Mari Illustrious Makinami is an Evangelion pilot introduced into the franchise during the second installment of the four part theatrical remake series, Rebuild of Evangelion. Little is known about her as of yet except that she is the pilot of the Provisional Evangelion Unit-05 which differs from previous incarnations drastically featuring four mechanical "legs" that end in wheels and a lack of hands which have been replaced with a jousting lance and "claw." Because of its unique design, Mari pilots her Eva wearing a helmet-like contraption and her plugsuit is equipped with several attachments that connect to tubing that apparently help her in moving the Evangelion.

Mari is probably the most content with being an Eva pilot. She is also shown to be more informed than the other pilots, knowing various backdoors into both Nerv and the Eva operational programs and access Eva abilities known to only the higher-up staff of Nerv. Mari also revels in piloting Eva, usually singing over the comm-radio before excitedly engaging an Angel in combat.

(Source: Wikipedia)


In the Neon Genesis Evangelion manga after the ending there is a bonus chapter in which Mari Makinami makes her appearance as a intellectually gifted 16 years old who is admitted in the same university as Yui Ikari. She is shown to be enamored with Yui and steals Yui's glasses out of jealousy of her being with Gendo Rokubungi. She returns the glasses after reconciliating. Manga author Sadamoto says this isn't a canon story only fan service.