Rebuild Of Evangelion: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Mari - CBR

There are plenty of anime series that have built controversial reputations for themselves or approached storytelling in unconventional ways, but none are quite like Neon Genesis Evangelion. Evangelion is a radical take on the mecha genre that has been mystifying audiences and creating debate for decades. The series is full of heady themes, incredible battles, and some very memorable characters that have gone on to leave their mark on anime. 

RELATED: Rebuild Of Evangelion: 10 Questions We Need Answered By The Fourth Movie

Evangelion has slowly returned and retold its story through a series of four Rebuild of Evangelion movies. There’s a tremendous amount to deconstruct in these films, but one of their biggest changes to the original series is the incorporation of Mari Makinami Illustrious.

10 She's The Fourth Child

One of the most striking aspects of the Evangelion series is that young teenagers are used as the pilots for the unbelievable EVA units. There are only a select few that have been given this responsibility, let alone an even fewer amount that have been able to thrive in the conditions.

The Evangelion anime introduces five children, but the Rebuild series remixes events. The anime has Toji Suzuhara as the Fourth Child, but Evangelion: 2.0 introduces Mari as the series' equivalent to the Fourth Child.

9 Her First Appearance Is In A Video Game

Mari is a character that most audiences become familiar with in Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, but she actually makes an appearance a year earlier in an obscure Nintendo DS game, Petit Eva: Evangelion @ Game.

Petit Eva is a mini-game compilation title and Mari isn't playable, but she does appear in one of the mini-games with a slightly different look. Petit Eva is a superfluous, albeit entertaining, video game that becomes slightly more significant because of how it debuts this character that becomes crucial to the Rebuild of Evangelion films.

8 Mari's Development Went Through Many Changes & Disagreements

Mari is a distinct character from the Rebuild films because she’s someone that doesn’t originally appear in the anime or manga series. Mari’s development wasn’t easy and the character has continued to change as the films themselves evolve.

RELATED: Evangelion 3.0 + 1.0: Everything We Know About The Final Movie (So Far)

Initially, creator Hideaki Anno just knew that Mari should “destroy Eva,” but there were various ideas on how to integrate her into the existing Evangelion framework. Mari’s role has transformed from a minor extended cameo to completely taking over other characters’ roles. Mari headed in a direction where she functions as a competent rival for Asuka, but even this remains in flux.

7 She's Naturally Gifted As An EVA Pilot

The pilots in Evangelion consider their positions a privilege, but each battle is still a constant struggle. Every time that these pilots get in their mechs it takes a lot out of them both mentally and physically. Accordingly, some individuals fail to stay in sync with their EVA and have difficulty doing anything useful with their mecha.

Mari is shown to be an expert pilot that’s at least at Asuka’s level, if not even higher. Mari has minimal experience and a fraction of the training, so she should be even more dangerous within the right environment.

6 She Pilots Multiple Evangelion Units

There are some mecha anime series that feature dozens of unique designs and a wide array of mech warriors that are available for battle. Evangelion deals with a much smaller roster of EVA units and there are a core few that are very iconic as a result.

It’s a rare opportunity to pilot one Evangelion, but Mari is adept enough in her field that she controls at least three throughout the Rebuild movies. Mari begins in Unit-05 in Evangelion: 2.0,then briefly pilots Unit-02, before she ends up in Unit-08 in Evangelion: 3.0.

5 She's The Only EVA Pilot That Genuinely Enjoys It

Something that both the Evangelion anime series and movies effectively get across is that piloting an Evangelion is even more of a burden than it is a privilege. There are a small few that exhibit enthusiasm towards the prospect of piloting an EVA, but those that are actually inside of one experience tremendous and ongoing trauma. 

RELATED: End Of Evangelion: 10 Major Differences Between The Anime & Movie's Endings

This makes Mari such a notable exception since she has an avid glee towards her EVA work. Mari even actively enjoys the smell of LCL fluid and she comes up with fun nicknames for her fellow pilots because she views this work as play.

4 She Knows How To Activate An EVA Unit's "Beast Mode"

One of the most chilling revelations to come out of Neon Genesis Evangelion is that the EVA units aren’t powerful robots, but actually living creatures that are not unlike the Angels. There are still moments when the baser instincts of these creatures take over and break through NERV’s restraints, which often results in a deeply disturbing and bloody affair.

The mechanics behind the Evangelion’s Berserker and “Beast Modes” are still unclear, but Mari appears to be able to trigger the latter in Unit-02. Mari also becomes as bloodthirsty and vicious as the EVA while she’s caught in this process.

3 She's A Part Of WILLE'S Operation 0706

Neon Genesis Evangelion fans have been waiting for over a decade to see the final chapter in the Rebuild series, Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon A Time. Part of the celebration surrounding the film’s release involved the first 10 minutes being released online and it’s a scene that shows just how much things have changed since Evangelion: 3.0.

CBR Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Our main newsletter packed with the latest updates, reviews and buzz from the worlds of movies, TV, anime, comics, and beyond. Get ready and let's dive in! Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The scene chronicles Operation 0706, an intense mission by WILLE where Mari’s EVA skills are used to not just help restore Paris, but also recover a significant supply cache. Mari gets trusted with a mission of this magnitude.

2 She Appears In An Extra Chapter Of The Manga

Mari Makinami Illustrious makes the biggest impression in the Rebuild films, but she also appears in a bonus chapter of Neon Genesis Evangelion’smanga. Set in 1998, Mari is 16 and a friend of Yui Ikari. Mari isn’t able to compete with Yui and she grows jealous over Yui’s new relationship with Gendo. Mari’s signature glasses even turn out to be a parting gift from Yui.

This backstory clashes with the Rebuild movies, but Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, the manga's author, revealed that this isn't meant to be canon. He just wanted to do a new chapter with Mari for fun.

1 She's Named After World War II Warships

A series like Neon Genesis Evangelionis full of symbolism and subtext. It’s not necessary to read into every little detail, but it can often yield fascinating results that make the series even more satisfying. The names of characters can be a great way to get a little insight on what a figure represents.

In the case of Mari Makinami Illustrious, the Makinami is a Japanese destroyer from World War II and the HMS Illustrious is a British aircraft carrier from the same period. This inspiration behind Mari’s name might be meant to signify that she hasJapanese and British roots. 

NEXT: Neon Genesis Evangelion: Every Movie In The Franchise (In Chronological Order)