Games - Shinji Ikari

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	Games - Shinji Ikari

Shinji Ikari (碇シンジ Ikari Shinji) is a fictional character from the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion movie. He is the Third Children (or simply 'Third Child' in the US version) and pilots EVA-01. He is the son of Gendo and Yui Ikari.

Shinji's story

Shinji was abandoned when he was a toddler by his father, Gendo, in order for Gendo to focus on "Project E." As a result, Shinji is a reclusive character, who often runs away from difficult situations, using escape as a shield. He is often shown listening to his SDAT player with headphones, blocking out the world. He appears in some ways to be the opposite of the extroverted Asuka, though not as much as Rei does.

Shinji became involved in NERV's war against the Angels when he met Captain Misato Katsuragi, the commander of the Evangelion team. She led him unwittingly into joining the battle in EVA-01. Thus, Shinji's relationship with his father became downright frigid over the coming months. Shinji manages to build a social life when he becomes friends with classmates Touji Suzuhara and Kensuke Aida, something more than friends but not quite something else with Rei, and a 'love-hate' relationship with Asuka. Also he seems to be sexually aroused by Asuka, even masturbating over her comatose body after her mental breakdown.

Shinji's character

As an Eva pilot, Shinji is very reluctant, but he is given strength by his mother, whose soul is thought to be contained in EVA-01. Sometimes the Eva reaches Berserk mode - a state in which the Eva is activated without an apparent energy source - helping him in his times of need. Once when EVA-01 went beserk, Shinji had reached a 400% sync ratio and was basically absorbed within it, where he briefly met his mother. Shinji's estrangement from his father and his literally being inside EVA-01, which contains his mother, might demonstrate the Freudian Oedipus complex. His attraction to (and description-defying relationship with) Rei, who is believed to be a partial clone of Shinji's mother, further cements this psychological aspect of Shinji's character. He may also be seen as suffering from the culture-specific psychological disorder taijin kyofusho and, from a Western psychological perspective, generalized social phobia (and developing avoidant personality disorder).

Among fans, Shinji is something of a polarizing character, with fans either despising him for his (perceived) cowardice and self-hate, or sympathizing with him for his easily relatable human flaws and occasional moments of courage. He also is afraid of physical contact (especially with Asuka). She tries to get Shinji to assert himself and even gets him to admit that he kissed her when she was sleeping. In a later episode, Shinji kisses Asuka a second time, at Asuka's insistence (of course, Asuka pinched Shinji's nose so he wouldn't breathe on her and tickle her face, and washed her mouth out thoroughly afterwards). He is normally shy and timid, but when it comes to sexually attractive females like Asuka he becomes afraid and even more non-confrontational.

Anime Shinji vs. Manga Shinji

It's interesting to note, however, that the Shinji of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's manga adaptation is considerably different from his animated counterpart. Although Shinji still has issues with his father and his past, he is portrayed as being considerably more violent, far more of an angry youth than a nervous character. One of the first things he does after being forced to attack Toji (who is killed in the manga, as opposed to being seriously injured and an amputee in the anime) is to try to punch his father, something he'd never do in the anime. He's also considerably more willing to burst out angrily in protest and voice his opinion. He butts heads with Asuka far more often and is very openly spiteful towards his father, although deep down he still wishes for Gendo's acknowledgement. Shinji in the manga is also much more smart-mouthed than in the anime. For example, in the scene in which Toji, who doesn't like to owe people favors, encourages Shinji to hit him as payback for having punched Shinji earlier, Shinji decides not to hit him at the last minute, cheerfully saying, "I'd rather have you owe me one. It's more fun that way."

Although fundamentally he is still the same, many prefer this Shinji, believing him to be a far more realistic character to come out of such a situation, not only because he is more assertive but also because many believe he just seems like what a neglected young boy would act like. However, others posit that this version of Shinji is actually less compelling, as he is closer to the "average" teenage male anime character and is therefore less flawed/interesting.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Shinji Ikari ]

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