or is a fictional character in the anime film tetralogy Rebuild of Evangelion, based on the television series Neon Genesis Evangelion and introduced in the film Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009). Mari is a pilot for the European branch of the special agency Nerv, founded to counter enemies of humankind known as the Angels. She first appears aboard the mecha Evangelion Unit 05, before fighting on Evangelion Unit 02 in place of Asuka Langley Shikinami. Brave and tenacious on the battlefield, Mari is friendly, lighthearted and humorous with her colleagues. She is originally voiced by Maaya Sakamoto; in the English-language version, she is voiced by Trina Nishimura and Deneen Melody. Besides the Rebuild of Evangelion films, Mari appears in an extra chapter of the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga, written and illustrated by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, and in several video games.
The character was created after a request by Toshimichi Ōtsuki, producer of the original anime, to introduce a new female character to the Rebuild to attract a new audience. Hideaki Anno, director and main screenwriter of the original series and the films, decided not to meddle in the pilot and replicate the other main characters, all of whom were based on his personality. He entrusted its development to other members of Khara studio, particularly Kazuya Tsurumaki. The concept went through a complex chain of changes and second thoughts; neither Anno nor the others knew what kind of heroine to create, and were undecided until the last minute. Her character design was entrusted to Sadamoto, the series' character designer, who played on stereotypical elements associated with England.
The character had a mixed reception from critics. Reviewers were divided between those who found her overly sexualized and her role insignificant and those who found her a viable alternative to the characterization of the other protagonists. Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) revealed more details about Mari, which generated more mixed reviews; some critics noted a lack of explanation of her nature, and others appreciated her psychology and her role in the finale.
Conception
For the film Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009), the second installment of the Rebuild of Evangelion saga, King Records representative and former Neon Genesis Evangelion producer Toshimichi Ōtsuki requested a new female character to strengthen its appeal and expand its audience. Director and main screenwriter Hideaki Anno welcomed the idea as a breath of fresh air which would distance the new films from the original work and give its audience fan service. Anno planned to introduce Mari in the film's opening scenes and play on , a kanji in the film's Japanese title which has the two meanings of "interlude" and "break". Her presence was initially intended to be minor; not speaking, she would be introduced by other characters. Mari's personality, speech and first battle, however, varied during development. Anno was conflicted; as producer and director he wanted to introduce changes to the story through her, but as the original series writer he did not want to make major changes.
Mari was introduced in a promotional poster for the film which was noted by fans. Her first name was revealed in the Nintendo DS game Petit Eva: Evangelion@School, and her surnames were introduced in Eva Extra magazine. Anno, as he did with other characters in Neon Genesis Evangelion, combined two actual warship names. He chose the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, lead ship of the British Royal Navy's class of the same name, for Mari's first surname; her second surname was inspired by the Makinami from the Ayanami class destroyer of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force. The kanji played on the names of the series' other two main female characters, Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu ("Shikinami Langley" in Rebuild of Evangelion). The new pilot was initially planned to be named , an homage to a character by Moyoco Anno, Anno's wife. The director also considered , in reference to Chizuru Nambara in Combattler V. The name Mari was finally chosen in homage to Mari Sakurano's character in Brave Raideen.