lucas toughts

[avalon169]

Your Name

I knew this was quite a popular movie so I was excited to watch it. First thing that stuck out to me was the beautiful artwork. One part I found particularly funny was when they had switched bodies and people actually started liking them more because of it. The girl at Taki’s work actually started to like him back because she thought he had a more “feminine” or caring and sensitive side, and then Mitsuha’s classmates liked that she suddenly had a very outgoing and athletic personality and even the girls started crushing on her because she displayed more masculinity. This part really emphasizes things that we’ve discussed previously where the sex of someone doesn’t automatically dictate their gender performance. Even though Taki and Mitsuha suddenly woke up as the opposite sex, they struggled to act like one another and society pressured them to present as the “correct” gender.

The other aspect I also really liked about this movie was that it almost felt like Taki and Mitsuha were “soulmates” because they had a powerful link that even if they couldn’t remember each other, they felt it in their souls that they had met. This movie used a bit of the “red thread” idea from Chinese myth which is used to symbolize people who are destined to meet. At various points in the film, Taki and Mitsuha were connected by the invisible red string. I also think using this to symbolize their connection is so fitting since Mitsuha is a thread maker!

Hetalia

At first I didn’t really find this one too interesting, but I found that picking fun at everyone through stereotypes was pretty entertaining. I love America. Japan may be making fun of us, but downing burgers is honestly accurate. It was kind of hard to tell when Hetalia was trying to exaggerate stereotypes and when they were just using them completely seriously. I noticed that all of the countries are kinda just airheads to some extent, and this is probably to show how ridiculous our stereotypes are.

 I think the problematic elements work well because it stirs up conversations more about reality than many other anime probably would.

(My favorite scene was probably China going to war using a wok and a ladle! That was so funny.)

Overall, it’s not a show I have too much of an opinion on – I liked it, but it’s not typically something I’d choose to watch.

Sensoron Manga

Okay, reading this was pretty rough. The main message I was getting from it was that Kobayashi tries to make Japan look innocent (Japan was manipulated and taken advantage of by America during and after WWII). He doesn’t like that Japan is forcing Japanese children to believe that Japan was the evil force in WWII, he tries to convince us the Nanking Massacre actually was just made up by the US and it was actually the Chinese who raped and killed Chinese people instead of the Japanese imperial army, and also tries to convince us that the Comfort Women weren’t abducted by the Japanese military.

I feel like his genre of Gomanism would definitely appeal to people who felt like Japan had lost its national pride and want their kids to be proud of where they’re from instead of feeling guilty about it. I mostly just didn’t like this manga because his character’s attitude about everyone being idiots and just brainwashed was rude, but also because he’s not even correct about it. However, I would agree that instilling such an intense feeling of guilt or shame in young kids isn’t fair, because it’s not their fault for what happened in WWII.

This part confuses me because he just spent the last 10 pages explaining why testimonies can’t be trusted as actual evidence, but then he himself chooses to believe what his coworkers say over actual facts. Maybe it’s supposed to be used as satire.

[lucasy11]

Hey, I love the red thread example that you bring with Your Name. I feel that that's a great way to put it with this anime and how it portrayed the concept of soulmates between both characters. I think in my opinion this was definitely my favorite watch out of the three anime due to the stunning art throughout and especially in the comet scene. But I also like the point you bring with them struggliing to fit in the opposite gender construct, I think in a way it shows how defined social expectations that there are for both women and men, serving as a critique.

[lucasy11]

Your Name / Hetalia / Sensoron

Rewatching Your Name years later felt completely different. The first time I saw it, I left confused and googling what I’d just watched. Now, I caught way more. What stood out most was how the body-swapping scenes called out gender expectations, Mitsuha in Taki’s body was pushed to “act” masculine, Taki in Mitsuha’s body was pressured to be “properly” feminine, yet both struggled to play the part. Ironically, people started liking them more after the swap: Taki’s softer side drew in his coworker, and Mitsuha’s newfound confidence and athleticism attracted both guys and girls. It made me think about how often people are boxed in by gender performance, when personality traits should just… be allowed to exist. Then there’s Hetalia, which at first felt like total nonsense but grew on me. The national stereotypes are so exaggerated that they loop back into being funny, America scarfing burgers, Italy obsessing over pasta, China waging war with a wok. No country is spared, and while the humor is ridiculous, it also sparks conversation about what’s real versus what’s just caricature. Sensōron was the hardest to engage with. Kobayashi’s revisionist history paints Japan as a victim in WWII, denying atrocities like the Nanking Massacre and reframing the Comfort Women issue. I get that excessive guilt isn’t fair to put on younger generations, but erasing responsibility isn’t the answer either. It made me think about how easily media can push a nationalistic narrative if you’re not looking critically.What connects all three is identity, personal in Your Name, exaggerated in Hetalia, and politically redefined in Sensōron. Whether it’s individuals navigating societal roles, countries being reduced to stereotypes, or history being rewritten, all of them show how identity can be shaped, performed, and manipulated.

[ufliaprice]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind / Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was a super cozy watch for me. Honestly, anything environmental is pretty cozy. I really enjoyed it. One of the things I noted was that Nausicaa was not only a super strong female lead but also a princess. It’s not a super popular trope, but even when that trope is used, the princess always needs some kind of major saving along the way. However, this was not the case for Nausicaa. She was highly independent throughout the entire film and ended up saving her people all on her own in the end. Another thing that stood out to me is the prophecy. The person depicted in the prophecy was a man. However, I caught on to the fact that the person who would fulfill the prophecy would be Nausicaa early on. Only the old lady realized at the end that Nausicaa had fulfilled the prophecy. I don’t think many people realized either because they didn’t know it, or because Nausicaa is female.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 seems like a game that I would love to play. I really enjoy fantasy RPGs, and this game appealed to me on many levels. The thing that stood out to me right away is that, in the beginning, other than some creatures here and there, there was absolutely no nature. No grass, trees, shrubs, or anything other than what was being grown on the Titans’ backs. Everything was super industrial. It seems to me that this game speaks to what our future would look like. Obviously, without the fantastical aspects of the game. But, it’s more so saying that this is what our world could look like in the future. Mostly man-made things and very few aspects of the natural world. In dystopian media, you either have one of two extremes. The two extremes are that there is little to no nature, or nature has overtaken everything.

[lucasy11]

I love the point you bring regarding dystopians, I definitely agree with that. Dystopians are a perfect way of portraying extremes and I feel that with the perspective of nature that's what we see here in Xenoblade with this heavily industrial world. There's definitely a warning that sits at the center of this game, that shows a possibility of what our future could be.

[lucasy11]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind / Xenoblade Chronicles 2

In Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, as soon as I saw the Studio Ghibli logo I immediately thought back to Spirited Away and I thought to the criticisms that Spirited Away showcased, and kept in mind for any deeper meanings throughout my watch. In Nausicaa, I found it really powerful that nature wasn’t portrayed as the villain. Even though humans had messed up the world so badly, the Sea of Decay was actually cleansing it. That scene where Nausicaa realizes this was probably my favorite part. It made me feel like nature is neutral. It doesn’t hate us or want revenge, it’s just trying to survive. I feel like this kind of idea is especially relevant to Japan, considering the country’s experience with natural disasters and pollution. It also applies globally, because we always talk about saving the environment like it’s something separate from us. But what if we just need to stop interfering? To be honest with Xenoblade Chronicles 2, it's probably been my least favorite watch from this entire class, having to follow along with each cutscene, it was kind of boring at times especially because I felt that there was a lot of gaps in the story. Nonetheless I feel that it really gave a picture and a scenario of what the future could possibly, acting as a warning of what the future may hold if we're not careful about our actions. A world basically instinct of natural qualities and almost completely industrial. I feel like with both of these media, it helps us realize and internalize how we must try to find a balance and try to peacefully coexist with nature in a healthy relationship.

[avalon169]

Neon Genesis Evangelion | The End of Evangelion

(I'm actually crashing out over this one)

Okay so watching this was pretty much an acid trip.

Pertaining to the module, it's pretty clear that Shinji does not possess the traits for hegemonic masculinity. Shinji is scared of operating a giant robot machine and fighting monsters with it, which most boys would find awesome, and he gets scared and wants to quit every time something goes wrong with the Eva. One thing I noticed was that Shinji is basically obligated to fight to protect his country from the angels, which is a very traditionally masculine trait, but he constantly runs away from it. He doesn't seem to have that sense of responsibility to protect people.

I thought that by episode 8 Shinji had finally gained some self-confidence, but it was perhaps just him trying to adopt hegemonic masculinity and one again failing to do so.

The ending of the series seemed to have an overwhelming message of "you can only truly know yourself if you are connected with other people," which I think was a good message and goes with the idea of accepting yourself for who you are. However, the movie didn't really have the same tone to the ending. The movie conveyed a message of eternal struggle and confusion between having a queer masculinity and wanting to be accepted by a traditional society.

Also, I think even though queer masculinity doesn't actually mean the person is gay, Shinji definitely displayed interest in both males and females.

Now about the movie... I definitely have some opinions. My blood was boiling and I was livid. I had to put it on 1.5x speed because I my entire body was too revolted to watch it. I swear this movie is my 13th reason. I actually wish I had never watched it.

I know a lot of people didn’t like Sailor Moon because she was annoying and cried a lot, but in my opinion Shinji is so much worse. He’s the typical anime main character that’s like “I suck I suck everyone hates me blah blah” but he barely improves and his attitude doesn’t change. AND THEN he spent the ENTIRE movie sulking and acts all shocked when his friends drop like flies around him.

Basically every character in NGE has more hegemonic masculinity that Shinji, and I think it just gets to a point where he's just too useless and he makes it hard to enjoy the movie (besides all the other nonsense happening at the same time).

For example, Asuka is literally shoved into a robot while STILL in a coma and somehow manages to KICK ASS (wait can I say that?) right after waking up, yet Shinji is curled up like a baby while everyone around him gets shot to death.

Don’t even get me started on the hospital scene.

I honestly wish Shinji hadn’t accepted himself at the end because I certainly don’t.

There was one thing that I loved about this series though, and that was the music! The opening is iconic obviously, but the orchestral music during the fights scenes and the ending theme were also incredible.

[lucasy11]

I agree with you, the fact that everyone is getting killed and all Shinji can do is just curl up and make everything about himself and how he's the worst, is extremely disturbing. Seeing this, I had a very similar reaction to not liking Shinji at all. I mean, I get the fact that he's different, embracing the queer masculinity persona and all, but I feel like some things are just inexcusable. Sometimes you need to step up to responsibility. We're all different in some way, but there's a certain level of responsibility and duty that we should fulfill and uphold within our lives, which is why, like you, I just can't stand Shinji for one bit. 

[lucasy11]

Neon Genesis Evangelion / End of Evangelion

I think Neon Genesis Evangelion gives a very interesting take on gender dynamics, specifically with men. Before anything, though, I think the hospital scene has got to be one of the weirdest scenes I've ever seen in a show; at first, I was extremely confused and then just disgusted by it. This story takes place from Shinji's perspective, from which we can immediately see that he isn't like your typical guy. First of all, he's almost scared of everything, and always finds a way to put himself down. I feel like at heart he's a coward, constantly running away from his problems, there's no sense of self, no sense of duty, and confidence inside of him. I feel like over time, it kind of got annoying. The same thing, you had this kid, you would run away from his problems, and just always beat himself over it. People are dying, and he refuses to take responsibility; he's just stuck in his little world and makes everything about himself. Every problem he can't get over, and all he seems to be able to do is collapse under his cowardice. There's no growth whatsoever to his character, and that's what I see as the problem with this vulnerable character in Shinji; the problem isn't being vulnerable but being unable to do anything about it and never seeking growth from it. I feel like worse than someone who willingly commits evil, is someone who is not able to uphold their duty and collapses under their cowardice. In today's world, I know people who are in similar situations as Shinji, where they seem to be extremely vulnerable and always beat themselves up for it, and although I do see it from some perspective, what makes it so unbearable to me is the lack of growth. There will always be challenges, and you will be hit with tough times, but to simply give up is such a selfish thing, for all of those who have worked hard to give you the chance that you have. The world is constantly moving, and if you can't keep up with that, you will be left behind. The world doesn't adapt to you, but you need to adapt to the world. That's the biggest problem that I have with Shinji's character throughout the show. His lack of growth and the way he tackles problems from Neon Genesis Evangelion to the End of Evangelion just disgusted me.

[animatedworld22]

Anime Analysis

I recognize that Sailor Moon is one of the most classic anime's out there, but I really wasn't interested in the plot or the characters. It is most likely because the target audience was teenage girls, but I found that Sailor Moon tendency to cry all the time was a little annoying.

Besides that I found that this anime was full of themes pertaining to social gender expectations. The anime appears to present Sailor Moon with every girly trait possible. She wears a super feminine school outfit, she is docile and overly emotional, and she worries about her figure as most girls typically do. The one thing I found rather interesting is the anime's display of monolithic sexuality and gender. The anime displays characters that fit the societal expectations for both gender and sexuality. For example, we see time and time again that Sailor Moon is attracted to the masked man and that young man that works at the video game store. We also see that the boy with the glasses, who is a male, is attracted to Sailor Moon (female). Considering how old this anime is and how in the past gender and sexuality were so clearly defined and set in stone, it is understandable that all the characters are going to fit into the category of heterosexuality and perform in accordance with the societal expectations for each gender.

Contrarily, Aggreskto and Wandering Son challenge the performance of certain genders inscribed by society. We see that the protagonist in Aggreskto expresses her anger in the form of an activity that is intense and empowering, which would not be considered common feminine characteristics. Similarly, Nitori's very being is a complete objection to societal gender boundaries and performance. His feminine performance of wearing women's clothes is so arbitrary to the gender norms established by society that it causes him to get bullied and ensues a deep anxiety within all the school children that witness him.

[lucasy11]

I like how you point out the face that Retsuko doesn't express her anger in a way that's considered as a feminine characteristic. I didn't really think of that, and I agree with your point. I feel like with Aggretsuko there's a lot of critiques against gender norms especially in the workplace. We see in the beginning episodes she's treated differently from by her boss, who even goes on to explicitly say at times that he does not like women. It's crazy to see how although this is just an anime, this type of thing may be experienced by individuals in the workplace in Japan.

[lucasy11]

Sailor Moon / Aggretsuko / Wandering Son

At first, Aggretsuko seemed like a wholesome, superficial show that didn’t have a message. In the beginning, I actually thought this show resembled the art style seen in Hello Kitty. Though beyond this, you can see that this isn’t like a little kid show; some really deep themes can be drawn from this. One of the things that immediately caught my attention was the normalization of sexism in the workplace. In the first episode, when Retsuko finishes cleaning the boss’s desk, he immediately tells her to make a cup of tea; although this wasn’t that obvious, he tells her to do so because it’s a “women’s job.” Despite this, we see Retsuko dealing with this like it’s all normal and is seen as a hard-working individual in the office. There’s always this pressure on Retsuko that she shouldn’t have a job and instead should be looking to find a man to settle with. Though despite this criticism, I feel that this is a wholesome story about a girl getting used to the workplace. I feel that this story gives a nice glimpse into the workplace and social culture in Japan. In Sailor Moon, I was surprised by how it mixed lighthearted fun with moments of real emotional depth. I found it interesting how the girls were expected to balance being schoolgirls with being warriors, something that mirrors real-life pressures put on young women to manage everything perfectly. The show felt empowering but also emotionally honest. Wandering Son was the most emotionally impactful for me. Watching Shuichi navigate gender identity and acceptance was moving. It made me think about how difficult it must be to feel out of place in your own body, especially in middle school. It’s a quiet, gentle show—but incredibly powerful.

[avalon169]

Convention Experience

MegaCon, April 1st 2023

I’ve only been to one big convention before and it was MegaCon 2023 in Orlando. I had never been interested in attending anything like this, but my friend invited me to go with her so I figured it would be an interesting experience. I never really liked cosplay, but my friend handmade her own Technoblade (R.I.P. King) cosplay so I wanted to try cosplaying too. I went as Kyoka Izumi from Bungo Stray Dogs, partially because I really like the character, and partially because I already have long, dark hair so I wouldn’t need a wig.

I had no idea what to expect but I had looked up the guest celebrities that would be there and my idol, John Cleese, was on the list. Many people know him from Monty Python, but I had been a fan of his British comedy show called Fawlty Towers since I was very young. Although I didn’t actually get to meet him, because my friend and her family didn’t want to wait in line, I did briefly talk to some of the other people waiting and many of them loved Fawlty Towers as well. I was surprised because it’s not as well known, but happy to find other people who enjoyed it as much as me, especially because I feel like that show is peak British comedy and everyone should watch it (however, it’s wildly offensive).

My friend was excited to meet other cosplayers and take pictures with them. At the time, I wasn’t really aware of any of the members in the Dream SMP, but I remember meeting another person cosplaying as Jsclatt. My friend participated in a few cosplaying events, though I didn’t really understand what was going on. I was more nervous about meeting and taking pictures with strangers than she was because I was never part of the community. I remember two girls coming up to me to take a group photo because they were dressed as Chuuya and Dazai, also from Bungo Stray Dogs. I could see how many people at the convention really enjoyed just bonding over common interests and getting to meet new people.

The main floor of the convention was filled with stands for anime merchandise and other miscellaneous interests. One stand that really interested me was the D&D dice table. I think this was my first encounter with fancy, handmade resin dice, so when I looked at the prices, I almost had a heart attack. Way too expensive. Despite this, I liked looking at all the cool art that people made based on their interests.

Looking at all the events on their website, there actually wasn’t too much I wanted to do so I let my friends decide where to go most of the time. One event I was interested in, however, was the K-pop meeting. I went to the room it was being held in with my friend’s mom and got to meet a few other people who liked TWICE like me. We talked about who our favorite members were and they showed me their collections of photocards. I even got given a few items by one of the girls I met. I didn’t bring any of my photocards to trade, but I still enjoyed talking to them about my favorite K-pop group. 2023 was back when I had a major K-pop phase, so at the time, I pretty much made it my whole personality. I also didn’t have any friends who liked K-pop so I didn’t have anyone to talk about it with. Therefore, meeting other people that understood my obsession was fun.

To be honest, I don’t remember much else about MegaCon because I found it to be mostly boring. I get that a lot of people are very excited about attending conventions like these, but I just don’t think I liked how huge and crowded it was. I also don’t feel like I was too excited about many of the events, which were directed toward people with more interest in video games and cosplaying than I was. I still think it was a good experience because now I know what I won’t be spending my money on, and I got a college assignment out of it. I also know that the way I participate in fandom is different from how the people attending these conventions participate.

[lucasy11]

It's really interesting to see a first-hand experience of someone who has gone to a convention before. I like the point you bring about people coming together and bonding over a common interest. Throughout the documentary that's definitely something that I picked up on, and I just think that through the growth of anime and manga, and Japanese culture in general in the United States, it has built such an expansive community that people do see these events as like a passion for them. It's very neat to see the community it has built.

[lucasy11]

Convention

At first, what I found interesting is the rise in the culture. It’s interesting to me how anime experienced such an explosion as described after World War II. I can’t help but think of a consumeristic mindset that is present in the United States as one of the reasons why Japanese manga and anime became so popular. I feel like, especially during the 70s and 80s, people were consuming media at an increasing rate, and anime and manga happened to be included within that increasing trend. Another thing that I find interesting is how fans of Japanese culture, anime, and/or manga are receptive to the term otaku, whereas in Japan, it’s seen as an extreme and often derogatory word. I feel like, especially in Japan, it’s highlighted more so as someone who is “addicted” to anime and manga and hasn’t “truly grown up,” but in the United States, this is seen more as a status. To be an otaku is to be representative of how passionate you are about anime and manga, how big of a fan you are. As fans want to express their love for the culture, they become embracing of the term because it’s become a big part of their lives. One big part of conventions has to be cosplays. Cosplays seem to be such an integral part of “otakus” and conventions in general. Whenever I think of an anime convention, the first thing I think of is probably someone in costume. What’s interesting is that I took away from the documentary the reasoning and thought behind the cosplay. A cosplay isn’t just clothes they put over it; it’s a character. I feel that it’s a way to show appreciation and your passion for an anime. A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into making these cosplays, and if I were the author or creator, I would feel appreciated, like my work is being appreciated. Another aspect that I took away from cosplay is that it serves as an escape for some people. When you step into a cosplay, it gives people a chance to become the character, not just dress up as them, it gives people a chance to be someone different than themselves for a day. This escape offers people an idealistic reality, being able to embrace an identity they so deeply admire. Another thing that was common throughout the documentary is how people dress up solely for the attention that comes with it, and I feel like this perspective gives a deeper glimpse into the community and the people. I feel like a lot of these people have loved anime their whole lives, but before conventions, they had to suppress that passion because of the weirdness and childishness associated with anime and manga. However, conventions have, in a way, opened doors for people and opened up a community of like-minded people where they can express themselves freely. These people are then able to get the attention that they’ve lacked for their lives, and it’s like a drug to them, which motivates them to dress up more and more. This doesn’t necessarily serve as a bad perspective on the community, but instead sheds light on the stories of many of these people. Overall, I think this documentary opens up a new perspective for me, although at first, to me, conventions seemed kind of outlandish and odd, I learned to realize that this is just a community. This is simply a community of people, just like with anything, like sports or fashion, it’s a community of enthusiastic fans.

[ufliaprice]

Genshiken

When I first started watching Genshiken, it started off super boring, and there wasn’t much happening at all. The first thing I noticed was that one of the characters in the show that they were watching looked awfully similar to Haruhi in Ouran High School Host Club. This reminded of how shows typically reuse characters because of a character that became popular at some point. Other than that, a couple of other things stood out to me. Obviously, the first one is the sexualization of everything. It really caught me off guard. Especially the yaoi in the second season. I was not expecting that at all. I feel like the show mainly focused on the sexual aspect of the otaku, and it also normalizes having an interest in said sexual media. Thankfully, I watched it on my phone because I have no idea how I would begin to explain what I was watching to someone without dying of embarrassment. So, the embarrassment that the characters felt in the show definitely checks out. Another thing that stood out was how the fandom kind of bled into their reality, even though they are aware of the difference between fiction and reality. For example, the scenes with the dating simulation to make the decision on what to say in real life in season one, and the making of the BL based on real people in season two. Even though fiction and reality are separated, the characters still use the fandoms to navigate the real world in some aspects. The last thing that I want to point out is the sense of community. We find that, in season one, the main character feels shame about his interests and tries to pretend that he isn’t into that in the beginning. But, as the show continues, he becomes more comfortable within the club and finally feels like he has a place the he belongs where he can relate to people that share the same interests. Though the content over which they bond is questionable, it just goes to show that finding community, no matter who you are, is always important.

[lucasy11]

I definitely agree with you that the show normalized sexualization a lot throughout the episodes. I think this was a very interesting watch into the life of these extreme fans, but it was good to see the sense of community built around them. Besides the questionable stuff, I agree with you on the fact that in the end, Sasahara was able to find his group of people. Coming in as an introverted individual and seemingly kind of lost and without a group of people to relate to, it was nice seeing him find his group of people where he could be himself.

[lucasy11]

Genshiken

I think this has been a kind of weird watch. One of the things that was apparent with this was how they portrayed fans and the sexualization of characters. Since the beginning of the show, it normalized this sexualization, which was weird, especially having watched this; it was kind of an uncomfortable watch for me, with this constant portrayal. It felt like every episode had at least some reference to this, and it made me think a lot about how normalized such behavior is in certain fan communities. I guess out of all the assigned shows, this has probably been the weirdest. I see the aspects that were talked about in the previous lecture about the moe elements. There are patterns of these elements throughout the characters in the anime they watched, and it became clear how much the club members valued these specific traits. One common aspect that was shown a lot, which the members of the club seem to like a lot, evident in it being a moe element, is the combination of the skirt with long socks. This was pointed out multiple times, and it shows how much attention is placed on small details that create a specific “cute” appeal for the characters. It also made me realize how moe is not just about appearance but about evoking a certain emotional response from fans. Throughout all of this, this anime is eye-opening to say the least. It gives a perspective into a group of people, the "otaku." I feel like at the end of the day, this is a community of people, a community where people of a common interest come together and express their love for it. Although the things they discuss and watch may be kind of questionable, it's nice to see the growth of Sasahara throughout the show. From beginning to end, I feel that he got more comfortable with the club members and overall was able to express himself, having finally found a group of people with whom he could bond over his common interest in anime and dojinshi. His development shows how finding a welcoming group can help someone gain confidence, even if the community itself might seem strange or off-putting to outsiders.

[avalon169]

Naruto

I’ve actually never been interested in Naruto, but I’ve watched a good chunk of My Hero Academia and I can see the similarities between them, showing a common theme of gaman and ganbaru. Although this is a common theme in anime, I have to say that I dislike the message that the only way for an outcast to be accepted is for him to be forced to struggle to prove his worth to everyone else.

Wolf Children

In this, the characters also feel they have to change who they are in order to be more accepted into society. Hana takes them to a far village to literally hide them from society so that they can decide who they want to be, but even in this remote area, Yuki and Ame have to hide part of their whole selves and they end up having to choose between two halves of who they are.

Yuki tries to fit in with people while Ame is more interested in his wolf side. Ame accepts his wolf half and because of that, forces his mother to accept that he belongs in the wild. Although Yuki feels she belongs with humans, she also finds Sohei who accepts all of her, her wolf half included.

A Silent Voice

I first watched A Silent Voice during covid when I went through my “weeb phase,” and it has to be one of the most tragic things I’ve ever watched. Despite having a good ending and a good message, I was not looking forward to bawling my eyes out for 2 hours again.

Watching this movie again, something that enraged me a lot was how the teachers and school faculty do next to nothing to stop kids from bullying each other. Even though it was obvious how cruel they were being to Shoko and later Shoya, the teachers acted like it was just the kids being silly and trying to disturb class.

I love that in this movie, it doesn’t end with the victims of bullying and discrimination having to change themselves to be accepted. Shoko literally can’t change her condition, so Shoya instead changes to be more accepting of her.

Ueno was more outwardly mean to Shoko, so it makes sense that she is seen as an awful character, and she never really ends up being accepting of Shoko because like she said, she hates her. However, I think that Kawai is as bad as Ueno. She constantly plays the victim even though she was part of the group that bullied Shoko. She never admits that anything she did was wrong, but she just expects everyone will be her friend anyway. Ueno was honest with her feelings, Kawai was superficial.

[lucasy11]

Hey avalon169, one thing that I liked about your post and I wanna point out is how you mention that Kawai in A Silent Voice is just as bad as Ueno. I think that by not owning up to her own actions and instead trying to shift blame just reflects a hypocrisy that shows her character to be way worse than Kawai. Though she was never as harsh as Ueno, the fact that she did nothing about it and instead laughed along with the bully group shows a group of people that are in turn way worse than the bully itself. Those who go along and don't do anything about the problem became apart of the problem itself. I can't help to think to Dante's Inferno and how the hottest place and the worst place in hell are reserved to those who are neutral during times of moral crisis. Meaning that those who don't do anything to stop the problem are as bad as the problem itself.

[lucasy11]

Naruto /A Silent Voice / Wolf Children

I've never watched Naruto but after having watched it it's definitely one of those shows that you can't help but root for the main character. Here we're introduced to someone who is seen as different by society and has to work harder than everyone else to prove himself because he's discriminated by others and the higher-ups as this "fox-kid." It's definitely something heartbreaking seeing children going through discrimination. Though I can't help but feel happy for him in the end after having saved his village and everyone finally acknowledges for what he's worth. In this story lies a criticism for discrimination in society, through the story of Naruto. Seeing him having to work as hard to be able to be seen eye-to-eye with other kids, it offers a solution that discriminated groups have taken before. Such as with African Americans in early-20th century taking on the "Talented Tenth" mindset coined by Dubois that said that blacks should excel and work hard to become leaders in society in order to become so good that their worth becomes undeniable. And that's what we see here with Naruto, he became so powerful and saved his village and he finally people acknowledged him and celebrated him for the individual he is. In Wolf Children it was a really touching story. Seeing a mom having to raise her two kids alone, while juggling a million different things and trying to keep her kids' identity a secret is truly tough to see. But in the end it's very nice to see that it all works out for them. In A Silent Voice it's a very interesting anime, the portrayal of a deaf girl in Nishimiya who isn't like other people and isn't able to keep up with the rest of class. It's very uplifting to see Ishida transform his character and it gives another perspective into the mind of a bully. At the end of the day, we are all human beings with feelings, and I feel that as Ishida began to accept Nishimiya he began to himself.

[ufliaprice]

Shin Sekai Yori

Out of all the anime that we have watched so far, this has got to be one of the weirdest. I’m not gonna lie, it was pretty hard to keep up with all the time skips that were going on throughout the episodes that we watched. It took a lot of concentration to try to keep up with what was going on. However, there were some key details that I noted throughout the whole experience. One of them was about the lessons that they were taught while they were in school. Their lessons were based on past students and the things that they did that were deemed wrong and dangerous. They used them as examples of what will happen to them if they do not follow the “correct” path. I now know that this is because people feared what the children could become if given the chance. I also noted, while watching, that they were closely monitoring the children and conducting educational tests to ensure that they didn’t exhibit violent tendencies; if they did, they would be eliminated. Another big realization that I had while watching the scene of them asking that creature a lot of questions about the past is that the Elders want the knowledge of what is really happening to be kept a secret. For example, the false minoshiro, who was a well of information, was eradicated because it was said to be a demon spirit that deludes the mind and the spirit. You can almost compare it to brainwashing, in my opinion. The last thing that I noted down was that the reason for them eliminating children was because they ran the risk of turning into Fiends or Karma Demons. And this fear that caused unease and paranoia all stemmed from two distinct incidents, much like the Shonen A case and the Columbine shooting in the real world. It is interesting how this anime and the real world are parallel in that aspect.

[lucasy11]

Hey therealphoenix007, I like the point you bring up about brainwashing. It's remarkable how much effort goes into manipulating and controlling the children throughout the show, from the lessons they're taught to the eliminations of those who exhibit the slightest tendencies that deviate from the acceptable. I appreciate how you draw parallels between the anime and the real world, using events such as the Shonen A or Columbine shootings. Although set in a fictional world, I think there's a lot to be learned from this discipline-focused society.

[lucasy11]

Shin Sekai Yori

From what seemed like a light-hearted anime, it turned out to be a more serious watch for me. I did not expect this anime to be so thought-provoking. After reading the material and then watching the anime, I noticed similarities, such as those between Shonen A and K in the anime. I think it serves as a critique of how children are raised in the real world. With violent acts such as the one in the readings, from shootings in the US that haunt the lives of many, there seems to be a question about how violent behaviors can even arise from such young people. Shin Sekai Yori presents a perspective on a society that ultimately villainizes children, turning them into objects of fear rather than seeing them as a source of hope for the future. This perspective was built upon extremist ways to protect people from these kids, with a system of secrecy and fear that was used to control the kids rather than cultivate their powers. In my opinion, just as Asahina talked to Saki and told her about past events, similarly to K, I think that in the anime, a better solution would be to cultivate and have kids ultimately understand their powers rather than fearing to do so. A lot can be learned from the past to ensure that it doesn't happen again, and I think that it could help prevent ultimately violent acts that some kids may commit. Although I found this a fascinating watch overall, it truly surprises me how much a story can convey throughout its plot, with all of its hidden messages leaving you with something to think about at the end of the show.

[matchablossomblog]

Psycho-Pass

In Psycho-Pass, episode 5, the inspectors and enforcers discuss digital avatars and the online world. I thought this related to Sword Art Online, where players start with different avatars, and how the digital world can seem so realistic to people in the real world. Another element I noticed in Psycho-Pass was in episode 15. In this episode, an elderly couple was the victim of a robbery by a man in a mask. The robber told them to give him their cash because he believed that elderly individuals hid money under their mattresses, which is a belief that could exist in the real world, stemming from distrust towards banks and other systems meant to secure money. However, the couple reveals that they do not hide money in their house. I found this confession interesting because in many anime, like Spirited Away, A Place Further Than the Universe, and Eden of the East, most of the middle-aged and elderly population seek preservation and are unwilling to change societal norms that worked for their time. This development led me to believe that the couple adjusted to a society with technological advancements and trusted the system since they decided not to hide their money somewhere in their house. This surprising aspect also revealed how the Sibyl System gained control of everyone, including the elderly. Another part that I found interesting was Makishima's discussion regarding the books he read in the past and how he thought their current society was similar to the ones in those novels. He also discusses the society in George Orwell's stories, and claims that their oppressive society is not as controlling. I thought his contrast was compelling because I immediately thought of George Orwell's 1984 while watching this anime, before I reached episode 15. The Sibyl System reminded me of the extreme surveillance and the way that such a system influences the citizens' well-being in 1984. Furthermore, the thorough surveillance in the anime and its restrictions on the freedom of the people also led to another similarity in 1984, with how the citizens have thorough discipline since they live in a surveillance society.

[lucasy11]

I completely agree with you that this show relates a lot to George Orwell's 1984, particularly in how society is heavily surveilled. I also, when I was initially watching, my head immediately brought me back to the society under 1984. I find it interesting how you pointed out that, unlike most anime, the scene where you talked about the older couple who don't hide money under their mattress shows that even older people have succumbed to new advancements, moving away from a preservationist way of life. Overall, these are all great insights that I didn't think of at first. Thank you for sharing.