Today, June 6th, is the birthday of Shinji Ikari from Neon Genesis Evangelion. Shinji Ikari is the Third Child and the designated pilot of Evangelion Unit-01. He is the son of NERV Commander Gendo Ikari and Project E lead scientist Yui Ikari. Like Rei Ayanami, the First Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-00, Shinji is a rather reclusive and socially withdrawn child. Although he has since suppressed his memory of the event, when he was but a toddler he witnessed the death of his own mother during an experiment involving Evangelion Unit-01. Shortly after, he was abandoned by his father. This has forced Shinji to be self-reliant, but has also left him socially inept and isolated from others of his age group. While Asuka Langley Sohryu, the Second Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-02, hides her unresolved emotional problems behind an aggressive and arrogant demeanor, Shinji instead uses escape as his shield, often running away from difficult situations. Though both are plagued by essentially the same emotional disorder, they have very contrasting ways of dealing with it. At the age of fourteen Shinji is summoned to NERV by his estranged father Gendo, and told to pilot Evangelion Unit-01. After initially refusing, he agrees when faced with an injured Rei Ayanami who was to replace him as the pilot. While Shinji reluctantly becomes the designated pilot of Evangelion Unit-01, his relationship with his father remains turbulent and at times downright hostile for much of the series. During Complementation, Shinji appears before Misato, telling her that he must connect with other people to find out who he is, and asks Misato what it is that she wants. The Case of Misato Katsuragi begins, and, amidst other images, Shinji is shown apparently observing a memory of Misato's week alone with Kaji, which seems to disgust Shinji. When Misato's case ends, Shinji appears before Asuka and asks her what she wants as The Case of Asuka Langley Soryu begins. Following these cases, Shinji appears in an empty auditorium, confronted by visions of people he knew in Tokyo-3 – including a vision of himself – who explain that the empty place he now finds himself is part of the Human Instrumentality Project, and the "reality" he finds himself in is the result of what Shinji himself wanted. The Case of Shinji Ikari begins. Shinji is confronted about his own insecurities, and told that humans must complement each other in instrumentality. Shinji and Asuka are both questioned by Rei about their reasons for living, for piloting their Evas, and for running away. Shinji is told that he can run away, but he states that he no longer wants to. Shinji is confronted at length with this self-hatred, anxieties, and his dependence on piloting Eva-01 for others' acceptance. As instrumentality continues, both Shinji and Asuka are questioned further on their insecurities and desires. Eventually, Shinji asks what he himself is, and the dreamscape shifts to a further abstract form, where Shinji examines the nature of his own existence. Shinji is shown floating in an abstract emptiness, which can alter at will, and where he can even change his own form to whatever he imagines. Shinji's form morphs in fantastic ways, but Shinji realizes that he will eventually lose all image of himself, because he is alone in this world, and always will be. Upon this realization, Shinji awakens within a vision of an alternate reality. In this alternate reality, Shinji appears to have a normal, well adjusted life, in more idyllic version of Tokyo-3. His lives with his parents Gendo and Yui, who is alive, and is friends with Asuka. The two attend school in Class 2A as before with Kensuke, Toji, and Hikari, but now Misato is teaching the class. A livelier, more animated Rei is also present as a transfer student into the class, and immediately enters an appropriately animated argument with Asuka over the topic of Shinji. As the vision of this alternate reality fades, Shinji realizes that such a life is a possibility for him. Shinji returns to the empty auditorium. He is again confronted by visions of the people he knows, who urge him to change his negative perceptions of reality, of others' opinions of him, and of himself. Shinji lists his faults, and replies still hates himself; but Shinji also states that he may be able to learn to love himself. At this, the auditorium begins to crack. And as Shinji states that he is himself, and stands up to proclaim that it is all right for him to be here, the misty auditorium is blown away to be replaced by a bright blue landscape. Shinji is surrounded by applauding friends and family, who one by one proceed to congratulate him. Shinji smiles happily, and thanks them.