Rei Ayanami is the "First Children" of the Marduk Report and the pilot of EVA-00. Shrouded in mystery, she is socially withdrawn and rarely shows emotion. Seemingly completely devoted to her duty as an EVA pilot, her only apparent human relationship being with Nerv commander Gendou Ikari. However, Rei comes to know Shinji Ikari and after some initial mistrust they come to better understand each other, revealing more of Rei`s emotional side and helping Shinji trust others again.

Shinji Ikari is the Third Child ("Third Children" in Japanese), who pilots Unit 01. He is the son of Gendo and the late Yui Ikari. Abandoned by his father, Gendo, when he was a toddler, Shinji often ran away from difficult situations. As a pilot, he panics easily and reacts very poorly to unexpected events. Over time and with encouragement from Misato, he learns to be less cowardly, more outspoken, and more confident.