Final Impact-A Evangelion Gundam Anime Corner Special (Part 3)

Previously:

Shinji made a friend…yeah that’s about it.  Let’s see if he can make another.  Welcome back to Final Impact: An Evangelion Gundam Anime Corner Special.

Volume 3 (Episodes 4-6)
In the Anime:

Shinji settles into life in Tokyo-3 and makes amends with Toji, becoming friends with him and Kensuke.  However, Shinji has yet to have any sort of bonding experience with his fellow Eva Pilot, Rei Ayanami.  After an awkward experience delivering an item to Rei at her apartment, Shinji sorties once more against the Fifth Angel, Ramiel.  However, the diamond shaped Angel attacks Eva Unit 01 with a powerful particle beam that cripples it and forces Shinji to retreat.  As the Angel begins boring a hole to NERVs underground headquarters, Misato mobilizes a plan to channel all of Tokyo-3’s power into a powerful sniper rifle to be used by Shinji, with Rei in Evangelion Unit 00 as his shield.  Rei tells Shinji that since she’s ordered to, she’ll protect him even at the cost of her life.  When the operation commences, Shinji misses his first shot, prompting Rei to step in and protect him from another particle beam.  Shinji successfully destroys Ramiel with his second shot then rushes to Rei’s aid.  Rei cant understand why Shinji cares whether or not she returns from battle alive…but is convinced by Shinji to smile for him.

In the Manga:

·        Toji and Kensuke are waiting for Shinji after he decides to stay.  Toji offers Shinji a free revenge punch but Shinji declines, saying Toji can just owe him one later.

·        While discussing Gendo, Rei does not slap Shinji when he tells her he can never have faith in his father.

·        While recovering from Ramiel’s attack, Shinji flashbacks to the time spent with his Aunt and Uncle, who are spoken of but never seen in the Anime.

Volume 3 probably has the least amount of changes to the Evangelion story so far.  While this is a Rei heavy Volume, I do like the added extra note to Shinji and Toji’s friendship: where Shinji tells Toji he wont hit him, Toji just owes him one.  I wonder if Shinji will ever collect (I doubt it, Shinji might be Shinji but he’s not the type to hold onto that kind of stuff).  But let’s talk about everyones favorite blue haired enigma.  Rei was always the biggest mystery of Neon Genesis Evangelion.  Even if you know exactly what she is and where she came from, Rei was always a fascinating watch.  Leave it to the Manga to make her just as enchanting even if they amend a couple of details here and there.  Her not slapping Shinji when he tells her he cant trust his Dad and doesn’t want to get to know him is interesting.  Knowing full well what Rei is I can say it fits her more than the Anime cause I couldn’t see her “inspiration” ever hitting Shinji, no matter the circumstances.  Lastly, the Manga does a good job of highlighting Shinji’s incredibly lonely life by showing us glimpses of the time he spent with his relatives prior to coming to Tokyo-3.  I wonder if this is all we’ll see or if we’ll see more.  Otherwise, everything from the Anime side lines up with this Volume, right down to Shinji asking Rei to smile when they both survive the battle with Ramiel.

Next Friday, she is coming…the most dangerous red head in all of Anime.  That’s right folks, it’s time for Asuka Langley Soryu to make her grand debut in the Evangelion Manga.  We’ll see what’s changed and what will always stay the same next time on Final Impact, right here at the Gundam Anime Corner.