![]() While Plastic Memories has hinted at prior struggles that she has had – to the point where other characters remark that she’s trying to be a machine in order to avoid the heartbreak that accompanies the end of a giftia’s life – every other giftia in the series acts like a normal human. Unfortunately, the series spent more time on stereotypical romantic comedy mishaps than showing nuances in Isla’s character. Every tic and lingering moment counts, culminating in emotional buildup so powerful that it alters reality.Īs an aforementioned giftia with limited time to be the unique entity of Isla, Plastic Memories‘ heroine certainly fits the Rei Ayanami mold. She hardly has a past as tortured or significant to the narrative as Rei Ayanami does in Evangelion however, she shares a similar visual progression through facial expressions. In Haruhi Suzumiya, Yuki Nagato is an alien observer, sent to gather data on Haruhi Suzumiya. Throughout the series, changes in her expression are slight as she grows into her own emotions. One of her key moments involves looking back on her own memories within the series’ timespan, asking herself what she is, and reflecting on how the people she has met have shaped her unique experience. For the sake of brevity, Rei’s personality is intrinsic to the narrative of Evangelion and is additionally informed by other characters in the series who are equally emotionally distraught. Yet Isla fails on several levels where Rei, and others who have also followed in the original premium girl’s footsteps like Haruhi Suzumiya‘s Yuki Nagato, did not.Ĭountless essays have been written on Rei Ayanami’s characterization, her role within Evangelion, and even the process in which her most basic character traits spawned an entire archetype. Her character design fits the Rei Ayanami mold down to her striking red irises. At work, she shows a distinct lack of self-preservation. While speaking to one of their clients, she expresses the wish to never have memories at all. There will be another to replace her, so to speak, when she expires. As a giftia android, her personality and memories – both false ones of a time before she came to be Isla and the memories she makes while living as Isla – have a distinct expiration date of 81,920 hours. This outlook on Rei’s character from series director Hideaki Anno paints a similar picture of what Plastic Memories wants its audience to feel towards Isla. She’s damaged in some way she hurts herself. She only has the barest minimum of what she needs to have. Her presence, her existence, “ostensible existence,” is ephemeral. “Rei is someone who is aware of the fact that even if she dies, there’ll be another to replace her, so she doesn’t value her life very highly. Plastic Memories’ Isla is one of many expys attempting to capture the elusive allure of the original “premium girl.” While her specific character has stood the test of time, her appearance, along with her more superficial character traits, has not. ![]() ![]() So many have followed in her footsteps that it’s now difficult to believe that Rei Ayanami’s design was unique. – Yoshiyuki Sadamoto on Rei Ayanami’s character design in Neon Genesis Evangelion The girl you long for, but there is nothing about her that you can hold.” “Her character was locked in as translucent - like a shadow, or the air.
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