Evangelion Unit-01

Evangelion Unit-01 is the most iconic and unsettling of NERV’s Evangelions, standing at the very heart of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Officially designated as a humanoid weapon to combat the Angels, Unit-01 is in truth a biomechanical being restrained by armor and control systems. Its distinctive purple coloring and horned helmet give it an almost demonic silhouette, reinforcing the sense that it is something barely contained. Piloted primarily by Shinji Ikari, Unit-01 becomes an extension of his fear, rage, and desire for connection. More than a machine, it is a living entity with a will of its own.

Throughout the series, Unit-01 repeatedly defies expectations by going berserk, breaking free from human command and revealing terrifying, godlike power. Its origin—cloned from Lilith rather than Adam—places it at the center of the Human Instrumentality Project and the fate of humanity itself. When unleashed, Unit-01 devours Angels, regenerates without power, and transcends the limits imposed upon it. These moments blur the boundary between salvation and annihilation, protection and apocalypse. Unit-01 embodies Evangelion’s core themes: control versus freedom, dependence versus individuality, and the terror of existence.