Justin Wu ("The Artifice") regards Rei as the prototypical , a term used by anime fans to describe reticent and emotionless characters, usually with a monotone voice who speak to-the-point, and avoid unnecessary conversations. This moe element, which gained wide popularity only after Rei's success, can be found in numerous subsequent female characters, including Eva in "Black Cat", Ai Enma in "Hell Girl" and Yuki Nagato in "Haruhi Suzumiya". Similarly, according to De'Angelo Epps (CBR), the character contributed to popularizing the "kuudere" stereotype, a term for male or female characters who hide their true feelings behind a melancholy and cold facade. Critics compared other characters to her, including Miharu in "Gasaraki", Vanilla H in "Galaxy Angel", Neya in "Infinite Ryvius", Aruto Kirihara in "Kagihime Monogatari Eikyū Alice Rondo", Riza Hawkeye in "Fullmetal Alchemist", Dorothy R. Wayneright in "The Big O", Anthy Himemiya in "Revolutionary Girl Utena", Yuzuriha Inori in "Guilty Crown", Miyu in "My-HiME" and Ai in "". "Serial Experiments Lain"s Lain Iwakura was associated with the character; "Lain"s main screenwriter Chiaki J. Konaka denied a direct influence from "Evangelion" and, while appreciating their characteristics, he said he did not see similarities between the two characters. "Rurouni Kenshin"'s author Nobuhiro Watsuki compared Yukishiro Tomoe's design to Rei. He said Yukishiro became an Ayanami lookalike, with the only unique feature being her black pupils. The author said he did not realize that because cool beauties do not show emotion; once she revealed her true feelings in the end, she become a different character. Eureka from "Eureka Seven" has also been compared to Rei Ayanami, causing dissatisfaction in series screenwriter Dai Satō.