JPT1311 Anime Diary @chiikawawarrior - Tumblr Blog

JJK

Jujutsu Kaisen is far more than just a standard shonen anime because it addresses many serious subjects beneath its action-heavy exterior. One important theme is how society handles negative emotions, such as fear, wrath, and grief, and how suppressing or denying them can lead to more serious issues. These feelings literally take the form of curses that hurt other people in the Jujutsu Kaisen universe. This concept resonates well with Japanese culture, where social pressure and emotional control are frequently expected, sometimes at the expense of mental health. The message is also significant on a global scale: untreated stress, pain, and negativity impact not only ourselves but also those around us.

The anime also deals with loss, sacrifice, and the idea of what it means to live a meaningful life, especially through Yuji Itadori’s personal journey. He’s constantly asking himself why he fights, what it means to protect others, and how to deal with death — all questions that feel very real today, in a world where global conflicts, pandemics, and personal tragedies are an everyday reality.

Personally, I relate to the emotional struggles in Jujutsu Kaisen. Like Yuji, I’ve sometimes felt overwhelmed by responsibilities I didn’t ask for or by trying to live up to ideals bigger than myself. His determination to find purpose even in suffering feels inspiring and strangely comforting.

chiikawawarrior

Although you say Jujutsu Kaisen is not like a standard Shonen anime, I feel like I have to disagree with that statement. Many Shonen anime have the capacity to deal with mature and complex issues as well. Take Naruto for example, he faces discrimination from the Hidden Leaf Village and is ultimately able to overcome it. And although I don't think you watched the correct episodes, I think your insight on your personal life and Yuji's is meaningful. It can be difficult trying to maintain all of your responsibilities and goals at once, but it is important to not give up.

animeinsights-jpt1311

Akira

Watching Akira was definitely an interesting experience. Even though it was made decades ago, a lot of the problems it highlights still feel familiar. The movie shows a version of Tokyo that’s chaotic, overcrowded, and full of tension between different groups. In a way, it reflects Japan’s struggles during the 1980s, especially fears about rapid economic growth, political unrest, and how technology was changing everything so quickly. At the same time, these aren’t just Japanese problems. Today, almost every country is dealing with uncertainty about the future, the effects of technology, and how society can keep up. It’s weird how something so futuristic can still feel so current.

Akira also brings up the feeling of not really trusting the people who are supposed to be in charge. The government in the movie is either too weak or too aggressive, and the younger characters are mostly left to figure things out on their own. That idea feels pretty relevant today, too. Whether it’s climate change, social issues, or even how fast technology is advancing, it often feels like there isn’t a clear plan, and a lot of people my age are just trying to make sense of it all. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed sometimes when no one seems to have good answers.

I would not say my life is as extreme as what happens in Akira, but the sense of trying to navigate a complicated world on your own definitely hits home. It’s easy to relate to the characters’ frustration and confusion, even if the setting is way more intense.

Overall, Akira is one of those stories that might look wild on the surface but actually says a lot about real-world fears, both in Japan and everywhere else. It makes you think about how much change we can really handle, and who gets left behind when things move too fast.

chiikawawarrior

Hello, I liked how you incorporated the themes of Akira into the various issues we face in the real world today. As the world changes, it's hard to be sure of what's going to happen, and I myself feel threatened and uneased by the idea of ai taking away jobs from a lot of people. You also brought up the point that the citizens don't trust the government as much in the movie. I can definitely see that being applied in today's world, as we see people protest their respective governments for a multitude of reasons and remain skeptical of them.

lapspps

Violet Evergarden: Recollections

I have heard of this anime as I have seen some clips of it on YouTube. So, I have decided to watch it on Netflix. The anime is sad, to be honest. Maybe I can see why this anime is worth talking about. The anime is about a girl named Violet that is trying to recuperate after the war, and now works at a postal office where she writes letters for those that have no emotions.

In general, the anime deals with emotional loss and PTSD. Violet, in particular, used to participate in the war. And now, she is working as an Auto Memory Doll trying to help people communicate their feelings by letting them writing letters. Violet stands out to me as a character due to the fact that she is having trouble processing her emotions especially after the war. Also, she is having trouble understanding others and their emotions. When I think about it, she reminds me of the soldiers after serving in the war. They did not have time to do other things as they were focused on the war. Additionally, I don’t think emotions are allowed during wartimes. Maybe that is what most likely happened to Violet, but who knows. Either way, I think it is hard to get back to your normal state of emotions because war changes a person. This reminds me of Amuro Ray because war turned him into a cold, blunt soldier. Violet, on the other hand, seems to forget the importance of being human and having purpose.

Speaking of purpose, the anime also addresses that issue. While working as a soldier, Violet does lost her sense of purpose because of her experiences in the war. That is why she got hired as an Auto Memory Doll to understand what it means to be human and consider others’ emotions. Even then, she also tries to understand what the purpose of her clients through their letters. I think Violet trying to understand her purpose after the war relates to the show’s theme by raising some questions from Violet’s perspective. “What is it I am living for?, “What do they mean when they said this?”, etc. This may due to Violet used to be following orders in the war, overlying on others to make decisions for her. I think her logic relates to us in real life, because we usually depend on our peers for advice on choosing our career paths instead of choosing the career that aligns with our interests.

The moral of the anime is to not be afraid to show your feelings to others and take some time to explore what you really are. Also, do not be scared to talk to someone about how you feel after you experience a traumatic event. Overall, Violet Evergarden (and Recollections) is a must-watch for those who are trying to find their way in life.

chiikawawarrior

Hello, I liked how you compared Violet's experience to the PTSD of soldiers after a war, as well as emotional loss. The anime makes it clear that she does not seem to act like how a regular person would, with her sounding emotionally flat at times. Because war has been a big part of her experience in her earlier life, it makes sense that she would act this way, unable to show emotion. As you said, she learns to overcome this by becoming a doll and writing letters for others. I think this reflects a healing process within herself, and she learns what it means to be a human.

#28: Jujutsu Kaisen

Obviously I've heard of Jujutsu Kaisen before, and have watched a few episodes of it, but didn't really get into it. After watching the show, I thought the fight scenes were good, but it just didn't do it for me, and I can't say I liked any of the characters at all.

I can see how Geto in JJK relates to Shin Sekai Yori as he believes a world with no non-sorcerers would be the best outcome to the problem of cursed spirits. The non-sorcerers drag down the jujutsu sorcerers because they're weak and need protection. He solely believes that the sorcerers are superior humans and those that don't have this power are weaklings, calling them "monkeys". Similarly, in Shin Sekai Yori, we learned that the mole rat people were originally humans who did not have psychic powers, and in order for the espers to protect themselves from the death feedback, they had to make them inhuman and enslave them. By doing that, the mole rats have less of a chance to revolt against the espers, and the espers can easily protect themselves if a mole rat attacks them. So in a way, both of these anime have to deal with opposing populations and the issues that come with it. For a real world connection, I found Geto's ideology to be eerily similar to Hitler's, in the belief that there are "superior" humans. In this case, Aryans for Hitler and sorcerers for Geto, everyone else becomes an afterthought. How they go about their plans is also similar, with Hitler killing Jews, black people, and LGBTQ+ people, and Geto killing humans who can't use cursed energy.

I also found it interesting how in the anime they were basically relying on and using highschoolers to exorcise cursed spirits. Like I know they have adults who are also cursed energy users, but having a cycle of raising students to become sorcerers somewhat seems unfair for them. However, no one, sorcerer or not, should have to die in order for society to be safe.

#jpt2025jan

#27: Violet Evergarden

I remember hearing about this anime before, but didn't get into it because I didn't think I would like it. While watching it, I wasn't too sure of what was going on, but I was able to understand some ideas and points that were made. After watching the movie, I thought it was pretty average, for an anime so popular, I assumed it would be great, but I guess I was mistaken.

I think one obvious part of this movie were the effects of war. We learn that Violet was basically a child soldier and lost both of her arms. The effects of being raised as a child soldier are directly seen through the way the acts around other people. In one scene where Violet goes to a child in a hospital, the child comments on how odd she seems. Although it's not portrayed as a bad thing, undoubtedly, she acts differently from regular people as a result of only knowing war for a good chunk of her developmental years.

Gilbert in a way, repents for his actions in the war by helping out townsfolk who were affected. Because all the young men there were sent to war, he takes their place to help out in the town and teaches the children there how to read and write. He blames himself for making Violet unhappy and for making her the way she is, so at first, he refuses to see her, fearing he would only make things worse. In the end, however, he ends up chasing after her and they meet again on the shore. This part probably annoyed me the most, I felt that it would be better if they stayed apart. The way the anime presented their relationship was that Gilbert groomed her into becoming a soldier, and in order to atone for what he has done, stay away from her. Even though Violet so desperately wanted to see him, they should have stayed apart and healed on their own.

#jpt2025jan

#26: Akira

I have heard of this movie before, but didn't know what it was about. I do know that many animations have made references to the famous "Akira slide", and that this movie has some crazy body horror, but otherwise, I didn't know much. After watching, I'd say it was pretty confusing watch like evangelion, but google helped clarify some things for me.

I think one way in which this movie can relate to the topics in class is war and nature. We see that the "supposed" dropping of another nuclear bomb on Japan is what caused the 3rd world war to happen. I can see this movie being relevant for it's time as around 10 years before the release of the movie, there was the cold war. In the cold war, countries were at a standstill and lived in fear of another war happening, but this time with nuclear weapons, which would be devastating. Even after the war, and Tokyo has become Neo Tokyo, it's evident that life there is not necessarily good. It is full of issues such as a militaristic government, corruption, riots, drug use, and more. I think the message being pushed is that both war and nuclear war should be avoided, as it results in dangerous consequences.

For the nature part of the movie, I believe it is shown that humanity's selfishness and desire for power is what leads them to this destruction. Scientists in Japan tried to harness that power in a way, by controlling nature and experimenting on children. Those children gain psychokinetic powers and become a force to be reckoned with, especially one named Akira. The power Akira has goes out of control, and he causes the "atomic bomb" incident in Japan, leveling Tokyo off, and starting World War 3. In fear of this happening to the other espers, scientists created drugs to control the others from going out of control. Although the drugs are human-made, without them, it's game over and mass destruction is gonna happen. In the end, Tetsuo goes out of control and he causes a great amount of destruction, showing how humans trying to control nature will only end in disaster.

#jpt2025jan

#25: Hetalia Axis Powers

I have memories of watching a lot of this anime in middle school, but I can't remember how much I exactly watched. I do remember writing about this anime though for a discussion post in this class. It was nice seeing the short theme song for Italy and it brought back some memories and its interesting fandom.

Watching this anime, I can definitely see how it relates to the unit on representing war and history. We see WWII and the Axis Powers alliance as a lighthearted and fun friendship between the humanized countries. It also presents some historical references in a cute, funny manner such as the inflation Germany faced after WWI. I think this show would be great for people who already know history, but not so much for someone trying to learn it. This anime very obviously skips over some heavier topics such as the Holocaust, comfort women, and Japanese internment camps. These issues are a stain on these countries' records, and still very important to know. I can see why an anime like this would skip past it so that it can remain playful and chill for its audience. However, ultimately, I don't think this anime does a good job at representing war, but it is still a fun watch for those who enjoy history.

The anime also uses a lot of stereotypes for countries, such as Italy loving Pasta, Germany loving sausages, and America being an airhead who likes burgers. It reminds me of how in the real world people will often use stereotypes to make sense of something or use it to make fun of groups of people. Although I don't necessarily like stereotypes, I can see why shows would use them for comedy or entertainment as it's easy to generalize a group of people than understand the nuances.

#jpt2025jan

#24: Your Name

I've heard of this movie's name a lot but I haven't gotten around to watching it. Wasn't sure of what to expect, but I ended up really liking it, in fact, I think this is my most favorite watch for this class. Although body swapping not necessarily a new idea, the way the movie went about it was interesting, especially with the time travel twist. I also loved the bright, vivid scenes of color showing the meteor and night sky.

This movie made me think about the lecture on gender performance. When Mitsuha and Taki switch bodies, they are not seen as themselves. Although it's obvious that they would be seen that way since they are in different bodies, it is important to consider why. Taki in Mitsuha's body doesn't act like how a girl would, but rather, how a guy would. He is used to conforming to and performing masculine gender, so he does things that are normal to him. He acts rashly, plays well in Basketball, and is willing to pick fights. The same goes for Mitsuha in Taki's body, she acts more feminine, quiet spoken, and less brazen due to the fact that she is more used to practicing feminine gender. A scene that stood out to me was when Miki's skirt gets torn by the customers. Mitsuha asks to see the skirt and acts a little embarrassed since she forgets she's in Taki's body, but she sews it back up for her, an activity that is not typical for a man.

The end part of this movie also made me think about the lecture on the Japanese Workplace and NEETs. We see that Taki has joined the job search, the coming of age ceremony for the Japanese. Although he's not that good at interviews, he still tries to get a job. I think incorporating this part into the movie just shows how intertwined the workplace is with Japanese society to the point of showing it's importance in the time skip.

#jpt2025jan

ellaontumbler

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an open-world RPG game set in a time where the world no longer supports life. The world has turned into an endless array of clouds leading to deep sea. Land, animals and plants are pretty much extinct. The little life that is left have taken salvation on the backs of the titans, a gift from the architect who is attempting to revive the dwindling human race. Here we find the protagonist, Rex who is a young boy living on the back of a titan he calls Gramps. The titans unfortunately are mortal and Rex witnesses the population slowly dying off. This is terrifying as that is humanities only hope for survival for the time being. Rex is offered a job from the chairman, paying more money than he has probably ever seen. We then go along on this whole journey of trying to locate the safe haven of Elysium, a paradise where land and nature flourish in open space. One notable character is Klaus, the architect previously mentioned. Once a scientist in the ruined "old world," Klaus triggered the destruction of his universe when attempting to harness the power of the mysterious Conduit. Klaus’s failure to control the Conduit mirrors the unintended consequences of human attempts to dominate nature. His misguided attempt to create salvation through technology resulted in catastrophe, much like how real world solutions to environmental problems, such as carbon capture systems, often seem to be extensions of the same mindset that caused the damage in the first place. These technologies promise a fix but are based on the idea of controlling nature, rather than living in harmony with it. Klaus’s plan to restore the world, though flawed, leans toward the idea of reintegration. His goal is not domination, but cooperation, (a method we as a society today should be attempting) using Blades and Titans to find balance between humans and nature.

chiikawawarrior

Hello Ella, I liked how you compared Klaus' failure to humans trying to harness and control nature, I didn't see it that way until you pointed it out. Instead of trying to do that, I agree that we should find a balance between both, as it's important to preserve the environment. Nature should not have to suffer while humans become increasingly advanced. Klaus' fixing of nature illustrates how human cooperation is crucial in restoring nature. I find this to be true especially today in a world where nature can't fix itself, as seen through endangered species, loss of habitat, and more.

brianyuhhh

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a thoughtful reflection on how humans interact with the environment and what happens when that relationship is built on fear and misunderstanding. What stood out to me immediately was how most people in the film saw the toxic jungle as a threat to be eliminated, while Nausicaä approached it with curiosity and care.

Unlike the others, Nausicaä doesn’t react with panic or violence. She takes the time to understand the insects, the spores, and the forest itself. She reveals that the jungle isn’t killing the world but instead it’s healing it. The soil and water were poisoned by humans long ago, and the forest is slowly cleansing it. The insects, feared by almost everyone, are actually protecting the Earth’s recovery.

This message mirrors how our own world often reacts to climate issues with quick fixes or complete denial rather than listening to scientists or the planet itself. Nausicaä’s patience and respect for nature are exactly what we’re often missing in real life problems.

The film also says a lot about war and power. The return of ancient weapons, capable of massive destruction, is treated like a solution when it only create more damage. It reminded me how often violence is seen as the answer, especially by those in charge, even when peace and understanding could be a better solution.

This movie reminded me to be slower to judge and more open to listen. Nausicaä doesn’t just fight to protect the Earth. She fights to understand it and how it works. She is definitely a character with good intentions that is a good model for people.

chiikawawarrior

Hello, I liked your analysis on Nausicaa, and how you connected it to the real world experience of people not believing in climate change or trying to do a quick fix. I find that it's important that in order for climate change to be solved, we should all be on the same page about it, and be willing to listen to actual experts on what we can do to fix it. I also liked how you mentioned war and violence shown in Nausicaa, I noticed it too, and I think it shows just how destructive humans can be towards the environment and themselves.

#23: Xenoblade Chronicles 2

I've heard of this series before, and I know that one of its characters is in smash, but otherwise, I didn't know much about it before this viewing. Watching through all of it was a lot, and it was somewhat confusing, but I think I got the gist of it.

Throughout the cutscenes we see great animosity between a group of blades which includes the aegis Malos, and Rex's group. Malos believes that he must destroy the world and the humans along with it, as we are a plague on this world. The endless cycle of rebirth, death, and being used by humans for their own advantage is the fate of the blades, which Malos despises. I think this could tie back into the concept of instrumentality and nature. The blades represent nature, and the humans use those blades to inflict destruction and pain among one another. A world that is fully destroyed, no longer plagued with the destructive force of humans, would be the solution to human instrumentality towards the blades, and therefore, nature.

In Xenoblade Chronicles, the architect, after seeing how humanity had destroyed itself, tries to create a new world to save it, but in the end, he basically wipes out life on Earth. To atone for this, he created a new world, one with new life, but he didn't have high hopes for this world. He believed that his world too would fall into ruin at the hands of the new lifeforms, and so, he created the blades for protection. He ended up not doing anything when the blades were taken away, saying it was fate. I think this shows how humanity, because we are not perfect, will end up repeating our mistakes as we always do. In spite of this, he changes his mind and believes there is hope. This change in attitude shows that even if there are humans to ruin the world, we still have the power to change and fix our mistakes.

#jpt2025jan

#22: Nausicaa

Although I haven't watched this movie before, someone I knew really likes this movie and said it was the best Studio Ghibli Film there was. I was somewhat skeptical, for the Ghibli films I have watched, they weren't that interesting to me. After watching, I can definitely say that this movie was better than all the others and I really liked it.

While watching, I can see how this movie can relate to the real world. I think it was obvious that this movie is about the environment as the WWF logo popped up in the beginning. What I didn't expect was for Nausicaa to basically reveal that the plants weren't actually toxic, but it was soil and water that was toxic. Although I didn't see it coming, it basically told me that humanity, many years ago, must have poisoned the environment with all it's chemicals from industrialization, not caring that the environment is affected. From this, it backfired on them, and now the plants and environment have adapted, while humanity pays the price for their actions. With Nausicaa having that room where she raised the plants with clean water and soil, it shows how having a clean, unpolluted environment will be beneficial to both humans and nature. This is pretty relevant in today's age as people and animals have to deal with an increasingly polluted world affecting the environment.

In another part of the movie, it is revealed that underneath the poisonous jungle, the air is clean, and the trees within the jungle take in the toxins and petrify to clear the air. The bugs are responsible for protecting everything. The humans, seeing everything in their point of view, see the jungle as dangerous. With their destructive force, it's no wonder why the bugs and nature in general mostly reacted negatively towards human presence. It almost as if they're saying we don't want you here, because you're only gonna make things worse. I also think there's something poetic in making the warrior that can cause mass destruction human-like, and the bugs as the protectors. Bugs are often overlooked since they're small creatures, but by having them be the protectors of the forest, it shows that we shouldn't forget we share the Earth with all animals.

#jpt2025jan

leosdenial

Neon Genesis Evangelion- An Analysis of Masculinity (Part 1)

Neon Genesis Evangelion is another giant robot anime that focuses on a young boy's upbringing in a futuristic world driven by technology. The series delves into gender performance, focusing on both traditional and untraditional masculinity.

Shinji's character is quite unlike the other male characters in the show. When compared, he is very timid and quiet; he is a representation of "queer masculinity." As explained by Heasley in the assigned reading, queer masculinity has nothing to do with having a homosexual orientation. Rather, queer masculinity is often used to describe men that do not fit the standards of hegemonic masculinity, which I will discuss a bit later on. Men who display queer masculinity are often viewed as "lesser" than men who display dominance through their masculinity. Immediately in the first episode, it is evident that Shinji is not as confident or boisterous as the other boys. He shrinks in the presence of Katsuragi, a noisy female character. She encourages Shinji to embrace his masculinity at various points in the first two episodes, often telling him things such as "Deal with it, you're a big boy" and "Let's hear some backbone and confidence" when he is placed in charge of piloting his Eva, or Unit 01. Additionally, Shinji is different than other boys his age; take Aida and Suzuhara, for example. Both boys have expressed a poignant interest in the physical appearances of the women around them. When Suzuhara and Aida meet Katsuragi, Suzuhara calls her "a babe" while Aida expresses how lucky Shinji is for getting to share a room with an attractive woman. In the fifth episode, both boys ogle the girls in their class, and when they ask Shinji if he has been staring at anyone, he simply expresses his curiosity regarding Ayanami's loneliness. Furthermore, it is evident that Suzuhara both displays and accepts dominance through physical means. This is shown when Suzuhara asks Shinji to hit him as a form of punishment. Shinji's reluctance to hit him displays aspects of his queer masculinity.

Another notable aspect of this series is the stark differences between Shinji and his father. While Shinji displays his masculinity in an untraditional way, his father displays hegemonic masculinity. This traditional form of masculinity is meant to establish authority through force and little vulnerablility; often, it is used to keep women underneath men. Shinji's father shows no emotion to reduce vulnerability and acts very coldly towards his son to show that he relies on no one. When he called for Shinji in the first episode, he made it clear that he did not contact his son to revive any emotional connections, if there even were any previously. Eventually, Shinji's father pressures him to pilot the Eva despite all of Shinji's resistance; it is clear that Shinji does not want to be a part of Nerv's operation, let alone play a violent role.

I am interested to see how Shinji's relationships evolve throughout the series for the rest of this week's blogs and discussion, especially because he is rather different than the other men in terms of masculine presentation.

chiikawawarrior

Hello Leona, I really liked how you tied back the readings into the viewing of the anime. I also noticed how Shinji did not seem like your typical Male protagonist, with him being more quiet and softspoken, and I mentioned something similar in my own blog post. Shinji, representing queer masculinity, and his alienation from others, can show how isolating and punishing it is to just simply be different from the norm(hegemonic masculinity). Additionally, I liked how you mentioned the contrast between Shinji's and his father's behaviors. Shinji's father not showing emotion to him nor willing to connect back with his son shows how hegemonic masculinity rejects queer masculinity.

malloryblog425-deactivated20250

The End of Evangelion

The parting words of "The End of Evangelion" focus primarily on the autonomy of humankind and how people need to take control over their own journey to be set free.

What really stuck out to me in this film was the artistic choice to use the bare cross often in the transition between death and rebirth. The cross was featured around peoples necks, in the sky, and surrounded by Rei in the ending of the film.

I feel like The End of Evangelion was symbolistic to self-discovery. The broader message was that throughout all lonliness, death, stress, and confusion, there is somewhere that you can escape to and choose happiness. Once you take control of your own life and stop living in your dream, you can find peace.

It places a magnifying glass on everyday life, and questions why we are really here, why people feel the need to dream themselves out of reality, and why we suffer.

Asuka's death in The End of Evangelion, to me, was a representation of fighting against all odds. There was 3 minutes left on her clock, and she chose to fight with everything she had left in her instead of relying on someone else. She represented total autonomy in her final dying breaths. It was, to me, similar to watching the death of an ancient warrior.

It was mentioned in the LCL ocean that Shinjis one wish was to be merged with all souls. He wanted to live in a society that everyone was merged with one another, everyone was one. Whether that be by soul or heart, he wanted to find a community in his present life that would help him escape from division.

This film/series is psychological. It helps the viewer understand that despite struggle, trauma, and adversity, we can be one with one another and start anew.

chiikawawarrior

Hello Mallory I liked your interpretation of the events in End of Evangelion and how you saw it as self discovery. I think this could tie back into the lecture and how individualism is important, and how we need the existential "other". I also liked how you mentioned that it questions why people need to dream themselves out of reality. I think the dreams can give hope for people, as without it, life becomes bleak and meaningless. Hope gives people a reason to keep pushing forwards. You also pointed out all of the symbolism going on with the movie, I also noticed it and wonder how much meaning it brought to the movie.

lilshoopy-wrld

Blog Post: Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2

In the later parts of Neon Genesis Evangelion, the conversation around masculinity becomes less about external expectations and more about emotional survival. The male characters, especially the protagonist, don’t just struggle with pressure to be strong; they wrestle with what it means to feel anything at all. There’s this quiet undercurrent of fear running through the show, not fear of death or failure, but of emotional closeness. That fear of connection, combined with a deep craving for it, feels like a core part of how masculinity is portrayed.

What makes these episodes so intense is how they challenge the idea that emotional detachment is strength. In earlier parts of the show, there’s still some effort to maintain distance and keep things under control. But as everything begins to fall apart, we see how empty and unsustainable that kind of masculinity really is. The protagonist isn’t just tired. He’s hollowed out by years of avoiding intimacy, repressing grief, and constantly seeking approval from emotionally unavailable figures, especially his father. That quest for validation through performance, control, and utility is a trap that many men, especially in societies with rigid gender roles, fall into.

One moment that stood out to me involved a brief connection between the protagonist and another male character who offers him a moment of gentleness and understanding. That softness is immediately complicated and disrupted, leaving him even more confused about his place in the world. Masculinity in the series isn’t about dominance or toughness. It becomes a fragile and confused identity caught between emotional need and emotional suppression.

I’ve seen people in my own life, especially young men, bottle things up because they’ve been taught that needing others, or worse, depending on them, is weak. Evangelion doesn’t just expose the cracks in that mindset. It allows them to break wide open.

chiikawawarrior

Hello Sydney, I like your analysis of Evangelion and how you tie in emotions and the weakness of masculinity. Shinji losing Kaworu -- the only one to show him that having queer masculinity is alright -- reveals a deeper issue I think, between queer and hegemonic masculinity. To add on, it's clear that others try to make Shinji act like a "man", being less emotional, but in the end, it only perpetuates the dangers of Hegemonic masculinity and bottling up emotional issues. I also liked how to related this to a real life issue as well, it is sad to see that some people have no choice but to live like this, when they should not have to.

mireuvn

Convention Blog

The only conventions I’ve ever been to have been to SwampCon and Nerd U. Swamp con is a free convention hosted by the University of Florida. I was unable to attend this year but last year I went and had a lot of fun. I went with a bunch of my friends and we all dressed up as one piece characters. I’ve never seen that anime but it was fun to dress up with my friends in my closet cosplay as him. I really enjoyed the mascot for that convention and was shocked to see how good it was. The year I went to the con was circus themed and the stickers with the mascot on them had those symbols on them with things like text balls and pins. I don’t remember Every panel I went to at the con because it was a year ago but I distinctly remember three of them.

The first of the three panel I remember is a balloon animal making activity. This was really interesting as I learned a new “skill” from two cosplayers. They were dressed up as vocaloid characters which is an offshoot from anime but a similar type of fandom. This panel was a lot of fun and I was able to make a balloon dog.

The second of the three panels I remember is Just Dance Lore. It’s really interesting because this was an event by fans of Just Dance and not anyone affiliated with the game in any monetary way. The fandom is able to make their own private personal fiction from piercing together little findings and easter eggs from the games. I found this panel especially interesting due to this fact.

The last of the three panels I remember is photocard decorating. This has to do with K-pop which is another offshoot of anime and I would say they are cousins. People who are into anime are mos

t likely at least aware of k-pop. Fans of K-pop often collect photocards of their favorite idols then place them in protective sleeves then decorate those sleeves. This lets fans create personal fiction by allowing them to put together more of their fandoms. A popular fandom is Sanrio and by having stickers of those characters and putting them on photocards, fans are able to combine them or decide which characters their idols would like the most or even look like the most.

I’ve also been to another anime fandom event called Nerd U. It’s a convention based in Gainesville for black nerds and anime fans. I had a lot of fun at this event as well. The NerdU event I went to had a cosplay fashion show. I wasn’t dressed up for this event but I still found it very enjoyable. They had live performances from people who made music inspired by anime. A lot of the performers were rappers and they would have songs themed around certain anime or characters from those anime. This was especially enjoyable because it feels like you're a part of a certain club to be able to understand the references to things not everybody is a fan and accustomed to. I’ve had less experience in fandom than most for the amount of content I consume and enjoy to an above average percent.

Most fandom events and interaction happens online. There are things such as the Tumbler sexy man contest where people could compare their favorite attractive male characters to make their own personal fiction and share that with a group of people who are interested in the same things. Fandom gathering is important and a way to share your own personal fiction with others who won’t view it in a negative light.

chiikawawarrior

Hello, I think it is great that you had fun at these events! I also attended Swampcon for both days, but it was this year, and I enjoyed it. A group cosplay sounds very fun, and I would like to do that one day as well. The NerdU event also sounds great and the cosplay fashion show also sounds enjoyable, I can imagine it must be fun to see all the cosplays people did. I agree with your point on fan gatherings, and I think they're a great opportunity for people to spread ideas without judgement and most importantly, to have fun.

#21: Convention Blog

One of my experiences with fan conventions would be Megacon 2025, and in fact, it was my first one. I only went for one day and with three of my friends. To start off, it was pretty crowded, but as corny as it sounds, I felt like I was with my people. I was in a cosplay from a game I play, Sky Children of the Light(COTL), and it was amazing to see all the other cosplayers there, so I didn't feel left out at all. My friends also cosplayed, with one being Viktor from Arcane, and the two others wore their fursuits. We got a picture with Matthew Lillard, which I thought was pretty cool. Since there was a lot of people, I mainly just stayed on the first floor where the food court, vendors, and artist alley were. I didn't visit the other floors, nor did I attend any other panels, but I still had fun walking around with my friends on the first floor.

I split up with the group since two of them were getting another picture with an actor, so I was mostly walking around with my friend who did Viktor. We got lost and couldn't find artist alley for a bit since the convention hall was so big, but we eventually got there. I especially loved seeing everything the artists were selling, keychains, prints, pins, etc. I bought keychains and probably spent around $60+ on that alone, but it was so worth it. I found a few artists who were selling merchandise of the characters I liked, so I bought from them. I had to restrain myself from spending even more, but I was quite tempted.

While wandering around the convention center, I even ran into another friend and his girlfriend, and we walked around together for a bit before they had to go. One of the best parts about the convention was probably seeing another Sky COTL cosplayer. Although I wouldn't say this game is niche, it's definitely not as popular as others, and I thought I would be the only one cosplaying it. I'm happy that I was proven wrong and I had a friend snap a picture of me the other cosplayer together.

My second convention experience I had, was going to UF's very own Swampcon. For the first day, I dressed up as Kim Dokja from Omniscient reader's viewpoint, and on the second, I did Sky COTL again. This time around, I actually went to a few panels, including the furry one to support a friend. Even though the artist alley and vendor hall were smaller, I still visited it multiple times throughout the day and the next, it's just fun to see all the different art and merchandise each vendor sells. This time, I didn't spend as much, but I still ended up spending around $30+. I purchased a print for a friend, a sticker for my computer, and a small phone charm. I felt more bored during this convention, but that's probably because I didn't go to as many panels and wandered around more. I would have to say, one of the coolest parts of this convention was the maid cafe. I was somewhat skeptical of it at first, thinking it would be a little bit cringey, but I was proven wrong again. They served free refreshments, and you get to see a cool dance performance done by volunteers in maid and butler outfits. One of my favorite parts of the convention is being recognized in both cosplays, as I wasn't expecting to be recognized in either.

Overall, Megacon was a fun experience, but I'm not sure if I would go again since a ticket can be pretty expensive, and adding that on top of merchandise and other expenses, it can easily make this experience cost $100+. As for Swampcon, I'll definitely be going again since it's free and I'm already right in Gainesville.

#jpt2025jan

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