Revealing the Astonishing Number of Rei Clones in Neon Genesis Evangelion

Rei Ayanami, a character from Neon Genesis Evangelion, has gained immense popularity primarily due to her profoundly tragic backstory. She has always been deprived of being treated like a normal human, even to the extent of being replaced by clones. This leads to a thought-provoking inquiry about the number of Rei clones that existed in the world of Evangelion.

Rei Ayanami is not a naturally born human; instead, she was artificially created through cloning techniques that were based on the genetic material of Shinji's mother, Yui, and the soul of Lilith, the Second Angel. In case of any unfortunate circumstances befalling Rei, a multitude of clones are available to step into her shoes. When such an event occurs, the soul is transferred to a new Rei body, which maintains an identical age to the previous one, allowing Rei to continue her life—albeit with a loss of some memories pertaining to the incident that caused her demise. This disposability in the treatment of her character is a significant aspect of why fans hold such strong affection for her; she embodies the persona of a sorrowful girl who craves nothing more than kindness from others.

The First Two Rei Clones In Evangelion

In a flashback, the first version of Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion is shown as a young child being guided by Gendo around the Geofront. During their visit, she encounters Naoko, Ritsuko's mother, who immediately notices her striking resemblance to Gendo's deceased wife, Yui. Intrigued, Naoko starts investigating further. Later, Naoko confronts Rei on her own, where Rei repeats Gendo's derogatory words towards Naoko. Out of anger, Naoko violently chokes Rei to death. Consumed by guilt, Naoko then takes her own life by jumping off the platforms alongside the MAGI computers.

This Rei, known as Rei I, is acknowledged as the first clone to have lived and died. After some time, Rei II is introduced, who becomes the pilot of EVA Unit 00 before the events of the series. Rei II plays a prominent role throughout the series; however, she ultimately perishes when the Angel Armisael infects both her and her EVA. In a final act, Rei self-destructs Unit 00, destroying the Angel along with her. This event is hidden from Shinji, and Rei III is presented to the hospital as if somehow she miraculously survived. When questioned, she claims to have no memory because she is "the third one." This notion is solidified when Ritsuko reveals a tank containing multiple Rei clones to Shinji and Misato, before ultimately destroying them. The control interface indicates the status of "Rei 04" and beyond. Despite potential involvement of other Rei clones for the Dummy Plug system, only three ever lived as Rei.

Rei is one of the most tragic characters in Neon Genesis Evangelion, and facts like these are a big part of why she stands out even among such a sad and hurt cast.