Shinji Ikari is the third child to be selected by the Marduk Institute to become the pilot of EVA-01. He is the son of Commander Gendou Ikari. After receiving a message from his father, he decided to meet him in Tokyo-3, but finds out that his father only wants him because he wants Shinji to fight with the 3rd Angel in EVA-01.

When Shinji was 4 years old, Shinji's mother, Yui Ikari died in an accident when test piloting EVA-01. He saw his mother die in this accident and his father was accused of murdering her. After this, his father sent him to live with a teacher in Tokyo-1. Shiji believes that his father abandoned him and that he never loved him.