The main character of the story. Designated operator of EVA-01. His mother died when he was very little. He and his father Gendou have lived apart for at least a decade.
A sudden message from Gendou brings Shinji to Tokyo-3, and on that very day, an Angel attacks the city. As a chosen Evangelion Operator, he fights on, though thoroughly agonized. He is referred to as "Third Children" (a term meaning "the third qualifier").
In personality, he is a quiet, overachiever type. After he lives with his guardian, Katsuragi Misato, his mind was changing. His confidence is started to build up and he becomes more positive.

Ayanami Rei
aged 14

Designated Operator of EVA-00. Has been undergoing special training since Evangelion development began. Suffered serious injuries when an accident occurred during testing. Referred to as "First Children" ("the first qualifier"). A girl of very few words. Has considerable difficulty expressing emotion.

Souryu Asuka Langley
aged 14

Designated Pilot of EVA-02. Like Rei, she too has undergone special training. She is 1/4 Japanese and 3/4 German, born and raised in the U.S. Hates to lose at anything. Referred to as "Second Children" ("the second qualifier). She is very confident and proud of her skill as Eva pilot. She always wants to be the best in the group, so, when Shinji's equaliblium rate is higher than her, she is very unhappy and she starts to lose her confidence.

Katsuragi Misato
aged 29

"NERV" Operations Chief. Evangelion Pilot Shinji's immediate superior. In the course of events, she becomes a guardian/caretaker figure to Shinji. An attractive woman with a cheerful, optimistic personality. Her father were dead in the Second Impact, because he was the member of UN research team.

Akagi Ritsuko
aged 30

Head of the Evangelion Development Project. Has known Misato since they were in school together. A cool, intellectual beauty. Her mother was incharge of the MAGI supercomputer construction, it is make by 3 human's brain: MELCHIOR, BALTHASAR and CASPER (Ritsuko's mother). After she dead (suicide) the MAGI complete, and she become one of the member of MAGI (CASPER) in NERV.

Ikari Gendou
aged 48

Supreme Commander of the special agency, NERV. Simultaneously, Chief Director of the Evangelion Development Project. Father of Shinji. A man about whom there is a great deal of mystery. He know all of the secret of Evangelion, and in charge of "Human Completion Project". Which involves extracting DNA of embryotic remains of ADAM.

Suzuhara Touji
aged 14

Suzuhara Touji is one of the classmates and friends of Shinji. His little sister was hurt in the attack of the 3rd angel. He blames this on the Eva pilot. So, when he knows Shinji is Eva pilot, he is very angry and he punches him. Finally, the misunderstanding between them disappears and they becomes good friends. In episode 27, he is chosen to be the "Forth Children" and becomes the pilot of EVA-03.

Nagisa Kaworu
aged 14

Nagisa Kaworu is a mysteric person. He can set the equaliblium rate by his own mind. The SEELE says he is the "Fifth Children" and sends him to Nerv. Unfortunately he become 17th angel at last. He is a nice guy and he becomes Shinji's friend when Shinji knows him.