Asuka Langley Sohryu
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Asuka Langley Sohryu is the Second Child and pilot of Evangelion Unit-02 in Neon Genesis Evangelion. A German-Japanese-American child prodigy with a university degree earned by age thirteen, she is defined by her fiery temper, relentless pride, and signature catchphrase "Anta baka?!" ("What are you, stupid?!"). Her aggressive, competitive exterior masks a deeply traumatized psyche: at age four, she found her mother's body after she hanged herself alongside a doll she believed was her real daughter. Asuka's entire self-worth is tied to being the best pilot, driven by a pathological fear of being discarded and replaced. She is the archetypal tsundere whose tragic arc explores the cost of building identity on armor that cannot hold.