Shinji

Shinji has straight, medium-length brown hair and gray-blue eyes. Shinji is also very thin, and his shirt is often tucked in, indicating he is a rather neat person. When spending time at NERV or in the city, he wears his uniform, which consists of a white shirt, a blue T-shirt, dark pants, and white sneakers, although when at his apartment, he often wears something more casual. Shinji's uniform has a very light blue torso, complemented by a dark blue and black rest.

After his father abandoned him, Shinji was sent to live with his "sensei." He describes his life there as "peaceful": he did nothing but simply exist, and "nothing ever happened" there. Beyond Shinji's words and the occasional hints throughout the series, nothing is known about his life or childhood before the main events.

Like all Evangelion characters, Shinji has a complex and multilayered personality. At the beginning of the series, he appears somewhat passive, outwardly polite but melancholic. He tends to see himself as less important and worthy of attention than others. Perhaps as a result of intense self-doubt or self-deprecation (combined with the fact that he had little contact with anyone during his time with his "sensei"), Shinji feels detached from people, believing he can't connect with anyone and that no one can understand him.

Shinji's feelings toward others tend to be quite ambiguous and changeable. On the one hand, he fears other people and the emotional pain they might cause him (as well as being unloved or rejected), but on the other hand, he has a strong need for praise and acceptance (perhaps as an attempt to bolster his insecurities). This conflict between the fear of pain and the desire for approval is one of Shinji's most noticeable traits. It's worth noting that his withdrawal from people is influenced by his feelings of guilt and his belief in his own inadequacy; he fears he might unwittingly harm others. Despite the cynicism he sometimes displays toward his father, Shinji also desires Gendo's love.

But since Shinji can't find a personal reason to pilot the Eva, he gives himself entirely to the action.

Shinji also fears pain, being hated, or being rejected, which is particularly evident in his anxiety about the potential harmful or hurtful consequences of his actions. This may be due to the fact that he was "abandoned" by both parents at an early age (though his mother, in truth, never really disappeared), and he tends to blame himself, thinking he's not good enough and can't make his father stay. Perhaps because he hasn't interacted with others much, Shinji has difficulty controlling his emotions. However, he is somewhat aware of his weaknesses and is capable of tenderness and compassion.