Rei Ayanami Figure: Why Did I Make Another One When So Many Already Exist?

The first time I watched Neon Genesis Evangelion, I never imagined that I would one day create my own Rei Ayanami figure. At that time, Evangelion Unit-01 captured almost all of my attention.

The warning alarms during activation, the constantly changing images inside the cockpit, and the pressure whenever an Angel suddenly appeared all stood out more than a girl who rarely spoke. Rei Ayanami usually stood quietly nearby. She did not explain herself, and she seldom showed any obvious emotion.

At that time, I did not truly understand her.

The Rei Ayanami I Overlooked as a Child

I mainly remembered the bandages covering her injured body. She had not recovered, yet NERV still brought her forward for the mission. Rei did not complain or ask anyone for help.

When I watched that scene as a child, I only cared about whether Shinji would finally enter Unit-01. I barely noticed the injured girl beside him, even though she still prepared to take his place.

Years later, I watched EVA again and began paying attention to the moments I had previously overlooked.

One scene stayed with me in particular. Shinji rescued Rei from the entry plug of Unit-00, but she did not know what expression to show. He told her that she could try smiling, and she did.

The smile lasted only a short time, and the scene did not rely on emotional dialogue. Even so, that moment first made me realise that Rei did have feelings. She simply did not know how to express them.

From then on, whenever I saw Rei Ayanami, I noticed far more than her short blue hair, red eyes, and white plugsuit. That change in how I understood her later influenced the Rei Ayanami figure I wanted to create.

I First Collected Evangelion Figures and EVA Units

When I first began collecting Evangelion figures, I bought the units before anything else.

Unit-01 has a highly recognisable colour scheme and silhouette, while Unit-00 naturally reminds me of Rei. I could place them on my desk, adjust their arms and weapons, and recreate battle poses that brought back the atmosphere of the anime.

Later, I also saw many different Rei Ayanami figures.

Some wore the plugsuit, others wore the school uniform, and several used seated or standing poses. Their creators often handled the faces, hair, and clothing with great care. When placed beside the EVA units, these figures could form a familiar scene.

However, the more versions I saw, the more clearly I understood that none of them represented the Rei Ayanami I truly wanted.

Each figure stood fixed to a display base, while the manufacturer had already chosen the final pose. A collector could change the viewing angle, but could not truly change how Rei interacted with the surrounding space.

I was not looking for another Rei figure with a different pose.

I wanted to create a Rei Ayanami figure that felt completely different from an ordinary PVC collectible.

I Wanted More Than a Rei Ayanami Figure Displayed Behind Glass

Once this idea appeared, I began to reconsider what my feelings for Rei Ayanami had become.

In the past, I would stop whenever I found a well-made figure. I examined whether the face resembled her, whether the hair colour looked correct, and whether the clothing stayed close to the anime. Every detail affected how I felt about the finished work.

However, after seeing more and more versions, that sense of satisfaction became increasingly brief.

I could buy a Rei figure, place it inside a display cabinet, and carefully adjust its position. In the end, though, I could still only stand outside and look at her.

I wanted her to feel closer.

I wanted to arrange her clothing myself, change her pose according to the room, and see how different positions altered her overall appearance. She could stand quietly nearby or sit within view. Even a small change in the direction of her head or the angle of her body could create a different impression.

These thoughts did not exist when I first watched EVA.

They appeared gradually as I understood Rei more deeply.

Seeing her only in the anime no longer satisfied me. Placing a reduced version of her inside a cabinet also felt insufficient. My feelings had moved beyond simple appreciation, and I wanted to keep her in a place closer to me.

I wanted a Rei Ayanami figure that could truly become part of my personal collection space.

I Stopped Looking for an Existing Rei Figure

During that period, I continued looking at many Rei Ayanami figures.

I did not think they lacked quality. Some captured the anime face closely, while others handled the clothing and colours beautifully. Even so, the idea in my mind never disappeared.

None of those products matched the version I wanted.

No matter how refined they looked, every choice had already been made. Someone else had chosen the expression, clothing, and final pose before the figure reached the collector.

I no longer wanted to accept only a version of Rei that another person had chosen for me.

I Wanted to Decide How She Would Appear

I wanted to decide how she would remain in my collection. I also wanted to see another side of her that the anime had not fully shown. Most importantly, I no longer wanted Rei to remain only a character standing beside Unit-01 or Unit-00.

The feeling became stronger than a simple wish to add another item to my collection.

I began imagining how she would appear in a room if I controlled the final design of the Rei Ayanami figure.

She still needed to retain the short blue hair and red eyes I recognised, but she did not need to remain locked into one expression. Different clothing and poses could reveal interpretations that an ordinary display figure could not offer.

I did not want to damage the Rei Ayanami I liked.

Precisely because my feelings had grown stronger, I could no longer accept only an image fixed to a base. I wanted to place everything I had felt about her over the years into a work that genuinely belonged in my collection.

The more products I saw, the clearer this idea became.

Eventually, I stopped searching.

I finally understood that the Rei Ayanami figure I truly wanted did not exist among the available choices.

Since I could not find her, I decided to make her myself.

Designing Two Faces for My Rei Ayanami Figure

When I began the project, I first considered Rei Ayanami’s face.

For the first face, I preserved the Rei most people recognise from the anime.

Her short blue hair, red eyes, and quiet expression that remains difficult to read all form part of what made me like her. Rei rarely places her feelings directly on her face, and she never relies on exaggerated expressions to attract attention.

Even when she simply sits in silence, her eyes seem to hold words she has never spoken.

Instead of copying the flat lines of a two-dimensional image, I retained her recognisable features while giving the facial structure, skin, and contours a more lifelike appearance. The completed face still carries Rei’s quiet, distant, and unreadable presence.

She can wear clothing that does not appear in the original anime and stand inside a real room. Even then, the red eyes and blue hair still make the Rei Ayanami figure immediately recognisable.

For me, this face preserves Rei’s goddess-like image from the anime.

She does not need to approach anyone or use a smile to please the viewer. That slight distance in her expression continued to attract me when I returned to EVA years later.

Creating Another Expression for Collectors

However, I did not want the figure to remain limited to only one familiar expression.

Collectors often want more than a single pose or face. Some prefer an Evangelion figure that follows the original anime closely, while others enjoy seeing a favourite character through different clothing, stronger expressions, and alternative display ideas.

Wanting more variety from a character figure feels completely natural.

When someone has liked a character for many years, that person often develops a personal interpretation. Along with preserving the familiar appearance from the anime, a collector may also want to see a side that the original story never showed.

I felt the same way.

For that reason, I created another face with a much more noticeable expression alongside the original-inspired face.

This alternate face does not repeat the quiet and restrained mood of the first one. Changes to the mouth, eyes, and overall expression allow the figure to present a clearly different state.

I wanted Rei to move beyond the single expression already established in EVA and appear through another collector-focused interpretation.

Why This Rei Ayanami Figure Has Two Different Faces

Many ordinary Rei Ayanami figures already reproduce the school uniform, plugsuit, and classic anime poses. I did not want to recreate those same familiar scenes once again.

Instead, I wanted to preserve the Rei Ayanami I had always liked while creating another expression that many collectors may have imagined but never saw in the original work.

The first face shows the quiet and difficult-to-read Rei from the anime. It preserves the familiar goddess-like image and the qualities that first made me notice her.

The alternate face introduces a more visible emotional change and gives collectors another way to present the character.

Some people prefer a figure that follows the original design closely. Others enjoy seeing a favourite character interpreted differently. Both approaches belong naturally within anime figure collecting.

I did not want to choose only one.

The quiet and mysterious Rei Ayanami from the anime still matters deeply to me, but I also wanted to see her with another expression.

That is why I created two different faces for this Rei Ayanami figure.

One preserves the familiar anime goddess image, while the other introduces an alternative expression for collectors who want to explore another presentation of Rei.

Recreating Rei Ayanami’s Short Blue Hair

After completing the two facial designs, I recreated Rei Ayanami’s hair according to the anime.

Her short blue hair remains one of the character’s most recognisable features. The position of the fringe, the strands beside her cheeks, and the outline at the back of the head all influence the final appearance.

I reproduced the hairstyle shown in the anime and used soft rubber hair to preserve its overall shape.

The soft rubber keeps the short hairstyle clear and stable. From the front, the familiar fringe frames her red eyes. From the side, the strands near the ears and the curve at the back of the head remain visible.

Once I completed the hair, both faces shared the same recognisable character identity.

Creating the Full Silicone Body

I then created a full silicone body for the Rei Ayanami figure.

Ordinary PVC figures use rigid bodies, and manufacturers usually fix the clothing and body shape into one permanent design. For this full silicone anime figure, I used a softer body material so the surface would no longer resemble hard plastic. Collectors can also dress the body in separate clothing.

The full silicone construction clearly distinguishes her from an ordinary EVA figure.

When collectors move, dress, or reposition the figure, the material provides a softer and more natural surface than a rigid model. The clothing follows the body contours instead of looking like part of a sculpted plastic shell.

Adding the Internal Skeleton

I also added an internal skeleton to the body.

The skeleton keeps the figure from remaining permanently fixed in one standing or seated pose. Collectors can adjust the head direction, arm position, and general posture for different clothing, display settings, or photography.

After changing the face, they can also alter the body position so each expression creates a different overall presentation.

From the two faces and soft rubber hair to the full silicone body and internal skeleton, I completed this Rei Ayanami figure according to the original concept.

The final work does not simply enlarge an ordinary PVC model. It presents a full silicone Rei Ayanami figure with interchangeable faces, interchangeable clothing, and an adjustable internal structure.

Collectors who want to explore more characters from the series can also visit the Neon Genesis Evangelion figure collection.

Thank You to Everyone Who Has Continued to Support LORIBEAR

The collectors who continue to follow and support LORIBEAR helped make this Rei Ayanami figure possible.

Over the years, I have met many people who love anime in the same way I do. Some want to place a favourite character in their room. Others enjoy changing clothing and adjusting poses. Many also want to see an interpretation that never appeared in the original story.

These genuine interests encouraged me to create something beyond another ordinary PVC Rei Ayanami figure.

What Collectors Receive with This Rei Ayanami Figure

Collectors who purchase this product receive two different faces and two sets of clothing.

The first face preserves Rei’s quiet and unreadable anime appearance, while the alternate face presents a much more noticeable expression. Collectors can change the faces and outfits according to their preferred presentation.

The figure also includes soft rubber hair, a full silicone body, and an internal skeleton.

These features allow the Rei figure to move beyond one permanent display state. Changing the face, clothing, and pose can give the same Rei Ayanami figure a noticeably different appearance.

Your support has shown me that many anime fans still look for figures that offer something different from conventional collectibles. It also allows me to continue turning new character ideas into finished works.

Rei Ayanami will not be the final character.

More Anime and Game Characters Will Follow

In the future, LORIBEAR will continue developing new characters, new facial designs, and different clothing combinations. For characters that I have already created, I will continue exploring new presentations instead of repeating the same shapes and designs.

I hope to bring more characters from anime and games into physical form. Every new work should preserve the qualities that made the character memorable while also including ideas that belong to LORIBEAR.

This Rei Ayanami figure reflects the feelings I have carried for the character over many years. It also marks a new starting point for LORIBEAR as we continue creating more anime figures.

Thank you for staying with LORIBEAR throughout this journey.

More characters will meet you in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Rei Ayanami Figure

What is included with this Rei Ayanami figure?

The product includes two different faces, two sets of clothing, and one full silicone body. It also features soft rubber hair and an internal skeleton. Collectors can change the face and clothing and adjust the posture according to their preferences.

What is the difference between the two faces?

The first face preserves Rei Ayanami’s quiet, mysterious, and difficult-to-read expression from the anime, presenting her with a more realistic anime goddess appearance.

The alternate face features a much more noticeable emotional expression and gives collectors another way to present the character beyond the standard anime appearance.

Can the two sets of clothing be combined with either face?

Yes. Collectors do not need to use the two faces and two sets of clothing in fixed combinations. They can mix the faces and outfits according to their preferences and combine them with different poses.

Can the Rei Ayanami figure be posed?

Yes. I added an internal skeleton to the body so collectors can adjust the head direction, arm position, and general body posture. Make every adjustment slowly and follow the natural direction of the internal structure. Never force the joints.

Will LORIBEAR create more anime characters in the future?

Yes. LORIBEAR will continue creating characters from anime and games while exploring new facial designs, clothing combinations, and presentation styles. This Rei Ayanami figure will not be the final release, and more characters will arrive in the future.