Neon Genesis Evangelion
Set in Tokyo-3 in 2015, fifteen years after the global catastrophe known as the Second Impact, teenager Shinji Ikari pilots a giant biomechanical mecha called an Evangelion to fight mysterious beings called Angels. Behind the battles, the Human Instrumentality Project — pursued by the secret organization SEELE and NERV commander Gendo Ikari — drives the series toward its apocalyptic conclusion. Covers the TV series (26 episodes) and the original theatrical films (1997).
- Genre:
- SF / ロボット / 心理 / ディストピア
- Medium:
- Anime / Film
Neon Genesis Evangelion — Timeline18 events
The Second Impact
A catastrophic explosion at Antarctica shifts Earth's axis and kills roughly half the global population. Officially attributed to a meteorite impact, the disaster was in fact caused by a failed contact experiment with the First Angel, Adam, conducted under the secret organization SEELE. The event reshapes geopolitics and triggers decades of global upheaval.
— Referenced throughout the TV series as the foundational disaster of the setting.
Yui Ikari Disappears During Unit-01 Contact Experiment
Yui Ikari, a Gehirn researcher and wife of Gendo Ikari, physically disappears during a synchronization experiment with Evangelion Unit-01. Her soul fuses with the Eva's core. Her son Shinji, three years old at the time, loses his mother. This loss becomes the driving motivation behind Gendo's pursuit of Human Instrumentality.
— Depicted in series flashbacks and expanded in theatrical version. Year estimated from Shinji being age 3 at the time.
Gehirn Reorganized into Special Agency NERV
NERV, a paramilitary special agency operating under SEELE, is established from the restructuring of Gehirn. Gendo Ikari becomes Supreme Commander, headquartered in the subterranean Geofront beneath what will become Tokyo-3.
— Based on series setting documents and in-show references.
Shinji Ikari Summoned to Tokyo-3; Third Angel Sachiel Attacks
Fourteen-year-old Shinji Ikari is summoned to Tokyo-3 by his father, NERV Supreme Commander Gendo. The Third Angel, Sachiel, attacks the city the same day. With regular pilot Rei Ayanami injured, NERV forces Shinji into Unit-01. He repels the Angel in his first sortie.
— TV series Episodes 1–2. June 22 is the widely cited date based on a construction sign visible in the episode.
Fourth Angel Shamshel Attacks
Approximately three weeks after Sachiel's defeat, the Fourth Angel Shamshel — bearing blade-like energy appendages — attacks Tokyo-3. Shinji, now living with Misato Katsuragi, pilots Unit-01 alone to destroy it.
— TV series Episode 3. Dated approximately July based on the 'three weeks later' reference.
Operation Yashima — Fifth Angel Ramiel Destroyed
The Fifth Angel Ramiel, which can fire a high-energy particle beam while also drilling toward the Geofront, forces NERV to devise Operation Yashima. Drawing power from across Japan, Shinji fires a positron sniper rifle while Rei shields him. The operation succeeds and Ramiel is destroyed.
— TV series Episodes 5–6.
Asuka Langley Soryu Arrives in Japan with Unit-02
German-raised pilot Asuka Langley Soryu transports Evangelion Unit-02 to Japan aboard the UN carrier Over the Rainbow. En route, the Sixth Angel Gaghiel attacks; Asuka and a temporarily co-piloting Shinji defeat it in Unit-02. Ryoji Kaji covertly delivers an Adam sample to Gendo Ikari.
— TV series Episode 8.
Ryoji Kaji Conducts Secret Investigation Within NERV
Ryoji Kaji, operating as a triple agent for Japan's Cabinet Intelligence Agency, SEELE, and ostensibly NERV, conducts his own investigation into the true cause of the Second Impact and the Human Instrumentality Project. He relays his findings to Misato Katsuragi before being shot and killed by an unknown assailant. His killer is never officially identified.
— Around TV series Episode 21. His death is depicted only by a gunshot; his killer is never shown.
Thirteenth Angel Bardiel Infects Unit-03
During the activation test of Unit-03, transported from the United States, the parasitic Angel Bardiel takes over the Eva and goes berserk. With pilot Toji Suzuhara in danger and Shinji refusing to fight, Gendo activates the Dummy System in Unit-01, which violently dismantles Unit-03. Toji survives but is gravely injured and removed from the pilot program.
— TV series Episodes 17–18.
Fourteenth Angel Zeruel Attacks; Rei Ayanami Disappears
The Fourteenth Angel Zeruel breaches NERV's defenses and penetrates the Geofront, disabling Unit-02 and Unit-00 in succession. After Shinji's earlier desertion he returns and pilots Unit-01, which enters a berserk state and consumes Zeruel. Rei Ayanami's body is lost in the battle.
— Around TV series Episodes 21–22.
New Rei Ayanami Reactivated
A replacement Rei Ayanami, produced through cloning, begins to operate following the death of the previous individual. Shinji struggles with the question of continuity and identity. The existence of multiple cloned Rei bodies is confirmed.
— TV series Episode 22 onward.
Fifteenth Angel Arael Attacks; Lance of Longinus Launched into Orbit
The Fifteenth Angel Arael attacks from orbit using a psychic beam that invades Asuka's mind, disabling Unit-02. NERV resorts to using the Lance of Longinus — retrieved from Lilith — which Rei launches from Unit-00, neutralizing Arael. The Lance is lost to Earth orbit and becomes unrecoverable.
— TV series Episode 22.
Kaworu Nagisa (Seventeenth Angel Tabris) Arrives and Dies
Kaworu Nagisa, sent by SEELE as the Fourth Child, joins NERV and befriends Shinji. Kaworu reveals himself as the Seventeenth Angel, Tabris, and descends toward the deepest level of the Geofront where Lilith resides. Shinji, faced with an impossible choice, kills Kaworu to protect humanity.
— TV series Episode 24.
SEELE Launches Armed Assault on NERV
SEELE mobilizes UN and JSSDF forces to storm NERV headquarters. Numerous NERV personnel are killed, and Misato Katsuragi is fatally wounded. SEELE seizes control of NERV's systems and moves to execute the Human Instrumentality Project on its own terms.
— First half of the theatrical film 'Air' (1997).
Nine Mass Production EVAs Defeat Asuka and Unit-02
Nine Mass Production Evangelion units descend and engage Unit-02. Asuka fights back fiercely after recovering from her mental trauma, but the MPE units possess spear-like weapons and regenerative capability, and they ultimately destroy Unit-02.
— Latter half of the theatrical film 'Air' (1997).
Gendo's Plan Collapses; Rei Ayanami Rejects Gendo
Gendo Ikari, with Adam's embryo fused to his hand, attempts to merge with Rei — the vessel for Lilith's soul — to seize control of the Instrumentality process on his own terms. Rei rejects Gendo's desire and instead absorbs Adam into Lilith's body, pushing Gendo away.
— Theatrical film 'The End of Evangelion' (1997).
Third Impact Triggered; Human Instrumentality Begins
A gigantic form combining Adam and Lilith manifests through Rei, and the AT Fields of all humanity begin to dissolve, initiating Human Instrumentality. Shinji's will, channeled through Unit-01, becomes the key variable determining the outcome of the process, as SEELE's scenario for the merging of all human souls unfolds.
— Theatrical film 'The End of Evangelion' (1997).
Shinji's Choice and the Outcome of Instrumentality
During the Instrumentality process, Shinji chooses the possibility of coexistence with others rather than permanent merger. Humanity begins to reconstitute as individual beings. Unit-01, containing Yui's soul, separates from Lilith and drifts into space. Shinji and Asuka are left on the LCL-covered Earth, survivors of the collapse of the Instrumentality.
— Ending of 'The End of Evangelion' (1997). The finale is open to multiple interpretations.
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