Neon Genesis Evangelion: 10 Differences Between The Anime & Manga - CBR

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The most influential anime of all time is perhaps Neon Genesis Evangelion, spawning a series or sequels, spin-off, rebuilds, toys, cosplay enthusiasm, video games, and even a successful manga series. Its style and iconography can be seen and felt even to this day, now twenty-four years after its initial release by Gainax in 1996.

But how different is the show from its comic book counterpart? What was altered and/or explored deeper between the lines of the printed page? There are several. Let's take a look at each.

10 The Ending

One of the biggest complaints about the og anime series is that creator Hedeaki Anno left the show on a cliff-hanger after defeating Tabris (Kowaru). Instead, the final two episodes played out as a bizarre, introspective art film that did little the wrap up the arcs of many of our favorite characters.

Enter End of Evangelion, the film that was supposed to be the true ending of the anime, which was also later used as the official ending of the long-running manga series... sort of. While the events of the feature and comic book are the same in concept, it's their execution that's different, making for an interesting comparison. For example, Asuka doesn't die in the manga like she does in the comic. Also, Gendo Ikari, Shinji's father, rescues Shinji using an A-T Field emitting from Adam's eyeball in his palm, making some attempt at closure to the father-son arc set up earlier in the series.

9 Shinji's Living Situation

A minor difference but still a difference nonetheless. Neon Genesis Evangelion's main protagonist, Shinji Ikari, isn't exactly on good terms with his father, the mastermind behind the Evangelion Project, Gendo Ikari. Being the leader of NERV, the paramilitary organization in charge of defeating the invading angels, Shinji's father isn't exactly around much, leaving the boy living elsewhere in Tokyo 3.

In the anime, Shinji lives with his handler, NERV agent Major Misato Katsuragi. In the comic, Shinji lives with his aunt and uncle.

8 Toji

NGE Toji hospitalised after the Angel attack

Toji Suzuhara is a fellow student at Shinji's school, one of two boys who later become close friends with the Third Child as he adapts to life in Tokyo 3. Toji is also the same student who punches Shinji out after his first battle with Zachiel, a battle that ultimately injured Toji's young sister in collateral.

Eventually, Suzuhara is selected by the Marduke Institute -- the organization charged with finding new eva pilots -- as the Fourth Child. However, Toji's stint as a battle-bot operator is short-lived after his Evangelion is possessed by the angel Bardiel during a sync test. This forces Shinji to completely destroy the cyborg housing his friend, and what happens next diverges greatly between the versions. In the comic, Toji is killed outright in the battle; in the anime, the boy merely loses his leg.

7 Rei's Arc

There's only so much time to tell a story in the medium of film and television, which means many crucial moments will inevitably end up on the cutting room floor. Mediums like comic books and novels, however, can afford to take their time and fully realize certain elements of the core work that are otherwise constrained by budgetary limitations.

Such is the case with Rei Ayanami aka The First Child. As noted by many fans of the series, manga Rei is much more developed than her TV show counterpart. In the anime, Rei acts more as a symbol or tonal apparatus rather than a living, breathing character. The manga, however, gives more time to her character development, making for a more fleshed out addition to the cast.

6 Shinji's Bravery

While Shinji remains the child hero with severe daddy issues, his traits are subtly different between the two mediums. Mind you, the boy is still miserable in both instances, but it's the way his misery motivates him that's different.

In the anime, Shinji's character plays timid, even passive, and is often seen wallowing in his own self-pity and despair. In the manga, Shinji's family problems make him bold, ready to jump into battle to prove himself.

5 Asuka's Past

Staying on the character train for a minute, last but not least is Asuka Langley Sohryu aka the Second Child, whose manga backstory contrasts the one given to her in Anno's anime series.

In the anime, Asuka was born in Germany to an American father and Japanese mother who died when Asuka was a little girl. In the manga, however, Asuka was actually artificially inseminated and grown in a test tube.

4 The Creators

An interesting difference between the two versions of Neon Genesis Evangelion is the two outlooks by its creators. Hedeaki Anno, the creator of the anime and franchise, saw Evangelion and its world as one full of despair and without hope. This is clearly evidenced by its overall tone, embodied by the series protagonist Shinji Ikari.

The comic, however, doesn't take this same approach. Helmed by character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, manga Evangelion takes a more positive outlook on the world, giving the story a hopeful tone.

3 Kaworu and Shinji's Relationship

One of the biggest plot arcs in Neon Genesis Evangelion happens near the end of the series. In both version, Kowaru is introduced as a new student admitted to Shinji's school. Kowaru is strange and uncannily similar to Rei in many ways, although much more reflective and chatty. Kowaru and Shinji quickly become friends as the Third Child seems intrigued by Kowaru's peculiarity.

As it turns out, though, Kowaru is revealed to be the final angel, forcing Shinji to kill his newfound friend before the Adamite can destroy Central Dogma. In the comic, however, Kowaru is introduced much earlier and shown murdering a kitten. In fact, Shinji doesn't even like Kowaru at first and actively keeps away his distance. Eventually, the two do become friends and the rest plays out the same as the TV show.

2 The Final Battle

There are lots of differences between the ending of the manga and the anime series, some of which can't be added all into a single list point. So here's another: The final duel.

In the anime, Shinji doesn't face off against the mass-produced Evas alongside Asuka, who takes them on alone until she's speared through the face by a Lance of Longinus (and then eaten alive). In the manga, however, Shinji is there every step of the way, battling the Eva units alongside his cohort who dies nonetheless.

1 Angel Count

This might seem minor but in fact the anime pacts more angelic battle action than its manga counterpart, which instead focuses more on developing certain character points left out of the television show.

So how many angels does each expression of this beloved classic contain? The anime: seventeen. The manga: thirteen. The manga is actually missing the angels Sandolphin Iruel, Leliel, and Matarael.

NEXT: Neon Genesis Evangelion: 10 Scenes That Changed The Landscape Of Anime Forever

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Luke Penn (39 Articles Published)

Luke Penn is a screenwriter, novelist, and pop culture geek with works spanning several mediums including print, film, and web. When he's not terrorizing the protagonists in his stories or writing about his favorite IPs, Luke enjoys hiking, travel, bingeing 90s TV shows with his cats, and catching up with family and friends. Follow him on Twitter @thelukepenn.