Mass Production Evangelion

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Mass Production Evangelions (エヴァンゲリオン量産機, Evangerion Ryōsanki^?) are the final Evangelion units to be produced, appearing in the The End of Evangelion film. They were manufactured in secrecy under SEELE's mandate at seven different NERV facilities around the world, including ones in Germany and China.

Profile[]

The Mass Production Evangelions are mainly simplified Evangelion designs, with its armor bearing mostly white color with black details in the arms. While similar in shape to the other Evangelion units, especially Evangelion Unit-02, there are a few key differences between them. First, the MPE's do not possess any sort of shoulder pylon, just like Evangelion Unit-00 before its fitting. Looking at the shoulders, a couple other minor differences can be seen. Looking down, there has been extra venting added around the armpit, and looking to the side of the shoulder, the black pentagon is shorter and sharper than the other units. Another major difference is with the back where the charging port has been entirely removed and the entry hatch has been shortened in order to make room for the large circular plates where the wings are stored.

In total, there are 9 Mass Production Evangelions, all completely identical to each other.

Features[]

The Mass Production Evangelions have all been furnished with S² Engines, eliminating the need for umbilical cable or internal batteries. However, unlike Angels, they do not utilize their organs for regenerative purposes (even though they theoretically could).

They also possess large, fully retractable, mechanical wings (with an extended "tail" piece), attached to their shoulders. Considering the Evas' size and weight, traditional powered flight (as observed in birds and bats) would normally be impossible, so the wings would feasibly be used in concert with A.T. Field-based levitation. The Evangelions are observed levitating in a manner similar to flight-capable Angels (such as Ramiel and Zeruel) later on, with their wings spread but serving no apparent function.

Rather than being controlled by living pilots, they synchronize with dummy systems generated from Kaworu Nagisa's thought patterns. This presumably allows for a greater degree of control over the Evangelions than with a living pilot, who would be susceptible to sympathetic pain and emotions such as panic, fear, or rage which would impair the Evangelion's combat ability. The Mass Production Evangelions, like all other Evangelions, truly die only if their cores are destroyed. Unit-02 did not succeed in destroying the cores of any of the attacking Units in its final battle, which resulted in their revival and Unit-02's subsequent demise.

They carry no armament except for replicas of the Spear of Longinus, colored blue-gray and initially disguised as giant, gray Heavy Spears ("ooken"), which resemble large club-like weapons. The Heavy Spears twist and contort to turn into the replicas when required.

History[]

The End of Evangelion[]

Nine Mass Production Evangelions were created out of an originally planned twelve Evangelions (through Unit-16). However, SEELE had to advance the construction schedule for them, as they wanted to initiate Third Impact as soon as the final Angel was destroyed, and, as a result, three units were never completed. The nine are deployed as part of SEELE's assault on NERV Headquarters, but their primary function is to carry out SEELE's version of Third Impact, which ends up utilizing Evangelion Unit-01.

Within the series itself, these Evangelions are referred to almost exclusively as the EVA Series (エヴァシリーズ^?). This is slightly confusing, since the "Eva Series" technically encompasses every Evangelion ever made.

The nine completed Mass Production Model Evangelions are deployed in Episode 25' to neutralize Evangelion Unit-02. In Episode 26', they play a role in the initiation of Third Impact and the Human Instrumentality Project.

Specific EVA Units[]

• Evangelion Unit-05 - Pushed through a wall by Unit-02, resulting in damage to its neck, then thrown through the air into Unit-13; after which it was completely impaled by Unit-02's arm as it punched a hole clear through its torso.
• Evangelion Unit-06 - Dueled Unit-02 using Heavy Spears, until Unit-02 was able to land a direct hit between its left shoulder and neck, cleaving downwards to the center of Unit-06's torso.
• Evangelion Unit-07 - Right arm cut off by Unit-02's Progressive Knife, after a short struggle Unit-07 had its head snapped backwards. Unit-07's head can be seen dangling over the top of its spine, resting just below the remains of its neck.
• Evangelion Unit-08 - Left leg cut off at the knee by Unit-02 using a Heavy Spear, causing it to lose balance and fall on its back.
• Evangelion Unit-09 - Attacked by Asuka with a flying-jump "skullbuster" move which tore off its upper jaw and smashed its brain pan to pulp, after which Asuka held it over Unit-02 and broke it in two, spilling its blood all over Unit-02.
• Evangelion Unit-10 - Tackles Unit-02, prompting Asuka to fire two volleys of missile-spikes through its head, using the spike-launcher in Unit-02's right shoulder pylon. The metal spikes remain impaled through Unit-10's devastated head throughout all of its subsequent appearances.
• Evangelion Unit-11 - Pushed into the lake with Unit-02, then stabbed through the top of its head with Unit-02's Progressive Knife; the blade snapped off, impaled in its upper jaw and projecting into its mouth.
• Evangelion Unit-12 - Completely cut in half by Unit-02 using a Heavy Spear, through the waist, its upper half sent spiraling through the air.
• Evangelion Unit-13 - Unit-02 threw Unit-05 into it, then as Unit-02's fist came out the other side of Unit-05 as it impaled it, Unit-02's fist punched into Unit-13's chest. Unit-02 squeezed its fist inside of Unit-13 as it writhed in pain.

In Other Media[]

Neon Genesis Evangelion manga[]

In the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, these units appear just like in the anime and also have the same role. However, their design is slightly altered as they have the forearms blades the other Evangelions have. As in the anime, they are deployed to fight Unit-02, and are defeated, but re-activate. However, before they can dismember Unit-02, Unit-01 rises from the Geofront to take them on, deactivating them a second time. As Unit-01 failed to damage any of these units' cores, they once again reactivate, this time to begin Third Impact with Unit-01. As Shinji rejects the Third Impact, the lances piercing the modified Evangelion explodes and the Evangelions descend from the sky.^[1] In the following chapter, it is shown that some are petrified in various manners, with Rei's multiple faces or headless as they descend from the sky into the ground. ^[2] In the last chapter, Shinji travels to Tokyo in order to study there and he sees the remains of the Evangelion series in his way there. A mother and a child that were riding the train with him explains that the ruins are being studied by scholars but no one knows who puts those there or the reason for it. ^[3]

Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA[]

In the Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA series, the invasion plan of NERV by SEELE was leaked by Kaji and therefore NERV hurried to repair and enhance their Evangelions The nine Mass Production Evangelions deployed were all destroyed by the common efforts of Evangelion Unit-01 Type F, Evangelion Unit-00 Type F. The advanced technologies retrieved from these Evangelions were later used to upgrade the Unit-01 and build the three EVA0.0 Units. A successor to the Mass Production Evangelions, the Angel Carrier Type-1 and Angel Carrier Type-2 eventually shows up later, attacking NERV Japan.

During the mission to investigate the Longinus Curtain, one of the external S² used by Evangelion Unit-0.0 that was built using the remains of the Mass Production Evangelion's spine managed to regenerate and attack Rei Cinq in her Evangelion. It first regenerated its head that attempt to bite her Entry plug, then regenerated its arms, which managed to break her Evangelion' neck. She decided to use her gamma-ray laser cannon to fire against Asuka to push her inside the Longinus Curtain. She manages to do it, but exploded with the Mass Produced Evangelion in a cross shaped light, destroying both.

the Iron Maiden 2nd[]

In Neon Genesis Evangelion: the Iron Maiden 2nd game, Kaworu Nagisa pilots a Mass Production Evangelion in battle alongside the other units.

Continuity Errors[]

Several continuity errors in the animation of the Mass Production Evas in The End of Evangelion has led to some confusion: in several cuts, the Mass Produced Evangelions appear to have restored their severed limbs and regenerated their injuries. However, later cuts after these clearly show that they retain the damage sustained at the hands of Unit-02 through the end of the film.

Development[]

In the Sore o Nasumono: Neon Genesis Evangelion Concept Design Works book, Yamashita shows his proposed design to the Mass Production Evangelion for the The End of Evangelion film, dated from 1996. This design would be rejected and the design by Takeshi Honda would eventually be the one used in the film. ^[4]

This design would later be made canon in the novel Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA, which gets a illustration by guest illustrator Ryota Magaki. It is stated that this design is in a different stage of development compared to the one used in the film. The sensory organs are fully developed. It has graviton armatures mounted in the back, which allow for extended use. Its high output allows it to use a tin staff as a weapon.^[5]

The staff weapon has a similar to the ones used by Angel Carriers.

References[]