Shinji Ikari (碇シンジ, Ikari Shinji) is the Third Child, the main protagonist of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, and the designated pilot of Evangelion Unit-01. He is the son of Gehirn bioengineer Yui Ikari and NERV Commander (formerly Chief of Gehirn) Gendō Ikari. After his mother's death, he was abandoned by his father and lived for several years with his sensei, until he was summoned to Tokyo-3 to pilot Evangelion Unit-01 against the Angels.