Counting Down the Coolest Characters in Anime - #16 Misato Katsuragi, Neon Genesis Evangelion

"So fucking what if I'm not you! That doesn't mean it's okay for you to give up! If you do, I'll *never* forgive you as long as I live!"

When the fate of the entire world is on the line, it's time for the big guns to show their muscle. Neon Genesis Evangelion places this fate in the hands of some mentally unstable 14 year olds. However, while the EVA pilots are the one's who receive the most exposure, one can't doubt the mastermind behind their success. That would be hyper-competent Major Misato Katsuragi. Of course, it's not as if Misato doesn't have her issues (then again, this is Evangelion where if you don't have a major psychological issue, you're one of the weird ones). However, this shouldn't obscure how much of a badass strategist she is (there is a reason why she gets promoted to Major midseason).

Don't threaten Shinji or this will happen

Misato begins Evangelion as the operations director at the top secret organization known as NERV. This places her in charge of the most powerful weapons that mankind has against the threat of the angels, the Evangelions. She also is the first friend that Shinji makes upon joining NERV and in the second episode Misato actually agrees to be his guardian. This places her in the mother role for most of the series, often having to be one to Shinji when he has his daily "I can't pilot the EVA!' bullshit speech (more on this later). Misato begins the series at the rank of captain and she wastes no time showing exactly why, using her immense imagination to create absolutely insane plans to beat the Angels. For starters, she mobilizes all of NERV's forces to siphon the power of ALL OF JAPAN (I shit you not) to power a massive sniper rifle to take out an Angel. Operation Yashima, as she names, it is probably one of the most ridiculous and absurd things I've seen in any anime (that's saying something) and yet it turns into a moment of badassery. This is only one of the many times that she displays how competent of a major she is throughout the series. Part of this comes from her past where her father's life was taken during the Second Impact, leading her to have immense hate towards them. This sometimes results in some pretty risky plans (like having the EVA's team up to catch an Angel falling to Earth, risking the lives of three 14 year olds in the process). However, it's this drive to ultimately destroy the Angels that makes her such a strong military leader. Some naysayers would probably berate me for putting Misato in a list like this, mostly because of her heavy drinking party girl habits in the home (which Shinji knows PLENTY about). However, this only adds to her character, making her a humorous character (of course, theres a darker reason for this as well, this is EVA after all). It would also be a disservice to such a badass strategist and NERV agent.

Pretty much sums up this friendship

Like I said earlier on this list, each character here has something unique about them that makes them cool. Misato here certainly isn't lacking when it comes to the total badass side of things. I mean, In addition to be a crack military strategist theres a scene in End of Evangelion she takes out a group of SSDF soldiers all by herself, even throwing in a snappy one liner before she finishes the last one off (shown above). So yes, we've established that Misato is a badass major, that we know. But what really makes her character shine is her relationship with the show's main character Shinji Ikari. Yes, many times Shinji is an insufferable twat but Misato is the only friend that he has for most of the show. She's not afraid to be tough and realistic on him in order to see the bigger picture. The two grow close over the course of the series to the point where Misato is almost like a mother figure to Shinji. Even at the end, when hope looks lost and Shinji is unable to get himself out of his depressed funk (happens often in this series) Misato is there to snap him out of it (to the best of her ability, this is EVA after all).

So that sums it up, Misato is a kickass tactician, a hard drinking party girl, and a damn awesome person when it comes to giving inspirational speeches. What else could you possibly want or need? So yes, Misato is number 16 on this list for all the reasons mentioned above. Sure Misato is a badass in the war room, sure she's kicks ass when she's in the field. At the same time she has that motherly aspect that helps many of the characters throughout the show. Misato is a classic character from one of the most classic animes of all time. For those reasons, she's cool character #16.