Original artwork, not a still
I mustn't run away.
— Neon Genesis Evangelion ‧ 1995
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
A boy tells himself the thing he can't believe. Shinji's mantra isn't bravery but a spell against his own fear, and it comes back through the series as it stops working. The 1995 show made hesitation its hero's defining trait, and viewers recognised the self-talk of someone forcing themselves through a door. It gets quoted sincerely and as a joke about doing the thing you dread.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Neon Genesis EvangelionShow the scene
The first episode. Fourteen-year-old Shinji Ikari arrives in Tokyo-3 as the Third Angel, Sachiel, attacks. NERV's Commander, his estranged father Gendo, tells him to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 or leave, and Shinji refuses. The badly injured Rei Ayanami is rolled out on a stretcher to pilot in his place. When Sachiel's blast shakes the Geofront and Unit-01 raises a hand to shield Shinji, he runs to the collapsed Rei and convinces himself that he mustn't run away. He agrees to pilot.
Sources (1)
- Evangelion Wiki: Episode 1Overview and Extended SummaryReference checked
Context reviewed
