Mako Mori

Lore & Background

Mako Mori is the inspiration for the Mako Mori test, a set of criteria pertaining to the representation of female characters within a film, television show or other work of fiction. The test requires that a film or television show has at least one female character, that this character has an independent plot arc, and that the character or her arc does not simply exist to support a male character's plot arc. The test was proposed by a Tumblr user named Chaila as an alternative to the Bechdel test, because the Pacific Rim movies do not pass the Bechdel test, although they feature a strong female supporting character.

In the first film, Mako Mori is given an independent story arc that does not simply exist to support the male lead characters' arc(s), and her character avoids many of the sexist stereotypes that often accompany women in film of over-sexualisation and lack of agency. In the sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising, Mako Mori is given less of a substantial story arc, which critics say is simply in support of another male character's plot arc and therefore does not pass the test, and she dies near the end of the second act, approximately halfway through the film.

Reader's Guide

She also appears in the graphic novel Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero and the non-canon novelisation Pacific Rim: The Official Novelisation. Her character is described as 'tomboyish' as a child, showing significant interest in her father's work as a sword maker. She is a part of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps' J-Tech division. In the first film, she has an independent plot arc that does not simply exist to support a male character's plot arc. In the sequel, her story arc is less substantial, critics say it simply supports another male character's plot arc, and she dies within the opening third of the movie. This shift has been greatly criticised by fans of the movies as well as fans of the Mako Mori test itself.

Character Origins and Trauma

Mako Mori enters the narrative not merely as a technician but as a survivor carrying deep emotional scars from the early Kaiju attacks. Her backstory reveals that she lost her parents during a devastating assault on Tokyo, an event so traumatic it nearly claimed her own life. Following this tragedy, Marshal Stacker Pentecost adopted and raised her, forging a complex bond between mentor and ward. This history explains her intense psychological barriers; when she first attempts to drift with Raleigh Becket in the Gipsy Danger, the mental link forces her to relive the horror of that day in Tokyo. The resulting loss of alignment nearly causes a catastrophic discharge inside the Shatterdome, leading Pentecost to suspend her from active duty.

Professional Role and Leadership

Within the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps, Mako is the director of the Jaeger restoration program. Her technical expertise is indispensable, yet her transition from engineer to co-pilot marks a pivotal shift in her character arc. After being suspended following a failed drift test, she is eventually reinstated when the situation becomes dire.

The Drift Partnership

Mako's most defining relationship is formed through the 'Drift,' a neural link that joins the minds of two co-pilots to control a Jaeger. Initially, her compatibility with Raleigh Becket is tested by her repressed memories, causing a dangerous malfunction during their first synchronization attempt. However, this shared mental space also allows Raleigh to witness Mako's past and understand Pentecost's protective instincts toward her.

Final Sacrifice and Victory

With Marshal Pentecost sacrificing himself alongside Chuck Hansen to destroy another monster, the fate of Earth rests entirely in Gipsy Danger. Raleigh and Mako execute a desperate plan to seal the interdimensional portal using the Jaeger's nuclear reactor. In a moment of supreme trust, Raleigh ejects Mako from the cockpit before triggering the meltdown that will vaporize their machine and close the Breach forever. This act ensures her survival while sealing away the Kaiju threat. As rescue helicopters arrive for the escaping pods, Mako emerges as a central figure in humanity's victory, having transitioned from a traumatized child survivor to a heroic pilot who helped save the world.

Origins of the Mako Mori Test

The Mako Mori test is a set of criteria pertaining to the representation of female characters within a film, television show or other work of fiction, inspired by the character Mako Mori from the 2013 film Pacific Rim. The requirements of the Mako Mori test are that a film or television show has at least one female character, that this character has an independent plot arc, and that the character or her arc does not simply exist to support a male character's plot arc.

The test was proposed by a Tumblr user named Chaila as an alternative to the Bechdel test. The Bechdel test requires that a film must have at least two female characters (in some cases it is stipulated that these characters must be named and credited), that these characters have an on-screen conversation with each other, where they talk about something other than a man or a heterosexual relationship that they are in. The Pacific Rim movies do not pass the Bechdel test, although they feature a strong female supporting character, and so the Mako Mori test was proposed.

Character and Representation

Mako Mori is a female, Japanese character, portrayed (as an adult) by Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi. Her character is described as being 'tomboyish' as a child, showing significant interest in her father's work as a sword maker. She is a part of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps' J-Tech division. Her character is celebrated by fans of the franchise and in academic circles as a successful representation of a strong and non-sexualised character who is both female and a person of colour.

Megan Fowler highlighted the subtleties of her character, and says she widens the spectrum for a greater and more realistic depiction of strong females in film. According to Cait Coker, in an essay called 'The Mako Mori Fan Club', she is heralded as a successful female character who does not conform to the common genre traits of over-sexualisation, and the common fetishisation of Japanese characters in Western media. Mako Mori is credited as an example of good female representation.