Why characters are named after ships?

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Why characters are named after ships?

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Postby Shinji » Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:51 pm

Aoba, Akagi, Ayanami, Fuyutsuki, Hyuga, Ibuki, Katsuragi, Kirishima, Makinami, Maya, Musashi, Soryu, and Shikinami are all names taken from Japanese war vessels. Why is this? I was hoping that Kyoko's name was a reference to Led Zeppelin, why all these naval references?
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Postby The Eva Monkey » Sat Nov 27, 2010 2:08 pm

The better question is any of the characters ever realized this in a creepy Twilight Zone moment.

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Re: Why characters are named after ships?

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Postby esselfortium » Sat Nov 27, 2010 2:12 pm

View Original PostShinji wrote:Aoba, Akagi, Ayanami, Fuyutsuki, Hyuga, Ibuki, Katsuragi, Kirishima, Makinami, Maya, Musashi, Soryu, and Shikinami are all names taken from Japanese war vessels. Why is this? I was hoping that Kyoko's name was a reference to Led Zeppelin, why all these naval references?

Not only that, but "Ikari" means "anchor," to further carry the maritime (er. not Mari-time :rei_meh: ) theme.

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Postby The Eva Monkey » Sat Nov 27, 2010 2:53 pm

View Original Postesselfortium wrote:Not only that, but "Ikari" means "anchor," to further carry the maritime (er. not Mari-time :rei_meh: ) theme.

It also translate to anger/hatred, which I think is also rather relevant.

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Postby TehDonutKing » Sat Nov 27, 2010 5:05 pm

It's an easy way to come up with surnames.
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Re: Why characters are named after ships?

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Postby Xard » Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:36 pm

View Original PostShinji wrote:Aoba, Akagi, Ayanami, Fuyutsuki, Hyuga, Ibuki, Katsuragi, Kirishima, Makinami, Maya, Musashi, Soryu, and Shikinami are all names taken from Japanese war vessels. Why is this? I was hoping that Kyoko's name was a reference to Led Zeppelin, why all these naval references?


Anno is huge battleship otaku. Has been since kid I guess as he mentions in one interview that he loved ships like Yamato even before seeing Space Battleship Yamato (and he saw it when he was 14 years old)

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Postby Sachi » Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:36 pm

Actually, all the character surnames are taken from vessel's of their respective nationality, not just Japanese.

Also: Anno has a passion for naval vessels.
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Postby soul.assassin » Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:54 pm

View Original PostSachi wrote:Actually, all the character surnames are taken from vessel's of their respective nationality, not just Japanese.

Also: Anno has a passion for naval vessels.


Specifically, his preferred IJN warship class are the Takao-class heavy cruisers. To quote Anno:

http://wiki.evageeks.org/Resources:Character_Name_Origins
Both Ibuki and Maya are borrowed from warships of the former Japanese navy because they sounded good. Ibuki is also a commanding officer in Kaette kita Ultraman whom I like, but that's a very minor reason. I chose Maya (摩哉) because I love Takao-class heavy cruisers best after Yamato-class battleships.

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Postby chaosakita » Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:56 pm

The writer wanted a theme for his characters' names? Imagine that! It's never happened before.
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Re: Why characters are named after ships?

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Postby supershinjiasukashipper » Sat Nov 27, 2010 11:25 pm

View Original PostShinji wrote:Aoba, Akagi, Ayanami, Fuyutsuki, Hyuga, Ibuki, Katsuragi, Kirishima, Makinami, Maya, Musashi, Soryu, and Shikinami are all names taken from Japanese war vessels. Why is this? I was hoping that Kyoko's name was a reference to Led Zeppelin, why all these naval references?

Japan is a country surrounded by the sea, it permeates their soul and brings them life, and their fighting spirit is legendary. Why wouldn't they use those references?
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Postby Mr. Tines » Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:26 am

View Original Postsupershinjiasukashipper wrote:Japan is a country surrounded by the sea...


Wm. Shakespeare wrote:This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,—
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.


From which commonality between the two archipelagos at either end of the Eurasian land mass we got the illustrious Mari Makinami.
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Postby supershinjiasukashipper » Sun Nov 28, 2010 1:17 pm

View Original PostMr. Tines wrote:From which commonality between the two archipelagos at either end of the Eurasian land mass we got the illustrious Mari Makinami.

Im just being poetic, I was in that mood last night.
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Postby TheLobe » Tue Nov 30, 2010 4:34 am

Beccause Evangelion is highly referential to WWII, what with second impact being a representation of the Atomic bomb.

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Postby Hyper Shinchan » Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:01 am

I'm still waiting for Anno to recognise my country's WWII vessels, it'd be utterly fun. Or they simply didn't see enough actions and he doesn't even consider them?
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Postby KnightmareX13 » Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:05 pm

Personally I am waiting for Anno to name a character after the Hood
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Postby Galaxy News Reidio » Wed Dec 01, 2010 8:00 am

Fun little fact: In the Russo-Japanese war, there was a Maya class warship called Ritsuko.
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Postby Hyper Shinchan » Wed Dec 01, 2010 9:42 am

View Original PostGalaxy News Reidio wrote:Fun little fact: In the Russo-Japanese war, there was a Maya class warship called Ritsuko.

Yeah, I noticed it as well but I doubt that it's just a coincidence :emogendo:
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Postby beaverteeth92 » Wed Dec 01, 2010 11:08 pm

Anno picked warship names the same reason that Akira Toriyama picked vegetable names for Saiyans, instrument names for Piccolo's henchmen, and cold puns for Frieza and his family. Just because he could.
Last edited by beaverteeth92 on Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Postby tehprognoob » Sat Dec 04, 2010 10:13 pm

Kira Yamato

It's lolzy

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Postby Assasinate » Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:41 am

well apparently even WW2 is already finished, the Americans still fear the Japanese' utmost zeal in battlefield.

i do inspire their BANZAI charge ^_^
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