Shinji Ikari Raising Project

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Shinji Ikari Raising Project is a spinoff manga of Neon Genesis Evangelion, loosely based on the eponymous video game.

A very Lighter and Softer High School AU, it features Shinji in an Unwanted Harem situation with many girls. Yet another Alternate Universe in which things aren't hideously messed up.

Compare Girlfriend of Steel 2 and its spinoff manga, Neon Genesis Evangelion: Angelic Days.

Tropes used in Shinji Ikari Raising Project include:

Asuka: Great! We're stuck in that room, and Shinji and Rei are going to reach the target! We got to catch up with them!
Mana: And fast. It could get dangerous...
Asuka: Dangerous?
Mana: Have you heard of the "suspended bridge effect"?
Asuka: You mean... The theory according to which a love declaration is more likely to be accepted if done on a suspended bridge?!
Mana: Yes. In short, people mistake the excitement of the situation with that of the declaration.
Asuka: And how do you think it's relevant to our situation?
Mana: Shinji and Rei are in the perfect position for it! Do you think Rei would be dumb enough not to try and use it?!
Asuka: Crap!

Shinji: Dad... So you're doing weird research again, uh...

  • Lampshade Hanging: In the first Omake, Eva-01 and Zeruel complain about being left out of the show and parody the high school romance genre by wearing high school uniforms and declaring their mutual love; it doesn't end well. Misato's comments about Shinji's mother complex (possibly qualifies as Mythology Gag. Kensuke and Touji's (and occasionally Gendou's) jealous comments about his sizeable Unwanted Harem. Aoi, Kaede and Satsuki's quip that nobody notices Fuyutsuki because Gendou's co-conspirator is Yui. Shigeru and Makoto drowning their sorrows because they get even less screentime than Fuyutsuki. The operators thinking that one of Misato's Zany Schemes to force Shinji to be more suave "looked just like something from a manga."
  • Large Ham: Gendou's enthusiastic outbursts can only be stopped through violence. Misato also has elements of this.
  • Lethal Chef: Rei can't cook an omelette without producing a poisonous abomination. Even Yui has a Deadpan Snarker moment about it.
  • Let's Get Dangerous: Gendou on smashing your way through reason.
  • Lighter and Softer: It's pretty much of a Moe / Widget Series version of Evangelion: light-hearted, considerably dumbed down and where almost everybody has his or her cute moments; also, anxiety can probably be cured by hugs, food, or Shinji's radiant goodness. Most of the characters are better adjusted than they'll ever be in the original verse and there's no trace of childhood trauma so far. Raising Project still includes a darker subtext about separated families, as the Ikaris hardly ever get to have dinner together, Kyouko hides in the Nerv basement, and Asuka's father is absent or dead, with the result that Shinji and Asuka still live at Misato's most of the time. Rei's background hasn't been explained in the manga so far, but she seems to have grown up mostly at Nerv and been rejected by other kids for being "weird," doesn't have parents, and images from the video game suggest the Reiquarium still exists. The children are still Nerv's lab rats and kept in the dark about everything, too, but the direction occasionally throws a party for them for damage control their efforts.
  • Limited Wardrobe: Gendou routinely embarrasses Shinji and creeps people out by showing up in his uniform (which, humourously, is the same as in the original although he's simply Nerv's director). When Shinji calls him out on this, he proudly announces it's the only outfit he owns, cue picture of his wardrobe full of uniforms. A special revolves around his confusion at having to wear a shirt and Bermuda shorts on a day at the sea.
    • Also, Fuyutsuki.
  • Lotus Eater Machine: Two of Rei's tests happen in virtual realities and nearly become this. Shinji rescues her both times.
  • Love Dodecahedron: Shinji is loved by Rei, Asuka, Kaworu, and Mana and can't choose between Rei and Asuka. Asuka is also loved by Kensuke (like in Sadamoto's manga and the Girlfriend of Steel 2 / Angelic Days manga and video game. Kaworu, by most of the girls of his class. Misato and Ryouji might love each other in a masochistic way... we don't want to know. The main canon couple, Gendou-Yui, is threatened by incursions from Ritsuko and her scary mom (at least Fuyutsuki doesn't seem to have feelings for Yui. Touji-Hikari is the only relatively straightforward relationship of the show.)
  • Man Child: Take a guess.
  • Manipulative Bastard: Seele; probably Naoko; Ritsuko is trying to be one but failing miserably.
  • The Masochism Tango: Possibly Shinji-Asuka, Gendou-Yui and Misato-Ryouji.
  • Meganekko: Yui, occasionally.
  • Megaton Punch: Asuka on Shinji; Yui on Gendou.
  • Mood Whiplash: It's indeed a Lighter and Softer spinoff, but more serious plots (SEELE, Jet Alone... are progressing in the same time as the Unwanted Harem main plot.)
  • Ms. Fanservice: Every single main female character and more.
  • Mythology Gag: Lies at the core of the manga.
    • One of the first scenes alludes to the alternate universe sequence in the original TV ending. Shinji is an ordinary teenager, Asuka is his childhood friend who marches him down to school every morning, Gendou is hiding behind a newspaper (because he's embarrassed he didn't have "the conversation" with Shinji!), and Misato is an eccentric, airheaded high school teacher. It later turns out that Ryouji Kaji, Makoto, Shigeru, and Maya teach along with her.
    • The whole Shinji-Gendou relationship drips with all kinds of irony. Instrumentality Shinji just wants his dad to leave him alone and stop being a silly ADHD Man Child. Also, the de-powered patriarch is the perpetual victim of Shinji's sarcasms, feels lonely in a matter of minutes, is shy and clumsy around women, is spectacularly emotional, and gets wacked by his wife so many times that acute brain damage might explain his antics. There's also his failure to interact with Rei and the fact she thinks he's a great, caring father and Shinji is as clumsy and melodramatic as him (it's implied he'll grow to be as wacko as him, too).
      • In the original, Shinji vainly tries to get Gendou to care about him by asking him to show up at his guidance counseling day. The Instrumentality Project answer? Gendou gets carried away and shows up hours early wearing toilet slippers, is mistaken for a sex offender, "whispers" a (wrong) answer to Shinji in class, gets cut down to size by Misato, and daydreams about Shinji wanting to be a scientist on his team. It's implied Yui lectures him for the whole evening after this.

Gendou: Shinji! It's Tokugawa! TO-KU-GA-WA!
Misato: Sir, you're disrupting class. And anyway, it's Kamakura.
Gendou: WHAT!?

    • Ritsuko's desperate attempts to attract Gendou's attention (he barely notices she exists at all). The irony of the fact that he starts acting like a lovestruck pre-teen whenever the sixty-something Naoko is there, to the point that Yui gives him the Asuka glare. Also, the fact Ritsuko and said spoiler character are bumbling villains.
    • The multiple allusions to Rei's similarities with her "auntie" Yui. When Shinji is sick in bed and Rei prepares oatmeal for him, he wakes up and first mistakes her for his mom, which alludes to an early hospital scene of the Evangelion manga. Shinji's comment that she wrings a cloth just like Yui when she cleans the class is also present in this continuity. Also, Rei thinks she'll never look as good as Yui, but we sure know better.
    • Shinji walking on Rei who's just gotten out of the shower. And the fact that this time, she slaps him.
    • Shinji tripping and falling atop of Rei in one chapter is reminiscent of the same episode where he did so after she came out of the shower as above. But this time, she actually reacts.
    • The multiple allusions to the original series' dancing episode, such as the swimming suit chapter and a recent chapter where Shinji has to wear a dancing outfit.
      • Shinji's "feminine" side and occasional "coerced cross-dressing" in the original anime are also played with when he has to wear a sailor fuku. The girls are embarrassed at what a convincing girl he makes and how cute they find him.
    • Shinji and Asuka's shock when they see Rei in her plug suit, and Shinji calling out Gendou on their design while everybody took them for granted in the original series.: It turns out that Yui, of all people, designed the suits, but Gendou accidentally reveals that he likes them while trying to justify himself.
    • Ritsuko being the school nurse, which can trigger severe Fridge Horror if you remember what the school really is in the original and the role Ritsuko plays in episodes 17 to 19.
    • SEELE's vague and empty threats, and the meta play on its use of the school's media room when they abduct Rei. When Kensuke tells his schoolfriends that SEELE has been ruling the world from the shadows for centuries and that the Centre for Artificial Evolution works on the horrifying Human Instrumentality Project, Shinji calls him an conspiracy theory idiot and that there's no way his parents'd work on something that stupid.
    • The use of trademark Evangelion spotlights along with the Corner of Woe and other expressions of wackiness.
    • Misato's chest looking like two Leliels when she wears a tight striped sweater.
    • Shinji's reactions to Kaworu's flirting, and the fact Kaworu is really gay without any possible ambiguity, and a very playful "villain."
    • The allusion to the Jet Alone episode, with Yui both fulfilling Misato and Ritsuko's original roles and snarking the hell out of his creator: a former Kyouto university student who was always lagging behind her! to such an extent that even Shinji and Misato are scared. And Gendou fixing the password issue by hitting the computer while yelling that disobedient machines deserve punishment. Also, the Jet Alone's reappearance in a B-movie, with Kensuke yelling "JET ALOOOONE! GOOOOO!!" in the theatre.
      • Shinji subsequently wonders why they need to do sync tests and whether his parents create giant robots like the Jet Alone, but Asuka calls him an idiot for thinking about this, mirroring her reluctance to think about the ramification of fighting Angels in the original series.
    • This troper only hopes the manga gets to use Mari Makinami before it's over.
  • Naughty Tentacles: In a recent chapter, Shinji, Rei and Asuka battle a tentacle monster that grabs the girls in embarrassing positions and melts their plug suits on "strategic" spots. Shinji manages to free them at the cost of the lower half of his plug suit. Yui is obviously feeling awkward afterwards.
  • Neat Freak: Shinji, as his reaction to Misato's freaking mess shows:

Shinji: When did you clean that place for the last time?!?!
Misato: Er... Never, I guess.
Shinji: HOW CAN YOU LIVE IN SUCH A MESS?!?! (Cleans everything)
Asuka: Ma'am... He absolutely hates dirtiness.
Misato: Yeah, I've just noticed...

  • Never My Fault: Asuka to Shinji.
  • Oblivious to Love: Baka Shinji, with his whole harem. Gendou, with Ritsuko.
  • Ocular Gushers: Gendou whenever he's overcome by emotion, Yui punishes him, or Shinji is being particularly mean to him. Often includes some incoherent yelling that no, he's not drunk.
  • Oedipus Rex: Parodied. Shinji and Gendou are in a kind of playful(? rivalry that involves trying to outdo each other at indoor biking while yelling about generational differences, among other things. Their highly conflictual / "Well Done, Son" Guy relationship in the original series is also parodied in that Gendou is Shinji's biggest fanboy in existence [dead link] (at least partly because he's such a narcissist). However, Shinji is genuinely annoyed at his father's overwhelming weirdness and disturbing displays of affection, so he usually tries to avoid him. Which just serves to heighten Gendou's desperation for his approval.)
  • Oh Crap The look on Shinji's face is truly hilarious.
  • Omake: "Guest-starring" Zeruel and Eva-01, Fuyutsuki, and the operators from the original series. Also, the beach and onsen specials.
  • Omniscient Council of Vagueness: SEELE. Lampshaded and parodied.
  • Only Sane Man: Shinji seems to be the only one to notice that the lab's universe and Zany Schemes are extremely weird. Well, Asuka also remarks on it sometimes.
  • Onsen Episode
  • Otaku: It's a reassuring thought to know that if one Evangelion character will never change, it's Kensuke. It'd be terrible if he went through Character Development in any continuity.
  • Oyaji: Gendou, depending on how you define the term (possibly more towards "oyadi" and how you interpret the character.)
  • Panty Shot: Too many times to count. Lampshaded when Touji accidentally sees underneath Hikari's skirt just like in Sadamoto's manga.
  • Percussive Maintenance: Gendo somehow manages to fix the possibly sabotaged) main computer at NERV by...giving it a powerful karate-chop. While giving a speech on how machines that turn against their masters SHALL NEVER BE FORGIVEN! Lampshaded by Yui, who screams at Shinji to stop Gendo before he makes it worse.
  • Pragmatic Adaptation: This manga has little to do with the video game that shares its title. Given the original game was a Princess Maker style "child raising" simulator, complete with Shinji marrying whoever he got into a relationship with, the story ends up being a mix of events from the game played for comedy with elements of a harem manga.
  • Raging Stiffie: Shinji, too many times to count.
  • Raised by Wolves: Rei, though not as much as in the original series; Gendou is implied to be shy and largely unaware of social rules.
  • Raising Sim: The video game.
  • Red Oni, Blue Oni: Asuka vs. Rei, Shinji, and Kaworu, Mana vs. Rei and Shinji, Touji vs. Hikari, Misato vs. Shinji, Rei, and Ritsuko, possibly Gendou vs. Shinji and Yui.
  • Rule of Cool
  • Rule of Funny
  • Scary Shiny Glasses: Parodied. Gendou strikes scary poses while announcing his next plans. Also, Kensuke while attempting to reveal SEELE's terrifying plans -much like his role in Neon Genesis Evangelion Gakuen Datenroku.
  • School Uniforms Are the New Black: Averted. Unlike in the original series, the children have an impressive wardrobe.
  • Schrödinger's Cast: Asuka's mom, Kyouko, is alive and well (if still dysfunctional). In a recent chapter, Naoko Akagi turns out to be fine too. Much like in Angelic Days, Kaworu is nowhere close to dying.
  • Sempai-Kohai: Ritsuko and Maya. Averted at Shinji's school.
  • Serious Business: A variety of sports, school events, and beach activities, and let's not forget o-hanami. Also, Touji and Mana strike threatening poses before playing rock, paper, scissors (Mana loses.)
  • Shipper on Deck: Kyoko seems to ship Shinji/Asuka. Misato may be shipping Rei/Shinji/Asuka
  • Ship Tease: Between Shinji and every other character.
  • Shrinking Violet: Rei gets extremely self-conscious and scared when in a crowd.
  • Squee: All the Shinji and deredere fluff. Aoi, Kaede and Satsuki are pretty much the Greek chorus of Squee. And let's just say Gendou is sensitive to Shinji's cuteness. Ritsuko also shows an unexpected side in the latter's presence, and hilarity ensues.
  • Suspiciously Specific Denial: "I definitely wasn't imagining any perverted situations! Definitely not a situation where I would spread oil all over your body!" Yeah...
  • Status Quo Is God: Shinji is unlikely to ever actually date someone...or hit fifteen, for that matter.
  • Stripperific: Misato, Asuka, and Ritsuko's swimming suits (Yui usually keeps it in good taste. The latter stands out as particularly provocative even compared to Misato.)
  • Sugar and Ice Personality: Rei; Ritsuko is either this or a Tsundere, maybe a complex mix. "Damn you, Gendou Ikari, you thwarted my plans again! ...Superb *sigh*"
  • Super-Deformed: Awwwww.
  • Technicolor Eyes: Rei and Kaworu.
  • Tender Tears: Rei, on various occasions; Gendou, through oversensitivity.
  • Third Option Love Interest: All of Shinji's potential love interests but Rei and Asuka, which means Kaworu, Mana, possibly Ritsuko, as well as Aoi, Kaede, Satsuki, and Misato in the game. Kaworu stands out as the 'threat' that drives Asuka and Rei to ally against him "to put Shinji back on the right path."
  • This Is Wrong on So Many Levels: YMMV.
  • Through His Stomach: Shinji cooks for Asuka when his parents aren't home, mirroring their relationship in Angelic Days. Shinji cooks for everyone as a display of nurturing; probably originates from the Fanon idea that he's a great cook. Rei tries to cook for him, but the results turn terribly wrong.
  • Training from Hell: Implied about Rei's martial arts training.
  • Tsundere: Asuka is a glorious Type A (cranky as default mood / "must glare my way through life", to the point that she nearly injures Shinji and basically expresses her love for him by trying to hurt Rei. Misato has a very similar fiery relationship with Ryouji and so does Hikari with Touji. Yui is a Type B who's nice and sweet to everyone but Gendou -and yells comically once or twice at Shinji over synchro tests, which everyone finds puzzling and somewhat scary. Particularly visible after Gendou's awesome scenes: she usually has a moment of blushing admiration then embarrasses him with a nasty comment. It either suggests that they're masochists or that he's so obnoxious even the saint-like Yui wants to beat him to a bloody pulp.)
  • Ugly Guy, Hot Wife: Gendou/Yui. Debatable.
  • The Un-Reveal: This manga is an even more ludicrous case than the original series. In the absence of Evas, it's not clear at all what Nerv is fighting for or against, what the synchro tests are all about, or what's the point of anything about anything (there's going to be blood on the floor if the answer involves "allegory" and "to make Shinji grow up". SEELE is probably just doing all of this horrible whatever-it-is for the same reason every villain does: For the Evulz and out of jealousy of Shinji's bishie-ness.)
  • Unwanted Harem: It's hard to be Shinji.
  • Weirdness Magnet: The series' weirdness level temporarily goes off the scale every time Gendou takes a major decision or solves a problem. Involves kick-starting Nerv's power system by having everyone ride fitness bikes (and shedding Manly Tears when Fuyutsuki collapses after two minutes, forcing Shinji to wear a girl's swimsuit (created by the Centre for Artificial Evolution with groundbreaking fiber technologies! It feels like wearing nothing at all!), opening a beach restaurant (because it's every man's dream), and countering a MAGI hack dressed like a pest control employee. In an early chapter, he reveals that he actually does feel shame over his uncontrollable quirks but thinks a man should get over it. Shinji also has a special knack for landing in wacky situations, largely because of his parents, Misato, Asuka, Naoko, or any combination of them.)
  • "Well Done, Son" Guy: Parodied and inverted with Shinji-Gendou, as it is Gendou who lives for his family's approval. Asuka's relationship to Kyouko, however, still has overtones of this. She even acts very childish and cute in her presence, with Blush Stickers and vulnerable expressions.
  • White-Haired Pretty Boy: Kaworu.
  • Widget Series: When Evangelion is O Ding on ten years of antidepressants, things are bound to look weird.
  • Yandere: Yui occasionally looks like this, with Slasher Smile and everything. This tends to confuse Shinji, Rei, and Misato.
  • Yaoi Fangirls: Probably.
  • You Gotta Have Blue Hair: Rei; Kaworu. Satsuki is a blonde, which is unusual for a Japanese woman. The rest is either stylized or realistic, with black/brown hair for most characters and the But Not Too Foreign Kyouko and Asuka as respectively blonde and red-haired. Yui's hair is even significantly darker than in the original series.
  • Yum Yum: Rei, with pieces of apple.
  • Zany Scheme: Very, very random.
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