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[i-like-soup-2]

Hetalia

Man do I love this show. I first watched it during the pandemic and have not stopped loving it since. It’s (slightly) educational, witty, full of lovable characters, and overall just an amazing show to watch to put you in a good mood if you’re able to laugh at stereotypes. I’ll admit, the fandom was a bit toxic for a while back in 2012, but most of the group in 2020 just wanted to enjoy the show and its characters. Yes, there were questionable ships that totally would not have made sense in the real world because of historical context, but that’s why it's important to remember that this is just a show and that the boy versions of countries from our world do not actually exist. If you keep that in mind, you’ll get along with (mostly) everyone. And for those who like to engage in whether subbed or dubbed anime is better, you need not worry about that here, because both the subbed and dubbed version of Hetalia are quirky and hilarious. 

Now as much as I adore the show, I am not blind to its flaws. The biggest problem I see people discuss is how every country is portrayed to have only one accent/language, one distinct look, and one distinct trait. Trying to accurately sum up a country with a complicated and rich history into only one look is quite impossible. Every country is unique and has multiple languages, races, ethnicities, cuisines, etc. That’s why it’s important to remember that Hetalia is a work of fiction, designed to bring laughter rather than offense. It’s also important to remember that the web comic was created by a Japanese man, so really, Hetalia is basically the world seen in a satirical light from a Japanese standpoint. Not everything is going to be correct or accurate, but that’s the beauty in it. Every country will have a different point of view, and since we can’t change the past, hopefully programs like this will help unite us and work through our differences.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the anime! I agree that accurately summing up an entire nation in a single character within a show not entirely meant to do so is a big demand. But what the anime does do a great job at is showing the stereotypes and the ideas of beliefs surrounding a certain country since that's pretty much all its able to do. With this in mind, its viewers are able to better appreciate the show for what it was designed for and not what people want it to be!

[kiddynamitesblog]

Hetalia

This is the class's final anime and blog and I find it fitting how we’re going back to something we discussed in the very beginning of the class, orientalism. The characters each display stereotypes about the countries they represent like an essence and aren’t able to paint the full picture. Even though I’m able to appreciate this aspect as a show, as a whole I’m not the biggest fan of it. This is likely because I’m not a political or politically oriented person and I also didn’t like how some of the characters were portrayed. Here is my blog post for Healia!

One thing I did notice in the anime was how it went out of its way to make each country likable and to show them in a positive light. Obviously, this was done so that a certain group wouldn’t dislike how they’re portrayed yet I do feel like this takes away from much of the history of our world. If this show is meant to discuss hard topics (although admittedly in a more light-hearted way) it shouldn’t shy away from things like this. The best example I can think of is Germany, a country who most can agree wasn’t doing the best things around this time, especially with the World Wars. Despite this, Germany is shown to be a mostly neutral character, something that doesn’t characterize the countries actions at the time. Also he has blonde hair and blue eyes so take what you want from that.

To relate the show to my own life, as a human, I’m someone who subconsciously carries stereotypes about other people. Whether people want to or not, they can’t help but think of certain things in reference to certain demographics, or in this case, countries. While there’s not much that can be done about this, it’s definitely important to at least acknowledge this reality. This is something that Healia does a good job at, telling its viewers of this truth and making them more aware about it.

[gatormyst]

Your Name

Before this I had never watched Your Name but always really wanted to. So, this gave me an excuse to watch it and oh my goodness I had absolutely no idea what I was missing out on. I knew the movie was gorgeously animated going in but it just blew me away and gave me goosebumps. I can’t describe how good the movie was.

One thing I noticed by the end of the movies was the connections between the people in the movie or the Kizuna. Your Name revolves around the two main characters Mitsuha and Taki. Mitsuha is from the countryside and Taki is from the big city. Throughout the movie the two characters swap into each other's bodies and learn to appreciate the countryside. Mitsuha learns to appreciate where she came from and see that while the big city is fun it’s not where her heart truly belongs. While, Taki gets to live in the countryside while in Mitsuha’s body which he has never done before. He’s always lived his life in the city and living in the countryside he learns to like the idea of a slow life. So, these two characters are connected by the countryside. In Mitsuha’s village life is slow and everyone knows each other much like a gemeinschaft but while it may share some similarities the village people have bonds and ties with everyone or Kizuna. They are bonded together and connected. Which is also the theme of the movie because Mitsuha and Taki are connected together although in a weird nontraditional way. Nevertheless they’re still connected and want to meet each other and bond. In the end of the movie they thankfully do. 

I can’t really relate to this movie because I’ve never lived in a village in the countryside. I grew up in a medium sized town with a decent downtown area. It wasn’t extravagant like New York City or something like that but it was a comfortable area. Now though unfortunately it’s starting to become more and more crowded and after seeing this movie kind of wants to make me move to the countryside. I’ve also never really felt a connection between myself and another person like Mitsuha and Taki. Maybe it’ll happen one day but it hasn’t happened yet. Overall, I HIGHLY recommend you go watch this movie right now. It’s so freaking good. The plot and the feeling of it are just amazing.

[kiddynamitesblog]

I'm glad you finally watched the movie that you've always wanted to! I think that being forced to experience such a different way of life in a very drastically alternate location was an interesting theme for this anime to tackle. Like you said, I agree that them both enjoying the country side is something that aside from their body switching is one thing that ends up connecting the two. It adds a new layer to the film that transforms it from one that addresses the Freaky Friday situation in a comedic way to one of a complex narrative that helps the characters develop and find who they truly are.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Your Name

This was one of my favorite things we had to watch for this class. The animation is solid and it follows an interesting Freaky Friday like plot, or when two people switch bodies and lives, and it has its funny yet serious moments. Because I highly recommend this movie, I’m gonna try to not talk about the plot twist. This is my blog for the anime movie Your Name!

The movie mirrors the struggles Japan faced because of natural disasters and especially the 2011 earthquake. It shows that while events like these have the power to separate people, they can also bring them together because of what they now share. Taki and Mitsuha display this perfectly. The connection that they build exists despite the differences they have and the space between them. They also learn to appreciate what they have in their own lives once they experience the other. Another theme it talks about is surrounding love and connection. Taki and Mitsuha are linked together despite being so different from one another, something that shows the viewer how interconnected everyone truly is regardless of how untrue this may seem at times.

This is a film that I can’t personally relate to. I’ve never swapped bodies with someone else (obviously), I’ve never become connected to someone so different and distant from me, and I’ve never had what happened during the plot twist happen to me (avoiding spoilers here). Yet at the same time I can identify with the idea of kizuna or creating deep connections with other people. I’m happy to say that I’ve developed relationships with people in my life, from friends, family, pets, and more, that all reflect this ideal. I’ve also learned about how important it is to try to understand other people and their situations from this movie and learn who they are personally, because as Your Name shows, love can come from places you’ll never expect it to!

[michaelaaa]

⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝕏𝕖𝕟𝕠𝕓𝕝𝕒𝕕𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝟚 ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

So, my younger sister has played "Xenoblade Chronicles 2" before on her Switch, and even though I only know bits and pieces about the game, hearing her talk about it and watching the youtube clips has been super interesting. The world of Alrest sounds so deep and detailed. It feels so alive because it's made up of these massive creatures called Titans, each with its own unique environment and culture. The lore is super rich, with a deep history and mysterious ancient technologies. The developers put a lot of effort into the small details like architecture and customs, which makes everything feel real. Plus, the game has dynamic weather and day-night cycles that impact how you play. The interconnected stories and character relationships add depth, and the focus on exploration keeps things exciting and immersive.

From what she's told me, and what I have gathered from youtube, the game dives into some big themes. It's all about the relationship between humans and these sentient beings called Blades, which kind of reflects Japan’s tech-driven society. Plus, the whole idea of living on dying Titans makes me think about environmental issues and sustainability, which is pretty relevant today.

When my younger sister did play it, she did mention Rex, the main character. She didn't really say that much but while I was watching the clips myself, I found Rex to always be so optimistic and determined, even when things got tough. His journey and the friendships he forms are really relatable. It reminds me of how we both face our own challenges and lean on each other for support. The game’s focus on relationships and community feels really real.

Even though I haven't played "Xenoblade Chronicles 2" myself, hearing about it from my younger sister and watching clips off of youtube has made me really intrigued.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the game! I agree that society living on the backs of the dying titans mirrors the real-world sustainability issues we face today. Similar to the titans, we rely on things that will run out eventually, such as fossil fuels or oil. Although we know that this is the case, not enough is done about it or enough effort is put into more sustainable alternatives. The titans represent this in the game and sends a message to the viewers that we're doing the same thing in real life!

[kiddynamitesblog]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

When I learned that we would be watching the cutscenes of a video game I was excited. I remember watching a similar play though of the game ‘Injustice’ when it came out years and years ago, a fond memory I have as a video game enjoyer. However, although it's certainly a great way to learn the basics of the game's story, it takes away from the player's experience because it's only the cutscenes. Regardless, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was a very enjoyable watch for me.

The game is set in a world where people live on the backs of titans. This represents Japan’s struggle with limited space and natural resources, something the rest of the world also has in common with them. All of the characters aim to find a place called Elysium which they believe to essentially be paradise. However, when they reach it they find that this couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s hardly any vegetation or water and the place looks like a desert or a wasteland. The characters question if they were misled and are justifiably disappointed at this point, it represents the potential world and environment we may live in if not taken care of properly and instead abandoned. 

One way I can relate to the game is how Rex decides to take on his quest. He emphasizes the importance of doing difficult things with the help of your friends and companionship/collaboration. It tells the player that in order to successfully achieve your goals, you need to work with others. This reflects my own life because there’s hardly anything I can think of that I’ve ever truly done on my own. This is also something that will become even more true once I start college, whether that's forming study groups, or asking my roommate for help doing something around the dorm.

The game also talks about the Anthropocene, when humans start to take control of the earth or its environment. Klaus is the person who destroyed the world yet also allowed for life to exist, actions that clearly resonate with this theme.

[rhejac]

nausicaa of the valley of the wind (1984)

First of all, I think this film did a lovely job with having a strong female protagonist. Her emotional journey with loss and struggling with pacifism was so interesting and human. She herself isn't perfect, but she represented all of humanity in the end as she tries to stop the Ohms from destroying her home. A lot of these environmental-themed movies always seem to put the environment over human lives, and while I see what they are trying to do with blaming and punishing humanity, I found this movie much more refreshing. Nausicaa's concern for her people was at the forefront, and she found a way for both sides to survive.

The scene with Nausicaa getting shot up and going to comfort the baby Ohm was very powerful. These were two young beings from each side, battered and wounded, and simply trying to understand one another. The movie seems to argue that we should live in harmony with the environment, and not against it. This message is conveyed through Nausicaa's actions and her ability to empathize with both humans and the creatures of the Toxic Jungle.

What sets this film apart is its nuanced approach to environmentalism. It doesn't demonize humanity for its impact on the planet but instead suggests a path to coexistence. Nausicaa embodies this ideal, showing that it is possible to care for the environment without sacrificing human lives. Her character is a beacon of hope, suggesting that empathy and understanding can bridge the gap between humanity and nature.

In the end, Nausicaa's ultimate sacrifice and subsequent revival symbolize the potential for renewal and reconciliation. Her ability to connect with the Ohms and her unwavering commitment to peace underscore the film's core message: true harmony can only be achieved through compassion and mutual respect. This film, with its strong, relatable protagonist and its balanced view on environmental issues, offers a refreshing and inspiring perspective on how we can forge a better future for both humanity and the natural world.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this movie! I completely agree on what makes it so special and unique: its desire for a path to coexistence. Rather than showing any sort of unkindness towards the people who aren't aware of the damage they're causing Nausicaa does a good job at doing the opposite. An additional nod towards the films message of coexistence is how Nausicaa can communicate with the giant insects which represent the impact pollution and environmental degradation has had on the environment and world.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

This movie was a great change of pace from the Evangelion series and covered a topic that I, as a full-time anime blogger and connoisseur, enjoy a lot more: the environment. I also liked the movie's art and animation style which helped to make it a visually enjoyable watch.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world full of toxic jungles, giant mutated insects, and the people have to wear masks. Nausicaa, the main character, is the princess of the Valley of the Wind, an area that is able to protect itself from the toxicity the rest of the world faces because of its sea breezes. The film was released in a time when Japan was dealing with the harmful consequences that came with rapid industrialization. Similar to what this piece is trying to convey, pollution and taking care of the environment was becoming as pressing as ever. The world is meant to mirror Japan's reality at the time and what could potentially happen if no one stops it. Thankfully, Nausicaa does a great job at embodying the sentiment and hope that respecting nature would help all of us. She represents the need for us all to coexist with the environment, especially given her ability to communicate with the giant insects. This is especially relevant today given the current issues surrounding climate change, deforestation, and so much more that all affect everyone globally.

The anime also resonates with me personally. I’m someone who spent a lot of time outside immersed in nature as I was growing up and developed an appreciation for it over time. I’ve camped, done beach cleanups, nature walks, and contributed to fundraisers. Regardless, small acts such as these simply aren’t enough. The world needs people from every country to advocate for greener, more sustainable practices to save the world. This is similar to Nausicaa’s character who is extremely dedicated to not only her people, but also her environment, something that not many others in her world share with her. Her character reminded me of Greta Thunberg, an environmental activist who shares this passion with her in the real world. Greta and Nausicaa have a lot in common and would agree on the importance of the environment. I wonder if Greta has watched Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind? 

[zachary305]

Individuality and Shinji (The End of Evangelion)

I really really loved The End of Evangelion. I thought it was a really beautiful, but somewhat depressing film. It leaned into the surrealism, especially near the end, which I definitely appreciated as it was some of my favorite parts of the series itself. I think this movie has A LOT to say about many real world issues, ranging from everything to one’s sense of self, accepting who you are, moving on, and making amends. However, when specifically examining masculinity in the context of Shinji, I feel each of these themes feed into it.

So one of the biggest moments in the movie, is the moment Shinji realizes what happens to Asuka and lets out that primal scream. Prior to this, Shinji has been very much aloof the entire movie, having to be dragged around and convinced not to just let himself die. So to see him give out this scream and transform EVA-01 is extremely guttural and shocking in the moment. In the context of Asuka’s role as a representation of hegemonic masculinity I think this is particularly interesting. It shows the representation of queer masculinity, essentially mourning the loss of the traditional masculinity. Almost as if one identity cant exist without the other and in losing hegemonic masculinity, queer masculinity takes on its now empty role.

This plays a massive role in the ending of the film as well where we see Shinji try and kill Asuka, but after she shows Denji a form of softness, Denji loosens his grip and cries, Asuka calling him disgusting. It’s this constant existence of both forms of masculinity. Denji chose to live in a world where humans weren’t all one being, because he wanted to meet different people and continue to exist as an individual. So in this context, how can one exist as an individual, if others that are different than you cease to exist. Queer masculinity cannot exist without hegemonic masculinity and vice versa, because in that case it would just be masculinity. 

And taking this all into account, I think we find the core message of The End of Evangelion, that being the idea that individuality is an impossible concept without conflict. Without our differences, an individual cannot exist, in the same way one cannot exist in a sea of souls. Individuality is the key of this movie, it tells us to keep being ourselves, even in the face of adversity, because its that adversity that makes us who we are.

[kiddynamitesblog]

I appreciate being able to read the blog post of someone who actually enjoyed this movie which offers me a pretty unique perspective compared to a lot of the others. Your analysis of the scream Shinji lets out after what happens with Asuka is something I didn't think about prior. Beforehand I figured it was anger, something that would clearly lend itself to hegemonic masculinity but your explanation of it being queer masculinity makes me think about the layers behind this action. Maybe the scream has elements of both hegemonic and queer masculinity in it?

[kiddynamitesblog]

The End of Evangelion

If you’ve seen this movie you’ll understand what I’m about to say. If you haven’t I recommend watching it, not because it's so good, but purely because it's so bad. It's important for there to be bad things in life, entertainment included, so that the good can be seen as such. If you can’t tell, I thought the End of Evangelion was terrible, it's confusing, unsettling, and weird for so many different reasons. Regardless, here is my blog post for a movie that ruined Evengelion for me.

Although there were a lot of elements I didn’t quite get, because I didn’t watch the whole Neon Genesis show, only the assigned episodes, there were some interesting themes to say the least. At the very beginning of the movie we see Shinji act completely out of character and out of taste doing something that I don’t want to put into words. It's an action that goes against his previous depictions of being a queer masculine and leans itself towards hegemonic masculinity. Afterwards he regrets his actions and goes back to how he was before, which tells the viewer that going against your own ways or trying to change your masculinity only ends badly and you should just try to be yourself. Shinji essentially spends the film searching for a sense of identity, as seen with this and especially in the dream world later on. By choking Asuka he dissolves his own personal boundaries, a fear that is present globally. People need to preserve their own individuality and this movie shows that concern greatly if nothing else.

One element of The End of Evangelion I can relate to comes during its ambiguous ending. It displays the movie's core message which is the importance of being who you want to be, developing personal human connections, and learning to understand others. Asuka’s final words, “How disgusting” conveys this to the reader because of how many different ways this can be interpreted. I choose to think that she’s saying this in reference to Shinji who for the most part rejects all these things and pretty much ends up destroying their world proving the importance of the movie's message.

[robian]

Evangelion Part 2

Alright Part 2 is where I can actually get to writing. I wrote my part 1 blog almost entirely on Shinji so I'll start off by explaining what I meant by his “character development” that I mentioned in my last post.

Those last 2 episodes were probably super confusing. They probably felt like they came out of nowhere. Some people say it's an amazing ending, while others say it's horrible. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about it. I even needed the help of redditors to get a semi-understanding of what it meant without having the movies spoiled for me. Basically these two episodes are all about Shinji's self hatred and at the very end he comes to finally accept himself. Really, it seems to be that simple. Of course, I haven't watched the movies yet, so if there's more to it, that's probably why.

 Honestly, I knew that Shinji hated piloting the Eva, but I feel that we don't get a true understanding of his self-hatred until these last two episodes. You can say this is dumb, because it may seem like the writers just suddenly had Shinji hate himself, but personally I feel that the story had some obvious hints along the way. When people yelled or even hurt Shinji, he never defended himself. He always avoided problems. Someone who hates themselves, doesn't have the power to protect themselves. 

Alright, I should probably talk about some other characters. Rei still confuses me and I'm betting there's more info In the movies because it seems she has some connection to Shinji's mother. Rei's character development is basically her smiling and shedding a tear. She's attempting to find her humanity and sense of self even though she knows she is different from everyone else. 

Asuka says she's piloting the Eva for herself, but in reality she pilots the Eva as a coping mechanism for her mother. Her mother never cared for her, and the chance to become an Eva pilot meant that people would always care for her, unlike her mother. She believes that if she isn't the best, people will stop giving her attention. She believes that she'll lose any value she has. As of the ending of the series, Asuka is still in a depressive state, but I'm assuming she'll get back on her feet in the movies. 

Finally, I'll talk about Misato Katsuragi. At first, she just seems to be this strong, independent, happy, snobbish, beautiful lady. However, we later find out that she's dealing with some serious trauma of her own. Her dad, who she originally hated, sacrificed his life to save her. It left her confused as to whether she hated her dad or not. She unintentionally sought out things that reminded her of him such as her job and her boyfriend to fill the void left in her heart. At the end of the series, it seems to point out that she is scared of being alone. Her dad leaves her. Her boyfriend leaves her. She just wants anyone's attention and even seemingly makes a move on Shinji.  

Hopefully y'all didn't seriously read all 500+ word yapping session, but part 2 was definitely where the phique of the characters was delved into more. As for my opinions on Evangelion (before watching movies), I liked it, but I don't really understand the hype. 

[kiddynamitesblog]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2! I noticed a common theme in your blog, and of course the show as well: it mentions several characters who do something or portray themselves in a way that is different from how they feel inside. This applies to Shinji who pilots the Eva despite hating it, Asuka who does it as a coping mechanism, and Misato who has unresolved trauma. These characters are all conforming to societies pressures of being a certain way and not expressing your true self, similar to the masculine expectations people feel all over the world.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2

Since I thought I had a better grasp as to what was going on in part two and enjoyed the characters introduced during this time more, for me the second part of this anime was more enjoyable than the first. Something I realized while watching is the similarities between this anime and the movie Pacific Rim. They both feature giant mechs (which have similar physical features as well) controlled by people in special suits to fight powerful giant enemies. It’s definitely possible that since Evangelion came first, Pacific Rim took inspiration from the anime. Either way, here is my Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2 blog! 

Here we are introduced to Asuka Langley Soryu. She is a character, who despite her internal insecurities, seems like a very confident person from the outside. She represents the expectations of perfection despite the hidden struggle underneath that people in Japan, and the rest of the world, must face. This is similar to when people portray themselves to be one way but in reality are completely different, like when someone mistreats/bullies another to hide their own insecurities or pretends to have a perfect life on social media to mask their true situation. We see later when Sinji gets trapped in an alternate reality that he too battles his own inner demons. Because of this, pretending to be a different kind of person than you actually are becomes a major theme in the show and relates back to masculinity. Often, in order to portray themselves as masculine people are forced to change who they are to fit within societal standards, like Sinji’s father who is perfectly characterized by this.

This all profoundly resonates with everyone’s own experiences, including mine. Asuka struggles with realizing her self-worth and also feels pressure to be perfect. This is similar to the expectations everyone feels growing up in today's world whether they’re self-imposed or societal. Her journey is a reminder to the show's viewers of the importance of compassion and understanding, not only for others but also yourself.

[ndsblog4uf]

Finally, Peak Fiction (Neon Genesis Evangellion Pt.1)

Let me preface this by saying that this is one of my favorite anime of all time and I have already watched the whole show once before along with the End of Evangelion movie and the revamp movies that were made recently on Amazon Prime. So obviously, I recommend to everyone to continue watching this show if you enjoyed it. I even have a poster of Eva 01 on my wall.

Anyway, this show explores loneliness in though all of its main characters and its first and most explored is Shinji Ikari. Sinji isn't the most masculine, nor brave. Despite that, he is virtually forced into piloting the Eva. The immense pressure of not only being responsible for your own life but preventing the end of the world is debatably too much for any one person to handle, especially a timid 14-year-old boy. This is shown most prominently in episode 3 where Shinji stops angel Shamshel with only seconds to spare, Shinji is understandably visibly shaken. Because of whom he is and what he does Shinji still remains isolated, this quote form episode 3 exemplifies that too from Misato "Well, he'll eventually learn that growing up means getting closer to people and distancing them, finding a distance where you can avoid hurting each other too much."

Brutally alone, Shinji escapes his isolation through music. The, while pessimistic, perspective of Misato remains true to Shinji especially, nobody can relate to his own struggle and those who can are equally distant. He's not an always determined hero, nor is he stoic enough to keep his personal struggle inside of him, and too wimpy himself to face his problems without fear, making him an normal kid stuck with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Another thing to point out is the Christan symbolism in the show. Every angle is a real character in the bible (for example Shamshel is a gaurdian of the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve are banished, serving as a metaphorical example of how in NGE the angles prevent Shinji from living his own life) or that the name Neon Genesis Evangelion can be seen as the beginning (Genesis is 1st chapter in the bible) of the end (Evangelical translates from Greek to "good news" the good news is rebirth after death or revelation for believers) of the future (neon associated with future). Taking that the beginning of the end of the future is in the title serves as massive foreshadowing of something more to come. Very happy to be watching one of my favorite shows!

[kiddynamitesblog]

Hi, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the anime and I'm glad to have read someone's blog who loves the show as much as you do! You bring up great points about how the show relates to the bible from the characters to the title itself that I hadn't previously thought about. It's certainly interesting how even an anime about mech suits fighting monsters called ghosts can have this kind of symbolism and is something I will look out for as I watch part 2!

[kiddynamitesblog]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 1

This was my second time watching an anime featuring mecha suits, with the first being mobile suit gundam which I have to admit I enjoyed more than Neon Genesis Evangelion. This show is a bit confusing which always hinders the viewing experience but that might just be due to these assigned episodes and might not represent the anime as a whole. Regardless, here is my blog post!

From the start of the show, it confronts Japan’s war-riddled history and the trauma that comes along with it. The constant attacks of the Angels represent the threats Japan faced in their own history, both having to do with natural disasters and war. However, as shown by Tokyo-3, which is a city prepared for these kinds of attacks, Japan is resilient to stuff like this. At a global level, this resonates with everyone’s natural fear of unknown threats of any kind. The mental toll these kinds of things take on people is also shown through Shinji Ikari’s character, along with his father. Shinji struggles to take on the pressure put upon him by his father to pilot the Evangelion. This is similar to the struggles faced by youth worldwide, who are expected to live up to their parents’ expectations and solve the older generations' problems.

In this anime, the depiction of hegemonic masculinity is complex, with both Shinji and his father embodying different facets of masculinity. Gendo, Shinji’s father, is stoic, tough, and demanding while Shinji himself is sensitive and vulnerable. Because of this Shunji’s character does a good job at showing a different, non-traditional side of masculinity that is very different from the rigid gender roles we often see around us. Because of this, everyone, including me, can relate to Shinji at some level. We’ve all faced moments of self-doubt or been worried that we won’t be able to live up to what others expect of us. The internal struggle he faces because of this and the ultimate decision to try to run away is similar to the choices people face when they experience this for themselves. 

[ameier1]

Convention + The True Otaku

Unfortunately, I haven't been to an anime convention before so I couldn't write a blog post about my experience. Instead, I watched the True Otaku documentary which highlights about the Anime fandom in the United States. In Part 1 of the documentary, we see a variety of responses come from patrons about the true meaning of Otaku and if they're Otaku themselves. The term Otaku really stems from being a big fan of Japanese culture, no matter if you attend the show to buy some manga to actually dressing up as one of your favorite anime characters, people will still attend as many anime conventions per year with a variety of costumes ranging from popular anime series like Pokemon and Sailor Moon. These conventions aren't always focused on dressing up as your favorite character from an anime, they also want to highlight you on news happening with Japanese anime, play popular Japanese video games like Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros, or LARP, which is an abbreviated term for Live Action Role Playing. One thing that stood out in Part 1 was the fact that girl who was dressed like Peach was an announcer for the United States Air Force. One minute later, another girl talked about how these anime conventions can be a way to escape her normal life through expressing yourself to where you're an actor/actress of that particular anime. In Part 2, we notice that many fans are really dedicated to their craft through the means of cosplayers needing to drive back home to get their wigs realizing how important that wig is to their cosplay. From the perspective of Dustbunny, it shows how much time and effort it takes to make one costume from scratch just for a competitive cosplay event. The most hardcore thing I seen in Part 2 was Furries, where these people would dress up as animals and do animal stuff like not speak or bark. Also with the formation of Anime clubs in local communities like the DC Anime Club in Washington D.C., it helps bring the anime fans even closer together without needing to buy a plane ticket to attend an Otaku convention. During Part 3, we learn more about the true reason why Otaku is so impactful on these individuals lives and it's to escape the harsh reality in life. Unlike a sporting event where you might get beat up by drunken fans for wearing the opposing team jersey or if you show up to school in a Naruto shirt, you might get bullied. These anime conventions provide a safe space for all of these who enjoy anime, which might be frowned or ridiculed upon by the public and gives these people an opportunity to build a network of Otaku fans that can later become their best buddies. The lady explaining the benefits of these anime conventions in Part 3 provide an useful insight about what makes the anime community so tight knit but also how we identify ourselves to the world. We are always expected to follow the norms of society through the means of how we act, how we dress, and what activities we should follow. For example, if you were a popular kid at my high school, you dressed very stylish, participated in some form of sport, and were either mean or wouldn't talk to anyone who deviates from the popular norms. With these Otaku conventions, you challenge the societal norms that are institutionalized in the world by dressing up as your favorite character, talk about anime nonstop, and participate in these unique activities that only die hard Otaku fans can experience. When tying in the personality aspect, you shouldn't change your ways because that hobby or passion might sound corny or weird to the general public. At the end of the day, these anime conventions provide an unique environment in which you live life like you're on a different universe without experiencing any restrictions imposed by the local governments or by the social media community to an extent.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Hi! I enjoyed reading about your thoughts on the documentary and especially agreed with your analysis of part 3 and how important having a safe space to express yourself is. These anime conventions serve as a place where people have something to look forward to in the daily lives and when the time comes, they can cosplay as their favorite characters and meet others immersed in the otaku culture. Having the freedom to do this in a judge-free environment is especially crucial for people in these groups who have not always been treated with kindness when it comes to their interests. Regardless of what you like, everyone should be able to share their passions with others and anime fandom is no different.

[kiddynamitesblog]

Convention

As someone who has never been to an anime convention and won’t be able to do so for this class, I watched the documentary, True Otaku, as a substitute. Before I discuss the broader themes and relate the conventions to class discussions, I’m first going to talk about the documentaries' enjoyableness for me. While there were a fair share of funny moments, such as when one of the cosplayers admitted that her parents weren’t too thrilled about her having to use their porch to dye her dress, I felt as though it wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed watching. Now that I’m thinking about it, I would probably prefer to watch a different part of the anime world, how the shows are actually created and animated, which is something I’ve always been interested in. 

In True Otaku I saw firsthand how anime conventions provide places where people, typically younger ones, can get together to share their passions, costumes, and most importantly celebrate their fandoms. To these people, they mean so much more than an event that happens every once in a while, it offers them places where they can meet people with similar interests and feel like they belong to something and are accepted. One example for whom this is especially true is the famous cosplayer dustbunny. Her story shows how becoming a part of the otaku world can allow people to express themselves in such a unique way. The documentary made clear that to her cosplaying is more than just a hobby, the amount of dedication, time, and creativity that goes into her costume making process shows this. Although this isn’t the case for everyone, you don’t need to take cosplaying as seriously as dustbunny for it to be important to you. 

One interview was on someone cosplaying as Princess Peach, the go-to damsel in distress for the Mario franchise, who talked about how being someone else helps her feel more girly at times. In her everyday life she explains that she doesn’t act like typical girls do and goes as far as giving an example to her burping a lot. Her saying “It’s fun not to be yourself for a weekend” perfectly encapsulates how so many others feel about cosplaying as well.

The documentary also highlights how worldwide anime fandom has become with having people all over the world not only becoming fans, but embracing and adapting it to their own cultures and way of life. It shows specific examples for conventions in the United States in places like Baltimore (Otakon), Virginia (Anime USA), and Washington DC (DC Anime Club) which shows how popular it's become outside of the cultures home country of Japan. More specifically, the DC Anime Club did a great job at showing how local groups can encourage events like these and in turn foster a sense of community with its participants. Being an anime fan and being able to appreciate the culture that comes along with it is something that anyone can do, it's not limited to national boundaries. In fact, I’ve seen YouTube videos of people traveling to Japan for similar reasons purely because of the culture there. This proves how it provides people from across the world with commonalities with each other that they even want to travel in order to pursue and experience it in its purest form for themselves, something that has undoubtedly resulted in personal connections extending far beyond any one country.

Something else I learned from this was the prevalence of anime conventions 12 years ago and even way before then. For some reason (and I can’t rationalize why I thought this) I assumed that this type of large scale anime fandom simply didn’t exist back then, I thought it was more recent. Overall, the documentary did a great job of providing a brief overview of otaku culture and showing its viewers the anime fandom world. With True Otaku, anyone is able to better understand the positive impact anime fandom has had on people’s lives and the communities it helps to create while not requiring people, like me, to attend anime conventions themselves!

[ameier1]

Wandering Song + Difficulties of Being A Transgender

When I was watching the first few minutes of the anime Wandering Son, I didn't really see the characteristics of someone trying to become transgender based on the looks itself like you would notice in real life due to Shuichi already sounding and looking like a female, although Shuichi was born a boy. We see one of the main transgender issues come into play with Shuichi being careful when leaving the boys bathroom so Shuichi doesn't get caught. Near the end of the first episode, Shuichi gets into a fight with one of the girls after trying on a dress and the boy like features get exposed after punching her along with Shuichi wig falling off. Skipping over to episode 7, the students were making fun of our other character, Takatsuki, who identifies as a boy although was a girl at birth for reading a passage that was describing the traits of a female. The difficulties of being a transgender still continues on throughout the rest of the episodes. We are seeing more people identify as a different gender over the years and while that puts a sign of relief on them personally, the overlying community still isn't fond of the idea due to the fact you're deviating from social norms. Obscene jokes will be said towards you and bullying will keep growing as more transgender individuals come into play. While the LGBTQ population does get a ton of hate from heterosexual individuals since you're basically not following the norms of your gender, transgender people take the biggest hit knowing that being lesbian or gay doesn't affect your body parts that a transgender individual has to handle. While the anime does help us learn about the struggles of wanting to identify as a different gender like the bathroom situations, which was very similar to the 2016 Bathroom Bill in North Carolina where transgender individuals couldn't use the bathrooms based on what they identify, instead via birth certificate.

[kiddynamitesblog]

I enjoyed reading your insights regarding the issue transgender people face with something as fundamental as going to the bathroom. It's truly sad that so many people struggle to choose the right bathroom for themselves to use and even when they do, as you pointed out, feel the need to sneak in and out to not get caught. I do think the anime could've done a better job with giving the solution to this kind of situation since a lot of the time simply raising awareness isn't enough.