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[aidansanimetedworld]

Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers and Sensōron

Watching these three anime make me reflect on how Japan grapples with memory identity, and responsibly. These ways seem specific but also widely relatable. Your name stuck out to me on an emotional level. The idea of two people connected across time and space due to a disaster kind of feels like a metaphor for how the past shapes the present. The comet disaster echoes real events like March 11, 2011. This makes me think about how places like Japan, but similarly all over the globe have to live with constant awareness that the world can change overnight. Like the hurricanes in Florida where I live, and how the affects of these things linger long after the disaster.

Hetalia was more complicated. It seems lighthearted and absurd, but beneath these jokes, it is also a reminder of how national identities can be stereotyped and how we keep performing these stereotypes. It was odd to be laughing at things like World War II and imperial histories but maybe that discomfort is part of the point. It trivializes real conflict, but shows how easily history can become cartoonish if we don't look closer.

Reading Sensōron helped tie these feelings together. The essays confront how Japan remembers war, what is forgotten, what is rewritten and how peace gets tangled up with denial. That makes me look at these anime in a different way. Maybe it is harmless fun, but it is also demonstrates how complicated it is to carry painful history in pop culture.

All together these anime make me think about shared trauma, it romanticizes, forgets or mythologizes it. On a personal level, it makes me think about how people rewrite their own past and choose to forget certain things to make life more comfortable to live.

[icadive]

Hi, I hadn’t fully considered how the show’s lighthearted approach to serious history might actually be intentional. The way you described the discomfort of laughing at topics like World War II made me reflect on how media can use humor not just to entertain but also to expose how easily we forget or distort the past. That discomfort you mentioned feels necessary. It forces us to notice how normalized these simplified views of history have become, especially in pop culture. I think your reflection helped me see Hetalia as more than just a comedy, but also a reminder that what we laugh at often says something about what we choose to ignore.

[icadive]

Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and Sensōron Review

Watching Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and learning about Sensōron helped me see how anime can shape how people think about identity, community, and even politics. These shows do not just tell stories. They also reflect ideas about who belongs and what values are worth holding onto.

Your Name surprised me the most. I used to see it as just a romantic film with great animation. But after this module, I noticed how the movie really supports traditional values. Taki, the city boy, becomes connected with Mitsuha only after he goes to her town, drinks the ritual sake, and accepts rural traditions. Even the town’s safety depends on old tools like sirens and announcement towers. The film seems to say that progress and modern life are not enough. To survive and be whole, people need to return to old customs and their local roots.

Hetalia felt more confusing. At first, I thought it was just a silly comedy. But then I noticed how it makes jokes out of serious things like war and national trauma. Germany is shown as calm and responsible, even though he represents a country with a difficult past. That felt strange. Still, I liked how the fan community did not ignore these problems. Fans talk about the show’s flaws and help each other think about them. That gave me hope. It showed that people can enjoy something and still think critically about it.

The Sensōron discussion tied everything together. It explained how anime can share messages about the nation, identity, and connection without being completely one-sided. Even when something promotes tradition or national pride, it can also give space for new meanings. I now understand that anime can be both limiting and freeing. It depends on how we watch it and what we take from it.

These three examples taught me that media can reflect more than one idea at once. And if we look deeper, we can find meaning that connects to our own lives.

[aidansanimetedworld]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Watching these anime reminded me a lot of the contrasts between nature and technology. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind feels like a warning about the possibilities of environmental destruction. The Sea of Decay is toxic but also symbolically beautiful. It is a reminder that nature regenerates even when poisoned by human carelessness. It reminds me of Avatar in that way, specifically the game Avatar Frontiers of Pandora. The RDA is trying to take over Pandora, the world of the Na'vi, and the planet works to recover after parts of the RDA are taken down. In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the Titans and Cloud Sea feel related to parts of the world Nausicaä. Ancient beings that literally carry human civilization on their back. the slowly are dying of exploitation. Both stories exemplify the anxieties that feel not only Japanese but global. Although, Japan, an island rooted in a long history of natural disasters and postwar industrialization, and the atomic bombs. The ideas that our survival hinges on respecting the balance we keep destroying is so painfully relevant in todays world.

Personally, these works made me reflect on how detached my own daily life is from the land I live on. Driving around in a car, use electricity, eat packaged food, etc, all without seeing the real cost it has on our environment. Nausicaä's empathy for every living thing made me question how I could live more gently. In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the theme of inherited mistakes resonated too, how we carry forward problems we didn't create but have to fix anyway.

One connection I keep thinking about is how both stories blur the line between savior and destroyer. The same humans who poison the earth also hold the power to heal it. That contradiction feels very honest, its a very grey area seemingly without heroes or villains and a hope that we change before we lose everything.

[icadive]

Hi, Your point about how both stories blur the line between savior and destroyer really stood out to me. I think that contradiction feels very real in the world we live in. We often talk about saving the planet, but many of the tools we use to fix things still come from systems that harm it. Like you said, driving around or buying packaged food feels normal, but those habits are part of the same cycle that hurts the earth. I think the way Nausicaä and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 both present humans as part of the problem and the solution is honest. It does not give us a clear villain to blame. That makes me think more deeply about my own habits and how even good intentions still carry risks. The grey area you mention reminds me how careful we have to be going forward.

[icadive]

 Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review

When I watched Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, it really changed how I thought about the relationship between humans and nature. I used to see nature as something that humans had to manage or fix. But the film made me see it as something that already has its own way of healing. The moment when Nausicaä finds out that the plants are not poisonous by themselves but are actually cleaning the toxic soil made me pause. It made me think about how quick people are to label something dangerous without understanding the full picture.

The lecture helped me understand the deeper meaning behind that scene. I learned about the real Minamata disease in Japan, where pollution caused serious damage to people’s health. That made me realize the jungle in the movie was a symbol of how nature tries to repair the damage caused by humans. Instead of blaming nature for being dangerous, we should be asking how we contributed to the problem.

I also found Nausicaä herself to be really inspiring. She’s not powerful because she’s strong or aggressive, but because she listens and understands. When the Ohm are in a frenzy, she doesn’t try to fight them. She shows compassion and puts herself in danger to calm them down. That moment reminded me of the idea in the lecture about her being a Christ figure. She sacrifices herself to save others, both human and non-human.

What I liked most is that the movie doesn’t give easy answers. It’s not about saving the world with some magic solution. Instead, it made me reflect on how sometimes the best thing we can do is avoid making things worse. Nature isn’t something that always needs us to fix it. Sometimes it just needs us to stop harming it and let it recover.

[aidansanimetedworld]

Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion

Watching these two animes was like sitting in someone else's unfiltered, disjointed and painful mind. The show had existential chaos and that resonated with me in a way. I didn't grow up in post-bubble Japan, but the sense of anxiety, isolation, and disconnection that the series confronts feels just as present in this generation.

The constant tension between human connection and self preservation really struck me. Shinji's struggle to find a reason to exist, any kind of external validation that he matters. Mirrors thought that I think a lot of people carry to themselves silently. I feel like our world measures worth by productivity so projecting outward strength really matters so people most likely don't feel comfortable showing their weaknesses to the public. The Evangelions themselves, machines piloted by broken kids, are like a metaphor for how we armor ourselves to keep going through struggles.

The End of Evangelion was disturbing yet fascinating. The line between individual identity and collective existence was completely blurred. Instrumentally it felt like a both horrifying loss and a relief. An escape from the pain of separateness, but at the cost of being truly being an individual. It made me think about Japanese social cohesion and the suppression of ones self for the group. But globally, it is just as relevant, we're constantly negotiating how much how ourselves to share or to hide.

For me personally, it kind of made me question my own need for validation and what that consists of, and also, whether isolation is every truly protective. These two animes don't give any easy answers but maybe that is the point.

[icadive]

I think your point about productivity and hiding weakness really stood out to me. You're right that Shinji doesn’t get a lot of praise unless he does something useful, and it says a lot about how we treat people in real life too. The way you said Evangelions are like armor we use to push through problems made me think about how people sometimes distract themselves with work or school just to avoid dealing with how they feel. I also liked how you brought up the cost of being part of a group. That scene at the end where Shinji’s sense of self falls apart shows how scary it can be to let go of individuality. I agree that the anime gives no easy answers, but it still made me reflect a lot.

[icadive]

EVA review

After watching Evangelion, I kept thinking about what it’s trying to say about masculinity. Shinji isn’t the usual type of anime hero. He doesn’t want to fight. He’s scared. People in the show act like something is wrong with him because of that. His dad, his classmates, even Misato push him to fight in the robot like it’s the only way he can be worth something.

The lectures helped me understand this better. They explained that what Shinji is going through isn’t just about him being “weak” or “emotional.” It’s about how our society has certain ideas of what it means to be a man. Like being strong, aggressive, and good at using violence when needed. This is called hegemonic masculinity. The show uses Shinji to challenge that idea. He can’t fit into that mold, and it’s not because he’s broken. It’s because the mold itself is too limiting.

Then Asuka shows up. She’s aggressive and good at fighting, and even though she’s a girl, she fits the idea of masculinity more than Shinji does. It’s kind of ironic. She makes fun of Shinji, and it just adds more pressure on him to act like a “real” man. But he still doesn’t fit in.

When Kaworu shows up, things shift. He’s kind, soft, and emotional, just like Shinji. But unlike Shinji, he’s confident about it. For a moment, it looks like Shinji found someone who proves that being gentle and emotional can also be strong. But then he finds out Kaworu isn’t human. That hits hard. It’s like the one person who made Shinji feel okay about himself was never part of the same world to begin with.

In the end, Evangelion doesn’t offer a clear answer. But it makes us think about the cost of forcing boys into a narrow idea of manhood. Maybe we need to stop asking boys to be “tough enough” and start letting them just be themselves.

[eliacker]

Fan Convention

Recently, Lionel Messi moved to Miami to play for the soccer team Inter Miami. Eventually, his kids began to play for the academy team run by Inter Miami association. One day there was a mass email going out to all Azzurri players that Messi’s son was going to be playing against my cousins team, on our local fields. Everyone was very excited to meet Messi and many people in the soccer community began posting about it. However, when I showed up on game day, the parking lot was already full, 30 minutes before the game, and people were parked all over the road and grass. I made my way to the field, which was already packed with kids. Throughout the area, there were also tents strewn about selling Messi memorabilia. After I arrived at the bleachers, there was an announcement made from the crowd that Messi was in the bathroom, and within seconds and ensnaring mod was sprinting towards the bathroom all feeding off of each others energy. Then me and my friend decided to sit down on a bench and not run over, and behold we were sitting next to his wife and children who we began to talk with and they told us he took off in his car because of the danger and overwhelmingness of this crowd. My friend was eventually able to get a photo of Messi after he came back to the field. However, he was once again swarmed and he ended up leaving until the game was over and his family was escorted out by police, and while I was driving I looked over and they were driving right beside me somehow. Overall, I think the entire scenario was overly inappropriate for what it was. Yes, it started it off as a small meet and great, however so many people showed up, ignoring lines and ignoring human decency and surrounding the man. I personally did not get a photo with him because of the overwhelming nature of what his wife said to us, I almost felt bad as he is unable to watch his kids game. The people who sprinted to the bathroom and swarmed Messi, to me, seem like an accurate representation of Otaku as they were doing everything possible for a photo with Messi, although that would have absolutely zero value in the real world. These kids around me knew stats of each year he played while I felt I barely knew anything, I almost felt as if I didn’t belong there. Additionally, everyone there wanted to get a signature on the Messi jersey that they were wearing, however that would have no real-life value outside of the “otaku of Messi”. This moment really changed the cultural identity of soccer in Naples Florida I feel. Many people I saw at the fields had never played or even talked with me about soccer, but since then they have begun to assimilate into the soccer community learning more statistics and playing more. I think Messi coming to Naples while not enjoyable for him because of the inappropriate security and childness of the crowd, it was very beneficial for the cultural identity formation of soccer here. I think fandom can certainly go too far to the point that it is influencing someone’s life, such as a movie star being swarmed wherever they go, degrading their quality of life. They constantly have eyes on them and their family. Everyone wanted a real “piece” or rather picture of Messi to have for the rest of their life to bring him into their reality. Furthermore, I believe this is relative to anime conventions because many times fans can go too far with creating fan art so that they can have a piece of that fantasy for the rest of their lives, but its particularly harmful when it’s in pursuit of a real person.

[icadive]

Yeah, this whole situation honestly sounds overwhelming and kind of uncomfortable to witness. I kept thinking about how surreal it must’ve been to see people chasing Messi down at a kids’ game like he’s not even a person, just this symbol they’re obsessed with. What stood out to me most was how people didn’t seem to care that he was with his family. It’s like the idea of Messi meant more to them than his actual presence. I’ve seen that same kind of energy at anime events too, where fans treat creators or guests like collectibles. It’s interesting how you tied it back to fandom and identity. I never really thought about how these intense fan behaviors could spill into everyday places and reshape whole communities, even if it starts out with something simple like a soccer game.

[icadive]

Convention experience

Walking into my first anime convention felt like entering another universe. The convention center was packed wall to wall with color, sound, and movement. Giant banners with anime characters towered above the crowds, and massive cardboard cutouts marked the entrances to different halls. Right away, I noticed the contrast between the structured layout of the event and the overwhelming chaos of people navigating it. It was hard not to stop and stare every few steps.

Cosplay was the first thing that caught my attention. Every direction I turned, someone was dressed as a character I recognized. Some costumes looked like they belonged in a film studio—metallic armor, LED lights, intricately styled wigs. I saw someone in full Demon Slayer gear with a prop sword that looked real enough to be dangerous. Others wore school uniforms from slice-of-life shows or vintage outfits from older anime. There was something captivating about seeing characters from completely different genres standing next to each other, like a crossover episode brought to life.

I spent a lot of time in the vendor hall, probably more than anywhere else. Rows of booths stretched across the space, each packed with fan-made items and collectibles. There were bins full of keychains and enamel pins, walls of posters, and tables stacked high with manga volumes. I noticed how different the art styles were—some cute and pastel, others sharp and dramatic. The variety of fan art made it clear how people interpret characters in their own way. I found myself drawn to the booths with darker, moodier pieces, especially ones of characters from psychological or supernatural series.

Near the back of the hall, I stumbled upon a section that sold imported merch—rare figures, vinyl soundtracks, and old DVD sets in Japanese packaging. Even though I wasn’t planning to buy anything, I found myself frozen in front of a shelf displaying classic Studio Ghibli items. Seeing the familiar cover of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind in Japanese lettering made me think about how long I’ve loved anime without ever being in a space that centered it like this.

The artist alley was quieter but just as fascinating. Small tables were covered with handmade zines, stickers, prints, and plushies. I liked seeing how artists reimagined characters I thought I knew. Some gave them modern outfits, others blended them into surreal or dreamlike backgrounds. There was one table that had a whole series of artwork based on anime food—detailed, colorful illustrations of ramen bowls, bento boxes, and convenience store snacks. That one stuck with me more than I expected.

Panels were being held in smaller rooms scattered throughout the venue. I ducked into a few of them just to sit down and absorb. One focused on the evolution of mecha anime, with clips spanning decades, while another broke down animation techniques used in fight choreography. I didn’t take notes, but I paid attention to the screens and the visuals they showed. It reminded me that anime is as much a technical craft as it is storytelling.

I also peeked into a viewing room where people were watching Mob Psycho 100 together. The lights were off and the screen lit up the faces of the people inside. I didn’t stay for long, but just watching others be still and focused made the space feel sacred, like a theater. I liked that sense of quiet.

Looking around throughout the day, I kept thinking about how layered the convention was. On the surface, it was bright and loud and filled with merch. But underneath, it felt like a shrine to the stories people hold close. Every booth, poster, and panel was a reflection of what matters to someone. Even without talking to anyone, I felt like I could understand what certain shows meant to people just by the way they were displayed.

I left with a full phone camera roll and a tired body, but I kept thinking about how anime fandom isn’t just a side hobby. It’s a world people build for themselves, with care and imagination. Watching it unfold in front of me was enough to feel part of something, even if I said nothing the whole time.

[eliacker]

Sailor Moon, Aggretsuko, and Wandering Son

All three of these animé confronted some point within the formation of gender and gender performance, and the critiques that come with it.

First off, Sailor Moon mainly critiques second wave feminism, third wave feminism, and girl power. In Japan and across the world there was a transition from second wave feminism being the primary feminism to third wave. While third wave acknowledges that women are different that men, they deserve the same. Throughout my life in western society I have seen this countless times as many women demand to be paid the same as men and given the same opportunities. However, third wave feminists use Girl Power, much like what is represented in the animé with common girl like items becoming weapons of great power, such as a tiara. This girl power allows women to be proud of their sex and gender and embrace it. However there is known to be major resistance against this anime as there are still many second wave feminists today. They think that these ideas of the feminine gender are placed upon them by a patriarchal society and should not have to use or wear any of them. However, many of these movements like the anime, or body positivity, or the movement of women not having to wear shirts is primarily started by women, and for women. This anime while created by a "patriarchal" society, is intended for women to feel comfortable within their own gender, lifting them up, not requiring a change to society but empowerment of women.

Aggretsuko reflects the ideas of performative gender markers. In this anime it is easy to tell women apart from men because they are playing the role of a women. Much like in our readings this anime reflects how women perform the act of being a female through their social interactions and their actions. However, this animé implies that many women have an internal want to not conform to the social norms of women. While our readings say the opposite, and women's personality are developed because of their gender performativity. This I can personally attest to, that women have a deeper inside wish, aside from what gender believes, because having a sister and a girlfriend, they both act a lot differently when we are at home as compared to in public, following their gender rules much more strictly in public.

Additionally, Wandering Son alludes to the problems with transgenderism in a monolithic signified culture. Through this animé Nitori goes across a journey of changing his gender performativity into that of a womens. This is indicative of real life as many people go across this journey, changing their gender, sexuality, and even sex to fit the monolithic standards. However, although these peopl have completely become monolithic they are still not accepted by society, as that would result in the notion that all these three pieces that make of society are all subjective and changeable, which is scary to society. Furthermore, Doi is representative of the community that rejects all transgenderism, which eventually gets rejected by Nitiori, like in society that transgenders are beginning to be more and more accepted into society.

[icadive]

I really like your breakdown of Wandering Son. You pointed out how Nitori’s journey highlights the fear society has of non-conformity, and I completely agree. That part really stuck with me while watching—it’s not just about gender transition, but about how rigid society is toward anyone trying to live outside the expected mold. I also liked how you explained Aggretsuko using the idea of performative gender. It made me rethink her character not just as someone fed up with work, but as someone who’s stuck in a script she never chose. You made strong connections between all three anime and the pressure to perform gender a certain way.

[icadive]

Sailor Moon, Aggretsuko, and Wandering Son Review

After watching Sailor Moon, Aggretsuko, and Wandering Son, I started thinking about how anime can handle femininity, gender expectations, and self-expression in totally different but still connected ways. Even though they’re distinct in style and tone, I think all three push back against rigid social norms in their own way, and that makes them powerful.

Sailor Moon was the most obvious with its “girl power” message. The characters embrace traditionally girly things like makeup and cute outfits, but those things are turned into literal weapons and sources of strength. At first, I thought this was just for fun, but after listening to the transcript, I started realizing how this flips society’s usual view of girlishness. Instead of seeing femininity as weak or shallow, the show shows how it can be empowering. That said, I still see how the second-wave feminists' concern makes sense too. The characters still obsess over beauty standards and weight, which kind of reinforces some harmful expectations.

On the other hand, Aggretsuko handles femininity more like a trap. Retsuko works a boring job where she has to be polite and agreeable all day, but at night she screams out her frustration through death metal. It’s funny, but also kind of sad. She’s stuck between wanting to meet expectations and wanting to break free. The show doesn’t give easy answers, but it shows how gender roles in adulthood can quietly wear someone down.

Wandering Son takes it even further by questioning gender altogether. It’s one of the first anime I’ve seen that really tries to explore transgender identity in a way that feels soft and personal. Instead of talking about power or rebellion, it focuses on what it means to just exist as yourself—even when people around you don’t get it.

Together, these three shows made me think more deeply about what it means to be feminine, and how anime can help challenge or reshape those meanings in very different ways.

[aidansanimetedworld]

Genshiken

I've always expected fandoms of things as something light and fun. Genshiken really shows how complicated it can get. How loving something so deeply can isolate you just as much as it connects you with others. Genshiken captures the awkwardness of trying to find your place when your interests don't fit the mainstream. In japan, where fitting in is so important, being labeled as an "otaku" comes with real social costs. It can even affect job prospects or family expectations. Watching these characters navigating those judgements made by others made me think about how, globally, people still struggle to feel seen regarding their hobbies when such hobbies don't fit what is considered normal by society. Parts of this anime reminded me of how people will sometimes go to online places to find communities for things they don't feel comfortable sharing in their real life. The clubroom makes me think of if like a online forum or a Discord server was brought to life. A messy place, but comforting to those who are a part of it, where people understand you without you really needing to explain too much. The show also doesn't represent fandoms as purely positive, which I think is a good thing because there's so much controversy within fandoms about certain things where people will harshly judge others based on their opinions of something that doesn't matter that much. It really looks at whether being so deep in a hobby can hold you back from connecting with others and even with the wider world. It shows passion and isolation, and its so relevant today, when its so easy to disappear into a niche and forget that there are other things going on besides that thing. Overall, this anime made me appreciate how universal it is to look for spaces where you can be yourself, even if the world doesn't understand it.

[icadive]

I really connected with what you said about how the clubroom in Genshiken felt like a physical version of a Discord server. That comparison honestly helped me see the anime in a new way. Online spaces have become the default for people who don’t feel comfortable expressing themselves offline, and Genshiken kind of shows that same energy through its characters and setting. I also liked that you pointed out how the anime doesn't idealize fandom. You're right—fandom can be messy, and people do judge each other even within the same space. That tension between connection and isolation really stood out to me too, and I appreciate how you captures that balance. It’s not just about finding people who share your interests, but also realizing that even those communities can come with their own challenges.

[icadive]

Genshiken review

After watching Genshiken, what strucked me the most was how the show didn’t mock or overly glorify fandom. It just showed it. Watching Sasahara join the club and struggle with accepting his love for anime and manga felt surprisingly relatable. I’ve been there, hesitating to share my interests in fear of being seen as childish or too niche. What I found comforting in Genshiken was how it portrayed that hesitation not as weakness, but as part of figuring yourself out in a world that doesn’t always value passion unless it’s profitable or considered socially acceptable.

Azuma’s theory of otaku as database animals makes this even more interesting. The Genshiken characters are not tied to any grand narrative about changing the world or building some noble utopia. They just want to enjoy their interests, dig into their favorite tropes, and find meaning through shared excitement. According to Azuma, that is what postmodern identity looks like: people living in the “endless everyday,” finding purpose in smaller moments instead of chasing some huge historical goal. That might sound kind of bleak, but I don’t think it is. Genshiken shows how meaningful life can still be even when there’s no clear direction. It is about friends, community, and the joy of sharing weird fandom stuff.

I also liked how the anime doesn’t push the characters to grow out of being otaku. Instead, it makes space for growth within that identity. Saki, the “outsider,” starts off judging everyone, but over time she learns to understand them. In doing so, she challenges what it means to be “normal.” That tension between what society expects and what people actually enjoy is very relatable, especially now when everyone is trying to craft a perfect image online.

In the end, Genshiken reminded me that even in a postmodern world without big narratives, small communities and shared passions can still offer something real.

[aidansanimetedworld]

Naruto, Wolf Children, A Silent Voice

Watching the three anime: Naruto, Wolf Children, and A Silent Voice make you think more about how media is meant to entertain, but can show different sides of human struggles and connection. Naruto has always struck me as more than just a show about ninjas. It follows Naruto and his loneliness, the pain, the growing and the constant effort to be acknowledged. His journey shows how society can push people to their limit when they’re different. This is very relevant to Japan’s group focused culture. But it can also resonate globally with anyone who’s felt like an outsider.

Wolf Children was different, the story of Hana raising her half-human, half-wolf kids alone is like an allegory for single mothers raising kids who don't fit in. It makes me think of how societies, in Japan and all around the world expect conformity, and when people don’t fit the mold of conformity then they are looked at differently. The quiet rural scenes also remind me of japans rural depopulation and changing family structures.

Finally, rewatching a silent voice felt the most personal. It reflects on bullying and guilt and forgiveness and makes you look at the anime in a whole different way while looking at it through this lens. It shows social isolation and the painful attempt to make amends. This resonated with my own regret about how I may have been unfair to some of my classmates growing up. It shows how shame can fester in silence when people are afraid to communicate honestly. This isn’t an issue specific to Japan, its specific to humanity. 

All three anime made me think about how we judge others and ourselves, and how healing often comes from unlikely connections. They remind me that, no matter the country, we’re all trying to find where we belong.

[icadive]

I really connected with your reflection on A Silent Voice and how it brings out feelings of guilt and the struggle to make amends. That part hit me too. It’s not often that an anime forces you to think about your own past behavior like that. The way the film shows silence and shame as barriers to forgiveness really stuck with me, especially how people can end up isolating themselves even when they want to fix things. I also liked how you mentioned that this isn’t just a Japanese issue, but something deeply human. It reminded me that emotional distance and regret exist everywhere, and sometimes the hardest thing is just being honest. I see the film less as a story about bullying and more as one about the challenge of reconnecting after the damage is done.

[icadive]

Naruto and Wolf Children Review

Watching Naruto and Wolf Children back to back made me think a lot about how different stories handle discrimination. Both anime show characters who don’t fit into the norms of society, but the way they deal with that rejection couldn’t be more different. Naruto decides to stay and fight for acceptance, while Hana and her children escape into the countryside to live freely.

Personally, I’ve always related more to the quiet urge to escape. Wolf Children hit me hard, especially the scenes where Hana can’t bring her kids to a doctor or school without risking being judged or exposed. It reminded me of how people with mixed identities in real life often get boxed in. Society wants you to pick a side and stay there. Watching Yuki try to clean herself off after being told she smelled like a dog felt so real. It reminded me of how people sometimes try to hide parts of who they are just to avoid being labeled or laughed at.

With Naruto, I was impressed by how hard he worked to prove himself. But I also couldn’t ignore the fact that society never really changed. He changed. He got stronger, better, more acceptable. That stuck with me because it made me question how often we expect individuals to transform just to be seen as worthy. It felt unfair, honestly. Why should the burden always fall on the person being left out?

Both anime left me thinking about what real acceptance should look like in a society. I don’t think it’s enough to say, “You’re welcome here—if you change everything about yourself.” Real acceptance should mean making space for people as they are. Wolf Children might be the quieter story, but it showed me how healing it can be when someone is simply given room to exist.

[aidansanimetedworld]

Shin Sekai Yori

Watching the anime Shin Sekai Yori, I became more aware of how fear and survival shape what we accept as normal. Similarly to how Psycho Pass made me feel. It made me think deeper about how societies might erase or rewrite parts of people to keep everything “safe”.

At the beginning of the show, the villages and schools in the anime seemed peaceful and traditional. This made me think, initially, that they valued nature and simplicity. Although, as the story went on, I started noticing how that so-called “peaceful” world, peace, depended on hiding darker truths. Such as, what happens to kids who don’t fit in or how the elders decide who gets to live and who has to disappear. To me, this shows how people in power justify cruelty when they convince themselves the terrible things they do are for the “greater good”.

This connects to in real life, how we often ignore harsh realities to feel secure. Like I feel like we rarely think about who suffers for us to have things at low prices. “Good deals” normally don’t come from good places and there are reasons why the things can be priced so cheap. In Shin Sekai Yori, the villagers accept the sacrifice of others so they don’t have to face threats themselves. It is like society chooses whose lives are worth protecting and who’s worth throwing away. It reminds me of The Lottery, how they sacrifice someone for a good season of crops.

One thing that bothered me is how the kids were raised with half-truths so they would grow up not questioning anything. Like how we grow up taught to trust people in charge, whether its a school, the government, big companies, etc. We police ourselves because that's what we are told to do even if it doesn’t make sense.

This anime also made me think about how humans villainize groups they fear. The anime’s treatment of the “Queerats” shows how society can strip away a person's humanity to justify controlling them. It made me wonder about who we dehumanize, to feel safe in our own groups. The ending made me feel uneasy about the cost of comfort. We shouldn’t be willing to erase everything to live in a perfect make believe world.

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Hi Aiden, your point about how the kids were raised on half-truths really got to me. I was thinking the same thing while watching the show. It’s unsettling how the village leaders built a system where children grow up just accepting whatever they’re told, without question. That really mirrors how we’re often taught to trust authority, even when things feel off. It makes me wonder how many beliefs I’ve accepted just because they were passed down by people in charge. The way Shin Sekai Yori shows that process through the school and community really highlights how control starts early. I also felt uncomfortable realizing how little space the kids had to question anything. It made the whole system feel even more manipulative, and that’s something I’ve been reflecting on since finishing the anime.

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Shin Sekai Yori Review

After finishing Shin Sekai Yori, I was honestly left shaken. It’s not just a sci-fi anime set in a distant future. It’s a reflection of how far society will go to stay in control, especially when fear becomes the main driving force. What seemed at first like a peaceful, utopian community quickly unraveled into a system built on extreme discipline, manipulation, and fear of children.

The idea that stuck with me most was how the show explores the failure of regulation. In the world of the anime, telekinesis is so powerful that there’s no way to regulate it like we might regulate weapons or dangerous materials in real life. So the only solution left is absolute discipline. Kids are constantly watched, tested, and in some cases, killed if they don’t fit the mold. That reminded me of the concept from the class lecture about how modern society deals with the idea of the “wild child.” After real-world events like the Shonen A incident in Japan or Columbine in the U.S., we started treating children as potential threats. We began relying on constant surveillance in schools and even turning to AI to try and predict the unpredictable.

Another part that really hit me was the treatment of the Monster Rats. Finding out they were once humans who were altered to become “killable” was disturbing. It made me think about how dehumanization happens in our world too. Whether through racism, war, or propaganda, history has shown how easily people can justify violence when they stop seeing others as fully human. Even though Saki learns the truth, she still struggles to view them as equals, and that says a lot about how deeply rooted those biases can be.

The final message about hoping children become symbols of hope instead of fear actually felt pretty emotional to me. That’s the kind of world I want to live in. One where we guide and support kids instead of turning schools into surveillance zones. Shin Sekai Yori isn’t just dark for the sake of being dark. It’s a warning, and it made me think a lot about what kind of future we’re building.

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Psycho-Pass

A really important principle of psychology is that you cannot know the mind of another. Psycho-Pass presents a world where we do have that power, and its used to oppress. The show reminds me of Minority Report. They have somewhat similar concepts, some technological tool creates a new kind of surveillance, and then the police use that surveillance. In minority report its the ability to see the future, in Psycho-Pass its the ability to know the mind of another.  

I found that Psycho-Pass doesnt really have a clear protagonist or antagonist/ good guy or bad guy. makishima is a revolutionary with a callous disregard for the lives of others, they see the people around them as livestock whose lives are meaningless. ... thats bad, that's some evil antagonist stuff. But at the same time he is trying to destroy the system that is doing the oppressing. Makishima has seemingly found the subjectively of power and is set on destroying it. Destroying the system of oppression is a good thing. Makishima is an incredibly grey character, and i love that. 

The education system prepares people for work under capitalism. The inciting incident in A Place Further Than the Universe was confronting that fact. In Psycho-Pass the show mainly focuses on how the Sibyl system prevents crime, but to me that doesn't read as why the system exists. Like most things it exists due to capitalism, controlling the thoughts of everyone through surveillance lets you make the perfect workers. I wish the show explored how the Syble system chooses jobs for more people.  

As one last note, the dominators are a horrifying thing, it removes all responsibility from the one doing the killing and instead moves that responsibility to a nebulous system that is always correct.  

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I agree the idea that the Sibyl System isn’t just about crime prevention but about manufacturing compliant citizens for a capitalist society. I also agree that this economic motive often gets overlooked, and it’s important to recognize how surveillance serves not only security but productivity and social control. However, I see Makishima a bit differently. While he exposes the flaws in Sibyl, his total disregard for human life makes his revolution feel hollow to me. It’s hard to fully endorse his critique when his methods mirror the violence he condemns. Also, your point about Dominators shifting moral responsibility to technology is crucial. It suggests that societies might willingly surrender moral agency for the convenience of “objective” systems, which is deeply relevant in debates about AI and algorithmic decision-making today.