ᴛɪᴍᴇʟɪɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴇᴠᴀɴɢᴇʟɪᴏɴ: ᴡᴇᴇᴋ ʙʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋᴅᴏᴡɴ

You may or may not know that Neon Genesis Evangelion takes place between July 6th, 2015 to January 1st, 2016. Here’s an exhaustive breakdown of the exact dates of events, using the times provided by the show and per character dialogue. Some noteworthy finds:

  • Kaworu met Shinji on Christmas Eve, and died on Christmas Day.
  • The median amount of time between angel attacks is 11 days.
  • Toji lost his left leg on Halloween.
  • Kaji died a day before Misato’s 30th birthday.
  • Shinji is “birthed” from Unit-01 a day after Asuka’s 14th birthday.
  • The first half of End of Evangelion takes place on Toji’s 15th birthday, one day after Kaworu’s death.
  • And more!

The general skeleton for the first few months was graciously compiled here. Note that in Japan, schools are in session (half-days) on Saturdays. 

>>>>>>> SEE HERE FOR DISCUSSION RE: JUNE 22ND <<<<<<<<<

WEEK 1:  JULY 6 — JULY 12 (PRE SHOW — EPISODE 2)

  • MONDAY JULY 6: Eva Unit-00 goes berserk in the activation room, injuring Rei Ayanami in the process. Misato has only recently arrived at Tokyo-3 and is busy moving in.
  • TUESDAY JULY 7: Misato officially begins her NERV avocation at Tokyo-3. She is assigned the job of retrieving Shinji and sends him the letter and photograph in preparation of their meeting.
  • WEDNESDAY JULY 8: Presumably, Shinji receives the letter and photograph and spends the Wednesday packing.
  • THURSDAY JULY 9: Shinji arrives in Tokyo-3 as Sachiel makes its attack. Misato and Shinji meet face to face for the first time. Rei has been in NERV’S ICU for 4 days. Shinji pilots Eva-01 for the first time and suffers an injury against Sachiel. Unit-01 goes berserk; Toji’s little sister is injured in the aftermath.
  • FRIDAY JULY 10: Shinji moves into Misato’s apartment. Gendo attends SEELE’s committee conference. Ritsuko surmises that it will take an approximate 20 full days before Rei can make a full recovery. On the assumption school wasn't already canceled, Toji begins skipping a few days starting today.

WEEK 2:   JULY 13 TO JULY 19 (EPISODE 3) 

  • MONDAY JULY 13: Shinji transfers into the local school with Kensuke, Toji, Hikari, and Rei.

WEEK 3:   JULY 20 TO JULY 26 (EPISODE 3 – EPISODE 4) 

  • During this week, construction beings on NERV HQ’s B Wing, at an accelerated pace due thanks to SEELE committee pressure. Mentioned to take place during this time in Episode 13.
  • MONDAY JULY 20: Toji returns to school and assaults Shinji in reaction to his sister’s injuries. Rei has been released from the ICU, still heavily bandaged. Hikari mentions than Rei has been out for a few weeks. Shinji fights and defeats Shamshel.
  • THURSDAY JULY 23: Toji attempts to telephone Shinji an apology, 3 days after Shinji’s battle with Shamshel.
  • FRIDAY JULY 24: Repairs on Unit-01 have been completed, in line with Misato’s statements in Episode 4.
  • SATURDAY JULY 25: Shinji runs away from Misato’s apartment after Misato berates him for pursuing Shamsel against given orders. Kensuke and Toji attempt to call the apartment to apologize. Kensuke goes camping after school.
  • SUNDAY JULY 26: Some of Rei’s heavier bandages are removed as her condition improves. Shinji meets Kensuke camping in the outskirts of Tokyo-3 and they spend the night together. Kensuke evidently plans to leave for school early next morning, possibly with the intent of arriving late.

WEEK 4:   JULY 27 TO AUGUST 2 (EPISODE 4 – 6)

  • During this week, Over the Rainbow — the ship carrying Eva 02, Asuka, Kaji, and the embryonic Adam — departs Wilhelmshaven, Germany for Tokyo-3. Their trip will take one month. 
  • MONDAY JULY 27: Shinji and Kensuke are found by NERV agents in the mountains and Shinji is arrested and extradited back to HQ. Shinji resigns his duties as a Evangelion pilot, before returning again. 
  • TUESDAY JULY 28: Rei returns to pilot duty, 22 days after her injury. Unit-00 is freed from bakelite and is once again operational. Ritsuko’s eariler prediction is 2 days off the mark.
  • BETWEEN JULY 28 - 30: The inspection and disposal of Shamshel’s core is underway. 
  • THURSDAY JULY 30: A routine Unit-01 activation test. Shinji observes Gendo and Rei smiling at each other. Ritsuko comes over to Misato’s for dinner; Shinji receives Rei’s ID swipe.
  • FRIDAY JULY 31: Shinji visits Rei’s apartment for the first time. Unit-00’s activation test is a success. Ramiel makes its appearance and attacks Tokyo-3, injuring Shinji and putting Unit-01 out-of-service. Misato’s Operation Yashima begins on the full moon, which provides a specific date for the attack.
  • SATURDAY AUGUST 1: Operation Yashima succeeds with Ramiel’s defeat. Rei smiles at Shinji.

WEEKS 5, 6, 7:   AUGUST 3 TO AUGUST 23 (EPISODE 7 – 8)

  • No precise dates are given for Episode 7.
  • SOMETIME IN AUGUST 2015: Kaji sends the Japanese government falsified data regarding The Jet Alone Project under the Freedom of Information Act, per Gendo’s orders in the beginning of Episode 7.
  • SOMETIME IN AUGUST 2015: Misato attends a parent-teacher conference in lieu of Gendo. Gendo attends a conference overseas.
  • SOMETIME IN AUGUST 2015: The Jet Alone incident occurs.
  • SATURDAY AUGUST 22: Asuka comes onto Kaji as they spend the night relaxing on Over the Rainbow.
  • SUNDAY AUGUST 23: Misato brings Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke along on a fieldtrip to the UN Pacific Fleet’s Over the Rainbow. Debut of Asuka, Kaji, and Unit-02. Gaghiel attacks the ship and is defeated by a joint effort between Shinji and Asuka. Unit-02 is delivered to the New Yokosuka port; Kaji delivers the embryonic Adam to Gendo at NERV HQ.

WEEK 8:   AUGUST 24 TO AUGUST 30 (EPISODE 8) 

  • BETWEEN AUGUST 29 - 31: A day or two after Gaghiel’s defeat, Asuka transfers into Shinji’s local school. 

WEEK 9:   AUGUST 31 TO SEPTEMBER 6 (EPISODE 9) 

  • Gendo is still doing business overseas.
  • FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER: Kaji, Ritsuko, and Misato reunite; Kaji announces that he is under official orders to reside in Tokyo-3. Asuka extends an offer of friendship to Rei at school. Israfel attacks Tokyo-3; Shinji and Asuka fail to defeat it. Asuka moves into Misato’s apartment to participate in Kaji’s dancing exercise.

WEEK 10:   SEPTEMBER 7 TO SEPTEMBER 13 (EPISODE 9 – EPISODE 10) 

  • Gendo is still doing business overseas.
  • MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER:  Hikari, Toji, and Kensuke visit the apartment, assuming Asuka and Shinji had fallen ill due to their missing days of school. 
  • BETWEEN 8 - 10 SEPTEMBER: Asuka and Shinji’s training montage.
  • THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER:  Asuka sleepwalks into Shinji’s room.
  • FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER: Israfel’s defeat. This precise date appears in the episode itself, which provides a foundation for the whole series’ timeline.
  • SUNDAY 13 SEPTEMBER:  Kaji takes Asuka shopping for swimsuits for Okinawa. Later, Misato breaks the news to Asuka and Shinji that, due to precautionary measures, they will not be able to go on their class trip. Today also marks the 15th Anniversary of The Second Impact.

WEEK 11:   SEPTEMBER 14 TO SEPTEMBER 20 (EPISODE 10 – 11) 

  • After nearly 20 days abroad, Gendo has finally returned to Tokyo-3.
  • SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12: Kensuke’s birthday. He turns 14.
  • SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13: Kaworu’s birthday. He turns 15.
  • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14: Asuka and Shinji are deployed against Sandalphon. Kaji meets his United Nations contact on a ski-lift over Tokyo-3. Afterwards, Shinji, Asuka, and Misato celebrate Sandalphon’s defeat by taking a trip to the hot springs. 
  • WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 16: The class returns from Okinawa that evening.
  • BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 15 - 18: Activation test on the newly-upgraded Unit-00.
  • SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19: On SEELE orders, Kaji sabotages the Geofront, causing a city-wide blackout. Matarael attacks NERV HQ and is defeated by Shinji, Asuka, and Rei. It’s a Saturday half-day, as the Children are seen walking from school midday. 

WEEK 12:   SEPTEMBER 21 TO SEPTEMBER 27 (EPISODE 12) 

  • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21: Routine harmonics test. Gendo and Fuyutsuki depart for the South Pole (~10 day trip) to retrieve the Lance of Longinus. Misato gets promoted to Major.

WEEK 13:   SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 4 (EPISODE 12) 

  • WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 30: Routine harmonics test after school. Kensuke organizes a party for Misato at her apartment, in celebration of her recent promotion. Gendo and Fuyutsuki arrive at the South Pole. 
  • THURSDAY OCTOBER 1: Misato tells Shinji about her father, and why she joined NERV.
  • FRIDAY OCTOBER 2: Gendo and Fuyutsuki depart from the South Pole with the Lance. Sahaquiel attacks Tokyo-3 and is defeated by the Pilots. Shinji hears words of praise from his father for the first time. Misato treats Asuka, Shinji, and Rei to ramen noddle dinner.

WEEK 14:   OCTOBER 5 TO OCTOBER 11 (N/A) 

  • Construction on NERV HQ’s new B-Wing is completed around this time; however, there still remain assembly flaws.

WEEK 15:   OCTOBER 12 TO OCTOBER 18 (EPISODE 13 – EPISODE 15) 

  • MONDAY OCTOBER 11: Assembly finalizations on the B-Wing, as per comments in Episode 13 that place this 3 days before Ireul’s attack. Ireul slowly infects NERV around this time, unbeknownst to the technicians. Gendo and Fuyutsuki return to Tokyo-3 from their trip to the South Pole.
  • WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14: Naked harmonics test for Asuka, Shinji, and Rei in new B-Wing testing center. Ritsuko and the technicians take on Ireul. The embryonic Adam is still developing under containment. 
  • BETWEEN OCTOBER 12-16:  Keel speaks to Fuyutsuki. This must have taken place any time after Fuyutsuki’s return from the South Pole and before Episode 15 (October 17th) where Fuyutsuki mentions this conversation to Gendo. 
  • FRIDAY OCTOBER 16:  A compatibility harmonics test takes place in the old testing center. Unit-00 goes berserk as Shinji attempts to sync with it. Adam undergoes further experiments.
  • SATURDAY OCTOBER 17: Kaji meets his United Nations contact in Matsushiro, and verifies the non-existence of the Marduk Institute. Another sync test, in which Shinji is re-synchronized with Unit-01.
  • SUNDAY OCTOBER 18: Anniversary of Yui Ikari’s death; Shinji and Gendo observe at her gravesite. Gendo departs NERV with Rei in tow. Ritsuko, Misato, and Kaji attend a friend’s wedding — Ritsuko surmises from his gift that Kaji his double-crossing NERV. Kaji and Misato kiss; Asuka and Shinji kiss.

WEEK 16:   OCTOBER 19 TO OCTOBER 25 (EPISODE 16 – 17) 

  • MONDAY OCTOBER 19: The morning after the wedding, Kaji shows Misato “Adam” (Lilith) deep in the bowels of NERV. That evening, Shinji scores top harmonics in the sync test. Gendo is still absent, but Rei has returned.
  • TUESDAY OCTOBER 20: Battle with Leliel. Shinji and Unit-01 are absorbed into the Sea of Dirac. Gendo is still absent.
  • WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21: Unit-01 and Shinji break free from the Dirac Sea. Misato slaps Ritsuko. Gendo returns, and Ritsuko discusses her suspicions with him. 
  • BETWEEN OCTOBER 22 - 25: Misato is called before the SEELE Committee to explain the Leliel incident in lieu of their subpoena against Shinji, who is presently hospitalized. 

WEEK 17:   OCTOBER 26 TO NOVEMBER 1 (EPISODE 17 – EPISODE 18) 

  • As of now, the 7th and final phase of construction on NERV HQ is nearly complete.
  • TUESDAY OCTOBER 27: Toji visits his little sister in the hospital (using the “regular Tuesday visits” line provided in the manga). Rei spends some time with Gendo.
  • WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28: Rei participates in the finalization of the Dummy Plug prototype. Kensuke skips school to watch a battleship. Branch 02 vanishes mysteriously. Toji is selected as Fourth Child. Misato approaches Kaji about his double agent stint in the cafeteria; he clues her into the illegitimacy of the Marduk Institute. Kaji invites Shinji to his watermelon garden; immediately after, Shinji undergoes a scheduled sync test.
  • THURSDAY OCTOBER 29: Toji is officially recruited as the Fourth Child. Kensuke talks to Shinji about the mysterious disappearance of Branch 02 in school. Unit-03 departs the U.S.A. 
  • FRIDAY OCTOBER 30: Unit-03 arrives in Japan. Hikari talks about her crush on Toji after school with Asuka. Misato and Ritsuko head to Matsushiro to welcome Unit-03’s arrival; Kaji babysits Asuka and Shinji at Misato’s apartment.
  • SATURDAY OCTOBER 31: The Pilots battle against Unit-03, infected by Bardiel. The Dummy Plug system in employed for the first time in combat; Toji loses his left leg. Shinji threatens to destroy NERV HQ and is incapacitated on Gendo’s request. 

WEEK 18:   NOVEMBER 2 TO NOVEMBER 8 (EPISODE 19 – EPISODE 20) 

  • Sometime during this week, Kaji is fired from NERV on account of his moonlighting.
  • MONDAY NOVEMBER 2: Shinji awakens in the hospital, and is promptly arrested by NERV agents. This is mentioned to be 2 days after Bardiel’s battle.
  • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3: Toji awakens in the hospital, visited by Hikari. Shinji is brought before Gendo in shackles and resigns his pilot duties.
  • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4: Shinji’s preparations to depart Tokyo-3 are foiled when Zeruel attacks NERV. Kaji convinces Shinji to fight. Shinji battles Zeruel; Unit-01 goes berserk and consumes Zeruel’s core. Shinji is absorbed by Unit-01. 
  • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5: NERV deals with clean-up duties. SEELE organizes a frantic Committee meeting to discuss the implications of Zeruel’s core consumption.
  • FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6: Asuka and Rei regain consciousness and are released from the hospital. Asuka trashes her room in anger. 
  • SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7: Ritsuko begins planning for the Soul Salvage Operation. 
  • SUNDAY NOVEMBER 8: Shinji’s soul begins to regain self-awareness inside Unit-01.

WEEK 19: NOVEMBER 9 TO NOVEMBER 15  (N/A) 

  • The Soul Salvage Operation is underway.

WEEK 20: NOVEMBER 16 TO NOVEMBER 22  (N/A) 

  • The Soul Salvage Operation is underway.
  • SATURDAY NOVEMBER 21: Ritsuko’s birthday. Ritsuko turns 31.

WEEK 21: NOVEMBER 23 TO NOVEMBER 29  (N/A) 

  • The Soul Salvage Operation is underway.

WEEK 22: NOVEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 6  (EPISODE 20) 

  • The Soul Salvage Operation is underway. NERV’s B-Wing was originally slated to be completed around this time, before the Committee accelerated the schedule.
  • FRIDAY DECEMBER 4: Asuka’s birthday. Asuka turns 14, one day before Shinji is salvaged from the Eva. Final preparations for the Soul Salvage Operation.
  • SATURDAY DECEMBER 5: The Soul Salvage Operation is performed; Shinji returns to the world. Misato and Kaji spend the night together in a love motel; Kaji gives Misato the capsule containing information on SEELE, the Angels, and the Human Instrumentality Project.

WEEK 23: DECEMBER 7 TO DECEMBER 13 (EPISODE 21 – EPISODE 22) 

  • Sometime during this week, SEELE has started production on the MP Evas.
  • MONDAY DECEMBER 7: Fuyutsuki is abducted by Kaji for a impromptu SEELE interrogation regarding Shinji’s absorption. Misato gets detained by NERV agents. Kaji returns Fuyutsuki back to NERV HQ; that evening, Kaji is assassinated by a SEELE agent, one day before Misato’s birthday.
  • TUESDAY DECEMBER 8: Misato’s birthday. Misato turns 30.
  • THURSDAY DECEMBER 10: Asuka’s sync rate drops rapidly. Repairs are still underway for Unit-02 and Unit-00. Hyuga receives information from Shanghai regarding the accelerated production of 13 new Eva Units, and relays this information to Misato. This evening, Asuka receives an international call from her step mother. Misato overhears Asuka having a private outburst in the washroom.
  • FRIDAY DECEMBER 11: Asuka’s sync rate lapses even more. Asuka and Rei meet in the elevator; Asuka has another outburst.
  • SATURDAY DECEMBER 12: Shinji, Rei, and Asuka skip school. Toji is still in the hospital. Unit-01 has been frozen on Gendo’s orders. Arael makes its appearance; Asuka suffers a debilitating psychological attack. Gendo orders that the Lance of Longinus is retrieved from Central Dogma; Rei utilizes it against Arael. The Lance is lost to space.
  • SUNDAY DECEMBER 13: Asuka begins sleeping over at Hikari’s house.

WEEK 24:   DECEMBER 14 TO DECEMBER 20 (EPISODE 23) 

  • BETWEEN DECEMBER 14 - 15: Asuka has been skipping school to stay over at Hikari’s house. Ritsuko gets a call from her grandmother alerting her that Ritsuko’s cat has died. Gendo holds a conference with SEELE discussing the rationale behind using the Lance against Arael. Armisael attacks; Asuka is unable to sync with her Eva and provide backup to Rei; Rei self destructs to destroy Armisael. The evening of Rei’s death, Misato comes onto Shinji. 
  • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16: Asuka has a private breakdown with Hikari. She returns to Misato’s apartment that morning.
  • THURSDAY DECEMBER 17: According to dialogue in Episode 24 which pits Asuka’s eventual retrieval by NERV agents a week long, along with Gendo’s Episode 23 phone call regarding her disappearance, this is the day when Shinji reveals to Asuka that Kaji has died. Asuka runs away from home.
  • SUNDAY DECEMBER 20: Early in the morning, Misato receives a call that Rei is alive. Shinji meets Rei III for the first time. 

WEEK 25: DECEMBER 21 TO DECEMBER 27 (EPISODE 23 – 24) 

  • Sometime during this week, Toji and Kensuke have moved away, after losing their homes in the Armisael battle. 
  • MONDAY DECEMBER 21: Ritsuko, naked, gets sent in lieu of Rei to a SEELE meeting to explain the Armisael incident. Misato breaks into Kaji’s capsule using their first memory as a passcode. Ritsuko returns back to NERV, visibly shook.
  • TUESDAY DECEMBER 22: Ritsuko calls Shinji to NERV in plans to reveal to him the truth. Misato follows closely behind. Rei’s birthplace, the nature behind Yui’s death, and the Dummy System clones are revealed to Shinji and Misato; Ritsuko has a breakdown in front of them. Starting tonight, Shinji stops returning to Misato’s apartment; instead, spending his nights at NERV HQ.
  • THURSDAY DECEMBER 24: Asuka attempts suicide in an abandoned bathtub and is found by NERV agents. Gendo confronts Ritsuko where she is being detained and questions her over the destruction of the Dummy System. Shinji meets Kaworu for the first time on the seashore, and hears the words “I love you” for the first time. Kaworu undergoes his first sync test. Kaworu meets Rei for the first time. 
  • FRIDAY DECEMBER 25: Hikari receives Pen Pen from Misato. Misato takes to spying on Kaworu in the early morning. Later that day, Kaworu descends into Terminal Dogma with Unit-02; Shinji and Rei follow after him. Kaworu dies by Shinji’s hand.
  • SATURDAY DECEMBER 26: Toji’s birthday. Toji turns 15. Shinji attempts suicide via drowning. The first half of End of Evangelion takes place, concurrent with Episode 25’ and 26’ of the anime. Ritsuko, Misato, and Asuka are killed.

WEEK 26: DECEMBER 28 TO JANUARY 1 (EPISODE 25’ – EPISODE 26’) 

  • SUNDAY DECEMBER 27 THROUGH FRIDAY JANUARY 1: The Human Instrumentality Project is underway.
  • FRIDAY JANUARY 1: The series ends on New Year’s Day. Whether this points to the end of End of Evangelion, or something else entirely, is anyone’s guess.

SOME TAKEAWAYS:

  • Jesus, Kaworu. If all the added Christly symbolism that came with Episode 24 weren’t enough, the fact that Kaworu arrives at NERV on Christmas Eve and dies on Christmas Day manages to be simultaneously one of the most surprising and un-surprising realizations ever. It’s worth noting that in Japan, Christmas is more of a romantic holiday than anything.
  • Deaths (or otherwise unfortunate circumstances) seem to be deliberately placed around character birthdays: Kaji dies a day before Misato’s, Kaworu dies a day before Toji’s, and Shinji’s rebirth falls right after Asuka’s. Keep in mind, Misato left Asuka alone in the apartment while Project E was knee-deep in getting their Soul Salvage Operation up and running: which is a pretty good indicator that Asuka spent her 14th birthday alone.
  • Hikari received Pen Pen on Christmas. There’s some small ounce of good in an otherwise incredibly depressing day.
  • Toji lost his leg on Halloween. It’s pretty fitting, unfortunately. 
  • The longest amount of time between an angel attack is 39 days.
  • The shortest amount of time between an angel attack is 3 days.
  • Asuka and Rei remained incapacitated from the Zeruel battle for nearly a full week.
#analysis
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