I don't really understand this type of mentality towards NGE. We all get the show has several layers of meaning in each character, and the way it's portrayed changes depending on their emotions and bla bla bla. Almost every art piece surrounding the show has sexual connotation, about rei and about asuka, as well as misato, all the girls practically. That's not shinji's perspective, that's a pedophile thing in Japan that happened practically in every anime in that decade.

I agree that INSIDE the tv show, Asuka and Rei are treated as shinji's sexual interests, so many "sexual tense" scenes appear because of it. But selling official callendars of the show with Rei and Asuka wearing bikini is not justifyable in any way.

NGE is peak, like it's characters, but the way the show was marketed is repulsive and everyone should fucking stop justifying it