinji, saying simply, «How disgusting», before cutting to black.[80]

Rebuild of Evangelion[edit]

In the Rebuild of Evangelion saga, Asuka appears first in the second film, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009). Changes have been made to her character, such as her family name being changed from Sōryū (惣流) to Shikinami (式波),[81][82] continuing the Japanese maritime vessel naming convention. The name change resulted from a precise choice by Hideaki Anno, who said he had changed the background of the character.[83] Asuka Shikinami Langley, compared to her original counterpart, seems more open and vulnerable. Near the end of the film, for example, she confides in someone for the first time talking genuinely about her feelings with Misato.[84] She does not feel infatuated with Ryōji Kaji and maintains a more affectionate and peaceful relationship with Shinji.[85] Although she publicly rejects others, she becomes possessive of Shinji, feeling jealous for him and taking an interest in his feelings.[86][87] During the production phase, screenwriter Yōji Enokido has added a night scene in which Asuka, feeling alone, enters her colleague’s room without permission, sleeping next to him.[88] In the course of events, she also plays video games and tries to cook something for Shinji.[89] She is a captain of the European Air Force, faces the seventh Angel with her Eva-02, and is designated pilot of the Eva-03,[90] whereas in the original series this Eva was piloted by Tōji Suzuhara. Unit 03 is later contaminated by a parasitic-type Angel, Bardiel, and collides with Eva-01; Asuka survives, but is last seen in urgent care.[91]

In Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), the saga’s third instalment, Asuka is initially part of the rescue operation for Eva-01, which is stranded in space, working together with Mari for an organization named Wille, which is dedicated to destroying Nerv. Convinced by Mari, she dons her old plugsuit in an attempt to get Shinji to recognize them.[b] After fighting off an initial attack by Nerv, Asuka confronts Shinji in his holding cell and tells him fourteen years have passed. Asuka is biologically twenty-eight years old, but has not physically aged due to what she calls the «curse of Eva»; she also wears an eyepatch that glows blue. Asuka, again supported by Mari, confronts Shinji and his co-pilot Kaworu Nagisa and eventually self-destructs her Eva during the fight. After the fight, she grabs Shinji’s wrist, and they move along the ruins of Tokyo-3, followed by Rei Ayanami.[92]

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0[edit]

In the final film, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Asuka guides Shinji and Rei before being picked up by Kensuke Aida. She lives in a place named Village-3 in Kensuke’s house. She feels she is no longer human as a result of the changes to her body and lack of aging, growing indifferent to her well-being. In the course of the feature film she goes to check on Shinji’s distraught and almost catatonic state in silence; Miyamura described hers as the attitude of a mother «who quietly leaves food in front of her son’s room to see how he is doing when he is locked up in his room».[93] Shikinami eventually forces Shinji, completely helpless and no longer wanting to continue living, to eat by forcibly stuffing food into his mouth.[93] When Will’s ship AAA Wunder arrives to pick-up Asuka, Shinji insists on going with her. During the final battle in Antarctica Asuka is forced to take off her eyepatch, releasing the ninth Angel contained within. She converts Eva-02 to a new form, but is absorbed by Eva-13. Inside, Asuka meets the original member of the Shikinami clone series she’s a part of. Asuka is shown to have fought the other clones as a child before being selected as a pilot. Lamenting not having anyone to take care of her, Kensuke appears, dressed as her stuffed doll, and reassures her. Asuka is then present in an adult body, and Shinji thanks her for saying she liked him, and tells her he liked her as well, before him and Mari bid her farewell. In the final scene of the film, she is last seen on a train platform in a rebuilt world.[52][94]

During 3.0+1.0, Asuka confesses her feelings to Shinji by saying that she liked him; for Miyamura, the sentence would not imply that her love is over or that she now loves someone else, «but that she genuinely wanted to tell him that».[93] The actress also emphasized during the interviews that she did not interpret Kensuke and Asuka’s relationship as romantic,[47] as Shikinami is still physically fourteen years old;[51] according to her, Kensuke would only be a sort of parental reference figure, and even Anno said that the character’s last scene in Thrice Upon A Time is related to the image of Kensuke as a father figure for Shikinami.[51] According to her, «Kensuke is a warmth for those who are lonely or want to feel safe».[93] During production, a scene in which Kensuke shoots Asuka with a camera was thought to be a love scene; however, the voice actress also interpreted this love as paternal.[93] Tetsuya Iwanaga, Japanese interpreter of Kensuke, described his character as «a friend she’s never quite been able to get rid of ever since middle school». In an interview, Iwanaga stated that he interpreted the scene in which Kensuke is seen disguised as Asuka’s rag doll as a representation of him becoming «the prop that rescued Asuka».[95] Miyamura also voiced a scene in which Asuka says «baka Shinji?» as a «love letter» to everyone who supported the couple.[48][93]

In other media[edit]

Drawing of Asuka on the cover of the fourth volume of the manga

In the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, illustrated and written by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Asuka has a more immature character than her animated counterpart and her story is different; despite having a similar, familiar past, in the manga she was conceived through artificial fertilization,[8] as the result of an experiment in eugenics.[96] In her first actual battle against Gaghiel, whom she confronts alongside Shinji in the same Evangelion unit in the classic series, she fights alone, while Shinji later watches the recorded fight on a projector.[97] In the next battle, Asuka and Shinji fight, as in the classic series, against Angel Israfel together; Sadamoto conceived their dance training as akin to a «kiss», underlining their psychological connection.[8] Kotaku also noticed how much of their relationship is «absent», while she remains fixated on Kaji.[98] In the comic her fellow pilot Kaworu Nagisa is also introduced before and interacts with her, immediately arousing her antipathy.[99] Further differences are presented in the last chapters of the manga, corresponding to the events of the movie The End of Evangelion. In the feature film, the Eva-02 is dismembered by the Eva Series before Shinji’s arrival, while in the comic the Third Child intervenes in battle in her defense.[100] In the final chapter of the comic, following the failure of Instrumentality, Shinji lives in a world where it snows again in Japan and where people do not seem to have any memory of recent events. The Third Child, traveling on a train to his new school, meets a girl similar to Asuka.[101] According to Sadamoto, the Asuka-like girl is not concretely Asuka, but the symbol «of an attractive woman that Shinji can meet in the new world».[102]

In a scene from the last episode of the animated series, an alternate reality is presented with a completely different story than in the previous installments, where Asuka is a normal middle school student and a childhood friend of Shinji Ikari, the Evangelion units never existed, and Asuka did not experience any childhood trauma regarding her mother Kyōko.[103] A similar version of events can be found in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days,[104][105] and the parody series Petit Eva: Evangelion@School,[106][107] where she behaves like a sister towards Shinji.[108] In Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse, Asuka is a foreign exchange student, and uses a whip in battle.[109] She is also present in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students.[110] The simulation game Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project includes an expansion in its PlayStation 2 version that allows the player to take on the role of Asuka’s guardian instead of Rei’s. She is also available as a romantic option in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd,[111][112] Neon Genesis Evangelion 2,[113] Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project[114][115][116] and its manga adaptation.[117] In Neon Genesis Evangelion: Anima, Asuka is older, more stable and mature, having developed a strong friendship with Shinji and even Rei. Asuka also merges with her Eva unit turning into a hybrid named Crimson A1.[118]

She also appears in the crossover Transformers x Evangelion, in the video games based on the original animated series and media not related to the Evangelion franchise, including Honkai Impact 3rd,[119] Monster Strike,[120] Super Robot Wars,[121] Tales of Zestiria,[122] Puzzle & Dragons,[123] Keri hime sweets, Summons Board,[124][125] Puyopuyo!! Quest[126] and in an official Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion cross-over episode.[127] In the Super Robot Wars franchise, she butts heads with Kouji Kabuto, the pilot of Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser. It is also implied that she developed crushes on famous heroes such as Char Aznable and Amuro Ray, but proves jealous of Shinji, who crushes for Lynn Minmay of the Macross franchise.[128]

Characterization and themes[edit]

At first glance obviously she comes across rather brash and pushy and loud, and I understand that, but the more you get to know her the more you come across her motivations behind this, and you always have to keep in mind that she’s still only fourteen, so no matter how terribly educated or clever she might be she’s only a fourteen-year-old girl. So I think in the end her heart is in the right place but she has a hard time communicating that with her emotions and everything, how she really feels. I mean, she wants to have friends and she wants to be liked.
–Tiffany Grant[129]

Asuka is an energetic,[130] proud[131][132] and enterprising[133] girl with a brave and resolute character.[134][135] She tends to look down on other people[136] and wants to be constantly at the center of attention.[137][138] Although she normally shows a stubborn and exuberant attitude, in some moments she exhibits a kinder, more sensitive and caring side.[139] Her abrupt and impulsive ways often arouse other people’s antipathy, since they do not fully understand her real intentions.[140][141] Unlike fellow pilots Shinji and Rei, she is extremely proud to be a pilot and engages in missions with great enthusiasm,[142] but despite her apparently strong, aggressive and competitive character, Asuka suffers from the same sense of alienation as her companions.[143] She suffers from a masculine protest,[144] a psychological expression that indicates exaggeratedly masculine tendencies in tired and rebellious women who protest against traditional female gender roles. She sees her male peers merely as rivals and spectators of her abilities,[145] and suffers from a marked emotional complex for the male sex, merging a so-called «radical rivalry» and a latent inferiority complex. Her masculine protest is reflected in her strong misandric tendencies, since she is dominated by the need to beat male peers with an obsessive self-affirmation desire.[146] Despite this, she also has a sense of admiration for her guardian and senpai, Ryōji Kaji.[147] Asuka is emotionally dependent on him, since she has a strong unconscious desire to find a reference figure to rely on.[148] Asuka’s infatuation also leads her to feel great jealousy for him and she eventually tries to seduce him.[149][150] Newtype magazine noted how she sometimes beats boys[151] while being kind to Kaji.[152]

Asuka’s excessive pride prevents her from admitting—even to herself—that she feels something for male protagonist Shinji,[153][154] and as events and battles unfold, her feelings of love and hate intensify and dominate her.[155][156] She kisses Shinji in the fifteenth episode,[c][157] but when he beats her in pilot tests, she develops an inferiority complex towards him.[158] This leads her to attack Shinji’s virility continuously,[159] directing both interest and open hostility towards him.[160][161] Because of their intimate fragility and insecurities, Shinji and Asuka are unable to communicate effectively with one another on an emotional level, despite their mutual latent interest.[162][163] According to Newtype magazine, Shinji has feelings for her, while Asuka openly states her feeling of being frustrated with wanting him as her partner, so «her feelings for him as a man are less than they appear to be».[164] According to critic Susan J. Napier, they might be expected to develop a romantic attraction for each other, but their sexual tension is subsumed under Asuka’s intense competitiveness;[165] Napier also noted that Shinji feels fear and attraction towards the maternal figures of the women around him, such as Rei or Misato, but only Asuka «is allowed to seem explicitly sexual».[166] In one scene from The End of Evangelion movie, Asuka is seen on a bed while she speaks with an angry expression, interpreted by writers Kazuhisa Fujie and Martin Foster as a representation of Shinji’s libido.[167] Asuka is framed while she has sexual intercourse with her partner, in a position described by an official artbook as «of the cowgirl».[168] According to an official card game, moreover, neither Yui, nor Rei and nor Misato could be a woman for Shinji, while Asuka, the only girl equal to him, becomes the center of his desire, using her as an object to console himself and ending up hurting her.[169] Despite this, in the last scene Shinji meets Asuka in the new world after the failure of Instrumentality, just as he had wished.[170] Asuka’s relationship with Rei Ayanami is also conflictual. She despises Rei, calling her «Miss Perfect» (優等生, yūtōsei, literally «honor student») and «mechanical puppet girl».[171][172] In a scene from the twenty-second episode, Rei and Asuka are left alone in an elevator; Rei states she is ready to die for Commander Gendō Ikari, provoking Asuka’s anger, who slaps her and says she has hated her from the moment they met.[173] Shortly thereafter, Rei helps her during the fight against Arael, an act that destroys her already wounded pride.[174]

Asuka has been associated with Ama-no-Uzume, a Shinto deity linked to dance and sensuality, as well as to the red color, typical of the lining of some kimono.

Her ostentatious competitiveness originates from her childhood experiences, marked by the mental illness and the suicide of her mother Kyōko.[175][176] Asuka faced her loss by immersing herself in pride, becoming indisposed to any kind of help or advice and adopting strength and self-affirmation as her only raison d’être.[177][178] Tormented «by the fear of not being necessary»,[179] she pilots Unit-02 only to satisfy her intimate desire for acceptance, longing to be considered «an elite pilot who will protect humanity».[180] She also wants to be recognized by others through her role as a pilot[181] and has been described as a perfectionist.[182][183] Her excessive self-confidence leads her to clash with Shinji,[184][185] gradually losing self-confidence[186][187] and becoming psychologically and physically compromised.[188][189] The Fourth Child’s selection, Tōji Suzuhara, also contributes to the destruction of her pride.[190][191] After she learns of Kaji’s death,[192] she questions the meaning of her life and her identity,[193] avoiding any kind of human contact and never meeting the gaze of other people.[194] Overwhelmed by the fear of being alone,[195][196] the young woman shows that she has a great and morbid need for the Eva, even more than her colleague Shinji has. In a scene from the twenty-fifth episode, she excoriates the Evangelion unit as a «worthless piece of junk», but immediately admits «I’m the junk».[197] In the director’s cut version of the twenty-second episode, two scenes set in the ninth and fifteenth episodes were added, in which Asuka appears frustrated in front of the sliding door of her room and after the kiss with Shinji; from Asuka’s dialogue that overlaps these scenes, it becomes clear that she has been looking for help and love from Shinji.[31] Her self-love represents an act of psychological compensation to be recognized in the eyes of other people. After her mother’s mental illness, she represses her sadness and eventually decides to not cry anymore and to behave like an adult with a reaction formation.[198] Her memories related to her past and her mother are repressed and removed from her consciousness during this phase.[199] In the last episodes, Asuka completely loses her self-confidence. She develops a deep disgust with herself and suffers from separation anxiety.[200][201] The caption «attachment behavior» (愛着行動) also appears in the same episodes. The word attachment in psychology can also refer to the emotional bond that is established between the mother and her child; while Asuka’s behavior is that of «attachment», Rei’s is made up of «bonds».[202]

Miyamura noted that Asuka was not called tsundere at the time, but agreed to the definition of her having to hide her feelings in 2007.[203] Furthermore, for Japanese philosopher and cultural critic Hiroki Azuma, she is the «symbol of the outside» in the world of Evangelion, taking Shinji away from his comfort zone in the «Nerv family»; in contrast to Rei, who’d play an «imaginary healing» role, Asuka would be an independent person in reality.[204] Critics also noted that Asuka is iconographically and psychologically opposed to Rei. Rei has blue hair and red eyes and is often associated with the Moon, while Asuka has red hair and blue eyes and is presented in the eighth episode, «Asuka Strikes!», silhouetted by the Sun.[205] Rei is also related to white; the writer Claudio Cordella noted how white is associated in Japanese culture with sanctity, light, eternity, while red is the color of sterile sexuality, traditionally chosen by unmarried girls or geisha for their kimono.[206] Japanese psychiatrist Kōji Mizobe linked Asuka’s red to menstruation, Rei’s white to altruism, attributing Asuka’s unstable behavior to a narcissistic or histrionic personality disorder.[207] Writer Dennis Redmond instead noted that Shinji’s Eva-01 is purple, halfway between Rei’s blue Eva-00 and Asuka’s 02,[208] describing Rei as a symbol of an empty and «lyric neonational interiority», while Asuka as a mirror of a pragmatic and «outrageous multinational exteriority».[209] According to the Polygon, the two girls are two shades of the same spectrum of the feminine, neither of which good or bad in themselves, which Shinji must recognize as autonomous individuals by overcoming the Madonna-whore complex, the inability of some men to see women in their individual nuances, perceiving them dichotomously either as angelic beings or maleficent entities.[210]

Rei has been compared to the Superego, Shinji to the Ego and Asuka to the Id,[211] the three intrapsychic instances proposed by Sigmund Freud’s second topic, since the Id is the instinctual part of a human being. The three Children have also been compared to the three stages of the human soul postulated by the Jewish Kabbalah: Asuka to Nephesh, source of animal vitality, Shinji to Ru’ah, the soul, fruit of the raising of man from his purely biological aspect, and Rei to Neshamah, the spirit, fruit of the connection between man and God.[212] Others critics have linked Asuka to Ama-no-Uzume, a Shinto female deity associated with dance and sensuality.[213][214] Hiroki Azuma also described Asuka and the other characters in the series as «stereotypical characters», with no particular individual or aesthetic characteristics; Asuka, in particular, has been described as a «typical sci-fi anime character».[21] According to Azuma, however, with these stereotypical characters Anno would have been able to describe the 1990s.[21] Mizobe described her and Shinji as «communicationally disabled», a feature that allowed contemporary Japanese youth to identify with them even twenty-six years after the original series’s airing.[215] Moreover, for the critic Manabu Tsuribe in The End of Evangelion she represents for Shinji the Other, another person separated from himself with whom he can never become one. For Tsuribe, the film concludes when Shinji recognizes Asuka as a separate entity.[216] The Anime Café’s Japanese critic Akio Nagatomi, noting how other characters in Evangelion bear similarities with others in a previous work by Gainax and Anno, Gunbuster, described Asuka as a counterpart to Jung Freud.[217] Engineer Yumiko Yano also compared Asuka’s dull gaze in the final episodes, locked up in a hospital room after a psychic and emotional breakdown, to the dolls of artist Katan Amano.[218]

Cultural impact[edit]

Popularity[edit]

If you’re an anime fan, you’ve definitely heard of Asuka, even if you haven’t watched Evangelion. She’s ranked high in popularity polls for a reason, and it’s easy to see why. As one of the more dynamic characters in the show, she commands every scene that she’s in … I first saw this series as a teenager myself, and seeing Asuka at her highs and her lows felt extremely validating. There’s a lot of truth to be told in the problems that she has …. The story never forces her to become a cleaner version of herself, but lets her have struggles in a way that not many series would allow. She isn’t perfect, far from it, and there’s a lot of strength to be found in that.
–Noelle Ogawa (Crunchyroll)[219]

Website Otaku Kart described Asuka as «one of the most popular female characters in anime history».[220] She appeared in polls on best anime pilots[221][222] and female anime characters,[223][224][225] proving popular among both female and male audiences.[226][227] In 1996 she ranked third among the «most popular female characters of the moment» in the Anime Grand Prix survey by Animage magazine, behind Rei Ayanami and Hikaru Shido from Magic Knight Rayearth.[228] In 1997 and 1998 Anime Grand Prixes, she remained among the top ten female characters; in 1997 she ranked in fourth place, while in 1998 she ranked sixth.[229][230] Asuka also appeared in the magazine’s monthly surveys, remaining in the top twenty in 1996,[231] 1997[232][233][234] and 1998 polls.[235][236][237] In 1999, Animage ranked her fortieth among the one hundred most popular anime characters.[238]

Her popularity increased after the release of the second Rebuild of Evangelion movie; in August and September 2009 she emerged in first place and remained the most popular female Neon Genesis Evangelion character in Newtype magazine popularity charts,[239][240] while in October she ranked tenth.[241] In a Newtype poll in March 2010, she was voted the third most popular female anime character from the 1990s, immediately after Rei Ayanami and Usagi Tsukino from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.[242] In February 2015, almost twenty years after the show first aired, she emerged again on the magazine’s charts in sixth place.[243] In 2017, she also ranked sixteenth among the characters Anime! Anime! site readers would «rather die than marry».[244] Her line «Are you stupid?» (あんたバカ?, Anta baka?) also became widely used among hardcore fans after her first appearance in the eighth episode.[245] In 2021, after the release of the final Rebuild film, Asuka ranked most popular female character in another Newtype poll.[246]

Critical reception[edit]

A fan cosplaying as Asuka

A fan cosplaying as Asuka in 2016

Asuka divided anime critics, receiving an ambivalent response. Negative reviews criticized her arrogant, surly and authoritarian character.[247][248][249] While appreciating her for providing «a good dose of comic relief» to Evangelion, Anime Critic Pete Harcoff described her as «an annoying snot».[250] Raphael See from T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, who found Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s characterization «a little cliché, or just plain irritating at times», despised Asuka for her arrogant attitude.[251] Anime Reign writer Matthew Perez described her as initially «overly stuck up», but he also appreciated her evolution.[252] By contrast, IGN critic Ramsey Isler ranked her as the thirteenth greatest anime character of all time for the realism of her characterization, saying: «She’s a tragic character, and a complete train wreck, but that is what makes her so compelling because we just can’t help but watch this beautiful disaster unfold.»[253] Comic Book Resources included her among the best anime female pilots,[254] describing her as «the best classic tsundere in shounen anime» and «one of the most fascinating characters in anime».[255][256]

Screen Rant ranked her among the best Neon Genesis Evangelion characters, praising her development.[257][258] According to critic Jay Telotte, Asuka is «the first credible multinational character» in the history of Japanese science fiction television.[259] Crunchyroll and Charapedia also praised her realism and personality.[219][260] Asuka’s fight sequence against the Mass-Production Evangelions in The End of Evangelion was particularly well-received by critics,[261][262] while Tiffany Grant was praised for her role as Asuka’s English voice actress by Mike Crandol of Anime News Network.[263]

Animation Insider reviewer Eric Surrell commented on Asuka’s role in Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), the second installment of the Rebuild saga, stating that «the arrival and sudden dismissal of Asuka was shocking and depressing, especially considering how integral she was to the original Evangelion«.[264] Slant Magazine‘s Simon Abrams, reviewing Evangelion: 2.0, responded negatively to Shinji and Asuka’s new relationship, «which is unfortunate because that bond should have the opportunity to grow in its own time».[265] LA Weekly‘s Brian Miller appreciated her debut, praising Shinji’s «downright charming» courtship.[266] The Fandom Post found the character neglected by Anno’s script, given the lesser space devoted to her and Mari’s introduction,[267] while Renan Fontes from Comic Book Resources judged Asuka Shikinami significantly less interesting than Langley.[268] UK Anime Network on the other hand found Rebuild‘s Asuka a more human and easier to empathize with character than the one of the classic series.[269] Website Otaku Revolution enjoyed the development and revelations about Asuka in Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, finding them «very fitting».[270] Geek Ireland praised the fact that the movie gives a sense of conclusion to Asuka, Shinji, and the other characters,[271] while Otaku Voice’s A. Dean Kelly wrote that: «Everything about Asuka from 3.33 finally begins to make sense in this moment».[272]

Legacy[edit]

Asuka’s character has been used for merchandising items such as life-size figures,[273] action figures,[274][275] guitars,[276] clothes,[277][278] and underwear, some of which sold out immediately.[279][280] Her action figures proved successful.[281] According to Japanese writer Kazuhisa Fujie, Evangelion-related household items with the image of Asuka or other female characters of the series have become so popular that they have been put back on the market with a second edition.[282] Movic has also released a cassette drama featuring her and Shinji as part of its Animate series featuring other popular works.[283] On February 27, 1997, Kadokawa Shoten published a book dedicated to her entitled Asuka — Evangelion Photograph (ＡＳＵＫＡ－アスカ－ 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン文庫写真集).[284] In 2008, Broccoli released a video game entitled Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku with Asuka Hokan Keikaku, in which the player takes on the task of looking after Asuka or Rei Ayanami.[285]

Japanese celebrities cosplayed her during concerts or tours, such as Haruka Shimazaki,[286] singer Hirona Murata[287] and Saki Inagaki.[288][289] Lai Pin-yu, a Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party and Legislative Yuan member, held election rallies cosplaying Asuka, gaining popularity.[290] Asuka’s character was parodied by Excel from Excel Saga[259] and some of her aesthetic and character traits inspired other female characters. Kotaku writer Richard Eisenbeins listed her as an example of the tsundere stereotype,[291] a term used to indicate grumpy, assertive and authoritarian characters that nonetheless possess a more gentle, empathetic and insecure side, hidden due to a stormy past or traumatic experiences. Anthony Gramuglia from Comic Book Resources identified her as one of the most popular and influential tsundere characters, comparing Asuna Yūki from Sword Art Online, Rin Tōsaka from Fate/stay night, Kyō Sōma from Fruits Basket and Taiga Aisaka from Toradora! to her.[292][293] Critics also compared Mai Shibamura from Gunparade March,[294] Michiru Kinushima from Plastic Memories[295] and D.Va from Overwatch game series to Asuka.[296] Japanese band L’Arc-en-Ciel took inspiration from the character for their song «Anata».[297] Further references have been identified in other Japanese animated series, including Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, Gurren Lagann, and Sword Art Online, in which a scene of her and Rei in an elevator from the twenty-second episode is parodied.[298]

See also[edit]

  • List of Neon Genesis Evangelion characters

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Her surname is romanized as Soryu in the English manga and Sohryu in the English version of the TV series, the English version of the film, and on Gainax’s website.
  2. ^ As depicted in the Evangelion: 3.0 (-120min.) prequel manga.
  3. ^ «Why does Asuka want to kiss Shinji? Even assuming she was spiteful of Kaji, one doesn’t understand the real underlying motive. After the kiss, Asuka states: «I did it just to kill time.» She yells, as if to make Shinji perceive it and to confirm it to herself, as if she wants to hide some embarrassment» (Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). Vol. 5. Kadokawa Shoten. pp. 44–45.).

References[edit]

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Источник
Asuka Langley Soryu
Neon Genesis Evangelion character
Three forms of a red-haired female fictional character showing her child self (left), her with a red suit (middle), and her with a yellow dress (right)

Asuka with her Eva-02 (in the background) as a child (left), as a pilot (center) and in civilian clothes (right)
First appearance Neon Genesis Evangelion episode 8: «Asuka Strikes!» (1995)
Created by Gainax (collectively)
Voiced by Japanese:
Yūko Miyamura
English:
Tiffany Grant (ADV Films dub, Rebuild)
Stephanie McKeon (Netflix dub)
In-universe information
Full name Asuka Langley Soryu (Original)
Asuka Shikinami Langley (Rebuild)
Species Human
Gender Female
Title Second Child
Captain (Rebuild)
Relatives Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu (mother)
Ryoji Kaji (guardian)
Misato Katsuragi (guardian)
Nationality American[1][2][3][4][5]

Asuka Langley Soryu (惣流・アスカ・ラングレー, Sōryū Asuka Rangurē, IPA: [soːɾʲɯː asɯ̥ka ɾaŋɡɯɾeː])[a] is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Gainax. She first appears in the original anime series, and also appears in the franchise’s animated feature films and related media, including video games, the Rebuild of Evangelion films, and the manga adaptation by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. Yūko Miyamura voices Asuka in Japanese in all her animated appearances and merchandise. In English, Tiffany Grant voices her in the ADV Films dub, while Stephanie McKeon voices her in the Netflix dub.

Within the franchise, Asuka is designated as the Second Child and the pilot of a giant mecha named Evangelion Unit 02 to fight against enemies known as Angels for the special agency Nerv. Because of childhood trauma, she has developed a competitive and outgoing character to get noticed by other people and affirm her own self. In the Rebuild of Evangelion films, her Japanese surname is changed to Shikinami (式波) and she differs significantly in her background and characterization from her TV series incarnation.

Series creator and director Hideaki Anno originally proposed her as the main protagonist of the series. Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto asked Anno to include a male main character instead, downgrading her to the role of co-protagonist with Shinji Ikari. Anno based her psychology on his personality, bringing his moods into the character, acting instinctively and without having thought about how the character would evolve. During the first broadcast of the series, he changed his plans, creating an evolutionary parable in which Asuka becomes more dramatic and suffers, intentionally going against the expectations of the fans. The Japanese voice actress Miyamura was also influential, deciding some details and some of Asuka’s lines.

Asuka maintained a high ranking in every popularity poll of the series and has appeared in surveys to decide the most popular anime characters in Japan. Merchandising based on her has also been released, particularly action figures, which became highly popular. Some critics took issue with her hubris and her personality, judging these as tiresome and arrogant; others appreciated her realism and complex psychological introspection. Asuka is also one of the most successful and influential examples of the tsundere stereotype, characteristic of grumpy and arrogant characters with a fragile hidden side, helping to define its characteristics.

Conception[edit]

Sketches of designs for Asuka contained in the original proposal to Gainax

In the early design stages of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, creator and director Hideaki Anno proposed including a girl similar to Asuka as the protagonist.[6] Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto proved reluctant to accept the idea of a female character in the lead role after Gainax’s previous works like Gunbuster and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water; he said: «A robot should be piloted by a trained person, whether it is a woman or not makes no difference, but I cannot understand why a girl should pilot a robot».[7] He thus asked the director to use a boy in the role of main character, downgrading Asuka to the role of female co-protagonist. He modeled the relationship between her and the male protagonist Shinji Ikari taking inspiration from Nadia and Jean from The Secret of Blue Water. Asuka should have represented «[Shinji’s] desire for the female sex», as opposed to Rei Ayanami’s «motherhood»,[8] and should have been the idol of Neon Genesis Evangelion.[7] Anno also thought of her as Nadia La Arwal from The Secret of Blue Water with a different hairstyle.[9] In the initial project, she was described as «a determined girl» who adapts to the situation in which she finds herself, passionate about video games and «aspires to become like Ryoji Kaji».[10] In the nineteenth episode, she would have had to be seriously injured in her attempt to protect Shinji, who would have thus «proved his worth» trying to save her.[11][12]

For the character’s name, Anno took inspiration from Asuka Saki (砂姫 明日香, Saki Asuka), the protagonist of the manga Super Girl Asuka (超少女明日香, Chō Shōjo Asuka), written by Shinji Wada; for the surname, he merged the names of two ships used in the Second World War, the Japanese World War II aircraft carrier Soryu and the American aircraft carrier Langley.[13][14] Despite her multi-ethnic origins, the staff made Asuka’s skin the same color as that of Rei Ayanami.[15] For the German language terms used in the scenes with Asuka, staff asked for help from an American employee of Gainax, Michael House, who exploited his basic knowledge of the language, acquired in high school, and a Japanese-German dictionary from a local library.[16] According to Anime News Network’s May Callum, Gainax did not pay attention to the dialogue’s German grammar, believing the series would never be successful enough to be watched by native German speakers.[17] For Asuka’s psychology, Anno relied on his personality, as with the other characters in the series.[18][19] Staff originally inserted her after the first six episodes to lighten the tones of the series. She was presented with an exhilarating personality without foreshadowing her eventual depressing moments in the latter half. Anno said that he didn’t intend to go «that far» at first and that he didn’t completely grasp the character of Asuka until he made her «Are you stupid?» (あんたバカ?, Anta baka?) catchphrase, with which the character was definitively born.[20]

During the series’s first airing, the director began to criticize otaku, Japanese obsessed animation fans, accusing them of being excessively closed and introverted; therefore, he changed the atmosphere of the second half of the series, making the plot darker, violent, and introspective. Asuka’s story reflected the changes: although she had been introduced in an essentially positive role, her character became increasingly dramatic and introverted, going against the expectations and the pleasure principle of anime fans.[21][22] In the twenty-second episode, Anno focused on Asuka’s emotional situation, harassed by her first menstrual cycle, but not considering himself capable of exploring such a feminine theme, he condensed everything into a single scene.[23] Miyamura’s interpretation was also important.[20] During the production of the last episodes he inserted scenes in which he represented Asuka with simple hand-drawn sketches, remaining satisfied with the result, saying: «After having drawn Asuka with a marker, as soon as Yuko Miyamura gave it her voice, it was more Asuka than ever».[24] Furthermore, the author’s original intent was to insert a long live action segment for the film The End of Evangelion (1997) centered on the character.[25] The original segment focused on a normal day of Asuka, who would wake up in an apartment after drinking and spend the night with Tōji Suzuhara, with whom she would embark on a sexual and sentimental relationship. Misato Katsuragi would have been the roommate in the apartment next to her; Rei Ayanami would have been her colleague and her senpai. In the alternate universe of live action, Shinji would never have existed; walking the streets of Tokyo-2, however, Asuka would hear his voice calling her.[26][27]

Voice[edit]

Neon Genesis Evangelion[edit]

Yuko Miyamura at the 2017 Saboten Con.

«Just to let you know, Asuka wasn’t the most open-hearted character I’ve met. When I act Asuka’s part, I try to synchronize myself with her 400%. But every time I tried to draw myself in closer synchronization, Asuka would never allow herself to synch with me. Even in the end, she would never step across the line and draw closer to me. One day, I figured out that there was a wall in Asuka’s heart.»

Yūko Miyamura voices Asuka’s character in all her appearances in the original series, and the later films, spin-offs, video games,[29][30] and the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. The only exception is an introspective scene from the twenty-second episode, when other female members of the cast replace the character’s voice during a metaphysical sequence.[31] She had originally auditioned for the role of Rei,[32] but staff felt her voice was too energetic, so she was offered Asuka instead.[33] According to Miyamura, Asuka’s dubbing proved difficult. She said she wished to «erase Evangelion» and forget her experience with it.[34] Towards the end of the first broadcast, Miyamura suffered from bulimia and found herself in a disastrous psychic state, similar to that of Asuka’s character.[35] After the release of the movie The End of Evangelion (1997) she said, «I think I had a kamikaze feeling during the voice-over».[36] The voice actress identified herself so much with the character she took a conversation course in German, decided some of the character’s lines, and Asuka’s details, such as the cloth puppet in the shape of a monkey featured in her childhood flashbacks.[37][38] One of her ideas was the German sentences Asuka utters in the twenty-second episode of the series in a telephone conversation with her stepmother.[39]

When dubbing the last scene of The End of Evangelion, in which Shinji strangles Asuka, Shinji’s voice actress Megumi Ogata physically imitated his gesture and strangled her colleague. Because of her agitation, Ogata squeezed her neck too hard, risking having her not properly recite the rest of the film’s lines.[40] With Ogata’s gesture, Miyamura could finally produce realistic sounds of strangulation and thanked her colleague for her availability.[41] Anno based the scene on an incident that happened to one of his female friends. She was strangled by a malicious man, but when she was about to be killed, she stroked him for no reason. When the man stopped squeezing her neck, the woman regained a cold attitude,[42] speaking the words that Asuka would have said to Shinji in the original script: «I can’t stand the idea of being killed by someone like you» (あんたなんかに殺されるのは真っ平よ).[43][44] Dissatisfied with Miyamura’s interpretation, Anno asked her to imagine a stranger sneaking into her room, who could rape her at any time, but who prefers to masturbate by watching her sleep. The director asked her what she would say about this if she woke up suddenly, noticing what had happened. Miyamura, disgusted by the scene, replied saying «Kimochi warui« (気持ち 悪い, «How disgusting» or «I feel sick»). After the conversation, Anno changed the line by echoing the voice actress’s reaction.[45]

Rebuild of Evangelion saga[edit]

Further difficulties arose during the dubbing sessions for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), the third installment of the Rebuild saga, set fourteen years after the previous movies. According to Miyamura, the scenario gave her «very confused feelings» and «a constant feeling of light-headedness». Hideaki Anno did not explain the plot and setting of the film to her, complicating her work.[46] At the beginning, however, she didn’t want to go back to dubbing the Rebuild and she was scared, given the suffering caused by The End of Evangelion.[47] Even after finishing the final film of the saga, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), Miyamura stated: «I felt like a mother to Asuka at times. I cannot watch End of Evangelion even now because it’s too painful.»[33] Recording for Thrice Upon a Time was less stressful, but also taxing due to the many delays and revisions in production.[48] At the end of the recording, Anno thanked her for playing the role of Asuka for twenty-five years; Miyamura furthermore noted Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki orientated her far more than before.[48]

During the recording of the feature film, she had to dub a scene in which Asuka screams in pain as she pulls an anti-Angel seal from her eye. When she recorded, the drawings for the sequence had not yet been completed, so she imagined the scenes involved, listening to the director’s explanations and trying to do her best to feel the required sensations. Screaming, she tried to use all her imagination and pretended to stab herself, as if flesh were being torn from her. The support of Megumi Ogata, Shinji’s voice actress who was already used to screaming in other Evangelion scenes, also helped her in the process.[48] The last thing asked of her was to write the character’s full name in cursive herself to be used in the film. She had lived in Australia for the past two decades, but was still unsure of how to write «Langley».[49] Miyamura also played Soryu and Shikinami as two different people,[50] but both with a strong desire to be better.[47][51] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, her sessions were already finished; later, some points were resumed and re-recorded, so there was no precise prediction as to when the work would be finished.[52] She still had difficulties in understanding the story, and had taken the habit of reading fan-made analysis.[53][54]

English dub[edit]

Asuka is voiced by Tiffany Grant in English in the ADV films dub, and Stephanie McKeon in the Netflix dub.[55] Grant felt playing Asuka was «refreshing», as «she says the most horrible things to people, things that you’d like to say to people and can’t get away with».[56] Grant says she greatly identified with the character, to the point of Asuka becoming a part of her: «She’s kinda like my kid sister, which is why I feel the need to stick up for her».[57] Grant met Miyamura in conventions in the early 2000s and, discussing their experiences portraying Asuka, Miyamura rekindled their shared love and concern for the character’s happiness.[58]

Appearances[edit]

Neon Genesis Evangelion[edit]

Asuka Langley Soryu was born on December 4, 2001.[59] She is the daughter of Dr. Soryu Kyoko Zeppelin, an employee of a research center named Gehirn. She has German and Japanese blood and US citizenship.[1] In 2005[60] her mother participates in a contact experiment with Unit 02, but, because of an accident, she suffers a severe mental breakdown, becoming permanently hospitalized. These injuries render her unable to recognize her child. Asuka is deeply hurt by her mother’s behavior, who speaks to a doll believing it to be her daughter. After some time, Asuka is chosen as the Second Child and Eva-02’s official pilot.[61][62] Hoping that her selection could lead her mother to pay attention to her again, she excitedly runs to her room to announce the news, finding her mother’s corpse hanging from the ceiling.[60] Shocked and traumatized by her mother’s suicide, Asuka adopts self-affirmation as the only reason to be, participating in training sessions to become a pilot and meet other people’s expectations.[63]

Her custody is assigned to Ryoji Kaji, towards whom she is infatuated. At fourteen, after graduating from a German university, Asuka leaves there, accompanied by Kaji and Unit 02, on board a United Nations aircraft carrier escorted by numerous warships to protect the Eva. During the trip, she meets Shinji Ikari, Third Child and pilot of Unit 01, and her new classmates Tōji and Kensuke. The United Nations fleet is then attacked by Gaghiel, the sixth Angel.[64] Recognizing this event as a good chance to demonstrate her skills, Asuka independently activates her Eva, coercing Shinji into joining her in the cockpit.[65] Despite struggling to work together, and the Eva not yet being equipped to operate underwater, the two children destroy the enemy. She is later placed in class 2-A of Tokyo-3 first municipal middle school,[66] living with Shinji under Misato Katsuragi’s care.[67][68] She teases Shinji continuously about his passivity and perceived lack of manliness, but gradually comes to respect and like him as they fight Angels together. She is rarely able to express these feelings. However, following a series of Angel battles where Shinji outperforms her, she grows increasingly unable to continue to suppress her traumatized psyche, drastically lowering her pilot skills.[69][70] This comes to a head when the Angel Arael attacks; Asuka, burdened by her continually worsening performance in tests, tries to attack the Angel alone, but is overwhelmed by the Angel’s attack, a beam that penetrates her mental barrier and forces her to relive her darkest memories.[71] In the battle with the next Angel, Armisael, she cannot activate the Evangelion.[72] As a result of this, Asuka loses all will to live, runs away and goes to the home of her friend Hikari Horaki,[73][74] spending time aimlessly roaming the streets of Tokyo-3. She is eventually found by Nerv personnel, naked and starving in the bathtub of a ruined building. The main series ends with her lying in a hospital bed in a catatonic state.[75][76]

The End of Evangelion[edit]

In the movie The End of Evangelion (1997), as the Japanese Strategic Self-Defense Force invades Nerv headquarters, Asuka is placed inside Unit 02, which is then submerged in a lake for her protection. As she is bombarded by depth charges, Asuka wakes up, declares she does not want to die, and, in a moment of clarity, feels her mother within the Eva.[77] Her self-identity regained, she emerges and defeats the Self-Defence Force, before encountering nine mechas named Mass-Production Evas.[78] Though she successfully disables all nine opponents, Eva-02’s power runs out; the power of the mass-produced Evas allows them to eviscerate and dismember Unit 02.[79] Seeing Asuka’s destroyed Evangelion makes Shinji go into a frenzy, which eventually culminates in him starting a catastrophic event named the Third Impact. Shinji and Asuka have an extended dream-like sequence inside Instrumentality, a process in which the soul of humanity merges into one collective consciousness. Shinji claims he wants to understand her, but she refuses. He is furious at her rejection and lashes out by choking her. At the end of the process, Shinji rejects Instrumentality, and she returns after him in a new world. In the film’s final scene, Shinji begins strangling Asuka, but stops when she caresses his face. Shinji breaks down crying and the film ends with Asuka disdainfully looking down on Shinji, saying simply, «How disgusting», before cutting to black.[80]

Rebuild of Evangelion[edit]

In the Rebuild of Evangelion saga, Asuka appears first in the second film, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009). Changes have been made to her character, such as her family name being changed from Sōryū (惣流) to Shikinami (式波),[81][82] continuing the Japanese maritime vessel naming convention. The name change resulted from a precise choice by Hideaki Anno, who said he had changed the background of the character.[83] Asuka Shikinami Langley, compared to her original counterpart, seems more open and vulnerable. Near the end of the film, for example, she confides in someone for the first time talking genuinely about her feelings with Misato.[84] She does not feel infatuated with Ryōji Kaji and maintains a more affectionate and peaceful relationship with Shinji.[85] Although she publicly rejects others, she becomes possessive of Shinji, feeling jealous for him and taking an interest in his feelings.[86][87] During the production phase, screenwriter Yōji Enokido has added a night scene in which Asuka, feeling alone, enters her colleague’s room without permission, sleeping next to him.[88] In the course of events, she also plays video games and tries to cook something for Shinji.[89] She is a captain of the European Air Force, faces the seventh Angel with her Eva-02, and is designated pilot of the Eva-03,[90] whereas in the original series this Eva was piloted by Tōji Suzuhara. Unit 03 is later contaminated by a parasitic-type Angel, Bardiel, and collides with Eva-01; Asuka survives, but is last seen in urgent care.[91]

In Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), the saga’s third instalment, Asuka is initially part of the rescue operation for Eva-01, which is stranded in space, working together with Mari for an organization named Wille, which is dedicated to destroying Nerv. Convinced by Mari, she dons her old plugsuit in an attempt to get Shinji to recognize them.[b] After fighting off an initial attack by Nerv, Asuka confronts Shinji in his holding cell and tells him fourteen years have passed. Asuka is biologically twenty-eight years old, but has not physically aged due to what she calls the «curse of Eva»; she also wears an eyepatch that glows blue. Asuka, again supported by Mari, confronts Shinji and his co-pilot Kaworu Nagisa and eventually self-destructs her Eva during the fight. After the fight, she grabs Shinji’s wrist, and they move along the ruins of Tokyo-3, followed by Rei Ayanami.[92]

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0[edit]

In the final film, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Asuka guides Shinji and Rei before being picked up by Kensuke Aida. She lives in a place named Village-3 in Kensuke’s house. She feels she is no longer human as a result of the changes to her body and lack of aging, growing indifferent to her well-being. In the course of the feature film she goes to check on Shinji’s distraught and almost catatonic state in silence; Miyamura described hers as the attitude of a mother «who quietly leaves food in front of her son’s room to see how he is doing when he is locked up in his room».[93] Shikinami eventually forces Shinji, completely helpless and no longer wanting to continue living, to eat by forcibly stuffing food into his mouth.[93] When Will’s ship AAA Wunder arrives to pick-up Asuka, Shinji insists on going with her. During the final battle in Antarctica Asuka is forced to take off her eyepatch, releasing the ninth Angel contained within. She converts Eva-02 to a new form, but is absorbed by Eva-13. Inside, Asuka meets the original member of the Shikinami clone series she’s a part of. Asuka is shown to have fought the other clones as a child before being selected as a pilot. Lamenting not having anyone to take care of her, Kensuke appears, dressed as her stuffed doll, and reassures her. Asuka is then present in an adult body, and Shinji thanks her for saying she liked him, and tells her he liked her as well, before him and Mari bid her farewell. In the final scene of the film, she is last seen on a train platform in a rebuilt world.[52][94]

During 3.0+1.0, Asuka confesses her feelings to Shinji by saying that she liked him; for Miyamura, the sentence would not imply that her love is over or that she now loves someone else, «but that she genuinely wanted to tell him that».[93] The actress also emphasized during the interviews that she did not interpret Kensuke and Asuka’s relationship as romantic,[47] as Shikinami is still physically fourteen years old;[51] according to her, Kensuke would only be a sort of parental reference figure, and even Anno said that the character’s last scene in Thrice Upon A Time is related to the image of Kensuke as a father figure for Shikinami.[51] According to her, «Kensuke is a warmth for those who are lonely or want to feel safe».[93] During production, a scene in which Kensuke shoots Asuka with a camera was thought to be a love scene; however, the voice actress also interpreted this love as paternal.[93] Tetsuya Iwanaga, Japanese interpreter of Kensuke, described his character as «a friend she’s never quite been able to get rid of ever since middle school». In an interview, Iwanaga stated that he interpreted the scene in which Kensuke is seen disguised as Asuka’s rag doll as a representation of him becoming «the prop that rescued Asuka».[95] Miyamura also voiced a scene in which Asuka says «baka Shinji?» as a «love letter» to everyone who supported the couple.[48][93]

In other media[edit]

Drawing of Asuka on the cover of the fourth volume of the manga

In the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, illustrated and written by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Asuka has a more immature character than her animated counterpart and her story is different; despite having a similar, familiar past, in the manga she was conceived through artificial fertilization,[8] as the result of an experiment in eugenics.[96] In her first actual battle against Gaghiel, whom she confronts alongside Shinji in the same Evangelion unit in the classic series, she fights alone, while Shinji later watches the recorded fight on a projector.[97] In the next battle, Asuka and Shinji fight, as in the classic series, against Angel Israfel together; Sadamoto conceived their dance training as akin to a «kiss», underlining their psychological connection.[8] Kotaku also noticed how much of their relationship is «absent», while she remains fixated on Kaji.[98] In the comic her fellow pilot Kaworu Nagisa is also introduced before and interacts with her, immediately arousing her antipathy.[99] Further differences are presented in the last chapters of the manga, corresponding to the events of the movie The End of Evangelion. In the feature film, the Eva-02 is dismembered by the Eva Series before Shinji’s arrival, while in the comic the Third Child intervenes in battle in her defense.[100] In the final chapter of the comic, following the failure of Instrumentality, Shinji lives in a world where it snows again in Japan and where people do not seem to have any memory of recent events. The Third Child, traveling on a train to his new school, meets a girl similar to Asuka.[101] According to Sadamoto, the Asuka-like girl is not concretely Asuka, but the symbol «of an attractive woman that Shinji can meet in the new world».[102]

In a scene from the last episode of the animated series, an alternate reality is presented with a completely different story than in the previous installments, where Asuka is a normal middle school student and a childhood friend of Shinji Ikari, the Evangelion units never existed, and Asuka did not experience any childhood trauma regarding her mother Kyōko.[103] A similar version of events can be found in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days,[104][105] and the parody series Petit Eva: Evangelion@School,[106][107] where she behaves like a sister towards Shinji.[108] In Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse, Asuka is a foreign exchange student, and uses a whip in battle.[109] She is also present in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students.[110] The simulation game Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project includes an expansion in its PlayStation 2 version that allows the player to take on the role of Asuka’s guardian instead of Rei’s. She is also available as a romantic option in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd,[111][112] Neon Genesis Evangelion 2,[113] Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project[114][115][116] and its manga adaptation.[117] In Neon Genesis Evangelion: Anima, Asuka is older, more stable and mature, having developed a strong friendship with Shinji and even Rei. Asuka also merges with her Eva unit turning into a hybrid named Crimson A1.[118]

She also appears in the crossover Transformers x Evangelion, in the video games based on the original animated series and media not related to the Evangelion franchise, including Honkai Impact 3rd,[119] Monster Strike,[120] Super Robot Wars,[121] Tales of Zestiria,[122] Puzzle & Dragons,[123] Keri hime sweets, Summons Board,[124][125] Puyopuyo!! Quest[126] and in an official Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion cross-over episode.[127] In the Super Robot Wars franchise, she butts heads with Kouji Kabuto, the pilot of Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser. It is also implied that she developed crushes on famous heroes such as Char Aznable and Amuro Ray, but proves jealous of Shinji, who crushes for Lynn Minmay of the Macross franchise.[128]

Characterization and themes[edit]

At first glance obviously she comes across rather brash and pushy and loud, and I understand that, but the more you get to know her the more you come across her motivations behind this, and you always have to keep in mind that she’s still only fourteen, so no matter how terribly educated or clever she might be she’s only a fourteen-year-old girl. So I think in the end her heart is in the right place but she has a hard time communicating that with her emotions and everything, how she really feels. I mean, she wants to have friends and she wants to be liked.
–Tiffany Grant[129]

Asuka is an energetic,[130] proud[131][132] and enterprising[133] girl with a brave and resolute character.[134][135] She tends to look down on other people[136] and wants to be constantly at the center of attention.[137][138] Although she normally shows a stubborn and exuberant attitude, in some moments she exhibits a kinder, more sensitive and caring side.[139] Her abrupt and impulsive ways often arouse other people’s antipathy, since they do not fully understand her real intentions.[140][141] Unlike fellow pilots Shinji and Rei, she is extremely proud to be a pilot and engages in missions with great enthusiasm,[142] but despite her apparently strong, aggressive and competitive character, Asuka suffers from the same sense of alienation as her companions.[143] She suffers from a masculine protest,[144] a psychological expression that indicates exaggeratedly masculine tendencies in tired and rebellious women who protest against traditional female gender roles. She sees her male peers merely as rivals and spectators of her abilities,[145] and suffers from a marked emotional complex for the male sex, merging a so-called «radical rivalry» and a latent inferiority complex. Her masculine protest is reflected in her strong misandric tendencies, since she is dominated by the need to beat male peers with an obsessive self-affirmation desire.[146] Despite this, she also has a sense of admiration for her guardian and senpai, Ryōji Kaji.[147] Asuka is emotionally dependent on him, since she has a strong unconscious desire to find a reference figure to rely on.[148] Asuka’s infatuation also leads her to feel great jealousy for him and she eventually tries to seduce him.[149][150] Newtype magazine noted how she sometimes beats boys[151] while being kind to Kaji.[152]

Asuka’s excessive pride prevents her from admitting—even to herself—that she feels something for male protagonist Shinji,[153][154] and as events and battles unfold, her feelings of love and hate intensify and dominate her.[155][156] She kisses Shinji in the fifteenth episode,[c][157] but when he beats her in pilot tests, she develops an inferiority complex towards him.[158] This leads her to attack Shinji’s virility continuously,[159] directing both interest and open hostility towards him.[160][161] Because of their intimate fragility and insecurities, Shinji and Asuka are unable to communicate effectively with one another on an emotional level, despite their mutual latent interest.[162][163] According to Newtype magazine, Shinji has feelings for her, while Asuka openly states her feeling of being frustrated with wanting him as her partner, so «her feelings for him as a man are less than they appear to be».[164] According to critic Susan J. Napier, they might be expected to develop a romantic attraction for each other, but their sexual tension is subsumed under Asuka’s intense competitiveness;[165] Napier also noted that Shinji feels fear and attraction towards the maternal figures of the women around him, such as Rei or Misato, but only Asuka «is allowed to seem explicitly sexual».[166] In one scene from The End of Evangelion movie, Asuka is seen on a bed while she speaks with an angry expression, interpreted by writers Kazuhisa Fujie and Martin Foster as a representation of Shinji’s libido.[167] Asuka is framed while she has sexual intercourse with her partner, in a position described by an official artbook as «of the cowgirl».[168] According to an official card game, moreover, neither Yui, nor Rei and nor Misato could be a woman for Shinji, while Asuka, the only girl equal to him, becomes the center of his desire, using her as an object to console himself and ending up hurting her.[169] Despite this, in the last scene Shinji meets Asuka in the new world after the failure of Instrumentality, just as he had wished.[170] Asuka’s relationship with Rei Ayanami is also conflictual. She despises Rei, calling her «Miss Perfect» (優等生, yūtōsei, literally «honor student») and «mechanical puppet girl».[171][172] In a scene from the twenty-second episode, Rei and Asuka are left alone in an elevator; Rei states she is ready to die for Commander Gendō Ikari, provoking Asuka’s anger, who slaps her and says she has hated her from the moment they met.[173] Shortly thereafter, Rei helps her during the fight against Arael, an act that destroys her already wounded pride.[174]

Asuka has been associated with Ama-no-Uzume, a Shinto deity linked to dance and sensuality, as well as to the red color, typical of the lining of some kimono.

Her ostentatious competitiveness originates from her childhood experiences, marked by the mental illness and the suicide of her mother Kyōko.[175][176] Asuka faced her loss by immersing herself in pride, becoming indisposed to any kind of help or advice and adopting strength and self-affirmation as her only raison d’être.[177][178] Tormented «by the fear of not being necessary»,[179] she pilots Unit-02 only to satisfy her intimate desire for acceptance, longing to be considered «an elite pilot who will protect humanity».[180] She also wants to be recognized by others through her role as a pilot[181] and has been described as a perfectionist.[182][183] Her excessive self-confidence leads her to clash with Shinji,[184][185] gradually losing self-confidence[186][187] and becoming psychologically and physically compromised.[188][189] The Fourth Child’s selection, Tōji Suzuhara, also contributes to the destruction of her pride.[190][191] After she learns of Kaji’s death,[192] she questions the meaning of her life and her identity,[193] avoiding any kind of human contact and never meeting the gaze of other people.[194] Overwhelmed by the fear of being alone,[195][196] the young woman shows that she has a great and morbid need for the Eva, even more than her colleague Shinji has. In a scene from the twenty-fifth episode, she excoriates the Evangelion unit as a «worthless piece of junk», but immediately admits «I’m the junk».[197] In the director’s cut version of the twenty-second episode, two scenes set in the ninth and fifteenth episodes were added, in which Asuka appears frustrated in front of the sliding door of her room and after the kiss with Shinji; from Asuka’s dialogue that overlaps these scenes, it becomes clear that she has been looking for help and love from Shinji.[31] Her self-love represents an act of psychological compensation to be recognized in the eyes of other people. After her mother’s mental illness, she represses her sadness and eventually decides to not cry anymore and to behave like an adult with a reaction formation.[198] Her memories related to her past and her mother are repressed and removed from her consciousness during this phase.[199] In the last episodes, Asuka completely loses her self-confidence. She develops a deep disgust with herself and suffers from separation anxiety.[200][201] The caption «attachment behavior» (愛着行動) also appears in the same episodes. The word attachment in psychology can also refer to the emotional bond that is established between the mother and her child; while Asuka’s behavior is that of «attachment», Rei’s is made up of «bonds».[202]

Miyamura noted that Asuka was not called tsundere at the time, but agreed to the definition of her having to hide her feelings in 2007.[203] Furthermore, for Japanese philosopher and cultural critic Hiroki Azuma, she is the «symbol of the outside» in the world of Evangelion, taking Shinji away from his comfort zone in the «Nerv family»; in contrast to Rei, who’d play an «imaginary healing» role, Asuka would be an independent person in reality.[204] Critics also noted that Asuka is iconographically and psychologically opposed to Rei. Rei has blue hair and red eyes and is often associated with the Moon, while Asuka has red hair and blue eyes and is presented in the eighth episode, «Asuka Strikes!», silhouetted by the Sun.[205] Rei is also related to white; the writer Claudio Cordella noted how white is associated in Japanese culture with sanctity, light, eternity, while red is the color of sterile sexuality, traditionally chosen by unmarried girls or geisha for their kimono.[206] Japanese psychiatrist Kōji Mizobe linked Asuka’s red to menstruation, Rei’s white to altruism, attributing Asuka’s unstable behavior to a narcissistic or histrionic personality disorder.[207] Writer Dennis Redmond instead noted that Shinji’s Eva-01 is purple, halfway between Rei’s blue Eva-00 and Asuka’s 02,[208] describing Rei as a symbol of an empty and «lyric neonational interiority», while Asuka as a mirror of a pragmatic and «outrageous multinational exteriority».[209] According to the Polygon, the two girls are two shades of the same spectrum of the feminine, neither of which good or bad in themselves, which Shinji must recognize as autonomous individuals by overcoming the Madonna-whore complex, the inability of some men to see women in their individual nuances, perceiving them dichotomously either as angelic beings or maleficent entities.[210]

Rei has been compared to the Superego, Shinji to the Ego and Asuka to the Id,[211] the three intrapsychic instances proposed by Sigmund Freud’s second topic, since the Id is the instinctual part of a human being. The three Children have also been compared to the three stages of the human soul postulated by the Jewish Kabbalah: Asuka to Nephesh, source of animal vitality, Shinji to Ru’ah, the soul, fruit of the raising of man from his purely biological aspect, and Rei to Neshamah, the spirit, fruit of the connection between man and God.[212] Others critics have linked Asuka to Ama-no-Uzume, a Shinto female deity associated with dance and sensuality.[213][214] Hiroki Azuma also described Asuka and the other characters in the series as «stereotypical characters», with no particular individual or aesthetic characteristics; Asuka, in particular, has been described as a «typical sci-fi anime character».[21] According to Azuma, however, with these stereotypical characters Anno would have been able to describe the 1990s.[21] Mizobe described her and Shinji as «communicationally disabled», a feature that allowed contemporary Japanese youth to identify with them even twenty-six years after the original series’s airing.[215] Moreover, for the critic Manabu Tsuribe in The End of Evangelion she represents for Shinji the Other, another person separated from himself with whom he can never become one. For Tsuribe, the film concludes when Shinji recognizes Asuka as a separate entity.[216] The Anime Café’s Japanese critic Akio Nagatomi, noting how other characters in Evangelion bear similarities with others in a previous work by Gainax and Anno, Gunbuster, described Asuka as a counterpart to Jung Freud.[217] Engineer Yumiko Yano also compared Asuka’s dull gaze in the final episodes, locked up in a hospital room after a psychic and emotional breakdown, to the dolls of artist Katan Amano.[218]

Cultural impact[edit]

Popularity[edit]

If you’re an anime fan, you’ve definitely heard of Asuka, even if you haven’t watched Evangelion. She’s ranked high in popularity polls for a reason, and it’s easy to see why. As one of the more dynamic characters in the show, she commands every scene that she’s in … I first saw this series as a teenager myself, and seeing Asuka at her highs and her lows felt extremely validating. There’s a lot of truth to be told in the problems that she has …. The story never forces her to become a cleaner version of herself, but lets her have struggles in a way that not many series would allow. She isn’t perfect, far from it, and there’s a lot of strength to be found in that.
–Noelle Ogawa (Crunchyroll)[219]

Website Otaku Kart described Asuka as «one of the most popular female characters in anime history».[220] She appeared in polls on best anime pilots[221][222] and female anime characters,[223][224][225] proving popular among both female and male audiences.[226][227] In 1996 she ranked third among the «most popular female characters of the moment» in the Anime Grand Prix survey by Animage magazine, behind Rei Ayanami and Hikaru Shido from Magic Knight Rayearth.[228] In 1997 and 1998 Anime Grand Prixes, she remained among the top ten female characters; in 1997 she ranked in fourth place, while in 1998 she ranked sixth.[229][230] Asuka also appeared in the magazine’s monthly surveys, remaining in the top twenty in 1996,[231] 1997[232][233][234] and 1998 polls.[235][236][237] In 1999, Animage ranked her fortieth among the one hundred most popular anime characters.[238]

Her popularity increased after the release of the second Rebuild of Evangelion movie; in August and September 2009 she emerged in first place and remained the most popular female Neon Genesis Evangelion character in Newtype magazine popularity charts,[239][240] while in October she ranked tenth.[241] In a Newtype poll in March 2010, she was voted the third most popular female anime character from the 1990s, immediately after Rei Ayanami and Usagi Tsukino from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.[242] In February 2015, almost twenty years after the show first aired, she emerged again on the magazine’s charts in sixth place.[243] In 2017, she also ranked sixteenth among the characters Anime! Anime! site readers would «rather die than marry».[244] Her line «Are you stupid?» (あんたバカ?, Anta baka?) also became widely used among hardcore fans after her first appearance in the eighth episode.[245] In 2021, after the release of the final Rebuild film, Asuka ranked most popular female character in another Newtype poll.[246]

Critical reception[edit]

A fan cosplaying as Asuka

A fan cosplaying as Asuka in 2016

Asuka divided anime critics, receiving an ambivalent response. Negative reviews criticized her arrogant, surly and authoritarian character.[247][248][249] While appreciating her for providing «a good dose of comic relief» to Evangelion, Anime Critic Pete Harcoff described her as «an annoying snot».[250] Raphael See from T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, who found Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s characterization «a little cliché, or just plain irritating at times», despised Asuka for her arrogant attitude.[251] Anime Reign writer Matthew Perez described her as initially «overly stuck up», but he also appreciated her evolution.[252] By contrast, IGN critic Ramsey Isler ranked her as the thirteenth greatest anime character of all time for the realism of her characterization, saying: «She’s a tragic character, and a complete train wreck, but that is what makes her so compelling because we just can’t help but watch this beautiful disaster unfold.»[253] Comic Book Resources included her among the best anime female pilots,[254] describing her as «the best classic tsundere in shounen anime» and «one of the most fascinating characters in anime».[255][256]

Screen Rant ranked her among the best Neon Genesis Evangelion characters, praising her development.[257][258] According to critic Jay Telotte, Asuka is «the first credible multinational character» in the history of Japanese science fiction television.[259] Crunchyroll and Charapedia also praised her realism and personality.[219][260] Asuka’s fight sequence against the Mass-Production Evangelions in The End of Evangelion was particularly well-received by critics,[261][262] while Tiffany Grant was praised for her role as Asuka’s English voice actress by Mike Crandol of Anime News Network.[263]

Animation Insider reviewer Eric Surrell commented on Asuka’s role in Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), the second installment of the Rebuild saga, stating that «the arrival and sudden dismissal of Asuka was shocking and depressing, especially considering how integral she was to the original Evangelion«.[264] Slant Magazine‘s Simon Abrams, reviewing Evangelion: 2.0, responded negatively to Shinji and Asuka’s new relationship, «which is unfortunate because that bond should have the opportunity to grow in its own time».[265] LA Weekly‘s Brian Miller appreciated her debut, praising Shinji’s «downright charming» courtship.[266] The Fandom Post found the character neglected by Anno’s script, given the lesser space devoted to her and Mari’s introduction,[267] while Renan Fontes from Comic Book Resources judged Asuka Shikinami significantly less interesting than Langley.[268] UK Anime Network on the other hand found Rebuild‘s Asuka a more human and easier to empathize with character than the one of the classic series.[269] Website Otaku Revolution enjoyed the development and revelations about Asuka in Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, finding them «very fitting».[270] Geek Ireland praised the fact that the movie gives a sense of conclusion to Asuka, Shinji, and the other characters,[271] while Otaku Voice’s A. Dean Kelly wrote that: «Everything about Asuka from 3.33 finally begins to make sense in this moment».[272]

Legacy[edit]

Asuka’s character has been used for merchandising items such as life-size figures,[273] action figures,[274][275] guitars,[276] clothes,[277][278] and underwear, some of which sold out immediately.[279][280] Her action figures proved successful.[281] According to Japanese writer Kazuhisa Fujie, Evangelion-related household items with the image of Asuka or other female characters of the series have become so popular that they have been put back on the market with a second edition.[282] Movic has also released a cassette drama featuring her and Shinji as part of its Animate series featuring other popular works.[283] On February 27, 1997, Kadokawa Shoten published a book dedicated to her entitled Asuka — Evangelion Photograph (ＡＳＵＫＡ－アスカ－ 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン文庫写真集).[284] In 2008, Broccoli released a video game entitled Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku with Asuka Hokan Keikaku, in which the player takes on the task of looking after Asuka or Rei Ayanami.[285]

Japanese celebrities cosplayed her during concerts or tours, such as Haruka Shimazaki,[286] singer Hirona Murata[287] and Saki Inagaki.[288][289] Lai Pin-yu, a Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party and Legislative Yuan member, held election rallies cosplaying Asuka, gaining popularity.[290] Asuka’s character was parodied by Excel from Excel Saga[259] and some of her aesthetic and character traits inspired other female characters. Kotaku writer Richard Eisenbeins listed her as an example of the tsundere stereotype,[291] a term used to indicate grumpy, assertive and authoritarian characters that nonetheless possess a more gentle, empathetic and insecure side, hidden due to a stormy past or traumatic experiences. Anthony Gramuglia from Comic Book Resources identified her as one of the most popular and influential tsundere characters, comparing Asuna Yūki from Sword Art Online, Rin Tōsaka from Fate/stay night, Kyō Sōma from Fruits Basket and Taiga Aisaka from Toradora! to her.[292][293] Critics also compared Mai Shibamura from Gunparade March,[294] Michiru Kinushima from Plastic Memories[295] and D.Va from Overwatch game series to Asuka.[296] Japanese band L’Arc-en-Ciel took inspiration from the character for their song «Anata».[297] Further references have been identified in other Japanese animated series, including Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, Gurren Lagann, and Sword Art Online, in which a scene of her and Rei in an elevator from the twenty-second episode is parodied.[298]

See also[edit]

  • List of Neon Genesis Evangelion characters

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Her surname is romanized as Soryu in the English manga and Sohryu in the English version of the TV series, the English version of the film, and on Gainax’s website.
  2. ^ As depicted in the Evangelion: 3.0 (-120min.) prequel manga.
  3. ^ «Why does Asuka want to kiss Shinji? Even assuming she was spiteful of Kaji, one doesn’t understand the real underlying motive. After the kiss, Asuka states: «I did it just to kill time.» She yells, as if to make Shinji perceive it and to confirm it to herself, as if she wants to hide some embarrassment» (Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). Vol. 5. Kadokawa Shoten. pp. 44–45.).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b «惣流・アスカ・ラングレー». The End of Evangelion Theatrical Pamphlet (in Japanese). Gainax. 1997. She is one quarter German and Japanese, but her nationality is American
  2. ^ «Characters glossary in Gainax website». «Japanese: 日本と独国の血が入ったクォーターであり、国籍はアメリカ。 English: She is a Japanese-German blood quarter and her nationality is American.». Archived from the original on September 18, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side B (in French). Glénat Editions. 2010. p. 14. ISBN 978-2-7234-7121-3.
  4. ^ Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). Vol. 3. «Japanese: 国籍アメリカ合衆国 — English: Nationality: United States of America». Sony Magazines. p. 6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ «惣流・アスカ・ラングレー». Neon Genesis Evangelions The Master Guide 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン2ザ・マスターガイド (in Japanese). «Japanese: 日本人とドイツ人の血が入ったクォーターで、国籍はアメリカ。English: She is a quarter of Japanese and German blood, and her nationality is American». MediaWorks. 2003. ISBN 4-8402-2585-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^ Takekuma, Kentaro, ed. (March 1997). 庵野秀明パラノ・エヴァンゲリオン (in Japanese). Ōta Shuppan. pp. 134–135. ISBN 4-87233-316-0.
  7. ^ a b Interview with Yoshiyuki Sadamoto in Der Mond: The Art of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto — Deluxe Edition. Kadokawa Shoten. 1999. ISBN 4-04-853031-3.
  8. ^ a b c «Sadamoto Yoshiyuki Intabyū» 貞本義行インタビュー [Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Interview]. Newtype (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. December 1997. pp. 26–29.
  9. ^ Takekuma Kentaro, ed. (1997). 庵野秀明パラノ・エヴァンゲリオン (in Japanese). Ōta Shuppan. p. 99. ISBN 4-87233-316-0.
  10. ^ Evangelion Chronicle (in Japanese). Vol. 15. Sony Magazines. p. 27.
  11. ^ Neon Genesis Evangelion Theatrical VHS Box Booklet (in Japanese). King Amusement Creative. 1997.
  12. ^ Gainax (February 1998). Neon Genesis Evangelion Newtype 100% Collection (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. pp. 87–88. ISBN 4-04-852700-2.
  13. ^ Fujie, Kazuhisa; Foster, Martin (2004). Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide. United States: DH Publishing, Inc. p. 120. ISBN 0-9745961-4-0.
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Источник
Asuka Langley Soryu
Neon Genesis Evangelion character
Three forms of a red-haired female fictional character showing her child self (left), her with a red suit (middle), and her with a yellow dress (right)

Asuka with her Eva-02 (in the background) as a child (left), as a pilot (center) and in civilian clothes (right)
First appearance Neon Genesis Evangelion episode 8: «Asuka Strikes!» (1995)
Created by Gainax (collectively)
Voiced by Japanese:
Yūko Miyamura
English:
Tiffany Grant (ADV Films dub, Rebuild)
Stephanie McKeon (Netflix dub)
In-universe information
Full name Asuka Langley Soryu (Original)
Asuka Shikinami Langley (Rebuild)
Species Human
Gender Female
Title Second Child
Captain (Rebuild)
Relatives Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu (mother)
Ryoji Kaji (guardian)
Misato Katsuragi (guardian)
Nationality American[1][2][3][4][5]

Asuka Langley Soryu (惣流・アスカ・ラングレー, Sōryū Asuka Rangurē, IPA: [soːɾʲɯː asɯ̥ka ɾaŋɡɯɾeː])[a] is a fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by Gainax. She first appears in the original anime series, and also appears in the franchise’s animated feature films and related media, including video games, the Rebuild of Evangelion films, and the manga adaptation by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto. Yūko Miyamura voices Asuka in Japanese in all her animated appearances and merchandise. In English, Tiffany Grant voices her in the ADV Films dub, while Stephanie McKeon voices her in the Netflix dub.

Within the franchise, Asuka is designated as the Second Child and the pilot of a giant mecha named Evangelion Unit 02 to fight against enemies known as Angels for the special agency Nerv. Because of childhood trauma, she has developed a competitive and outgoing character to get noticed by other people and affirm her own self. In the Rebuild of Evangelion films, her Japanese surname is changed to Shikinami (式波) and she differs significantly in her background and characterization from her TV series incarnation.

Series creator and director Hideaki Anno originally proposed her as the main protagonist of the series. Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto asked Anno to include a male main character instead, downgrading her to the role of co-protagonist with Shinji Ikari. Anno based her psychology on his personality, bringing his moods into the character, acting instinctively and without having thought about how the character would evolve. During the first broadcast of the series, he changed his plans, creating an evolutionary parable in which Asuka becomes more dramatic and suffers, intentionally going against the expectations of the fans. The Japanese voice actress Miyamura was also influential, deciding some details and some of Asuka’s lines.

Asuka maintained a high ranking in every popularity poll of the series and has appeared in surveys to decide the most popular anime characters in Japan. Merchandising based on her has also been released, particularly action figures, which became highly popular. Some critics took issue with her hubris and her personality, judging these as tiresome and arrogant; others appreciated her realism and complex psychological introspection. Asuka is also one of the most successful and influential examples of the tsundere stereotype, characteristic of grumpy and arrogant characters with a fragile hidden side, helping to define its characteristics.

Conception[edit]

Sketches of designs for Asuka contained in the original proposal to Gainax

In the early design stages of the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime, creator and director Hideaki Anno proposed including a girl similar to Asuka as the protagonist.[6] Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto proved reluctant to accept the idea of a female character in the lead role after Gainax’s previous works like Gunbuster and Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water; he said: «A robot should be piloted by a trained person, whether it is a woman or not makes no difference, but I cannot understand why a girl should pilot a robot».[7] He thus asked the director to use a boy in the role of main character, downgrading Asuka to the role of female co-protagonist. He modeled the relationship between her and the male protagonist Shinji Ikari taking inspiration from Nadia and Jean from The Secret of Blue Water. Asuka should have represented «[Shinji’s] desire for the female sex», as opposed to Rei Ayanami’s «motherhood»,[8] and should have been the idol of Neon Genesis Evangelion.[7] Anno also thought of her as Nadia La Arwal from The Secret of Blue Water with a different hairstyle.[9] In the initial project, she was described as «a determined girl» who adapts to the situation in which she finds herself, passionate about video games and «aspires to become like Ryoji Kaji».[10] In the nineteenth episode, she would have had to be seriously injured in her attempt to protect Shinji, who would have thus «proved his worth» trying to save her.[11][12]

For the character’s name, Anno took inspiration from Asuka Saki (砂姫 明日香, Saki Asuka), the protagonist of the manga Super Girl Asuka (超少女明日香, Chō Shōjo Asuka), written by Shinji Wada; for the surname, he merged the names of two ships used in the Second World War, the Japanese World War II aircraft carrier Soryu and the American aircraft carrier Langley.[13][14] Despite her multi-ethnic origins, the staff made Asuka’s skin the same color as that of Rei Ayanami.[15] For the German language terms used in the scenes with Asuka, staff asked for help from an American employee of Gainax, Michael House, who exploited his basic knowledge of the language, acquired in high school, and a Japanese-German dictionary from a local library.[16] According to Anime News Network’s May Callum, Gainax did not pay attention to the dialogue’s German grammar, believing the series would never be successful enough to be watched by native German speakers.[17] For Asuka’s psychology, Anno relied on his personality, as with the other characters in the series.[18][19] Staff originally inserted her after the first six episodes to lighten the tones of the series. She was presented with an exhilarating personality without foreshadowing her eventual depressing moments in the latter half. Anno said that he didn’t intend to go «that far» at first and that he didn’t completely grasp the character of Asuka until he made her «Are you stupid?» (あんたバカ?, Anta baka?) catchphrase, with which the character was definitively born.[20]

During the series’s first airing, the director began to criticize otaku, Japanese obsessed animation fans, accusing them of being excessively closed and introverted; therefore, he changed the atmosphere of the second half of the series, making the plot darker, violent, and introspective. Asuka’s story reflected the changes: although she had been introduced in an essentially positive role, her character became increasingly dramatic and introverted, going against the expectations and the pleasure principle of anime fans.[21][22] In the twenty-second episode, Anno focused on Asuka’s emotional situation, harassed by her first menstrual cycle, but not considering himself capable of exploring such a feminine theme, he condensed everything into a single scene.[23] Miyamura’s interpretation was also important.[20] During the production of the last episodes he inserted scenes in which he represented Asuka with simple hand-drawn sketches, remaining satisfied with the result, saying: «After having drawn Asuka with a marker, as soon as Yuko Miyamura gave it her voice, it was more Asuka than ever».[24] Furthermore, the author’s original intent was to insert a long live action segment for the film The End of Evangelion (1997) centered on the character.[25] The original segment focused on a normal day of Asuka, who would wake up in an apartment after drinking and spend the night with Tōji Suzuhara, with whom she would embark on a sexual and sentimental relationship. Misato Katsuragi would have been the roommate in the apartment next to her; Rei Ayanami would have been her colleague and her senpai. In the alternate universe of live action, Shinji would never have existed; walking the streets of Tokyo-2, however, Asuka would hear his voice calling her.[26][27]

Voice[edit]

Neon Genesis Evangelion[edit]

Yuko Miyamura at the 2017 Saboten Con.

«Just to let you know, Asuka wasn’t the most open-hearted character I’ve met. When I act Asuka’s part, I try to synchronize myself with her 400%. But every time I tried to draw myself in closer synchronization, Asuka would never allow herself to synch with me. Even in the end, she would never step across the line and draw closer to me. One day, I figured out that there was a wall in Asuka’s heart.»

Yūko Miyamura voices Asuka’s character in all her appearances in the original series, and the later films, spin-offs, video games,[29][30] and the Rebuild of Evangelion film series. The only exception is an introspective scene from the twenty-second episode, when other female members of the cast replace the character’s voice during a metaphysical sequence.[31] She had originally auditioned for the role of Rei,[32] but staff felt her voice was too energetic, so she was offered Asuka instead.[33] According to Miyamura, Asuka’s dubbing proved difficult. She said she wished to «erase Evangelion» and forget her experience with it.[34] Towards the end of the first broadcast, Miyamura suffered from bulimia and found herself in a disastrous psychic state, similar to that of Asuka’s character.[35] After the release of the movie The End of Evangelion (1997) she said, «I think I had a kamikaze feeling during the voice-over».[36] The voice actress identified herself so much with the character she took a conversation course in German, decided some of the character’s lines, and Asuka’s details, such as the cloth puppet in the shape of a monkey featured in her childhood flashbacks.[37][38] One of her ideas was the German sentences Asuka utters in the twenty-second episode of the series in a telephone conversation with her stepmother.[39]

When dubbing the last scene of The End of Evangelion, in which Shinji strangles Asuka, Shinji’s voice actress Megumi Ogata physically imitated his gesture and strangled her colleague. Because of her agitation, Ogata squeezed her neck too hard, risking having her not properly recite the rest of the film’s lines.[40] With Ogata’s gesture, Miyamura could finally produce realistic sounds of strangulation and thanked her colleague for her availability.[41] Anno based the scene on an incident that happened to one of his female friends. She was strangled by a malicious man, but when she was about to be killed, she stroked him for no reason. When the man stopped squeezing her neck, the woman regained a cold attitude,[42] speaking the words that Asuka would have said to Shinji in the original script: «I can’t stand the idea of being killed by someone like you» (あんたなんかに殺されるのは真っ平よ).[43][44] Dissatisfied with Miyamura’s interpretation, Anno asked her to imagine a stranger sneaking into her room, who could rape her at any time, but who prefers to masturbate by watching her sleep. The director asked her what she would say about this if she woke up suddenly, noticing what had happened. Miyamura, disgusted by the scene, replied saying «Kimochi warui« (気持ち 悪い, «How disgusting» or «I feel sick»). After the conversation, Anno changed the line by echoing the voice actress’s reaction.[45]

Rebuild of Evangelion saga[edit]

Further difficulties arose during the dubbing sessions for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), the third installment of the Rebuild saga, set fourteen years after the previous movies. According to Miyamura, the scenario gave her «very confused feelings» and «a constant feeling of light-headedness». Hideaki Anno did not explain the plot and setting of the film to her, complicating her work.[46] At the beginning, however, she didn’t want to go back to dubbing the Rebuild and she was scared, given the suffering caused by The End of Evangelion.[47] Even after finishing the final film of the saga, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), Miyamura stated: «I felt like a mother to Asuka at times. I cannot watch End of Evangelion even now because it’s too painful.»[33] Recording for Thrice Upon a Time was less stressful, but also taxing due to the many delays and revisions in production.[48] At the end of the recording, Anno thanked her for playing the role of Asuka for twenty-five years; Miyamura furthermore noted Anno and Kazuya Tsurumaki orientated her far more than before.[48]

During the recording of the feature film, she had to dub a scene in which Asuka screams in pain as she pulls an anti-Angel seal from her eye. When she recorded, the drawings for the sequence had not yet been completed, so she imagined the scenes involved, listening to the director’s explanations and trying to do her best to feel the required sensations. Screaming, she tried to use all her imagination and pretended to stab herself, as if flesh were being torn from her. The support of Megumi Ogata, Shinji’s voice actress who was already used to screaming in other Evangelion scenes, also helped her in the process.[48] The last thing asked of her was to write the character’s full name in cursive herself to be used in the film. She had lived in Australia for the past two decades, but was still unsure of how to write «Langley».[49] Miyamura also played Soryu and Shikinami as two different people,[50] but both with a strong desire to be better.[47][51] Before the COVID-19 pandemic, her sessions were already finished; later, some points were resumed and re-recorded, so there was no precise prediction as to when the work would be finished.[52] She still had difficulties in understanding the story, and had taken the habit of reading fan-made analysis.[53][54]

English dub[edit]

Asuka is voiced by Tiffany Grant in English in the ADV films dub, and Stephanie McKeon in the Netflix dub.[55] Grant felt playing Asuka was «refreshing», as «she says the most horrible things to people, things that you’d like to say to people and can’t get away with».[56] Grant says she greatly identified with the character, to the point of Asuka becoming a part of her: «She’s kinda like my kid sister, which is why I feel the need to stick up for her».[57] Grant met Miyamura in conventions in the early 2000s and, discussing their experiences portraying Asuka, Miyamura rekindled their shared love and concern for the character’s happiness.[58]

Appearances[edit]

Neon Genesis Evangelion[edit]

Asuka Langley Soryu was born on December 4, 2001.[59] She is the daughter of Dr. Soryu Kyoko Zeppelin, an employee of a research center named Gehirn. She has German and Japanese blood and US citizenship.[1] In 2005[60] her mother participates in a contact experiment with Unit 02, but, because of an accident, she suffers a severe mental breakdown, becoming permanently hospitalized. These injuries render her unable to recognize her child. Asuka is deeply hurt by her mother’s behavior, who speaks to a doll believing it to be her daughter. After some time, Asuka is chosen as the Second Child and Eva-02’s official pilot.[61][62] Hoping that her selection could lead her mother to pay attention to her again, she excitedly runs to her room to announce the news, finding her mother’s corpse hanging from the ceiling.[60] Shocked and traumatized by her mother’s suicide, Asuka adopts self-affirmation as the only reason to be, participating in training sessions to become a pilot and meet other people’s expectations.[63]

Her custody is assigned to Ryoji Kaji, towards whom she is infatuated. At fourteen, after graduating from a German university, Asuka leaves there, accompanied by Kaji and Unit 02, on board a United Nations aircraft carrier escorted by numerous warships to protect the Eva. During the trip, she meets Shinji Ikari, Third Child and pilot of Unit 01, and her new classmates Tōji and Kensuke. The United Nations fleet is then attacked by Gaghiel, the sixth Angel.[64] Recognizing this event as a good chance to demonstrate her skills, Asuka independently activates her Eva, coercing Shinji into joining her in the cockpit.[65] Despite struggling to work together, and the Eva not yet being equipped to operate underwater, the two children destroy the enemy. She is later placed in class 2-A of Tokyo-3 first municipal middle school,[66] living with Shinji under Misato Katsuragi’s care.[67][68] She teases Shinji continuously about his passivity and perceived lack of manliness, but gradually comes to respect and like him as they fight Angels together. She is rarely able to express these feelings. However, following a series of Angel battles where Shinji outperforms her, she grows increasingly unable to continue to suppress her traumatized psyche, drastically lowering her pilot skills.[69][70] This comes to a head when the Angel Arael attacks; Asuka, burdened by her continually worsening performance in tests, tries to attack the Angel alone, but is overwhelmed by the Angel’s attack, a beam that penetrates her mental barrier and forces her to relive her darkest memories.[71] In the battle with the next Angel, Armisael, she cannot activate the Evangelion.[72] As a result of this, Asuka loses all will to live, runs away and goes to the home of her friend Hikari Horaki,[73][74] spending time aimlessly roaming the streets of Tokyo-3. She is eventually found by Nerv personnel, naked and starving in the bathtub of a ruined building. The main series ends with her lying in a hospital bed in a catatonic state.[75][76]

The End of Evangelion[edit]

In the movie The End of Evangelion (1997), as the Japanese Strategic Self-Defense Force invades Nerv headquarters, Asuka is placed inside Unit 02, which is then submerged in a lake for her protection. As she is bombarded by depth charges, Asuka wakes up, declares she does not want to die, and, in a moment of clarity, feels her mother within the Eva.[77] Her self-identity regained, she emerges and defeats the Self-Defence Force, before encountering nine mechas named Mass-Production Evas.[78] Though she successfully disables all nine opponents, Eva-02’s power runs out; the power of the mass-produced Evas allows them to eviscerate and dismember Unit 02.[79] Seeing Asuka’s destroyed Evangelion makes Shinji go into a frenzy, which eventually culminates in him starting a catastrophic event named the Third Impact. Shinji and Asuka have an extended dream-like sequence inside Instrumentality, a process in which the soul of humanity merges into one collective consciousness. Shinji claims he wants to understand her, but she refuses. He is furious at her rejection and lashes out by choking her. At the end of the process, Shinji rejects Instrumentality, and she returns after him in a new world. In the film’s final scene, Shinji begins strangling Asuka, but stops when she caresses his face. Shinji breaks down crying and the film ends with Asuka disdainfully looking down on Shinji, saying simply, «How disgusting», before cutting to black.[80]

Rebuild of Evangelion[edit]

In the Rebuild of Evangelion saga, Asuka appears first in the second film, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009). Changes have been made to her character, such as her family name being changed from Sōryū (惣流) to Shikinami (式波),[81][82] continuing the Japanese maritime vessel naming convention. The name change resulted from a precise choice by Hideaki Anno, who said he had changed the background of the character.[83] Asuka Shikinami Langley, compared to her original counterpart, seems more open and vulnerable. Near the end of the film, for example, she confides in someone for the first time talking genuinely about her feelings with Misato.[84] She does not feel infatuated with Ryōji Kaji and maintains a more affectionate and peaceful relationship with Shinji.[85] Although she publicly rejects others, she becomes possessive of Shinji, feeling jealous for him and taking an interest in his feelings.[86][87] During the production phase, screenwriter Yōji Enokido has added a night scene in which Asuka, feeling alone, enters her colleague’s room without permission, sleeping next to him.[88] In the course of events, she also plays video games and tries to cook something for Shinji.[89] She is a captain of the European Air Force, faces the seventh Angel with her Eva-02, and is designated pilot of the Eva-03,[90] whereas in the original series this Eva was piloted by Tōji Suzuhara. Unit 03 is later contaminated by a parasitic-type Angel, Bardiel, and collides with Eva-01; Asuka survives, but is last seen in urgent care.[91]

In Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo (2012), the saga’s third instalment, Asuka is initially part of the rescue operation for Eva-01, which is stranded in space, working together with Mari for an organization named Wille, which is dedicated to destroying Nerv. Convinced by Mari, she dons her old plugsuit in an attempt to get Shinji to recognize them.[b] After fighting off an initial attack by Nerv, Asuka confronts Shinji in his holding cell and tells him fourteen years have passed. Asuka is biologically twenty-eight years old, but has not physically aged due to what she calls the «curse of Eva»; she also wears an eyepatch that glows blue. Asuka, again supported by Mari, confronts Shinji and his co-pilot Kaworu Nagisa and eventually self-destructs her Eva during the fight. After the fight, she grabs Shinji’s wrist, and they move along the ruins of Tokyo-3, followed by Rei Ayanami.[92]

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0[edit]

In the final film, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, Asuka guides Shinji and Rei before being picked up by Kensuke Aida. She lives in a place named Village-3 in Kensuke’s house. She feels she is no longer human as a result of the changes to her body and lack of aging, growing indifferent to her well-being. In the course of the feature film she goes to check on Shinji’s distraught and almost catatonic state in silence; Miyamura described hers as the attitude of a mother «who quietly leaves food in front of her son’s room to see how he is doing when he is locked up in his room».[93] Shikinami eventually forces Shinji, completely helpless and no longer wanting to continue living, to eat by forcibly stuffing food into his mouth.[93] When Will’s ship AAA Wunder arrives to pick-up Asuka, Shinji insists on going with her. During the final battle in Antarctica Asuka is forced to take off her eyepatch, releasing the ninth Angel contained within. She converts Eva-02 to a new form, but is absorbed by Eva-13. Inside, Asuka meets the original member of the Shikinami clone series she’s a part of. Asuka is shown to have fought the other clones as a child before being selected as a pilot. Lamenting not having anyone to take care of her, Kensuke appears, dressed as her stuffed doll, and reassures her. Asuka is then present in an adult body, and Shinji thanks her for saying she liked him, and tells her he liked her as well, before him and Mari bid her farewell. In the final scene of the film, she is last seen on a train platform in a rebuilt world.[52][94]

During 3.0+1.0, Asuka confesses her feelings to Shinji by saying that she liked him; for Miyamura, the sentence would not imply that her love is over or that she now loves someone else, «but that she genuinely wanted to tell him that».[93] The actress also emphasized during the interviews that she did not interpret Kensuke and Asuka’s relationship as romantic,[47] as Shikinami is still physically fourteen years old;[51] according to her, Kensuke would only be a sort of parental reference figure, and even Anno said that the character’s last scene in Thrice Upon A Time is related to the image of Kensuke as a father figure for Shikinami.[51] According to her, «Kensuke is a warmth for those who are lonely or want to feel safe».[93] During production, a scene in which Kensuke shoots Asuka with a camera was thought to be a love scene; however, the voice actress also interpreted this love as paternal.[93] Tetsuya Iwanaga, Japanese interpreter of Kensuke, described his character as «a friend she’s never quite been able to get rid of ever since middle school». In an interview, Iwanaga stated that he interpreted the scene in which Kensuke is seen disguised as Asuka’s rag doll as a representation of him becoming «the prop that rescued Asuka».[95] Miyamura also voiced a scene in which Asuka says «baka Shinji?» as a «love letter» to everyone who supported the couple.[48][93]

In other media[edit]

Drawing of Asuka on the cover of the fourth volume of the manga

In the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, illustrated and written by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Asuka has a more immature character than her animated counterpart and her story is different; despite having a similar, familiar past, in the manga she was conceived through artificial fertilization,[8] as the result of an experiment in eugenics.[96] In her first actual battle against Gaghiel, whom she confronts alongside Shinji in the same Evangelion unit in the classic series, she fights alone, while Shinji later watches the recorded fight on a projector.[97] In the next battle, Asuka and Shinji fight, as in the classic series, against Angel Israfel together; Sadamoto conceived their dance training as akin to a «kiss», underlining their psychological connection.[8] Kotaku also noticed how much of their relationship is «absent», while she remains fixated on Kaji.[98] In the comic her fellow pilot Kaworu Nagisa is also introduced before and interacts with her, immediately arousing her antipathy.[99] Further differences are presented in the last chapters of the manga, corresponding to the events of the movie The End of Evangelion. In the feature film, the Eva-02 is dismembered by the Eva Series before Shinji’s arrival, while in the comic the Third Child intervenes in battle in her defense.[100] In the final chapter of the comic, following the failure of Instrumentality, Shinji lives in a world where it snows again in Japan and where people do not seem to have any memory of recent events. The Third Child, traveling on a train to his new school, meets a girl similar to Asuka.[101] According to Sadamoto, the Asuka-like girl is not concretely Asuka, but the symbol «of an attractive woman that Shinji can meet in the new world».[102]

In a scene from the last episode of the animated series, an alternate reality is presented with a completely different story than in the previous installments, where Asuka is a normal middle school student and a childhood friend of Shinji Ikari, the Evangelion units never existed, and Asuka did not experience any childhood trauma regarding her mother Kyōko.[103] A similar version of events can be found in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days,[104][105] and the parody series Petit Eva: Evangelion@School,[106][107] where she behaves like a sister towards Shinji.[108] In Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse, Asuka is a foreign exchange student, and uses a whip in battle.[109] She is also present in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students.[110] The simulation game Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project includes an expansion in its PlayStation 2 version that allows the player to take on the role of Asuka’s guardian instead of Rei’s. She is also available as a romantic option in Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd,[111][112] Neon Genesis Evangelion 2,[113] Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project[114][115][116] and its manga adaptation.[117] In Neon Genesis Evangelion: Anima, Asuka is older, more stable and mature, having developed a strong friendship with Shinji and even Rei. Asuka also merges with her Eva unit turning into a hybrid named Crimson A1.[118]

She also appears in the crossover Transformers x Evangelion, in the video games based on the original animated series and media not related to the Evangelion franchise, including Honkai Impact 3rd,[119] Monster Strike,[120] Super Robot Wars,[121] Tales of Zestiria,[122] Puzzle & Dragons,[123] Keri hime sweets, Summons Board,[124][125] Puyopuyo!! Quest[126] and in an official Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion cross-over episode.[127] In the Super Robot Wars franchise, she butts heads with Kouji Kabuto, the pilot of Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser. It is also implied that she developed crushes on famous heroes such as Char Aznable and Amuro Ray, but proves jealous of Shinji, who crushes for Lynn Minmay of the Macross franchise.[128]

Characterization and themes[edit]

At first glance obviously she comes across rather brash and pushy and loud, and I understand that, but the more you get to know her the more you come across her motivations behind this, and you always have to keep in mind that she’s still only fourteen, so no matter how terribly educated or clever she might be she’s only a fourteen-year-old girl. So I think in the end her heart is in the right place but she has a hard time communicating that with her emotions and everything, how she really feels. I mean, she wants to have friends and she wants to be liked.
–Tiffany Grant[129]

Asuka is an energetic,[130] proud[131][132] and enterprising[133] girl with a brave and resolute character.[134][135] She tends to look down on other people[136] and wants to be constantly at the center of attention.[137][138] Although she normally shows a stubborn and exuberant attitude, in some moments she exhibits a kinder, more sensitive and caring side.[139] Her abrupt and impulsive ways often arouse other people’s antipathy, since they do not fully understand her real intentions.[140][141] Unlike fellow pilots Shinji and Rei, she is extremely proud to be a pilot and engages in missions with great enthusiasm,[142] but despite her apparently strong, aggressive and competitive character, Asuka suffers from the same sense of alienation as her companions.[143] She suffers from a masculine protest,[144] a psychological expression that indicates exaggeratedly masculine tendencies in tired and rebellious women who protest against traditional female gender roles. She sees her male peers merely as rivals and spectators of her abilities,[145] and suffers from a marked emotional complex for the male sex, merging a so-called «radical rivalry» and a latent inferiority complex. Her masculine protest is reflected in her strong misandric tendencies, since she is dominated by the need to beat male peers with an obsessive self-affirmation desire.[146] Despite this, she also has a sense of admiration for her guardian and senpai, Ryōji Kaji.[147] Asuka is emotionally dependent on him, since she has a strong unconscious desire to find a reference figure to rely on.[148] Asuka’s infatuation also leads her to feel great jealousy for him and she eventually tries to seduce him.[149][150] Newtype magazine noted how she sometimes beats boys[151] while being kind to Kaji.[152]

Asuka’s excessive pride prevents her from admitting—even to herself—that she feels something for male protagonist Shinji,[153][154] and as events and battles unfold, her feelings of love and hate intensify and dominate her.[155][156] She kisses Shinji in the fifteenth episode,[c][157] but when he beats her in pilot tests, she develops an inferiority complex towards him.[158] This leads her to attack Shinji’s virility continuously,[159] directing both interest and open hostility towards him.[160][161] Because of their intimate fragility and insecurities, Shinji and Asuka are unable to communicate effectively with one another on an emotional level, despite their mutual latent interest.[162][163] According to Newtype magazine, Shinji has feelings for her, while Asuka openly states her feeling of being frustrated with wanting him as her partner, so «her feelings for him as a man are less than they appear to be».[164] According to critic Susan J. Napier, they might be expected to develop a romantic attraction for each other, but their sexual tension is subsumed under Asuka’s intense competitiveness;[165] Napier also noted that Shinji feels fear and attraction towards the maternal figures of the women around him, such as Rei or Misato, but only Asuka «is allowed to seem explicitly sexual».[166] In one scene from The End of Evangelion movie, Asuka is seen on a bed while she speaks with an angry expression, interpreted by writers Kazuhisa Fujie and Martin Foster as a representation of Shinji’s libido.[167] Asuka is framed while she has sexual intercourse with her partner, in a position described by an official artbook as «of the cowgirl».[168] According to an official card game, moreover, neither Yui, nor Rei and nor Misato could be a woman for Shinji, while Asuka, the only girl equal to him, becomes the center of his desire, using her as an object to console himself and ending up hurting her.[169] Despite this, in the last scene Shinji meets Asuka in the new world after the failure of Instrumentality, just as he had wished.[170] Asuka’s relationship with Rei Ayanami is also conflictual. She despises Rei, calling her «Miss Perfect» (優等生, yūtōsei, literally «honor student») and «mechanical puppet girl».[171][172] In a scene from the twenty-second episode, Rei and Asuka are left alone in an elevator; Rei states she is ready to die for Commander Gendō Ikari, provoking Asuka’s anger, who slaps her and says she has hated her from the moment they met.[173] Shortly thereafter, Rei helps her during the fight against Arael, an act that destroys her already wounded pride.[174]

Asuka has been associated with Ama-no-Uzume, a Shinto deity linked to dance and sensuality, as well as to the red color, typical of the lining of some kimono.

Her ostentatious competitiveness originates from her childhood experiences, marked by the mental illness and the suicide of her mother Kyōko.[175][176] Asuka faced her loss by immersing herself in pride, becoming indisposed to any kind of help or advice and adopting strength and self-affirmation as her only raison d’être.[177][178] Tormented «by the fear of not being necessary»,[179] she pilots Unit-02 only to satisfy her intimate desire for acceptance, longing to be considered «an elite pilot who will protect humanity».[180] She also wants to be recognized by others through her role as a pilot[181] and has been described as a perfectionist.[182][183] Her excessive self-confidence leads her to clash with Shinji,[184][185] gradually losing self-confidence[186][187] and becoming psychologically and physically compromised.[188][189] The Fourth Child’s selection, Tōji Suzuhara, also contributes to the destruction of her pride.[190][191] After she learns of Kaji’s death,[192] she questions the meaning of her life and her identity,[193] avoiding any kind of human contact and never meeting the gaze of other people.[194] Overwhelmed by the fear of being alone,[195][196] the young woman shows that she has a great and morbid need for the Eva, even more than her colleague Shinji has. In a scene from the twenty-fifth episode, she excoriates the Evangelion unit as a «worthless piece of junk», but immediately admits «I’m the junk».[197] In the director’s cut version of the twenty-second episode, two scenes set in the ninth and fifteenth episodes were added, in which Asuka appears frustrated in front of the sliding door of her room and after the kiss with Shinji; from Asuka’s dialogue that overlaps these scenes, it becomes clear that she has been looking for help and love from Shinji.[31] Her self-love represents an act of psychological compensation to be recognized in the eyes of other people. After her mother’s mental illness, she represses her sadness and eventually decides to not cry anymore and to behave like an adult with a reaction formation.[198] Her memories related to her past and her mother are repressed and removed from her consciousness during this phase.[199] In the last episodes, Asuka completely loses her self-confidence. She develops a deep disgust with herself and suffers from separation anxiety.[200][201] The caption «attachment behavior» (愛着行動) also appears in the same episodes. The word attachment in psychology can also refer to the emotional bond that is established between the mother and her child; while Asuka’s behavior is that of «attachment», Rei’s is made up of «bonds».[202]

Miyamura noted that Asuka was not called tsundere at the time, but agreed to the definition of her having to hide her feelings in 2007.[203] Furthermore, for Japanese philosopher and cultural critic Hiroki Azuma, she is the «symbol of the outside» in the world of Evangelion, taking Shinji away from his comfort zone in the «Nerv family»; in contrast to Rei, who’d play an «imaginary healing» role, Asuka would be an independent person in reality.[204] Critics also noted that Asuka is iconographically and psychologically opposed to Rei. Rei has blue hair and red eyes and is often associated with the Moon, while Asuka has red hair and blue eyes and is presented in the eighth episode, «Asuka Strikes!», silhouetted by the Sun.[205] Rei is also related to white; the writer Claudio Cordella noted how white is associated in Japanese culture with sanctity, light, eternity, while red is the color of sterile sexuality, traditionally chosen by unmarried girls or geisha for their kimono.[206] Japanese psychiatrist Kōji Mizobe linked Asuka’s red to menstruation, Rei’s white to altruism, attributing Asuka’s unstable behavior to a narcissistic or histrionic personality disorder.[207] Writer Dennis Redmond instead noted that Shinji’s Eva-01 is purple, halfway between Rei’s blue Eva-00 and Asuka’s 02,[208] describing Rei as a symbol of an empty and «lyric neonational interiority», while Asuka as a mirror of a pragmatic and «outrageous multinational exteriority».[209] According to the Polygon, the two girls are two shades of the same spectrum of the feminine, neither of which good or bad in themselves, which Shinji must recognize as autonomous individuals by overcoming the Madonna-whore complex, the inability of some men to see women in their individual nuances, perceiving them dichotomously either as angelic beings or maleficent entities.[210]

Rei has been compared to the Superego, Shinji to the Ego and Asuka to the Id,[211] the three intrapsychic instances proposed by Sigmund Freud’s second topic, since the Id is the instinctual part of a human being. The three Children have also been compared to the three stages of the human soul postulated by the Jewish Kabbalah: Asuka to Nephesh, source of animal vitality, Shinji to Ru’ah, the soul, fruit of the raising of man from his purely biological aspect, and Rei to Neshamah, the spirit, fruit of the connection between man and God.[212] Others critics have linked Asuka to Ama-no-Uzume, a Shinto female deity associated with dance and sensuality.[213][214] Hiroki Azuma also described Asuka and the other characters in the series as «stereotypical characters», with no particular individual or aesthetic characteristics; Asuka, in particular, has been described as a «typical sci-fi anime character».[21] According to Azuma, however, with these stereotypical characters Anno would have been able to describe the 1990s.[21] Mizobe described her and Shinji as «communicationally disabled», a feature that allowed contemporary Japanese youth to identify with them even twenty-six years after the original series’s airing.[215] Moreover, for the critic Manabu Tsuribe in The End of Evangelion she represents for Shinji the Other, another person separated from himself with whom he can never become one. For Tsuribe, the film concludes when Shinji recognizes Asuka as a separate entity.[216] The Anime Café’s Japanese critic Akio Nagatomi, noting how other characters in Evangelion bear similarities with others in a previous work by Gainax and Anno, Gunbuster, described Asuka as a counterpart to Jung Freud.[217] Engineer Yumiko Yano also compared Asuka’s dull gaze in the final episodes, locked up in a hospital room after a psychic and emotional breakdown, to the dolls of artist Katan Amano.[218]

Cultural impact[edit]

Popularity[edit]

If you’re an anime fan, you’ve definitely heard of Asuka, even if you haven’t watched Evangelion. She’s ranked high in popularity polls for a reason, and it’s easy to see why. As one of the more dynamic characters in the show, she commands every scene that she’s in … I first saw this series as a teenager myself, and seeing Asuka at her highs and her lows felt extremely validating. There’s a lot of truth to be told in the problems that she has …. The story never forces her to become a cleaner version of herself, but lets her have struggles in a way that not many series would allow. She isn’t perfect, far from it, and there’s a lot of strength to be found in that.
–Noelle Ogawa (Crunchyroll)[219]

Website Otaku Kart described Asuka as «one of the most popular female characters in anime history».[220] She appeared in polls on best anime pilots[221][222] and female anime characters,[223][224][225] proving popular among both female and male audiences.[226][227] In 1996 she ranked third among the «most popular female characters of the moment» in the Anime Grand Prix survey by Animage magazine, behind Rei Ayanami and Hikaru Shido from Magic Knight Rayearth.[228] In 1997 and 1998 Anime Grand Prixes, she remained among the top ten female characters; in 1997 she ranked in fourth place, while in 1998 she ranked sixth.[229][230] Asuka also appeared in the magazine’s monthly surveys, remaining in the top twenty in 1996,[231] 1997[232][233][234] and 1998 polls.[235][236][237] In 1999, Animage ranked her fortieth among the one hundred most popular anime characters.[238]

Her popularity increased after the release of the second Rebuild of Evangelion movie; in August and September 2009 she emerged in first place and remained the most popular female Neon Genesis Evangelion character in Newtype magazine popularity charts,[239][240] while in October she ranked tenth.[241] In a Newtype poll in March 2010, she was voted the third most popular female anime character from the 1990s, immediately after Rei Ayanami and Usagi Tsukino from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon.[242] In February 2015, almost twenty years after the show first aired, she emerged again on the magazine’s charts in sixth place.[243] In 2017, she also ranked sixteenth among the characters Anime! Anime! site readers would «rather die than marry».[244] Her line «Are you stupid?» (あんたバカ?, Anta baka?) also became widely used among hardcore fans after her first appearance in the eighth episode.[245] In 2021, after the release of the final Rebuild film, Asuka ranked most popular female character in another Newtype poll.[246]

Critical reception[edit]

A fan cosplaying as Asuka

A fan cosplaying as Asuka in 2016

Asuka divided anime critics, receiving an ambivalent response. Negative reviews criticized her arrogant, surly and authoritarian character.[247][248][249] While appreciating her for providing «a good dose of comic relief» to Evangelion, Anime Critic Pete Harcoff described her as «an annoying snot».[250] Raphael See from T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews, who found Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s characterization «a little cliché, or just plain irritating at times», despised Asuka for her arrogant attitude.[251] Anime Reign writer Matthew Perez described her as initially «overly stuck up», but he also appreciated her evolution.[252] By contrast, IGN critic Ramsey Isler ranked her as the thirteenth greatest anime character of all time for the realism of her characterization, saying: «She’s a tragic character, and a complete train wreck, but that is what makes her so compelling because we just can’t help but watch this beautiful disaster unfold.»[253] Comic Book Resources included her among the best anime female pilots,[254] describing her as «the best classic tsundere in shounen anime» and «one of the most fascinating characters in anime».[255][256]

Screen Rant ranked her among the best Neon Genesis Evangelion characters, praising her development.[257][258] According to critic Jay Telotte, Asuka is «the first credible multinational character» in the history of Japanese science fiction television.[259] Crunchyroll and Charapedia also praised her realism and personality.[219][260] Asuka’s fight sequence against the Mass-Production Evangelions in The End of Evangelion was particularly well-received by critics,[261][262] while Tiffany Grant was praised for her role as Asuka’s English voice actress by Mike Crandol of Anime News Network.[263]

Animation Insider reviewer Eric Surrell commented on Asuka’s role in Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), the second installment of the Rebuild saga, stating that «the arrival and sudden dismissal of Asuka was shocking and depressing, especially considering how integral she was to the original Evangelion«.[264] Slant Magazine‘s Simon Abrams, reviewing Evangelion: 2.0, responded negatively to Shinji and Asuka’s new relationship, «which is unfortunate because that bond should have the opportunity to grow in its own time».[265] LA Weekly‘s Brian Miller appreciated her debut, praising Shinji’s «downright charming» courtship.[266] The Fandom Post found the character neglected by Anno’s script, given the lesser space devoted to her and Mari’s introduction,[267] while Renan Fontes from Comic Book Resources judged Asuka Shikinami significantly less interesting than Langley.[268] UK Anime Network on the other hand found Rebuild‘s Asuka a more human and easier to empathize with character than the one of the classic series.[269] Website Otaku Revolution enjoyed the development and revelations about Asuka in Evangelion: 3.0+1.0, finding them «very fitting».[270] Geek Ireland praised the fact that the movie gives a sense of conclusion to Asuka, Shinji, and the other characters,[271] while Otaku Voice’s A. Dean Kelly wrote that: «Everything about Asuka from 3.33 finally begins to make sense in this moment».[272]

Legacy[edit]

Asuka’s character has been used for merchandising items such as life-size figures,[273] action figures,[274][275] guitars,[276] clothes,[277][278] and underwear, some of which sold out immediately.[279][280] Her action figures proved successful.[281] According to Japanese writer Kazuhisa Fujie, Evangelion-related household items with the image of Asuka or other female characters of the series have become so popular that they have been put back on the market with a second edition.[282] Movic has also released a cassette drama featuring her and Shinji as part of its Animate series featuring other popular works.[283] On February 27, 1997, Kadokawa Shoten published a book dedicated to her entitled Asuka — Evangelion Photograph (ＡＳＵＫＡ－アスカ－ 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン文庫写真集).[284] In 2008, Broccoli released a video game entitled Shin Seiki Evangelion: Ayanami Ikusei Keikaku with Asuka Hokan Keikaku, in which the player takes on the task of looking after Asuka or Rei Ayanami.[285]

Japanese celebrities cosplayed her during concerts or tours, such as Haruka Shimazaki,[286] singer Hirona Murata[287] and Saki Inagaki.[288][289] Lai Pin-yu, a Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party and Legislative Yuan member, held election rallies cosplaying Asuka, gaining popularity.[290] Asuka’s character was parodied by Excel from Excel Saga[259] and some of her aesthetic and character traits inspired other female characters. Kotaku writer Richard Eisenbeins listed her as an example of the tsundere stereotype,[291] a term used to indicate grumpy, assertive and authoritarian characters that nonetheless possess a more gentle, empathetic and insecure side, hidden due to a stormy past or traumatic experiences. Anthony Gramuglia from Comic Book Resources identified her as one of the most popular and influential tsundere characters, comparing Asuna Yūki from Sword Art Online, Rin Tōsaka from Fate/stay night, Kyō Sōma from Fruits Basket and Taiga Aisaka from Toradora! to her.[292][293] Critics also compared Mai Shibamura from Gunparade March,[294] Michiru Kinushima from Plastic Memories[295] and D.Va from Overwatch game series to Asuka.[296] Japanese band L’Arc-en-Ciel took inspiration from the character for their song «Anata».[297] Further references have been identified in other Japanese animated series, including Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei, Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku, Gurren Lagann, and Sword Art Online, in which a scene of her and Rei in an elevator from the twenty-second episode is parodied.[298]

See also[edit]

  • List of Neon Genesis Evangelion characters

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Her surname is romanized as Soryu in the English manga and Sohryu in the English version of the TV series, the English version of the film, and on Gainax’s website.
  2. ^ As depicted in the Evangelion: 3.0 (-120min.) prequel manga.
  3. ^ «Why does Asuka want to kiss Shinji? Even assuming she was spiteful of Kaji, one doesn’t understand the real underlying motive. After the kiss, Asuka states: «I did it just to kill time.» She yells, as if to make Shinji perceive it and to confirm it to herself, as if she wants to hide some embarrassment» (Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book (in Japanese). Vol. 5. Kadokawa Shoten. pp. 44–45.).

References[edit]

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Источник

Asuka Langley Sohryu (惣流・アスカ・ラングレー[?], «Sōryū Asuka Rangurē«) is a 14-year-old fictional character from the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise and one of the main female characters. Asuka is designated as the Second Child («Second Children» in the original Japanese versions) of the Evangelion Project and pilots the Evangelion Unit-02. Her surname is romanized as Soryu in the English manga and Sohryu in the English version of the TV series, the English version of the anime movie and on Gainax’s website.

Character Overview

Asuka is one-quarter Japanese. Asuka is a native of Germany, having been raised there, though her nationality is American. Asuka’s native language is German, and in both the series and the manga she tends to curse in German. Asuka was born to an American father, known only as Mr. Langley and a German-Japanese mother, Kyoko Zeppelin Sohryu. In addition, she also has a step-mother, Langley’s second wife. She is a child prodigy and has earned a university degree in an unspecified field as a teenager; she also speaks fluent Japanese, but has trouble reading and writing kanji. Asuka had years of training starting from a young age to become a pilot for the Evangelion. Asuka is very proud of being an Eva pilot, and near-constantly wears her A10 nerve clips in her hair because she wants everyone around her to know that she is a pilot. Asuka’s iconic catch-phrase (always directed at Shinji) was «anta baka?!» (あんたバカァ?![?]), «anta» being a contraction of «anata» meaning «you» and «baka» literally meaning «fool» or «idiot«. The official English voice recording renders this as «What are you, stupid?!»

Character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto explained that he «first designed an Asuka-type girl as the lead character», but felt it might be too similar to previous anime that he and Anno had worked on, such as Gunbuster and Nadia. He suggested to Anno that they change the lead character to a boy, which would be more in keeping with the robot genre.[1] In the initial project, she was described as «a determined girl» who adapts to the situation in which she finds herself, passionate about video games and «aspires to become like Ryoji Kaji». In the nineteenth episode, she would have had to be seriously injured in her attempt to protect Shinji, who would have thus «proved his worth» trying to save her.[2] As Sadamoto and Anno designed the series, Sadamoto came to believe that Asuka would occupy the position of an «‘idol’ in the Eva world». Asuka should have represented «[Shinji’s] desire for the female sex», as opposed to Rei Ayanami’s «motherhood»,[3] and would have been «the idol of Neon Genesis Evangelion». He also described his belief that the relationship between Asuka and Shinji would be similar to the relationship between Jean, Nadia’s love interest and eventual husband in the earlier Nadia. Asuka’s personality, as well of those for the other characters, was designed so as to be understood at a glance.[1] Anno also thought of her as a Nadia with a different hairstyle.[4]

Appearance

Asuka has long auburn hair and dark blue eyes. Asuka’s hair is loose with the flanks held in twin tails with her red Interface Headset. She wears a school uniform as her most iconic outfit, which consisted of a dark blue pleated overall dress over a white button-up blouse with short puffed sleeves, a red bow attached to the collar, white knee socks with red stripes and black Mary Jane shoes. She wears a red watch on her wrist. She also wears outfits such as her pale yellow dress with a lavender choker and red Mary Jane shoes.

Her plugsuit is red, stylized with fancy layers and accents with a 02 symbol printed onto the plugsuit.

Family

Her mother, Kyoko Zeppelin Sohryu, was a scientist of Gehirn’s German branch of the Evangelion Project. When Asuka was four years old, Kyoko participated in a contact experiment with Unit-02, similar to the experiment performed by Yui Ikari with Unit-01. She survived the test but became insane, believing that Asuka’s doll was her daughter and refusing to acknowledge the real Asuka, referring to her as «that girl over there.» She eventually commits suicide by hanging herself; Asuka found her body when she went to tell Kyoko the good news that she had been chosen to become an Eva pilot.

Not many details about Asuka’s father are revealed. What is known about his background is only what can be inferred from Asuka’s own; namely that he is an American citizen and that his last name is Langley. Following Kyoko’s hospitalization, he started an affair with a German doctor in charge of Kyoko’s case, and would later marry her shortly after Kyoko’s suicide. This new mother is immediately repelled by Asuka’s defensive nature, and finds herself unable to become attached to her. While talking to Shinji, Asuka states that she doesn’t hate her stepmother, but she feels as if she could never replace her real mother.[5]

During Kyoko’s funeral, Asuka’s grandmother had said to Asuka that she was «a strong girl», but it was alright if she needed to cry. However, Asuka protested against the idea and told her grandmother that she had to take care of herself from now on. From that day forward, Asuka promised herself that she would never cry again. This causes her to repress a lot of her emotions, not to mention the emotional scarring that came from her mother’s illness and death, leaving her twisted and vulnerable towards the end of the series.

Character and Relationships

Asuka introducing herself

Asuka is a very proud individual, especially in her piloting, and comes across to others as proud and strong, with a very high opinion of both her appearance (particularly her recently «busty» body) and her skill as an Eva pilot. She is stubborn and finds it difficult to express her true feelings to others. She does not like being looked down upon or told what to do as she wants to be viewed as an adult. She is aggressive and can be very opinionated. However, this personality is a front that protects a very vulnerable and insecure girl, a side which the viewer sees in her dreams or thoughts. She is often violent and intrusive of other people’s space, especially Shinji’s. She also has a strong need to be self-sufficient, and has a great deal of difficulty dealing with her self-perceived failure when she does need help; as her seiyuu Yuko Miyamura wrote of her experiences playing Asuka:

«Just to let you know, Asuka wasn’t the most open-hearted character I’ve ever met…every time I tried to draw myself in closer synchronization, Asuka would never allow herself to sync with me. Even in the end, she would never step across the line and draw closer to me. The last scene in The End of Evangelion was done, and still she had never stepped across that line and come forward. One day, I figured out that there was a wall in Asuka’s heart.»

Thus her relationship with Shinji is one of the core aspects of the series, and affects both characters on multiple levels (see next section).

Her best (and seemingly her only close) friend is her class representative, Hikari Horaki. Although Asuka and classmate Toji Suzuhara constantly argue, she gives Hikari advice about pursuing Toji. Shinji and Asuka are seemingly attracted to each other, but neither is able to properly express their feelings. Asuka’s overbearing attitude and inability to admit her vulnerabilities keeps her from opening up to Shinji. This develops ito a central part of the series, culminating into their kiss and Shinji’s inaction is later one of the motivations for her worsening state in the series. Besides her attraction to Shinji, Asuka is infatuated with Ryoji Kaji, her former guardian after her mother died, and makes a number of advances toward him which he politely refuses, even as Shinji supplants Asuka’s early affections for him. For this reason, she envies her and Shinji’s guardian, Misato Katsuragi, especially after Misato and Kaji rekindle their romantic relationship. A common interpretation is to see Misato as Asuka’s positive adult role model, with Ritsuko as a more negative model.[6] Similarly, Kaji and Gendo are mirrors for Shinji, as are their respective relationships.[7] The «Director’s Cut» of Episode 24 also shows Asuka violently confronting Shinji and saying he’s lying when he tells her that Kaji is dead. She also initially tries to befriend Rei Ayanami, but Rei is uninterested. Asuka interprets this as arrogance, and starts to developed deep antipathy towards her. In the English dub, she calls her «wonder girl». In Episode 22, they share an elevator ride in which Rei tells her she needs to open herself to her Eva as Asuka’s synch scores are falling, but Asuka violently lashes out, and calls her «the Commander’s doll», clearly projecting Rei onto her mother’s doll and her own hatred of them.

In her early appearances, Asuka has a high synchronization ratio and displays exceptional skill as an Eva pilot. She is also very aggressive and confident in battle, which works both for and against her as the series progresses. After being defeated in battle by the Angel Zeruel, Asuka’s self-confidence (and, correspondingly, her sync ratio and effectiveness as a pilot) begins to dwindle. This comes to a head in Episode 22, when the Angel Arael appears. Burdened by increasingly poor results in synchronization tests, Asuka is infuriated when she is ordered to serve as backup for Rei. She launches herself in Unit-02 and tries to attack the Angel alone but is overwhelmed by its attack, which forces her to relive the painful memories of her past and causes her to suffer a mental and emotional breakdown, and is unable to even activate her Eva in the following episode. Asuka runs away from home, and is eventually found by NERV in a bath tub, starving and near death, as without being able to pilot, Asuka believes she has no reason left to live.

Movies

The End of Evangelion

Asuka visualizes her corpse in The End of Evangelion.

In The End of Evangelion, Asuka is placed inside Unit-02 for protection from the Japanese Strategic Self Defense Forces assault on the GeoFront. With Unit-02 submerged in a lake and bombarded by depth charges, Asuka declares that she does not want to die and, in a moment of clarity, realizes that her mother’s soul is carried within the Eva and has been protecting her all along. She regains her self-identity, engages and defeats the JSSDF, and is later confronted by the Mass Produced Evas. During the battle, she successfully disables all nine opponents; however, Unit-02’s power runs out, and the MP Evas’ S² Engines allow them to remain functional even after being severely damaged and/or mutilated. They proceed to eviscerate and dismember Unit-02 using their Spear of Longinus replicas, thus causing Asuka’s body to actually suffer the wounds inflicted to the machine and apparently killing her (her Entry Plug is never seen being destroyed, but the NERV staff appear to believe she’s dead). During this final assault, Asuka is briefly able to reactivate Unit-02 through pure fury, but only enough for it to move its arm slightly, nowhere near the full «Berserker» mode that Shinji is able to achieve. Her final words before death are a whispered «I’ll kill you», repeated more and more frantically. Inside Instrumentality, Asuka also demands that Shinji give himself to her, but Shinji is unwilling to give back any affection himself. Asuka confronts Shinji as he desperately asks for help and says he wants to stay with her forever, but Asuka rejects him, claiming he only wants to use her as an escape. Outraged, Shinji chokes her. She is the second person to come back from Instrumentality at the conclusion of the movie, after Shinji rejects it. Asuka caresses Shinji tenderly in a manner reminiscent of Yui, which stops him from choking her again. Asuka’s final line is «kimochi warui», roughly translated as «How disgusting».[8]

Asuka’s interactions with Shinji

Asuka kissing Shinji in Episode 15.

See: Shinji and Asuka’s Relationship

Throughout the series, Shinji carries out a deceptively straightforward relationship with Asuka, who is going through puberty and deeply confused and uncertain:

«The thing I would like to say to the friend in my heart is, «Asuka, you’re just a fourteen-year-old kid, aren’t you?» Fourteen is a time of life when you are thrown against the wall of life. You are forced to learn. It’s puberty, where you decide what kind of life you’re going to live, right? Evangelion came to its climax just as you hit that point, but after that, what would your choices be, Asuka? What good would you try to do? What kind of adult would you grow into?»

Asuka and Shinji in sync during the battle with Israfel in Episode 9.

Shinji and Asuka are seemingly attracted to each other, but neither is able to properly express their feelings. Asuka’s overbearing attitude and inability to admit her vulnerabilities keeps her from opening up to Shinji. In the episodes shortly after their first meeting, she seems to enjoy flirting with him and teasing him sexually. Nonetheless, it is through her that Shinji finds the confidence he needed to work hard at synchronizing his movements with hers to defeat the Angel Israfel in Episode 9.[9] She and Shinji kiss in Episode 15, but she almost suffocates him by holding his nose shut, not realizing this was making Shinji even more hesitant.[10] As the series progresses and her abilities as a pilot diminish, the resulting damage to her ego causes her to become increasingly blunt to Shinji, as she feels insecure by Shinji’s improving performance, something she feels is unearned as Asuka herself has trained her entire life for piloting Eva, unlike Shinji. The Director’s Cut of Episode 22 reveals that, despite her actions, she still wants Shinji’s affections and is saddened, frustrated and angered by his shying away from her (unable to recognize that her taunts and aggression are keeping him from getting close to her), and has interpreted his earlier passiveness and lack of reaction as conscious rejection.[11] During Arael’s attack on her psyche, when she thinks about Shinji, she states (internally),

«Why are you there damn you?! You don’t do anything! You won’t help me! You won’t even hold me!«[12]

These lines are juxtaposed with Shinji, for instance, rescuing her from the volcano in Episode 10, paying attention to her, showing the clash between Shinji’s actions and Asuka’s expectations, even as Asuka has difficulty accepting Shinji and recognizing his own insecurities, as well as Asuka’s many provocations — like when she tried to tease him in Episode 9, only to be frustrated at him not picking up on her advances. She also seems to be very jealous of Shinji’s friendship with Rei, which deepens her disgust toward Rei and fuels her venom toward her, especially in the later episodes.[13]

The fractured state of Asuka and Shinji’s relationship becomes a key factor on events in The End of Evangelion. Had Shinji been in a better state of mind, it is very possible he and Asuka could have defeated the Evas and stopped Third Impact altogether, a fact that greatly benefits SEELE. At the start of the movie, Shinji is shown with Asuka in her hospital room, begging her for help and trying to rouse her from unconsciousness. He accidentally pulls loose her vital sign monitors, exposing her breasts; he masturbates to this sight, but afterward is horrified and disgusted with himself for doing so. His guilt and increased self-loathing add to his previous traumas and cause him to become so uncaring of his own existence that he does not resist when the invading JSSDF soldiers try to kill him. This forces Misato to save him and to try to rouse him from this state so that he can escape the GeoFront in Unit-01. The beginning of the trauma of seeing the mangled remains of Unit-02 in the hands of the MP Evas causes Shinji to enter to panic, and he enters Instrumentality as Yui asks him what he wishes for and he has a vision of a woman’s clutched breasts.

Shinji with Asuka on top of him in End of Evangelion

Asuka loudly proclaims she can’t stand the sight of him, but Shinji replies that it is because he is just like her, as she is implied to be in some sort of sexual fantasy or activity inside Instrumentality with him. Asuka then confronts him on his masturbation at the hospital earlier, claiming that not only she knows about it, but that it is, in fact, a habit, and she dares him to do it again in front of her.[14][15] Asuka claims she wants Shinji all for herself or nothing at all, demanding his reciprocity and commitment. Shinji, however, replies that he cannot understand Asuka because she won’t tell him anything. In a scene reminiscent of their kiss scene in Episode 15, he begs Asuka for help, stating he is afraid of Misato and Rei, while also revealing his true feelings for Asuka («I want to help you, and I want to stay with you forever…You’re the only person who can help me.»). However, Asuka refuses, claiming he is only using her as an escape. Overwhelmed with his own hopelessness upon her refusing, Shinji loses control and strangles her.

However, in the aftermath of the film’s finale, Shinji appears on a beach with none other than Asuka, the first person after him to return from Instrumentality. He tries to strangle her; she does not physically resist him, but instead lifts her hand to stroke his face — incidentally, as Yui had done earlier before as Shinji rejected Instrumentality. At this he collapses, weeping onto her, and as the film ends she says, «気持ち悪い。» («Kimochi warui», translated into English in the subtitles as «how disgusting» in the dub, alternatively «I feel sick»). The exact meaning of the symbolism in this scene, as well as the intended meaning of Asuka’s final words, are unclear and heavily debated. As the series ends there, the specifics of her and Shinji’s subsequent lives are left up to the audience. Official artwork seen on posters and DVD boxes for The End of Evangelion depicts Shinji and Asuka looking out over the ruins of the world. It is implied that this occurs very soon after the final scene. Asuka’s exact feelings towards Shinji are contradictory, as she seeks love and support from him, but refuses to show it[16], and Shinji has difficulty reciprocating, due to their mutual misunderstandings.[17] She displays much interest toward him and gets jealous of Rei’s interactions with Shinji. In contrast to the simple «favourable feelings» Shinji has with most other characters, Evangelion Chronicle describes their relationship as «complex feelings» and «love and hate.»[18][19][20][21][22][23] Hideaki Anno has also written a song about their relationship, which was fully produced and recorded, but ultimately unused, in favor of Komm, süsser Tod.

Other Media

Manga adaptation by Sadamoto

Asuka on Sadamoto’s manga

In the manga adaptation by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Asuka is somewhat tamer than her anime counterpart. Though self-centered (seemingly even more so than in the anime), she’s on slightly better terms with Shinji. She first appears in volume 4 of the series. She also has blonde hair instead of the auburn/red-head from the series.

There were many changes to the sequence of events concerning her. In the anime, her first battle (against Gaghiel) took up an entire episode and included an (arguably vital) assist from Shinji. In the manga, her solo defeat of the angel is only briefly mentioned in a video clip about her shown by Dr. Ritsuko Akagi to Misato, Rei, and Shinji.

Shinji’s first actual meeting with Asuka is also depicted differently. In the anime, their first meeting is aboard the naval carrier Over the Rainbow, and Asuka allows Shinji into the cockpit of Unit-02 while she fights Gaghiel. In the manga, Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke first encounter Asuka at an arcade, where she is unable to grab the toy she wants from the machine she is playing. She then notices the boys staring at her and demands a «viewing fee» from them for seeing her panties (100 yen, as opposed to the anime in which Toji’s «viewing fee» is a slap across the face). She and Toji begin to quarrel, and then Asuka accidentally bumps into a thug and is threatened by his gang. Asuka then proceeds to single-handedly take on—and defeat—the entire gang. Shinji is punched in the face by one of the thugs during the melee, and not until he arrives at NERV headquarters does he learn that the girl he has just met is in fact Asuka.

In the fight against Israfel, instead of staying in Misato’s apartment, she is put in a special room with Shinji, monitored via a hidden camera by Misato. Also, her background is changed so that she is actually a test-tube baby. Asuka’s mother and her husband were unable to conceive a child, and divorced after he had an affair. When he re-married and was able to have a daughter with his new wife, Kyoko decided to be artificially inseminated.[24] The result was Asuka. Asuka’s «father» is barely mentioned, though she claims that he was a renowned scientist and that the sperm bank was part of a eugenics program. However, despite her knowledge of her «father’s» achievements, Asuka still suffers from an inferiority complex. In her mind, the circumstances of her conception mean that she is nothing more than spare parts or that she is artificial in nature, although she puts another spin on this while talking about it with Shinji. The feelings of inferiority that accompany these opinions are what drive her to overachieve and overcompensate. Also, Asuka has repressed the memories of her mother’s death, making Arael’s attack on her psyche especially traumatic; it is revealed that at some point before her mother’s suicide, she tried to strangle Asuka.

The manga re-imagines the infamous hospital opening scene from The End of Evangelion with Asuka and Shinji, beginning much the same way it does in the movie. However, from here it diverges incredibly. Shinji shouts that the Asuka he wants isn’t the girl lying before him and Asuka seems to awaken from her coma and temporarily strangles Shinji. Luckily, NERV hospital staff separate the two and Shinji is led out as Asuka angrily screams that she hates everybody. Shinji breaks down crying over this and is traumatized by what she said to him.

The manga also re-imagines the battle between Asuka and the MP Evangelions from the End of Evangelion. While she is defeated by the MP Evangelions, neither her nor Unit-02 suffer the same fate as they do in the movie. Just when the MP Evangelions are about to finish her off, Shinji arrives in Unit-01 and defeats them. While initially wondering if Shinji was waiting for the right moment to appear, she is grateful that Shinji saved her. However, just when they thought it was over, the MP Evangelions reactivate due to them having S2 Engines Afterwards, Asuka watches as Unit-01 fully awakens, is stopped by the Lance of Longinus, which returned to Earth, and is crucified by the MP Evangelions. She then tearfully watches as the MP Evangelions drag Unit-01, with Shinji still in it, into the atmosphere and begin the Third Impact. Her transition guide is Kaji, which she takes to mean that Kaji loved her all along. She then reverts to LCL.

The final stage of the manga depicts a re-imagined world after Shinji rejected Instrumentality, a world in which none of the Children appear to have been Evangelion pilots. After disembarking a train at a station in Tokyo, Shinji hears a cry for help from the train carriage: a girl is unable to disembark due to the crowd of people getting on. Shinji grabs hold of her hand and manages to pull her through the crowd and onto the platform: the girl is revealed to be Asuka. As they introduce themselves, they both experience a strong feeling of déjà vu, as if they have met before. After an awkward moment, Asuka gives Shinji a special «thank you» by thanking him in German »(«Danke schön!»)» before each goes off on their own way.

Evangelion: ANIMA

Asuka as a human

Asuka in ANIMA.

In ANIMA, Asuka and Unit-02 were chosen as the keystones of Third Impact during SEELE’s invasion, but she was saved by Shinji in Unit-01. Three years later, Asuka is no longer as obsessed with victory and piloting as she once was. While still energetic and somewhat prideful, she’s now capable of dealing with defeat in a healthy way. In addition, she doesn’t seem to hate herself anymore, or to be so affected by the traumas of her childhood. All these improvements have allowed her to be more open with others, as well as with herself.

After helping Shinji in the fight against the rogue Rei Quatre and the first Angel Carriers in Volume 1, Asuka spends most of Volume 2 exploring the moon. There, she comes into contact with the Ark, an archive for the genetic information of all living beings that have ever existed. The overload of biological data ends up fusing Asuka and Unit-02 into one being, a human/Eva hybrid which receives the name of “Crimson A1.” In this form, she behaves like a curious little kid, and seems to be mysteriously attracted to Shinji/Super Eva’s heartbeat. Because of this, she goes with Armaros’ Torwätchers when they steal Shinji’s heart, because she believes them to be him. In Volume 4, during an introspective sequence, Shinji sees her again and she kisses him, declaring her love for him. This helps Shinji to rematerialize her, and she returns to human form.

Over the course of the three years since the avoided Third Impact, Asuka has mellowed enough to become friendly with Rei Trois. This continues after the other Reis gain independence, establishing a brief friendship with Rei Cinq and being very upset when she dies. Her interactions with Toji are also much more peaceful. She’s still good friends with Hikari, and this aspect of her personality remains even when she becomes Crimson A1. She also is in good terms with Misato, and seems to have gotten over her crush on Kaji.

Asuka’s relationship with Shinji has improved greatly, and thorough the course of the story it’s pretty clear the she cares a great deal about him. The first sign of this is when she fights an Angel Carrier on the moon. Realizing that they’re attracted to Shinji’s heartbeat, she yells “This heartbeat belongs to Shinji! It’s the sound of his life and his alone! I’ll never let a monster like you take it!” Later, right before she fuses with Unit-02, Asuka tries to maintain her ego by focusing on a book that Shinji had given her for the journey. While it works for a brief moment, it sadly doesn’t last. Her care for Shinji continues after becoming Crimson A1, with him being one of the few people she listens to. She even takes Super Eva by the hands and ‘teaches him to fly’ when its powers begin to fail. Their relationship becomes a key element for the plot of Volume 5, both at the start and at the end. It opens with Asuka, returned to normal, hugging Shinji in the entry plug of Super Eva and rescuing him from a berserk-like state. Then, during the climax of the final battle, Asuka, temporarily refused into the Crimson A1, summons a new Eva and a new body for Shinji, who had previously died. Asuka does this after Kaji tells her to “Think of the one you love. You must give him a vessel.”

Asuka as an Evangelion Synthesis

Main article: Crimson A1

Shinji Ikari Raising Project

Main article: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project (manga)

In this manga version, Asuka is a childhood friend of Shinji’s. Although she still makes fun of him, she’s also shown to have romantic feelings for him. As such, she was jealous when Rei joined them in school. The two of them dispute his attention for the remainder of the manga.

Neon Genesis Evangelion 2

Main article: Neon Genesis Evangelions

In this video-game, Asuka is heavily featured throughout the story and its many alternative scenarios. She is a playable character in Scenario 02 of the PS2 version, and Scenario 04 of the PSP version. She has Shinji’s highest «affection» stat in most scenarios.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days

Main article: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days

Similarly to SIRP, Asuka is Shinji’s childhood friend and has strong feelings for him. Her father and mother are mentioned and implied to be alive and well, and probably still married. Asuka and Shinji constantly get into fights and she is shown to be jealous of Rei and particularly Kaworu. At one point, Shinji is invited to play a concerto with Kaworu but he decides to take care of a sick Asuka instead. Her feelings of inferiority are preserved, and she tries to overcompensate, as she is especially violent in the earlier chapters of the series, but mellows out eventually. She and Shinji eventually realize their feelings and declare their feelings for one another, and by the ending are adjusting to being a couple.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: Gakuen Datenroku

Main article: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Gakuen Datenroku

Asuka is generally the same as she is depicted in the original manga and routinely teases Shinji. She is an artificially created child, like Rei and Kaworu. She is the only one of the three to have had parents or go to school prior to her current one. It is later revealed that on one of her first assignments, Asuka was forced to kill her mother after Angels took possession of her body. Despite her hatred of Angels, she still befriends Kaworu after he reveals his true heritage to her. Unlike other versions, she also seems to get along well with Rei, and is visibly upset when Rei is shot by Gendo. At the end of the series, she is shown attending school alongside Shinji and Rei, starting up a normal life after Gendo’s death and the defeat of the Angels.

Petit Eva: Evangelion@School

Main article: Petit Eva: Evangelion@School

In Petit Eva, Asuka is also shown to be Shinji’s childhood friend, constantly getting into fights. She is very energetic. In the Nintendo DS videogame adaptation, she also shows romantic interest in him and almost kisses him before being interrupted by Kensuke filming them and the rest of the cast watching them.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

In the 2007 anime Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann, Asuka, alongside Rei, as well other female characters from other Gainax works, appear in episode 6, dressed in bunny outfits working in a bathhouse. However, it is revealed by the end of the episode that those girls were instead beastmen in disguise.

Other characters include Mahoro from Mahoromatic, Nono, and Lal’c from Diebuster.

Edge Of Spider-Verse

Asuka makes a cameo appearance alongside Kaworu, Rei and Shinji in the fifth chapter of Marvel’s Edge of Spider-Verse storyline, as classmates of Peni Parker.

Others

Asuka is overall the most popular character in Evangelion-derived media, see List of Neon Genesis Evangelion media.

Asuka can be put in the player’s charger as her guardian in Ayanami Raising Project. Asuka’s endings include becoming a scientist, manga artist, singer, astronaut, nun, and more. She and Shinji share a comedic recount of their interactions in the series in ANIMATE Voice Cassette. In Girlfriend of Steel, Asuka is heavily suspicious of Mana being a spy and constantly feels jealous of her advances towards him. In her ending, she comforts Shinji after Mana’s death. In Girlfriend of Steel 2, Asuka is Shinji’s childhood friend. In her ending, she and Shinji sleep together and he sneaks into her ship, leaving for Germany together. She’s a playable character in Battle Orchestra and more.

Character Notes

Asuka’s early design

Asuka’s Japanese surname comes from the Japanese WWII aircraft carrier Souryuu. Her German surname comes from the American aircraft carrier Langley, also from WWII, while her mother’s name refers to the nearly completed Nazi German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin. Her first name comes from Asuka Saki (砂姫 明日香[?], «Saki Asuka«), who is the main character of a Japanese manga «SuperGirl Asuka» (超少女明日香[?], «Cho-Shojo Asuka«) written by Shinji Wada (和田 慎二[?], «Wada Shinji«). Her mother’s first name, «Kyoko», also comes from that manga’s character Kyoko Aoi (葵 今日子[?], «Aoi Kyoko«). «明日 Asu» means «tomorrow» and «今日 Kyo» means «today» in Japanese.[25][26]

Sketches of Asuka’s early plugsuit design

For her scenes featuring German terms, Anno asked for help from an American employee of Gainax, Michael House, who used high school knowledge of the language, and a Japanese-German dictionary from a local library.[27] Gainax did not pay attention to the dialogues’ German grammar, believing the series would never be successful enough to be distributed to native German speakers.[28][5] Anno originally placed Asuka with a clear-cut personality, but the character rapidly gained his affection and he spontaneously started to develop her further. He says the character was truly born when he created the «Are you stupid?» line.[29][30][31] Asuka eventually became his favorite character.[32] Miyamura had originally auditioned for the role of Rei.[33] Miyamura also designed Asuka’s stuffed monkey doll.[34]

Asuka’s story reflected the changes in the latter half of the series: although she had been introduced in an essentially positive role, her character became increasingly dramatic and introverted, going against the expectations and the pleasure principle of anime fans. In the twenty-second episode, Anno focused on her troubled emotional state, harassed by her first menstrual cycle, but not considering himself capable of exploring such a delicate and feminine theme, he condensed everything into a single scene.[35] Like other characters, Anno based Asuka on himself, and along Shinji and Misato, Anno considered Asuka as part of his conscious self. Anno felt difficulty in representing a female character, and liked to read romance novels written by women to better understand their feelings.[36] His original intent was a long live action segment for the film:[37] the original segment focused on Asuka. In the alternate universe, Shinji would never have existed; walking the streets of Tokyo-2, however, Asuka would hear his voice calling her, voiced by Anno.[38] Sadamoto conceived their dance training in the manga as akin to a «kiss», underlining his psychological connection «with a girl he loves», in place of kiss scene in Episode 15. Asuka would be Shinji’s symbol for his longing for the opposite sex, differently from Rei’s «motherly» existence.[39] As such, he decided to give Rei more room in the manga, emphasizing Rei’s maternal role.[40] Shinji Higuchi, one of the chief animators and Shinji’s namesake, had a large part in animating Asuka’s scenes and came to feel for her as a daughter. He felt very strange to be called «idiot» and later «brat» by her during recording[41]

In a Newtype poll from March 2010, Asuka was voted as the third most popular female anime character from the 1990s. The June 2010 issue of Newtype ranked Asuka Shikinami Langley No. 8 in its monthly top 10 character survey. One reviewer describes her fatal flaw as «excessive Pride», noting that her mother goes insane after taking a test pilot experience on herself just as Asuka suffers a mental breakdown or contamination when challenging the 16th Angel herself.[42] Mike Crandol, also of ANN, states that «Again it is Asuka that it is most interesting to consider in this [semi-romantic] light. Sensing a kindred soul beneath her aggressive exterior (or perhaps admiring the determination he lacks), Shinji comes to love her, but does not know how to express it. Likewise, it is hinted that Asuka has similarly romantic feelings for Shinji, but her ego prevents her from admitting it even to herself.»[43] Pete Harcoff of Anime Critic described Asuka as providing much of the comic relief, while also being an «annoying snot».[44] IGN ranked her as the 13th greatest anime character of all time, saying that «On the surface, she’s a simple character. … But as the series progresses we see that her pride is a cover for deeper emotions and deep, deep psychological problems.»[45] Japanese critic Manabu Tsuribe considers that End of Evangelion was concluded by Shinji finding «an other» in her.[46] For Hiroki Azuma, Asuka was the «symbol of the outside» in the world of Evangelion, taking Shinji away from his comfort zone in the «Nerv family», in contrast to Rei, who’d play an «imaginary healing» role, Asuka would be an independent person in reality. Japanese band speena wrote a song about their relationship, «ジレンマ» (Dillema), on her having love/hate relationship with hism despite her feelings.[47]

Asuka was initially less successful and popular than Rei, however over time Rei’s popularity gave in to Asuka’s, particularly with the release of Evangelion 3.0.[48] She is consistently ranked the most popular character in merchandising sales.[49] Asuka is also credited as being highly influential in establishing the tsundere archetype in subsequent anime.[50]

Non-franchise Video Games

Asuka appears in the Super Robot Wars game series, where she often butts heads with equally hot-headed and intelligent Kouji Kabuto, the pilot of Mazinger Z and Mazinkaiser. She is also implied to have developed crushes on famous heroes, such as Char Aznable (in the guise of Quattro Bageena) and Amuro Ray. However, the writers of the Super Robot Wars are evidently believers in Asuka and Shinji’s suppressed feelings for each other. For example, in Super Robot Wars Alpha, Asuka jealously seizes a bouquet of roses Shinji meant for Lynn Minmei. In Super Robot Wars Alpha 3, she snaps Shinji out of his depressed state during the battle with the mass-produced Evas by declaring that she could not be with someone who’d simply lie down and die.

In KOF: Maximum Impact 2 the character Leona Heidern has an alternate costume that resembles Asuka’s plug suit. She also has a costume that resembles Rei.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 EVA If it weren’t for Sadamoto – Redux Translation of interview with Yoshiyuki Sadamoto about designing the series.: «An easily recognizable silhouette is also important, but I designed the characters so that their personalities could be more or less understood at a glance. For example, even the color and length of the hair expresses personality. I thought that Asuka would occupy the position of an «idol» in the Eva world, and that [Asuka and] Shinji should be just like the relationship between Nadia and Jean.»
  2. ↑ Evangelion Proposal
  3. ↑ Sadamoto, The Other Side of the Story
  4. ↑ Parano, pp.99
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 In her phone conversation with her stepmother in Part A, Asuka speaks German. The contents of which are roughly as follows: «Hello? Mother? We just finished eating. What about you? You want me to introduce him? Please, of course not. He’s not sociable. Uh-huh, uh-huh. Really, wow, I didn’t know. That’s great. I don’t have anything to say, either. Talk to you again later. I’m hanging up, okay? Well, goodnight!» This dialogue was not written in the script, and was left up to Yuko Miyamura, who plays Asuka. — Platinum Episode Commentaries
  6. ↑ Ritsuko’s name, incidentally, was borrowed from a girlfriend of series creator Hideaki Anno that introduced him to sci-fi and shojo manga.:

    In junior high school, Anno had a friend — nowadays, he says, you would call her a girlfriend — named Ritsuko, who had a major impact on his life and introduced him to sci-fi and shojo manga — 2nd June Interview

  7. ↑ Kaji is named from the Japanese word for «rudder», forming a triad with Gendo and Shinji, whose surnames come from the words of other ship components, «anchor» (Ikari) and «sextant» (Rokubungi). See Character Name Origins
  8. ↑ According to Megumi Ogata, Shinji’s voice actress, the scene itself was modeled on a experience of a female friend of Anno’s. This friend got into an argument with her boyfriend, and at some point he choker her in rage. Instead of reacting violently, this friend felt no fear, hatred or even a need for survivl, but rather a desire to caress him tenderly. In response, her boyfriend lost her grip. However, Anno’s friend instead grew cold, and muttered Asuka’s line from the EoE draft almost verbatim. Ogata believes this scene was how Anno wanted to «convey different ways how to bring feelings of love to a conclusion that exist in reality. You are you, I am I». Naturally, this reflects on the films f individuality and the duality of reaching out to others present in Eva.
    Anno also guided Ogata to treat OMF partly as a separate story: «as something that just exists. As if everything that happened before in the movie is merely a dream that never happened. It is its own narrative unity, something that can fundamentally be taken away from its context in the movie and still be interpreted as a dramatic whole. It is and is not the final scene of EoE.»
    Furthermore, Ogata asked Anno to help her understand what Anno wanted to convey through the scene and how Shinji is supposed to act. Hearing this, Anno first stands silent and confused for a moment. Then he firmly wraps his arms around himself and hugs himself. This is on the «purpose» of what he is trying to express. As for how Ogata should play Shinji Anno asks her to not play Shinji: » «For this scene alone, I want Ogata to take on and express my feelings rather than Shinji’s» — Koji Ide’s Evangelion Forever
  9. ↑ Asuka says, «This is the wall of Jericho, never to fall!» of the sliding door that separates the two rooms, but the «Wall of Jericho» is a reference to the Western film It Happened One Night (1934, America). In the movie, a rich runaway girl and an unemployed newspaper reporter end up spending a night in the same room, and they put a blanket as a divider, calling it the «Wall of Jericho.» Incidentally, the original «Wall of Jericho» is a castle wall that appears in the Bible. [Note: And it is known for being taken down in the Biblical story, despite being supposedly invincinle. In the film, the girl loses her initial disdain for the reporter and they begin to fall in love. Asuka is, in effect, daring Shinji to take the walls down, a reference lost on him.]

    Also, she says, «It is proper that boys and girls sleep apart after the age of seven,» but the correct proverb is «it is proper that the boys and girls sit apart after the age of seven.» This is a saying in the ancient Chinese Confucian text of The Book of Rites, and the seat refers to a straw mat. In ancient China, sitting on the same mat meant that the two were husband and wife. Is it the genius girl’s pride that leads her to want to use difficult sayings, even though she’s not supposed to be used to Japanese yet? -Platinum Episode Commentaries

  10. ↑ «Why does Asuka want to kiss Shinji? Even assuming she was spiteful of Kaji, one doesn’t understand the real underlying motive. After the kiss, Asuka states: «I did it just to kill time.» She yells, as if to make Shinji perceive it and to confirm it to herself, as if she wants to hide some embarrassment» — Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book vol 5, pp. 44–45.
  11. ↑ And likewise, after the kiss scene from Episode Fifteen, «Lies and Silence,» there is a new scene showing her looking frustrated after rinsing her mouth. And from Asuka’s dialogue that overlaps these scenes, it becomes clear that she has been looking for help and love from Shinji.

    — Episode 22 Commentaries

  12. ↑ In Japanese, «to hold [someone]» a double entendre of «having sex with». In effect, Asuka is not only lamenting that Shinji won’t support her and hold her during the kiss, but that he didn’t even at least give her affection through sex. Incidentally, to amplify the Misato/Kaji and Ritsuko/Gendo parallels, in Episode 25, during Misato’s Instrumentality section, she is questioned by Ritsuko why she slept with Kaji. Ritsuko uses the same euphemism as Asuka: «Is that why you slept with him?» (itself an euphemism in Enlgish), in the Japanese literally «Is that why you held/embraced him?». Likewise, Misato replies, «No, I embraced him because I loved him.». Similarly, in Episode 24, when Ritsuko is confronted by Gendo during her imprisonment, she tells him, literally: «Now that I ain’t happy even if you hold me. You can do anything you like to my body, as you did at that time.». In the English dub, the context here is more obvious, so it’s outright translated as «when you make love to me».
  13. ↑ In the expanded Director’s Cut version of Episode 22, Anno also took inspiration from a 1996 doujin by author Nobi Nobita called Bridal Veil, which depicted an expanded mindrape scene itself. Curiously, while making his own scene, Anno made it clear that Asuka’s feelings were directed at Shinji, having supplanted her crush for Kaji. It also adds more lines for Asuka bemoaning Shinji and makes this context even clearer by adding additional past scenes with Asuka and Shinji, like him rescuing her in Episode 10. This isn’t made clear in the doujin, wherein it seems ambiguous if she’s talking about Shinji or Kaji. This doujin has been translated on Evageeks and a full scanlation is also available on its thread.
  14. ↑ In the original Japanese, Asuka uses the idiomatic expression «I know you’ve been using me as a side dish». In Japanese, «using something as a side dish» is an expression for using something or someone for one’s erotic fantasies, but with the underlying implication that the person using the «side dish» is too scared to actually act on their feelings. As such, Asuka might even be implying that Shinji could have had the «real thing» before, but hesitated.
  15. ↑ In an earlier draft for End of Evangelion, Shinji would have simply masturbated in his rom, thinking of her. This further reinforces Asuka’s implication that this was a habit of his, not only a spur-of-the-moment act. Shinji’s face as he orgasmed would have been shown also.
  16. ↑ Yuko Miyamura describes Asuka in 2007 as «what we now call a tsundere. It’s Shinji that she’s interested in as a member of the opposite sex, but she cannot really show it» — FLASH EX Neon Genesis Evangelion Feature
  17. ↑ Evangelion Cardass Masters: «Shinji renounced the world where all hearts had melted into one and accepted each other unconditionally. His desire… to live with ‘others’ — other hearts that would sometimes reject him, even deny him. That is why the first thing he did after coming to his senses was to place his hands around Asuka’s neck. To feel the existence of an ‘other’. To confirm (make sure of) rejection and denial.» «In the sea of LCL, Shinji wished for a world with other people. He desired to meet them again, even if it meant he would be hurt and betrayed. And just as he had hoped/wanted, Asuka was present in the new world. Only Asuka was there beside him. The girl who he had hurt, and by whom he had been hurt. But even so, she was the one he had hoped/wished for….» «Neither Yui, Rei nor Misato could do as a woman for Shinji. Asuka alone was the only girl on equal footing with him. So, Shinji desired/sought after Asuka. «I’m afraid of Misato and Ayanami.» However, Shinji’s crude affection only hurt her. In the end, he used her as an object of lust/desire to soothe/ console himself…»
    — D-88, D-84, P-66, P-68, H-11, full set here
  18. ↑ Shinji/Asuka: Colleague-Complicated Feelings;Colleague-Love/Hate
    Rei/Shinji: Colleague-Favorable;
    Kaworu/Shinji: Colleague-Favorable
    «Proud and assertive, Asuka possessed many strong qualities but lacked the ability to truly control her feelings. […]It was only after Kaji’s death and the Fifteenth Angel’s psychological attack that Asuka came to realize Shinji and Kaji both occupied a similar place in her heart. This realization was quite shocking to Asuka, as she had thus far gone out of her way to dismiss and mock Shinji whenever possible.
    Asuka’s default behaviour toward Shinji emphasized mockery and distaste, though she couldn’t deny also feeling some semblance of romantic interest toward him. When their synchronicity levels «officially» indicated that Shinji was superior to Asuka in some way, she started suffering a kind of psychological instability and had a hard time dealing with the love/hate she felt for him»
    By chance, Asuka observed Rei and Shinji sharing a conversation. Asuka felt a very dark emotion welling up inside of her as she watched Shinji enjoying himself in Rei’s company.
    During Instrumentality, Asuka encountered Shinji inside his inner world and told him she didn’t need anything if she couldn’t have all of him. Despite the significance of this statement, Shinji’s response was vague at best and he only sought a place at her side because it was a «comfortable» place to be. Hurt by the notion that she was nothing more than an escape for Shinji, Asuka outright rejected him. As a result, the Human Instrumentality Project did not reach its intended result, and any changes to the relationship between Asuka and Shinji were left unclear.
    «Though Shinji and Asuka are both EVA pilots and living under the same roof、they are polar opposites. Despite their differences、Shinji did feel an attraction to Asuka at certain moments throughout their time together. When Shinji expressed his feelings to Asuka and sought her help during his instrumentality、she outright rejected him. Shinji and Asuka in the new world where the Human Instrumentality Project was not fulfilled Shinji had chosen a world where others existed、and for him Asuka became the first «Other».
    «Asuka Langley Soryu Piloting EVA-02 was Asuka’s way of maintaining her self-respect, and it also served to deepen her confusing love/hate for Shinji. Her repeated failures in combat against the Angels during the war had forced Asuka to face her own weaknesses, and though she did make a comeback during SEELE’s forced requisition of NERV headquarters, she fell in battle against the mass-production model EVA units. Immediately after Asuka’s defeat, the Human Instrumentality Project was activated, Asuka was the first «other» to exist in the new world that was created when Shinji wished for a world where others existed, and she was found lying. next to Shinji.»
    — The Essential Evangelion Chronicle, Side B
  19. ↑ «Shinji meets Rei in the sea of ​​L.C.L. while Human Instrumentality with Unit 01 as a substitute is in progress. Shinji didn’t want a world where his boundaries were gone and he was nowhere else. Shinji’s eyes tell that he that he will accept the fear of others, the strength of life that moves forward while being frightened can be seen. When their consciousness returned to reality, Shinji and Asuka lie in a world where Human Instrumentality is incomplete.
    In the world where Shinji wanted to have others, Asuka became the first stranger, and Shinji reaches out to her [for her neck]. It is difficult to understand Shinji’s emotions as he wonders if Asuka is the one who will hurt him or the one who will complement him.
    Shinji and Asuka stand alone in a space where no one else is around. In her mental world, Shinji was rejected while expressing her feelings to Asuka and asking her for her salvation, but the relationship between the two can/will* change in the new world.»     — Evangelion Chronicle Vol. 22, alternate translation from the Japanese
    *Translator’s notes: «The verb kawaru (変わる) means to change. In this passage, we have kawatte (変わって), which means changed. Add iku (いく) and it means changing. Add nodarou (のだろう) means probably. [The relationship] will probably change. The nature of such indefinite change means it is still likely unclear. So those two sentences basically say the same thing (unclear vs will change). The former wording is used in the English translation of the Essential digest version, while the latter is used in the French translation.
  20. ↑ 24. Opening of a Dream (Piano – Leave It To Version)
    Shinji’s independence that he bid farewell to his mother and chose to live in the world of others despite the fact that he would hurt others is portrayed in this song with a somewhat sad piano solo. It is as if it suggested the relationship between the project of EVANGELION and the audiences. — Refrain of Evangelion booklet interview
  21. ↑ It’s still a long way off, but what will the end be like? Will it be about the connection between Shinji and Asuka like the anime?
    That’s the hard part. I don’t know how it will turn out yet. I want to make a happy ending, but it’s difficult to say what is happy. The movie version is happy in its own way. Humans are nothing when they are born and at the moment of death, so if the process of living is not enjoyable, they cannot live. Shinji had a hard time, but he wanted to live. That’s why he’s happy. — Sadamoto The Other Side of the Story, Newtype December 1997
  22. ↑ Ogata actually choking Miyamura for the EoE scenes was clearly consensual, despite rumours to the contrary.
  23. ↑ Screenwriter Akio Satsukawa, who worked on twelve Evangelion episodes, also worked with Anno on Love & Pop, a 1998 live-action romantic drama film. Anno had first approached Satsukawa about the project, which he felt was a way for Anno to «run away from Eva». They had inserted some references to Eva and particularly End of Evangelion in the film. Notably, the shooting version of the script began with the same line as Asuka’s final line in End of Evangelion: Disgusting (Kimochi warui), but this was edited out of the movie at the last moment. Satsukawa noted the thematic similarity with Eva, and felt Love & Pop was almost like a continuation of Evangelion, and Anno said he was attracted to the protagonist, a mentally ill girl with multiple personalities. In fact, the movie starts in the same date End of Evangelion was released.- Love & Pop Theatrical Booklet (1998)
  24. ↑ Volume 9 of the manga features two characters that bear a strong visual similarity to Mari Makinami Illustrious from the Rebuilds movies, leading many fans to assume they were the same character as Mari or somehow had links to her, in addition to her bonus chapter appearence. Despite this, this chapter was written before Evangelion: 1.0, many years before Mari was so much as conceptualized, and her later appearance in the bonus chapter almost ten years later was denied as being purely fanservice, as Sadamoto had no involvement with Mari’s character besides her design, and has repeatedly denied links between the manga and the Rebuild movies. Thus, Asuka’s stepmother and stepsister in the manga are entirely different characters, and not Mari.
  25. ↑ https://jisho.org/word/%E6%98%8E%E6%97%A5
  26. ↑ https://jisho.org/search/%E4%BB%8A%E6%97%A5
  27. ↑ https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/2011-house
  28. ↑ The Indestructible Studio Gainax, ANN
  29. ↑ «I want to be told, «What are you, stupid?» Miyamura and Anno interview, Animage July 1996.
  30. ↑ For example, for the role of Asuka in Evangelion there are some lines in German, so the director told me I had to take German lessons. Off I went to Nova [a major language school in Japan] to study.

    So how’s your German now? Well, at the time I was doing the role I could hold an ordinary, everyday conversation, but my German lines in Evangelion were all military jargon. So my lessons were basically worthless. — MixxZine 1999 Interview with Yuko Miyamura

  31. ↑ This episode depicts the actions of Eva Unit-02 and its pilot, Asuka Langley Sohryu. Starting here, the series charges into the second part, the “Action Arc,” which depicts battles with various Angels in standalone episodes. The spirited character of Asuka ushers in a new phase of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Apparently, Asuka’s character became solidified in Director Anno’s mind when he came up with the lines “This is my Chance!” and “What are you, stupid?!” — Platinum Episode Commentaries
  32. ↑ “Vir­tual Pan­el! Meet Hideaki An­no,” Ani­mer­ica vol.4, no.9
  33. ↑ https://twitter.com/khara_inc/status/1312610900302413825
  34. ↑ «It was extremely difficult/painful to tear apart the stuffed monkey doll in episode 22. Can you understand this feeling?

    ONE DAY,
    Director Anno: «Hey, what kind of stuffed animal do you like?»
    Miyamura: «Monkeys (heart mark)»
    Director Anno: «Because that’s what you’re going to trample.»
    Miyamura: «Huh!?» ….

    WHY~???
    (Drawing of Asuka’s stuffed monkey doll sweating bullets)
    «Beware the traps of Director Anno…»

    [Note: Asuka’s stuffed monkey doll is a pre-Eva character drawn by
    Miyamura Yuko, and is her trademark, appearing in many of her other
    works and sometimes her autograph.]
    LD Liner Notes Vol.4: Voices from the Cast — Miyamura Yuko

  35. ↑ 2nd JUNE Interview
  36. ↑ Eva Special Talk with Anno Hideaki and Toshiya Ueno (Newtype 11/1996) alt. translation
  37. ↑ Genesis 0:0 — In The Beginning
  38. ↑ http://style.fm/as/05_column/animesama62.shtml
  39. ↑ Sadamoto: Like in the anime, Asuka will act like she is a «good girl,» but have a second aspect to her personality. I think it would be good if I can make Asuka an existence that, to Shinji as a member of opposite sex, he can respect to a certain extent and feels longing for. Sometimes a friend, sometimes a rival, but sometimes a member of the opposite sex.
    […]
    I decided not to do the kiss scene that was present in the anime as part of the storyline where Asuka and Shinji have to come together in unison in order to defeat the angel. From a boy’s point of view, the first kiss is an enchanting incident. But if you start to think about what a kiss is, isn’t it the first incident where you connect physically with the girl you love? But to me it is more real that before that psychological connection comes first. Moreover, I felt I could depict the psychological connection between fourteen-year-olds as being more pure than that between adults. For me, the scene depicted in the manga where they dance together to the music is something like a kiss.
    […] Sadamoto: I think, if you take Asuka as being, for Shinji, a symbol of the longed-for opposite sex, Rei is «maternal.» For one, it seems like she has the genetic material of Shinji’s mother. For myself, if I am asked who between Asuka and Rei I like more, it is probably because somewhere in Rei there is something motherly, and when Shinji looks disheartened she «scolds» him ever so softly. Rei asks Shinji, «Are you running away again?» Quite often she says harsh things that really get down to the point. It would be ideal if a friend of his would say it, but for some reason that doesn’t happen. That [action of Rei’s] is because a mother will absolutely not abandon her child. I think that, for Shinji, Rei is that sort of motherly existence. — Sadamoto interview, Newtype 1997
  40. ↑ Asuka and her relationship with Shinji have a central role in the series, while in the manga she is kept in the background compared to Rei. What is the reason for this difference?(laughs) Anno and I have a different point of view on this. The manga is less spectacular than the anime, there’s less action, so I preferred to focus on the relationship between Shinji and his mother, which is the core of my work. The anime, on the other hand, precisely because it’s more spectacular, has another point of view. Of course, the relationship between me and my mother is different (laughs). A manga that influenced me a lot was Hyouryuu Kyoushitsu, by Kazuo Umezuo, which talks about the relationship between mother and son. Any mother in the world wants the best for her child, and my manga is about that. — Sadamoto Days – i fan meet e l’intervista
  41. ↑ «Evangelion is a work closely related to director Shinji Higuchi’s name to the extent that the name of the main character was used. In the TV series, director Shinji Higuchi mainly participated in the part where ‘Asuka’ appeared. «She feels like a daughter,» he said of Asuka.»
    «Honestly, it didn’t feel good to keep being called by my name during the recording process. Others keep calling me ‘idiot’ (ばか). Asuka used to call me a fool in the TV series and the old movie version, but the new theatrical version I became a kid (がKI) in Es. It was painful to listen to.»
    «     — GameFocus interview with Higuchi
  42. ↑ «An extrapolation of these verses also incorporates the eventual similar ‘fate’ and punishment of parents and children. With this in mind, the seeming parallels are shocking:…Asuka’s mother, after direct (1st level) contact with an Angel, goes ‘insane’ and eventually kills herself. Asuka, after direct contact with the 16th Angel, as well as an extremely wounded hubris (excessive Pride), has a complete mental breakdown and attempts to commit suicide, but fails; she is effectively ‘dead.'» Kenneth Lee, in «The Thin Veneer Known as «Evangelion»», ANN; Lee also describes Asuka in one scene as «completely misanthropic».
  43. ↑ Understanding Evangelion
  44. ↑ Neon Genesis Evangelion
  45. ↑ 25 Greatest Anime Characters
  46. ↑ Prison of Self-consciousness: an Essay on Evangelion «In my view, The End of Evangelion ended on the phase when Shinji, the hero, found Asuka as «the other.» For Shinji, Asuka is an ambiguous existence. On the one hand she lectures and inspires him because she minds him, but on the other she is also an existence beyond his control-the other that can never be interiorized. Asuka’s ambiguity is also the ambiguity of the work Evangelion as it is.»
  47. ↑ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B8%E3%83%AC%E3%83%B3%E3%83%9E_(speena%E3%81%AE%E6%9B%B2)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oklwi4GKrcE
  48. ↑ Creator Hideaki Anno Discusses Rei Versus Asuka
  49. ↑ Eva Store’s Character Popularity Poll Yields Surprising Results
  50. ↑ How To Identify Popular Japanese Character Types

Asuka Shikinami Langley (式波・アスカ・ラングレー[?]) is a fictional character from the Rebuild of Evangelion movie series. She first appears in Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance. She is the designated pilot of the Evangelion Unit-02 (including its repaired variations), as well as the test pilot of the ill-fated Evangelion Unit-03.

Profile & Appearance

Much like her original series’ incarnation, Asuka Shikinami Langley is a very proud individual, especially in her piloting, and comes across to others as proud and strong, with a very high opinion of both her appearance and her skill as an Eva pilot. She does not like being looked down upon or told what to do as she wants to be viewed as an adult and be praised for her piloting skills. She is aggressive and can be very opinionated. this version of Asuka is significantly different in terms of her history and characteristics compared to Asuka Langley Sohryu: instead of graduating University at the age of 14, she joined the European Air Force, reaching the rank of Captain at age 14, she lacks a fear/hatred of dolls; as she would play with a hand puppet when in low spirits.[1] Other significant differences include her never having any obsessive crush on Ryoji Kaji, not being a close friend of Hikari Horaki, more open to others as she feels open attraction towards Shinji, helps Rei so she can host a dinner party with Shinji and Gendo, lastly she confides to Misato shortly before piloting Unit-03 and joins WILLE under Misato.

In 3.0, 14 years after Near Third Impact, as result of the 14 years of constant war and struggle against remnants of NERV that still intended to cause another Impact, she became colder and far more aggressive than she used to be in spite of retaining most of her former personality. Her voice-actress noted that her current personality was comparable with that of an embittered mercenary. Though she actually worried about Shinji (possibly more than Misato), this worry still didn’t abate her anger for the destruction that he inadvertently caused during the fight against 10th Angel. Unfortunately, because of everything she has gone through and her own anger towards Shinji she had no chance to tell him about Near Third Impact that he inadvertently caused. To make matters worse, the said anger also pressured Shinji into further being manipulated by Gendo and SEELE, had she put aside her anger and tried to reason with Shinji, he possibly wouldn’t have caused Fourth Impact in the first place (in an allusion to both End of Evangelion and Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA). In spite of her negative interactions, Asuka actually never intended to let him die or run away from his problems after Near Third Impact.

Asuka seems to have a thematic association with cats; in Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo her Beast Mode has a distinctly feline appearance. She also wears both a hat and a helmet that have cat ear-shaped adornments. She also wears an eye-patch over her left eye. The latter glows during the course of the movie, showing that her left eye is maybe still intact but somewhat mutated.

Story

Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance

Asuka’s first appearance

Asuka makes her first appearance shortly after defeating the Seventh Angel in her Evangelion Unit-02 (S-Type Equipment).

Asuka´s pride is put to the test when Misato tells her that Rei invited Shinji to a dinner at her house, while at the time Asuka was cooking for Shinji also since she wanted to get his attention away from Rei, even later meeting Rei on a NERV elevator (the scene is much like Episode 22 from the series). Here she mocks Rei for being the Commander´s toy, and remarks that Shinji and Rei only became pilots due to their connections with Gendo, while she was chosen as a «real» pilot entirely because of her skill. Rei states that she is not a toy and just as Asuka intends to slap her, Rei stops her. Asuka feels empathy toward her as she sees her fingers wounded due to the cooking, and as she leaves the lift, Asuka asks Rei whether she likes Shinji. Rei explains that she doesn’t know, but states that she just wants to make him happy, to which Asuka, saddened, throws a temper tantrum, though not before telling herself that Rei indeed likes Shinji.[2]

After this event she takes on the role of the test pilot for the activation of Unit-03 after the incident in the USA with Unit-04. She chooses to do so on her own will as an act of kindness towards Rei, who intended to reunite Shinji with Commander Ikari at the same day of the activation test. On the way to the testing base, Rei through Ritsuko´s cellphone thanks Asuka, an act that makes Asuka oddly happy, since she admits to enjoying her solitude but comments that she has come to enjoy others’ company as well. Misato and Asuka are brought closer by a conversation not long prior to the test, where Asuka tells herself that she can even pilot with a big smile just before the capsule is contaminated by the Ninth Angel.

Asuka is not seen for the rest of the film other than in a quarantine chamber with Angel-sealing Hex Pillars. Ritsuko says that although she is alive, her mind has the possibility of being corrupted due to the Eva unit having been possessed by an Angel.

Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo

In Evangelion 3.0: You Can (Not) Redo, Asuka is one of the Evangelion pilots of the WILLE organization. While waiting to launch Operation US to recover Unit 01, Asuka is looking at the Moon and recites a poem[3] before being surprised by Mari, the other pilot, wearing her school uniform and asking her if she agrees the Moon is beauiful. Mari asks Asuka if she agrees that the moon is beautiful.[4] Mari explains she wants Shinji to be able to easily recognize them once he’s recovered. Misato’s plan is for Mari to lead the operation with Asuka in support, as her Unit-08 is less damaged, but Mari suggests Asuka take the lead instead for Shinji’s sake. Asuka however is reluctant, and believes Shinji himself is dead and unrecoverable. Looking back on memories of Shinji and Misato before Third Impact, Asuka changes her mind, and puts on her old plugsuit from the previous film and improvises a repair. As they launch, Mari sings to Asuka.[5][6] In space, she faces several Evangelion Mark.04 units, ultimately saved by Shinji awakening inside Unit 01. She shows aggression toward Shinji during their reunion out of both concern and his involvement in Near Third Impact, ranging up to a punch in the window of the room where he is enclosed. She informs him about the «Curse of Eva» which prevents pilots from physically aging before leaving, obviously too upset to explain to Shinji about what has happened on Earth. Suddenly, Evangelion Mark.09 attacks AAA Wunder, prompting Asuka to have Mari destroy it. However, the said Evangelion escapes, much to Asuka’s exasperation, before she calls Shinji a «brat» as she knows that they have no chance to reveal NERV’s true nature.

Asuka is later seen again with Unit-02, where she intercepts Shinji and Kaworu piloting Evangelion 13. She is shocked that Shinji has piloted another Eva, and demands him to get out of it immediately. Before she can incapacitate Evangelion 13, Evangelion Mark.09 attacks her and nearly dismembers her Evangelion before Mari intervenes with Anti-A.T. Field bullets. As she attacks Evangelion 13, Asuka tries to reason to the misguided Shinji that his actions would cause Fourth Impact and aggressively demands him to stop, even going so far as to threaten him with death. Unfortunately, her Evangelion’s power supply runs out, which gives Shinji the opportunity to swat her aside much to her frustration.

Horrified that he would go too far by removing two spears from Evangelion Mark.06 that fuses with Lilith’s remains, Asuka orders Mari to destroy Evangelion 13 by using Anti-A.T. Field bullets, only for the efforts to be proved futile when the bullets pass through it, and Shinji successfully pulls both spears. The process causes Lilith to explode, and Evangelion Mark.06 is freed from Lilith’s remains. Worse, Evangelion Mark.09 decapitates the said Eva and releases the Twelfth Angel inside. The freed Angel immediately turns into a giant core and Asuka attempts, futilely, to destroyed it. As she and Mari watch, the transformed Twelfth Angel shrinks in size and is devoured by Evangelion 13 and awakes, becoming a Radiant Giant and rising at high speed from Central Dogma in the process. This starts the Fourth Impact.

She and Mari, with their respective Evangelions immediately climb to the surface and watch AAA Wunder being attacked by Mark.09, which has become Adam’s Vessel. Asuka goes to intercept Adam’s vessel, and immediately resorts to using Beast Mode to attack it. The bewildered Rei Ayanami (Tentative Name) in Adam’s Vessel is confused on what her deceased incarnation would do, to which Asuka says she should decide by herself, prompting Rei to eject herself from Adam’s Vessel. When Adam’s Vessel ultimately reveals that its whole body as core with regeneration and counterattacks, Asuka reluctantly has her Eva self-destruct, but not without ejecting herself.

An unspecified amount of time after the end of the battle, Asuka finds Shinji’s entry plug in the wasteland created by the Fourth Impact and finds him in an unresponsive state. She drags him through the desert, with Rei following, to «where the Lilin are».

Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time

Guiding Shinji and Rei through the outskirts of Tokyo-3, Asuka arrives at a town comprised of survivors.[7]

When not on the Wunder she lives with Kensuke, much like with Mari on the Wunder, and he cares for her as a father figure,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Asuka would rather isolate herself from the rest of the community.[16] After Kensuke leaves on a supply run, Asuka takes a shower and strolls around naked in his house and finds Shinji. Asuka waits for Shinji to do something, but he remains catatonic. This irritates Asuka greatly, as she expected Shinji to «blush a bit or be impressed» at her naked body.[17] Shinji notices she is also wearing a DSS Choker, and vomits, still traumatized by Kaworu’s death. Kensuke appears, covers Asuka, and cleans Shinji’s vomit. They talk and Asuka expresses irritation at Shinji’s inaction, but Kensuke defends him. Asuka starts using a scarf around her neck to avoid triggering Shinji again. Asuka explains to Shinji how their existence in the village is full of hardships, and force-feeds him protein bars. Later, Kensuke finds out Shinji ran away, but before leaving to retrieve him, thanks her for feeding Shinji, to which Asuka responds: «It’s not like I did it for him or anything». She keeps playing with her game console during those times, but leaves it behind when she goes to watch him.

When the Wunder arrives to pickup Asuka, Shinji insists on going with her, much to her surprise, she brings him with her authority as Temporary Special Senior Major from WILLE, not before knocking him out. Mari teases Asuka over Shinji again in their shared room, now filled with books, telling her she thought Asuka didn’t care for «boys his age», but Asuka expresses that Shinji «needs a mother, not a girlfriend». When the Wunder prepares to go to Antartica, Mari and Asuka get their new plugsuits. Asuka decides she needs to talk with Shinji. Shinji admits he failed to take responsibility during the incident with the Ninth Angel. Recognizing Shinji is growing up, Asuka confesses she loved him before the incident with the Ninth Angel, but she «grew up first».[18]

In the initial stages of the Operation Yamato at Antarctica, both Asuka and Mari fights hordes of Evangelion Mark.07s by fighting as a duo, showing much more unisson than the previous fight in the NERV HQ and previous missions. Asuka leaves Mari to deal with the defensive weapons that guard Evangelion 13 as she tries to stop it using the Shutdown Override Signal Plug. As she tries to pierce 13’s core, her own unit emmits its own A.T. Field stopping it. Upon this, Asuka decides to takes off her eye-patch and reveals the Ninth Angel was still inside her, she removes the Angel-Sealing Hex Pillar from her eyes and injects Angel blood into [[Evangelion Unit-02 (Rebuild)/New Unit-02α|]]. Before she could do anything, Evangelion 13 awakens and destroys the new form hand and the Shutdown Signal too. Evangelion 13 removes her entry plug from inside the New Unit-02α. Inside the entry plug, she meets another Asuka, there she shows her collar, showing the Angel infection and the DSS Choker activated and exploded, but before it could rip her head off, the other Asuka removes her from the plugsuit, disolving her body and leaving before the DSS finished the explosion. During this, Asuka meets «her original», revealing that she is a member of the Shikinami series of clones. WILLE can’t detect New Unit-02α activity and her pilot status is unknown, not long after, the Wunder is attacked by Evangelion Mark.09-A. Gendo and Evangelion 13, finally bites the entry plug where Asuka is, finally destroying the final Angel, initiating the Fourth Impact.

In a flashback to Shikinami’s childhood during Instrumentality, she laments not having a parent to care for her, and Kensuke tells her it is alright. In a callback to the beach scene in The End of Evangelion, Shinji thanks Asuka for telling him she liked him, and confesses that he also liked Asuka, causing her to blush and be overwhelmed with emotion.[19][20] She is last seen in the other side of the train platform in the rebuilt world.[21][22]

Trivia

  • Shikinami is the name of the Type II (Ayanami) of Fubuki class destroyer of the Japanese Imperial Navy
  • Miyamura is insistent on Shikinami being completely separate from Asuka Langley Sohryu and having been directed as such.
  • Asuka marks the number of Angels she defeated in her Entry plug, but it is in simulations only, in Evangelion 2.0, she had 10 markings. [23]

References

  1. ↑ On Asuka’s dolltranslation: Asuka embroidered the name on the doll herself. (And that she’s bad at it.) Also that Asuka’s been repairing it for the past ten years, which is why the thread color and thickness of the stitching isn’t always consistent. It was designed by Moyoco Anno.
  2. ↑ «At the End Of Evangelion (first series ending) Asuka had been through a lot of horrible things. As her voice actor I went through the pain and sorrow she had. I hated feeling like that. In the new movies, Asuka is more approachable. So, I felt that Asuka was able to become closer with Shinji, Rei, Misato and everyone else. It made me happy as an actor.» — Gold Coast Film Festival — Yuko Miyamura Interview
  3. ↑ From the Manyoshu, about a spouse returning home. Specifically the Somonka, the «song of love between love and women.» Asuka is looking at the moon, and the Manyoshu states that: «looking at the moon always indicates the missing feeling/lovesick.»
  4. ↑ The book Mari is holding has, in its introduction, an anecdote about the phrase «The moon is beautiful»:
    Natsume Soseki tells students to translate ‘I love you’ in English class. The students thought of translations such as «I love you» (我、汝を愛su) or «I seem to love you» (僕ha、そなたを、愛Shou思U). «You guys, are you still Japanese?»
    Soseki continued to talk to each other. «Japanese don’t speak such suggestive wording. It should be translated as ‘The moon is very beautiful'». Indeed, when men and women in the Meiji period met in public, saying «the moon is very beautiful» would mean «I love you». After this, in Japanese, the phrase, 月が綺麗ですね, «the moon is beautiful» has since been regarded as a representative romantic line in which a man and a woman confess their love in a romantic situation.»
    Mari is prompting Asuka to express these feelings herself.
  5. ↑ Mari sings a song called Youngsters, about a lost loved one to Asuka. These are the remaining lyrics:
    That man of yours is no longer with us.
    So why are you looking for him?
    You’re going without a clue
  6. ↑ EVANGELION 3.0 (-120 min.) prequel manga, translation at Evageeks
  7. ↑ In earlier storyboards shown in Peaceful Times in 2015, Asuka was apparently supposed to caress Shinji in a manner similar to EoE. The video still matched Avant 2 almost perfectly, but this part was modified.
  8. ↑ «That’s what I was told during the recording, and I thought, «Why?» (laughs). But there are many kinds of love scenes. When a father takes a picture of his daughter in her furisode (a long-sleeved kimono), it’s [parental] love. The daughter is like, «Hey, stop it, Dad!» I’m not trying to force to deny it, but Kensuke is a good guy… If he’s a good guy, he won’t touch her. If Asuka is lonely and wanted to be pampered, it ends only at «there, there». There’s nothing more to it than that. In other words, Kensuke is a good guy.» — Miyamura June Newtype interview
  9. ↑ Asuka and Kenken’s facial expressions, and their movements also seemed intimate. When I asked General Director Anno «Why are they intimate?», He said «No?» (Laughs). I remember having a conversation saying «It’s not bad …» I’m smiling. «
    «Kenken is a really good guy. He can watch over Shinji with the attitude of waiting” until he recovers, «and I felt that to Asuka he was like a father. I’m sure Kenken is like a father. I think he was patient and waited for Asuka to open her heart and accepted him. I also want to be told, «Miyamu (Miyamura) can stay as it is» (laughs). ). However, in my interpretation, Asuka and Kenken have a clean relationship! — 25 Years as Asuka
  10. ↑ Shinji’s still fourteen both inside and out, and I don’t think he could have helped Asuka, a girl fourteen on the outside but twenty-eight on the inside. Kensuke’s twenty-eight on the outside and on the inside, so wouldn’t he be the person who could do it? In the group for all the EVA voice actors on the LINE messaging app, Miyamura Yuko posted, «If Kensuke’s the one who can be there for her, then please be there her.» — Tetsuya Iwanaga (Kensuke), 3.0+1.0 booklet interview
  11. ↑ Let’s talk about Ken Ken. First, when I received the script, I noticed Kensuke was written into it. Even though he wasn’t called Ken Ken, there wasn’t that kind of connection in the previous film, Q. In the TV series, he was one of the “three idiots.”
    Asuka will give people nicknames like “baka Shinji” and the like.
    Asuka’s not a human and can’t live with the people in the third village so she freeloads off of Kensuke.
    Asuka was isolated, she couldn’t grow up, only her hair grew.
    Ken Ken is trying to take care of an isolated Asuka.
    Ken Ken took the place of Mr. Kaji.
    Try to think about this everyone. Ken Ken is such a good guy. Do you think such a good guy would try to advance a physical relation with a troubled 14-year-old girl?
    Asuka says to Shinji that she’s already become an adult but that doesn’t mean sexually.
    Asuka says “I am alone (in the film)”. Asuka was isolated.
    Ken Ken has been watching over Asuka.
    I think Ken Ken is like a father [to Asuka].
    Asuka and Kensuke’s relationship is not a romantic one but rather a parental one.
    When Shinji said “I think I liked Asuka,” it means that at the time he liked Asuka, even though he never came back 14 years ago.
    To be honest, at the time of recording the last scene, Director Anno and Assistant Director Tsurumaki explained it.
    Director Anno told me that Asuka’s ending scene correlates to the idea that Ken Ken is like a father to child Asuka.
    Asuka really wants the father and mother that she’s never had and Kenken could see this so his intention was to foster something like that.
    Personally, I really think that “Ken Ken’s not a bastard.”
    I’m not a fan of the «Ken Ken» scene.
    I personally strongly think «no way Ken Ken is acceptable [as Asuka’s partner]»
    I think the Original Asuka is not Asuka Soryu.
    My performance instructions were “Please do Soryu and Shikinami differently”
    Asuka Soryu was not a clone.
    When adult Asuka says, “Baka Shinji,” it has a special meaning.
    Ken Ken doesn’t make a move on Asuka.
    Ken Ken would never make a move on 14-year-old Asuka.
    Ken Ken whose affection is deeper than the sea, stands by Asuka’s side without laying a finger on her. [Imitating Asuka’s voice].
    Miyamura confirms Tsurumaki was in charge of everything Asuka-related, and asks fans to create new fanworks on pixiv for her to see.
    Yuko Miyamura, MIYAMURA YUKO Corp. — Fanicon March 20th 2021, around 37 minute mark.
  12. ↑ Character designer Hidenori Matsubara commenting on Asuka and Kensuke’s relationship, translation by Richitzer: «I was just talking with Kazuya Tsurumaki, the director, about Eva… He said he loves Asuka. He was still annoyed over the Asuka and Kenken thing.» This tweet is from April 12th, a day after they started work on the Evangelion 3.0 (-120 min.) prequel manga at Anno’s suggestion.
  13. ↑ Of course. When the recording of “Q” was finished, there was no explanation about what would happen in the future, and when I asked why [Asuka’s name was changed to] “Shikinami”, I was only told that «it’s a battleship …». So I found out about Asuka in this movie for the first time when I read the script.
    I decided from the beginning to perform Shikinami and Soryu as two different people.
    «A little while ago you said something about Shikinami and Soryu are different people, were you aware of how you separated your performance?
    I separated my performance or should I say I made it different from the start so it’s completely different. For Soryu, Kaji was the one she was infatuated with, but in the case of Shikinami, the part of the story when she’s interested in Kaji never happens and so she’s a completely different person from the start. — 25 Years as Asuka
  14. ↑ Miyamura had also insisted on Shikinami and Sohryu being separate characters in earlier opportunities.
  15. ↑ In the early 3.0 imageboards, Asuka wouldn’t stay with Kensuke at all. Rather, she’d return to the Wunder and Kensuke would take care of both Shinji and Rei. She’d also rescue Shinji instead of Mari. See [[EVANGELION: 3.333 Breakdown] ].
  16. ↑ Asuka is also implied to not be fully trusted by Wille (much like Shinji), as she is seen wearing a DSS Choker. Her quarters with Mari on the Wunder are also a sort of isolation chamber. This is referenced as such in concept art for the 10th Khara anniversary exposition. Asuka and Mari are referred to as «dangerous persons» that must be kept apart from the crew. This further adds to her estrangement from humanity.
  17. ↑ Miyamura says this is because Asuka no longer sees herself as human, but rather as an Angel, and has grown indifferent to being seen naked.
  18. ↑ «I think I felt sorry for Shinji because he’s depressed and there’s nothing he can do. The only thing Asuka can say is “Do the best you can.»Asuka is doing her personal best, so she can tell other people to do their best. That’s why I wanted Shinji to wake up and say, «I’ll do my best,» but I guess she felt like she couldn’t reach Shinji no matter what she said. Asuka’s effort is not rewarded. [When Asuka says,] “You are too mentally weak,” she blame’s Shinji. When I performed this line of Asuka’s, I really almost cried. In the 14 years of effort Asuka has accumulated, by saying this, I didn’t expect Shinji to do anything about it but she was unable to say what she wanted. But, in this way, thanks to saying what she wanted, I have a feeling that Asuka was able to progress.[…]
    -Finally, the way Asuka says «Baka Shinji». How did you come up with this?
    This was also a storyboard shot, so I think I was shown a picture of Asuka’s appearance at that time and performed it with that impression. That «Baka Shinji» is just a love letter to the people who have supported Shinji x Asuka!» — Yuko Miyamura, 3.0+1.0 booklet interview
  19. ↑ «–– How did you feel in your performance when Asuka told you that she had grown up first?
    I know how Asuka feels. For example, when I met a classmate at a class reunion, I had grown 14 years older, and although I was 14 years older and had various life experiences in those 14 years, the boy I liked at that time [in junior high school] remained a junior high school student, both emotionally and physically, and was an adult. If you haven’t grown up at all, you won’t feel like you used to. I think the other boy is the same [as Shinji] as what I’m talking about. -Megumi Ogata, 3.0+1.0 booklet interview
  20. ↑ «I think she wanted to see him one last time. She never said that she loved Shinji, not even once, looking back from the TV series. Well, past tense, I guess. Because we can’t go back to 14 years ago. We can’t go back to that time, but I (Asuka) loved you then. It doesn’t mean that she loved him then but doesn’t love him now, or that she loves someone else now, but that she genuinely wanted to tell him that. I think Asuka wanted to end to her childhood, to get some closure. But I think it was amazing that Asuka was able to say so clearly that she loved him. She’s really an adult.
    «I was going to, but then we met again and he [Shinji] said «I» liked Asuka too. But it’s the scene I like the most. I think it’s very nice that they tell each other that they loved each other back then, even though they can’t go back. And Asuka is so cute in that scene. Seeing that, my heart was filled with joy. I felt that she was being treated like a woman, that she was being cared for. Her plugsuit is tattered and plump, though. Also, as I said in the pamphlet, I think the line «Baka Shinji» is a love letter to everyone who supported Shinji and Asuka.     — Miyamura Newtype May interview
  21. ↑ Sound director in a VTuber interview: In a recent interview with V-tuber Vivian, the sound director for Evangelion 3.0+1.0 says he did not instruct the seiyuus of Shinji and Mari to act as lovers, he interpreted their relationship to be that of friends. It is mentioned that the station scene was not instructed as romantic. Whether they’re lovers, friends, or family is left up to the viewer. Even the seiyuu will have different opinions about it. I’m sure this is what Anno is intending, for Eva to be like a «mirror» and give back what the viewer sees in it. That is Eva’s appeal.
  22. ↑ «However, at the stage greeting this time around — when Ogata talked about one more Shinji who remains behind after having sent off everyone — the feeling «I want him to go meet the adult Asuka!» grew stronger too.» I think that Shinji also almost certainly meet the adult Asuka, meet Yui, and various other people but I definitely want the fans to complete the rest of the story.» — Miyamura: AnimateTimes
  23. ↑ ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版破 全記録全集 設定 資料版 p.71
Источник

Второе Дитя, пилот Евангелиона-02. Ученица класса 2-А средней школы Токио-3. У Аски смешанное немецко-японское происхождение — тем не менее по национальности считается немкой. Имеет гражданство США. Дерзкая, эгоистичная и даже эгоцентричная девушка. Часто бывает груба (особенно по отношению к Синдзи Икари). Крайне высокого мнения о себе и своём умении пилотировать Евангелион, что, в принципе, не лишено определённых оснований. Исступлённо стремится к независимости.

спойлер

В оригинальном сериале явно сходит с ума от влюблённости в Кадзи Рёдзи, но в то же время её привлекает и Синдзи. Однако она не может верно выразить последнему свои чувства и не слишком-то хочет даже самой себе признаваться в них. В манге её поведение ещё более вызывающе, и Синдзи с Мисато Кацураги приходят к выводу, что культурное поведение Аски — лишь маскировка отвратительного характера.

В серии Rebuild of Evangelion появляется как Сикинами Аска Лэнгли — пилот Евангелиона-02 и, позднее, Евангелиона-03. Её характер сильно отличается от того, что был в оригинальном сериале: она относительно более скромная, её натура более уравновешенная и даже в чём-то более мягкая. Всерьёз считает, что Рей Аянами и Синдзи стали пилотами только благодаря связям в NERV и только она сама получила место за своё мастерство и талант.

Во время тестового запуска была, как и Евангелион-03, заражена Ангелом. Ева-03 была уничтожена Евой-01 под управлением псевдопилота, капсула сильно повреждена, сама Аска заключена в бессознательном состоянии в строгий карантин. Позднее появляется совершенно неповзрослевшая, объясняя это «проклятием Евы». Выступает как пилот Евангелиона-02.

Источник

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“ What are you, stupid?! „
~ Asuka Langley Soryu

Asuka Langley Soryu is one of Neon Genesis Evangelions main protagonists, chosen as the Second Child by the Marduk Institute. First brought into the series in episode 8 «Asuka Strikes!», she has an extremely high sync-ratio with her EVA that both Shinji and Rei Ayanami cannot parallel. She is the pilot of Evangelion Unit-02 and moved to Japan, where she moves in with Misato and meets Shinji Ikari.

She is first introduced as a brass, headstrong and confident character who is disliked by a vast majority of the lead characters, often seeming unsympathetic, insulting and a control freak to some of her peers. She is also incredibly prideful and balks at the thought of anyone else surpassing her. Shinji is awkward around her and finds her mean despite that he develops an attraction towards her and see Asuka as someone that he desperately needs in order to gain confidence for himself.

Although this side of Asuka is predominant, she only acts this way towards characters she has expectations for and/or gets in her way. Towards older people like Kaji, Misato and her family, she acts carefree and joyful. This also goes for some of her friends. She is supposedly «the most popular girl in school» for her confidence, and good looks. The boys even sell pictures of her around the school. She brags to Shinji and Rei about Her popularity. She also uses her popularity to get praise from elders like Misato and such. This is because of Asuka’s traumatic past and not wanting to be abandon by others like her mother did. Like Shinji, she has deep psychological issues and does not know how to express her emotions very well to others.

She is voiced by Yuko Miyamura in the Japanese version of the anime, while in English, she was voiced by Tiffany Grant in both the original English dub by ADV Films, and by Stephani McKeon in the newer English dub on Netflix.

Personality

Asuka is a very proud girl, especially in her piloting, and comes across to others as proud and strong, with a very high opinion of both her appearance and her skill as an Eva pilot. She is stubborn and having difficulties in express her true feelings to others. She does not like being looked down upon or told what to do as she wants to be viewed as an adult. Not only that, she is aggressive and can be very opinionated.

However, this personality is a front that protects a very vulnerable and insecure girl: as abruptly revealed by Arael whom tearing her mind apart, due to contact experiment on Eva Unit-02, Asuka’s mother have her soul torn into two and one of the half ended up entered the Eva’s core while the rest still on her body. Unfortunately, this caused her to go insane and almost kill Asuka before finally committing suicide, traumatizing her. Asuka is often violent and intrusive of other people’s space, especially Shinji’s. She also has a strong need to be self-sufficient, and has a great deal of difficulty dealing with her self-perceived failure when she does need help. Thus, her relationship with Shinji is one of the core aspects of the series, and affects both characters on multiple levels.

Her best (and seemingly her only close) friend is her class representative, Hikari Horaki. Although Asuka and classmate Toji Suzuhara constantly argue, she gives Hikari advice about pursuing Toji. Asuka is openly infatuated with Ryoji Kaji, her former guardian after her mother died, and makes a number of advances toward him which he politely refuses. For this reason she envies her and Shinji’s guardian, Misato Katsuragi, especially after Misato and Kaji rekindle their romantic relationship. The «Director’s Cut» of Episode 24 also shows Asuka violently confronting Shinji and saying he’s lying when he tells her that Kaji has been killed.

When Asuka is introduced to the show, she brims with confidence. As a foreign girl in Japan, and a hot redhead at that, she gets a lot of attention from the boys in her class. She takes great pride in being a genius prodigy and makes fun of Shinji for being stupid. Her greatest pride is her Evangelion, Unit-02.

She seems to hate Japan, making loud, rude comments about how there is no privacy because of screen doors, sleeping on the floor is strange to her, and complains about the lack of space. She thinks of Rei’s coldness as weird, and thinks Shinji is a wuss. Initially, Asuka and Rei don’t get along well, symbolized by the fact that Rei is a vegetarian and Asuka thinks that it’s stupid to be vegetarian because animals eat other animals. So from day one, she projects this air of smug superiority to almost everyone she interacts with. And from day one, her personality is contrasted starkly to that of Rei.

Her pride takes a few serious blows later down the road, and we see her mental state come gradually unglued. In one episode, she fails to launch a synchronized strike on an angel because she cannot work well with Shinji. In that episode, we see her becoming very jealous of Rei Ayanami. Rei could probably do what Asuka is training for better, but Asuka refuses to let Rei take on the mission. She wants to train to do the attack, but just isn’t good at coordinating her movements with other people. She spends a lot of time complaining and arguing and not a lot of time doing the work an Eva pilot is tasked with. She might be intelligent, but she lacks the maturity necessary to work with people.

And then it gets even worse, when an angel is able to make Asuka confront repressed memories of her traumatic past. Her mother committed suicide, and her step-mother (who had been her father’s mistress) didn’t want a damn thing to do with Asuka as a child. This is because Asuka was very defensive towards her but it should be noted that Asuka has stated she does not hate her step-mother but felt she will never replace her real mother. Despite that, she is lacking a stable mother figure and like Shinji, does not have a suitable parent and role model. Asuka wanted to be strong and independent to give herself meaning, which explains why she wants to be seen and treated as an adult. But that explains why she has such a hard time socially and why she bullies others. She’s actually deeply insecure, and projects confidence to hide her fears. She projects herself of being an Eva pilot as a way to gain people’s attention and be useful in her life without that lifestyle she would feel useless and alone to the point that she would feel that life is meaningless and that there is no point in living. In a way She is best describe as the female version of a guy projecting a macho tough-guy image to hide his insecurity but deeply vulnerable inside.

Biography

Asuka as a little girl.

Asuka was born in America but raised in Germany, living a horrible childhood that left her scarred for life.

Her mother, Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu, was a scientist in the Germany branch of The Evangelion Project.

When Asuka was only 4 years old, Kyoko participates in the Evangelion Unit-02 project, an experiment similar to of Yui Ikari’s with Unit-01, in which Yui was absorbed by the Evangelion and presumed dead. Kyoko survives, but is left mentally unstable. Kyoko’s husband leaves her, and she is left crying every night over him as Asuka watches.

As Kyoko is in a poor mental state, she believes a doll of Asuka’s actually is Asuka as a newborn. The real Asuka is only known as «that girl over there» to Kyoko that has given her a trauma of doll’s. Her mother became unstable to the point where she strangled Asuka, so she can «die with me!». One day in the near future where Asuka is still a little girl, she is selected to become a pilot of Evangelion. Running home to tell her mother this and that «people are really nice to me now», she opens the door to her house, revealing that her mother has hung herself. Asuka stares at her, stating «Mama looked so peaceful». After this, she vowed to «not depend on anyone».

Asuka hated her stepmother, as she was Kyoko’s doctor who married her father. However, they both learn to live with each other, to the extent she seems cheerful when getting a call from home. When Shinji was intrigued by this, she replies that «I just put it on».

She later becomes the responsibility of Ryoji Kaji, her new Guardian. She has a massive crush on Kaji, going as far as to expose herself in front of him, telling him to «look at me!».

Relationships

Shinji Ikari

Asuka’s relationship with Shinji is one of the factors in the series and somewhat complex. She does not admit to liking Shinji in front of anyone and seems far too into Kaji to care about anyone else. She is extremely prideful at lets that get in the way to the extent that she can’t be open about her feeling’s. She often insults Shinji and blames him saying that «All you do is apologize, what kind of man are you?!» and «I can’t believe I lost to a loser like you!». However, on various fronts, she also tries to flirt with him in an indirect way. However all this does is confuse Shinji into ignoring her or telling her «Why don’t you be nicer to me!», this gives him the impression that she hates him. But this is possible because of Shinji self-loathing and believes that people around him hates him. Asuka also is disappointed when Shinji gives her these responses.

Asuka gets jealous when other girls like Rei talk to Shinji. However, she either takes it out by confronting the girl who he is talking to or Shinji, then insulting them. Probably the closest point where Shinji and Asuka together was when they kissed that was Shinji’s first and rumored to be Asuka’s first kiss as well. Even this was in no way a declaration of a relationship between them. It simply came out of nowhere when Asuka and Shinji are at home, and Asuka asked «Have you kissed a girl before?». Immediately after what was supposedly a long time kissing, Asuka started insulting Shinji saying «I can’t believe I kissed you! Your pathetic!», then stormed off to her room.

They both like each other, but cannot be open with each other. The relationship both intensifies and takes a decided turn for the worse in End of Evangelion. Shinji goes to Asuka, who is currently in a comatose state in the hospital, and pleads that he needs her help. However she doesn’t wake up. He keeps tugging her shoulder trying to get her to wake up, but it is no use. He accidently pulls her away from her bed sheets and her hospital gown. Exposing her breast, he then masturbates over her, showing that Shinji is deeply attracted to Asuka. When he sees that she has been eaten alive by the MP-EVAs, he screams and appears to lose his mental stability. During the time he is in The Human Instrumentality Project, he and Asuka both conflict with each other. There are flashbacks to Asuka repeatedly insulting Shinji and Asuka saying «You can’t understand me, how could you possibly think of understanding me?!».

Asuka surprisingly tells Shinji that «I know all about your little jerk off fantasies about me, you can do it right here. I’ll even watch you. But If I can’t have you all to myself, then I don’t what any of you» that is proving that Asuka is willing to accept Shinji but in a very controlling manner, although Shinji just responds saying «Why can’t you just be nicer to me?».

During The Human Instrumentality Project, at the place they first kissed, Shinji tells Asuka that «I need you and I want to help you», Asuka turns him down saying «You don’t need me, anyone will do, you don’t care who it is!». Asuka continues to go on in this manner but Shinji eventually breaks down and chokes her. In the final scene of End of Evangelion, both are back alive in the real world that is post-apocalyptic of the Third Impact. Shinji starts to choke Asuka who is lying down, however she raises her hand against Shinji’s cheek (similar to what his mother used to do) then Shinji broke down crying.

Asuka’s final line is «How disgusting/I feel sick». Whether Asuka says this is out of betrayal as in «how disgusting» you would have choked me, or spite, as in «how disgusting» you are, is ambiguous. It can also express discomfort at their situation and/or the experiences of Instrumentality. Overall the interpretation of this final line resides on whether or not they can learn to love themselves and whether they can at the very least reconcile and be happy, together. It is believed that the popular poster featuring Asuka and Shinji looking at the Dead Sea with the head of Lilith up ahead takes place after the movie ending.

Rei Ayanami

Asuka and Rei do not get along.

From the moment they cross paths, Asuka and Rei are bitter enemies, even though they have to work on the same side. Asuka asks if she can be friends with Rei, because it would be «convenient», but Rei declines this invitation, saying she would only be friends with Asuka if ordered to. This exchange starts both of them on a path of jealous, bitter rivalry. It also shows that their characters are written in such a way that one is usually characterized in contrast with the other.

In literature, these are called foil characters. A foil is a character who is not necessarily an antagonist or enemy, but who does oppose another character because they disagree due to some kinds of fundamental differences. These differences are used to highlight the characters’ traits. By calling attention to what makes these characters different from each other, the author is showing their characters rather than simply describing them. Things and people are often described well using comparison. That’s all this is.

From the contrast of Asuka and Rei, we can see a lot of things about each of their personalities (as I illustrate using a table below). And, because they conflict with, and argue with each other, we see another literary phenomenon; the antithesis. With antithetical characters, writers not only use contrast as a device for characterization, but they highlight the meaning of the conflict of the story. For example, in Evangelion, the conflict of Asuka vs. Rei captures a lot of conflicts thematic to the story. Rei represents unity, harmony, the Japanese way, coolness, logic, and conformity. Asuka represents the opposing views of Western ideals like individualism and independence. There are many Red and Blue Oni characters used in anime, to show contrast this way. But Asuka and Rei do the most in terms of making their interactions center around meaningful, philosophically poignant, conflict.

Even if both can be seen in an negative light, with Asuka coming off as conceited and arrogant, and Rei coming of as cold and soulless, both of these characters contribute a lot of psychological and philosophical weight to the events of Neon Genesis Evangelion. They open up a dialogue about east vs. west, feminine vs. masculine, and harmony vs. individualism, among other important philosophical conflicts. There’s always more to say about these two fascinating, and similarly troubled, adolescent girl characters.

Rebuild of Evangelion

Main article: Asuka Langley Shikinami

In the Rebuild of Evangelion continuity, Asuka’s surname is Shikinami, making her Asuka Langley Shikinami. She first appears in the second movie and holds the rank of captain in the Euro airforce. Like most of the other characters in Rebuild, her personality is largely the same, but more mentally stable. All in all, she gets along better with other people than her first incarnation, not repressing her feelings for Shinji as much and eventually even making peace with Rei. The biggest physical difference to Asuka in this continuity is that she loses her left eye much earlier in the story.

In the second movie, Asuka is 14, like in the original series. By the time of the third movie, she is 28, but retains her teenage body because of the growth retardation effect of LCL.

Trivia

  • Her birthday is December 4th, 2001.
  • Like most characters they are named after WWII vehicles. Asuka name, Langley Soryu, is a reference to the USS Langley and the Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu.
    • Her mother, Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu, is a reference to the Graf Zeppelin.
  • Ever since the popularity of the series, Asuka became one of the biggest representatives of the popular Tsundare archetype in Japanese media.
  • Asuka makes a cameo appearance in Marvels Edge of the Spider Verse with Shinji, Rei, and Kaworu sitting in class near Peni Parker.

Marvel Edge of Spider verse Evangelion reference.jpg

  • It is unknown if Asuka is aware of Shinji’s perversion towards her as seen when he ejaculated towards her while she was in a coma. It is implied that she does when she told him that she knows of how much he fantasize her but the two never brought the subject up. The subject is also debated among Eva fans.
  • Tiffany Grant is very fluent in German so she included more German related sentences and phrases in the English dub, unlike the Japanese version.
  • She is 1/4 Japanese and 1/4 German (from her mother’s side), but her nationality is actually American since her father is a German American that raised her in Germany, where she mets Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji.
  • Asuka is somewhat of a child prodigy, having earned a university degree as a teenager, as well as being able to speak fluent Japanese and German although she gets bad grades because she has difficulty reading and writing in Japanese (Kanji).

External Links

  • Asuka Langley Soryu on the Neon Genesis Evangelion Wiki
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“ What are you, stupid?! „
~ Asuka Langley Soryu

Asuka Langley Soryu is one of Neon Genesis Evangelions main protagonists, chosen as the Second Child by the Marduk Institute. First brought into the series in episode 8 «Asuka Strikes!», she has an extremely high sync-ratio with her EVA that both Shinji and Rei Ayanami cannot parallel. She is the pilot of Evangelion Unit-02 and moved to Japan, where she moves in with Misato and meets Shinji Ikari.

She is first introduced as a brass, headstrong and confident character who is disliked by a vast majority of the lead characters, often seeming unsympathetic, insulting and a control freak to some of her peers. She is also incredibly prideful and balks at the thought of anyone else surpassing her. Shinji is awkward around her and finds her mean despite that he develops an attraction towards her and see Asuka as someone that he desperately needs in order to gain confidence for himself.

Although this side of Asuka is predominant, she only acts this way towards characters she has expectations for and/or gets in her way. Towards older people like Kaji, Misato and her family, she acts carefree and joyful. This also goes for some of her friends. She is supposedly «the most popular girl in school» for her confidence, and good looks. The boys even sell pictures of her around the school. She brags to Shinji and Rei about Her popularity. She also uses her popularity to get praise from elders like Misato and such. This is because of Asuka’s traumatic past and not wanting to be abandon by others like her mother did. Like Shinji, she has deep psychological issues and does not know how to express her emotions very well to others.

She is voiced by Yuko Miyamura in the Japanese version of the anime, while in English, she was voiced by Tiffany Grant in both the original English dub by ADV Films, and by Stephani McKeon in the newer English dub on Netflix.

Personality

Asuka is a very proud girl, especially in her piloting, and comes across to others as proud and strong, with a very high opinion of both her appearance and her skill as an Eva pilot. She is stubborn and having difficulties in express her true feelings to others. She does not like being looked down upon or told what to do as she wants to be viewed as an adult. Not only that, she is aggressive and can be very opinionated.

However, this personality is a front that protects a very vulnerable and insecure girl: as abruptly revealed by Arael whom tearing her mind apart, due to contact experiment on Eva Unit-02, Asuka’s mother have her soul torn into two and one of the half ended up entered the Eva’s core while the rest still on her body. Unfortunately, this caused her to go insane and almost kill Asuka before finally committing suicide, traumatizing her. Asuka is often violent and intrusive of other people’s space, especially Shinji’s. She also has a strong need to be self-sufficient, and has a great deal of difficulty dealing with her self-perceived failure when she does need help. Thus, her relationship with Shinji is one of the core aspects of the series, and affects both characters on multiple levels.

Her best (and seemingly her only close) friend is her class representative, Hikari Horaki. Although Asuka and classmate Toji Suzuhara constantly argue, she gives Hikari advice about pursuing Toji. Asuka is openly infatuated with Ryoji Kaji, her former guardian after her mother died, and makes a number of advances toward him which he politely refuses. For this reason she envies her and Shinji’s guardian, Misato Katsuragi, especially after Misato and Kaji rekindle their romantic relationship. The «Director’s Cut» of Episode 24 also shows Asuka violently confronting Shinji and saying he’s lying when he tells her that Kaji has been killed.

When Asuka is introduced to the show, she brims with confidence. As a foreign girl in Japan, and a hot redhead at that, she gets a lot of attention from the boys in her class. She takes great pride in being a genius prodigy and makes fun of Shinji for being stupid. Her greatest pride is her Evangelion, Unit-02.

She seems to hate Japan, making loud, rude comments about how there is no privacy because of screen doors, sleeping on the floor is strange to her, and complains about the lack of space. She thinks of Rei’s coldness as weird, and thinks Shinji is a wuss. Initially, Asuka and Rei don’t get along well, symbolized by the fact that Rei is a vegetarian and Asuka thinks that it’s stupid to be vegetarian because animals eat other animals. So from day one, she projects this air of smug superiority to almost everyone she interacts with. And from day one, her personality is contrasted starkly to that of Rei.

Her pride takes a few serious blows later down the road, and we see her mental state come gradually unglued. In one episode, she fails to launch a synchronized strike on an angel because she cannot work well with Shinji. In that episode, we see her becoming very jealous of Rei Ayanami. Rei could probably do what Asuka is training for better, but Asuka refuses to let Rei take on the mission. She wants to train to do the attack, but just isn’t good at coordinating her movements with other people. She spends a lot of time complaining and arguing and not a lot of time doing the work an Eva pilot is tasked with. She might be intelligent, but she lacks the maturity necessary to work with people.

And then it gets even worse, when an angel is able to make Asuka confront repressed memories of her traumatic past. Her mother committed suicide, and her step-mother (who had been her father’s mistress) didn’t want a damn thing to do with Asuka as a child. This is because Asuka was very defensive towards her but it should be noted that Asuka has stated she does not hate her step-mother but felt she will never replace her real mother. Despite that, she is lacking a stable mother figure and like Shinji, does not have a suitable parent and role model. Asuka wanted to be strong and independent to give herself meaning, which explains why she wants to be seen and treated as an adult. But that explains why she has such a hard time socially and why she bullies others. She’s actually deeply insecure, and projects confidence to hide her fears. She projects herself of being an Eva pilot as a way to gain people’s attention and be useful in her life without that lifestyle she would feel useless and alone to the point that she would feel that life is meaningless and that there is no point in living. In a way She is best describe as the female version of a guy projecting a macho tough-guy image to hide his insecurity but deeply vulnerable inside.

Biography

Asuka as a little girl.

Asuka was born in America but raised in Germany, living a horrible childhood that left her scarred for life.

Her mother, Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu, was a scientist in the Germany branch of The Evangelion Project.

When Asuka was only 4 years old, Kyoko participates in the Evangelion Unit-02 project, an experiment similar to of Yui Ikari’s with Unit-01, in which Yui was absorbed by the Evangelion and presumed dead. Kyoko survives, but is left mentally unstable. Kyoko’s husband leaves her, and she is left crying every night over him as Asuka watches.

As Kyoko is in a poor mental state, she believes a doll of Asuka’s actually is Asuka as a newborn. The real Asuka is only known as «that girl over there» to Kyoko that has given her a trauma of doll’s. Her mother became unstable to the point where she strangled Asuka, so she can «die with me!». One day in the near future where Asuka is still a little girl, she is selected to become a pilot of Evangelion. Running home to tell her mother this and that «people are really nice to me now», she opens the door to her house, revealing that her mother has hung herself. Asuka stares at her, stating «Mama looked so peaceful». After this, she vowed to «not depend on anyone».

Asuka hated her stepmother, as she was Kyoko’s doctor who married her father. However, they both learn to live with each other, to the extent she seems cheerful when getting a call from home. When Shinji was intrigued by this, she replies that «I just put it on».

She later becomes the responsibility of Ryoji Kaji, her new Guardian. She has a massive crush on Kaji, going as far as to expose herself in front of him, telling him to «look at me!».

Relationships

Shinji Ikari

Asuka’s relationship with Shinji is one of the factors in the series and somewhat complex. She does not admit to liking Shinji in front of anyone and seems far too into Kaji to care about anyone else. She is extremely prideful at lets that get in the way to the extent that she can’t be open about her feeling’s. She often insults Shinji and blames him saying that «All you do is apologize, what kind of man are you?!» and «I can’t believe I lost to a loser like you!». However, on various fronts, she also tries to flirt with him in an indirect way. However all this does is confuse Shinji into ignoring her or telling her «Why don’t you be nicer to me!», this gives him the impression that she hates him. But this is possible because of Shinji self-loathing and believes that people around him hates him. Asuka also is disappointed when Shinji gives her these responses.

Asuka gets jealous when other girls like Rei talk to Shinji. However, she either takes it out by confronting the girl who he is talking to or Shinji, then insulting them. Probably the closest point where Shinji and Asuka together was when they kissed that was Shinji’s first and rumored to be Asuka’s first kiss as well. Even this was in no way a declaration of a relationship between them. It simply came out of nowhere when Asuka and Shinji are at home, and Asuka asked «Have you kissed a girl before?». Immediately after what was supposedly a long time kissing, Asuka started insulting Shinji saying «I can’t believe I kissed you! Your pathetic!», then stormed off to her room.

They both like each other, but cannot be open with each other. The relationship both intensifies and takes a decided turn for the worse in End of Evangelion. Shinji goes to Asuka, who is currently in a comatose state in the hospital, and pleads that he needs her help. However she doesn’t wake up. He keeps tugging her shoulder trying to get her to wake up, but it is no use. He accidently pulls her away from her bed sheets and her hospital gown. Exposing her breast, he then masturbates over her, showing that Shinji is deeply attracted to Asuka. When he sees that she has been eaten alive by the MP-EVAs, he screams and appears to lose his mental stability. During the time he is in The Human Instrumentality Project, he and Asuka both conflict with each other. There are flashbacks to Asuka repeatedly insulting Shinji and Asuka saying «You can’t understand me, how could you possibly think of understanding me?!».

Asuka surprisingly tells Shinji that «I know all about your little jerk off fantasies about me, you can do it right here. I’ll even watch you. But If I can’t have you all to myself, then I don’t what any of you» that is proving that Asuka is willing to accept Shinji but in a very controlling manner, although Shinji just responds saying «Why can’t you just be nicer to me?».

During The Human Instrumentality Project, at the place they first kissed, Shinji tells Asuka that «I need you and I want to help you», Asuka turns him down saying «You don’t need me, anyone will do, you don’t care who it is!». Asuka continues to go on in this manner but Shinji eventually breaks down and chokes her. In the final scene of End of Evangelion, both are back alive in the real world that is post-apocalyptic of the Third Impact. Shinji starts to choke Asuka who is lying down, however she raises her hand against Shinji’s cheek (similar to what his mother used to do) then Shinji broke down crying.

Asuka’s final line is «How disgusting/I feel sick». Whether Asuka says this is out of betrayal as in «how disgusting» you would have choked me, or spite, as in «how disgusting» you are, is ambiguous. It can also express discomfort at their situation and/or the experiences of Instrumentality. Overall the interpretation of this final line resides on whether or not they can learn to love themselves and whether they can at the very least reconcile and be happy, together. It is believed that the popular poster featuring Asuka and Shinji looking at the Dead Sea with the head of Lilith up ahead takes place after the movie ending.

Rei Ayanami

Asuka and Rei do not get along.

From the moment they cross paths, Asuka and Rei are bitter enemies, even though they have to work on the same side. Asuka asks if she can be friends with Rei, because it would be «convenient», but Rei declines this invitation, saying she would only be friends with Asuka if ordered to. This exchange starts both of them on a path of jealous, bitter rivalry. It also shows that their characters are written in such a way that one is usually characterized in contrast with the other.

In literature, these are called foil characters. A foil is a character who is not necessarily an antagonist or enemy, but who does oppose another character because they disagree due to some kinds of fundamental differences. These differences are used to highlight the characters’ traits. By calling attention to what makes these characters different from each other, the author is showing their characters rather than simply describing them. Things and people are often described well using comparison. That’s all this is.

From the contrast of Asuka and Rei, we can see a lot of things about each of their personalities (as I illustrate using a table below). And, because they conflict with, and argue with each other, we see another literary phenomenon; the antithesis. With antithetical characters, writers not only use contrast as a device for characterization, but they highlight the meaning of the conflict of the story. For example, in Evangelion, the conflict of Asuka vs. Rei captures a lot of conflicts thematic to the story. Rei represents unity, harmony, the Japanese way, coolness, logic, and conformity. Asuka represents the opposing views of Western ideals like individualism and independence. There are many Red and Blue Oni characters used in anime, to show contrast this way. But Asuka and Rei do the most in terms of making their interactions center around meaningful, philosophically poignant, conflict.

Even if both can be seen in an negative light, with Asuka coming off as conceited and arrogant, and Rei coming of as cold and soulless, both of these characters contribute a lot of psychological and philosophical weight to the events of Neon Genesis Evangelion. They open up a dialogue about east vs. west, feminine vs. masculine, and harmony vs. individualism, among other important philosophical conflicts. There’s always more to say about these two fascinating, and similarly troubled, adolescent girl characters.

Rebuild of Evangelion

Main article: Asuka Langley Shikinami

In the Rebuild of Evangelion continuity, Asuka’s surname is Shikinami, making her Asuka Langley Shikinami. She first appears in the second movie and holds the rank of captain in the Euro airforce. Like most of the other characters in Rebuild, her personality is largely the same, but more mentally stable. All in all, she gets along better with other people than her first incarnation, not repressing her feelings for Shinji as much and eventually even making peace with Rei. The biggest physical difference to Asuka in this continuity is that she loses her left eye much earlier in the story.

In the second movie, Asuka is 14, like in the original series. By the time of the third movie, she is 28, but retains her teenage body because of the growth retardation effect of LCL.

Trivia

  • Her birthday is December 4th, 2001.
  • Like most characters they are named after WWII vehicles. Asuka name, Langley Soryu, is a reference to the USS Langley and the Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu.
    • Her mother, Kyoko Zeppelin Soryu, is a reference to the Graf Zeppelin.
  • Ever since the popularity of the series, Asuka became one of the biggest representatives of the popular Tsundare archetype in Japanese media.
  • Asuka makes a cameo appearance in Marvels Edge of the Spider Verse with Shinji, Rei, and Kaworu sitting in class near Peni Parker.

Marvel Edge of Spider verse Evangelion reference.jpg

  • It is unknown if Asuka is aware of Shinji’s perversion towards her as seen when he ejaculated towards her while she was in a coma. It is implied that she does when she told him that she knows of how much he fantasize her but the two never brought the subject up. The subject is also debated among Eva fans.
  • Tiffany Grant is very fluent in German so she included more German related sentences and phrases in the English dub, unlike the Japanese version.
  • She is 1/4 Japanese and 1/4 German (from her mother’s side), but her nationality is actually American since her father is a German American that raised her in Germany, where she mets Misato Katsuragi and Ryoji Kaji.
  • Asuka is somewhat of a child prodigy, having earned a university degree as a teenager, as well as being able to speak fluent Japanese and German although she gets bad grades because she has difficulty reading and writing in Japanese (Kanji).

External Links

  • Asuka Langley Soryu on the Neon Genesis Evangelion Wiki
Источник

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