a rei ayanami fixation
Informations
• Profile
• Video Clips
• Comparisons
• My Collection
Fanlisting
• Join
• Members
Navigation
• Index
• Back
|
INFORMATIONS • Comparisons
This page is about the various Rei circulating in the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise.
So, actually, they can be considered all official representations of our blue girl.
Please consider that the most of these opinions are very personal and subjective. In case you feel like to, come to discuss it on our Rei forum ^_^
 |
Rei Ayanami • Neon Genesis Evangelion (anime) (1995)
I don't care about what other people say, the anime version will always be the One True Rei for me D:
Rei is the first children, designed pilot of EVA Unit 00; Shinji stumbled on her in the first episode and is immediately touched by her dutifulness and loyalty.
She's a "silent wanderer" during the whole series and despite the little screetime and poorness of her lines we can't help but recognizing her as one of the most important character in the series.
Rei is an "ignorant" creature that started to live day by day with the goal of growing more and more self-conscious thanks to other people's interaction; she's an "observer" and a quiet critic of other people's behaviour and manners.
Despite her poor self-acceptance she really seems quite willing and focused on her role and duty.
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • Neon Genesis Evangelion (manga) (1995)
I'm not very fond of manga!Rei.
Despite the similar approach of the anime, this character looks more bland and savorless than the anime's, mostly because of an exceeding display of feelings and emotions that, as someone could find cute and reassuring, I can't help but finding inadequate and grottesque.
During the character's development, Rei started to grow more and more self-conscious thank to the interaction with Shinji: the girl started to develop feelings for him, those feelings giving her a new point of view on things and making her realize what a dull life she lived before.
She's a "practical senser", making her "experiences" coincide with her "feelings".
I find her characterization really limited and banalized.
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • The End of Evangelion (1997)
I can't help but considering the Rei from EoE another different character from her first version, despite the obvious similarities and implied canon continuity.
After all, once anyone watches EoE the first thing, the first thing they ask themselves is WTF happened to Rei Ayanami.
In this movie, released two years after the end of the original animated series and considered its "true" end, ideally placed after episode 24, Rei is shown as a "divine" creature that accepts her role as a spiritual catalyst as part of Lilith, the original angelic mother.
This Rei is no longer the dutiful girl we learned to love in the original series, she's more passionate and self-conscious, so much to decide to "give up" on the darker sides of her soul and "give in" to Lilith's desires of "completion".
We can say that if the original Rei is more focused on "the outside" in her need to "understand", EoE's Rei is more focused on the "inside" to accept her true nature.
This depiction is coherent with the hints given in the original series about her development as Rei III, but still shocking in regards to the image of Rei suggested by the anime.
So, even if I understand the reasons behind this version of Rei, as I write this article in 2009, I'm still not quite happy with it.
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Kotetsu no Girlfriend 2nd (2003)
KNG2nd (also known as "NGE: Iron Maiden 2nd", "EvaLove" and adapted in the USA as "NGE: Angelic Days") is a spin off story of the original Evangelion anime, based off the AU scenes from ep. 26 and turned into a proper story; it's drawn by Fumino Hayashi and inspired by the homonymous videogame by Gainax.
Rei is a transfer student with a mysterious past who started to attend the same class of Shinji and Asuka, turning into a love rival of the redhaired girl.
Rei is extremely extrovert and flirty but also kind of clumsy, suggesting that she never interacted very much with other people or lived on her own.
Despite the initial horror I found quite interesting the character development: since her peculiar situation Rei always reacted as to differentiate herself and stand out from others; as her friends started to interact with her, letting her open her eyes on reality, she started to opt for a more "usual" appearance and behaviour, convinced that this is the right way to deal with herself, others and her feelings honestly.
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ikari Shinji Ikusei Keikaku (2005)
Another AU story, following the pattern of ep. 26 and based off the homonymous videogame by Gainax; the author is Osamu Takahashi, and the plot differs from KNG2nd's because of some important differences concerning Rei; in fact she's introduced as a Yui's relative, and came to attend the same school as Shinji and Asuka after a mysterious episode concerning Shinji's childhood and their first fated meeting.
Rei is portrayed as a quiet, extremely intelligent and polite girl with a deep interest in Shinji; Yui made her live in their own house as to share that sense of quotidianity and emotional stability that the girl seemed to long for since her peculiar situation; her own destiny seemed to depend on Shinji and also the boy is undeniably attracted by her mysterious figure-- And so on with the crap.
I find this image of Rei quite ridiculous and the fact that her whole existence depends on Shinji kinda offensive for the character >_>
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • Petit Eva (2007)
--I'm listing this only for completion's sake >_> !
Anyway, this is the Rei based on Ryuusuke Yamamoto's design, which populated various magazines in that 4koma gag manga which was Petit Eva (also called "Puchi Eva").
In this particular humorous universe Rei is splitted in three characters, called the "Rei Sisters": Rei I is the little sister, in love with cakes and who develops a sympathy for Kaworu, Rei II is the main character, classmates of Shinji and Asuka, a silent girl who hides an energic side and Rei III is the older hyper sister spawned from ep. 26 AU.
There's not much to say since it's just a parodic interpretation of Rei, but it definitely suits her canon behaviour ^_^
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • Neon Genesis Evangelion: Gakuen Datenroku (2007)
Another AU series, this time created by Min Nemuri, performing the inedited idea of placing Evangelion characters into a dark-gothic oriented plot; here Rei, along with Kaworu and Asuka, is a Shamash Guardian, a mysterious warrior involved in night patrols to kill Angels; she attends a Catholic School together with the other characters and is considered classy and elegant despite her coldness and eccentric behaviours.
Shinji has a crush on her and she's in good terms with both Asuka and Kaworu.
I like this interpretation. She's faithful to the original characterization yet inspired to emotional growth because of her interactions.
In my opinion she's the most interesting Rei's alternative 'til now.
|
 |
Rei Ayanami • Evangelion Shin Gekijouban (2007-2009-2010?)
Rei returns in a renewed version in the last movies directed by Anno and distributed by his own Studio Khara.
'Til now only two movies have been released (the last ones are said to be released on the summer of 2010) and we can already spot some strong differences from our classic canon image of the character.
The "Rebuild" Rei, despite still being cold and apparently detached, looks more sensitive and more willing to develop her own relationships, expecially with Shinji.
She's more maternal in the way she cares for the well-being of Gendo and Shinji relationship, she isn't deeply connected with Gendo and is more assertive and direct in the recognition of her indepence and individuality.
I personally believe that this Rei looks like coming right from some badfic where she is turned into a shy typical girl longing for her favourite classmate attention... FAILURE.
|
Notes & Credits:
Rei #1 image is from a Neon Genesis Evangelion screenshot of Episode 25;
Rei #2 image is from Evangelion manga, ch. 14 pg. 20;
Rei #3 image is from The End of Evangelion movie, a screenshoot from the Magokoro o, Kimi ni (aka My Purest Heart for You) episode;
Rei #4 image is from Neon Genesis Evangelion: Kotetsu no Girlfriend 2nd manga, ch. 06 pg. 20, original art by Fumino Hayashi;
Rei #5 image is from Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Ikusei Keikaku manga, ch. 01 pg. 28, original art by Osamu Takahashi;
Rei #6 image is from Petit Eva online 4koma, strip #3, original art by Ryuusuke Yamamoto;
Rei #7 image is from Neon Genesis Evangelion: Gakuen Datenroku manga, ch. 02 pg. 29, original art by Min Nemuri.
Rei #8 image is from Evangelion Shin Gekijouban (aka Rebuild of Evangelion) movie, a screenshot from Evangelion Shin Gekijouban: Ha (aka Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance).
|
|