Although I only first became aware of the Shinji Complex, when I was watching Evangelion (hence, "Shinji"), I've become increasingly aware of the prevalence of anime males to have the dreaded Shinji Complex. Is this a sign of the secret desires of otaku males? Do they really think this is an ideal to be achieved? What brings this on? In an almost perverse way, it is as if they are hoping by having the Shinji Complex so prevalent in anime males that it might brainwash any female fans into thinking that this is an ideal for men to achieve!
So, just what is the Shinji Complex? Neon Genesis Evangelion is basically a story of mankind. It is set in the future, and monsters, known as "Angels" have already devastated the world. The only defense against these creatures is the Evangelion units - piloted by a select group of children. The story starts out with a boy, Shinji, and while excited to join NERV (the organization that developed the Eva units), he is reluctant to see his father again. Once there, he finds out that the only reason he was sent for, is that he is one of the special children that can be in sync with the Eva units and pilot it successfully. It is obvious that by the end of the first episode, he seriously does not want to be there, and he is only guilted into piloting his Eva in the first place, because another child, Rei, is badly hurt (she is carried onto the show in a stretcher), yet is willing to fight, because she is the only hope to save the city. Reluctantly (and rather whiningly), he gets into the unit and he wins the battle.
It doesn't seem so bad, does it? Against his will, he is maneuvered into piloting the Eva, but he won. That shows that he has the potential to grow, right? Unfortunately, this is why the complex is named after him. He remains incapable of growing out of his apathy into a dynamic character, that if not having the ability to shape his own destiny, but at least living it on his own terms. Shinji slumps through every ordeal that is presented to him, and blames the choices thrusted upon him on his father and everyone else, yet never looking within himself to realize that he has made his choice. He chose to become a pawn and leave his potential for action untouched.
And this is the crux of the situation. The Shinji Complex, is not about the situations which these males are thrusted into, but of how they rise to the situation and deal with the chaos that surrounds them.
Rei, one of Shinji's teammates, although quiet to the point of being mute, accepts her position as a pawn in the grand plans of NERV. Through her actions and her words, she shows that it is her choice to accept her fate, and she never whines nor cries about it. She does her duty to the best of her abilities and proves herself stronger then her lithe form suggests. Another of Shinji's teammates, Asuka, is a feisty, stuck-up German girl. She too has been thrusted into NERV's plans, but rather then whine about it, she rails against fate when it doesn't go her way, and she willing takes on the world to fight what she wants. Both of these characters have a strength - each in their own way, that it not found in Shinji.
Although Shinji is obviously the main character, and his ability to synch with his Eva unit, allows him to win battles that otherwise would have been lost, it can be argued that his wins with his Eva unit is largely due to the unit's innate abilities. The units are sensient and it can be seen that only when he is in the Evas does anything ever get done. Shinji's spinelessness and refusal to take responsibility for his actions nor for his own life is madding, espeically in light of everyone that surrounds him and tries to be a catalyst for him to grow.
Sadly, this phenomenon appears quite frequently in anime. Tenchi Muyo, has the near irritating inability to make any choices. His blind acceptance of everything, and his refusal to do anything about his situation, just emphasizes how strongly he has the Shinji Complex. Some argue that his spinelessness is merely a form of comic relief, and while that may be for Tenchi (although doubtful, as the creators do try to add a touch of depth to the series half way through), it certainly is not true for either "Hana Yuri Dango" nor even "Nadesco".
Such spinelessness and lack of will is annoying to say the least and makes the character flat. A few bursts of energy where the character is pushed far enough to react is not enough. There has to be something more. If not, then it can not be said that anime is a higher form of art, for how can there be any depth to the story, if the characters are nothing more then a caricature of an otaku?