Prologue Arc (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

From Animepedia

The Prologue Arc refers to the first seven episodes of Neon Genesis Evangelion. These episodes primarily develop the setting and establish most of the main characters.

Episode 01: "使徒、襲来 - Shito, Shuurai (Angel Attack)"

English Title

"Angel Attack"

Original Air Date

October 4, 1995

In the year 2015AD, Shinji is waiting for a mysterious woman named Misato to pick him up when a large monster, referred to as an angel, attacks the city. The defense forces are powerless against it and Shinji is in danger, when the woman appears and takes him to the headquarters of NERV, hidden underneath the city of Tokyo 3. Here his father explains that he wants Shinji to pilot a giant robot called an evangelion to fight the monster and save the earth. The conflicted Shinji refuses at first, but the angel causes damage to the building. The robot activates itself to save Shinji. After seeing the injuries on his substitute he agrees to fight.

Episode 02: "見知らぬ、天井 - Mishirame, Tenjou (Unfamiliar Ceiling)"

English Title

"The Beast"

Original Air Date

October 11, 1995

Shinji pilots Eva Unit 1 for the first time in his fight against the angel. Damage to the Eva causes Shinji to pass out, waking in the hospital after the battle is over. Higher-ups dicuss the future use of eva's and something called the Human Development Project. When Gendo meets his son again, his disappointment is noticeable. News of the angels becomes public and the city begins preparing for future attacks. Shinji moves in with Misato and Pen Pen. The arc flashes back to the fight. After the Eva is damaged, it goes "beserk" quickly destroying the monster in a terrifying display of power.

Episode 03: "鳴らない、電話 - Naranai, Denwa (A Phone that Never Rings)"

English Title

"A Transfer"

Original Air Date

October 18, 1995

Shinji begins to train with unit 1, revealing general information about the machines. Shinji returns to school to find the other pilot, Rei, has also enrolled. In class they go over the history of world since the emergence of the angels. The students find out Shinji is the pilot. While some are excited, others bully him for his mistakes. A second angel arrives. Two of Shinji's classmates sneak out to watch the fight. With Shinji losing badly, the two are forced to take cover in his eva. Shinji gains the courage to finish off the angel and win his classmates' respect.

Episode 04: "雨、逃げ出した後 - Ame, Nigedashita Nochi (Rain, After the Escape)"

English Title

"Hedgehog's Dilemma"

Original Air Date

October 25, 1995

Shinji has run away. Searching the city for answers, he finds himself outside of the city limits. Misato begins to wondering if Shinji is fit to pilot the eva, thinking back to the lecture she gave him after he disobeyed her orders. Shinji's classmate, Aida finds Shinji wondering the wilderness and they spend some time becoming closer friends. Security forces take Shinji back to NERV. He officially resigns, but changes his mind and stays.

Episode 05: "レイ、心のむこうに - Rei, Kokoro no Mukou ni (Rei, Beyond Her Heart)"

English Title

"Rei I"

Original Air Date

November 1, 1995

The episode begins with a flashback of a test for an evangelion (unit 0) gone awry. It begins to attack the observation room where Gendo is standing. Instead of caring for his own safety, he pries open the scalding hot door to Rei's entry plug. Shinji begins to wonder about Rei's past. Ritsuko gives Shinji Rei's ID card and an excuse to visit the girl. Rei is not pleased and the two make the uncomfortable trip to NERV. Another angel arrives and Shinji is sent out. The angel attacks before Shinji is ready and blowing a hole through the center of the robot.

Episode 06: "決戦、第３新東京市 - Kessen, Daisan Shin Toukyou-shi (Decisive Battle in Tokyo-3)"

English Title

"Rei II"

Original Air Date

November 8, 1995

Unit 01 has been damaged. With Shinji's life in danger, NERV retracts the Eva and begins to study the angel's attack method. The monster also begins drilling toward NERV's underground headquarters. Katsuragi decides to fire a massive positron sniper rifle requiring all of the energy in Japan. The pilots prepare for the last-minute operation with some hesitation from Shinji. Unit 01 and the angel exnchage fire, resulting in a miss for the first shot. Rei uses a special shield to protect Shinji as he recharges the gun, but her Eva is damaged. Shinji destroys the angel and runs to help Rei. Both of the cildren are ok.

Episode 07: "人の造りしもの - Hito no Tsukurishimono (The Human Creation)"

English Title

"A Human Work"

Original Air Date

November 15, 1995

The morning begins uneventfully. Gendo meets with a mysterious man. They discuss the budget for building additional Eva's. Ritsuko explains that the natural disaster known as the second impact was actually a self-desctruction mechanism of the 1st angel before heading to a technology conference where they discuss different ways to build the Evas. A robot not built by NERV and run by nuclear energy short circuits and endangers thousands of lives. Misato volunteers to enter to core and manually disengage the robot. Shinji uses his Eva to get her on and stop the monster. Misato manages to force the cooling system into place, but realizes all of the problems were a set-up. Ristuko tells Gendo the operation was a success.

Notes

• Like many other aspects of the translation, the English episode titles were chosen by Gainax, and so do not always have the same meaning as the Japanese title.