Go Tokyo Your Experience
Since its debut nearly 30 years ago, the anime ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ (EVA) has sparked extensive debates among fans who continue to discuss various interpretations of its obscure and ambiguous plot settings. Recently, a new discussion regarding the show’s settings has swept through Japanese netizens: Does that mean that Shinji Ikari’s classmates do not have mothers?
Next, we will explore the origin of this viewpoint, and whether it is merely a fan’s speculation and fantasy, or if there is solid evidence behind it? (The following content contains important plot settings from ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’, please read with caution!)
Is this setting true????
This user on the Japanese X platform, with the nickname ‘NERV Organization Chiba Branch’, is a loyal fan of the anime ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’. Recently, he discovered a plot element he had never heard of before, which shocked him, so he posted to ask everyone’s opinion. As a result, it sparked a heated discussion…
As long as the mother’s soul is used as the core of EVA, and that mother’s child serves as the pilot, the synchronization rate can be improved. Since Shinji’s classmates in the series are all candidates for pilots, none of them have mothers. Thinking about it carefully, this is quite terrifying.
This statement can be divided into two parts: first, ‘EVA needs the mother’s soul as the core,’ and second, ‘Shinji’s classmates have no mothers.’
The former’s setting is relatively clear, after all, the best example is Shinji Ikari’s mother, Yui Ikari. However, what truly stirs controversy among Japanese netizens is whether the latter can be inferred from the former setting.
During the experiment, Yui Ikari’s soul was transferred to EVA Unit-01.
This setting allows Shinji to achieve a very high synchronization rate when piloting the Unit-01.
Japanese netizens are divided into two camps on this issue. Supporters believe that “EVA needs a mother’s soul as the core” and “Shinji’s classmates are all backup pilots,” can naturally infer that “Shinji’s classmates have no mothers at all.”
Opponents argue that since the show never explicitly states “Shinji’s classmates have no mothers,” this statement is at most just a fans’ speculation and fantasy, and it does not qualify to be considered an official setting.
The reactions of Japanese netizens to this are…
This is true! Because everyone is a backup driver.
Oh, is there such a setting? This is my first time hearing about it, I’m so shocked.
I can’t believe there’s such a setting! I’ve never heard of it…
It’s so scary… I don’t even know.
This is true. Class 2A students do not have mothers. When winter 2 was chosen as the driver, it was mentioned in a conversation between Yondou and Ritsuko: ‘There is a child who can prepare the core immediately.’ So somewhere in NERV headquarters, there may be the remains of the entire class’s mothers (?).
Based on the clues provided by the dialogue in the play, it gradually becomes clear that Shinji’s classmates do not have mothers. When Shinji didn’t want to pilot the EVA anymore and wanted to return to his relatives’ home, Misato mentioned that all of them in the class were substitute pilots, and that the EVA requires the souls of the pilots’ mothers as cores.
According to evidence from the TV version, this possibility is very high, and one could even say the entire class is a target for sacrifice.
- Shinji’s classmates are all standby pilots.
- The soul of the driver’s mother is the core manipulative medium.
That’s ridiculous. The TV version indeed mentioned that Shinji’s classmates are reserve pilots (it’s unclear in the new theatrical version), but other than that detail, it’s vague, so this statement is at most just a fan interpretation.
Many people agree with this interpretation, but the problem is the lack of clear evidence; there is simply no source to be found. Although I understand the saying ‘where there’s smoke, there’s fire,’ and that the animation has concluded, this interpretation seems a bit excessive to me.
Have you all heard of this saying? Where did you learn about it?
