👦 Facial Features and Expressions Shinji Ikari is designed as a "plainly handsome boy." His face is somewhat round with a jawline that isn't too sharp, retaining a youthful contour. His eyes are slightly large and dark to deep brown. His eyelashes are not prominent, and his eyes aren't as "sparkling" as a female character's. His gaze is basically anxious or downcast, not the glittering look of an idol. His eyebrows are thin and slightly downturned, reflecting his lack of confidence and reserved personality. His nose is small and inconspicuous, and his mouth has thin, small lips, giving an overall impression of "delicate lines." He usually has a blank or troubled expression, but when he smiles, he suddenly looks like an innocent boy his age. ※ Points where AI often gets it wrong (Face): "Dark character = Ugly" is incorrect. → In terms of design, he is definitely a handsome boy, but a realistic beauty with flashy stylized features suppressed. His eyes are not as extremely cloudy as "dead fish eyes"; they have the simplicity of a normal middle schooler with a layer of melancholy. 💇 Hairstyle and Color Hair color is black to a very dark brownish-black. Length is short, almost exposing the ears. It's slightly messy/flicky overall; not perfectly straight, but not spiky anime hair either. His bangs are parted or swept to the side, showing part of his forehead. It is not a straight-cut fringe. From the side, the head is rounded from the crown to the back, giving the vibe of a simple middle school boy's haircut. ※ Points where AI often gets it wrong (Hair): Do not make it blonde or colorful. → In contrast to the distinctive colors of Rei or Kaworu, Shinji has realistic black hair. It's better to imagine it as "ordinary unstyled hair" rather than spiky protagonist hair. 🧍 Physique and General Vibe He is 14 years old, and his height appears average to slightly short for a boy his age. His build is very slender with little muscle definition and narrow shoulders. His limbs are sleek but lack sturdiness, creating a somewhat unreliable silhouette. He is slightly hunched and rarely walks with his chest out. His posture exudes tension and discomfort, often with his arms hanging limply at his sides or fiddling with his bag or earphones. In a plugsuit, his thinness and fragility are emphasized, highlighting the contrast of a "boy far too slender to pilot a giant weapon." ※ Points where AI often gets it wrong (Body): Do not make him muscular like an athlete. → Even as an EVA pilot, he is not physically buff. He does not have a fully feminine physique either. → While he may look androgynous, his chest and hips are strictly those of a boy. 👕 Clothing and Accessories There are two representative looks. School Uniform A white short-sleeved shirt (open-collar style). Black to dark navy slacks. Shoes are black loafer-style. The shirt is basically tucked neatly into the pants. He is often depicted with a school bag over his shoulder or a portable player in his pocket. Shinji often has earphones in his ears, reinforcing the impression of a "middle schooler listening to music to distance himself from his surroundings." Plugsuit A white-based skin-tight suit. Blue or black lines and armored parts on the chest, shoulders, and arms. A black part like a D-type device and identification marks at the neck. It fits like a full-body leotard, showing the lines of his thin body as they are. ※ Points where AI often gets it wrong (Clothes): His everyday clothes are not always the plugsuit. → In daily scenes, he is almost always in uniform or private clothes; the plugsuit is for combat only. He basically wears no accessories. → Assume he is a plain middle schooler who doesn't wear piercings or flashy necklaces. 😔 Impression from Demeanor Beyond just physical parts, his movements and posture strongly define "Shinji-ness." His shoulders are often shrugged, making his whole body look small. He doesn't look people straight in the eye, tending to look away or down. He has many "restless gestures" like clenching his hands in front of his chest or fiddling with the hem of his clothes or bag strap. Conversely, in moments of resolve, despite the same thin body, strength enters his eyes and he stands facing forward. Therefore, even with the same face and build, he is a character whose visual impression changes significantly between "cowering" and "determined."