JPT1311 Anime Analysis

[m4k14]

Blog post: Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and Sensoron

Watching Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and reading Sensōron back-to-back gave me whiplash in the best and worst ways. Your Name felt emotional and nostalgic—a beautiful tribute to the value of rural life and traditional connection, even if I realized afterward how deeply it plays into the kizuna discourse and conservative ideals. It romanticizes the countryside and frames salvation through a return to local customs, Shinto ritual, and family ties. I get it. After disasters, people want something to hold onto. But as someone from a rural area myself, I couldn't ignore how the film glosses over the real economic and political reasons people leave towns behind.

Then Hetalia had me laughing and cringing almost at the same time. I can see why it’s divisive. It’s funny and self-aware, but also riddled with troubling national stereotypes. Making Germany during the Nazi era into a “moe” character is deeply uncomfortable. I kept thinking about how Annette describes the fan community as a space of “fictive collaboration”—people trying to wrestle with liking something they also find problematic. That hit home. I've been there with media before.

Sensōron, though, was the hardest to digest. Kobayashi’s use of visual rhetoric was eerily effective—he knows how to make you second guess things. But the revisionist denial of atrocities like Nanking and comfort women is chilling. It made me reflect on how power and discourse shape not only memory but our ability to empathize and acknowledge harm. Gellner’s theory of nationalism as context-free communication came alive here. These texts may all be Japanese, but they reflect global tensions around identity, memory, and truth. And as a viewer, I’m still processing where that leaves me.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

It's definitely difficult to enjoy media that contains problematic elements. Hetalia is a fun anime to watch, but I couldn't help but feel that it was a bit insensitive. In my opinion, the author shouldn't have personified WW2 countries. I agree that reading Sensoron was difficult. It's clear that the author is desperately trying to push his own narrative using cherry-picked images. It is incredibly insulting to the people and nations who went through the atrocities he's trying to deny. However, it's important to know that such media exists so that we're prepared to recognize disinformation and propaganda. Your Name was probably my most favorite out of the three. Overall, great analysis!

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Your Name / Hetalia: Axis Powers / Sensōron

This was an interesting lineup of media to watch and read. They all initially seemed unrelated, but once I saw all three, an underlying theme of nationalism and national identity became clear.

Your Name is probably my favorite one out of the three. Its beautiful visuals drew me in a few years ago, and I'd say they still hold up to this day. It explores a unique scenario - what would happen if two people, living entirely different lives, swapped bodies? The film executes this idea wonderfully and the character dynamics feel fresh and real. I never realized Your Name was conservative in that it emphasizes the connection between urban and rural peoples. It also criticizes modern forms of connection, favoring relationships formed in-person. For example, at the end of the film, the two meet again on the steps to a shrine. This connects to an earlier point in the film, where they meet for the first time after Tachibana visits a shrine in Miyamizu's village. Shrines hold significant historical importance in Japan as they are representative of its culture and religious traditions. Conservative values often stress the importance of maintaining tradition, hence why this anime is conservative.

Hetalia shifts away from the emotional elements of Your Name and provides a more comedic outlook on national identity. It uses stereotypes and historical events to personify countries into human beings. The anime seems to suggest that a nation's people have core essences, in that their personalities all share some common features. Looking at it from a purely non-analytical standpoint, Hetalia is an enjoyable anime with lots of funny moments. The character dynamics seemed based in reality, with Germany constantly having to rescue Italy from danger, and Japan being a loner due to its former isolationist policies. However, I feel as if it was a bit distasteful to personify nations in the era of WW2. Tens of millions of people died during this time, and making a comedic anime about such a time period is an interesting decision to say the least.

Sensoron is probably the only assigned media that I actively dislike. It is rife with disinformation about horrible atrocities. The author claims that America fabricated the Nanking massacre to punish Japan. He also states that Japan was brainwashed by America and peace museums that displayed the atrocities Japan committed. Sensoron uses exaggerated facial expressions and odd bodily features to portray people that the author does not like. It came off as incredibly childish and insulting. However, I believe it's important to cover media like this, as it makes students aware of the fact that such mediums can be used to push certain political agendas and disinformation.

Overall, viewing these anime and manga while analyzing their connection to nationalism and national identity was an enjoyable experience. I am thankful to this class for introducing me to amazing anime that I never would have stumbled upon otherwise, and for teaching me how to uncover the hidden meaning of anime. Thank you for an enjoyable summer semester!

[purple1scorpio1]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Blog Post

Both of these animes brought me back to the first time we started talking about anime in this class. I remember as we were talking about capitalism and the effects that it has on society, one of the main things I thought of was its impact on the environment. We've created so much technology to allow for efficiency and the overall prosperity of humans, but at what cost? In the short-term, capitalism and the innovations we've made have made life so much easier, but in reality, it's caused a lot of problems in the long run that we have to find ways to counter.

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

I thought that this anime had a really interesting take on environmentalism. I definitely think to some extent, letting nature repair itself can be a good thing, for we as humans have the responsibility of reviving and preserving it as well, especially because we're the ones who created the damage in the first place. However, it's so cool to see how powerful nature is, and how it's able to adapt to be stronger than ever before. It's like Charles Darwin's idea of the "survival of the fittest," where organisms constantly evolve to adapt to changing environments. In this anime, the plants and organisms like the Ohms have evolved to try and help reverse the damage done to the Earth. Overall I really liked this anime, especially because of Nausicaa's charming, go-getter personality.

The Sea of Decay - at first Nausicaa and everyone else thought that this place was extremely dangerous, but it's later revealed that this place is meant to absorb all of the toxins on Earth and reverse the damage

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

I think I would've enjoyed this one more if I had played the game, because I feel like I didn't really understand what was going on at some points. There were a few random characters that must've appeared between cutscenes and I didn't really understand who they were. Anyways, I did like the message that it gave about environmentalism - that humans should take more of an active approach to restoring the environment. While I do think that nature is powerful enough to help restore the damage done to the environment, I still appreciate Klaus and his effort to help restore the Earth, since he was the one that created mass destruction in the first place.

Image of the barren Elysium in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - here we can see the effects of the damage done to the Earth

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Great connection between environmentalism and capitalism! Capitalism, in its search for endless profit, often has a detrimental effect on the environment. This is mainly due to the idea of instrumentalism, in which nature is viewed as a tool for human use and not much else. Both Nausicaa and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 show us a futuristic reality where this idea is taken to the extreme and most of the world becomes uninhabitable. Humans should really be considering whether the short-term gains of exploiting nature will be worth it in the long-run, as it really doesn't seem like it will. Overall, great analysis of both!

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind / Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Looking at the brief descriptions of Nausicaa and Xenoblade, I would've never imagined that the two share some major similarities, especially given the differences in age and genre. Much to my surprise, both contain themes of environmentalism and the danger humanity poses to nature.

The origins of the worlds in both series were caused by a massive catastrophe at the hands of humans. In Nausicaa, it was a war of 1,000 years past, using massive weapons that wielded nuclear energy. In Xenoblade, Klaus attempted to save the world by using the Conduit, but instead destroyed the Earth to a point of no return. Both Nausicaa and Xenoblade warn viewers of how technological advancement, and the use of it, with no regard to the world's nature, can lead to irreversible destruction. Of course, in reality, most technological advancements - aside from weapons of mass destruction - wouldn't immediately destroy the planet.

However, we're slowly destroying our planet through chemical runoff, massive production of greenhouse gases, and manmade landscape changes like industrial mines. It has only been a few hundred years since the start of the Industrial Revolution, but we're already on track to do irreversible damage to the Earth. Instrumentalism can be attributed to most of these issues. Humans are constantly digging out wide swaths of land for mines, building factories, and burning forests for agriculture. Destroying nature at such a large scale will eventually lead to our own demise, just like it did for humans in Nausicaa and Xenoblade.

However, the solution offered in the two series contrasts. In the ending of Nausicaa, nature is left to heal on its own without humans making major contributions to help in its restoration. However, in Xenoblade, humans are directly restoring nature by the use of nanomachines. In my opinion, both methods are equally valid. Nature should be conserved and left to heal on its own, but at the same time, humans should also try to aid in its restoration. For example, humans could dedicate parcels of land for conservation purposes, while directly aiding endangered animals in the vicinity to help in restoring their population.

I also found it interesting how both series had religious symbolism. The Conduit in Xenoblade resembles a Christian cross, and the resurrection of Nausicaa is similar to the resurrection of Christ. I wonder if these Christian elements are used to contrast acts of sinful greed and destruction shown in both series.

Overall, I think both Nausicaa and Xenoblade offer unique perspectives on ecology. It was interesting how these fantasy worlds managed to make a solid commentary on contemporary ecological issues.

[youngboipat]

Neon Genesis Evangelion

Watching Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion was like staring into someone’s mind during a total collapse. I’ve never seen an anime that felt so deeply personal and chaotic at the same time. What hit me hardest wasn’t the sci-fi or the giant battles—it was the raw mental and emotional breakdowns that all the characters, especially Shinji, go through. The show made me feel uncomfortable in the best way, like it was forcing me to sit with thoughts I’d usually push away.

In terms of global relevance, Evangelion doesn’t just reflect Japan’s postwar identity crisis or the pressure on youth to conform. It goes even deeper—into what it means to be human when everything else is stripped away. Isolation, depression, fear of connection—those themes aren’t just Japanese issues; they’re universal. I think anyone who’s ever felt alone or unsure of who they are can relate to Shinji’s paralysis and constant questioning of his worth.

I also found the ending of The End of Evangelion incredibly powerful. It’s messy, violent, and abstract—but it’s honest. It felt like a rejection of everything “clean” that anime is supposed to be. Instead of giving us a perfect resolution, it gives us emotion, confusion, and one small moment of human connection at the very end. That felt real to me. Life doesn’t always offer closure. Sometimes, just choosing to keep going is enough.

Watching this made me reflect on my own fear of vulnerability. Evangelion shows that connecting with others means accepting pain and imperfection, and that’s terrifying—but also necessary. It’s not a show I can say I “enjoyed” in the usual way, but it’s one I’ll probably be thinking about for a long time.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Although it was a large component of the series, Evangelion was definitely more focused on the state of the human mind rather than the robots themselves. Shinji's search for connection and validation is something that many people - especially those like Shinji, who do not fit a certain gender role in society - can relate to. His only way of receiving praise and forming relationships was through piloting his Eva. Except, in reality, the people that expected this of him were not treating Shinji like a human being. They saw him as a tool that they could use to achieve their own goals. Shinji's only "real" connection with another was through Kaworu, who promptly abandoned him as he turned out to be an Angel. In the end, Shinji never really found a person who he could thoroughly relate to and confide in.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Neon Genesis Evangelion / The End of Evangelion

I struggled to get into Evangelion and have tried doing so multiple times over the course of a few years. The ambiguity of the plot and confusing relationship between characters pushed me away from the series. However, once I finally managed to get through a few episodes, it became one of my favorite anime. It drew me in with its psychological elements just like Code Geass had.

I enjoyed watching the dynamic between Shinji and Asuka unfold. She's everything that Shinji is not - confident, bold, and outspoken. Shinji's timid personality initially causes conflict with Asuka, as she expected Japan's best Eva pilot to share her personality.

Asuka is seemingly infatuated with Kaji, who doesn't return her feelings as he views her as a trouble teenager. As stated prior, Asuka's annoyance with Shinji lies in his meek personality. She wants Shinji to share the hegemonic masculinity of Kaji. In episode 15, Asuka kisses Shinji, but he fails to react with romantic interest in that moment. Asuka interprets this as him rejecting her which fuels her hatred for Shinji. On the other hand, Rei seems to take on a motherly role for Shinji. The relationship between Shinji and Rei further amplifies the tension between Shinji and Asuka.

Shinji is constantly under pressure to perform as others expect him to. His classmates are jealous of his ability to pilot the robot, but when he fails to meet their expectations, he gets punched. The NERV employees - including his father, Ritsuko, and Misato - only praise him and treat him like a human being when he's following their orders. Both society and those around him urge him to act out violence, even though such actions are in direct conflict with his personality. Regardless, he follows their expectations in order to receive praise and be accepted by those around him. This eventually drains him to the point where he decides to run away from it all.

Evangelion is a wonderful anime full of interesting and complex character dynamics that make it stand out from the rest. It also explores the human mind and the human struggle to try and fit in. Overall, watching Evangelion was entertaining and I plan on rewatching it again at some point!

[youngboipat]

Anime Convention True Otaku

I’ve never been to an anime convention in person. Still, after watching the True Otaku documentary, I feel like I got a good look at what the experience is like—both the exciting parts and the ones that made me think deeper about what fandom really means. At first, I expected the documentary to simply show people cosplaying and discussing their favorite shows, but what I got was a comprehensive look into how fandom becomes a significant part of someone's identity, especially for young people trying to find their place in the world.

One thing that stood out to me right away was how personal anime is to many of the fans. They don’t just watch shows for fun—they live in those worlds, relate deeply to the characters, and express themselves through cosplay, fan art, and writing. Some of the people interviewed talked about how they didn’t feel accepted in their everyday lives but found a sense of community and belonging through anime. That reminded me a lot of what we’ve been learning in class about youth culture and how people build their identity through shared experiences and interests. When someone doesn’t feel seen or understood in regular society, fandom offers a space where they can be their full self without apology.

Another aspect that resonated with me was the way the fans discussed escapism. For many, anime wasn’t just entertainment—it was a safe haven. In a way, I understood that more than I thought I would. Even though I’ve never cosplayed or gone to a con, I’ve definitely used anime as a way to escape stress, school pressure, or even feelings of isolation. Shows like Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, and My Hero Academia gave me something to hold onto—characters who struggle, overcome, and push through. That emotional connection is what pulls people into fandom and keeps them there.

The documentary also made me realize how deep the commitment to fandom goes. People weren’t just watching anime—they were collecting merchandise, organizing meetups, running forums, and even learning Japanese to connect more with the culture behind the shows they love. That level of dedication reminded me of what we discussed in class about postmodern culture—how media and identity are no longer separate. Fandom doesn’t just reflect who you are; it shapes who you are. It influences your values, your relationships, even your goals. And in a time when traditional identities are less fixed than ever, fandom becomes a place where people can actually choose who they want to be.

There was one part of the documentary where someone said they felt more themselves in cosplay than in their regular clothes, and that really stuck with me. It shows how fandom isn’t about hiding from reality—it’s about creating a version of reality that feels more authentic. And that’s where cultural identity formation comes in. These fans are building identities that don’t fit into the usual boxes—student, worker, sibling—but instead, center around shared passions, creativity, and emotional connections.

Overall, watching True Otaku gave me a much deeper understanding of fandom. It’s not just about loving anime—it’s about building a life around something meaningful. It’s about finding people who understand you when no one else does. And most importantly, it’s about turning passion into identity, even when the world tells you that passion is weird or “too much.” After watching this documentary, I feel that I understand not just anime culture, but youth culture as a whole. It’s creative, emotional, and deeply human.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Despite being filmed over a decade ago, many of the aspects presented in True Otaku still hold true (pun intended). I like your comments on escapism. It's something that is a part of many forms of media, whether it be books, anime, or video games. Entertainment allows viewers to become immersed in a different world. It's why I find anime and video games to be so enjoyable - I can distract myself from the stresses of life, if only for a brief period of time. Of course, that's not the only reason why I enjoy media. They offer interesting stories and appealing visuals that are fun to consume.

As you stated, conventions create an authentic environment. Anime is something that has only recently become relatively mainstream, so it's a bit difficult to find other people to discuss the topic with. However, at conventions, you are surrounded by tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people who share similar interests. I think that's what makes them so amazing - the fact that so many people gather to meet people just like them.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Convention

Although I've never had the opportunity to attend an anime convention, the True Otaku documentary gave me an insight on the nature of conventions. It explores how attendees breathe life into convention environments and how they interact with one another as they stroll along massive piles of merchandise and other goods.

Being filmed in 2011, True Otaku mainly covers the Otakon convention, which had about 30,000 attendees in that year. This number stood out to me, because nowadays, larger anime conventions like Anime Expo see close to 500,000 attendees. The massive difference in attendees is likely attributed to anime becoming more popular in mainstream culture. This explosion in popularity makes me wonder if the close-knit community as described by a guest on True Otaku still exists.

One of the guests on the documentary described how conventions allow her and other attendees to freely discuss and express their interests with other fans. This is an example of enunciative productivity, where fans talk with one another about the media they enjoy. She also notes how most people at the convention met each other online prior to attending together, as it's much easier to find people with similar interests online rather than in-person. The internet is a unique environment that allows for the creation of small fan circles. These online circles can quickly communicate with one another and easily write and share fan fiction, also known as textual productivity. Conventions bring these people together and help them form relationships, which in turn shapes their personalities. Thus, they enable semiotic productivity.

Cosplay is another way fans can express themselves and experiment with their personalities. As shown by True Otaku, creating outfits for cosplay is a labor-intensive task that takes a massive amount of creative effort. Once they don the outfit, cosplayers often alter their personalities to match that of the character of the cosplay. Alongside that, they incorporate their own interpretation of how the character may act in certain situations. This means that the cosplayer's personality is intertwined with that of the character's. Some cosplayers may end up taking traits of the characters they cosplay as and make it a part of their own personality.

Many conventions also feature guest stars. These can include voice actors, directors, animators, and a variety of other individuals who are involved with the production of anime. They hold panels where they answer from the audience and sometimes even sign fans' items. This interaction between people involved in the making of anime and the fans often deepens fans' involvement with a particular fandom, as it adds a personal aspect to the media.

Aside from the social aspect of conventions, there's also merchandise of various series and franchises. Long rows of tables are filled with t-shirts, anime figures, manga, and other collectibles, enticing fans as they walk by. This shadow cultural economy is present (and encouraged) at most media-related convention, as it drives revenue while attracting a variety of fans. Acquiring shadow cultural capital is an important part of being a fan. Fans can show off their vast collection or handful of rare collectibles to show the extent of their excitement and obsession with others. It also serves as a source of pride for the fan as well.

I enjoyed watching True Otaku as it gave me insight into the authenticity and closeness of the anime community. Even if anime is more mainstream now, conventions still allow for fans of various anime to come together and discuss their interests with like-minded individuals. They create a welcoming and colorful environment full of interesting people with impressive cosplays, enticing other fans to join in on the fun. I hope to one day be able to attend an anime convention!

[jamiesalk]

Sailor Moon, Aggretsuko, and Wandering Son

Sailor Moon isbright and bubbly, and the story about teenage girls navigating friendship, responsibility, and self-doubt is relatable despite me being a man. The show goes out of its way to empower emotions rather than hiding them. As someone who grew up being told that emotions or vulnerability were weakness, watching Usagi save the world because of her sensitivity not in spite of it, was quite satisfying.

Aggretsuko was a completely different experience. It was funny and absurd, but still painfully relatable. The way Retsuko screams death metal to cope with a soul-crushing office job reflects not just Japanese corporate life, but a broader burnout culture that I recognize too well. It reminds me of my current minimum wage job at Chipotle and how I scream to grunge music in my car on the way there. It made me question how much we mute ourselves order to get by within bureaucratic systems.

Wandering Son brought things to a much deeper emotional level. Its quiet tone and slow pacing gave space to think about gender identity in a way I rarely see in media, let alone anime, which rarely confronts gender norms in my experience. Watching Shuichi and Yoshino navigate dysphoria, social pressure, and self-discovery felt honest. It reminded me how important it is to see characters questioning the gender binary, not just subverting it for comedy or fantasy. It can be just a serious of a topic as any else.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

I agree with your points! Aggretsuko was definitely a fun watch because of how relatable it was. It was satisfying watching Retsuko express her true feelings in a karaoke battle with her boss. It's something she would've never been able to do at the work environment. It's great commentary on society as it highlights work-related discrimination and how bureaucratic the corporate environment can be. I caught myself wondering how different it would be for Retsuko and her co-workers if only they would voice their concerns. Of course, this wasn't an option for them, as they'd risk getting fired, which would make job searching difficult. Overall, great analysis of the three assigned anime!

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Sailor Moon / Aggretsuko / Wandering Son

Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon is a popular Shoujo anime that I never really managed to get into. It features a colorful cast of girls that gain magical powers to defend the planet. Although the plot sounds rather generic, shows featuring powerful women leads were a rarity at the time of release.

This anime shares similarities to Second Wave Feminism, as it depicts the feminine elements of the main characters providing them with strength and superpowers. Second Wave Feminists argued that childbirth was a power women held, rather than something to be ashamed of. The same goes for Sailor Moon, as make-up, cute clothing, and all things feminine were sources of power for the main cast.

It was interesting how the anime portrayed the conflict of adolescence through the girls' transformations. During adolescence, teenagers are in an odd state between childhood and adulthood. They seek freedom and autonomy but lack the maturity and knowledge to navigate adulthood. The transformations allow the girls to exercise power while giving them the ability to retreat back into their original forms.

Aggretsuko

This anime reminded me of Odd Taxi with its animal anthropomorphization. Watching Retsuko navigate a hostile work environment while putting on a smile was entertaining and relatable. Unfortunately, it reflects the reality of many female office workers in Japan and elsewhere. I can understand why Retsuko wanted to marry in order to escape the workplace, but this was a bit upsetting to me. It seemed as if she was pressured into following the traditional path of a woman by her rude boss. It left me with an unsatisfying feeling, up until the karaoke battle between Retsuko and her boss. Watching her express her true feelings rather than hiding them was really satisfying.

Wandering Son

Wandering Son was probably my favorite anime out of the three. It follows a group of middle schoolers that explore their gender and romantic orientations. I found it incredibly relatable, as I went through many of the same struggles that some of the characters in the anime had.

The anime is a realistic interpretation of how gender roles and orientations are seen by society. In the first episode, we can see Chizuru wearing a male uniform, which results in a few odd looks from classmates but nothing more. However, when Nitori wears girl's clothing at home, her sister calls her disgusting. In Japan and western countries, masculine women are often seen as strong, allowing them to more easily be gender-nonconforming. However, men with feminine traits are seen by society as weak or weird. This double-standard makes it difficult for men to be gender-nonconforming.

As a masculine-presenting woman, I found it easy to relate to characters like Chizuru, which is probably why I enjoyed Wandering Son so much. Nitori also reminded me a bit of Shinji from Evangelion, which is the next anime we'll be covering. I look forward to analyzing Evangelion in a few days!

[jamiesalk]

Genshiken

To me, Genshiken was one of the most easily digestible animes simply because of how relatable it can be. It doesn't have any blockbuster plot per se, but rather a calmer, slice of life sort of take on the life of a college student. Specifically, the lives of outcasted students, or "otakus". Funnily enough, I thought it was kinda weird to witness otaku culture from the Japanese perspective because as an American, I've only ever witnessed the word "Otaku" be used to describe western or American men who are obsessed with Japanese anime and manga culture. Though the subject matter an otaku finds themself involved with is Japanese, this realization proved to me that the idea of a nerdy outcast like an otaku is not unique to either America or Japan. An American equivalent of an otaku would be someone who is obsessed with comics and superheroes, who would be known as a "geek" here. Geek/nerd culture in the US seems to be the same from Otaku culture in Japan after watching Genshiken. The anime seemed to just peer into the lives of the members of the Genshiken club, I think in an attempt to normalize this sort of interest in Japanese things. Even one of the characters went through the growth of learning to appreciate and respect the club even if they aren't respected by the rest of society. I think that growth is what Genshiken as an anime wants all people of society to have after watching it.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Genshiken was a nice break from the more fantasy-esque anime that have been assigned. It reminded me a bit of A Place Further Than the Universe as it covered a group of close-knit friends just having fun. The nerd-like environment also resembled that of the Future Gadget Laboratory in Steins;Gate. Both the lab members in Steins;Gate and the club members in Genshiken enjoy making references to other anime and internet culture. Although I generally don't watch Slice of Life anime, I found Genshiken enjoyable because of how relatable it was. Overall, great analysis!

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Genshiken

Watching Genshiken reminded me of my time in late elementary and middle school. Anime was nowhere near how popular it is today and many people still regarded anime fans as social outcasts. It was difficult for me to find people to share my interests with. Although this was nearly a decade after the airing of Genshiken, its main plot elements held true.

Being a part of a group or community to discuss your hobbies with is a special thing. The members of Genshiken could, for the most part, express their interests freely, although there was a bit of conflict at times. Although I couldn't find such a group during my school years, I found online communities where I could discuss anime and manga.

Kanji was probably the most relatable character for me. Just like me, he lacked confidence in sharing his interests in anime and manga with others. But once he found a safe place to do so, he gained confidence and started being more true to himself.

Genshiken is a fun and relatable anime for fans of any non-mainstream media. It also serves as a great example of the shadow cultural economy. Throughout the anime, we see the characters, especially Madarame, partake in this economy by acquiring shadow cultural capital such as dōjinshi. The need to partake in the shadow cultural economy is so great that Madarame spends most of his money on shadow cultural capital rather than on essential needs like food, hence why he is so frail.

Saki can be viewed as an example of how outsiders perceive otaku culture. She initially dislikes and shuns the members of Genshiken, seeing them as weird and perverted. However, as she gets to know the members, she becomes more accepting and even helps them at times. This goes to show that anime and manga fans aren't inherently weird. Rather, they might struggle socially because they're afraid or ashamed to share their interests with others.

Genshiken reminded me of how I was when I initially began watching anime, with a lot of it still being relatable today. I also liked the references to other anime as it made the anime feel more real. Overall, it was an enjoyable watch!

[youngboipat]

Naruto, Wolf Children, and A Silent Voice

Watching Naruto, Wolf Children, and A Silent Voice back to back really hit me in different emotional ways. Each anime takes a unique approach to talking about struggles that feel both specific to Japanese society and also universal. What stood out most was how all three focused on isolation, acceptance, and the challenges of fitting into a world that doesn’t always make space for who you really are.

Naruto shows this through its main character being ostracized for something he didn’t choose—the Nine-Tails inside him. He spends most of his life being treated like a threat, and yet he keeps pushing to be accepted and become Hokage. That drive really spoke to me, especially when people underestimate you or see only one side of you.

Wolf Children felt different—it’s about the quiet strength of motherhood and what it means to raise kids who don’t fit into the mold. The mother sacrifices so much just to give her kids a chance to choose their path. It made me think of how people—especially women—are expected to juggle everything without falling apart.

And A Silent Voice probably hit the hardest. It dives into bullying, disability, depression, and guilt in a way that felt real. The way it handled forgiveness and the need to own up to your mistakes reminded me of things I’ve seen in school growing up—how quick people are to judge or exclude, and how hard it is to fix what’s broken.

All three of these anime made me think about empathy. Whether it’s Japan or anywhere else, people are trying to find where they belong. These stories don’t give easy answers, but they show that connection and understanding are where healing starts.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Your in-depth analysis does a great job at covering the topics present in those anime. I find it interesting how Naruto is ostracized in the beginning despite the fact that he holds great power that can be used for good. Discriminated individuals in the real world are as capable as their perpetrators, if not more so, but they face isolation and prejudice regardless because of factors outside their control.

Wolf Children, as you've stated, showcases the difficulties of single motherhood. Single parents face a lot of social and financial hardships, as seen in Wolf Children. Countries without proper financial assistance programs often have single parents overworking or/and in debt. Two parent households already struggle to make ends meet in the modern day, so you can imagine how difficult it must be for single parent households.

Overall, great analysis of Naruto, Wolf Children, and A Silent Voice!

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Naruto / Wolf Children / A Silent Voice

Naruto, Wolf Children, and A Silent Voice are three anime that are incredibly distinct from each other, but share one overarching theme - discrimination.

Naruto takes a conservative approach to addressing discrimination. Naruto is ostracized from the beginning due to the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him, so he works towards becoming the Hokage in order to be accepted by society. This "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" (ironically once an idiom for an impossible task) approach is often suggested by many members of the older generation. They fail to recognize the social, economic, and political barriers that discriminated individuals must face in order to succeed. This approach rarely succeeds in real life.

Wolf Children takes a slightly different approach regarding discrimination. Rather than living in a society where her wolf-human children will struggle to express themselves, Hana moves with them to a rural area in search of privacy and freedom. Small, but free social bubbles are common in the real world. Large cities often have districts where one ethnicity gathers. I grew up in one of these areas as my parents wanted to be close to their home cultures. It's much easier to form connections with individuals of similar backgrounds, as language and cultural barriers don't pose issues.

A Silent Voice offers, in my opinion, the best solution to discrimination - social change. Ishida is representative of how society has changed over the last few decades. He started off as a perpetrator of discrimination, but redeemed himself by becoming more accepting. Just like Ishida, society was largely discriminatory, but over time, has become more accepting. For example, many countries now have legislation recognizing gay marriage, which used to be a controversial topic.

I personally resonate with many of the themes throughout these anime. As I've mentioned, I grew up in an area with a lot of immigrants. Being a child of one, it was very easy for me to connect with others and form friendships at school. However, after I moved to an area without much diversity, I became isolated and struggled to make connections with classmates. This was around the same time I initially watched A Silent Voice. Finding a piece of media to connect with helped me get through that difficult time, and it's why the anime is one of my favorite of all time.

[jamiesalk]

Shin Sekai Yori

This anime served as a chilling reminder of the social systems that exist in our society that many people often elect to ignore, and what happens when the oppressed will be ignored no longer. The destruction of the world due to humanity unlocking immense power was also a reminder of human nature and the corruption that comes with great power when great responsibility is ignored. I thought humanity evolving to have powerful psychic abilities in the show represented powerful military capabilities in real life, such as nuclear weapons. And those who did not develop psychic abilities, or are forced not to, remain oppressed, just like how some powerful countries treat lesser powerful nations. For instance, Russia being a nuclear power and most eastern bloc countries like Ukraine not having any. This can be seen on a much smaller scale as well. We see a lot of classism in American society whether most of us would like to admit it or not, it is there. The higher classes frequently mistreat the lower classes and have efforts to keep them lower class. This is very similar to the dehumanization and treatment of the queerats in the show. The lack of information and amount of radicalization in this show is also akin to real life situations. Squealer, radicalizing a child to hate humanity and become a fiend, is effectively a terrorist. His demise would be his execution but his final plea holds tragic weight. His argument that the queerats are not animals or livestock but sentient beings. HUMANS. That part of this show stuck out to me the most and his cause being executed along with him reminded me of the cruelty of our world the same as it reminded Saki of the cruelty of hers.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

I like how you connect the anime to the real world's situation of classism. It's a topic that's at the forefront of many discussions about modern society. For decades, the wealth gap between the average person and those at the top 1% has been widening. Those at the bottom are often ridiculed and are blamed for their own shortcomings, and thus are seen as "lesser" than most. This is despite the fact that anyone can suddenly fall into hardship.

Ironically, clasissm is a topic that the ruling class wants to distract us from. They would rather us discriminate each other based on appearance (similar to how the Queerats are treated in the anime) or any other identifier that would work in their favor. Overall, you wrote a great analysis on Shin Sekai Yori!

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Shin Sekai Yori

Like Psycho Pass, Shin Sekai Yori is a futuristic commentary on society, minus all the sci-fi elements. Despite being set in the far future, the architecture, clothing, and way of life suggest that the story takes place a few centuries ago. However, some advanced technology remains, such as the False Minoshiro. They are organic-like automatons that hold hundreds of petabytes of historical information.

This makes me wonder: why do they lead a traditional lifestyle when they are capable of making very advanced pieces of technology? Let's first consider the setting and theme of the story.

Shin Sekai Yori makes it very clear from the beginning that telekinetic powers can pose a great danger. This is why children are closely monitored - and sometimes disposed of - if they show any signs of antisocial behavior.

The modern world, especially social media, enables anti-social behavior. Social media algorithms push extremist and reactionary content to average users, provide platforms that allow like-minded individuals to gather and intensify their beliefs, and offer an alternative form of socialization under anonymity.

Additionally, leading a stressful lifestyle increases the possibility of someone mentally "snapping." Humans were not made to lead a modern lifestyle. The Industrial Revolution happened just a few centuries ago, which is not nearly enough time for us, as both a society and a species, to adapt. Humans are accustomed to farm and craft work, not service and industry jobs that require such a large amount of mental effort.

Just like those with telekinesis in Shin Sekai Yori, we hold an immense amount of power and technology that previous generations could never imagine. Perhaps the reason behind the traditional society in Shin Sekai Yori is to minimize possible stressors or enablers for anti-social behavior, both of which modern society is abundant of. I believe that Shin Sekai Yori may not only be a commentary on the over-surveillance of children, but on the dangers of modern society as well.

[kaitlynmariadunne]

Psycho-Pass

Wow. This anime is much darker than those I have watched previously. Starting the first episode, I was not prepared to enter into a world where everyone’s mental health is public knowledge, drones constantly surveil citizens, and a "computer" system determines their fate. Nonetheless, Psycho-Pass was a thrilling watch, full of action, hard truths, and secrecy.

The anime obviously addresses global concerns of protecting peace by any means possible – even if that means limiting freedom. In Japan specifically, the anime reflects anxieties surrounding mental health and knowing ones’ place in society, as well as the increasing need for technology for everyday life. Japan is recognized for having a current lack of mental health care success, with a heavy stigma surrounding it in the country. This anime shows a different Japan, one that is hyper aware of mental health, and the impacts that kind of society has. While currently criticised for not caring enough about mental illness, the anime offers a different critique and warning about the implications that being overly cautious of mental health can have in regards to freedom. In the show, the hue of a person’s mental state determines whether they go to therapy, displaying a society with minimal freedom despite minding the well-being of citizens. Globally, themes of surveillance are extremely prevalent, as almost nothing goes unnoticed nowadays. Cellphones, traffic and dashboard cameras, and other forms of tracking make it nearly impossible to be “off the grid,” a rising concern for privacy in many places. The anime specifically shows this as an area’s “stress level” is monitored, and people who raise the stress are taken out. The anime uses this to further comment on surveillance societies, showing how trust in these technologies can be destroyed if the programs embedded are discovered to be used against the average person, like in the shopping mall scene. This creates a large divide between the people and the computer. Predictive policing is also a major concern in the anime. With constant references to individuals’ “crime coefficients," or their likelihood to commit a crime, people are unwillingly categorized into a group, regardless of whether or not they act on their thoughts. This is a serious concern for freedom, and can be seen in the United States and other countries and is reflected in the anime most directly with the “enforcers.” Even though they are actively working to stop crimes, enforcers are treated like criminals and marked up to be nothing more than “hunting dogs.” Watching the show, I began to question the systems that decided enforcers are criminals, as they seem only to want to help others. But because a system told them who they are, they can only be that person, showing a major flaw in the principle of predictive policing all too often used around the world today.

In my own life, there have been multiple instances where the technology tracking me or sharing my location led me to act differently than I might have without that technology. For example, the app Life360 can track and share your location and speed with family and friends. As my parents require me to have the app downloaded, I am extra careful when driving, because I know I could be punished if they see that I am moving too fast. My actions have been influenced because of this technology, reinforcing the idea of panopticism. Even if my parents are not looking at the app at the time, the simple chance that they are leads me to act in a way where I know I cannot be faulted. This is obviously a step down from what is shown in the anime, but the principle still applies. People know they will likely be caught for raising an area’s stress, or for having criminal thoughts, so they avoid those things entirely. Even though “street scanners” are not realistically everywhere, citizens in the anime know there is a chance they are being scanned, and stay in line. The only time when individuals in the show stop acting in fear of being monitored is when the helmets are discovered. People finally act freely without restricting themselves because the technologies they were afraid of punishing them are rendered useless. The show made me think about the ways I am watched in my life that I don't usually think of. My university can see when I log in with my school email. There are cameras around campus. My car tracks my speed and locations traveled. My cellphone knows my activity, and consequently when I am awake and asleep. If I think about it, the society shown in Psycho-Pass is not too different than the one I live in today.

I think my main take away from the show was the limits humans put on themselves because of obedience for or fear of a powerful being. The opposite side of this view is also relevant as some people will always directly resist those with power. In the anime, the Sibyl System forces people to regulate themselves due to fear of being punished. People are constantly aware of their hue and stress level, always working to keep them adequate, despite these judgments not being physical but rather just ideas. This directly reflects concepts seen in Foucault’s Panopticism. I have to assume that, by living in this society, people consent to this information being public knowledge and monitored by the government. But I also wonder, can anyone opt out? Is it even possible to choose another way of life? Or is privacy obsolete in the future? The show seems to paint acts of rebellion as naturally violent in societies crafted to ensure “peace.” Knowing that Sibyl is not actually a computer but just hundreds of brains working together, I wonder if this is how the anime comments on computer programs having the biases of their programmers. It is proposed in the article “Machine Bias” that a program used to predict criminals’ propensity to reoffend is biased against people of color. While programmers attempt to create impartial and objective software, it is a serious issue that personal beliefs find their way into coding, usually subconsciously. The general biased and subjective nature of the human brain, makes the Sibyl System inherently unjust, and I think that is one of the anime’s biggest criticisms of society today.

[jpt1311-anime-analysis]

Interesting connections you've made! As you've stated, Psycho Pass provides an insightful commentary on modern Japan's mental health crisis. In the world of Psycho Pass, therapy is readily available and is prescribed when needed. This contrasts greatly with the real world. Globally, many people believe that seeking therapy is a sign of weakness. This sort of stigma and high therapy costs pose a barrier to seeking and receiving mental health care.

However, I believe that the Sibyl System tackles the symptoms rather than the causes behind a darkening Hue. This is true for the real world as well. There is a global mental health crisis, mainly caused by excessive stress, overworking, and economic hardship. Therapy can only treat symptoms - it will not make these problems disappear.

You make a lot of interesting points and connections to the real world. Great analysis!