JPT1311 UF Blog

[locurset]

Hetalia.

Welcome back to 2014.

This blog post might be a little disjointed.

I remember this anime all too well. When I saw this was in the class page, the very last anime, a university class giving me actual credits for blabbing about the countryhumans anime, the anime about cute boys personifying Germany, Italy, and Japan during a certain time period, I thought I had gone insane.

Welcome back, Hetalia. I hate you. And I love you for that.

As a nice bonus, I had to explain to others in the class group chat what a "countryhuman" was, and how some of it aged quite well.

Welp. Let's just dive back into this shitstorm of an anime and the legacy it left on this cursed website. I'm so sick of watching anime.

Now, just from the description, this is very different than I remember. Actually, I'm not quite sure I remember what the plot was even supposed to be. It was mostly the meme anime full of bizarre 3d animation and just. Absolutely absurd scenes.

Like, I genuinely don't remember what Hetalia was supposed to be about.

Now, just to focus on what the lecture was about, Hetalia as an anime, as a concept, is going to be rife with stereotypes. Italy's whole personality is him liking tomatoes and pasta and generally acting incompetent. Germany is mostly pictured around the Nazi period, but he's one of the more likeable characters so this show is portraying a literal Nazi as good. Korea acts like a child who is jealous of his big brother Japan, France is gay af, America is the burger man, it just goes on and on. This anime is absolutely bizarre when I try to describe it, and at some point I realized I just couldn't stop laughing at the absurdity of it all. Hetalia as a concept satirizes these stereotypes, you're supposed to laugh at them and realize they're not true, it's just the artists messing around and poking fun at people who actually believe these stereotypes. But, as someone who was in the fandom around 2014-2018, I've seen a lot of people not really realize that if you believe in any of this, YOU ARE THE JOKE...

And then we segue into... COUNTRYHUMANS. The bastard child of Hetalia and Polandball. Once Hetalia's fanbase started to dwindle, a lot of people moved over to these horrible little creatures called countryhumans, and while it started out with the same ideas of satire like Polandball, it slowly gained younger and younger audiences and turned unironic. I'm not sure how the ol countryhuman fanbase is doing now, since I noped out of Hetalia (as well as Amino and Deviantart in general) around 2019.

Hetalia itself just also has a very confused tone. It never really addresses actual historical hardships or entire genocides, especially since it covers the time period of WW2 where you probably should actually address the elephant in the room or choose a different time period to have your cute and wacky beach episode. I won't draw the line at turning countries into cute twinks who act kind of homoerotic, but at least don't set it during a period where said countries are committing acts of evil.

I can definitely relate to the article in class. As I stated before, I absolutely despise Hetalia, yet I can't help but come back to it every once in a while, even if it's just to laugh at how stupid this anime is. It really does its job to stick in your head.

Also the fact that these beautiful gayboys are literal countries fighting aliens is just the cherry on top. I can't take this seriously. -5/10, I never want to think about this again (except perhaps 3 years from now when I remember it exists again)

[animetedworld101]

Hi! I also like how literal this anime is as it is so blatantly obvious that the exaggerations they are making is for comical reasons so there is no way for you to get truly upset at them even if you don't agree. Overall great post, and super interested about the concept of country humans!

[animetedworld101]

Hetalia

Hetalia was unlike any of the anime's that I have watched thus far but it was something that I had definitely heard about from peers because of its comical undertones. I initially had a very hard time graspong the initial concept, of all the different countries and even concepts like the Roman empire being embodied as actual physical boys, but as the episodes continued I started to understand the political satire that is a highlight of the show. However, it is without qualms as we have to understand that this show comes from a Japanese creator so some of the takes that are made were one's that obviously everyone in the world would not agree with. For example, in the episodes we were assigned to watch, the main characters seemed to be Germany and Italy and it was set in WWII. Something that I found quite weird was how Germany was portrayed, as historically this version of Germany would be Nazi Germany and he was portrayed as almost a protagonist like character. Additionally, the characteristics for the boy who represented Japan quite represented the ideals that we stated in Module 1 were false. He was reserved, almost collectivist like, and quiet. Personally relating to this film, I feel like whenever we think of countries around the world we also create a visual in our head of a typical person there and we end up projecting these kinds of stereotypes on to the inhabitants and governments of these places naturally. That is what I find the most interesting about this show is that it brings up what some of us already think in a satirical way while also showing the exaggeration of these stereotypes. In conclusion, I found Hetalia to be extremely entertaining although it does perpetuate some false ideas but I believe for a show like this it would be almost impossible not to.

[rushilsood]

Your Name is a film that goes beyond cultural and geographical boundaries, connecting with audiences everywhere. The story follows two teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha, who mysteriously swap bodies. This magical premise dives deep into themes of identity, connection, and the blend of personal and societal issues.

The film tackles several important issues within Japan and globally. One major theme is the rural-urban divide. Mitsuha’s life in a small, traditional town is starkly different from Taki’s fast-paced Tokyo life. This contrast reflects the ongoing struggles many Japanese towns face due to urban migration, leading to depopulation and cultural loss. Globally, it mirrors the challenges of preserving cultural heritage amidst rapid modernization. Another significant issue is disaster preparedness. The comet disaster in Your Name is reminiscent of real-life events like the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. It highlights the importance of memory and collective effort in overcoming such tragedies, a theme that resonates worldwide in an era of increasing natural disasters.

On a personal level, the film brings up feelings of nostalgia and a longing for connections that go beyond time and space. The idea of swapping bodies and lives, even temporarily, makes you think about the nature of empathy and understanding. It made me reflect on the everyday challenges and joys that others experience, deepening my appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Michel Foucault’s “The History of Sexuality” offers a unique way to analyze Your Name. Foucault’s method emphasizes the historical and social construction of identities and the power dynamics involved. In Your Name, the body-swapping can be seen as a metaphor for the fluidity of identity and how personal and social histories shape our experiences. The characters’ struggles with their new identities reflect Foucault’s idea that identity is not fixed but is continuously constructed through discourse and power relations.

[animetedworld101]

I also saw how the rural-urban divide was one of the most prominent themes in the anime and I think its take ends up devaluing the urban lifestyle. I think that there are many aspects of rural lifestyle that are extremely important for the human connection but it does not mean that you cannot find these aspects in a more urban area. Overall, I think that diversity of thought is one of the most interesting and important things to preserve globally.

[animetedworld101]

Your Name

Your Name was a super cute anime that intertwines romance and fantasy in a very much Freaky Friday esque way but with more reflection. One of the central themes of the anime is self-discovery and appreciation of one's life while also pushing yourself past your boundaries. The body-swapping element of the story, where the rural girl Mitsuha and the city boy Taki, wake up in each others bodies and live out their dreams of if they were in that setting. Connecting to the Foucalt reading, we can see parallels in the exploration of power dynamics. In Your Name, we see power exercised through multiple force relations rather than a single external authority. One example of this can be seen in the scene where Mitsuha is in Taki's body and uses the wrong first-person pronoun and gets corrected, a form of gender policing. We can see how this policing is not from a governmental authority but rather from Taki's peers as they correct him even on his local dialect. Personally relating, I think it is easy to want what you do not have. For example, when I am in Gainesville on campus it is easy for me to miss Atlanta but when I am in Atlanta I miss the small town feel of Gainesville. Additionally, I agree with the film in some ways about how small town values like relationships and traditions are extremely important for national identity formation to an extent. For example, when Taki is in Mitsuha's body he deeply appreciates the Shinto ceremonies that Mitsuha was embarassed about showing how if you reframe things in your mind you can find a deeper connection. By analyzing Your Name through the lens of Foucalt's theories on power and discourse as we can see the power dynamics and power of cultural narratives.

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

Going into Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the only knowledge I had previously was my exposure to some of the featured characters in Super Smash Bros and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. (Shulk was saur annoying to fight and then there were those two girls, but I don't remember their names lol). Besides that, I really didn't know much. I also assumed for how popular the franchise was, it would've gotten some sort of anime adaptation instead of relying on its multiple video games for its story. That's not inherently a bad thing, but just something I wondered about since Japanese video games sometimes do get their own shows, like Corpse Party or Castlevania.

I think Robert Schimelpfenig's way of thinking within The Drama of the Anthropocene is so flawed. As seen so many times throughout history, no amount of pro-environmental media will truly change everyone's minds and encourage them to take care of the Earth. It's sad, but it's the truth. Media like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind are powerful pieces of fiction that depict their characters' "risks and sacrifices" for their ruined worlds (Nausicaä has the toxic jungles, and Xenoblade has the cloud sea) as "heroic and honorable" but they will never truly grasp all of their audiences. Especially those who could truly make a difference to slow the processes of climate change or war.

[animetedworld101]

Hi! I do agree with your analysis that pro-environmental media is not capable of completely fixing our problems but I do think it is important for people to put out media for the mass population to consume that shows these dystopian futures that we would obviously not want to live in. I also think having main protagonists, like Nausicaa and Rex, that remain optimistic even though everyone around them has seemingly lost hopes shows that we should never give up in trying to better our planet as well.

[animetedworld101]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a super interesting video game that has expansive world-building involving a future in which the themes of survival, environmental degradation, and the consequences of technological advancement are intensely explored and addressed. The game's world is known as Alrest, and as the character states, humans used to all live in harmony in a great tree in the center of the world with their creator known as the Architect. However, the humans were cast out of their original world, Elysium, to live in the sprawling expanse due to destroying it by overusing a powerful energetic artifact known as the Conduit (definitely mirrors our overuse of energy). In a last plea of mercy, the Architect sent them the Titans in which civilization could live on the backs of these giant creatures. The Titans, just like our planet, are living beings whose health and wellness directly impact the humans health and wellness.

We enter the video game as the Titans begin to die, causing significant unrest and uneasiness over the future of human survival. I believe this mirrors issues in Japan and globally as we are running out of our natural resources yet we have no plan to replenish them as we are just simply using and taking these naturally made resources, like fossil fuels, too fast. The game's narrative echoes our current geological age, the Anthropocene, characterized by significant human impact on the environment. I can personally relate to the game's protagonist, Rex, as he tries to stay positive in the face of his planet being on the brink of ecological collapse. Although not as dire as the situation in Xenoblade, I also try to stay positive and do my part to not contribute to more waste in our world because I believe that if everyone develops a nonchalant attitude then there is no chance for us to bring back mutualism with our environment, like it used to be.

[loquaciousstrigidae]

Worldbuilding in Nausicaa of the Valley 

I must say, this movie absolutely enchanted me. My weaknesses include owls, bagels, and good worldbuilding—and gosh, was this just excellent! The setting of this movie was so inventive. I found myself lost in the intricate, alien world that was the Sea of Decay.  

The sea of decay and the plants that live in it too are also clearly inspired by different types of fungi, which was compelling to me. I noticed that these fuzzy-tipped ones looked like aspergillus oryzae when under a microscope. I also thought the scene with the snowing spores was such a clever idea and added some wonderful atmosphere—immediately showing the viewer the beauty of the Sea of Decay, even considering its lethality. 

I think that at times too, the Sea of Decay often behaves like the ocean with its tranquil, silent landscapes and gently suspended bugs. Creatures move so smoothly that it seems like they could be underwater. I am sure that it took quite the effort to produce all the nuanced bug designs, but they did an excellent job. 

And of course we Miyazaki cannot have a movie without including aircraft of some kind. Nausicaa’s glider is sleek and a lot of fun to watch animated. Because it is so thin, it has this really nimble quality to how it moves, which I very much enjoyed. 

It is a personal thing too, but I have recently been enjoying post-apocalyptic/disaster world building. I think it is fascinating to brainstorm ways that humanity still survives against dangerous phenomena and finds a way grow along or in opposition with it. The politics that arise with it too—like the different kingdoms inhabiting this movie—provide an exceptional piece of social critique. When I described this movie to my brother after finishing it, I told him how I imagined Nausicaa’s world to have so many more stories. I think when a piece of media achieves that sense of scope, it has really done something phenomenal. 

10/10

[animetedworld101]

I also was completely enchanted by this film which is honestly rare for me with animes (only Spirited Away has amazed me as much as this film). I never would have thought to do research on the type of fungi that was present in the jungle but it is super interesting to consider that these types of spore-forming fungi create a beautiful atmosphere while also releasing deadly poison due to the soil it is growing in. I believe we can see the almost human-like selflessness of the plants and insects in the jungle as they are growing in poisonous soil, created by humans, in order to protect humans by guarding the purification center beneath them. It is almost like the plants and insects know that humans cannot help themselves and are taking it upon themselves to protect them. I also completely agree with your last statement about how you were thinking of the endless possibilities and stories that have taken place in Nausicaa's world as I was as well. :)

[animetedworld101]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Woah! I seriously loved Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind so much and could clearly see its connection to environmental issues present globally today. The plot involves a jungle that people believe to be toxic and think that it is almost human-like, trying to take over the world and poison them all unless they find a way to get rid of it. However, Nausicaa is an almost "Snow White" esque character who has an immense connection to the jungle and the insects that reside in it, most specifically the ohms, and she finds out that the plants themselves are not toxic but the soil in which it grows. Furthermore, after crashing her glider into quicksand she ends up beneath the jungle and sees that the petrified trees have actually been responsible for purifying the water for her people and hence, the insects were actually protecting something that was helping the humans survive. The humans, besides the subjects of the valley of the wind, are so blinded by rage (like they believe the ohms to be) that they think that the insects are trying to kill them when in reality they are killing each other and could easily live with the insects in harmony if they took up vows of nonviolence. Personally reflecting on the themes present in this film of the importance of nonviolence and synchronicity with the environment, I see this as one of the most critical issues today. We think that by destroying the environment and building and extracting things that we think are "better" for us, like factories and oil drilling, we are ensuring a better future when in actuality if we just let the environment protect us like it naturally wants to do for the planet we would be better off. Another thing I just thought was interesting but could be wrong about was the baby ohm she saves from being used as a lure as a full circle moment from the baby ohm that was taken from her as a child, perhaps it was even the same one!

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - The End of Evangelion ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

I followed Neon Genesis Evangelion pretty well despite skipping a lot of episodes. The show was confusing, sure, but it posed a lot of interesting philosophical themes of self-hatred and fascinatingly illustrated biblical imagery. I even thought the ending of the original show was sweet despite its suddenness. I felt the characters deserved to learn to love themselves after the hardship they went through.

HOWEVER! The End of Evangelion movie confused the shit out of me! I thought the show was done? Does this take place after his self-love revelation in the last episode or before??? If so, why is Shinji now going insane again??? WHY DID SHINJI DO THAT IN FRONT OF ASUKA'S UNCONSCIOUS BODY IN THE HOSPITAL?????? WHY ARE A BUNCH OF ADULTS SEXUALLY HARASSING KIDS???????? (Insert defeated Shinji leaning over chair image here...) I just truly feel like I missed something here. I still don't understand what "The Promised Day" means, who Rei and her clones are in relation to Shinji's mom, why those black armored soldiers are attacking Nav HQ, or why Asuka and her Evangelion are going berserk.

I don't know... I feel like the original show put a lot of care into showing their characters' flaws, but also demonstrating that these flawed people were born from their terrible environment. Therefore, if they could accept their wrongdoings or learn to love themselves and others, they deserve to live peacefully. So is the movie trying to take back their claim or show the other side of reality? Is it saying sometimes despite bad environments, bad people don't try to change? Because End of Evangelion made a lot of their characters into suddenly shitty, violent people. It's fine to have those kinds of characters, but not so suddenly with no buildup. But that's just me, and like I mentioned, maybe I missed said buildup in the show.

At least those white, angel-like Evangelions are pretty cool design-wise. I have no idea where they came from, but I like their wings and hoverboard swords.

[animetedworld101]

Hi! I completely agree with being totally lost with the show and the kind of message that it was trying to create. I would think I got a grasp on it and then would lose it again at the next scene it seemed like. I really feel like looking at the show with the provided lens of "masculinity" was the only thing that could ground me as I knew what I was looking out for. I also agree with how the film sharply contrasts with what we thought we knew about the characters from the show as it completely removes the veil of a sympathetic viewpoint. As for your question about the meaning of the "Promised Day", I could be completely wrong but I think it refers to SEELE's "promise" to unify all human consciousness, represented by the white Evangelions.

[animetedworld101]

End of Evangelion

End of Envangelion was an extremely interesting/thought-provoking capstone to the series that left me with a lot of questions and confusion but an overall appreciation for the creation of this series. Going along with the theme of toxic masculinity, the opening scene really shocked me as it shows Shinji masturbating over the unconscious Asuka which just really sealed the deal for me struggling to like Shinji as a protagonist. I think that this was shown to be a harsh critique on otaku culture and its objectification of women showing that even a "queer masculine" man is subject to these atrocities. Additionally, his reaction after the fact of self pity for himself saying that he hates himself just really made me annoyed because I understand self-loathing and not being confident in yourself but at some point you have to put the effort in to better yourself. On the other hand, the main plot of End of Evangelion centered around the Human Instrumentality Project whose goal was to merge all human souls into one, unified consciousness to eliminate both loneliness and individualty. Going all the way back to Module 1 and the stereotypes associated with Japanese culture, we might think that since Japan is classified as a collectivist society that the Japanese director would think this was a good idea, but we see he indeed does not. In the end of the movie, Shinji is given the choice to either accept or reject Instrumentality, and he chooses to reject it. This can be seen as a pivotal moment in which we see the usually wallowing, indecisive, and unconfident Shinji actually choosing to preserve individuality, basically saying that he understands the importance of individual identity no matter how painful. On a personal level, this film resonates with anyone who has compared themselves to others or thought that things might be better if we all thought the same, like the Human Instrumentality Project. However, the film illustrates that individuality, although sometimes harmful, is neccessary because the human desire for connection, creativity, and self-expression will always win out.

[abhiramanimeblog]

Evangelion Part 2 and Masculinity

Continuing my first viewing of Evangelion was rough. I enjoyed the introduction of Asuka and the fight against the shadow angel but the conflict with Kawaru and the last episode threw me for a loop. It is very confusing to skip the episodes, but it was still enjoyable nonetheless. However, for this blog, I want to continue talking about masculinity in Evangelion.

We see the theme of the woman in Evangelion being given typical Hegemonic masculine traits with Asuka. She is very headstrong and confident and loves to engage in violent acts with the Eva. These traits fit the typical male mecha anime protagonist but are instead given to Asuka a female side character. Her introduction makes the lack of masculine traits that Shinji shows even more apparent and makes him even more out of place with another character to comment on his lack of masculinity.

In the next episode assigned, we see that Shinji starts to resolve to act more masculine in his life. When he is sent off to fight the shadow angel he tries to take charge and show the other characters how it's done, even stating that fighting is man's job. Through these actions, Shinji aims to switch the narrative and make him more in line with hegemonic masculinity, but in a cruel twist of fate, his tactic fails. The show angel is immune to his brute force approach and he is sucked in. He then is forced to take a fetal position and pray for the women to come and save him which shows that he cannot his queer masculinity. He is eventually saved by the eva showing he cannot do anything himself.

Finally, Kawaru is an enigma in the story. He is a character that has those same queer masculine traits Shinji has, but he is not isolated for them like Shinji is. This makes him want to be closer to Kawaru, but it turns it that the reason he was able to act the way he did was because he was not human at all and had no need to feel any isolation like humans feel. This hurts Shinji and shows that queer masculine people cannot really find acceptance in a male masculine world.

In my life, I can relate to Shinji trying to act more masculine and failing. I can recall many times in my life when I tried to act tough only to fall flat on my face and show that I am not that guy which is similar to what Shinji was trying to do and what happened to him apart from the alien womb part.

Overall, Evangelion represents the struggles of a queer masculine man in a hegemonic masculine world. It represents these themes through Shinji's struggles and his inner conflicts. It is a series I would recommend to watch fully through.

[animetedworld101]

Hi Abhira, your analysis of this second part of Evangelion is extremely insightful and had me thinking about a number of things. I also noticed how Asuka's introduction sharply contrasts with Shinji's character and parallels how a male and a female approach the adoption of traditional masculine traits differently. The image of Shinji in a more submissive fetal position, praying for help, is not how we typically see male protagonist "hero-type" characters. Kaworu’s characters piggybacks off of this idea, and he seems to have more self-confidence in his identity, which contrasts with Shinji's struggle showing that not everyone struggles through the same thing, yet this does not make Shinji's struggle any less valid. Given his unearthly nature, Kaworu transcends human isolation, forcing us to reckon with how difficult it is to possess queer masculinity in a world defined by oppressive norms.

[animetedworld101]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 2)

This second half of Neon Genesis Evangelion continues to explore masculinity in a unique way while also touching on new topics with the introduction of characters. In episode 8, we are introduced to a new female character by the name of Asuka, who is an extremely confident and bold German pilot. Her character embodies a strong component of both Japanese and American culture which is the immense pressure to continously excel and compete with your peers. Relating personally, I also struggle with feeling imposter syndrome at such a good university and needing constant reassurance and validation that I am doing enough and am not behind my peers.

Then we see more of the psychological torment of the characters, specifically Shinji, as he faces an Angel that forces him to look inwards which addresses the mental health challenges that people, including men, go through. Episodes 24 and 26 are crucial as they confront major themes of existentialism and the human connection. Specifically in episode 24, we are introduced to Nagisa, a replacement pilot for Unit-02, who confronts Shinji to learn more about love and acceptance. Relating to the readings, Connell's commentary on hemegonic masculinity is evident in Shinji's character again and the female character of Asuka. For example, Asuka attempts to embody these societal standards for "masculine traits", attempting to be more assertive and dominant highlighting that she thinks these characteristics equate to being more successful and respected. As I mentioned in my last post, Shinji's vulnerability and introspectiveness challenges these ideals blurring the lines of conventional masculinity and heterosexuality. I believe this second half of Neon Genesis Evangelion continues to address the issues that come with traditional or "toxic" masculinity and how breaking the barriers of gender norms can actually lead to more satisfaction than just accepting what society deems as acceptable.

[owen-bw]

My Convention Experiences

I have been to multiple anime conventions in the past. In 2021, I lived in California for a year due to my military service, and there I took full advantage of the plethora of large cities with great opportunities for anime conventions. The first convention I ever went to was Animanga. This was right as Covid-19 restrictions were beginning to be lifted and this convention was one of the first in California to be held in a long time. Because of this, the attendance there was far greater than the convention was expecting. The three friends I was with and myself waited probably 3 hours in a massive line before we were even able to get in. It reminds me of the scene in Genshiken where they waited hours in the rain for a similar convention. Once we were inside, we finally got to experience what the convention had to offer. We were met with countless cosplayers, rows and rows of booths and an overall fun atmosphere of people with shared interests. Here is a picture of some super awesome cosplays of characters from My Neighbor Totoro we saw.

The main part of almost every convention is the artist/merchant alleys where countless rows of booths carrying huge amounts of original art, manga, and props that can all be purchased. Browsing all the merchandise and seeing things from our favorite shows was definitely the highlight of the experience. I’m not usually one to buy a lot of things at conventions, but I always try to get at least a T-Shirt when I go. At Animanga, I ended up buying a T-Shirt featuring Guts from Berserk.

I have always wanted to cosplay, and unfortunately I didn’t have anything prepared for my first convention experience at Animanga, but when my friends and I found out about another upcoming convention in Sacramento called SacAnime, we wanted to make sure we had something prepared. One of my good friends at the time got me into Fire Emblem: Three Houses on the Nintendo Switch, and I decided to get a cosplay together for Dimitri, which I think turned out pretty well. Here is me (left) along with a woman we met cosplaying as Sothis from the same game (middle) and my friend as Byleth (right).

SacAnime was a much larger convention than Animanga, with cosplay competitions, guest speakers, and of course a massive merchant alley. It was really an incredible experience getting to witness and be a part of otaku culture and see how people engage in fan productivity through cosplay and original art. I think that anime conventions are really something special, as many people who engage in otaku culture are often fairly introverted (speaking from experience) and these conventions motivate others to engage in fun social events with others who share similar interests.

I have been to several other conventions after I moved to North Carolina, including two with my wife and one that we both cosplayed at. We decided to cosplay as Meliodas and Elizabeth from The Seven Deadly Sins as it was an anime we had both seen and enjoyed. This particular photo is from Animazement in Raleigh, NC (2022).

I really loved engaging in fan productivity though cosplay and although it’s been some time, I’m excited to hopefully cosplay again sometime in the future. Like we learned in class, cosplay is a way for fans to “take ownership” of a fandom in a way. It is a form of expression for something we love where we want to genuinely attempt to embody what we love. It’s always fun to see all the reactions from people who love the same anime, and my wife and I had many people approach us and ask for photos. I think that shows that it really is a shared mindset that those of us who engage in otaku culture carry, and we are always happy to see others expressing something we hold a shared love for.

[animetedworld101]

Your experience at various anime conventions is super exciting and insightful as someone who has never personally gone! Attending events like Animanga and SacAnime offers such a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in otaku culture and connect with others who share your passions like what was portrayed in Genshiken. It seems like you were able to really find a community of like-minded people and express yourself through cosplay. . Starting with no preparation at Animanga and then stepping into the role of Dimitri from Fire Emblem: Three Houses for SacAnime shows your journey into fandom and how passionate one can get. The way you highlight cosplay as a form of fan productivity resonates deeply, as it indeed allows fans to "take ownership" of their favorite animes and express their love and passion! Thank you for sharing your journey—it's a testament to the power of fandom to bring people together and foster lasting connections, especially getting to experience it with your wife.

[theanimetedworld]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 1

I really enjoyed Neon Genesis Evolution, at least the first few episodes, with a concept that I absolutely love. Giant robot anime, especially older ones, hold a special  place in my heart and are my favorites to watch. When I saw we were assigned this anime, I got really excited as I have always wanted to watch it but just never found the time. This anime starts with a young boy named Shinji being summoned to work for NERV, the company that his estranged father works for and is entrusted with the mission to protect society from destructive beings called angels. Masculinity and toxic masculinity are issues that are extremely prevalent throughout this anime, with Shinji not being the epitome of what some people believe to be “a real man”. Shinji is thought to be basically a wimp. He is always scared, nervous, and extremely indecisive. Growing up without his father seems to be a point in this anime, as he now seeks validation from others due to not having his father there to validate him as a child. This anime shows that masculinity is a stupid concept as the main character, who is thought of as being too feminine, still is able to pilot the Evangelion suit and help to save the world from the Angels. This issue is talked about a lot today as discussion around gender norms is very common. I personally believe that masculinity is such a stupid thing to focus on as we should just let people be themselves in every situation. Toxic masculinity is also very dumb in my opinion; nobody is cooler or better than anyone just because they act tough or unafraid. Overall, I really enjoyed Neon Genesis Evolution because of the awesome concept and technology as well as the great characters.

[animetedworld101]

Hi! I completely agree with your analysis on how Neon Genesis Evangelion comments on toxic masculinity and how masculinity does not actually equate to more success in the world or "toughness" which is something that some of society still believes. Shinji's struggle for validation I believe does indeed stem from his lack of a relationship with his father and their estragement. Additionally, your point about letting people be themselves is spot on as when Shinji is truly himself is when he shines. By presenting a protagonist that does not fit the traditional mold of masculinity but is still the hero, encourages viewers to change their perceptions on gender norms. I appreciate your insightful take on this anime!

[animetedworld101]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 1)

Neon Genesis Evangelion was one of those anime's that I had heard a lot about but had no idea what the premise was. Episodes 1, 2, 4, and 5 introduce us to Shinji Ikari, a dependent and introverted boy that is the pilot of the giant Evangelion Unit-01 that is tasked with protecting humans from huge mysterious beings known as Angels. Relating to issues in Japan, Shinji embodies the "Hikikomori" phenomenon as he grapples with existential angst and mental health issues, sometimes just wanting to withdraw from society. Relating to the readings, Connell's "Relations among Masculinities" and Heasley's "Queer Masculinities of Straight Men", we can use the lenses provided by these articles to analyze Shinji's characters. For example, in the first episode a woman, Misato, saves Shinji, a man, from the angel attack by swooping in with a nice car and picking him up as he lay scared on the ground, a typical male move in media. Additionally, during the N2 mine attack she shield him from the blast breaking traditional gender roles of the man covering the women from danger. We can see that Shinji's character definitely challenges traditional notions of hemegonic masculinity, the ideal that men are culturally dominant characterized by the promotion of attributes such as toughness and often marginalizing alternative identities. Watching these episodes, I cannot personally relate with the struggles of masculinity but I can definitely see this evolution occurring globally and I think that it is a good thing to remove the societal pressures that go hand in hand with masculinity. Shinji's character shows that there is strength in vulnerability and dealing with traumas and emotional pressures. This subversion of traditional masculinity in the main protagonist character who is still capable of great strength by aligning with contemporary discussions about masculinity.

[animetedworld101]

Convention

Fandom is an extremely powerful cultural phenomenon that has the ability to shape identities, create communities and safe spaces for people to explore their passions, and transcend geographical boundaries fostering global unity. Unfortunately, I have never attended an anime convention so I am not able to write this blog post from a first-person account. Instead, I explored the world of anime fandom through the lens of the "True Otaku" documentary, which provides an in depth analysis of otaku culture by looking at Otakon in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The first part of the documentary helps us gain a grasp on the term "otaku" and its significance in defining anime convention attendees. The different definitions given by some of the convention attendees boiled down to someone who is a fan of or has extreme interest in anime and/or manga and popular culture in general. This film explores the journey of the otaku culture and population from something that was highly stigmatized in Japan to something that now contributes greatly to Japan's soft cultural power, "Cool Japan", and culture. This shift from marginalized to being a big aspect of one's country mirrors trends that have taken place in the United States and around the world as trends do not become widely accepted until the mainstream picks it up. 

One of the main takeaways that I took from this film is how anime conventions provide a place for these fans to find a community of people with similar interests and a safe space for them to openly be passionate about what excites them. The host of the documentary stated that in 2010 there were more than 29,000 fans in attendance at Otakon, illustrating the immense breadth and reach of this interest. In a world where social media is the main form of keeping up with cultural trends and ideas, it is super refreshing to see these otaku's actively seeking out face to face engagement and feeling pride with putting on elaborate costumes and showing them off to people who have appreciation for it. This sense of belonging is crucial for identity formation, especially at the formative years of young adulthood and adolescence when individuals are exploring who they truly are. 

This documentary also highlights the economic impact and importance of anime fandom. As I stated before. anime and manga have been absolutely crucial in Japan's soft power while also opening up pathways for cross-cultural communication between the United States and Japan. Thus, fandom has created a safe network and relationship between the two countries deeply rooted in appreciation for the arts. Additionally, the otaku market encompassing anime, manga, and all of its associated merchandise is a multi-billion dollar industry. Hence, we can appreciate that anime fandom is not only a cultural phenomenon but an extremely important economic driving force for all the economies that participate. However, some otaku believe that this commercialization leading to the acceptance of anime fandom as mainstream might dilute the essence of otaku culture. 

One of the main aspects of fandom that I am most fascinated by is the creativity related to fan production and reproduction through cosplay, fan art, and fan fiction. Engaging in fan production allows individuals to actively participate in the creation and circulation of content while also placing a signature mark that is important to them. This aspect of fandom deeply resonates with the idea of cultural identity formation as it allows individuals to explore different facets of their identity and experiment with different forms of self-expression. For instance, cosplaying as one's favorite character can be a way for fans to embody their favorite traits or characteristics that they are not able to display in their everyday life. This aligns with Judith Butler's notion of performative acts, where identity is seen a something that is created through repetitive action performances, like cosplaying. 

In conclusion, watching "True Otaku" provided me with a deeper understanding of both anime fandom and its contribution to cultural identity formation. It is clear to me now that fandom is more than just a hobby and it is actually a vibrant and vital community to the individual, nation, and world.

[blogs-no-giggles]

Sailor Moon and the Girl Power Reflection

  I kind of like this show. It has a cool plot of the protagonist Usagi defeating a kind of monster in each episode of the show. The monsters themselves also served as societal problems that Japan or even our culture is experiencing. It definitely has characteristics of Girl Power shown in the show as the main protagonist is literally Usagi, a middle-school school who suddenly gets involved with the supernatural world and starts fighting bad guys.

  The show starts off with an interesting scene of Usagi overslept her alarm and being late for school. She later finds Luna, which is the magical cat in this movie. She was missioned by a mysterious force to find all the Sailor Guardians in order to protect the city from a mysterious evil force that is outside of humanity. When Usagi first found Luna, Luna was being harassed by the middle-school kids, Usagi jumped in and saved her. She then tore off the bandage on her head which revealed a crescent-like mark on her head. It was later on she discovered that Luna could talk and was able to transform Usagi herself into Sailor Moon to protect the city from the monsters.

  The show has many parts of Girl Power in it. It doesn’t stand against what history presumed to be women’s traditional characteristics but empowers it. For instance, the Anime uses the girls as the Sailor Guardians. They still retain much of the female characteristics such as being kind, caring, sweet, and emotional, but the show enhances those traits and strengthens them into Sailor abilities, in a way for them to also be the heroes in the show whereas traditionally in the past, it was mainly male characters. I like the general plot of the show, even if we had to skip parts of the episodes, the plot per episode helped me understand the general idea the show is trying to convey.

[animetedworld101]

I like how you touched on how the show chose to retain the traditional characteristics of women, but transformed their character into one of power. I think it's important not to dismiss these traits, but empowering them is a step in the right direction. The Sailor Guardians are mirrored in the past and present by second-wave feminists in our world today as wanting to retain their femininity, but also demanding equality and empowerment. Thank you for sharing your ideas and I appreciated your perspective on Sailor Moon.