Origins of Mari

It’s around the year 2000. Japan. It’s unknown if this happens before or after the Second Impact.
Young student, around 18, named Mari/Maria is working at Nerv research facility under Professor Fuyutsuki. She’s an acquaintance of Ikari Gendo. Later, she introduced him to another student. Yui Ayanami.

We know that Mari from the rebuilds, being a clone or not, met Yui in the past, when she speaks to Rei-lookalike.

By that point, Second Impact already happened.

Yui and Gendo get close and marry. Shinji Ikari is born. Mari witnessed his birth.


Origins of Shikinami
Around the same time (exact date is unknown), in Euro Nerv 3rd branch in Germany, a woman scientist whose exact name we don’t know, is a donor for the new (possibly first ever) line of clones. I will call this woman Langley.

Shikinami Series clones’ first batch is created. It somewhere around 250 clones.


It’s stated by Asuka, that every clone series is artificially conditioned to be a specific type of person. Most likely that Shikinami series programmed to be aggressive, highly competitive and independent to be a better pilot/warrior. Shikinami series start their trials.

It’s somewhere around 2003-2004.

As Asuka in her memory trip stated, it is possible that she met her Original at some point. Saying that “I never knew my father. Mama, isn’t around”. It must have happened around this time period.


At some point in time, Mari/Maria learns about the Human Instrumentality project about Yui’s, Nerv and Seele’s plans. She rejects these ideas and tries to do something about it. Her betrayal is revealed by Nerv, and she has been named by Fuyutsuki Maria Iscariot. Or it’s her actual name.

What happened after that we don’t know, so I can only speculate. Two options:

1. Her memories somehow transferred to her clone some time later, and her Original was killed by SEELE.

2. She manages to get away. But because she already experimented with LCL while working for NERV, she has the Curse of EVA, and she does not age.

Asuka Shikinami's Original
Nerv needs a replacement for Mari in Japan, who will be loyal to them and their ideas, and will not betray them. Yui, Gendo and Shinji go to Germany to recruit scientist named Langley.

She agrees, and they get back to Japan. This is where this photo was taken. Asuka will never see her again alive.


Why do I think it’s Langley, and not Mari? Hairstyle. Hear me out.

All clones have almost the same hairstyle as their originals. If you look at the photo, it’s unmistakably Asuka’s hair. This hair has been Asuka’s since 1995. Show it too me without anything else, I will instantly recognize it.

We see Mari back from 2000 and the hair looks exactly like the current Mari’s. Why would she just completely change her appearance several years later? And then change it back? It doesn’t make sense to me.

Also, this is anime. Hairstyle is very distinct feature in anime it’s very rare for a character to change it. We see only Ritsukio and Misato do that. But it’s after 14 years. And Misato just tied it in a bun, and not cut it.

Why I think Asuka’s Original is loyal to Nerv? From the scene where EVA 13 devours Asuka/Angel hybrid, we see her Original’s soul giggling like crazy, and saying pretty mad scientist type shit.

“The last Eva’s form mirrors that of a God. All you need is to accept me along with my love.”

So, it’s obvious that she’s batshit insane and drinks the Nerv LCL-coolaid.

Why do I think it’s Japan? Because of the green tree branches outside. It’s summer. And they are wearing summer clothes. In Rebuilds we never see autumn or winter in Japan.

But in Asuka’s memories it’s always winter in Germany. So, it’s possible, that the 2nd impact had the same effect on global climate as in NGE.


After 2004
After Yui became a part of EVA 01, Langley starts working on EVA 13 and sometime between 2004 and 2014 becomes a part of its interface.

At the same time period, Shikinami Series trials are over, and this series of clones deemed a failure. Or it also could mean that Asuka Shikinami Langley was given up on as individual clone. That's when she decided to make herself stronger, in order to not be eliminated.

It is possible, that clones were fighting each other in simulation, battle royale style, and killing each other to find the strongest candidate.

Only two clones are left.

One of them becomes EVA 02 pilot interface, and another becomes Asuka Shikinami Langley.

I think we can make that conclusion from the scene where Asuka tries to destroy EVA 13’s core, but fails because her own A.T. Field is activated. She can sense her Original, her mother, and she’s afraid of her. Or she still has feelings for her, and doesn't want to kill her.