Understanding ASUKA in Neon Genesis Evangelion

Here we are, three weeks late and hyped up on LCL fluid, finally ready to discuss everyone's favorite middle child in anime's greatest series. Today we're diving into the one and only Asuka Langley Soryu, deconstructing her introduction, metaphors, and character, all while avoiding her bad side.
Pardon the audio cracks here and there, and enjoy!

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The TIMETABLE!

0:00 - ...About Asuka
0:28 - Intro
0:34 - Act IIB
1:13 - Relation(ship)
1:40 - Episode 8
3:58 - Shapes and Colors
5:27 - Aka
6:04 - Elevation
7:49 - Prelude to EP 9
8:55 - Episode 9
10:34 - Asuka vs Rei
12:04 - Adult Trio
13:42 - Bad German Translation
14:17 - Chinese Mat
15:59 - Store Talk
17:50 - Wall of Jericho
20:36 - Episode 10
21:45 - Swimming
23:38 - Antithesis
25:43 - Outro

Thanks for joining us today!

God Bless You

[LighthoofDryden]

I think there’s another layer to equation of red=pain and Asuka being red beyond what that means to Shinji: her entire personality comes from her constant, desperate pain. The fact that she’s wrapped in it (but we don’t yet know why) is a nice bit of foreshadowing.

[duder]

I think there’s a major connection between Asuka and Ritsuko. They both fall in love with an older man (Asuka with Kaji and Ritsuko with Gendo), have identical shots in the restroom, despise Rei, have mothers who committed suicide (note that Rei’s mom chokes Rei to death who is called a doll throughout the series and Asuka’s mom hangs a doll), they both are sexually assaulted (Ritsuko by Gendo and Asuka by Shinji), they both are told “I need you” in The End of Evangelion and both respond with saying “liar”. Also, for a fun addition, is it just me or is the last shot of the End of Evangelion very similar to the beginning shots of Asuka and Kaji in episode 22? Anyways great series!

[bare_gamer]

21:19 I find it interesting that the series shows Rei and Asuka as opposites even in the type of swimsuit they wear, Rei’s being more “closed” and Asuka’s more “open” and attention-grabbing

[_sty__le]

Asuka's fight in EOE holds so much impact because the entire series she lost fights on her own. This was intentional since Hideki Anno wanted her to fail and struggle in order to go against the viewer's expectations. So finally in EOE you see her overcome her trauma, fight, then win. Yet it was all for nothing. She still couldn't truly win in the end.

[wesleystockford]

I always saw the three children as the three parts of the mind, Id, ego and superego. Shinji is constantly questioning what would make him happy- Id. Rei loses herself in the service of others- superego. Asuka is all ego until her confidence is chipped away and then she loses herself.

[JotheAnimator]

Asuka means a lot to me as a character. I relate to her so much. Especially the ways in which she views relationships. Desiring to be held and loved, but too cocky and stubborn to ask anyone for it. The desire to stand out and be seen. I love it.

Not to be cringe but Asuka is my "literally me" character. I'm happy to see more Asuka videos.

[MaaaaM]

Love this analysis, she’s my fav character of all time.

17:55 I think Asuka, in later scenes as well, deliberately wears Misato’s tshirt when she’s alone with Shinji to show her maturity and desire to be wanted.

[tris]

She is one of my favorite characters of all time. Seeing the framing choices to convey her authority over most yet her conflict with Rei is one of the coolest details my brain noticed but not explicitly. This entire series is like picking up on things after a second watch but with a microscope (whithout the painful drag that would be.) Can't wait for when we get to the end where everything is deconstructed.

[cryguy]

This might not be entirely related byt there's a detail about Asuka I absolutely love. It's heavily implied she witnessed or at the very least heard her father having intimate relations with another woman when she was a child. And consequently in the show she pursues someone she likes seeking that same initimacy and tries to be much more open about her womanhood/sexuality. Her experiences warped her perception of love and intimacy, and as someone who has had very similar experiences I was amazed at the attention to detail. She's an amazing character I found myself relating to a lot

[LucreciaCrescentIsBestGirl]

Asuka is one of my favorite characters in the series, and part of why I love her so much is because of how complex she is. A lot of people think Asuka is just mean, but that’s not it at all. She’s suffering from severe trauma and is afraid of being hurt more.
If I had to guess, I would say that she most likely has complex PTSD.
Unlike standard PTSD, complex PTSD (C-PTSD) results from prolonged, recurring trauma and stress, usually during childhood or adolescence. From what we know about Asuka’s childhood, with her father basically abandoning her and her mother, and her mother going mad before committing suicide, there is certainly a lot of trauma, likely over the course of a long time. In fact, negligent or abusive caregivers and dysfunctional family life are common risk factors for C-PTSD.
And we see Asuka exhibit a lot of the symptoms of C-PTSD in the show. Negative self-perception, emotional avoidance and isolation, difficulty in regulating emotions, being on edge and emotional flashbacks. All of these are symptoms of C-PTSD, and Asuka displays all of these and more.
Asuka needs help, and love. And sadly, she doesn’t get that for most of the series.
So when people say “oh, she’s such a bitch, ” I get angry about it.
Also, if anyone reading this is going through something similar to what I talked about above, you’re not alone. You are loved, and you are worthy of it. There is help for you.

[andrew]

this video gives Evangelion and Asuka the treatment they deserve!! I'm sure all the fans are gonna love it. High quality stuff!! ❤

[AndrewDederer]

The scene with Asuka introducing herself to Rei is a literal visualization of the term "condescending". By Asuka's lights, she's ceding her dominant position (we haven't been told, but it's pretty obvious she's been outscoring Rei for Years, while having Rei's more malleable behavior thrown back at her) as a peace offering. Of course, to outside observers, it comes off as definition number two (incredibly rude).

Episode 10 (while not a favorite of the creators), is VERY important for setting the limits of Asuka's Goals. Notice how she wants to go on the trip, go diving, DO things (and what does she watch on TV? Trashy Romantic potboilers, with a classic or two mixed in). Note she is completely indifferent to succeeding at school, and pitches a little shade on the whole system. The "numerical grading system" measures all the students on a "curve" as to who would do the best at college entrance exams, which would get them into a school, which gets them into a career. Which is patently ridiculous to a child who already has a "career" and one not likely leading to a gold watch. Her attitude when things look bleak late in the episode isn't panic so much as disappointment "So this is it? Thought I'd last longer". Besides which, she's already had higher education shoved into her, but Japan is famous for "one size fits all" solutions.

[caIicomoon]

16:01 You changing your clothes to the workout fits is such a great detail, you slay the look.
The time and effort you put into this video really shows and its greatly appreciated!

[Bannedd]

Nothing much to add to this amazing analysis, but I always found it cute how Shinji made sure to cover Asuka with a blanket before moving to the other side of the room

[lcdrugo]

I used to work at the National Security Agency and not only do they have their own post office and multiple cafeterias, they have their own library and drug store. When you're defending the nation from cyber (or angel) attack you really appreciate not having to waste time stopping on the way home to get the milk.

[Wawrzino]

Your subtle jokes an visual gags sprinkled all over the vid are a game of their own. I love this kind of humor

[gunterxvoices]

I am literally so happy I was able to find your channel. I love these videos and appreciate them so much <3

[kearingoodwin]

There’s another story where the main character archetypically the least likely of three to be the main character but is anyway… Alexei of Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, who is the most passive of the three brothers and acts most of the time as a messenger between others.
Both stories also share that existential psychological approach to the meaning of their stories and characters.

[Phrogoid]

Wow, sounds like Asuka and Shinji are coming to really like each other, especially with him saving her in the volcano and her reaction to that.

I sure do hope their relationship continues to improve as the series goes on.

[theburningcoder]

I like your thesis of Evangelion being a story about a character doing a character study, that Shinji analyses the other characters just like we the audience do. One part of the series I always liked is how Shinji starts out as every man or a self insert protagonist but overtime, the more he observes and interacts with the other characters, his personality becomes more nuanced and distinct.