Jasleen's Anime Blog

[abhiramanimeblog]

Hetalia and Stereotypes

This was my first time watching Hetalia and I have to say I did not like it. I found the stereotypes to be amusing, but the overall experience was just not fulfilling. It may be that I have just watched Your Name, but the story of Hetalia did not hit. I was also surprised to find out how popular this was since I have never watched it or heard of it, but it has over 9 seasons. I think it is offensive, but like the reading suggests it inspires conversation which is also important. For this discussion, I want to talk about the stereotypes in Hetalia.

I want to preface this by saying that stereotypes are not inherently bad. They can be very comedic when used to that effect. They are generalizations about a population which is definitely bad if it is taken as fact. However, most will not take a stereotype as fact so it is not a bad thing. I did not get offended by anything Hetalia showed. A big part of my not being offended may be that my country was not represented heavily. I can see how people from Italy and England could be offended by the depictions Hetalia showed.

Italy is depicted as a very clumsy and helpless country. This is true in some regard since they were not big winners in any major wars. Where I can see Helalia stepping too far is when they make Italy a country or a depiction obsessed with pasta which may be offensive to the Italians, any generalization about a country's interests will be offensive to some people. One of the only things I found truly funny from the show came from the chibi form of the show where the Holy Roman and Italian relationship was shown which was hilarious.

I also think that the depiction of Germany especially in this time as being something noble and likable is a bit weird. To most people, this time period in Germany is definitely villainous. They did some undeniably heinous acts and to paint them as some kind of good character is very odd. Obviously, the show does not go out of its way to have any villains. It is just trying to showcase a funny telling of events. It is still a bit weird.

In my life, I have seen a lot of stereotypes about Indians told to me. I do not let these stereotypes make me feel bad. I know who I am, and while I do fit some of them I am still my own person. I am not a generalization of my people.

Overall, Hetalia is a short show that can comically tell you about the history of the Axis powers. If you have some time you should check it out.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I also would have to agree that I honestly didn't find the anime that interesting to watch. Maybe it was because I had just watched Your Name, but I honestly felt a little bored watching the anime. I found the stereotypes interesting and the anime overall amusing.

[blogforanimeclass]

Your Name

Your Name is a beautiful film about two people that make a connection across time and space who end up changing each other’s lives. The film depicts a very innocent and beautiful relationship as it is one built upon connection and getting to know another fully as opposed to passionate, immediate romance. The films follows Mitsuha and Taki, young adults presumably in their last senior year of high school (a period of time common for the setting of western coming-of-age films). Mitsuha is a religious, small-town girl who dreams of someday going to the big city, Tokyo. Taki, meanwhile, is a well-off young man who lives in the big city, Tokyo. One day, the two begin to switch bodies for an entire day two to three times a week. Although initially confused, the two begin to learn about each other and change each other for the better.

The twist in the film comes when Taki realizes that Mitsuha died three years prior as a result of the comet. The person with whom Taki has had the deepest connection is dead. Taki then strives to warn Mitsuha of the comet before it can kill her. Luckily, he does so, resulting in an alternate timeline where the two do not have memory of each other, but can recognize the relationship they have made. There is something very warm about the film’s message that the soul’s “memory” cannot be erased. The two find each other at the end of the film, and, although they do not remember each other, they know they have been missing each other.

The most beautiful part of this film was the relationship the two built and how the influenced each other across time and space. The two begin to influence each other like best friends. Mitsuha, in Taki’s body, begins to set Taki up with Taki’s superior at his job. Later, Taki, Mitsuha’s body, warns the town of the impending danger of the comet. The two affect each other to go outside of their comfort zone, like a real friend does. This is reminiscent of Foucault’s idea of force relations. Force an influence can come from anywhere in a person’s life. In the case of Your Name, the force came from another young person three years apart.

Your Name is a beautiful film that demonstrates how beautiful, real relationships can come from anywhere, and that is something we should all welcome with open arms.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I agree that a beautiful part of this anime was watching their relationship grow. I love how they came to appreciate each other's lives and perspectives. I found it interesting how they had a longing for each other, even though they didn't know each other's name or who the other was.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hetalia - Blog

In viewing the anime Hetalia, he characters in the anime represent different countries. It seems to mainly focus on times during World War I and World War II. As the title of the anime, “Hetalia: Axis Powers,” the anime mainly focuses on the countries/characters Germany, Italy, and Japan. The characters' actions do not accurately reflect how the countries and the leaders had acted. However to create a humorous satire, Germany seems to be strict and disciplined, Italy is seen as having a bubbly and jolly personality, while Japan seems more reserved.

The anime uses a lot of satire to reflect stereotypes and it oversimplifies the events that happened during these times. Compared to other animes, it also doesn’t seem to have a consistent storyline, rather it just has different events that happened.

In episode four, it seems that Germany is trying to train Italy for the war, but it doesn’t seem to be going to plan. It shows them humorously not taking the training seriously and doing other things like creating food-related items. This highlights what had happened in episode two where Italy surrendered to the Allied forces. Throughout the episodes, it seems like this is hinted over and over again.

Overall, I don’t think this is the type of anime I would watch during my free time. I think it's a pretty cool concept, however, it isn’t something that I would continue to watch after being assigned this anime to watch.  At first, when I saw the thumbnail for the anime, I thought it was going to be something related to boys, like Free or an idol-type anime. I was quite surprised to see that it was a commercial exploration of historical events because it takes the form of cute boys in a historical setting. It wasn’t bad to watch, but I don’t think I’ll continue to watch the rest of the episodes.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Your Name -Blog

In viewing Your Name, at the beginning of the movie, it seems like Mitsuha has forgotten what she has done the day prior. Mitsuha doesn’t seem too fond of living in the countryside and would rather live as a boy in her next life.

By an unknown pneumonia, Mitsuha wakes up as a boy named Taki. She goes to school and gets to explore life living in the city of Tokyo.

Taki wakes up in his original body and is confused. He’s unable to remember what had happened yesterday. Mitsuha is also in her normal body and unable to remember what she did yesterday. They start to realize they are switching places after multiple occurrences from the reaction of those around them and written evidence. Over time, they both agreed and gave each other self-rules to follow so that they could keep their normal life. They start to encounter troubles with their relationship with others around them.

Taki wakes up to find that he has a date.

Through drawings of the landscape, Taki tries to locate where Mitsuha must be. He finds out that three years ago, a meteorite strike which would hit the area where Mitusha possibly had been. As he checks the diary entries, they start to disappear. He can’t tell if it was ever real or all a dream.

Taki wakees up as Mitsuha. The grandmother can tell that Mitsuha is not herself. She warns her that a comet will strike and tries to warn everyone.

After Mitsuha disappears, Taki repeats her name, but before he can write it, he forgets her name.

After five years, Taki feels like he’s missing something and doesn’t remember why he went to the place. 

In the end, they meet each other again and ask for each other's names.

Overall, I liked this anime.

[n4stasia]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

So I do have a bit of a disadvantage here. If there is anything more boring than playing an RPG video game, it is certainly watching somebody else play it. To each their own, but RPG is one of the few genres I absolutely dislike, although I know it may be an unpopular opinion considering the worldwide popularity. I just wanted to share my difficulty following the plot having zero previous knowledge about it. I also had to spend some time watching youtube video reviews to get a better understanding. But enough of a slight side tangent! I absolutely loved some of the aspects of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the connection to our theme of pop ecocriticism, so let me share that with you.

xeno-eco-criticism

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 involves in ecocriticism through some majestic cutscenes and story itself. The game's world is a living entity where titans serve as both homes and gods, emphasizing the deep bond between life and nature. Characters like Rex and Pyra explore themes of resource exploitation and ecological harmony. The damage caused by greed contrasts with the protagonists' quest for balance, mirroring real-world environmental issues on our planet Earth. The breathtaking landscapes and ecosystems in the cutscenes highlight the urgent need for sustainable living and respecting our planet.

humans + nature = ♡︎

Connecting this to the quite controversial text we were assigned , "The Drama of the Anthropocene," the anime game really nails the idea that humans and nature are intertwined and our future depends on this relationship. The Anthropocene era, where human actions shape the Earth, forces us to reconsider how we interact with the environment, just like the characters in the game work to bring back balance to their world. It really resembles the idea of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, both push for a big shift in how we see and treat nature, the need for deep ecology and sustainable living to avoid environmental disasters. The game goes a step further by showing how every choice impacts the ecosystem where even small actions can lead to big changes.

On a less enthusiastic note, "The Drama of the Anthropocene" dives into some questionable conclusions. Cobb rejects the idea that better technology alone can save us from environmental collapse, calling out the arrogance in believing that human ingenuity can always find a fix. Like ok go off I guess, but you can't you can't get into the brains of every one of 8 billion people and make them treat nature with care. I'm all up for the idea of interconnectedness of eco systems, but we need all the options, especially technology. I don't even want to repeat his ideas about religion and their alleged contribution to the environmental distress :\

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I would definitely have to agree about finding it a little hard to follow. JRPG or RPG games are not the types I would play or even watch, so I was getting a little sidetracked. However, I did find the storyline to be interesting and I was also a little disappointed when they got to Elysium but it wasn't what they had expected.

[davidfahim]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

As someone who had never seen anime in his life before this class, I think that Studio Ghibli alone has made me an anime fan. To be fair, there were definitely other animes that I enjoyed outside of Studio Ghibli. However, all my favorites that I have seen in this class have come out of Studio Ghibli. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was an amazing watch. I was completely hooked from start to finish. We see a world that takes place 1000 years after some bad nuclear warfare pretty much demolished everything. In this world, almost everything can kill you just like that. This has caused humans to have a stark dislike for nature in the world. The main character Nausicaa is different from the rest. Nausicaa respects nature and tries to convince her people that they can coexist.

The main point that I wanted to focus on in this post is the idea of instrumentalism that is seen throughout this movie. We can see that Nausicaa's people use nature as an instrument for their own benefit and do not treat it well at all. I thought that this was parallel to how nature is treated in the real world as humans take it for granted and treat nature terribly. Nausicaa was an example of how to break out of this. We see that she is very caring and wants nature to be respected. I think that this movie serves as a critique of instrumentalism due to the difference between Nausicaa and her people. Overall, I thought this movie was a masterpiece from start to finish. The animation was amazing, especially considering how old this movie is. Studio Ghibli has cemented itself as being my favorite anime production company by far. I would definitely recommend this movie to a friend who was just getting started in anime. I would give it a 9.5/10 in the end.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I too found this anime really interesting to watch. I like how you focused on instrumentalism because there are many different instances of us people using the world and nature for our own benefit and causing destruction to the environment such as war (habitat destruction), pollution, nuclear waste, etc.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Blog

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 starts with Rex going underwater to retrieve a treasure. It turns out that inside, there was a big creature in there that he fights.

The story takes place in a sea of clouds called the World Tree, in Alrest. There used to be a land called Elysium. They once lived on that land, but due to angering their creator, they were forced to move out and relocate elsewhere. Now they currently live on the backs of Titans.

Rex is summoned to the chairman and asked to perform a job, he agrees without asking much. He also meets the crew that he will be with. 

Along the mission, Rex meets Pyra, an Alegis, who is also searching for Elysium. As they continue their quest, they stumble upon many different Titans. They all have a unique ecosystem they inhabit. Titans are important to the game because they are an element that is key to life on Alrest. They provide transportation and resources such as water and minerals to those living on it.

The main plot twist at the end of the game is that Elysium is not what it seems. In reality, it's not the natural environment they had envisioned. No greenery or birds chirping like they had thought. Klaus, the Architect, played a major part in destroying the world, and because of that, he decided to create Elysium. While experimenting, a catastrophic event happened that caused a massive explosion. It was his way of recreating the world. 

Overall, I think this game was interesting. I don’t play these types of games, personally, I prefer story-driven games where your choices affect the outcome. I don’t have many critiques watching the scenes, however, I was a little skeptical watching this at first because I didn’t find it that interesting, but midway through, I got more invested in the story.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - Blog

In viewing Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, a thousand years had passed since a toxic nuclear war left a toxic jungle spreading.

Nausicaä is in a cave that contains a lot of spores that could kill her if she were to breathe it in. Lord Yupa wants to know the truth of mankind and what is behind the jungle.

What seems to be a wind storm, is an airship coming towards the Vally of the WInd. Nausicaä tries to help guide them and sees a log of insects on their ship due to stopping at the jungle and possibly angering them. The ship crashes and leaves the parts in the remains. There’s a remaining insect to which Nausicaä helps navigate back to the jungle.

The soldier of Tomika comes to talk to the people of the Vally of the Wind to unify and end the jungle. They claim to live without fear and want to live in unity. However, the old lady, Oh Baba, reveals that people long ago have tried before, but have failed. It’s almost impossible to fight the insects in the jungle.

Nausicaä discovered that the position is within the soil, so someone must have done something horribly to it. Nausicaä and the others go to the jungle. She does what she can to prevent them from angering the insects.

Nausicaä and Asbel find themselves underneath the jungle where they can breathe without their masks.

Later, Nausicaä finds out there's a plan to lure the insects into the Valley of the Wind and attempts to stop the Tomikians.

Overall, I found the anime really interesting. In the end, Nausicaä sacrifices herself to stop conflict with the insects and is later revived. I like how she wants nature to just be without human interference. I would say this anime, specifically Nausicaä demonstrates anit-instrumentalism by wanting to let the creatures live in the environment and wanting to restore harmony between the natural world and humans.

[aqua-dagger]

Neon Genesis Evangelion

The End (part 3)

Part three was much of a trip comared to the last two episodes of the anime. This movie follows the events of the last two episodes from the tv show. We see that after the final angel, humans are now considering using the evas to push humans to a more advance evolution called the Human Instrumentality Project. With an angel still in the terminal dogma, the head of the project Shinji's dad goes and starts putting his plan into works by using Rei. Shinji is still asking for help from a comatose Asuka. He is still wanting to act like he's lost, as if he lost all hope after killing his former friend who turned out to be an angel. The world government , now wants to stop this Human Instrumentality Project from happening , so they set forward a massive military operation, in which many are killed including Misato when she was protecting Shinji from the invasion. This propels him down to where his Eva is and now after a push from his Eva we see him try to get into action. Meanwhile we see Asuka excelling in violence, after realizing what the AT fields were and that her mother is watching her. Showing once again that she was excelling in her performance of hegemonic masculinity. At one point the Artificail Angels take over and destroy Asuka's EVA and Shinji goes beserk after seeing this. As soon as he is overpowered from the Angels , he was used in the Human Instrumentality Project, and everything around him is destroyed, people are vaporized, and the souls of everyone and thing around him are transfered to this giant egg, thanks to Rei and the previous angel, combining with lilith in the terminal dogma. This is were we see the dream sequence we saw before where Shinji and Asuka are in a apartment. Shinji still wanting to be saved, but Asuka isnt buying it stating hes just using her. Annd much like the older shows ending he comes to the same conclusion. Both him and Asuka are transported to this building surrounded by a sea of either blood or LCL fluid , and we can see that Shinji trys to play the hegemonic masculinity card but cant go through with it trying to choke and kill Asuka.

There was a lot of different imagery , both religious, and others symbolically. And the scene in the hospital was something i wasn't expecting either. Again the theme we see is on gender performance, we see Asuka who excels in displaying violence, and hegemonic masculinity, while Shinji does quite the opposite. At times this can be very frustrating, but we do have to realize that he's only in middle school. Yes he could have save many by acting or being brave, but he shuts down, which could be a result of trauma, and how he copes with it. This can be seen not only in Japan but world wide with how people are expected to act.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I agree that Shinji tried to pull the hegemonic masculinity card, and tried to follow through with it, but failed. In contrast to the ending of Neon Genesis Evangelion, in the end, he accepts his queer masculinity and is congratulated whereas in this movie, even until the very end, he tries to abandon that characteristic of his and fails at doing so.

[rusialeksis]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 2)

Hey everyone,

I just watched episodes 8, 16, 24, and 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. This anime dives deep into psychological and societal issues using a sci-fi backdrop. Here’s what I thought about how it addresses issues in Japan and around the world, relates to my own life, and connects to our readings.

Neon Genesis Evangelion deals with some big issues. One major theme is mental health. In Episode 16, Shinji is trapped inside a black sphere and goes through intense psychological stress, getting memories back from his time and trauma with his father, showing how isolation and pressure can affect mental health. This is a real problem in Japan and globally, where many people face pressure and isolation.

I could really relate to the themes in Neon Genesis Evangelion. As I said on my previous post on part 1 of this anime, the pressure Shinji feels to pilot the Eva and the expectations placed on him reminded me of the pressure young people face today to succeed and meet society’s expectations. A lot of us feel that we carry weight with us and no matter how much it can hold us down, we believe that there is no time for rest, but we should keep going. Especially now I feel this too with school and thinking about my future career.

Our readings on masculinity from Connell’s Masculinities and Heasley’s Queer Masculinities help explain the different types of masculinity shown in the anime. Shinji’s struggles with being strong and emotional challenge the typical idea of being a tough guy. In Episode 26, Shinji faces his feelings and self-worth, which fits with Connell’s idea of different masculinities and the pressure to fit into a certain mold.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is a powerful anime that talks about mental health, identity, and societal pressures, both in Japan and around the world. It resonated with my own experiences of dealing with expectations and figuring out who I am. The connections to our readings on masculinity and identity made me understand these themes even better. This anime is not just entertaining but it also gives a deep look at human experiences and societal issues.

Thank you everyone for reading!

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I like how you related the pressure that Shinji faced to the pressure young people face to succeed. There was a multitude of people putting pressure on Shinji to pilot Eva, similar to how young people may face pressure from their parents or others around them to do well in school, work, etc. I also agree that the constant weight and pressure that I'm faced with is something that I constantly think about.

[anmelcos]

Neon Genesis Evangelion

I had already watched Neon Genesis Evangelion before this module. Despite its cult following, I don’t have a strong opinion on it. I find the art direction most compelling; the score, along with the mecha and environmental designs, creates an immersive experience. Other than that, I’ve never been deeply invested in the characters, though I do find its themes intriguing. Neon Genesis Evangelion explores many psychological topics and offers a nuanced discussion of masculinity.

The series addresses hegemonic masculinity, a gender practice that legitimizes traits such as dominance and aggression while marginalizing those who do not conform to these ideals, including women and men who are not traditionally independent or aggressive. Through its protagonist, Shinji Ikari, Evangelion presents a critique of these norms. Shinji exhibits traits that are the opposite of hegemonic masculinity, such as his reluctance to pilot the Evangelion and his generally meek behavior. He represents a queer masculine figure who challenges this idea of what it is to be traditionally masculine. The characters look down on him when he outwardly displays these traits, demonstrating the subordinate nature of men who do not align with hegemonic ideals. 

Shinji’s father, Gendo Ikari, in contrast, embodies hegemonic masculinity. He is a militaristic, authoritative figure who starkly advocates the need for violence and control. His relationship with Shinji and his treatment of Shinji shows the hierarchical dynamic in society presented by hegemonic masculinity. The contrast between father and son highlights the pressures of conforming to traditional masculine ideals. I also found the comparison between Amuro Ray from Mobile Suit Gundam and Shinji interesting. Both are protagonists in mecha anime, yet they are complete opposites. While Amuro quickly assimilates into his role and engages in hegemonic masculinity, Shinji consistently rebukes and tries to avoid the responsibilities placed upon him. Overall, although I’m not deeply invested in the show, I do think it holds merit upon my rewatch.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! Shinji's father, Ikari embodies hegemonic masculinity, but what hat I find interesting is that by the end, in The End of Evangelion, he admits that he rejected love from others and was not a good father to Shinji. He feared emotional affection from others after the loss of his wife, Yui.

[jasleenanimeblog]

The End of Evangelion - Blog

The End of Evangelion begins with Asuka in the hospital and Shinji begging for her to wake up. There seems to be an attack to kill the pilots from the angels. Shinji is nowhere to be found. 

Before the enemy can shoot Shinji, Misato saves Shinji to get him to pilot Eva. Misato reveals that the enemy is the 18th angel and others exist but chose not to take a similar form as them (humans) which is why it's hard for them to coexist together. She tells Shinji it's his job to get rid of all the other forms to save mankind.

Asuka tries to fight all the enemies. Misato gets shot and then tells Shinji that he has to make his own decisions to pilot Eva. Shinji reveals that he’s not worth piloting Eva, and realizes that he has the decision to pilot Eva or not. But she tells him he has to pilot Eva and figure himself out. Asuka continues to fight the Angel, but she doesn’t have much power reserve left to continue fighting. Regardless, she continues to fight, but then her power supply finishes and the angel destroys her Eva. 

Later on, Ikari tells Rei to merge all souls. Lilith absorbs Rei and removes its mask. The fate of mankind is all in Shinji’s hands. Ikari reveals that he felt he could never be loved, so he rejected others and asked for forgiveness because he wasn’t a good father to Shinji.

Overall, the ending left me with a plethora of thoughts, which is what I think it intended for the audience. Shinji decides to restore the individuality of the people instead of the Human Instrumentality Project. I’m not exactly sure if only Asuka and Shinji remain, but I like to think in the little bits of what we saw, the others will come back after the end of the project.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2 - Blog

In episode eight, Shinji meets Asuka the second child designated to pilot an Eva. While Shinji and the others are on a cruise, an Angel attacks. Asuka tells Shinji to pilot with her.

In episode sixteen, during testing, Shinji’s test scores are high and Asuka is upset about how he did well easily and getting praised by others. 

A possibly new type of angel appears while Ikari isn’t there. The others get started piloting their Eva’s. The unknown enemy can make the whole city sink into a black hole.

Shinji is still stuck in a black hole, all while his time is ticking. He begs for anyone to help him. The plan is to blow the shadow and rescue Eva, leading to Shinji’s death. 

As Shinji is stuck, he is left with his thoughts to reflect on his life. Possibly from the touch of his mother, Shinji can break free from the hole. Later, Shinji wakes up in a hospital to Rei.

In episode twenty-four, we view some of Asuka’s life story. Her mother and father never cared about her. 

Everything has been destroyed. Shinji meets Karu, the fifth child to pilot Eva. Misato questions Karu's abilities only to later find out he is an Angel. Karu, the angel takes Unit 2. Shinji feels betrayed after opening up to Karu and finding someone he thought was just like him. Karu tells Shinji to destroy him to save humanity, so Shinji ends up killing him.

At the beginning of episode twenty-six, it starts with different viewpoints of other characters. It shows how Shinji interprets others and how they interpret himself. In the end, Shinji accepts himself and they all congratulate him.

Overall I enjoyed watching this anime again. I think being in this class made me understand this anime a lot better than before. It’s evident that Shinji struggles with exhibiting hegemonic masculinity and Asuka demonstrates it more than he does. It’s one of the main reasons he hates himself and tries to abandon the queer masculinity he possesses. I felt that was why he was upset with Karu, who was similar to him, but when Shinji found out he was an Angel, it made him even more upset. I’m glad in this ending, we got to see Shinji accept himself and be congratulated.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 1 - Blog

Episode one begins with a state of emergency, calling all residents to evacuate. It’s been 15 years since the return of the Angels. A girl named Misato, a Nerv official comes to pick up Shinji to bring him to where his father works. It’s evident that Shinji doesn’t get along with his father. His father only sends him letters when he needs something. Shinji will be piloting Unit 1 Evagelion without any formal training to fight. Ikari calls his son a “spare,” only thinking of him as an object. Shinji decides to pilot after the pressure and seeing Rei injured.

In episode two, Shiji attempts basic movements with the Evangelion as he’s terrified of what the Angel is doing to Eva. As his left arm gets damaged and the armor continues to get damaged, Shinji is traumatized. Shinji later wakes up in a hospital. The investors seem upset with Ikari seeming to waste expenses by letting Shinji pilot Eva. Misato takes Shinji home to live with her instead of him living alone. As Shinji lays in bed, he reflects on what he did fighting the angels and is terrified.

Misato opens up Shinji’s room to find he’s run away. He hasn’t been going to school. Shinji meets a kid named, Kensuke, who’s just like him but is really into the military. As Shinji talks to Kensuke and Togi, Nerv guards take him away, he later goes back home with Misato.

In episode five, during testing, unit zero goes berserk. Rei is the pilot of unit zero, the possible reason for the unit zero’s uncontrollable behavior could be mental instability due to her mind being disturbed. Shinji notices that Ikari’s hand is burned.

Overall, I felt kind of bad for Shinji. He’s piloting Eva because of the pressure around him and isn’t even acknowledged by his father. He lived alone for most of his life and didn’t have the mental support that he needed. He doesn’t want to inflict violence because that is not who he is, he possesses queer masculinity, which there is nothing wrong with. But people around continue to tell him that he’s a boy and should like this or that. It’s hard for him to be himself with the constant pressure on him.

[anmelcos]

Convention Post: True Otaku

I haven’t had the opportunity to go to an anime convention or any convention yet, so I’ll be discussing the documentary True Otaku in its place. This documentary provided a broader perspective on Otaku culture and fandom compared to the last module’s focus on Genshiken. It effectively highlighted the diverse nature of fans and the various ways they express their passions.

A major focus of the documentary was on how conventions and fandoms offer a sense of community that is often missing from everyday life. These events create a space where attendees can exchange shared interests and immerse themselves in their fandoms without fear of judgment. This environment allows passionate expressions of support, such as cosplay—short for “costume play”—to be celebrated rather than criticized. While I haven’t yet attended a convention, I’ve experienced the positive aspects of fandom culture through my involvement in online art communities. These communities, centered around shows and media, have been very welcoming in my experience. Many of my closest friends have been made through discussions and participation in fandom culture. However, I’m aware that some artists, particularly those who are younger or less experienced, may face criticism or exclusion. Despite this, the supportive nature of these interactions underscores why conventions may hold such importance for many fans.

Another significant component of the documentary was its focus on cosplay. I admire the creativity and effort that goes into crafting detailed and accurate costumes. The documentary provided a fascinating look at how cosplay allows individuals to express their love for their favorite characters and stories in a tangible way. Seeing the dedication and skill of cosplayers was inspiring and highlighted how cosplay is more than just dressing up—it's a form of artistic expression and identity. I especially liked the insight into cosplay competitions, which aren’t usually showcased in such detail. I was left wondering if the cosplayer mentioned in the documentary, DustBunny, won anything at the event. 

It was also delightful to see Lolita fashion featured in the documentary. Although I’m not actively involved in the Lolita community, I find it, along with other J fashion subcultures such as Gyaru and Visual Kei, to be of great interest. In some respects, my fascination with these fashion styles now even surpasses my interest in anime and manga. Seeing Lolita garments showcased at conventions is particularly exciting because Lolita boutiques and brands have limited presence in the U.S. Conventions offer a rare opportunity for participants and fans to see and purchase these pieces in person. However, I’ve heard from Lolita enthusiasts that these items are often priced drastically  higher at conventions, which can be a drawback of market vendors. Despite this, being able to view these garments up close before buying them is a valuable experience. If I ever attend a convention, I plan to explore these fashion vendors. I’ve created art featuring various fashion styles and am especially interested in gothic Lolita fashion. While assembling a complete Lolita “coordinate” or outfit seems daunting and expensive at the moment, it remains a future goal of mine (that hopefully I will get the guts one day to complete).

In closing, True Otaku offered an insightful view into fandom culture and conventions, highlighting the sense of community and self-expression they foster. It has deepened my appreciation for the various ways fans engage with their interests and has increased my enthusiasm to experience these events firsthand in the future. One aspect the documentary didn’t mention all that thoroughly was artist alleys. If I were to go to a convention, I would probably only spend my time there… my poor wallet will need to be prepared. 

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I agree that the conventions gave a sense of community and self-expression. I feel that they can let fans connect with one another and meet others just like them. It also shows how passionate they are about what they do.

[megarondegma]

Wandering Son is a beautiful anime that conveys a story about transgenderism that provides a more personal and understandable viewpoint than I have seen in other shows or media. With how much of a controversial issue transgenderism and gender as a whole has become in America as of late, I was definitely interested to see how it is viewed and portrayed in Japan. What this anime showed me is that the views of modern society in Japan and America are markedly similar towards transgender individuals, with their experiences and feelings being outright dismissed at best, or ridiculed and persecuted at worst. Nitori, the protagonist and a transgender girl, shows just how extensive this persecution is. Despite being young, being commonly referred to as cute and girlish, and being able to pass as a female completely effectively, Nitori is still subject to discrimination and unacceptance from those who know her assigned sex at birth. This condemnation is heavily contrasted with the praise received by the female students when they dress in clothing considered inappropriate for their gender, with them being called cool and seen as rebellious. This is a societal double standard that I have seen frequently in real life as well as on the internet, with people being much more accepting of females presenting in a masculine way than they are of males presenting in a feminine manner. The story also presents the complications in sexuality and love that being transgender brings about, as Nitori’s girlfriend Anna struggles with Nitori’s presentation of her gender identity after she wears a dress to school, despite the cuteness of Nitori being what she is attracted to. The character of Doi also serves to showcase these complications, as he is shocked to find out that a woman he found pretty was formerly a man, and this sets off a series of seemingly contradictory actions that, to me, signify his confusion at how to perceive his own sexuality due to this experience.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I also agree that this was a beautiful anime. I felt really bad for Nitori being judged for wearing feminine-like clothing whereas when a girl wore the boys' uniform, no one said much. It's said that this does relate to the reality of our lives. I agree that it was also interesting to see this from Japan's perspective.

[katibis]

Sailor Moon - Blog Post

Ever since the module about Shonen anime, I’ve wondered about Shoujo anime. If Shonen anime is characterized by themes of “Gaman” and “Ganbaru”, what themes characterize Shoujo anime? “Sailor Moon” is a popular Shoujo anime, and it is the go-to anime I think of when someone mentions Shoujo. I assumed, from what I knew about “Sailor Moon”, that Shoujo anime had more cutesy or exaggerated art styles, compared to shounen anime, and often times the focus was romance or slice of life activities. I think this may be partially true, but it does not fully describe the Shoujo genre.

While I may not be part of the target demographic of “Sailor Moon” I still can analyze it for its themes. Surprisingly, the themes of this anime were not hidden behind metaphors or symbols but almost clearly stated. Another possibility could be the reading helped me to find these themes. Of course, there were themes of supernatural but more importantly, themes of gender roles and defying them. During Sailor Moon’s first encounter with an enemy, her immediate reaction is to run and cry, as most people would expect women to do. Tuxedo Mask intervenes and tells Sailor Moon that crying will not help with anything, and that she must instead fight. This can be seen as abandonment of traditional gender roles.

Conversely, there were also themes of finding power in gender roles. For Sailor Moon to transform, she must chant “Moon, Prism power, Makeup”. I am not sure about Prism power, but the Moon and makeup are objects often associated with women in history. It is like the reading said, Sailor Moon draws her powers off of hyperfeminity.

Overall, I can understand why this is such a successful anime with women. For women who dislike the gender roles, they see Sailor Moon as a role-model, for women who support the gender roles, they can see Sailor Moon draw her power from these gender roles. Good anime but does not interest me.

[jasleenanimeblog]

Hi! I as well can see why this anime was such a success for women and young girls. This was my first time viewing this anime, so I didn't really know much or know why it was so popular, but it has a lot of support for young girls and shows girl power early on, which is why it's well received.