[EVA] ANN confirms Asuka Name Change, Maaya Sakamoto to join cast

[Ayanami]

"The free EVA-EXTRA01 paper magazine will announce on Saturday that voice actress Maaya Sakamoto will play the new character Makinami Mari Illustrious in the Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance film. This film is the second of Hideaki Anno and Khara's four theatrical remakes of Gainax's Neon Genesis Evangelion science-fiction television anime series. Like previous Evangelion character names, both "Illustrious" and "Makinami" (with different kanji characters) happen to be names of World War II naval ships.

EVA-EXTRA01 will also confirm that Yuko Miyamura will reprise her Asuka role in the new film, although the character has been renamed Shikinami Asuka Langley. (Miyamura herself has the name Yuko Seki after marrying in 2004, but she is using her previous name for the Evangelion voice credits.) The project's official website and the second film's teaser, which was shown with the first film, promised the fan-favorite character Asuka, the EVA-02 through -06 units with new designs for many of them, a new eyeglasses-wearing brunette girl character, more fan "service-service," "a shocking new story, and new visuals." Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance will open in Japan on June 27."

I'd read about the name change a short time ago, but wanted a better source. I'm not liking it much. Particularly it's similarity to "Ayanami" (she'll just love that). That, and it's even more of a mouthful now. Sohryu rolled off the tongue better. After 15 years, if it's not broke, don't fix it. So much for the Sohryu tribute.


Still, I guess it's just a name, so it's not worth getting riled up about. She'll always be Sohryu Asuka Langley to me anyway. I'm sure there's a reason for it. There has to be, with the new character's full name revealed. Ayanami-Shikinami-Makinami, something's definitely up.

Good to have further confirmation of Miyamura's return. I'd read elsewhere that she almost didn't, though never got the details. Her voice makes the character for me.

Interesting to see Sakamoto on board.