is a
fictional character from the
Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise created by
Gainax. He was first introduced as the
protagonist from the television
anime series from 1995. Shinji Ikari is a young boy who is requested by his distant father,
Gendo Ikari, to pilot a mecha known as the
Evangelion Unit 01 to protect the city of Tokyo-3 from creatures known as Angels that threaten to destroy mankind. While Shinji is forced to pilot Unit 01, during his time in Tokyo-3 he socializes with comrades and gains friends.