Evangelion Movie Changes Asuka’s Name

shikinami-asuka-langley.jpg

The new Evangelion movie, Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance, has driven fans into a frenzy of speculation with the surprise announcement that Asuka’s name is apparently to change.

The change is revealed by way of some official advertising, in which the cast is listed; fans looking over the names immediately (or possibly after obsessive scrutiny) spotted a mysterious 式波・アスカ・ラングレー / Shikinami Asuka Langley, presumably the same character as the previous 惣流・アスカ・ラングレー / Sohryu Asuka Langley.

shikinami-asuka-langley-announced.jpg

Along with the plethora of new terms introduced in the advertising, and with the prior announcement of “Mari”, a brand new character, it seems that the movie may break from the previous iterations of the series in a big way.

The good source.

Fans are wondering just what all this is about? Could it indeed be looking to “explore new ground”?



    Post Comment »
    101 Comments
    Comment by Kip
    00:46 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Outrage!
    Well... It's not so bad.

    As long as I can keep referring to the character at least as "Asuka", I could almost care less about family names.

    Comment by DHYohko
    00:49 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i agree, though as to why they would change her name is beyond me

    Comment by Daisuke
    05:51 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    yeah!! that's true!! as long as they keep asuka!! but it is a litle sad when you think a anime with so many years and now they change her name....

    Comment by gordon
    11:51 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    actually i kinda do mind the name change. just doesn't feel 100%. :(

    Comment by Riiku
    00:46 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    A long lost sister maybe?

    Comment by Anonymous
    00:51 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The stuffed monkey from hell?

    Changing her name is like declaring Pluto no longer as part of the solar system. Shit this ruins my coffee.

    Comment by linkinstreet
    01:26 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Her name came from a battle ship, changing it would make it weird

    Asuka's Japanese surname comes from the Japanese WWII aircraft carrier Soryu. Her German surname comes from the American aircraft carrier Langley, also from WWII

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:56 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Don't wanna be picky, but what exactly makes the name Langley German, when it's taken from an american carrier? ^^

    The only "German" part about Asuka's name is her first name sounding distantly like "Oskar", which "can" be referred as a common german name. ^^

    Comment by Logeres
    02:17 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Except that it's obviously a male name...

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:14 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Shikinami_(1929)

    :)

    Comment by Spoony Bard
    04:38 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Pwned.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:13 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (+0.2)

    @Anonymous: 2009-03-14 01:56:13

    If memory serves me, Asuka's father is actually American, he just lived in Germany. Probably due to Asuka's mother having been stationed at the German branch of Gehirn. Later he marries an German woman, who's the stepmother that Asuka can't get along with.

    So with her mother being Japanese and her father a Yank. That makes Asuka's names fully appropriate, considering there really isn't a German angle there to begin with. She was just born and raised there, that's it.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:23 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    @Anonymous: 2009-03-14 01:56:13

    Oops. Ignore the above.
    Misread you. Me bad

    Did notice that in that Shikinami article, that one of the sister ships of that vessel was called: Ayanami.

    Comment by Artefact

    The characters are different - I tried searching before (in Japanese) and all I came up with were some obscure technical terms... Not sure if these are also relevant or if the ship connection is all.

    Comment by Anonymous
    11:52 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    綾波 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Ayanami_(1929)
    綾波 : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rei_Ayanami

    Looks the same to me, then again, lot of this stuff looks highly similar to me anyway, so I'm probably one of the last people one should ask if it's similar or not.

    Comment by Artefact
    21:20 14/03/2009 # ! Diabolical

    My apologies, I was referring to Shikinami.

    Comment by linkinstreet
    22:14 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    @anon: She was listed as an American citizen, altho she grew up in Germany. Thus her German vocabulary.

    Comment by Anonymous
    00:50 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Asuka Langley SHIKINAMI?! Doesn't sound right at all. Seriously, is there another way to write Sohryu? But now at least it's a name for a WWII warship.

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:30 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    There are other ways to write Sohryu -- in fact, Asuka's WWII aircraft carrier namesake is actually written 蒼龍 (blue/green dragon) rather than 惣流 (all + flow of current or method) which is how Asuka's surname is written.

    None of those ways of rewriting Sohryu can turn into 式波/Shikinami, though. The only readings for the first kanji in Shikinami are "shiki" (on-yomi/Chinese reading) or "nori" (nanori/name reading).

    But I'm no expert.

    Comment by Artefact
    02:12 14/03/2009 # ! Transparent

    If anyone has alternative readings feel free to suggest - I couldn't find a reference for this reading.

    Comment by DmonHiro
    00:50 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Big deal.

    Comment by Anonymous
    00:57 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'm not raging so much as I am scratching my head. What, after a few hours of brainstorming together, did the writers just decide to change her name for shits and giggles? What could possibly be the point for that.

    Comment by DmonHiro
    01:02 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's Gainax....of course they did. They are the troll masters. And the milking kings.

    Comment by Xavi
    01:02 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Indeed, why? I can't imagine a reason to change it, seems pointless for now.

    Comment by Karmappi
    02:08 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Viral marketing, duh.

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:45 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    It's another mindfuck. These films are a sequel to End of Evangelion.

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:01 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Maybe she gets adopted by someone?

    Comment by FallsFromGrace
    05:36 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Or gets married

    Comment by Geerie
    07:47 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    if that were true itd be my last name not shikinami

    Comment by zZzuuUiii
    10:50 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    dream on...har har... XD

    Comment by Otaku Dan
    01:28 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    this is madness!!!

    how dare them change her name

    Comment by Zelretch
    01:30 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ayanami has the same secondary letter 'nami' , maybe there's a deeper connection between Rei and Asuka in the new movie?

    Comment by linkinstreet
    01:41 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    No. She is still Shinji's mom.

    Comment by Chen
    03:26 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Not in the new movies, perhaps? Besides... what makes Rei to the mother of shinji? His mother is dead and Rei just has her genes.

    Nevertheless, the new movies will be superspecialhyperaweseome.

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:41 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    who's the artist for that pic?

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:47 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    important sauce is delicious

    Comment by Veknus
    01:47 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    who knows but its freaken awesome

    Comment by LegionOfValsu
    03:00 15/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Indeed that is one amazing picture.

    Comment by paul
    01:48 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    alter ego?

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:50 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Evangelion : The Franchise Milking version? :D

    mmm Asuka Milk....

    Comment by Anonymous
    02:46 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Fuck yeah, I'd like me some Asuka milk right now...

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:12 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    fucking seconded

    Comment by Geerie
    07:48 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    fuck i third that

    Comment by Shuu
    08:07 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Let's go gang-milk her!

    Comment by zZzuuUiii
    10:51 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    milku raep? XD

    lemme join...

    Comment by KajunBowser
    11:21 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    fukking thirded :D

    Comment by Karmappi
    02:07 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Hm, this is going to wreak havoc on #34..

    Comment by Carrie
    02:10 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Leave it to Gainax to retcon a decade-old work. :|

    Seriously though: As a fan, I'm not sure what to think of this. It's definitely very strange.

    AAANNNNNO, YOU GOT SUM SPLAININ TO DOOO.

    Comment by jj
    09:50 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    True dat.

    Comment by Palmtop Tiger
    02:42 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Oro? 0_o

    At least its something trivial.

    Comment by HELL
    02:59 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ctrl+F : Typo, error, mistake
    Not found any of the words.

    So nobody has thought that this could be a typo? The retard that was writing the advert put different Kanjis for her family name.

    I'm not saying that's the way it is, but unless it comes from an oficial statement from Gainax, there is no way that Gainax decided to change her name after 14-15 years.

    There is no reason to do that, unless there is a big new plot regarding Kyoko, Asuka' mother.

    Comment by Carrie
    03:19 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'd certainly thought (or at least, I hope) it was a typo, but I didn't bother mentioning it. That does sound like the best bet, though.

    Comment by Jarmel
    05:45 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Yea I thought so initially too. However would this had been a simple mistake and wouldn't somebody had caught this. Also if it was a typo, it seems Gainax would have released a statement stating so.

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:27 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Still better as long as there is 'Asuka' in her name. Al least not gonna change to Sohryu 'Shierly' Langley. :)

    Comment by Anonymous
    03:32 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Mmmmh, Strike Bitches Season Two incoming. ^^

    Comment by Chen
    03:29 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Quick Question:

    If I were to rewatch Evangelion soon (again), would you recommend the original or the remastered version?

    Comment by DmonHiro
    04:24 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    That's a dumb question. Of COURSE remastered. Duh!!!

    Comment by Chen
    05:25 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I admit, I didn't make the point of the question clear. My bad.

    I watched the remastered version already, so the real question was, if I should watch this version again, or if I should try the original (again) instead. My memory of the original is kinda fuzzy, so I ask if it is still worthwhile or completely inferior to the remastered version. (And what about the new scenes anyway?)

    Comment by Andrew
    05:51 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Content/plot/script-wise, there is no difference between the remastered and the original versions. The only difference is that some of the sound effects (and if I remember correctly, some background music, too) are different, and the video looks better (not redrawn, just sharper).

    I will submit that the original has more of a classic feel, and there are some sound effect changes that make you think, "Why did they change that? I liked the original better." My favorite example is when Shinji and Asuka are engaging in audio-sync training on the "DDR" pads.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:31 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The remastered version is fantastic.

    Comment by Anonymous
    04:37 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    THIS IS BLASPHEMY!

    Comment by Anonymous
    05:03 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    THIS IS MADNESS

    Comment by Chen
    05:40 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    No, I won't say Sparta.

    THIS IS MUSHROOM KINGDOM

    http://www.vgcats.com/comics/images/070415.jpg

    Comment by Geerie
    07:50 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    ill say it douche

    THIS IS SPARTA!!!!

    Comment by Andrew
    06:01 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    No it isn't; Hideaki Anno is in charge.

    Besides, we already have two complete endings that are canon. Now we will have a third once the movie series completes.

    Comment by Anonymous
    06:08 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >Hideaki Anno is in charge

    So, it's definitely madness, then.

    Comment by Andrew
    06:35 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I meant not blasphemy. <_<

    Comment by Chen
    07:00 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    >No it isn’t; Hideaki Anno is in charge.

    Yeah,... and mushroom kingdom is a place full of things you only see in a drug induced coma, so it fits well.

    @Andrew: There are some guys out there, who see the last episodes of the series and the movie end of evangelion as the same thing, just from another perspective. (25+26 = Shinji's mind; End of Evangelion = normal world)

    and NOW we get an alternate storyline. I'm happy and everyone else ought to be happy too

    Comment by Chen
    07:07 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    As I read, what I posted, I feel the urge to comment it myself.

    I did not want to imply, that Hideaki Anno wrote Evangelion in a drug induced coma! I meant, that the end of the TV-series fucked everybodys mind, like doing drugs.

    And after reading Andrew's post again, I think I misunderstood something. Yeah,.. there are two endings already. But not necessarily two different endings.

    /btw, I can't figure out what 'are canon' means. Could someone enlighten me?

    Comment by Shuu
    08:06 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I can't give you a linguistic explanation why it's called canon, but the canon of a franchise is, you could say the set of every officially approved material (series, movies, books, magazine articles...) stating details of the universe or developing the story in one way or another. In short, when you say something is canon, it means that the creator(s) have given it their blessing as an official part of the franchise's universe.

    Comment by Andrew
    09:42 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Series ending vs. EoE ending:

    Ultimately, they have two opposite theses. Shinji made a different choice; in one, he accepted the false world, and in the second, he rejected it.

    "I can be any way I wish to be."
    vs.
    "This is the world you wished for."
    "But this isn't right. This feels wrong."

    Comment by Anonymous
    12:42 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Well to be more complete, in EoE Shinji gave everyone the *choice* of instrumentality OR separate ego.

    It was kind of *implied* that more would follow after Shinji & Asuka....but the majority of humanity would probably stay merged. (It's interesting that the mass-produced Evas have their own SEPARATE ring-sea around Earth. This implies that the're equal to us but too different to ever be truly one with us. They STILL protect us though, as symbolized by the ring. )

    In truth (& by "truth" I mean Anno's interviews) the TV ending was really a low-budget compromise by Anno. His funding was cut so there was no way he could do the EoE-like ending he wanted in the series.

    He figured the best he could do and STILL stay somewhat true to the THEME of the show was to go the *symbolic* route with the avante garde theater schtick....

    Comment by linkinstreet
    09:05 15/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    yeah, and it's backed by the remastered version, whereat the end of the original ep 24, the preview showed Asuka fighting the Eva series, before it was changed for the TV aired version aka the mindfucked ver.
    And even in ep 25/26, you can see some scenes that alludes to that EoE is happening at the same time, like a scene of a slumping Misato, who was shot dead saving Shinji

    Comment by ah
    06:06 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I work with the series and I've been checking people coments on the internet about the name change. i searched in google this was one of the first websites that came out.. ill be a little spoiler... yes indeed the series is going on a different direction... bai bai

    Comment by Artefact
    06:23 14/03/2009 # ! Impenetrable

    Thank you for this terribly informative disclosure.

    Comment by Andrew
    06:40 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    But you know, the ending to the original series was a realization of an alternative reality.

    It is fitting for a series like Evangelion to be switching things around.

    Comment by Anonymous
    12:55 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    There was that one scene in EoE where he was given a glimpse into some weird sitcom-like version of his life.

    Maybe at that moment Shinji simultaneously connected to all the parallel universes ( with the ability to jump into one) but ultimately chose the history he had already lived through.

    Well, whatever the case it definitely gives an excuse for alternate Eva timelines.

    Comment by Chen
    19:53 15/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Wasn't that sitcom like situation in ep 25 of the original series? (btw, I wouldn't mind seeing more of this happy world, as long as shinji gets rei in the end xD)

    And given the recently popularity of alternate universes (bokurano, noein etc.), I wouldn't be surprised either.

    Comment by Mechwarrior
    07:26 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is an alternate universe version.

    So, Shikinami is the alternate reality name of this version of Asuka. That makes sense since Shinji is not a fruitcake in this version. What does that mean for the story?

    Shinji ends up with a mental threesome with Asuka and Rei, and their psychic orgasm saves the world.

    Or whateva....

    Comment by Chen
    23:10 15/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    In his mind he had already rei, asuka AND misato. It was in ep 25/26.

    Comment by Sakuragi
    09:02 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    and I read it as shinigami...

    urk,,it made me remembers the shi(t)nigami thing in MS IGLOO 2...

    Comment by Iamnottooold
    09:28 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I cannot see anything good coming from this.

    Comment by Chen
    20:03 15/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Maybe you need glasses?

    Comment by deady
    09:40 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    jeez....cant they just stick with the original name D :

    Comment by Wolfheinrich
    10:10 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I consider myself a pretty hardcore Asuka fan, I don't know what to say about this apparent name change yet as so few information is available.

    Comment by Krisantes
    10:41 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Ouch!!!

    If is other lecture of this name... maybe pass. Hang it there Asuka!!!

    Comment by TerrawindX2
    13:19 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    The Director wants to keep the original Evangaleon as canon by creating subsequent versions that were made to cator to the fans as "alternate universes".

    So technically its not a reboot as some might say.

    Comment by Tenno Seremel
    17:24 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I've read it as Shikigami Asuka Langley (~_~)

    Comment by Anonymous
    23:22 14/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Who gives a flying fuck?

    Comment by metatron
    01:52 15/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    at first i rage'd but then i said "that was nice"

    Comment by jonaht
    11:17 16/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Why change the name??
    Give us a reason GAINAX~
    >.<

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:45 18/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Shikinami_(1929)

    Comment by Anonymous
    12:45 19/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Perhaps she is clone like Rei?

    Comment by Anonymous
    12:30 20/03/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    This is bulls###. I won't even watch the new movies now. Changing her name is tampering with the legacy of the greatest show ever. I'll always know her as Asuka Langley Sohryu, no matter what.

    Comment by fakyol
    12:39 03/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    evangelion? the greatest story ever? fuck off. yawn and boring.

    Comment by Anonymous
    01:36 09/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I'm not a fan of Asuka (although I find her character appealing) but I think "Sohryu" sounds really better than a new Japanese family name. Asuka Langley Sohryu... it's one of the most interesting name I've heard in anime.

    Comment by deleted
    05:32 29/04/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i'm sure anno has his reasons... even if he doesnt explain them to us.
    wtf?

    Comment by hayatakun..
    01:57 19/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    why change the name...i still dont understand???

    Comment by Anonymous
    09:05 21/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    I personally don't care too much (though I liked Sohryu better), but what I don't understand is why they had to change it. I know there's he destroyer, but then why not just change everyone's names to different ships? Why just Asuka?

    eh w/e.

    Comment by lol lmfbo
    05:24 22/05/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    i just wanna know why? seems so stupid this late in the series...26episodes and 3movies! wuts the point!

    Comment by Anonymouse
    07:02 21/06/2009 # ! Neutral (0)

    Most pointless change ever.

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