View source for Rei Ayanami

{{Short description|Character from Neon Genesis Evangelion}}
{{good article}} 
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Rei Ayanami
| series = [[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]
| image = Rei Ayanami.jpg
| alt = Three forms of a blue-haired female fictional character showing her child self (left), her with a white suit (middle), and her with a blue and white school uniform (right)
| caption = Rei with her Evangelion Unit-00 (in the background) as a child (left), as a pilot (center), and as a student (right)
| first = ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' <!-- Please read: The manga was listed here since it was written before the screenings of the first anime episode. -->chapter 2: "Reunion" (1995)
| creator = [[Gainax]]
| voice = '''Japanese'''<br />[[Megumi Hayashibara]]<br />'''English'''<br />[[Amanda Winn-Lee]] (ADV dub and ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion|Rebuild series]]''; [[Amazon Prime Video|Prime Video]] dub)<br />[[Brina Palencia]] (''Rebuild series''; [[Funimation]] dub)<br />Ryan Bartley (Netflix dub)
| data31 = [[Gendo Ikari]] (legal guardian)<br /> [[Yui Ikari]] (biological source)<br /> [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Lilith|Lilith]] (biological source)<br /> [[Shinji Ikari]] (son of Yui)
| lbl31 = Notable relatives
| full_name = Rei Ayanami
| species = [[Human cloning|Human clone]]
| gender = Female
| title = First Child
}}
{{nihongo|'''Rei Ayanami'''|綾波 レイ|Ayanami Rei|{{ipa|ja|ajaꜜnamʲi ɾeː|ipa}}|lead=yes}} is a fictional character from the ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'' [[anime]] series and [[Neon Genesis Evangelion (franchise)|its eponymous franchise]] created by the anime studio [[Gainax]]. In the anime series, Rei is an introverted girl chosen as the enigmatic pilot of [[Evangelion (mecha)#Evangelion Unit-00|Evangelion Unit-00]], one of a series of giant [[mecha]]s called ''Evangelions''. She is called the ''First Child'' among the Evangelion pilots. At the beginning of the series, Rei is a mysterious figure whose unusual behavior astonishes her peers. As the series progresses, she becomes more involved with the people around her, particularly her classmate and fellow Evangelion pilot, [[Shinji Ikari]]. She is revealed to be a clone of his mother, [[Yui Ikari]], and [[Angels (Neon Genesis Evangelion)#Lilith|Lilith]], a large being known as an ''[[Angels (Neon Genesis Evangelion)|Angel]].'' Rei appears in the [[List of Neon Genesis Evangelion films|franchise's animated feature films]] and related media, [[List of Neon Genesis Evangelion video games|video games]], the [[original net animation]] ''[[Petit Eva: Evangelion@School]]'', the ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' films, and the [[manga]] adaptation by [[Yoshiyuki Sadamoto]].

[[Hideaki Anno]], director of the animated series, conceived Rei as a representation of his [[unconscious mind]]. He was also influenced by his readings on [[psychology]], particularly [[Freud]]ian [[psychoanalysis]], taking inspiration from Freud's theories on the [[Oedipus complex]]. Other influences for its creation include earlier works by Gainax staff members, such as ''[[Aoki Uru]]'', and [[Paul Gallico]]'s ''[[The Snow Goose (novella)|The Snow Goose]]''. Rei is voiced by [[Megumi Hayashibara]] in Japanese and by [[Amanda Winn-Lee]], [[Brina Palencia]], and Ryan Bartley in English.

Reactions from viewers and critics to Rei have generally been positive. She has maintained a high ranking in popularity polls of the series and of the most popular anime characters in Japan. Reviewers have praised Rei's mysterious aura and her role in the story. Merchandise based on her has been released, including [[action figure]]s, life-size statues, clothing, and makeup. Critics linked her success to a series of ''[[Moe (slang)|moe]]'' traits, described by Thomas Zoth of Mania Entertainment as "weak [and] vulnerable",<ref name=Mania/> that anime fans recognized, influencing the creation of subsequent female anime characters.

== Conception ==
{{multiple image
| footer            = Rei was originally conceived with dark hair and eyes; blue hair and bandages were later considered by Sadamoto.
| image1            = Rei Ayanami Early Design Der Mond.jpeg
| alt1              = Sketches of a female teenage anime character with dark hair and a white suit
| width1            = 100
| image2            = Rei Ayanami Early Design Evangelion Proposal.jpeg
| alt2              = Sketches of a female teenage character with a bandaged eye featured in an anime series
| width2            = 198
| align             = left
}}

=== Design ===
[[Hideaki Anno]], the director of the [[anime]] ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]'', instructed [[Yoshiyuki Sadamoto]], the character designer of the same work, on Rei's character design, saying, "Whatever else, she needs to be painted as a bitterly unhappy young girl with little sense of presence."{{sfn|Fujie|Foster|2004|pp=97–98}} The band [[Kinniku Shōjo Tai]]'s theme song "Doko e demo ikeru kitte" and its line {{nihongo|"''hotai de masshiro na shojo''"|包帯で真っ白な少女||{{literal translation|"the girl white with bandages"}}}} inspired Sadamoto to draw Rei.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.gainax.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=416 |url-status=unfit <!-- NOTE: per error NET::ERR_CERT_COMMON_NAME_INVALID on 2025-08-11. This is an SSL/TLS certificate error – a possible attack url or invalid certificate. --> | title =Conférence Yoshiyuki Sadamoto – Japan Expo 2008  |trans-title=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Conference – Japan Expo 2008 | website =Gainax.fr| access-date =July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711094223/http://www.gainax.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=416|archive-date=July 11, 2011|language=fr}}</ref> The same band produced a song named {{nihongo|"Fumimi no kodomo"|福耳の子供}}, in which a female monologue is audible, and Sadamoto tried to portray a girl with a similar voice.{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=164–165}} Ukina, a character from Sadamoto's previous work ''Koto'', served as Rei's model, and the artist gave her "shaggy, bobbed wolf-like hair".<ref name=sadamoto>{{cite book |last= Sadamoto|first= Yoshiyuki|author-link=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto|date=2012 |chapter=My Thoughts at the Moment|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 Edition|volume=1|publisher= [[Viz Media]]|pages=346–348 |isbn= 978-1-4215-5079-4}}</ref> Another source of inspiration was ''[[The Snow Goose (novella)|The Snow Goose]]'', a novella written by [[Paul Gallico]]; the story describes a painting portraying the protagonist, a thin and pale girl, in an empty room, and the artist tried to create a character similar to her.{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=164–165}}

Anno required a "gloomy",<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tei|first=Andrew|date=June 22, 2003|title=Fanime Con 2003 (Sadamoto panel)|url=http://Animeondvd.com/press/conventions/2003/fanime2003.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040815044833/http://animeondvd.com/press/conventions/2003/fanime2003.php|archive-date=August 15, 2004|access-date=July 27, 2021|website=Anime on DVD}}</ref> short-haired character, so Sadamoto originally designed Rei as a brunette with dark eyes; however, it was necessary to distinguish her from the other female protagonist, [[Asuka Langley Soryu]], so he depicted her with eye and hair colors opposite to Asuka's.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.animeclick.it/news/36125-milano-manga-festival-reportage-dei-sadamoto-days| title =Milano Manga Festival: Reportage dei Sadamoto Days| date =July 11, 2013| trans-title=Milano Manga Festival: Report of Sadamoto Days |website =[[AnimeClick.it]]| access-date =July 5, 2014| language =it| archive-date =July 12, 2014| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140712051527/http://www.animeclick.it/news/36125-milano-manga-festival-reportage-dei-sadamoto-days| url-status =live}}</ref> He also published a drawing of a dark-haired character named Yui Ichijō among Rei's designs in one of his artbooks, without specifying whether it is an early conception of [[Yui Ikari]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Der Mond: The Art of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto|publisher=Viz Media|isbn= 978-1-56931-546-0|date=2001|pages=72, 116}}</ref> Although Asuka was designed to behave similar to an idol in ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and to symbolize heterosexual attraction, Sadamoto designed Rei as a motherhood symbol,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 1997 |title=貞本義行インタビュー |trans-title=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Interview |magazine=[[Newtype Magazine]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |language=ja}}</ref> thinking of her as "the [[Yin and yang|Yin]] opposed to Asuka".<ref>Interview with Sadamoto in {{cite book|title=Der Mond: The Art of Yoshiyuki Sadamoto – Deluxe Edition |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |year=1999 |isbn=978-4-04-853031-6}}</ref> Anno also suggested Rei's eye color be red, a feature he believed gave her more personality and distinguished her design from those of the other characters.<ref name=sadamoto/> Her hair color changed to blue, similar to the main character from ''[[Aoki Uru]]'', the movie sequel to ''[[Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise]]'' (1987), which was not made.{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=164–165}} Sadamoto also gave her black stockings, inspired by a women's handball team he saw playing in middle school.<ref>Yoshiyuki Sadamoto's comment in {{Cite book |last=Hayashibara |first=Megumi |author-link=Megumi Hayashibara |title=明日があるさ〜SWEET TIME EXPRESS〜 ちょトク文庫版 |date=2002 |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |isbn=978-4-04-444502-7 |language=ja |trans-title=There Is Always Tomorrow ~ SWEET TIME EXPRESS ~ A Little Good Value Bunko Edition}}</ref> Black allowed him to differentiate her from the characters of the series released in the same period and go against their trend.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sekai-seifuku.org/en/interview2_3/|title=Mr. Sadamoto Yoshituki - Interview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304151905/http://sekai-seifuku.org/en/interview2_3/|archive-date=March 4, 2012|access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref>

Japanese architect Kaichiro Morikawa compared the face of the first Rei, usually presented in a distorted and deformed way, to the installations of [[Tony Oursler]], also comparing her bedroom to [[Gottfried Helnwein]]'s photographs.{{sfn|Morikawa|1997|p=27}} Writer Claudio Cordella associated her personality with that of the female characters portrayed by the painter [[Edward Burne-Jones]] and her gaze with the "fixed and lifeless eyes" of Olympia from ''[[The Tales of Hoffmann]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first=Claudio|last= Cordella|chapter=Cyborg e altri simulacri|title=Il volto di Ayanami. Simulacri e macchine pensanti tra Oriente e Occidente |trans-chapter=Cyborgs and Other Simulacra |trans-title=The Face of Ayanami. Simulacra and Mechanical Thinking from East to West |publisher=Delos Digital|isbn= 978-88-254-1217-8 |date=2020|language=it}}</ref> Furthermore, [[Takekuma Kentaro]] linked the image of Rei in bandages to the photos of Romain Slocombe, but Sadamoto compared her to the works of manga artist Sensha Yoshida.{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=170-172}} Her image is often flanked in the series by that of the [[Moon]], a celestial body associated with motherhood, pallor, passivity, and femininity. Japanese engineer Yumiko Yano thus noticed a hieratic and unattainable aura in Rei Ayanami, comparing her to the [[Virgin Mary]].{{sfn|Morikawa|1997|p=98}} Yano also associated her figure with the fragile and chaste women portrayed in ''[[fin de siècle]]'' art, particularly popular among the works of [[Symbolism (movement)|Symbolist]] painters.{{sfn|Morikawa|1997|pp=101–102}}

=== Development ===
Similarly to other ''Evangelion'' characters, Ayanami's surname comes from a Japanese [[World War&nbsp;II]] naval vessel, the {{sclass|Fubuki|destroyer|1}} {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Ayanami|1929|2}}.{{sfn|Fujie|Foster|2004|p=121}} Her first name comes from the character [[Sailor Mars|Rei Hino]] of the anime and manga series ''[[Sailor Moon]]''. This was done to get one of ''Sailor Moon''{{'}}s directors, [[Kunihiko Ikuhara]], to work on ''Evangelion''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hideaki Anno| url = http://www.gainax.co.jp/hills/anno/essay1.html| title =Essay|date=November 2, 2000| website =Gainax.co.jp| publisher =[[Gainax]]| access-date =July 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220135947/http://www.gainax.co.jp/hills/anno/essay1.html|archive-date=February 20, 2007|language=ja}}</ref> Written in [[kanji]], {{nihongo|''Rei''|零}} can mean "zero" or "null". The character {{nihongo|''Rei''|例|}} also means "custom" or "routine".<ref name=Ghilardi>{{cite book|first=Marcello|last= Ghilardi|pages=119–120|title=Filosofia nei manga: Estetica e immaginario nel Giappone contemporaneo|trans-title=Philosophy in Manga: Aesthetics and Imagery in Contemporary Japan|year= 2010|publisher=Mimesis Edizioni|isbn=978-88-5750-237-3|language=it}}</ref> According to writer [[Patrick Drazen]], her name can be a pun on her Evangelion 00.{{sfn|Drazen|2014|p=294}} As for critic [[Hiroki Azuma]], it may have been influenced by a character named Zero, the protagonist of the 1987 novel ''Ai to Gensō no Fascism'', written by [[Ryū Murakami]].<ref name="Woznicki"/> Anno also took inspiration from [[Sigmund Freud]]'s [[psychoanalysis|psychoanalytic]] concept of the [[Oedipus complex]] for her role. He conceived the Evangelion and Rei as palliative mother figures for Shinji; Rei was also developed as emotionally close to Shinji's father, Gendo, creating a multi-layered Oedipus complex.{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|p=86}} In a discarded draft of the character's background, she was thus a more sensual character than her final version; character designer Sadamoto, however, unlike the more frank and explicit Hideaki Anno, decided to give her a much more "enigmatic" and bland [[Eros (concept)|eros]].<ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=April 29, 2020|author=Kazuya Tsurumaki|url=http://kodansha.cplaza.ne.jp/gainax/tsurumaki/tsurumaki_1st/tsurumaki_1st_scene3.html|title=Scene 3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040605130346/http://kodansha.cplaza.ne.jp/gainax/tsurumaki/tsurumaki_1st/tsurumaki_1st_scene3.html|archive-date=June 5, 2004}}</ref> For Kazuya Tsurumaki, Shinji feels a sexual and incestuous desire for her, and Kentaro Takekuma described her as an "eternal virgin".{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=177–179}}

During ''Evangelion''{{'}}s production and first broadcast, Anno struggled writing the character, not feeling "particularly interested", understanding, or relating to her. Still, he thought of her as representing his [[unconscious mind]],{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=93–96}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=November 1996|title=庵野秀明×上野峻哉の対談 |trans-title=Hideaki Anno and Shunya Ueno's Interview |magazine=[[Newtype Magazine]] |language=ja |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]}}</ref> conceiving Rei as "the unconscious Shinji".<ref>{{Cite web |orig-date=December 5, 2000 |title=庵野秀明 |trans-title=Hideaki Anno |url=http://www.jinnken.org/kouenroku/annohideaki.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223160931/http://www.jinnken.org/kouenroku/annohideaki.html |archive-date=February 23, 2010 |access-date=February 3, 2021 |language=ja}}</ref> In the fifth episode, "[[Rei I]]", explicitly dedicated to her character, Rei speaks seven lines and fifty-two words. Meanwhile, in the sixth, "[[Rei II]]", she has twenty-five lines.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gualtiero Cannarsi|title=Evangelion Encyclopedia|volume=3 |pages=32–33 |publisher=[[Dynamic Italia]] |language=it}}</ref>  After working on the sixth episode, Anno said that he wondered that if Rei's purpose in the story was finished because of communicating with Shinji. Not feeling particularly close to her, the director, for a long time, forgot to explore Rei's personality, ignoring it or giving it marginal space. In the eighth episode, "[[Asuka Strikes!]]", for example, she does not appear in any scene, but in the seventh installment, "[[A Human Work]]", he remembered her and added a scene with Rei.{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=93–96}} As with other ''Evangelion'' characters, he transposed aspects of his life into the character, including the choice to not eat meat and maintain a vegetarian diet.<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=4|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|page=59}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Gualtiero Cannarsi|title=Evangelion Encyclopedia|volume=6 |pages=32, 41 |publisher=[[Dynamic Italia]] |language=it}}</ref> At the beginning of the production, he also stated that he did not know what would happen to Rei or the other characters "because I don't know where life is taking the staff".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sadamoto |first=Yoshiyuki |author-link=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto |others=Essay by Hideaki Anno; translated by Mari Morimoto, English adaptation by Fred Burke |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion, Vol. 1 |date=December 1998 |orig-date=1995 |publisher=VIZ Media LLC |location=San Francisco |isbn=978-1-56931-294-0 |pages=170–171 |chapter=What were we trying to make here?}}</ref>
{{multiple image
| footer            = Rei Ayanami was compared to the [[Shinto]] goddess [[Amaterasu]] (left) or the [[Christianism|Christian]] figure of Mary, mother of [[Jesus Christ]] (right).
| image1            = Amaterasu.png
| align             = left
| alt1              = Painting of Amaterasu
| caption1          = 
| width1            = 144
| image2            = The Immaculate Conception, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, from Prado in Google Earth.jpg
| alt2              = Painting of The Immaculate Conception
| caption2          = 
| width2            = 150
}}
Her history has eventually changed. According to Sadamoto and assistant director [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]], she was originally conceived as an alien entity, but staff later made her at least genetically human. During an interview, they described Rei as a girl with the human genes of Yui Ikari and {{sic|the genes of the first Angel [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Adam|Adam]]}}; Tsurumaki also associated her condition with a Devilman, a hybrid presented in the manga ''[[Devilman]]'' by [[Go Nagai]].{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=179–180}} Moreover, in the original script for the [[He was aware that he was still a child|twenty-first episode]], the first Rei clone, killed by [[Naoko Akagi]] in the final version of the script, eventually survives after being strangled and having lost consciousness momentarily, awakening in an empty command room without Dr. Akagi.<ref>{{cite book|title=Evangelion Original III|isbn=978-4-8291-7323-7|date=1996|chapter=Episode: 21 - He was aware he was still a child|publisher=Fujimi Shobo}}</ref> In contrast, Anno had planned the death of her second clone since the beginning.{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=97-100}}

During the production of the [[Weaving a Story|fourteenth episode]], the director decided to focus on her and "explore her emotion", adding a monologue of Rei. As he was working on the monologue, he wanted to develop her in a "[[schizophrenia|schizophrenic]]" direction and wondered how to portray a kind of madness. He was loaned a magazine-like book entitled {{nihongo|''Bessatsu Takarajima''|別冊宝島}} on mental illness that contained a poem by someone who had a mental disorder and that triggered his imagination.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |title=残酷な天使のように |publisher=Magazine Magazine |year=1997 |isbn=978-4-906011-25-4 |trans-title=Like a Cruel Angel |chapter=庵野 秀明 – Part II |trans-chapter=Hideaki Anno – Part II}}</ref> Moreover, during the production, Ikuhara, annoyed by the idealized image and the fetishism that some fans built around the character, proposed to Anno to "betray" fans and show her as a real girl who gets married and "gets pregnant in the last episode", but Anno rejected the suggestion.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Interview with Hideaki Anno|journal=Monthly Anime Style|date=April 2000|language=ja|publisher=Good Smile Company}}</ref> Furthermore, in the original finale wanted by Anno, the giant Rei added in ''[[The End of Evangelion]]'' (1997) was not foreseen since it was conceived later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=庵野秀明 |trans-title=Hideaki Anno |url=https://jinken-official.jimdofree.com/%E8%AC%9B%E6%BC%94%E9%8C%B2-%E4%BC%9A%E8%A6%8B%E9%8C%B2/%E5%BA%B5%E9%87%8E%E7%A7%80%E6%98%8E-2000/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102233616/https://jinken-official.jimdofree.com/%E8%AC%9B%E6%BC%94%E9%8C%B2-%E4%BC%9A%E8%A6%8B%E9%8C%B2/%E5%BA%B5%E9%87%8E%E7%A7%80%E6%98%8E-2000/ |archive-date=January 2, 2021 |access-date=April 14, 2021 |language=ja |quote=Originally, I had planned that the television version of episode 26 would end up being like [it was]. [...] I didn't expect at the time that Ayanami would become enormous, though. I felt, well, if we're going to do it let's make her the size of the planet.}}</ref> Anno declared he considered her character "already finished" in her smile scene from the sixth episode since "she and Shinji completely 'communicated' there".{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=93–96}} In the last episodes of the series, Rei dies, and another clone, who acts like a stranger to Shinji, replaces her.<ref name=Children/> Anno compared the story after her smile scene, in which there is a step back in interpersonal communication, to Hideki Gō, a character from the ''[[Return of Ultraman]]'' series; Gō seems to get closer to other people and his colleagues from the Monster Attack Team, but "then next week things begin again from [a position of] estrangement". He also added: "At that point, something emerges of my mistrust or fear of communication with others."{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=93–96}}

In an interview with Anno, Japanese writer and academic Ōizumi Mitsunari likened the figure of Rei to the girls committed to the Japanese sect [[Aum Shinrikyō]], which carried out the [[Tokyo subway sarin attack]] in 1995, as "completely dependent on their [[guru]]", [[Shōkō Asahara]].{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=93–96}} The book ''Schizo Evangelion'', edited by him, describes her as "a sacrifice offered to all the Japanese [[mother's boy|mama's boys]] and sadists" and in a series of dichotomies, such as opium and euphoria, [[Satan]] and God, "the infinite power of Eros" and "the blinding power of [[death drive|Thanatos]] at the same time", "a [[sarin]] prepared by Gendo Ikari for his plan to destroy humanity", the "keyhole of [[Pandora's box]]", and the [[Mother goddess|Great Bad Mother]] trying to take in her son.{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=184–190}} According to the scholar Hiroki Azuma, Rei Ayanami introduces a "new type of solitude" into Japanese animation.<ref name=Azuma/> Before her, anime characters were divided between sociable girls with expensive clothes and cosmetics, technological gadgets, and often engaged in prostitution activities called ''[[kogal]]''; and ''otaku'', isolated characters with rooms full of technology and magazines. According to Azuma, Rei transcends both stereotypes; he likened her room to Satyam, the scientific laboratory of Aum Shinrikyō.<ref name=Azuma/>

Critic Krystian Woznicki compared Rei's role to [[Pinocchio]] in the film ''[[964 Pinocchio]]'' (1991), but "Rei's character is quite realistic, whereas Pinocchio is completely removed from reality".<ref name="Woznicki">{{cite magazine|author=Krystian Woznicki|title=Towards a cartography of Japanese anime – Anno Hideaki's Evangelion Interview with Azuma Hiroki|magazine=Blimp Filmmagazine|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=September 1991}}</ref> Japanese critic [[Tamaki Saitō]] described her as "the culmination of the [[agalmatophilia|Pygmalionism]] that began with ''[[Nanako SOS]]''".{{sfn|Saito|Azuma|2011|p=125}} At the same time, Kenneth Lee noted a similarity in her path of self-awareness with Pinocchio and Key from ''[[Key the Metal Idol]]''.<ref name=Lee/> Furthermore, writer Tamaki Saito reported that [[Sailor Mercury|Ami Mizuno]] from ''Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon'' has been interpreted as a forerunner of Rei.{{sfn|Saito|Azuma|2011|p=122}} [[Patrick Drazen]] noticed that, like other ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' characters, who have traits of some deities of [[Shinto]] mythology, Rei has affinities with the goddess of the [[Sun]], [[Amaterasu]], who is reborn at every dawn. He also compared the show's two other protagonists, Shinji and Asuka, with [[Susanoo]] and [[Ama-no-Uzume]], respectively; Shinji, like Susanoo, has clumsy social manners and unsociable behavior, but Asuka, similar to Uzume, is ebullient and flaunts her body.{{sfn|Drazen|2014|pp=298–299}} According to Italian scholar Fabio Bartoli, her three incarnations could be linked to the three evolutionary stages of the [[soul]] postulated by the Jewish [[Qabbalah]]—[[Nephesh]], the mere animal vitality; [[Ruach]], the normal human soul; and [[Soul#Judaism|Neshamah]], the elevated spirit and result of the connection between man and God.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bartoli|first=Fabio|url=http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/040108/06-Antrocom.pdf|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' e la Kabbalah: dal Tempo di dolore al Tempo Benedetto|trans-title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and the Kabbalah: The Time of Sorrow to the Blessed Time |year=2008|journal=Antrocom|volume=4|issue=1|pages=29–30|access-date=April 18, 2020|language=it|archive-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422065644/http://www.antrocom.net/upload/sub/antrocom/040108/06-Antrocom.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Voice ===
[[Megumi Hayashibara]] voiced Rei in all her appearances in the original series, as well as the later films, spin-offs, video games, and the ''[[Rebuild of Evangelion]]'' saga. In 1995, Hayashibara said she was somewhat "surprised" by her role and laconic character, saying: "I have to challenge something new."<ref>{{Cite web |title=林原めぐみの東京ブギーナイト – 1995.03.25 |trans-title=Megumi Hayashibara's Tokyo Boogie Night - 1995.03.25 |url=http://www.usagi.org/doi/seiyuu/radio/boogie/19950325.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113131332/http://www.usagi.org/doi/seiyuu/radio/boogie/19950325.html |archive-date=November 13, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |website=Seiyuu Database}}</ref> Hayashibara also attended auditions for Asuka and [[Misato Katsuragi]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=May 3, 2021|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/52614/1/neon-genesis-evangelion-at-25-an-oral-history-of-the-legendary-anime|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' at 25: an oral history of the legendary anime|date=April 30, 2021|archive-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503150808/https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/52614/1/neon-genesis-evangelion-at-25-an-oral-history-of-the-legendary-anime|url-status=live}}</ref> However, after hearing her performance in an OVA named {{nihongo|''Ichigatsu ni wa Christmas''|一月にはChristmas}}, Anno felt her voice was more suited to Rei.<ref>{{cite AV media|language=ja|title=林原めぐみのHeartful Station|trans-title=Megumi Hayashibara's Heartful Station|date=May 16, 2004}}</ref> She noticed that before ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'', there were few taciturn and cold characters to deal with, so, in the absence of examples to imitate, she tried to characterize her "as best I could".<ref name=Fukuda>{{cite web|author=Makoto Fukuda|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/T110629002802.htm|title=Choice Voice / Megumi Hayashibara now part of anime history|publisher=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|date=July 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707071459/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/T110629002802.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011|access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref> During the dub sessions, Hideaki Anno instructed and guided her, advising her to read her lines in the flattest tone possible: "When the director explained her character to me, he said, 'It's not that Rei doesn't have any feelings, it's just that she doesn't understand.{{Single+double}}<ref name=Voice>{{cite book|author=[[Megumi Hayashibara]]|chapter=The voices in your head that you pass without hearing|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 Edition|volume=1|year=2012|pages=516–517|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|isbn=978-1-4215-5079-4}}</ref> According to Hayashibara, since Rei "doesn't know emotion, there's no difference between what she says and feels". At first glance, her "great beauty" comes from "this surface, not without depth, but with the absence of its necessity". She added, "Rei's beauty comes from the truth that she has feelings", and "when I found the warmth below the coldness in her words, I synchronized with Rei for the first time".<ref name=Voice/>

{{multiple image
| footer            = Amanda Winn-Lee (left) voiced Rei Ayanami in the ADV dub of the original series, the Manga dub of ''The End of Evangelion'', and the Amazon dub of ''Rebuild''. In contrast, Brina Palencia (right) voiced her in the Funimation dub of ''Rebuild of Evangelion''.<ref name=Dub>{{cite web|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Evangelion/Rei-Ayanami/|title=Rei Ayanami|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=May 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501183156/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Evangelion/Rei-Ayanami/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| image1            = Amanda Winn Lee.jpg
| align             = right
| alt1              = Amanda Winn Lee
| caption1          = 
| width1            = 125
| image2            = Brina Palencia by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| alt2              = Brina Palencia
| caption2          = 
| width2            = 143
}}

Voicing the [[mahjong]] game {{nihongo|''Shinseiki Evangelion: Eva to Yukaina Nakamatach''|新世紀エヴァンゲリオンエヴァと愉快な仲間たち||{{lit|Neon Genesis Evangelion: Eva and Good Friends}}}}, she stated that she understood the difference between "lack of intonation" and "absence of emotion" in words. She linked the lack of intonation as a sign of "self-confidence"; an insecure or bad-faith person, in her opinion, tended to emphasize words, as Rei is honest and tells the truth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=綾波レイ |trans-title=Rei Ayanami |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/mahjong/ss/chara/rei.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011227153221/http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/mahjong/ss/chara/rei.html |archive-date=December 27, 2001 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |language=ja}}</ref> The voice actress also reprised the role for the ''Rebuild''. During filming for the third film in the saga, ''[[Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo]]'' (2012), she worked on parts that were not fully animated, so she had to ask the director what was happening in the scenes. Hayashibara stated she had to do "countless takes" for Rei's short lines and find the right nuance the staff wanted. She had to voice her as she was indifferent and be careful in conveying her character's feelings of happiness "without overdoing it".<ref name="Qbook">{{Cite book |title=ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:Q 記録集 |date=November 17, 2012 |publisher=[[Khara (studio)|Khara]] |pages=50–52 |language=ja |trans-title=Evangelion New Theatrical Edition: Q: Record Edition |oclc=1423284791}}</ref>

Regarding the final installment, ''[[Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time]]'' (2021), a complicated part for her was showing another Rei clone who is slowly growing up; when she tried to be pure, she was criticized, and when she tried to be less emotional, she was criticized anyway. Anno attempted to make the characters younger and with fuller emotions, so it was difficult for the voice actress to get the nuances the director wanted.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Theatrical Pamphlet|year=2021|location=Japan|pages=22–24|language=ja|chapter=Megumi Hayashibara as Rei Ayanami (tentative name)/Rei Ayanami|asin=B08Y85RJ9Q}}</ref> With Rei's role, Hayashibara's popularity as a voice actor grew, and she became an icon of anime fandom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://animeacademy.com/profile_hayashibara_megumi.php|title=Profile: Hayashibara Megumi|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628103513/http://www.animeacademy.com/profile_hayashibara_megumi.php|archive-date=June 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Mainichi">{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2007 |title=特集：ヱヴァ、新生 新劇場版、庵野は何を目指すのか？ |trans-title=Special: Eva, Newly Created New Theatrical Edition, What Is Anno Aiming For? |url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2007/08/26/20070826org00m200002000c.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707092937/http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2007/08/26/20070826org00m200002000c.html |archive-date=July 7, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2014 |language=ja}}</ref> Shunsuke Nozawa, assistant professor at [[Hokkaido University]], noted how, in the 1990s, there was an explosion of interest in Japanese voice actors, believing the figure of Hayashibara to be at the center of this change, thanks to the "enormous, societal-level fascination" exerted by Ayanami. Hayashibara thus began to be interviewed about the series and to be regularly invited on television as a celebrity.<ref>{{cite web|author=Shunsuke Nozawa|url=https://jmpc-utokyo.com/keyword/effacement/|title=Effacement|date=April 21, 2020|access-date=November 2, 2021|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007175916/https://jmpc-utokyo.com/keyword/effacement/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Amanda Winn-Lee]] voices Rei in English in the original series and the Amazon dubs of the ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' films.<ref name=Dub/> According to Winn-Lee, despite the cold and detached appearance, there is still "a small spark of humanity" in Rei, "clouded by this huge sense of negative self-worth and the realization that she is expendable".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ex.org/2.5/12-news_winn.html|title=Meet the voice of AD Vision Amanda Winn|author=Roderick Lee|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060110085818/http://www.ex.org/2.5/12-news_winn.html|archive-date=January 10, 2006|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> She also stated: "She knows she's expendable, but the thing is, she's still human."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fansview.com/080798h.htm|title=Otakon Highlights – Evangelion Voice Actors|date=August 7, 1998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617215942/http://www.fansview.com/080798h.htm|archive-date=June 17, 2008|access-date=April 25, 2020}}</ref> In the Funimation dub of the ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' films, her role is entrusted to [[Brina Palencia]], and in the [[Netflix]] dub, she is voiced by Ryan Bartley.<ref name=Dub/><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Polygon|author=Matt Patches|access-date=October 29, 2020|date=June 21, 2019|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/6/21/18693526/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix-redub-cast|title=Netflix's ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' debuts English re-dub|archive-date=July 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720085144/https://www.polygon.com/2019/6/21/18693526/neon-genesis-evangelion-netflix-redub-cast|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Appearances ==
=== ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' ===
The original series does not specify Rei Ayanami's birth date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/eva/chara.html|title=''Evangelion'' Characters|publisher=[[Gainax]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918030722/http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/eva/chara.html|archive-date=September 18, 2015|access-date=April 20, 2020|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.it/tv/cartoni/evangelion/personaggi.asp|title=''Evangelion'' – Personaggi|trans-title=''Evangelion'' – Characters |access-date=April 20, 2020|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209095004/http://www.mtv.it/tv/cartoni/evangelion/personaggi.asp|archive-date=December 9, 2008}}</ref> All data about Rei's past are unknown or erased; her age, 14 in 2015,{{sfn|Porori|2010|pp=10–11}}<ref name=Age>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=2 |pages=5–8 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> is the only known fact. Officially, the Marduk Institute chooses Rei<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/eva/chara/|title=''Evangelion'' Characters|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|access-date=April 20, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027024904/http://www.kadokawa.co.jp/eva/chara/|url-status=live}}</ref> as the First Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-00 to defeat creatures named [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion|Angels]] for the special agency Nerv under the command of [[Gendo Ikari]].<ref name=Age/> In 2014, she moved to the first municipal middle school in the new city of Tokyo-3, and Gendo became her legal guardian.<ref>{{Cite book|first=Alessandra|last=Poggio|language=it|year=2008|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Encyclopedia|publisher=[[Dynit]]|page=77}}</ref> Through the course of the series, Rei, who is originally completely submissive to the will of Gendo, becomes friends with fellow Eva pilot and classmate [[Shinji Ikari]], changing her attitude.<ref>Card H-5, ''Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Card Game'', Bandai (1998).</ref> She also begins to become more aware of her own identity and desires.{{sfn|Porori|2010|p=86}}{{sfn|Porori|2010|p=7}}

Rei decides to sacrifice herself alongside Evangelion Unit-00 in the battle with the Angel [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Armisael|Armisael]] to save Shinji and destroy the enemy. After her apparent death, Dr. [[Ritsuko Akagi]] reveals she was born in the Laboratory for Artificial Evolution's third branch, located under [[Lake Ashino]] and [[Hakone]] City.{{sfn|Porori|2010|p=77}} Her body with albino-like traits was created in absolute secrecy from the salvaged remains of Yui Ikari,<ref>From the ''Glossary'' chapter of the official Japanese ''End of Evangelion'' pamphlet, also known as [[Red Cross Book]].</ref> a brilliant researcher who lost her life in a testing experiment by Evangelion Unit-01. Ritsuko also reveals that in the deepest level of Nerv's headquarters, many Rei clones are kept so Rei can be replaced when one of them dies. When a clone is activated from a level named Terminal Dogma, although she remains characteristically distinct from all former incarnations, she is endowed with the soul of [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Lilith|Lilith]], the second Angel.<ref>{{cite book|year=1997|title=The End of Evangelion Theatrical Pamphlet|publisher=[[Gainax]]|language=ja}}</ref> Her memory is eventually saved in an object similar to a spinal column placed in the Central Dogma of the Nerv, the Dummy Plug Plant.{{sfn|Takekuma|1997|pp=176–177}} In 2010, Gendo brought her first clone (Rei&nbsp;I) to the Gehirn base, the predecessor of Nerv and responsible for developing and constructing the first Evangelion units, introducing her as the daughter an acquaintance had entrusted to him.<ref>{{cite book|page=40|title=Death & Rebirth Program Book|date=1997|editor=[[Gainax]]|language=ja|edition=Special}}</ref> Dr. Naoko Akagi, a colleague and secret lover of Gendo, killed this first Rei.{{sfn|Fujie|Foster|2004|p=39}} During her visit to Gehirn, Rei&nbsp;I got lost in the laboratory control room and met Naoko, calling her an "old hag" as if to provoke her. She then revealed that it was Gendo who called Naoko that. Naoko suddenly recognized Yui's facial features in the little girl's face, and, in an outburst of violence, she strangled and killed her, after which she committed suicide.<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=8|language=ja|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|pages=35–36}}</ref>

After her sacrifice, a third and final clone replaces Rei&nbsp;II. Ritsuko later destroys all the other bodies in Terminal Dogma.<ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=9|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|pages=36–38}}</ref> Thanks to her close relationship with Shinji, the last Rei decides to rebel against Gendo's will. Rei&nbsp;III, thus, is the main catalyst behind an apocalyptic event named Third Impact. She merges with Lilith, letting Shinji freely decide the course of a process called Human Instrumentality, during which all humanity unites into one collective consciousness.{{sfn|Porori|2010|pp=10–11}}{{sfn|Porori|2010|p=100}} A giant white and naked Rei emerges into open space during the process, holding Shinji's Evangelion Unit-01, and when Shinji rejects Instrumentality, this figure decomposes. After Shinji rematerializes, he briefly sees a version of Rei watching over him from a distance before vanishing.<ref>{{cite video | people = [[Hideaki Anno]], [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]], Masayuki (directors) | title = [[Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion]] | medium = Film | publisher = [[Studio Gainax]] |date = 1997}}</ref>

=== ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' ===
Rei returns as a primary character in ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' and appears in the saga's first installment, ''[[Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone]]'' (2007). Her character remains virtually identical to the anime, acting as a pilot of Evangelion Unit-00 and helping Shinji defeat Angel [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Ramiel|Ramiel]].<ref>{{cite video | people = [[Hideaki Anno]], [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]], Masayuki (directors) | title = [[Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone]] | medium = Film | publisher = [[Studio Khara]] |date = 2007}}</ref> Writer Thomas Lamarre noted that the ''Rebuild'' saga makes the relationship between Shinji and Rei a central element of the story, increasing and improving the scenes depicting them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lamarre |first=Thomas |title=[[Mechademia|Mechademia 5: Fanthropologies]] |year=2010 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |isbn=978-0-8166-7387-2 |page=351 |editor=Lunning, Frenchy |chapter=The Rebuild of Anime}}</ref> In the second movie, ''[[Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance]]'' (2009), her character develops, and her relationship with Shinji is shown much more openly than in the original series. Departing from her original traits, she attempts to host a dinner party for her fellow pilots.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion-2.22/you-can-not-advance/bluray|title=''Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance''|date=March 31, 2011|website=[[Anime News Network]]|last=Theron|first=Martin|access-date=September 12, 2020|archive-date=June 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615175808/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion-2.22/you-can-not-advance/bluray|url-status=live}}</ref> Anno first thought of using this idea for the fourth episode of the original anime, but the proposal was shelved during the production of the series.<ref>{{harvnb|Khara|2010}}, 庵野 秀明 (Hideaki Anno) interview.</ref> During the climax, the Angel [[List of Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion#Zeruel|Zeruel]] devours Rei and Unit-00. When Unit-01 goes out of control, Shinji forces his way into the Angel, pulling her out, and the two embrace each other;<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=32 |pages=3–4|publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> at the end of the fight, they are both trapped within Unit-01 as the action triggers the Third Impact.<ref>{{cite video | people = [[Hideaki Anno]], [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]], Masayuki (directors) | title = [[Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance]] | medium = Film | publisher = [[Studio Khara]] |date = 2009}}</ref> During the feature film, it is also suggested that Gendo and Fuyutsuki plan to bring Shinji and Rei together.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Malone |first=Paul M. |title=[[Mechademia|Mechademia 5: Fanthropologies]] |year=2010 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |location=Minneapolis |isbn=978-0-8166-7387-2 |page=346 |editor=Lunning, Frenchy |chapter=Cruel Angels? Cruel Fathers!}}</ref> Assistant director Tsurumaki was asked about this after the feature film's release; according to him, the impression of a strategy to bring Shinji and Rei together resulted from the complex script writing, and "Anno probably hasn't thought about that very deeply."<ref>{{harvnb|Khara|2010}}, 鶴巻 和哉 (Kazuya Tsurumaki) interview.</ref>

In the third installment, ''Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo'' (2012), set fourteen years later, the same Rei does not appear; a different clone is introduced instead, who acts differently than the other Rei, maintaining a cold and silent demeanor.<ref>{{cite video | people = [[Hideaki Anno]], [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]], Masayuki (directors) | title = [[Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo]] | medium = Film | publisher = [[Studio Khara]] |date = 2012}}</ref> In ''Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time'' (2021), the last film of the saga, Rei's new clone, named Ayanami (Tentative Name), heads together with Shinji and Asuka Shikinami to a small town called Village 3, inhabited by survivors of the various Impacts that occurred and isolated from the outside world, almost uninhabitable. Here, Rei interacts with the adult [[Toji Suzuhara]] and [[Hikari Horaki]], old schoolmates of the previous clone, and with the children and women of Village 3, helping them to work in the fields; with time, the new Ayanami begins to develop her individuality, gradually discovering the world around her and learning to socialize with the inhabitants. After some time, however, Rei (Tentative Name), whose real name is Ayanami-Type No.006, cannot maintain her form without continuous contact with the Evangelion's LCL liquid and dies in front of Shinji. During the Instrumentality, Shinji meets again the Rei of fourteen years before, who remained inside the Evangelion Unit-01. The old Rei, with visibly long hair, argues with her companion, who decides to live in a world without Evangelions and give the world a new birth, Neon Genesis. Rei and Shinji then say goodbye to each other for the last time, shaking hands and smiling.<ref>{{cite video | title = [[Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time]] | medium = Film | publisher = [[Studio Khara]] |date = 2021}}</ref>

=== In other media ===
In the official ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' manga by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, further differences are evident in Rei's characterization. She is generally more empathetic and open to human contact in the manga than her animated counterpart. In the comic, moreover, the character has more space than Asuka, who, in the anime, has a predominant role. Compared to the classic series, Sadamoto tried his hand at her relationship with Shinji, particularly insisting on the symbology of the touch of the hands and the theme of motherhood, inspired by [[Kazuo Umezu]]'s ''[[The Drifting Classroom]]''.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 12, 2020|url=http://www.nanoda.com/mmf-intervista-a-yoshiyuki-sadamoto/|title=MMF: Intervista a Yoshiyuki Sadamoto|trans-title=MMF: Interview with Yoshiyuki Sadamoto |date=July 10, 2013 |language=it|archive-date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024014316/http://www.nanoda.com/mmf-intervista-a-yoshiyuki-sadamoto/}}</ref><ref name="Cut">{{Cite magazine |date=December 2014 |title=貞本 義行 |trans-title=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto |magazine=CUT |publisher=Rockin'On |pages=54–59 |language=ja}}</ref> As in the series, she initially considers herself empty and useless, created solely for piloting the Evangelion under Ikari's orders; Shinji's touch changes her attitude. In a scene from the fifth volume of the manga where they are both at Rei's house, Rei gets burned as she is preparing tea with Shinji, and their hands touch for a moment. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Rei invites Shinji to speak to his father and open up to him; in another chapter, thinking back to that moment, she wonders if her hands will one day be able to touch Shinji again.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto |title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオン 公式ガイドブック |date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |isbn=978-4-04-715671-5 |pages=90–91 |language=ja |trans-title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Official Guidebook}}</ref> During the clash with the Angel Armisael, Rei becomes increasingly aware of her feelings of sadness and affection towards Shinji,<ref>{{cite book|author=Enrico Fornaroli|chapter=Chronicles|title=Evangelion|volume=25|date=2012|publisher=[[Panini Comics]]|page=2|language=it}}</ref> towards whom she demonstrates she wants to become one with him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 7, 2020 |title=『新世紀エヴァンゲリオン劇場版 DEATH (TRUE)2 / Air / まごころを、君に』の感想と考察 |trans-title=Impressions and Thoughts About ''Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death and Rebirth / The End of Evangelion'' |url=https://good-movies.net/evangelion1998/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707191147/https://good-movies.net/evangelion1998/ |archive-date=July 7, 2020 |access-date=July 5, 2025 |website=GOOD MOVIES |language=ja}}</ref> Sadamoto himself described Shinji and Rei's feelings as mutual love.<ref name=Cut/>

In a scene from the last episode of the animated series, an alternate reality is presented with a different story than the previous episodes; Rei is presented as a girl who has just moved into the class of Asuka and Shinji, with a cheerful, distracted, and irascible personality.<ref name=Miller>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Gerald Alva Jr. |title=Exploring the Limits of the Human Through Science Fiction |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-137-26285-1 |pages=87–88}}</ref>{{sfn|Azuma|2009|p=38}} An outgoing Rei is featured in some ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' spin-offs, such as ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days]]'', set in the alternate reality of the last episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/koutetsu2/contents.html|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion Iron Maiden 2nd''|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203021257/http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/koutetsu2/contents.html|archive-date=February 3, 2014|access-date=September 12, 2020|language=ja}}</ref> In the original web anime series ''[[Petit Eva: Evangelion@School]]'', a parody of the original animated series, three Ayanami sisters are presented: one is diligent and introverted,<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=34 |pages=21–22 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> another is sport-oriented and extroverted,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evangelion.co.jp/petit_eva/|title=''Petit Eva''|access-date=September 12, 2020|language=ja|archive-date=July 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714015826/http://www.evangelion.co.jp/petit_eva/|url-status=live}}</ref> and another is a four-year-old girl with a passion for soft toys.<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Newtype USA]]|volume=6|issue=6|page=67|date=June 2007}}</ref> In ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Anima]]'', set three years after the ''End of Evangelion'' in an alternate scenario, several Rei appear: Rei Troi, pilot of an Eva named Evangelion Unit-02 Type II Allegorica;{{sfn|Yamashita|2010|p=12}} Rei Quatre; Rei Cinq; and the seven-year-old Rei Six, all of them pilots of Evangelion-0.0 units.{{sfn|Yamashita|2010|pp=33–34}} In ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse]]'', Rei shares a mysterious connection with Kaworu that triggers Shinji's attention.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mingming|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse Volume 2'' :: Profile :: Dark Horse Comics|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/17-002/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Campus-Apocalypse-Volume-2|url-status=live|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Dark Horse Comics|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226193147/https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/17-002/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Campus-Apocalypse-Volume-2}}</ref> She is also present in ''Neon Genesis Evangelion: Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kawata|first=Yushi|date=May 10, 2017|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion: Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students Volume 1''|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/29-778/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Legend-of-the-Piko-Piko-Middle-School-Students-Volume-1-TPB|url-status=live|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Dark Horse Comics|archive-date=February 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226042626/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/29-778/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-Legend-of-the-Piko-Piko-Middle-School-Students-Volume-1-TPB}}</ref> In a [[simulation game]] entitled ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project]]'', the player takes on the task of looking after Rei. She is also available as a romantic option in ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd]]'',<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=鋼鉄のガールフレンド 2nd |trans-title=Girlfriend of Steel 2nd |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/koutetsu2/contents.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203021257/http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/koutetsu2/contents.html |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |publisher=Gainax |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオン鋼鉄のガールフレンド２ｎｄ公式ビジュアルブック |date=February 2005 |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |isbn=978-4-04-707175-9 |pages=53, 82 |language=ja |trans-title=Neon Genesis Evangelion: Girlfriend of Steel 2nd Official Visual Book}}</ref> ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion 2]]'',<ref>{{Cite book|title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオン2攻略ガイド|trans-title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion 2'' Strategy Guide|date=2003|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|isbn=978-4-04-707137-7|location=Tōkyō|language=ja|oclc=675386912}}</ref> ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion: Shinji Ikari Raising Project]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=碇シンジ育成計画 |trans-title=''Shinji Ikari Raising Project'' |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/shinji/chara.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121235634/http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/shinji/chara.html |archive-date=November 21, 2015 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=碇シンジ育成計画 - Game |trans-title=''Shinji Ikari Raising Project'' - Game |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/shinji/game.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008212431/http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/shinji/game.html |archive-date=October 8, 2007 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=碇シンジ育成計画 – Story |trans-title=''Shinji Ikari Raising Project'' – Story |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/shinji/game01.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008212049/http://www.gainax.co.jp/soft/shinji/game01.html |archive-date=October 8, 2007 |access-date=February 2, 2021 |language=ja}}</ref> and its manga adaptation, wherein she is a distant cousin of Shinji.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Takahashi|first=Osamu|date=July 8, 2009|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Shinji Ikari Raising Project Volume 1''|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Books/14-732/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-The-Shinji-Ikari-Raising-Project-Volume-1-TPB|url-status=live|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Dark Horse Comics|archive-date=July 5, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705032702/http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/14-732/Neon-Genesis-Evangelion-The-Shinji-Ikari-Raising-Project-Volume-1-TPB}}</ref>

In addition to games based on the original series, Rei has appeared in media not related to the ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion (franchise)|Evangelion]]'' franchise, such as ''[[Monster Strike]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 5, 2017 |title=【モンスト】「エヴァンゲリオン」コラボ第3弾が開催！限定ガチャや「葛城ミサト」も新登場 |trans-title=(Monster) ''Evangelion'' Collaboration's Third Installment Opening! Limited Prizes and Misato Katsuragi also Newly Appears |url=https://g123.jp/gnews/post-12687 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141751/https://g123.jp/gnews/post-12687 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=April 15, 2018 |work=G123.Jp-新作ゲームアプリ攻略 |language=ja}}</ref> ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.destructoid.com/import-review-super-robot-wars-v-500066.phtml|title=Import Review: ''Super Robot Wars V''|newspaper=Destructoid |date=April 26, 2018|access-date=June 4, 2018|archive-date=August 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822001402/https://www.destructoid.com/import-review-super-robot-wars-v-500066.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Tales of Zestiria]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/11/11/evangelion-costume-set-for-tales-of-zestiria-offered-in-america-and-europe|title=''"Evangelion''" Costume Set for "''Tales of Zestiria''" Offered in America and Europe|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142205/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2015/11/11/evangelion-costume-set-for-tales-of-zestiria-offered-in-america-and-europe|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Puzzle & Dragons]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/17/neon-genesis-evangelion-revisits-puzzle-dragons/|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' Revisits ''Puzzle & Dragons''|access-date=June 7, 2018|date=November 17, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612155947/http://www.siliconera.com/2015/11/17/neon-genesis-evangelion-revisits-puzzle-dragons/}}</ref> ''Keri Hime Sweets'', ''Summons Board'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2016 |title=『ケリ姫スイーツ』と『エヴァンゲリオン』コラボが復活！「第13号機 疑似シン化」などの新キャラクターが登場 |trans-title=''Keri Hime Sweets'' and ''Evangelion'' Collaboration Comes Back! The Thirteenth Machine Pseudo-Evolution and Others' New Characters Appear |url=https://gamedeets.com/archives/205937 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209152349/https://gamedeets.com/archives/205937 |archive-date=December 9, 2017 |access-date=July 9, 2017 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2016 |title=『サモンズボード』に使徒、再び！『エヴァンゲリオン』コラボ情報まとめ |trans-title=Angel in Summons Board, Again! ''Evangelion'' Collaboration Information Summary |url=https://app.famitsu.com/20161019_866892/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209161049/https://app.famitsu.com/20161019_866892/ |archive-date=December 9, 2017 |access-date=July 9, 2017 |language=ja}}</ref> ''[[Puyopuyo!! Quest]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 10, 2018 |title=セガゲームス、『ぷよぷよ!!クエスト』で「エヴァンゲリオン」コラボを開始！ 「葛城ミサト」役・三石琴乃さんナレーションのテレビCMも放映中 |trans-title=Sega Games Begins ''Evangelion'' Collaboration with ''Puyo Puyo!! Quest'' Misato Katsuragi's Role, Ms. Kotono Mitsuishi's Narration Also Broadcasting in Television Commercial |url=https://gamebiz.jp/?p=217563 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911222435/https://gamebiz.jp/?p=217563 |archive-date=September 11, 2018 |access-date=September 12, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref> ''Line Rangers'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 18, 2015 |title=使徒來襲！《LINE Rangers》與新世紀福音戰士特別合作 |trans-title=Angel Attack! ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''{{'}}s Special Collaboration with ''LINE Rangers'' |url=https://game.ettoday.net/article/615629.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926131056/https://game.ettoday.net/article/615629.htm |archive-date=September 26, 2018 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |website=ETtoday遊戲雲 |language=zh-tw}}</ref> ''Unison'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2016 |title=召喚系手機 RPG《UNISON 聯盟》X「福音戰士」合作今日開跑 |trans-title=Summoners' Mobile RPG ''Unison League'' and ''Evangelion'' Collaboration Starts |url=https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=137935 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221145410/https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=137935 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |access-date=October 12, 2020 |language=zh-tw}}</ref> ''[[MapleStory]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 1, 2018 |title=《新楓之谷》X《福音戰士》跨界活動即日啟動！乘坐帥氣「初號機」操縱威力驚人「陽電子炮」 |trans-title=''MapleStory'' and ''Evangelion'' Collaboration Activity Starts Today!  Handsomely Riding Unit-01's Piloting Power Surprises People - "Positron Cannon" |url=https://www.gamebase.com.tw/news/topic/98968881/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925143609/https://www.gamebase.com.tw/news/topic/98968881/ |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |publisher=遊戲基地 gamebase |language=zh-tw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Jessica |date=March 1, 2018 |title=《新楓之谷》X《福音戰士》跨界合作即日啟動 於任務中乘坐「初號機」操縱「陽電子炮」 |trans-title=''MapleStory'' and ''Evangelion'' Collaboration Activity Starts Today – Compelling Riding Unit-01's Piloting Power and  "Positron Cannon" |url=https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=159642 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221145411/https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=159642 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |access-date=October 8, 2020 |language=zh-tw}}</ref> ''Valkyrie Connect'',<ref>{{Cite web |author=Edward |date=May 7, 2018 |title=《神域召喚》x《福音戰士新劇場版》合作聯動全面展開 零、明日香及真嗣於遊戲現身 |trans-title=''Valkyrie Connect'' and ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' Collaboration Operating Together and Opening on All Sides - Rei, Asuka, and Shinji Appear in Game |url=https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=162253 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712230828/https://gnn.gamer.com.tw/detail.php?sn=162253 |archive-date=July 12, 2020 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |language=zh-tw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Bǐng Gān |date=March 7, 2019 |title=《神域召喚》x《新世紀福音戰士》合作再臨，和少年少女們拯救世界 |trans-title=''Valkyrie Connect'' and ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' Collaborate Comes Again, And Boys and Girls Save the World |url=https://www.4gamers.com.tw/news/detail/38185/valkyrie-connect-cross-with-neon-genesis-evangelion |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925143617/https://www.4gamers.com.tw/news/detail/38185/valkyrie-connect-cross-with-neon-genesis-evangelion |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020 |publisher=4Gamers 官方網站 |language=zh-Hant}}</ref> ''[[Ragnarok Online]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 31, 2019 |title=不能逃避！《RO仙境傳說：守護永恆的愛》x 《新世紀福音戰士》 |trans-title=You Cannot Escape! RO Ragnarok: Guarding Eternal Love and Neon Genesis Evangelion |url=https://game.udn.com/game/story/10453/3625048 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203184946/https://game.udn.com/game/story/10453/3625048 |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2020 |publisher=udn遊戲角落 |language=zh-tw}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lou |first=Wan-Ling |date=February 10, 2019 |title=手遊《仙境傳說》與《福音戰士》合作 碇真嗣、綾波零全出列 |trans-title=Handheld Game ''Ragnarok Online'' and ''Evangelion'' Collaboration - Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and a Full Line Up |url=https://game.ettoday.net/article/1374979.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925143620/https://game.ettoday.net/article/1374979.htm |archive-date=September 25, 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020 |publisher=ETtoday遊戲雲 |language=zh-Hant}}</ref> ''[[The Battle Cats]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 18, 2019 |title=《貓咪大戰爭》x《新世紀福音戰士》合作回來啦！追加全新要素再次出擊 |trans-title=''The Battle Cats'' and ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' Collaboration Comes Back! Adding All Necessary Elements for Reappearances |url=https://www.gamebase.com.tw/news/topic/99213293/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926110907/https://www.gamebase.com.tw/news/topic/99213293/ |archive-date=September 26, 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020 |publisher=遊戲基地 gamebase |language=zh-tw}}</ref> and in an official ''[[Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion]]'' crossover episode.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-08-09/rei-asuka-vas-confirmed-angel-themed-villain-revealed-for-shinkalion-giant-eva-episode/.135295|title=Rei, Asuka VAs Confirmed, Angel-Themed Villain Revealed for ''Shinkalion''{{'}}s Giant Eva Episode|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=August 9, 2018|access-date=April 19, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506225231/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-08-09/rei-asuka-vas-confirmed-angel-themed-villain-revealed-for-shinkalion-giant-eva-episode/.135295|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Characterization and themes ==
Rei Ayanami is a taciturn girl<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=42|page=30 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> who limits relations as much as possible and mechanically executes any order given to her, even if particularly cruel.<ref>{{cite book|language=it|chapter=Art File – Profile 03|title=Evangelion Collection|volume=2|publisher=[[Panini Comics]]|page=168|year=2008|isbn=978-88-6346-283-8}}</ref> She is introverted,<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Crandol|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2002-06-11|title=Understanding ''Evangelion''|date=June 11, 2002|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 25, 2020|archive-date=May 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518114503/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2002-06-11|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 14, 2021|url=http://www.acsys.com/~tallman/newtype_e.html|title=''Newtype'' ''Evangelion'' Article|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001215150600/http://www.acsys.com/~tallman/newtype_e.html|archive-date=December 15, 2000}}</ref> uncomplaining,<ref name="Protoculture Addicts">{{cite magazine|editor=Miyako Graham|title=Anecdotes from Mr. Hideaki Anno|pages=40–41|magazine=Protoculture Addicts|issue=43|year=1996}}</ref> socially detached, and laconic.<ref name=legacy/> Hideaki Anno believed that Japanese society wanted girls who behaved quietly and avoided complaining.<ref name="Protoculture Addicts"/>  Sociologist Satomi Ishikawa noticed that in a scene from the sixth episode of the series, "Rei II", her companion Shinji asks her the reason that pushes her to want to pilot Evangelion 00; Rei replies by saying she finds her only "bond" with other people in this, thus demonstrating that she is solely committed to the struggle against the Angels.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ishikawa |first=Satomi |title=Seeking the Self: Individualism and Popular Culture in Japan |year=2007 |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publisher)|Peter Lang]] |isbn=978-3-03910-874-9 |page=75}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |year=2005 |page=34 |language=ja |trans-title=Newtype Complete Neon Genesis Evangelion}}</ref> Throughout the series, she proves indifferent to life and takes drastic actions that could cost her life. ''[[The Artifice]]'' writer Justin Wu noticed that, unlike other characters from the series, she does not care if she dies and embraces death "as if death is the only way to prove that she has lived".<ref name=legacy/>

For the critic Gerald Alva Miller, despite her cold attitude, Rei experiences feelings of alienation and existential angst.<ref>{{cite book |last=Miller |first=Gerald Alva Jr. |title=Exploring the Limits of the Human Through Science Fiction |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-137-26285-1 |page=85}}</ref> Gualtiero Cannarsi, who curated the Italian adaptation for the series, similarly described Rei as a girl "unaware of the most basic rules of life and hygiene", as she has had no one to teach them to her, resulting in her disinterest in them. Her attitude is reflected in her apartment, where hygiene is neglected. In one episode, Ritsuko Akagi says, similarly to Commander Ikari, that she is not skilled in life skills.<ref name="Gualtiero Cannarsi">{{cite book |author=Gualtiero Cannarsi|title=Evangelion Encyclopedia|volume=3 |page=27 |publisher=[[Dynamic Italia]] |language=it}}</ref> Scattered on the floor of her apartment are scientific texts on biological interactions and genetics written in the Latin alphabet in the original series<ref>{{cite book |author=Gualtiero Cannarsi|title=Evangelion Encyclopedia|volume=5 |page=18 |publisher=Dynamic Italia |language=it}}</ref> and ''[[The Happy Prince and Other Tales]]'' in the ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' series.<ref>{{Cite book |title=ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版:序 全記録全集ビジュアルストーリー版・設定 資料版 |date=2008 |publisher=Khara |page=321 |language=ja |trans-title=Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone - All Records Complete Collection Visual Story Edition ・ Set Data Edition}}</ref> Critic [[Susan J. Napier]] also noticed that in the last two episodes, she confesses wanting to die and "go back to nothing".{{sfn|Napier|2002|pp=426–427}} According to ''Evangelion'' character designer Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, she is "translucent" as a shadow or "the air": "The kind of girl you can't touch. The girl you long for, but there is nothing about her that you can grab a hold onto."<ref name=sadamoto/> He also interpreted Asuka and Rei as "strong characters, in their own separate ways".<ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 30, 2020|url=http://theplanetsthatmatter.com/features/yoshiyuki_sadamoto_young_ace_interview/yoshiyuki_sadamoto_young_ace_interview.html|title=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto ''Young Ace'' interview|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125160538/http://theplanetsthatmatter.com/features/yoshiyuki_sadamoto_young_ace_interview/yoshiyuki_sadamoto_young_ace_interview.html|archive-date=November 25, 2009}}</ref> Furthermore, Hayashibara described her as an "ethereal character"; according to her: "Her emotions are like waves, so if I were off by even one millimeter, it would affect her character, and I'd have to redo it."<ref name=Qbook/>

During a show, a little girl asked Anno what Rei likes, and he replied that he did not think about it.<ref>{{cite web|first=Justin|last=Sevakis|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/buried-treasure/2007-05-03|title=Hideaki Anno Talks to Kids|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=May 3, 2007|access-date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729075339/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/buried-treasure/2007-05-03|url-status=live}}</ref> According to him, she does not appreciate her own life, hurts herself, and feels she does not need friends, being aware of the fact that she could be replaced: "Her presence, her existence—ostensible existence—is ephemeral. She's a very sad girl. She only has the barest minimum of what she needs to have."<ref name=Atlantic/> Anno also compared the Japanese attraction to characters such as Rei as the result of "a stunted imaginative landscape born of Japan's defeat in the Second World War" and remarked about the lack of preparation for adulthood in Japanese education after the Second World War.<ref name=Atlantic>{{cite web|author=David Samuels|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/let-s-die-together/305776/3/|title=Let's Die Together|date=May 1, 2007|publisher=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]|access-date=April 25, 2020|archive-date=March 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331180852/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/05/let-s-die-together/305776/3/|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics linked her silent and inexpressive personality to [[alexithymia]] or a [[schizoid personality disorder]].{{sfn|Clements|McCarthy|2006|p=185}}<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Mizobe |first=Koji |date=2011 |title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオンにみる思春期課題と精神障害 : 14歳のカルテ |trans-title=The Developmental Task at Adolescence and Mental Disorder Which Are Seen to ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'': The Medical Chart of 14 Years Old |url=https://www.otemon.ac.jp/var/rev0/0000/5482/center08_mizobe.pdf |url-status=live |journal=地域支援心理研究センター紀要 |language=ja |publisher=追手門学院大学 |issue=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180817124825/http://www.otemon.ac.jp/var/rev0/0000/5482/center08_mizobe.pdf |archive-date=August 17, 2018 |access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref> An official ''Death and Rebirth'' booklet describes her as "an expressionless [[noh]] mask" and "a girl who does not dream".<ref name=Children>{{cite magazine|title=Children|magazine=Death & Rebirth Program Book (Special Edition)|year=1997|publisher=[[Gainax]]|language=ja|url=http://www.evaotaku.com/html/dr2-children.html|access-date=April 25, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808201305/http://www.evaotaku.com/html/dr2-children.html|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, the book ''Schizo Evangelion'' characterized her as "a dreamless mind, completely separated from [[Carl Gustav Jung|Jung]]'s [[collective unconscious]]".{{sfn|Sanenari|1997|pp=184–190}}

Academic [[Frenchy Lunning]] described Rei as Shinji's [[Anima and animus|anima]].<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Frenchy|last= Lunning |date=2007 |title=Between the Child and the Mecha |journal=Mechademia |publisher=University of Minnesota Press|volume=2|issue=10 |page=231 |doi= 10.1353/mec.0.0022 |s2cid= 121085299 |issn=2152-6648}}</ref> According to screenwriter [[Yōji Enokido]], she produces in young men a feeling of distance "as though they were still half in the womb".<ref>{{harvnb|Khara|2010}}, 榎戸 洋司 (Yōji Enokido) interview.</ref> In one of the first scenes of the ''Evangelion'' anime, Shinji sees a ghost of Rei Ayanami in a deserted city near Tokyo-3. The Rei visible in the sequence is not the real Rei; the appearance has been connected to the scenario of the film ''The End of Evangelion'', released in 1997 as a conclusion to the classic series.<ref>{{cite journal|first1= Andreu|last1= Ballús|first2=Alba G. |last2=Torrents |title=''Evangelion'' as Second Impact: Forever Changing That Which Never Was |journal=Mechademia: Second Arc |year= 2014|volume=9|pages=283–293|publisher=University of Minnesota Press |doi= 10.1353/mec.2014.0014|s2cid= 121277600}}</ref> During the film, all forms of life come together in one being during Instrumentality; human beings see Rei's ghosts appear shortly before dying, guiding them in the process as "messengers of redemption".<ref>''Evangelion Carddass Masters G'': P-R1.</ref> According to Yūichirō Oguro, editor of some of the contents of the Japanese home video editions of ''Evangelion'', the ghost of Rei that Shinji sees on the avenue is "the existence that gazes upon man", and the scene symbolizes that "Shinji is protected by his mother since the beginning of the series".<ref>{{cite book |title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum Edition Booklet |volume=1 |publisher=[[ADV Manga|ADV]] |date=2004}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Oguro |first=Yūichirō |date=May 18, 2006 |title=第34回 エヴァ雑記「第壱話 使徒、襲来」 |trans-title=The 34th ''Eva'' Miscellaneous Notes "First Episode Angel Attack" |url=http://www.style.fm/as/05_column/animesama34.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225100132/http://www.style.fm/as/05_column/animesama34.shtml |archive-date=December 25, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |website=Style.fm |language=ja}}</ref>

According to Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, Rei can feel emotions and feelings but has expressive and communicative difficulties.<ref>{{cite book|first=Yoshiyuki|last=Sadamoto|chapter=Commentary to the third ''Eva'' volume|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion 3-in-1 Edition|volume=1|year=2012|page=515|publisher=[[Viz Media]]|isbn=978-1-4215-5079-4}}</ref> From the series's first episodes, Shinji tries to connect with her; however, Rei cannot adequately parse the meaning of his words and actions. Although the two pilots occasionally converse with each other, they cannot communicate on an emotional level and do not understand their feelings.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gualtiero Cannarsi|title=Evangelion Encyclopedia|volume=3 |page=35 |publisher=[[Dynamic Italia]] |language=it}}</ref> However, as Shinji cries, he rejoices about her continuing to live after a major fight in the sixth episode, she smiles,<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=43|page=11|publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> marking one of her most significant moments of character development.<ref name=legacy/><ref>{{cite book|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Film Book|volume=2|language=ja|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|page=66}}</ref> After this, their words and actions move to a place of mutual understanding.<ref name=Children/> For critic Manabu Tsuribe, with her smile in the sixth episode, ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' reaches its climax, and "as a story of 'growth and independence of a boy'—like a [[Bildungsroman]]—ended there once. ''Evangelion'' as a story has stopped there".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/critique/evae.html|title=Prison of Self-Consciousness: an Essay on ''Evangelion''|last=Tsuribe|first=Manabu|publisher=www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp|date=February 1999|access-date=August 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721105429/http://www001.upp.so-net.ne.jp/tsuribe/anime/critique/evae.html|archive-date=July 21, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Cultural impact ==
=== Popularity ===
Reception to Rei's character has been positive.<ref>{{cite book|chapter=''Neon Genesis Evangelion''|title=Anime Impact: The Movies and Shows that Changed the World of Japanese Animation|date=2018|first=Chris|last=Struckmann|publisher=Mango Media|isbn=978-1-63353-733-0}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|publisher=Ain't It Cool News|website=Legacy.aintitcool.com|date=July 24, 2005|title=Anime AICN by Scott Green: Sexy Voice and Robo, Toei Releases, and Comicon Manga!|url=http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/20817|access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414213457/http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/20817|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1995, she has become the subject of homages from the ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' fandom, including fan fiction,<ref name="SPH Magazines">{{cite magazine|title=Anime Fandom: Dealing In The Grey Areas|magazine=GameAxis Unwired|date=October 2007|issue=49|issn=0219-872X|publisher=[[SPH Magazines]]|page=80}}</ref> fan art, and'' [[dōjinshi]]'', proving popular.<ref name="SPH Magazines"/><ref name=Raising>{{cite web|url=http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/02.06/reviews/9/index.php3|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion: Ayanami Raising Project''|date=June 2002|access-date=April 20, 2020|archive-date=July 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719060039/http://animefringe.com/magazine/02.06/reviews/9/index.php3|url-status=live}}</ref> The writer Patrick W. Galbraith described her as "the single most popular and influential character in the history of ''[[otaku]]'' anime".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/articles/2009/Galbraith.html|title=Moe – Exploring Virtual Potential in Post-Millennial Japan|first=Patrick W.|last= Galbraith|date=October 31, 2009 |access-date=April 15, 2021|archive-date=October 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021030033/http://www.japanesestudies.org.uk/articles/2009/Galbraith.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She also ranked highly in popularity surveys.<ref>{{multiref|{{Cite web |title=1996年08月号ベスト10 |trans-title=August 1996 Best 10 |url=http://animage.jp/old/chara/chara_199608.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025234615/http://animage.jp/old/chara/chara_199608.html |archive-date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2020 |language=ja}}|{{Cite web |title=1998年07月号ベスト10 |trans-title=July 1998 Best 10 |url=http://animage.jp/old/chara/chara_199807.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025231856/http://animage.jp/old/chara/chara_199807.html |archive-date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=April 18, 2020 |language=ja}}|{{cite web|access-date=March 15, 2020|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-28/which-anime-character-do-you-wish-you-could-be-friends-with|title=Which Anime Character Do You Wish You Could Be Friends With?|date=February 28, 2007|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802044610/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-28/which-anime-character-do-you-wish-you-could-be-friends-with|url-status=live}}|{{Cite web |title=平成アニメ史上最も強くて美しいヒロインは？ |trans-title=Who Is the Strongest and Most Beautiful Heroine in Heisei Anime History? |url=https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/vote/results/1808/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011203657/https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/vote/results/1808/ |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |language=ja}}|{{Cite web |date=January 28, 2018 |title=日本を代表するキャラクターランキング 21位から29位 |trans-title=Ranking of Characters Who Represent Japan - 21st to 29th |url=https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/column/4913/ranking/50955/?page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011203701/https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/column/4913/ranking/50955/?page=3 |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |language=ja}}|{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2013 |title=男性が好きなアニメの「青髪の美少女」ランキング 1位から10位 |trans-title=Men Like Anime with "Blue-Haired Beautiful Girls" Ranking 1st to 10th |url=https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/ranking/31863/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011203742/https://ranking.goo.ne.jp/ranking/31863/ |archive-date=October 11, 2020 |access-date=October 7, 2020 |language=ja}}}}</ref> Immediately after ''Evangelion's'' first airing concluded, the 1996 and 1997 [[List of Anime Grand Prix winners|Anime Grand Prix]] survey by ''[[Animage]]'' magazine elected Rei as the best female character of the moment.<ref name="eighteen">{{Cite web |title=第18回アニメグランプリ［1996年5月号］ |trans-title=The 18th Anime Grand Prix [May 1996] |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1996.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019175259/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1996.html |archive-date=October 19, 2010 |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]}}</ref><ref name="nineteen">{{Cite web |title=第19回アニメグランプリ［1997年6月号］ |trans-title=The 19th Anime Grand Prix [June 1997] |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1997.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174636/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1997.html |archive-date=October 19, 2010 |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]}}</ref> When ''Revival of Evangelion'' was released in 1998, she ranked fifth as the most popular ''Evangelion'' female character.<ref name="twenty">{{Cite web |title=第20回アニメグランプリ［1998年6月号］ |trans-title=The 20th Anime Grand Prix [June 1998] |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1998.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019175145/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1998.html |archive-date=October 19, 2010 |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]}}</ref> Rei also appeared in the magazine's monthly surveys, remaining in the top ten in 1997<ref>{{multiref|{{cite book|title=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=March 1997|page=232|language=ja}}|{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=August 1997|title=BEST 10|language=ja}}|{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=September 1997|title=Top 10|language=ja}}|{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=November 1997|title=Best 100|language=ja}}}}</ref> and 1998<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 1998 |title=明けましてパクト100 |trans-title=Beginning Pact 100 |magazine=[[Animage]] |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=August 1998|page=228|language=ja}}</ref> and the top twenty in the 1999 polls.<ref>{{multiref|{{Cite magazine |date=February 1999 |title=あいましてベスト100 |trans-title=Meeting the Best 100 |magazine=[[Animage]] |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]] |language=ja}}|{{cite book|title=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=July 1999|page=221|language=ja}}|{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Animage]]|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|date=October 1999|title=CHARACTER BEST 100|language=ja}}}}</ref> In 2002, [[TV Asahi]] ranked her 36th among the 100 most-loved characters in anime history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=アニメキャラクターベスト１００ |trans-title=Anime Characters - Best 100 |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best100/contents/100/0009/ranking/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040927025623/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best100/contents/100/0009/ranking/index.html |archive-date=September 27, 2004 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=[[TV Asahi]] |language=ja}}</ref> TV Asahi later published the results of polls on anime's greatest scenes; all the ''Evangelion'' scenes that ranked in the lists were related to the character.<ref>{{multiref|{{Cite web |title=涙と感動のアニメ最強名場面ベスト１００ |trans-title=Tears and Impressionable Anime's Strongest Famous Scenes - Best 100 |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best100/contents/100/0020/ranking/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010131827/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best100/contents/100/0020/ranking/index.html |archive-date=October 10, 2004 |access-date=September 20, 2013 |publisher=[[TV Asahi]] |language=ja}}|{{Cite web |title=史上最強のＴＶ名場面ベスト100 ～もう一度見たい！ |trans-title=History's Strongest TV Famous Scenes' Best 100 ~ We Want to Watch Again! |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/001.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413024514/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/001.html |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=[[TV Asahi]] |language=ja}}|{{Cite web |title=アニメ最強名場面ベスト１００～幻の第１話＆感動の最終回SP～ |trans-title=Anime's Strongest Famous Scenes' Best 100 ~ Phantom's First Episode and Impressionable Last Time SP ~ |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/019.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410022008/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/019.html |archive-date=April 10, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=[[TV Asahi]] |language=ja}}|{{Cite web |title=最終回を越える感動シーン部門 |trans-title=Impressionable Scene Group that Exceeds the Last Time  |url=http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/028.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221646/http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/best/updating_dex/ranking/028.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=[[TV Asahi]] |language=ja}}}}</ref>

Rei Ayanami also won first place in ''[[Newtype]]'' magazine popularity charts.<ref>{{multiref|{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=May 2005|page=182|language=ja|title=NT RANKING}}|{{Cite magazine |date=January 2009 |title=人気キャラクター女性 年間 TOP10 |trans-title=Popular Female Characters of the Year - Top 10 |magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |page=203 |language=ja}}|{{cite magazine|magazine=Newtype|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=March 2019|language=ja|title=Ranking}}}}</ref> In July 2005, for example, she emerged tenth,<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=July 2005|page=170|language=ja|title=NT RANKING}}</ref> and the magazine praised her ability to awe fans ten years after the anime aired on television.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=July 2005|page=107|language=ja|title=The Stars}}</ref> In August and September 2009, after the release of ''Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance'', she ranked fourth and second.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=MONTHLY LINE UP|magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=August 2009|page=172|language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=MONTHLY LINE UP|magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=September 2009|page=148|language=ja}}</ref> In October, she took third place, becoming the most popular ''Evangelion'' female character.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=MONTHLY LINE UP|magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]]|publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]]|date=October 2009|page=136|language=ja}}</ref> Rei was also voted the most popular female anime character from the 1990s in a ''Newtype'' poll in March 2010.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 2010 |title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオン |trans-title=Neon Genesis Evangelion |magazine=[[Newtype Magazine|Newtype]] |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |pages=24–25 |language=ja}}</ref> In 2015, nearly twenty years after its debut, she ranked in first place among the female characters favored by fans, thus beating all the heroines of the season's anime. In 2018, ''Rebuild'' Rei was included among the best thirty characters of the previous decade.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=January 28, 2021|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2015/01/12/rei-ayanami-kills-fatestay-night-servants-in-latest-newtype-character-rankings|title=Rei Ayanami Kills "''Fate/stay night''" Servants in Latest "''Newtype''" Character Rankings|newspaper=Crunchyroll |date=January 12, 2015|archive-date=July 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719115054/https://www.crunchyroll.com/en-gb/anime-news/2015/01/12/rei-ayanami-kills-fatestay-night-servants-in-latest-newtype-character-rankings|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, the [[NHK]] ''Shibuya Anime Land'' radio show ranked her among the ten top anime heroines of all time.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 20, 2020|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-02/nhk-top-anime-heroine-vote-results-announced|title=NHK's Top Anime Heroine Vote Results Announced|date=January 2, 2013|archive-date=March 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312022034/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-02/nhk-top-anime-heroine-vote-results-announced|url-status=live}}</ref>

For [[Oricon]] News, Rei's character has become ''Evangelion''{{'}}s emblem.<ref>{{Cite web |title=『ヱヴァ』綾波レイ、初インタビュー受けるもつれない態度 |trans-title=Eva's Rei Ayanami, Cold Attitude Towards First Interview |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/66670/full/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513114916/http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/66670/full |archive-date=May 13, 2012 |access-date=April 20, 2020 |publisher=[[Oricon]]}}</ref> She also ranked in ''Evangelion'' popularity polls, usually in the top three.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 24, 2019 |title=女子が好きな『新世紀エヴァンゲリオン』キャラクターTOP3/ 1位はなんとあの脇役！ |trans-title=Women Who Like ''Neon Genesis Evangelion''{{'}}s Top 3 Characters / How Can the First Place Be a Supporting Role! |url=https://news.merumo.ne.jp/article/genre/8853263 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930154146/https://news.merumo.ne.jp/article/genre/8853263 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |access-date=September 30, 2019 |work=ニュース&エンタメ情報『めるも』 |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|language=ja|access-date=September 13, 2020|url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/eva-all/ranking/|title=Ranking|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804001612/https://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/eva-all/ranking/|url-status=live}}</ref> A column in the September 2007 issue of the ''[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]'' newspaper said, on the occasion of ''Evangelion 1.0''{{'}}s theatrical release, that there were over one million dedicated Rei fans in Japan and that: "This bandaged goddess is an icon of Japanese anime."<ref name="Nikkei">{{Cite web |title=春秋 |trans-title=Spring and Autumn |url=http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shasetsu/20070831AS1K3100231082007.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903120349/http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shasetsu/20070831AS1K3100231082007.html |archive-date=September 3, 2007 |access-date=July 20, 2011 |language=Japanese}}</ref> The newspaper also stated that "empathy towards Ayanami" came from a time where the Japanese economy was in a low state and people had low self-esteem, but even though "the economy recovered", people still feel a sense of emptiness.<ref name="Nikkei"/> She also had a place in Mania Entertainment's ten iconic anime heroines list written by Thomas Zoth, who commented on the large amount of merchandise based on her: "Shops in [[Akihabara]] struggled to keep Rei Ayanami figurines and toys in stock. [...] Many critics also credit Ayanami for starting the [[Moe (slang)|''moe'']] boom in anime, with its reliance on weak, vulnerable characters that the audience would desire to protect."<ref name=Mania>{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroines_article_120015.html|title=10 Iconic Anime Heroines|last=Zoth|first=Thomas|date=January 19, 2010|publisher=Mania Entertainment|access-date=January 22, 2010|archive-date=January 22, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122050251/http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroines_article_120015.html}}</ref> In March and April 2021, after the release of the final ''Rebuild'' film, she finished as the eighth and sixth most popular female character in a ''Newtype'' poll<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April 2021|title=Ranking|magazine=Newtype|language=ja|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten}}</ref> and in sixth and second place in May and June.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 2021|title=Ranking|magazine=Newtype|language=ja|page=114|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten}}</ref>

=== Critical reception ===
Rei has been well received by anime critics. Japanese cultural critic Hiroki Azuma described her as "an extremely impressive character", praising the performance of Megumi Hayashibara and its psychological realism since "Rei's solitude is grounded in a completely tactile substantiality which gives us extremely realistic images of the discommunication that children of the present face."<ref name=Azuma>{{cite web |last=Azuma |first=Hiroki |author-link=Hiroki Azuma |title=Animé or Something Like it: ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' |url=http://www.ntticc.or.jp/pub/ic_mag/ic018/intercity/higashi_E.html |publisher=[[NTT InterCommunication Center]] |access-date=August 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808182031/http://www.ntticc.or.jp/pub/ic_mag/ic018/intercity/higashi_E.html |archive-date=August 8, 2012}}</ref> ''Newtype'' praised the fifth and the sixth episodes, describing the drawings of the scene in which she smiles at Gendo in "Rei I" as "excellent" and the scene where she greets Shinji before the battle against the Angel Ramiel in "Rei II" as "impressive".<ref>{{cite book|title=Newtype Complete 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|year=2005|language=ja|pages=24–25}}</ref> In February 1996, ''Animedia'' magazine ranked her smile scene from the sixth episode among the most memorable anime moments of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=今月の名場|magazine=Animedia|date=February 1996|language=ja}}</ref> ''The Artifice'' writer Justin Wu also praised the scene, describing it as a "powerful" and "iconic moment" since it is "the first time she has deliberately shown an emotion, and one of the handful of times she has done so throughout the whole series".<ref name=legacy/> ''[[Science Fiction Weekly]]''{{'}}s Tasha Robinson expressed appreciation for the character's conclusion.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 14, 2021|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/anime/sfw3626.html|date=September 21, 1998|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' 0:11–0:13|first=Tasha |last=Robinson|publisher=The Dominion|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304071210/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/anime/sfw3626.html|archive-date=March 4, 2009}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'' ranked her tenth on its list of the top twenty-five anime characters of all time. Writer Chris Mackenzie described her as "a hugely influential character concept"; Mackenzie also found Rei different from similar characters created after ''Evangelion'' since: "The difference between Rei and so many almost-Reis is that there might be something behind the façade."<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 25 Anime Characters of All Time |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p4.html |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=October 22, 2009 |date=October 20, 2009 |archive-date=August 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822171911/http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p4.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Other critics expressed a negative opinion of the character. Although the writer for ''Anime-Planet'' appreciated some revelations about her past and still considered her "by far the most interesting character", they criticized the lack of exploration of the depth of her character.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a390.html|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' Review|date=December 11, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928163249/http://www.anime-planet.com/reviews/a390.html|archive-date=September 28, 2013|access-date=April 20, 2020|website=Anime-Planet}}</ref> A writer for ''The Anime Critic'' wrote, "[Rei] has absolutely no personality to speak of, and she remains an enigma for most of the series. Part of the intrigue in the series is discovering the secrets she holds."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animecritic.com/evangelion/anr-evangelion.html|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215400/http://www.animecritic.com/evangelion/anr-evangelion.html|archive-date=October 4, 2013|access-date=April 20, 2020|website=The Anime Critic}}</ref> ''[[THEM Anime Reviews]]''{{'}} Raphael See criticized the characterization of the whole ''Evangelion'' cast for being "cliche", saying he did not understand the reasons for her great popularity.<ref>{{cite web|author=Raphael See|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=142|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion''|publisher=T.H.E.M. Anime|access-date=February 9, 2014|archive-date=February 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220172156/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=142|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Anime News Network]]''{{'}}s Kenneth Lee considered her [[character arc]] a wasted opportunity, as he considered that "(Rei II, a 'dummy shell,' gaining a soul) could have had an entire series devoted to it".<ref name=Lee>{{Cite web|last=Kenneth|first=Lee|date=September 9, 1998|title=The Thin Veneer Known as "''Evangelion''"|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/editorial/1998-09-09|url-status=live|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=July 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724103237/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/editorial/1998-09-09}}</ref>

As writers from ''Anime News Network'' were reviewing the ''Rebuild of Evangelion'' films, they praised Rei's character development. On ''Evangelion 1.0'', Carlo Santos noticed that Rei's personality is the same as in the TV series, and "those who hated the original ''Evangelion'' for its highly dysfunctional characters still won't find anything to like in this version". At the same time, Justin Sevakis praised her response to Shinji's kindness in ''Evangelion 2.0''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion/1.0.1-you-are-not-alone/dub-version|title=''Evangelion: 1.0.1 You Are Not Alone'' (dub version)|date=July 9, 2009|website=[[Anime News Network]]|last=Santos|first=Carlo|access-date=December 2, 2009|archive-date=April 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427025416/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion/1.0.1-you-are-not-alone/dub-version|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion/2.0-you-can-not-advance|title=''Evangelion: 2.0 You Can Not Advance''|date=November 24, 2009|work=[[Anime News Network]]|author=Sevakis, Justin|access-date=December 2, 2009|archive-date=October 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025185653/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion/2.0-you-can-not-advance|url-status=live}}</ref> UK [[Anime Network]] described ''Rebuild''{{'}}s Rei as a more human character with whom it is easier to empathize.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=October 20, 2021|url=http://www.uk-anime.net/anime/Evangelion_2.22:_You_Can_(Not)_Advance.html|title=''Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance''|date=June 11, 2011|author=A. H.|publisher=UK Anime Network|archive-date=April 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403235020/http://uk-anime.net/anime/Evangelion_2.22:_You_Can_(Not)_Advance.html}}</ref> The Fandom Post appreciated that she became progressively more independent from Gendo.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=October 20, 2021|url=http://www.fandompost.com/2011/08/12/evangelion-2-22-you-can-not-advance-uk-anime-blu-ray-review/|title=''Evangelion 2.22: You Can (Not) Advance'' UK Anime Blu-ray Review |date=August 12, 2011|first=Bryan|last= Morton|publisher=The Fandom Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323162742/http://www.fandompost.com/2011/08/12/evangelion-2-22-you-can-not-advance-uk-anime-blu-ray-review/|archive-date=March 23, 2012}}</ref> At the same time, ''Anime News Network''{{'}}s Mark Sombillo wrote: "Her personality and plight form much more of the core motivation of the story and despite her still tryingly hesitant attempts at communication, there's genuine warmth beneath her actions and it's hard not to be won over by her."<ref>{{cite web|access-date=October 20, 2021|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion-2.22-you-can-not-advance|title=''Evangelion: 2.22 – You Can (Not) Advance''|date=June 7, 2011|first=Mark |last=Sombillo|website=[[Anime News Network]]|archive-date=March 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315201424/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/evangelion-2.22-you-can-not-advance}}</ref>

Her role in the last installment of the saga, ''Evangelion 3.0+1.0'', received a particularly positive reception from critics and reviewers, especially for its optimistic view.<ref>{{multiref|{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/08/evangelion-thrice-upon-a-time-review-1234658228/ |title={{'}}''Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time''{{'}} Review: Hideaki Anno's Iconic Anime Finally Gets a Proper Ending |last=Motamayor |first=Rafael |date=August 16, 2021 |website=IndieWire |publisher=Indie Wire |access-date=November 27, 2021 |quote= |archive-date=November 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121082216/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/08/evangelion-thrice-upon-a-time-review-1234658228/ |url-status=live}}|{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/evangelion-3010-thrice-upon-a-time-review |title=''Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time'' Review |last=McLain |first=Kyle |date=August 14, 2021 |website=IGN |access-date=November 27, 2021 |quote= |archive-date=March 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210329000131/https://www.ign.com/articles/evangelion-3010-thrice-upon-a-time-review |url-status=live}}|{{cite web|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2021-08-17/.176318|title= This Week in Anime|date= August 17, 2021|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date= November 27, 2021|quote= |archive-date= October 21, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211021104123/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/this-week-in-anime/2021-08-17/.176318|url-status= live}}}}</ref> Critics praised her journey and campy scenes in the film's first part as "immersive"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/film/158141/evangelion-3-01-0-thrice-upon-a-time-review/ |title=''Evangelion 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time'' review: The iconic series from Hideaki Anno ends with tears, atonement, forgiveness, and hope |last=Johnson |first=Allyson |date=September 8, 2021 |website=The Young Folks |access-date=November 27, 2021 |quote= |archive-date=November 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104145552/https://www.theyoungfolks.com/film/158141/evangelion-3-01-0-thrice-upon-a-time-review/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and "moving".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.polygon.com/22603133/evangelion-3-0-1-0-thrice-upon-a-time-review|title= The final ''Evangelion'' movie brings the series to a powerful close|last= Adlakha|first= Siddhant|date= July 31, 2021|website= Polygon.com|publisher= Polygon|access-date= November 27, 2021|quote= |archive-date= October 5, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20211005130611/https://www.polygon.com/22603133/evangelion-3-0-1-0-thrice-upon-a-time-review|url-status= live}}</ref> [[Crunchyroll]]'s Daryl Harding described them as "one of the nicest parts of the film".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-feature/2021/04/07/spoiler-filled-review-talking-about-that-evangelion-3010-ending |title=Spoiler-Filled Review: Talking About That ''Evangelion 3.0+1.0'' Ending |last=Harding |first=Daryl |date=April 7, 2021 |website=Crunchyroll.com |publisher=Crunchyroll |access-date=November 27, 2021 |quote= |archive-date=August 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822154919/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-feature/2021/04/07/spoiler-filled-review-talking-about-that-evangelion-3010-ending |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Paste (magazine)|''Paste'']] magazine lauded the movie for showing Rei and the other pilots outside the militarized and violent context of the battles.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mary Beth|last=McAndrews|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/evangelion-30-10-thrice-upon-a-time-review/|title=''Evangelion 3.0+1.0: Thrice Upon a Time'' Chases the Perfect Ending|newspaper=Paste Magazine|date=August 17, 2021|access-date=December 2, 2021|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202054111/https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/evangelion-30-10-thrice-upon-a-time-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to ''[[Gizmodo]]'', she has "the most complete journey" among those presented by ''3.0+1.0''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/evangelion-3-0-1-0-wouldnt-work-without-its-quiet-cont-1847646302 |title=''Evangelion 3.0+1.0'' Wouldn't Work Without Its Quiet, Contemplative Opening |last=Whitbrook |first=James |date=September 18, 2021 |website=Gizmodo.com |publisher=Gizmodo |access-date=November 27, 2021 |quote= |archive-date=November 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106014303/https://gizmodo.com/evangelion-3-0-1-0-wouldnt-work-without-its-quiet-cont-1847646302 |url-status=live}}</ref> Otaquest's Chris Cimi similarly praised her character development, saying that her actions "make for something different and warm but still ''Evangelion''".<ref>{{cite web |last=Cimi |first=Chris |date=March 9, 2021 |title=''Evangelion 3.0+1.0'' Review (SPOILERS): Hideaki Anno's Vision (Finally) Fulfilled |url=https://www.otaquest.com/evangelion-3-1-rebuild-fourth-anime-spoiler-movie-review/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812010418/https://www.otaquest.com/evangelion-3-1-rebuild-fourth-anime-spoiler-movie-review/ |archive-date=August 12, 2021 |access-date=November 27, 2021 |website=Otaquest.com |publisher=Otaquest |quote=}}</ref>

=== Merchandise ===
[[File:Cosplayer of Rei Ayanami at FF29 20170211a.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|alt=Cosplay of Rei Ayanami|Cosplayers have acted as Rei Ayanami.]]
''Mania.com''{{'}}s Thomas Zoth wrote, "Rei Ayanami proved such a popular character that she started a [[merchandising]] boom."<ref name=Mania/> Her image was used in a wide range of products, including toys,<ref>{{cite book |last1= Aoyama|first1=Takako |last2=Akashita|first2=Tomoko|date= 2003|title=Anime Poster Art: Japan's Movie House Masterpieces |publisher= DH Publishing Inc.|page=63 |isbn=978-0-9723124-4-8}}</ref> t-shirts,<ref>{{Cite web |title=大好評の"''EVA''×''HELLO KITTY''"シリーズに新作Ｔシャツが登場！ |trans-title=New T-Shirts Appear in Very Popular ''Eva'' × ''Hello Kitty'' Series! |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/eva/news/0377.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119115919/http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/eva/news/0377.html |archive-date=January 19, 2014 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Gainax.co.jp |publisher=[[Gainax]] |language=ja}}</ref> [[action figures]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-11-12/organic-hobby-inc-releases-the-first-character/figure-as-a-part-of-kaiyodo's-fraulein-revoltech-rei-ayanami|title= Organic Hobby, Inc Releases the First Character/Figure as a Part of Kaiyodo's "FRAÜLEIN REVOLTECH", "Rei Ayanami"|date= November 12, 2007|publisher= [[Anime News Network]]|access-date= April 12, 2020|archive-date= April 12, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200412195505/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2007-11-12/organic-hobby-inc-releases-the-first-character/figure-as-a-part-of-kaiyodo%27s-fraulein-revoltech-rei-ayanami|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=1 |pages=35–36 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref> musical instruments,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-08/2-eva-fender-guitars-auctioned-for-17-million-yen |title=2 ''Eva'' Fender Guitars Auctioned for 17 Million Yen |last=Hodgkins |first=Crystalyn |date=December 8, 2009 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412230140/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-08/2-eva-fender-guitars-auctioned-for-17-million-yen |url-status=live}}</ref> life-size statues,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Macias |first1=Patrick |last2=Machiyama|first2=Tomohiro |date= 2004|title=Cruising the Anime City: An Otaku Guide to Neo Tokyo |publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]] |page= 48|isbn=978-1-880656-88-4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=等身大フィギュア『レイ』、『アスカ』、『カヲル』受付開始！ |trans-title=Life-Sized Figures Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu Receipts Begin! |url=http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/eva/news/0344.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125025541/http://www.gainax.co.jp/anime/eva/news/0344.html |archive-date=November 25, 2015 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Gainax.co.jp |publisher=[[Gainax]] |language=ja}}</ref> makeup,<ref>{{cite web|access-date=March 12, 2021|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-02-24/evangelion-lipstick-ad-releases-key-animation-frames/.169888|title=''Evangelion'' Lipstick Ad Releases Key Animation Frames|date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301063346/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-02-24/evangelion-lipstick-ad-releases-key-animation-frames/.169888|url-status=live}}</ref> accessories,<ref name=legacy>{{cite web|author=Justin Wu|url=http://the-artifice.com/neon-genesis-evangelion-rei-ayanami-legacy/|title=''Neon Genesis Evangelion'': The Legacy of Rei Ayanami|date=July 11, 2013|publisher=[[The Artifice (magazine)|The Artifice]]|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=March 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318111941/http://the-artifice.com/neon-genesis-evangelion-rei-ayanami-legacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> and reproductions of her clothing.<ref name="Cospa">{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2008 |title=コスプレランキング：綾波レイの第三新東京市立第壱中制服がダントツ クラナド、シャナが続く コスパ |trans-title=Cosplay Ranking: Rei Ayanami's Tokyo-3 First Junior High School Uniform Is the Very Best; ''Clannad'' and ''Shana'' Continue - Cospa |url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/graph/anime/20080103/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106061515/http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/graph/anime/20080103/ |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Mainichi.jp |publisher=[[Mainichi Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2010-08-09/custom-fitted-evangelion-plugsuits-on-sale |title=Custom-Fitted ''Evangelion'' Plugsuits for Sale |date=August 9, 2010 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412201020/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2010-08-09/custom-fitted-evangelion-plugsuits-on-sale |url-status=live}}</ref> On March 30, 2001, [[King Records (Japan)|King Records]] launched an album entitled ''Evangelion: The Birthday of Rei Ayanami''.<ref>{{cite book|date= 2009 |title=The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side A|publisher=[[Glénat Editions]]|page= 110|isbn=978-2-7234-7120-6}}</ref> In 2012, a team built an {{convert|18|m|ft|adj=on|sp=us}} tall figure of the character outside of the NTV Tower in the Shiodome area of Tokyo as part of the Shiohaku Expo 2012 summer amusement event.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-07-18/gundam-sized-blow-up-rei-figure-photographed-in-tokyo |title=''Gundam''-Sized Blow-Up Rei Figure From ''Evangelion'' Photographed in Tokyo |last=Sherman |first=Jennifer |date=July 18, 2012 |publisher=Anime News Network |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412230138/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-07-18/gundam-sized-blow-up-rei-figure-photographed-in-tokyo |url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, a reproduction of the girl's bedroom was built, and a life-size model was exhibited at the Eva Expo in Shanghai.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-09-30/china-largest-evangelion-expo-to-be-held-in-shanghai|title=China's Largest ''Evangelion'' Expo to be Held in Shanghai|date=September 30, 2013|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=February 21, 2014|archive-date=December 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207173307/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-09-30/china-largest-evangelion-expo-to-be-held-in-shanghai|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2020, [[Honda]] used Rei and other characters from the series for several commercials, which aired during a collaboration between ''Evangelion'' and the [[Honda Civic]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Honda Officially Launches {{'}}''Evangelion''{{'}} x Civic Campaign |url=https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/evangelion-honda-civic-campaign-launch-videos |url-status=live |access-date=October 11, 2020 |website=hypebeast.com |date=April 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810153134/https://hypebeast.com/2020/4/evangelion-honda-civic-campaign-launch-videos}}</ref>

In 2007, her costumes ranked first among the best-selling cosplay costumes of the year by the company [[Cospa]].<ref name=Cospa/> Rei Ayanami's action figures also enjoyed success.<ref name=Lamarre>{{cite book |last=Lamarre |first=Thomas |author-link= Thomas Lamarre|title=[[The Anime Machine: A Media Theory of Animation]] |location= Minneapolis |publisher= [[University of Minnesota Press]]|date=2009|page=205|isbn=978-0-8166-5155-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/another-rei-ayanami-figure-for-the-pile-5790701 |title=Another Rei Ayanami Figure For the Pile |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian |date=April 11, 2011 |website=Kotaku.com |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412201719/https://kotaku.com/another-rei-ayanami-figure-for-the-pile-5790701 |url-status=live}}</ref> Writer [[Thomas Lamarre]] wrote that Sadamoto's design for the character became "''the'' sensation of the series", selling "an unprecedented number of figurines" and spurring expensive speculation about her character in the press and the world of anime criticism.<ref name=Lamarre/> Scholar Patrick Galbraith has described the high sales of Ayanami merchandise as a turning point for the Japanese market since they helped to expand the figures and fanzines sector, with "entire fanzine conventions [...] committed to the series and its characters".<ref>{{cite book|author=Patrick W. Galbraith|title=Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan|date=2019|chapter=Moe: An Affective Response to Fictional Characters|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-1-4780-0701-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Patrick W. Galbraith|url=https://jmpc-utokyo.com/keyword/moe/|title=Moe|date=April 11, 2020|access-date=November 2, 2021|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019033937/https://jmpc-utokyo.com/keyword/moe/|url-status=live}}</ref> According to one estimate, plastic models before ''Evangelion'' sold about three thousand units, but Rei's figures reached ten times that amount. For Galbraith, "the series overlapped with a boom in figurines of anime characters and the spread of the Internet, making ''otaku'' consumption and community more conspicuous".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Galbraith|first= Patrick W.|date= 2010|title= Akihabara: Conditioning a Public "Otaku" Image |journal= Mechademia|volume=5|issue= |pages=215–216 |publisher=University of Minnesota Press}}</ref> ''[[Newtype USA]]'' magazine similarly wrote that: "Hordes of ''otaku'' flooded Akihabara in search of the enigmatic Rei Ayanami, and companies realized for the first time that catering to the [[geek]] crowd could be very profitable. [...] Akihabara itself has transformed from an 'electric town' famous for household appliances to the geek paradise it is today".<ref>{{cite journal|title=An instrument of change|journal=[[Newtype USA]]|page=31|date=December 2006}}</ref>

In 2005, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the first airing of ''Evangelion'', manga artist [[Mine Yoshizaki]] designed several action figures of the Angels with anthropomorphic appearances; among the various models, he devised a figure of the Angel [[Angel (Neon Genesis Evangelion)#Lilith|Lilith]] inspired by Rei's character design.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-11-01/lilith-angel-announced |title=Lilith Angel Announced |last=Macdonald |first=Christopher |date=November 1, 2005 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412230137/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-11-01/lilith-angel-announced |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Japanese writer Kazuhisa Fujie, although models and toys in the series were a commercial failure at first, Rei's action figures immediately became so popular that they exceeded Evangelion's unit sales, thus creating the first and perhaps the only case of a robotic anime "where reproductions of the human characters outsold those of the robots."{{sfn|Fujie|Foster|2004|p=98}} Furthermore, books and magazines portraying her on the cover were successful. She also appeared on the cover of an issue of ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'s}} Japanese edition, among others.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-08-11/evangelion-on-cover-of-rolling-stone-mag-in-japan |title=''Evangelion'' on Cover of Rolling Stone Mag…in Japan |date=August 11, 2007 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508150221/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-08-11/evangelion-on-cover-of-rolling-stone-mag-in-japan |url-status=live}}</ref> An art book about her named {{nihongo|''Evangelion Photograph – Rei''|ＲＥＩ－レイ－ 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン文庫写真集|}} was published in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ＲＥＩ－レイ－ 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン文庫写真集 |trans-title=''REI － Rei － Neon Genesis Evangelion Bunko Photograph Collection'' |url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/199999341401/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114233542/https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/199999341401/ |archive-date=November 14, 2020 |access-date=October 13, 2020 |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |language=ja}}</ref> According to Fujie, sales of Rei-themed merchandise led Japanese media to call her "the girl who manipulates magazine sales at will", "the fastest route to the sold-out sign", and "the Premium Girl".{{sfn|Fujie|Foster|2004|p=39}}

=== Legacy ===
Rei Ayanami had a significant influence on Japanese animation.<ref name=legacy/> Following the fame gained by ''Evangelion'', other characters with its aesthetic and character traits were created.<ref name=Mania/><ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Perdijk|url=https://jmpc-utokyo.com/keyword/database-consumption/|title=Database Consumption|date=April 18, 2020|access-date=November 2, 2021|archive-date=October 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019173227/https://jmpc-utokyo.com/keyword/database-consumption/|url-status=live}}</ref> Critics regarded Rei and her success as the beginning of the ''moe'' phenomenon,<ref name=Mania/> with the creation of characters according to definite stereotyped features easily recognizable and consumable by the Japanese ''otaku'' audience. In the late 1990s, characters bearing a close resemblance to Rei were produced and consumed on a massive scale in comics, anime, and novelizations, both in the commercial market and the [[fanzine]] market.{{sfn|Azuma|2009|pp=51–52}} According to Japanese scholar Hiroki Azuma, this output is not linked to a direct ''Evangelion'' influence since "the emergence of Ayanami Rei did not influence many authors so much as change the rules of the ''moe'' elements sustaining ''otaku'' culture".{{sfn|Azuma|2009|pp=51–52}} As a result, even authors who were not deliberately thinking of ''Evangelion'' began to produce characters resembling Rei, using newly registered ''moe'' elements, such as a quiet personality, blue hair, white skin, mysterious power, and an absence of emotions.<ref name=legacy/>{{sfn|Azuma|2009|pp=51–52}} Moreover, for Azuma, the twenty-sixth episode, in which an alternate reality with Rei running with a slice of bread in her mouth is shown, constitutes a turning point within the ''otaku'' culture. The scene, according to him, represents the point where the era of great stories ends and that of ''moe'' characters begins. From that point on, the emotional response to the protagonists became more important than the plot of the series.<ref>{{cite book|title=Mechademia|volume=2|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|isbn=978-0-8166-5266-2|chapter=The Animalization of Otaku Culture|year=2007|page=182}}</ref> He also regarded Ruriko Tsukishima from ''[[Shizuku (video game)|Shizuku]]'' as being directly influenced by Rei and [[Ruri Hoshino]] of ''[[Martian Successor Nadesico]]'' as a combination of both.{{sfn|Azuma|2009|pp=49–50}}<ref>{{cite web|first=Zac|last=Bertschy|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dai-guard/dvd-1|title=''Dai-Guard'' DVD 1: ''Hostile Takeover''|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=April 15, 2020|archive-date=May 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526003201/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dai-guard/dvd-1|url-status=live}}</ref>

Critics compared other characters to her, including Miharu in ''[[Gasaraki]]'',{{sfn|Clements|McCarthy|2006|p=221}}<ref>{{cite web|publisher=EX Magazine|website=Ex.org|access-date=April 15, 2021|url=http://www.ex.org/4.2/15-anime_gasaraki.html|title=''Gasaraki''|first=Maria M. |last=Rider|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606221938/http://www.ex.org/4.2/15-anime_gasaraki.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> Vanilla H in ''[[Galaxy Angel]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/galaxy-angel-aa/dvd-1/by-theron-martin|title= ''Galaxy Angel AA'' DVD 1–4 – ''Anime Legends Complete Collection''|last= Theron|first= Martin|date= October 4, 2008|website= [[Anime News Network]]|access-date= April 15, 2020|archive-date= April 13, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200413110750/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/galaxy-angel-aa/dvd-1/by-theron-martin|url-status= live}}</ref> Maya in ''[[Geobreeders]]'',<ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 14, 2021|url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=103|title=Geobreeders|publisher=T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews|first=Carlos|last=Ross|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414132237/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=103|url-status=live}}</ref> [[List of Infinite Ryvius characters#Neya|Neya]] in ''[[Infinite Ryvius]]'',{{sfn|Clements|McCarthy|2006|p=301}} Aruto Kirihara in ''[[Kagihime Monogatari Eikyū Alice Rondo]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=909 |title=''Kagihime Monogatari – Eikyuu Alice Rondo'' |last=Godek |first=Jake L |website=Themanime.org |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708105538/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=909 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Riza Hawkeye]] in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', Dorothy R. Wayneright in ''[[The Big O]]'',{{sfn|Drazen|2014|p=297}} Anthy Himemiya in ''[[Revolutionary Girl Utena]]'',{{sfn|Saito|Azuma|2011|p=125}} Chise in ''[[Saikano]]'',<ref>{{cite book|first=Jonathan |last=Clements|publisher=Titan Books|date=2009|isbn=978-1-84856-083-3|title=Schoolgirl Milky Crisis: Adventures in the Anime and Manga Trade|page=299}}</ref> [[List of Guilty Crown characters#Inori Yuzuriha|Yuzuriha Inori]] in ''[[Guilty Crown]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/guilty-crown/episodes-1|title=Review – ''Guilty Crown''|first=Carl|last= Kimlinger|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=November 16, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2013|archive-date=November 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114121840/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/guilty-crown/episodes-1|url-status=live}}</ref> Miyu in ''[[My-HiME]]'',<ref>{{cite web|author=Theron Martin|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-hime/dvd-2|title=''My-HiMe'' DVD 2|date=June 7, 2006|website=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=October 16, 2013|archive-date=November 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114141248/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/my-hime/dvd-2|url-status=live}}</ref> Ai in ''[[Zaion: I Wish You Were Here]]'',<ref>{{cite web|first=Zac|last=Bertschy|title=''i wish you were here''|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/i-wish-you-were-here/dvd-1|website=[[Anime News Network]]|date=January 23, 2004|access-date=October 16, 2013|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012153053/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/i-wish-you-were-here/dvd-1|url-status=live}}</ref> Diya in ''[[Butterfly Soup]]'',<ref>{{cite journal|title=Asian/American Gaming|journal=Verge: Studies in Global Asias|volume=7|issue=2|page=31|publisher=University of Minnesota Press}}</ref> Yashiro Kasumi in ''[[Muv-Luv]]'',<ref>{{cite journal|author=Lukas R.A. Wilde|title=Recontexualizing Characters. Media Convergence and Pre-/Meta-Narrative Character Circulation|journal=Image|issue=29|pages=47–48|date=January 2019|url=http://www.gib.uni-tuebingen.de/own/journal/pdf/IMAGE%2029_Themenheft.pdf|access-date=December 23, 2021|archive-date=December 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223111657/http://www.gib.uni-tuebingen.de/own/journal/pdf/IMAGE%2029_Themenheft.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> and the female cyborgs in ''[[Gunslinger Girl]]''.<ref name=Ghilardi/> ''[[Serial Experiments Lain]]''{{'}}s Lain Iwakura was also associated with the character;{{sfn|Napier|2002|p=433}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Camp |first1=Julie |last2=Davis |title=Anime Classics Zettai!: 100 Must-See Japanese Animation Masterpieces |year=2007 |publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]], Inc. |isbn=978-1-933330-22-8 |page=338|url-access=registration |url=http://archive.org/details/animeclassicszet0000camp}}</ref> ''Lain''{{'}}s principal screenwriter, [[Chiaki J. Konaka]], stated he was not influenced by ''Evangelion'', and although he appreciated their characteristics, he said he did not see similarities between the two characters.<ref name="HK">{{cite journal|date=April 2000|title=''Serial Experiments Lain''|journal=[[HK Magazine]]|issue=14|publisher=Asia City Publishing|location=Hong Kong}} in {{cite web|url=http://www.konaka.com/alice6/lain/hk.html|title=HK Interview|publisher=[[Chiaki J. Konaka]]|access-date=September 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124051110/http://konaka.com/alice6/lain/hk.html|archive-date=November 24, 2010}} and {{cite web|url=http://www.konaka.com/alice6/lain/hkint_e.html|title=HK Interview|publisher=[[Chiaki J. Konaka]]|access-date=September 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101005437/http://konaka.com/alice6/lain/hkint_e.html|archive-date=November 1, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> [[List of Eureka Seven characters#Eureka|Eureka]] from ''[[Eureka Seven]]'' has similarly been compared to Rei Ayanami, causing dissatisfaction in series screenwriter [[Dai Satō]].<ref>{{cite web|access-date=March 28, 2020|url=http://www.otaku2.com/articleView.php?item=679|title=Storywriter Sato Dai is frustrated with Japanese anime|date=July 24, 2010|website=Otaku2.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727193900/http://www.otaku2.com/articleView.php?item=679|archive-date=July 27, 2010}}</ref> ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s author, [[Nobuhiro Watsuki]], compared [[Yukishiro Tomoe]] to Rei. He said Yukishiro became an Ayanami lookalike, with the sole unique feature being her black pupils. The author initially conceived of her as a "cool beauty", but once she revealed her true feelings, she became a different character.<ref>Watsuki, Nobuhiro. "The Secret Life of Characters (41) Yukishiro (Himura) Tomoe", ''[[Rurouni Kenshin]]'' Volume 21. [[Viz Media]]. 46.</ref>

''The Artifice'' writer Justin Wu regarded Rei as the prototypical {{Nihongo|''mukuchi''|無口||"mouthless", "silent"}}, a term used by anime fans to describe reticent and emotionless characters, usually with a monotone voice, who speak to the point and avoid unnecessary conversations. This ''moe'' element, which gained wide popularity entirely after Rei's success, can be found in numerous subsequent female characters, including Eva in ''[[Black Cat (manga)|Black Cat]]'', Ai Enma in ''[[Hell Girl]]'', and [[Yuki Nagato]] in ''[[Haruhi Suzumiya]]''. Wu also wrote that Rei is responsible for expanding the anime merchandise market. He said that because ''Evangelion'' allows people to visualize unexplained details and Rei's enigmatic personality lets readers imagine different scenarios she would be in, including [[erotic comic]]s, ''Evangelion'' is a "doujin-friendly" series.<ref name=legacy/> The character is also credited with popularizing the ''[[kuudere]]'' stereotype, a term for characters who hide their true feelings behind a melancholic and cold facade.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2014 |title=今夜金曜ロードSHOW「ヱヴァンゲリヲン：破」惣流と式波アスカの違いを検証 |trans-title=This Friday Night's Road SHOW "''Evangelion: Ha''" - Inspecting the Difference Between Soryu and Shikinami Asuka  |url=https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/E1409249614301/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329040429/https://www.excite.co.jp/news/article/E1409249614301/ |archive-date=March 29, 2020 |access-date=July 5, 2025 |website={{Ill|Excite News|ja|エキサイトニュース}} |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2016 |title=Anime Spotlight: Anime Archetypes - Geek Ireland |url=https://geekireland.com/anime-spotlight-anime-deres/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241106175513/https://geekireland.com/anime-spotlight-anime-deres/ |archive-date=November 6, 2024 |access-date=July 5, 2025 |website=Geek Ireland}}</ref> According to Kaichiro Morikawa, a Japanese architect and academic, characters with physical defects before ''Evangelion'' and Rei Ayanami were rare, such as [[Char Aznable]] in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]'', who has a scar on his forehead, and Princess Kushana in ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga)|Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]''.{{sfn|Morikawa|1997|p=21}} Justin Wu also noticed that the bandages gained significant popularity after the series's success, becoming the character's trademark and a common feature in [[cosplay]]s.<ref name=legacy/>

The Japanese band [[Rey (band)|Rey]] derived its name from her.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2008 |title=イケメンアニソンバンドがメジャーデビュー |trans-title=Ikemen Anison Band Has a Major Debut |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/music/60445/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140223131908/http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/60445/ |archive-date=February 23, 2014 |access-date=September 20, 2013 |publisher=Oricon.co.jp}}</ref> Singer and guitarist Motoo Fujiwara wrote the lyrics of the song "[[Arue (song)|Arue]]", taking inspiration from Rei, with the English title "R.A." inspired by the initial letters of her name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 4, 2015 |title=バンプ・藤原基央が自身バンド以外初となる歌手・榎本くるみをプロデュース |trans-title=Bump's Motō Fujiwara Produces First Outside of Band with Kurumi Enomoto |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/58028/full/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413110851/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/58028/full/ |archive-date=April 13, 2020 |access-date=April 15, 2020 |publisher=Oricon News |language=ja}}</ref> Ging Nang Boyz's album ''Door'' features a song named {{nihongo|"Ano ko wa Ayanami Rei ga suki"|あの娘は綾波レイが好き||{{abbr|lit.|literally}} "That girl likes Rei Ayanami"}}. According to the Japanese site Animentalism, the track "Ray" by rock band [[Luna Sea]], included as the B-side of their single "[[In Silence (song)|In Silence]]" and composed by [[Sugizo]], could be a tribute to Rei Ayanami.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2021 |title=綾波レイがかわいい！男を虜にする魔性の魅力を心理学的に考察！ |trans-title=Rei Ayanami is Cute! Thinking Psychologically About the Diabolical Charm that Lures Men |url=https://animentalism.com/ayanami-miryoku/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415042801/https://animentalism.com/ayanami-miryoku/ |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |access-date=April 15, 2021 |website=Animentalism.com |publisher=Animentalist |language=ja}}</ref> Artists have produced fan art about her, including [[Okama (artist)|Okama]], Huke, [[Hiroya Oku]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sadamoto |first=Yoshiyuki |author-link=Yoshiyuki Sadamoto |title=新世紀エヴァンゲリオン 公式ガイドブック |date=2011 |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |isbn=978-4-04-715671-5 |pages=137, 144–145 |trans-title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Official Guidebook}}</ref> and [[Arina Tanemura]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2014/08/19/evangelion-death-rebirth-broadcst-inspires-arina-tanemuras-rei-and-asuka-sketches |title="''Evangelion: Death & Rebirth''" Broadcast Inspires Arina Tanemura's Rei and Asuka Sketches |last=Green |first=Scott |date=August 19, 2014 |publisher=[[Crunchyroll]] |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919023605/https://www.crunchyroll.com/it/anime-news/2014/08/19/evangelion-death-rebirth-broadcst-inspires-arina-tanemuras-rei-and-asuka-sketches |url-status=live}}</ref> Celebrities paid tribute to Rei by cosplaying her, including [[Shoko Nakagawa]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://otakumode.com/news/532f64c1bad31b9e3e00014e/Interview-Otaku-Artist-Shoko-Nakagawa-1-2 |title=Interview: Otaku Artist Shoko Nakagawa [1/2] |date=April 9, 2014 |website=Otakumode.com |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412204254/https://otakumode.com/news/532f64c1bad31b9e3e00014e/Interview-Otaku-Artist-Shoko-Nakagawa-1-2 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Natsuki Katō]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2006 |title=加藤夏希：「エヴァンゲリオン」の綾波レイに 「クロニクル」ＰＲで |trans-title=Natsuki Katō: In ''Evangelion''{{'}}s Rei Ayanami with Chronicle PR |url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2006/06/28/20060628org00m200082000c.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511053450/http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/archive/news/2006/06/28/20060628org00m200082000c.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Mainichi.jp |publisher=[[Mainichi Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref> Miu Nakamura,<ref>{{cite book |title=Evangelion Chronicle |volume=38 |page=28 |publisher=Sony Magazines |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-27/3rd-eva-remake-film-to-be-titled-q-quickening |title=3rd ''Evangelion'' Remake Film to be Titled ''Q'' quickening (Updated) |last=Loo |first=Egan |date=June 27, 2009 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412204252/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-06-27/3rd-eva-remake-film-to-be-titled-q-quickening |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Yuuri Morishita]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 26, 2008 |title=森下悠里、自慢の"Ｇ乳ハミ出し"で完璧ボディー大胆露出 |trans-title=Yūri Morishita, Perfect Body's Bold Exposure with Pride's "G Cup Sticking Out" |url=http://www.sanspo.com/ad/gravure/news/080526_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616043357/http://www.sanspo.com/ad/gravure/news/080526_1.html |archive-date=June 16, 2008 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=Sanspo.com |language=ja}}</ref> [[Umika Kawashima]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-07-24/9nine-idol-group-members-cosplay-as-evangelion-rei-asuka |title=9nine Idol Group Members Cosplay as Evangelion's Rei, Asuka |date=July 24, 2012 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412205402/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-07-24/9nine-idol-group-members-cosplay-as-evangelion-rei-asuka |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rio Uchida]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 30, 2019 |title=内田理央「エヴァ」綾波レイコスプレに挑戦 |trans-title=Rio Uchida Challenges in ''Eva''{{'}}s Rei Ayanami Cosplay |url=https://news.nicovideo.jp/watch/nw5993197 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001151941/https://news.nicovideo.jp/watch/nw5993197 |archive-date=October 1, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |work=ニコニコニュース}}</ref> Kokoro Shinozaki,<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 4, 2019 |title=美ボディくっきり!コスプレイヤー篠崎こころが『エヴァ』綾波レイのプラグスーツコスプレ披露【写真37枚】 |trans-title=Clearly Beautiful Body! Cosplayer Kokoro Shinozaki Reveals ''Eva''{{'}}s Rei Ayanami Plugsuit Cosplay (37 photos) |url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20190904-C3AFA_03/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205032553/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20190904-C3AFA_03/ |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |work=マイナビニュース}}</ref> and [[Shōma Uno]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2019 |title=真凜はジョジョ仗助、宇野はエヴァ綾波 続編コスプレにネット騒然「衝撃隠せません」 |trans-title=Marin is Jojo's Jōsuke, Uno is Eva's Ayanami, Net Uproar in Continuing Cosplay "We Cannot Hide the Impact" |url=https://the-ans.jp/news/77628/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210075554/https://the-ans.jp/news/77628/ |archive-date=December 10, 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2020 |website=The-ans.jp}}</ref> During [[Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2012]], English model [[Jourdan Dunn]] wore a dress similar to the character's plugsuit, a bodysuit worn by Evangelion pilots; Gainax only learned about the outfit from the Internet and was perplexed by the situation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashcraft |first=Brian |date=November 9, 2012 |title=Victoria's Secret Features an Unexpected Anime Inspiration |url=https://kotaku.com/victorias-secret-features-an-unexpected-anime-inspirati-5959109 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402105201/https://kotaku.com/victorias-secret-features-an-unexpected-anime-inspirati-5959109 |archive-date=April 2, 2024 |access-date=August 10, 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-11-16/j-cast/gainax-not-contacted-about-victoria-secret-evangelion-lookalike |title=J-Cast: Gainax Not Contacted About Victoria Secret's ''Evangelion'' Lookalike |last=Hodgkins |first=Crystalyn |date=November 16, 2012 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412203029/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-11-16/j-cast/gainax-not-contacted-about-victoria-secret-evangelion-lookalike |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend]]'' references the character.<ref>{{cite book|title=How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend|volume=2|isbn=978-0-316-31079-6|chapter=Translation Notes|publisher=Yen Press|date=2006}}</ref> Rei's image appeared on a character's shirt from the ''[[Veronica's Closet]]'' series.<ref>{{cite book|date=1999|title=Japan Edge: The Insider's Guide to Japanese Pop Subculture|isbn=978-1-56931-345-9|publisher=Viz Media|page=23|url=https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/1999-japanedge-childrenmiyazakicocacola.pdf|access-date=March 12, 2021|archive-date=November 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121220544/https://www.gwern.net/docs/eva/1999-japanedge-childrenmiyazakicocacola.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> According to [[Vogue (magazine)|''Vogue'']], her plugsuit also inspired a piece of clothing for the spring 2016 line by the fashion house [[Louis Vuitton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/louis-vuitton-spring-2016-inspiration-anime-evangelion-sailor-moon |title=The Secret Anime Muses Behind Louis Vuitton's New Collection: From ''Sailor Moon'' to ''Evangelion'' |last=Kim |first=Monica |date=October 8, 2015 |publisher=[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]] |access-date=April 15, 2020 |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226134356/https://www.vogue.com/article/louis-vuitton-spring-2016-inspiration-anime-evangelion-sailor-moon}}</ref>
{{clear|right}}

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|Anime and manga}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book | date = 1997 | first = Kaichiro| last= Morikawa | title=The Evangelion Style|publisher=Daisan Shokan|language=ja|isbn=978-4-8074-9718-8}}
* {{cite book |first=Kentaro |last=Takekuma |title=Anno Hideaki Parano Evangerion|language=ja |year=1997 |publisher=Ōta Shuppan |isbn=978-4-87233-316-9}}
* {{cite book |first=Oizumi |last=Sanenari |date= 1997|title= Anno Hideaki Sukidzo Evangerion |publisher= Ōta Shuppan|isbn= 978-4-87233-315-2|language=ja}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Napier |first=Susan J. |author-link=Susan J. Napier |date=November 2002 |title=When the Machines Stop: Fantasy, Reality, and Terminal Identity in ''Neon Genesis Evangelion'' and ''Serial Experiments Lain'' |journal=Science Fiction Studies |volume=29 |issue=88 |url=http://www.depauw.edu/sfs/abstracts/a88.htm#Napier |access-date=May 4, 2007 |issn=0091-7729 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626203404/https://www.depauw.edu/sfs/abstracts/a88.htm#Napier |url-status=live}} 
* {{cite book|last1=Fujie|first1=Kazuhisa|last2=Foster|first2=Martin|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Unofficial Guide|year=2004|publisher=DH Publishing, Inc.|location=United States|isbn=978-0-9745961-4-3}}
* {{cite book | first1 = Jonathan| last1 = Clements | first2 =Helen | last2 = McCarthy|title=The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917|edition=Revised & Expanded | year = 2006|publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]]|isbn=978-1-933330-10-5}}
* {{cite book | first = Hiroki| last = Azuma|title=Otaku: Japan's Database Animals|year=2009|publisher=[[University of Minnesota Press]]|isbn= 978-0-8166-5352-2}}
* {{Cite book |last=Khara |title=ヱヴァンゲリヲン新劇場版：破 全記録全集 |date=2010 |publisher=Ground Works |isbn=978-4-905033-00-4 |language=ja |trans-title=Evangelion 2.0: You Can (Not) Advance Complete Record Collection}}
* {{cite book |first= Syunsou|last= Porori|title=The Essential Evangelion Chronicle: Side B|language=fr |publisher=[[Glénat Editions]] |year=2010|isbn=978-2-7234-7121-3}}
* {{cite book| date = 2010|title=Neon Genesis Evangelion Anima Visual Book|language=ja|publisher=ASCII Media Works|isbn=978-4-04-868526-9|first=Ikuto|last=Yamashita}}
* {{cite book |last1=Saito |first1=Tamaki |last2=Azuma |first2=Hiroki |title=Beautiful Fighting Girl |publisher=[[University of Minnesota Press]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-8166-5450-5}}
* {{cite book| first = Patrick | last = Drazen|title=Anime Explosion!: The What? Why? and Wow! of Japanese Animation|year=2014|publisher=[[Stone Bridge Press]]|isbn=978-1-61172-013-6| edition = Revised & Updated}}
{{refend}}

{{Neon Genesis Evangelion}}
{{Subject bar|portal1=1990s|portal2=Anime and manga|portal3=Science fiction|commons=y|d=y}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayanami, Rei}}
[[Category:Anime and manga characters introduced in 1995]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from the 21st century]]
[[Category:Female characters in animated films]]
[[Category:Female characters in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Fictional clones]]
[[Category:Fictional human hybrids]]
[[Category:Fictional female child soldiers]]
[[Category:Fictional child soldiers]]
[[Category:Fictional mecha pilots]]
[[Category:Fictional suicides]]
[[Category:Neon Genesis Evangelion characters]]
[[Category:Teenage characters in anime and manga]]