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A lab-made pilot with the body of a seven-year-old and the ears, fangs, and tail of a cat, ANIMA's Mari flies the US Evangelion known as Wolfpack for NERV's American branch. She borrows her name and face from Rebuild's Mari Illustrious without any stated connection between the two characters.

Age: 7 (body age)
First Appearance: Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA
Allegiances: NERV U.S.
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Appearance

Mari inhabits a child's body, around seven years old, and looks like a young take on Mari Illustrious Makinami. The animal genes woven into her during her creation left visible traces: feline fangs, a pair of cat ears, and a tail.

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Personality

She speaks of herself as a collection of creatures merged into one being, a frank acknowledgment of how she was made. Her closest bond is with Rei Six; the two share the same age, and Rei's love of animals makes the friendship an easy one.

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History

The American branch of NERV engineered Mari as an artificial human and raised her into an Evangelion pilot, assigning her the US Evangelion, the unit called Wolfpack. She appears across the Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA novels. Her cat-flavored design reads as a wink at the Rebuild films' Mari, who is often drawn with a feline expression, though the novels never make the two literally related.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What was the point of Mari in Evangelion?

This ANIMA-exclusive Mari exists largely as a playful nod to the Rebuild films' Mari Illustrious Makinami, sharing her name and face but given a literal cat-themed design of ears, fangs, and a tail, though the novels never confirm any direct connection between the two.

Is Mari an adult Evangelion?

No. In Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA, Mari is a lab-engineered pilot with the body of a seven-year-old, distinct from the adult Mari Illustrious Makinami of the Rebuild films.

What is the story of Mari?

In the ANIMA novels, Mari is an artificial human engineered and raised by NERV's American branch to pilot the US Evangelion known as Wolfpack, and she shares a close friendship with Rei Six, who is the same age as her.

Is Mari a boy or a girl?

Mari is female; the ANIMA novels refer to her with she and her throughout as she pilots the US Evangelion Wolfpack for NERV America.

What Evangelion unit does Mari pilot in Neon Genesis Evangelion: ANIMA?

Mari pilots the US Evangelion known as Wolfpack, assigned to her by NERV's American branch, which engineered and raised her as a pilot.

Sources & Information

Looking for more on Mari? The Neon Genesis Evangelion Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.

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This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Anime based on the Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, manga, and official materials. Neon Genesis Evangelion was created by Hideaki Anno, published by Kadokawa, and animated by khara and Gainax. All rights to Neon Genesis Evangelion and its characters belong to their respective owners. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.

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