Nat_urallyAnime

[sydneyyyyyyyyyy-blog2]

 Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and Sensoron

Watching Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and reading Sensoron made me think a lot about how anime handles identity, memory, and national pride. In Your Name the whole body swapping and time jumping thing was cool, but what was was interesting to me me was how the characters really learned to see through each other's eyes. It’s crazy how much that story says about empathy and connection without ever having to explain it. I think it'd be very powerful if we could all actually understand what it's like to live in someone else’s shoes for just a day.

Hetalia was different. At first, it felt all goofy and lighthearted, but then I started feeling weird about it. Some of the jokes really downplay serious stuff, especially around World War II. It made me uncomfortable how Germany was shown as this lovable character, when there's a whole lot of painful history being brushed aside. I get that it's meant to be funny and over-the-top, but it made me think about how easy it is to soften hard truths when we wrap them in cute animation.

Sensoron felt the most intense. It really forced me to think about how countries like Japan deal with the guilt and trauma of war. The way the manga critiques modern Japanese identity made me reflect on how every country has stories it tells to feel better about its past.

Out of all three, Your Name felt the most personal. I’ve never swapped bodies or time-traveled, but I’ve definitely felt that feeling of remembering something you can’t quite place.

[nat-urallyanime]

Hey Sydney, I can see how the overall theme of viewing life from another’s perspective is more interesting. It is also fun when shows talk about fate and all the different things they do to represent it. From this movie I believe many people can gain the message that every place is different, and while experiencing it can be fun, finding out how life is for others can be very beneficial knowledge. I completely agree with your other analysis of the other two media. After watching and reading them an uneasy feeling can be left, and it does make you wonder about the teachings in Japan. How far does this ideology span. Is this way of thinking being taught in school and many more questions arise. Overall, great analysis on the content!

[nat-urallyanime]

Your Name / Hetalia: Axis Powers / Sensōron

Today I am talking about three things Your Name, Hetalia: Axis Powers, and a manga Sensoron. First, Your Name, a well-known and well-loved movie. It is basically about this girl from the countryside and this guy from Tokyo switch bodies and they also try to prevent a disaster from destroying her town. Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this movie. It is cute and I love the animation style, the way this movie uses color is very visually appealing. Its message about being together through a tragedy is nice as well. As I feel being a part of a community is important.

Next Hetalia: Axis Powers. This is another popular anime where countries are personified. This anime is a comedy, and it shows as all the countries are very exaggerated and plays into many stereotypes. For example, Germany is the serious type, Japan is Quiet and reserved, and more. With this kind of concept the things said can get a bit touchy and some may take offense. In fact, there are a good amount of lines in the show that portray different countries very negative and at times make Japan seem very innocent or like there action during war times were reasonable/ the right thing to do. In turn fans chose not to bring those parts much attention but do heavily criticize it and focus mainly on the good, comedic moments.

Lastly, I will talk about the manga Sensoron. Honestly, I didn’t know much about this manga before reading it but here is what I thought. This manga isn’t really something I actively look for as it mainly talks about war and nationalist views of Japan’s wartime history.  Honestly, I don’t really want to talk about this manga as I don’t agree with its views as it actively tries to rationalize Japan’s actions. For example, it tries to say that comfort women weren’t kidnapped because its hearsay and that Nanking never happened. By cherry picking his evidence he tries convince others that everything Japan did is rational.

[nat-urallyanime]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind/Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Ok so today I will be talking about a anime and also a game. Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. These two are kind of similar as they both touch up on ecological issues. In Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind it tells a story about the life of humans after the earth was destroyed many years ago by pollution. In this world the soil is toxic, and humans don't have a lot of places where they can safely live. The main gist is that there is a group that wants to destroy the forest and the princess of Nausicaa fights to protect it. The forest doesn’t really need it as it has the creatures to protect it but the movie still presents environmental messages as in the end the princess didn’t need to find a way to cleanse the roots, and the forest was already doing that on its own.

Now Xenoblade Chronicles 2, while this isn’t an anime but a game, I still wanted to talk about it because of its environmental influence. I also haven’t played the game, so I am not exactly well versed in all things in the game. From what I have gathered the game follows this crew as they travel in a world where all their habitats and ecosystems are on the backs of titans. And by the end of the game the main characters find this person and they find out he destroyed the whole world and is trying to rebuild it with nanobots. The titans and basically everything they know have been made by this man because he accidently ruined the Earth. Overall, the game is interesting in the way they explain the worlds ecosystem is structured and have the solution to ecological issues by that humans are the ones needed in order to restore it. Unlike how in the anime mentioned earlier nature can do it all on its own.

[nat-urallyanime]

Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion

Today I am going to talk about the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion and The End of Evangelion. Now this is another really famous anime that I have not watched before. First the TV show, it feels kind of like the generic shows with mechas. Diving further you can see the theme pretty clearly though. It’s about the main character fighting who he is. He is he type that goes against how the stereotypical man should be/ act. The stereotypical man is someone who is aggressive, has no issues with violence, someone who actively lusts after women. This could be an accurate representation of people around the time this anime was made but everyone around the main character basically shamed him for not being this stereotypical man. The statement of “you are a man so act like it” was constantly repeated throughout the show and made the MC felt like he was worth it. In the end the MC finally accepts himself for who he is. Now the movie, it’s certainly something. This was mainly done because fans were upset with how the show ended. When comparing the two endings I definitely prefer the show ending as the movie just feels like another episode with the MC falling further than he had before. Just to end up the same way being that non stereotypical man. The fans said the show didn’t give them satisfaction but for me it was the movie. It just ends with him being forced to stay to way he is because he couldn’t be that stereotypical man instead of him accepting himself. To me the movie just completely ruined his character. Even in his fight to prove himself he never went too far where it ends up causing another person harm. Overall, it feels like the author also didn’t want to write him this way. I’m not sure but I probably wouldn’t recommend either the show or the movie.

[nat-urallyanime]

Sailor Moon/Aggretsuko/Wandering Son

Today I will be talking about three animes. First Sailor Moon, now this is an anime that is beyond popular and even transcends anime fans. It’s along the lines of Dragon Ball and Pokémon, where many didn’t even know it was anime. This particular show on the other hand was centered more towards the female audience. This theme is apparent from the start. Just by watching the first few episodes you can see there are many topics that have been catered towards girls. Such as friendship, being courageous and body image. While yes, these topics can be helpful and encouraging to anyone based around the time this show aired it’s obvious that this show was meant to be a girls show. I have no real complaints about the show but just watch with slight caution as some ideals may be a bit outdated but otherwise cute show.

Next Aggretsuko, another show that is very popular and well loved. This show isn’t really my style, but I can see why everyone loves it. The main character is an office worker who in order to relieve stress from her day, sings her thoughts heavy metal (often times in her head). She can be very relatable, so I see why many enjoy this show. I personally wouldn’t recommend this show as to me it is kind of a waste of time. It’s episode are around 2 minutes long and the actual content in the episodes just doesn’t appeal to me.

Lastly, Wandering Son, a show about two kids finding comfort in each other and forming their identities. I really liked this show and the message it gives to many who might face the same or similar issues. Becoming comfortable with you who want to be without worrying about others’ opinions can be hard but the important thing is to find someone who you can share your struggles with. It doesn’t matter if they are going through the same thing as you as long as they are understanding and care about you. I would recommend this show especially in this day and age as many people struggle with becoming who they want to be and this show can bring a lot of comfort.

[sydneyyyyyyyyyy-blog2]

Genshiken

Watching Genshiken was actually comforting for me, I grew up loving art, video games, and anime but I often felt like those things weren’t “productive,” this show felt like a quiet validation. It doesn’t try to dramatize otaku culture or mock it, it just lets it exist. The club members aren’t idealized, they’re awkward, intense, and sometimes painfully relatable. But through their passion, they carve out a space that feels real, even when the rest of the world doesn’t really get it.

Something I liked was how Genshiken shows fan culture as a creative, and almost rebellious act. The doujinshi production and Comifes scenes show how much energy and love fans pour into creating. This ties back to Fiske’s idea of the “shadow cultural economy” where fans build their own status, prestige, and meaning outside official culture. These aren’t passive consumers, they’re producers with a voice. And in a society like Japan’s, where conformity can feel consuming, it’s a very powerful form of resistance.

Saito’s discussion of otaku as people who turn general fiction into personal fiction also hit hard. I used to think fanfiction or cosplay was just for fun. But now I see it as a way people reclaim control over stories that speak to them, transforming something mass-produced into something deeply personal. Episode 9, where Madarame awkwardly gets locked in a room with Saki, becomes hilarious and heartbreaking because we see how much these characters struggle to balance real life with their love for fiction.

Azuma’s “database” theory also clicked into place here. Characters like Ogiue, who hides her inner otaku, reflect a postmodern tension, choosing fiction over “reality” not because it’s easier, but because it makes more sense when the larger narratives of society have broken down.

At the end of the day, Genshiken reminded me that community doesn’t have to be big or flashy to matter. Sometimes, all it takes is a shared table, some bad ramen, and a bunch of nerds who just get you.

[nat-urallyanime]

Hey, I glad you found comfort while watching this anime! I do think that was its purpose. Even as anime continues to become more popular there are still plenty of stigmatisms about those of us who enjoy them (I mean I still don’t expose myself as an enjoyer of kpop to everyone out of fear of being called a koreaboo lol). This anime is able to shed light that even with the title otaku it isn’t necessarily a negative thing and many of them are just normal people misunderstood because of some weirdos. It’s always nice being able to express yourself without worry of judgement from others and I think this anime does a good job of juggling that with the added viewpoint of someone like Saki that isn’t experience with that kind of expression.

[nat-urallyanime]

Genshiken

Hey everyone, today I will be going over the anime Genshiken. Typically, this is not a show I actively reach for mainly because of the older art style. Nonetheless I did enjoy this show and its comedy is good. The show is basically a day in the life of an otaku. A good thing this show does is presenting different types of otakus and not just the stereotypical otaku that may seem creepy or anti-social. From the guy who sees another one of his fellow club members as being a character in a dating sim game and there is also a girl in this anime being into bl. This anime also shows many of the things a fan may typically do like making, reading and buying doujnski aka fan-made comics, going to conventions, cosplaying, going into depth of animes (kind of like I am doing lol).  This anime shows that this events are not just activities done for boredom but to find a community that shares and understands the same interests. It was also a nice touch to have one member of the club be someone that doesn’t really understand this type of culture. An outsider perspective that brings some of the more comical moments to the anime where her shocked expression would cause the others to start defending themselves. This anime serves as more of a self-aware comedy of the portrayal (and sometimes devastatingly very real behavior) of otakus/ fans in their favorite past time activities. How creative they can be and basically also help with producing material (fan art, fanfics, edits, etc.) for their favorite media. Overall, I did enjoy this anime and would recommend it for those who enjoy slice of life, comedy and people who are interested in wanting a little peak at what some fans are like.

[kylieottens]

Naruto, Wolf Children, and A Silent Voice

Hello blog! Today I will be reflecting on three different animes that I watched in the last couple of days.

The first anime that watched was Naruto. Obviously I couldn’t watch the whole series in a couple days…but I’ll give my thoughts on the few episodes that I did  watch. I immediately noticed just how ostracized Naruto was from society. No matter how hard he tried, nothing ever seemed good enough for his sensei or anyone else for that matter. He is heavily discriminated against for a long time and has to work five times as hard as everybody else to get anything. It takes about 400 episodes for Naruto to earn any sort of recognition from the people of his society.

The next anime I want to talk about is Wolf Children. I have to admit that this film was not my favorite. Even though it did not fit my personal style I can still see the meaning behind the movie. The children in this movie are forced to hide their true colors in fear of being discovered for what they really are. This relates to how children with parents of different ethnicities have to live. When they are with dads’ side of the family, the moms’ side is looked down upon and vise-versa. It is often very challenging for children of multiple races to truly find their true identity in a world that is not set up for their success.

This brings me to the last anime I watched which was A Silent Voice. This film really hot home to me as my brother is deaf. It made me so sad to see the deaf girl get bullied just because she was trying to make friends. I wanted to hate her bully so much. This was until I saw why her bully was acting this way. He himself didn’t fit in. he felt so bad that he couldn’t take it anymore and almost took his own life. I really feel for him as I often feel as though I don’t deserve to be happy after I made a mistake.

[nat-urallyanime]

As a diehard fan of Naruto, I do encourage you to watch the whole show. It is so satisfying to see the slow change of how he is treated throughout the show. Since it is a pretty long show I suggest watching it whenever you have extra time or if you really can’t do it, I guess just watch overviews and watch the main events that interest you the most. I agree with what you said about Wolf Children, as someone who is raised by parents of different ethnicities it does feel similar to what you said. While they have never talked bad about the other, I did experience feeling not a part of either cultures or appealing to one more than the other. And many people not accepting that I’m mixed rejecting who I am. For A Silent Voice I feel like he didn’t bully her because he didn’t fit in, but it wasn’t until he started getting left out that he realized what he did to her was wrong. I feel like when you understand this it makes his change and growth much more powerful. Still, I liked your views on the animes.

[nat-urallyanime]

Naruto/ Wolf Children/ A Silent Voice

Today I will be talking about three different animes that share one common theme, discrimination. Let’s start with Naruto. Naruto is a show that is very special to my heart as it’s the show that I first watched when getting into anime. Ok so in the show Naruto is a boy in a village just wants to show people that he isn’t useless or a burden. Throughout this show Naruto is able to continuously prove that he is someone who is not a burden but someone valuable to the village. He never gives up and continuously fights for what he believes in more matter who opposes him, especially when it’s a close friend. Overall, this anime uses solves one of its main themes -discrimination- by having the victim change themselves in order to prove themselves to everyone. While this may be an old view of how to solve this kind of issue, but I hope this doesn’t deter you from watching this show. I may be a bit biassed, but I can guarantee that this show is full of amazing comedy, heartfelt moments and overall, worth the watch.

Now Wolf Children, while I have never heard of this movie before the premise does sound intriguing. It’s a pretty heartfelt movie that really plays into that theme of discrimination. A single mother trying to raise her two children who are mixed in a world that is not made for them. As she struggles to raise her children, she decides moving to the countryside would be best for them to decide whether they what to grow as humans for the rest of their lives or as wolves. I personally think this is an unfair task for the kids as she should be encouraging them to be themselves but as someone who lives in a world with constant negativity over something as simple as skin color it’s easy to see why the mother would steer them one way or the other. But in the end the daughter is able to find someone who cares about her in both forms, all of her. So, while throughout the movie it may seem more like Naruto where the victim needs to change it gives the solution that building/finding a community is the way to solve discrimination.

Lastly, A Silent Voice, honestly one of the sadder movies out there. It has a special way of pulling you in even the first 30 seconds of the movie. From the way it was written to the depth of the characters. It is a tale of the complexities of life. From a person becoming an outsider and bullied for being different and a bully becoming a better person because of self-growth and realizing the error of his ways. The creators of this show wrote an excellent story that also handles suicide really well. From this movie the theme of discrimination is solved by changing society through building a community from those willing to understand and self-growth from those who treated someone different negatively. Overall, a lovely movie that I highly recommend.

[karaakii]

Blog Post: Shin Sekai Yori

Watching Shin Sekai Yori was deeply unsettling, but in a way that stuck with me and encouraged me to think about how we define what it means to be "human," particularly through the lens of childhood and social control. The episodes we watched show a world where children are raised under constant surveillance and psychological conditioning to prevent them from becoming "Fiends/Ogres," who are the monsters born from the failure of society to manage fear, power, and emotion.

What really struck me was how the show utilized the figure of the child to reflect deep cultural anxiety, something echoed in Arai's reading about Japan's 1990s obsession with "wild children." The children in Shin Sekai Yori are both feared and fetishized as the carriers of potential destruction. They are tightly controlled, but seen as essentially time bombs. It made me think about how in real life, people often view children not as innocent, but as mirrors for societal failure, where in education, parenting, or morality.

The society in Shin Sekai Yori is obsessed with harmony and stability, but achieves it through brutal and unnatural means: erasure of memory, state-sanctioned disappearance, and genetic manipulation. I found this frightening as it felt like a commentary not only on Japan, but on global systems that value order over empathy. The Monster Rats, who we learn are just genetically engineered humans, represent the ultimate "other," and their rebellion forces both the main characters and the viewers to question the moral foundations of civilization.

The most powerful moment for me was in episode 25, when Saki grants Squealer a merciful death. It was a moment of human emotional recognition, not just of his suffering, but the fact he was never truly a monster. It reminded me of how AI and risk assessment technologies today can reduce complex individuals into dangerous simplifications.

Similar to the Sibyl System in Psycho-Pass, the society in Shin Sekai Yori attempts to eliminate unpredictability through dehumanization. In the current world climate, the tension between individuality and social control represented in the anime felt quite personal. Shin Sekai Yori isn't complete science-fiction, but a warning about what we lose at the cost of engineering perfection, especially in children. In trying to eliminate danger, we risk eliminating the qualities that make us human.

[nat-urallyanime]

Hey great analysis I completely agree with how in the anime and in our world society often finds itself fearing and criticizing the youth. Also like you said when a group is so focused on “harmony and stability” some choose to achieve it by brutal means. This reminded me of cult groups where to achieve their ideology they would do anything even if it mean killing someone and it doesn’t matter whether they are a child or an adult. From your analysis I have come to associate the animes world with it being more or less a cult. A group of people who are so consumed by their way of doing things, guided by a head figure that maintains this lifestyle that even people lose their children they are use to it and don’t fight against it/think it’s wrong.

[nat-urallyanime]

Shin Sekai Yori

The newest anime I have watched is called Shin Sekai Yori. Some may also know it by the English title From the New World and as the title suggests this anime takes place in a “new world.” It is set in the future where everyone develops psychic powers. Unbeknownst to the main characters they are under constant surveillance and those who either do not manifest powers or fail tests are killed. Another show where I just have to give credit to the creators for creating a show with unique themes. I have to give credit to the pacing and direction the show took where at the end instead of creating and suggesting a way to change this worlds views (which probably would be impossible to do in such a short time frame) it leaves the idea open ended. Where to some may not be as satisfying but is an excellent way to get people talking about the show. Having people creating their own theories and ideas on how to change that world for the better without reverting it back to something like our modern world. This is a great way to have an audience fall in love with your work without having the possibility of disappointing them or causing discourse over rather it is possible to implement. This anime also had a nice way of creating sympathy over its characters. Using their personal struggles, other characters emotions, and even through making the villains more complex. Also by using plot twist like the reveal of the rats being descendants of humans and the use of a time skip it acts as a way to enhance the characters development. Overall I highly recommend this anime for those who like open to interpretation endings, good world building and storytelling, and more psychological/emotional impacts.

[reviewer28]

Is Somebody Always Watching?

Psycho-Pass explores the deeply interesting and increasingly relevant topics of surveillance, governmental control/abuse of power, and technology. In this anime series, a computer network called the “Sibyl System” monitors the mental state of each citizen to determine if they are mentally stable and whether they are likely to commit a crime. If citizens are found to have a high crime coefficient, action is taken against them by law enforcement in hopes of preventing crime before it happens. A team of people are made responsible for enforcing the system. The team is composed of a mixture of citizens deemed to have a clear crime coefficient who religiously follow the system, those with a significant criminal background who escaped detection by the system, and latent criminals working to track down other criminals. However, the team is eventually plagued by concerns over the effectiveness and ethics of the system. 

Examining the idea of monitoring citizens’ brains to determine whether they pose a threat to society, the system seems not only unethical but also nonsensical. Not only is surveilling all citizens’ minds a major violation of privacy, but the concept of executing people deemed unstable without them actually committing a crime is extremely unjust. The Sibyl System being foolproof is difficult to imagine, and therefore many people could be falsely accused of being dangerous. The more serious issue with the system is that it does not take into account the fact that even if people may be mentally unstable in a particular moment, they may have the capacity to change and become better people. The system assumes that certain people are predisposed to becoming criminals, but does not account for people having free will and choosing not to commit crimes despite their brains being a certain way. Additionally, this system begs the question of what is considered mental instability. For example, somebody with a mental health disorder could be flagged as dangerous, when in reality they pose no risk to society and are simply in need of professional help. Upon first thought, the Sybil System sounds completely ineffective and dangerous. 

Although this exact system is not present in society today, the topic of surveillance is very relevant in society today. As technology is becoming more powerful, so are security systems. For example, security cameras and facial recognition technologies are becoming significantly more common. However, the surveillance can often be more subtle, such as through data being collected about citizens’ internet searches and social media use. With the increased prevalence of AI engines such as ChatGPT and voice recognition technologies such as Alexa, significantly more data is being gathered about citizens. Another theme “Psycho-Pass” warns about is giving the government too much power, as the anime shows the dangers of authorities having too much power over citizens’ lives and how the Sibyl System causes massive overreach. The anime also relates to the stigmatization of mental health. In the Sibyl System, those who are considered mentally unstable can be considered threats and subsequently eliminated. Those who deviate from the brain activity expected by the government are not allowed to exist within society. This relates to how mental health conditions are often stigmatized today in society, causing people to be reluctant to seek help and allowing for the perpetuation of false stereotypes. Finally, this anime has parallels to the social credit system in China, where data is collected about individuals and businesses to determine compliance. Rewards and punishments are used for enforcement. Although this system is less extreme than the Sybil System and is more focused on corporations, this example still shows how surveillance to evaluate people’s morality is starting to become more pronounced. 

[nat-urallyanime]

I agree with the ethical concerns of the Sibyl System. I know many people would not be on board with having their mental constantly monitored. On the other hand, there may be some people who would enjoy knowing what their current mental is as they might find it difficult to accurately depict what they feel. I also see what you mean when the system could inaccurately flag someone as dangerous when they have no control over it. Those with conditions like autism, schizophrenia, and more have a difficult time controlling their emotions or even can be misinterpreted by others can lead to devastating events. Everyone would leave it up to the system to define how they feel when human emotions are so complex that even the person themselves may find it difficult to understand themselves. It is hard and a little scary to just say that a program would know everyone better than themselves.

[nat-urallyanime]

Psycho-Pass

Recently I have had the pleasure of watching Psycho-Pass. This kind of anime is right up my ally where it is full of action, intense emotions, and has a very specific theme to it. This time the theme was a futuristic world where everyone’s mental state is scanned constantly and if it starts to get “cloudy” you are required to go to therapy and in extreme cases you are killed because at that point you are not in control of yourself and become unstable. I really love a unique story line where there really isn’t any evil presented just kind of a day to day in this world and how it runs. Yes, you can say the evil is the constant surveillance but, in the end, the main story is how everyone deals with this normal. It is interesting to think how this kind of system would work in our world. As there are plenty of people who probably would have this “cloudy” mental state but pose no threat to themselves or others around them. Would our world be too harsh to even implement this system? If implemented would eliminating everyone with these cloudy, dangerous mental states save us, give us peace, solve all issues. What happens to all the current governments set in place? While watching this anime these are the constant thoughts that flowed through my head. This anime is interesting all on its own but when applying it to our world is where all the fun begins. So all I have to say is this anime can act as a peek into what can happen with the advance in technology in our world and it and also serve as a warning. A sign that something designed to protect the mass can also be the leading factor to that danger. To be cautious about inventions and invest in your mental health.

[animatedworldblog]

Eden of the East / Sword Art Outline

After watching both of these pieces of anime, it really makes you think how technology can be alarming. Different pieces of technology and the advancements throughout the industry can potentially have an impact on our overall freedom throughout the world. Both of these worlds are controlled by higher levels which utilize technology for them to rule. It is scary to think about especially with AI now because people can potentially weaponize it to harm us. Both of these characters are figuring out different ways to take down this system and stop them from being harmed any further. The tie between the overall laws and rules of the system to figuring out a way around them is something that also caught my eye. It is easy for someone like me to feel like you have to follow the rules and there is no way around them. The fact that you could track the overall success and progress a person makes and get awarded for is an interesting concept. However, I don't believe that is necessary because if you want to accomplish something, achieving that goal should be rewarding enough. For example, I have tried to set goals for myself every other week to improve on certain qualities. Once I accomplish that goal I feel relieved and I don't need someone to reward me because I did it. Trying to escape from the system that is surrounding them might not always be the best option and you might just have to adapt to the circumstances and figure out how to move on going further.

[nat-urallyanime]

Great analysis of the animes! After reading your post it opened my eyes. When I watched these animes the dangerous effect of technology did not even occur to me. I completely agree with how the heavy and increasing use of AI can lead to scenarios where we get harmed and potentially increase the odds of something crazy happening like in the two animes. I can say as someone who is also a follow the rules kind of person while I can see why achieving goals for yourself is important, I personally like getting rewarded by others for it a bit more. May it be in the form of a compliment or something else having others notice my hard work can be very peaceful to my state of mind sometimes.

[nat-urallyanime]

Eden of the East & Sword Art Online

Two new animes I have watched recently are Eden of the East and Sword Art Online. To start Eden of the East was a great show about criticizing neoliberalism ideology and how the solve real world issues in Japan all while still being entertaining to watch. Perfectly blending comedic elements with exploring ways to save Japan from its way of thinking that is actively destroying itself. In my personal experience I enjoyed the comedy aspect more, but it is well written that I couldn’t ignore how fascinating it is to use the very thing that majority of Japan/ the older generation hate “NEETs” or those who they believe to be lazy and unacceptable in societies eye. I love how Akira is able to give them purpose, a chance, a way to prove themselves when the world would not give them that chance.

Now about Sword Art Online. It is an anime I have heard of before but never watched and all I have to say is that it pleasantly surprised me. For being an inspiration to the isekai genre to how it has crafted its philosophical themes. Its constant imagery of why many choose to stay instead of escape perfectly describe a simulacra. It can criticize the real world with how economics is handled and creating a better concept of how they should work. Forming connections with those in a fake world and the feelings of it being unnecessary to return back to a place where they do not get satisfaction from. Where their hard work is not always met with the proper benefits. In this fake world or simulacra, they can be free and unapologetically themselves without the many worries the real world comes with. While this simulated world is not exactly free of all worries there is certainly less that the characters find more comfort being there. Overall, it is a great watch when thinking about the logistics of how everything is run in contrast to the real world.

[kylieottens]

Spirited Away/A place Further Than the Universe

This past week I have watched both “Spirited Away” and “A Place Further Than the Universe” and I’ve got some things to say about them.

To start, I would like to talk about the Anime “Spirited Away”. Before this, I had never watched an Anime film before ad I have to admit that I absolutely loved watching this film. Not only was it a cute and lighthearted movie, it also made me think of how it relates to a lot of real world issues that we face today. At the start of the film, I noticed Chihiro’s attachment to her flowers. Right away, this made me assume that she didn’t have easy access to “unnecessary” goods like that while her parents didn’t seem to worry at all. I felt a weird dynamic between Chihiro and her parents as the roles almost seemed reversed. It seemed to me that she oversaw making her parents make the right decisions. I really like what Hayao Miyazaki did when he turned her greedy parents into pigs. I often her people being referred to as “pigs” due to a behavior of overconsumption. Miyazaki continues this “monstrous” characterization of greed throughout the film with other characters such as No Face where he quite literally turns into a monster as he eats everything in his path and pays with fake money. As a college student, I know so many people who have name brand everything that also have already acquired an insane amount of debt to their name. I see the behavior Miyazaki was trying to point out in my day-to-day life. Overall, I think this film was beautiful and did a great job of highlighting some major global issues within an entertaining anime.

Secondly, I would like to talk about “A Place Further Than the Universe”. I will say that I didn’t enjoy this film as much as Spirited Away but I still had a good time watching it. I actually shared a lot of the same feeling as the main character Mari Tamaki. I too have felt like I have gone through so many years of life without having crazy new experiences. I have wanted to escape the capitalistic lifestyle we are all destined for. I wish I had as much determination to go somewhere as she did lol. I think the title of the Anime is symbolic of the fact that we can’t really escape this lifestyle of a capitalist world. There are no real solutions or alternatives to it. That’s why in the show, in order top escape it they had to travel to a place that was “further than the universe”. I liked the critique on capitalism that the director had for this show. It really makes me think about if we will ever escape from it.

Photo Credit- https://www.boredpanda.com/spirited-away-chihiro-parents-become-pigs-meaning-studio-ghibli-hayao-miyazaki/

[nat-urallyanime]

Hi Kylie, I am glad to hear that you enjoyed Spirited Away as your first anime film. It is my first Studio Ghibli film, and I completely agree with your analysis of it. Miyazaki did a great job with making connections within the film and how to reveal it subtlety. As for A Place Further than the Universe I can also relate to you and Mari with feeling like I haven’t achieved much. I too wish to gain the confidence to do something as maybe not as grand as going to Antarctica, but I have made it a personal goal of mine.

[nat-urallyanime]

Spirited Away & A Place Further than the Universe

Today I want to talk about two animes I have watched recently. Spirited Away and A place Further than the Universe. To start after watching the movie Spirited Away, I can clearly see how it won an Oscar Award. From the art style to the storyline to how the overall message is presented. During it I found it a cute anime where I am watching the girl struggle to escape from this place and rescue her parents. After delving deeper though you can clearly see there is more to it. I love all the connections in it from the good and bad twin, the message of finding who you are, and undying love. In my opinion Spirited away is a great starter anime for those who are just getting into anime. It is easy to interpret, it isn’t that long, and the art style is not like typically old anime/manga art style. It also ties in Japanese culture really well with the use of many folklore creatures such as the river dragon, spirts, traditions, etc. Now, A Place Further than the Universe is a good comfort anime that deals with heavy topics expertly. From topics of grief, self-discovery (when the girls are fighting their own fears) and wrapped all up in a growing friendship. Going to Antarctica helped connect these girls in a way that some other animes do not achieve. It is able to create depth while still being heartfelt. Unlike others which can seem kind of mindless with no stimulus. Another note I can make is the depiction of Antarctic research and how accurate it is to real life. I give credit to the makers that took the time to ensure that it is accurate even though some may not even care or focus on that part of the anime.