Name: Shinji Ikari
Age: 14
Gender: Male
Occupation: Student and Evangelion pilot
Shinji is for the most part of the time an extremely troubled individual, however, most of his ordeals are worsened, and often even caused, by his severe lack of self confidence. Shinji finds it incredibly hard to express his feelings towards others for the fear of being emotionally hurt, and is all too often unwilling to adapt to new situations.
The fact that Shinji hasn't had the best of relationships with his scheming father, Gendo Ikari, having chosen to run away many years ago, and coupled with the loss of his mother, Yui Ikari, at an early age hasn't made his life any easier to deal with. Yet unfortunately running away from bad situations is one of Shinji's personal traits, one that he must over come in order to lead a less stressful life. Unable, or simply unwilling, to bear the company of his father after living alone in exile for so many years, Shinji chooses instead to accept Misato's invitation to live with her on his arrival to Tokyo-3, something which is a big step for Shinji. Although Misato turns out to be not quite the ideal roommate Shinji had in mind, the bizarre situation he finds himself thrown into does help him to open up a little.
Shinji is also the reluctant pilot of EVA-01, though no one really knows why he continues to pilot the Eva as he's made it quite clear on several occasions now that he would rather not be its pilot.
Name: Gendo Ikari
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Occupation: NERV Commander
As a Commander, Gendo is very experienced, secretive, always achieves results and is able to stay calm when in command, even when faced with dire situations. As a father, however, he is cold, heartless and even cruel. Gendo has never been there for his son, Shinji, and has made no real attempts to get to know him better, despite the fact that he's capable of doing so for Rei. He seems to almost be disappointed with Shinji and is content to treat his son as a complete stranger whom he may occasionally have a use for. It's no wonder why Shinji chose to run away at such an early age after his mother, Yui Ikari, died. Gendo met Yui during his University years, but it's always been assumed by many that his main reason for marrying her was so that he could get closer to her work and to the organisation she worked for, and that he had no real interest in raising a family.
Gendo may work for NERV, however, he doesn't share the same goals laid down by the UN committee, a cover in fact for SEELE, the backbone behind NERV, who seem intent on carrying out the human instrumentality project; the next step in human evolution. The creation of a single perfect entity formed from the unity of all human souls. Otherwise known as the third impact. All Gendo really cares about is carrying out the last wish of his wife; the prevention of a probable third impact instigated by Angels.
Name: Yui Ikari
Age: N/A (deceased)
Gender: Female
Occupation: NERV scientist
Yui was a caring, thoughtful and content individual, she'd often be caught with a smile on her face and at times seemed almost like a child eager to experience life to the fullest. Although an extremely intelligent and capable scientist, Yui wasn't particularly career driven, though instead sought to experience as much of life as possible. Yui was also the kind of person who would easily make friends what with her out going personality and her polite and affectionate approach to others, and it's because of this that she was able to gain the trust and friendship of others very quickly.
Name: Rei Ayanami
Age: 14
Gender: Female
Occupation: Student and Evangelion pilot
Rei is extremely timid, shy and at times almost seems withdrawn from the world around her. She finds it incredibly hard to express her feelings towards others and as a consequence isn't the kind of person who makes friends that easily. All of Rei's personnel records have been erased, she has no parents and there is no trail leading to her past, it would seem that her existence begins at a dead end.
She was the first child to be chosen to pilot an Eva, in particular EVA-00, in accordance with the Marduk institute. Though unfortunately she was seriously injured during her first attempt to synchronise with her Eva when it mysteriously went out of control. Fortunately Commander Ikari rescued her and she survived the accident, her next attempt at synchronisation was successful and she has now become the active pilot of EVA-00. Whether or not this is by choice is unknown, Rei simply seems to do as she is told without complaining, something which Shinji is known for doing.
The truth is though, Rei is in fact not human, that is not entirely. She is a by-product of the human instrumentality project, artificially created and implanted with the soul of Yui Ikari. Rei has only one soul, however, NERV have created multiple bodies, or vessels, for Rei's soul in the event of her death. Indeed Rei is killed twice, by both Naoko Akagi and the sixteenth Angel.
Name: Ritsuko Akagi
Age: 30
Gender: Female
Occupation: NERV head technician
Ritsuko is very secretive and seldom talks about herself or her family, but it is known that she didn't get along with her mother, Naoko Akagi, creator of the MAGI super computers used by NERV, that is on a personal level. She works closely with Commanders Ikari and Fuyutsuki and knows a great deal of the truths behind the mysteries surrounding the second impact, Adam and the arrival of the Angels.
She is also friends with Misato and Kaji having known them both for many years. Although Ritsuko is fond of Kaji, the two are merely good friends, she knows Kaji still cares for Misato. Ritsuko herself though is still single mainly because she doesn't really know how to act around men. This is most likely because she has spent most of her life alone what with her mother dead, having committed suicide in front of the MAGI many years ago, and without a father during her childhood. Therefore Ritsuko has pretty much got on with her life by emersing herself in her work, something which is very important to her.
Name: Naoko Akagi
Age: N/A (deceased)
Gender: Female
Occupation: NERV head technician
Naoko, it would seem, was more interested in her work than in what life had to offer, she spent the majority of her time working for Gehirn and in doing so shut herself out of the world around her. Her devotion to her work, however, wasn't without its rewards, Naoko was the main driving force behind the development of the MAGI super computers used by NERV. Though with all her time and energy put into her work, Naoko rarely made enough time for her daughter, Ritsuko, during her childhood.
Naoko was having an affair with Gendo after Yui's death. She committed suicide in front of the MAGI, however, when she learned of Gendo's betrayal of love towards her from the first copy of Rei, whom Naoko then killed out of vengeance. Gendo never stopped loving Yui, Rei's existence alone was proof of that. Realising this was enough to send Naoko over the edge, and in the process Gehirn lost an individual who'd rendered such remarkable service to the MAGI system.
Name: Misato Katsuragi
Age: 29
Gender: Female
Occupation: NERV operations director
Misato is an energetic, determined and strong willed individual who's not afraid to take charge of a bad situation, that is when she's not busy drinking. Misato joined NERV after the death of her father, who died saving her life during the second impact whilst leading the Katsuragi expedition in Antarctica, intent on exacting revenge against the Angels for her loss. She soon acquired the rank of Captain and shortly afterwards that of Major, and is appointed as NERV's operations director with explicit control over Evas 00, 01 and 02 in the absence of both Commanders Ikari and Fuyutsuki.
As well as working for NERV, she is Shinji's voluntary guardian, although her attitude and behaviour towards him is more of that expected from an older sister. Despite her sisterly approach to Shinji and her occasionally bad domestic habits though, Misato does manage to go a long way into helping Shinji to over come his problems, and in getting him to open up a little. Misato has also taken on the role of Asuka's guardian.
Misato is also Kaji's old lover and at one point lived with him, but she broke off the relationship when she realised how similar to her father he was. Despite this though, she still cares greatly for him, although admitting to this in public would be unlikely, and it's not inconceivable that they may soon become once again more than just good friends.
