the anim(e)ted world

[keyboard-meister]

Hetalia: Axis Powers

This anime is so goddamn funny, as long as you don't think too hard about it. It's literally WWII fanfiction. That said, I am going to now think too hard about it.

This anime deals with issues of stereotyping and nationalism by depicting major world powers as cute little anime boys (and girls in the case of Hungary, what's up with that?). While Hetalia makes a point of satirizing each country's stereotypes, like Italy's love of pasta or America's main-character-syndrome, it occasionally feeds into such stereotypes. The way Japan is depicted often feeds into some of the stereotypes that the country has created for itself to promote a modern and progressive national image, like how organized and disciplined Japan is.

Hetalia also chooses to represent major historical conflicts as little tiffs between the characters, which actually works until they kind of gloss over the Holocaust. While I actually kind of enjoyed how stupid this anime is, I felt weird about how Nazi Germany was kind of depicted as a good guy.

I also appreciated the sort of deconstruction of the strong, masculine image that many of the countries in this anime like to promote. All of the characters are just a little too stupid for me to take them seriously, and many of them are really gay for each other (I've seen the horrors of Hetalia ship fan art).

I've had my own experiences with the Hetalia fandom, going all the way back to middle school. A girl in my book club was a HUGE Hetalia fan, and she would constantly weebsplain the characters to me and sing the theme song. Needless to say, I found her incredibly annoying (although, honestly, I've been known to be just as annoying about my favorite media, lol). My current friends enjoy Hetalia in an ironic way, like most of the current fanbase does. They acknowledge that it's kind of trashy, but still watch it for laughs. They even forced me to watch Hetalia cosplay music videos once they heard I had to watch this show for a grade.

[rhejac]

I felt exactly the same watching this anime. The humor was right up my alley, but I couldn't ignore some of the implications of humanizing countries. I also like how you point out the deconstruction of the strong masculine image, because I wonder what the motivation for that was. Especially the little chibi segments, they were just unbearably cute and for what? I also thought Japan's portrayal of themselves was interesting, because I was wondering if they would end up being a little biased. Also, as an American who enjoys any media of America being a joke, the anime was a fun watch for those segments, especially the ones about American's being ignorant.

[rhejac]

hetalia

As I watched Hetalia: Axis Powers from episodes 1-19, I found myself caught between laughter and discomfort. The humor is sharp, and many of the jokes genuinely made me laugh out loud, especially the recurring pasta dialogues with Italy—they were oddly hilarious. However, the constant stereotyping made me uneasy. Each country is flanderized to the point that their characters exist primarily to deliver the same punchlines over and over again. Italy, in particular, seems to be the butt of every joke, constantly getting roasted for its quirks, which, while funny, also felt a bit too on the nose after a while.

Despite the heavy reliance on stereotypes, I do think the concept of Hetalia is intriguing. It manages to weave in snippets of world history, albeit in a very vague and exaggerated manner. Watching the show, I felt like I was learning something, even if the educational value was more about the cultural caricatures than the actual historical events. The show's approach to humor is both its strength and its weakness—it's bold and unapologetic, but at times it walks a fine line between being funny and being insensitive.

I do have some qualms about how the anime jumps around from topic to topic and does not have an ounce of cohesiveness or transition. A lot of the time the anime would cut off to the next episode, and I was left confused. I wonder if this was just crunchyroll or if the anime was set up like this intentionally. Furthermore, I remember that this anime had a huge young fanbase and would always see fanart about it. I think it’s really interesting how there's also a shipping culture that started up, and I can see why it’s there considering how Germany and Italy interacted. I wonder what the fandom climate was like when this anime was actively coming out.

[sophiamenet]

Your Name

While I’ve heard of the movie, given how popular it is, I had never actually watched it before, nor did I really know the plot/story line. The time travel bit was a big shocker to me, I was really surprised when Taki went to the village and found out it was destroyed. The whole time traveling aspect was a bit confusing to me but there's no need to try and understand it logically so I'm not even gonna try. As for the assigned reading, how does Foucault’s “History of Sexuality” and his contemplation on and redefining of power apply to Your Name? While I'm unsure about the manifestations of power in the moive, I found there to be aspects of sex and sexuality - specifically in the markedly different and gendered behaviors/personalities of Taki verse Mitsuha. Taki, in Mishua’s body, acts in a much more ‘free’ way than Mitsuha would typically act as a young woman in conservative Japan (particularly within the more traditional rural setting.)

Mitsuha on the other hand maintains her femininity in Taki’s body, making him appear more effeminate. These different behaviors of both - with a female body presenting and behaving in a distinctly masculine way and a male body in a feminine way - result in more queer presenting characters. Mitsuha even receives a confession from a girl at her school as a result of Taki’s behavior when occupying her body. Taki similarly is called cute by his friend, in reference to Mitsuha existing as Taki. This exchanging of bodies then also translates to an exchanging of sexualities, so that when Taki is Mitsuha, Mitsuha behaves as, and essentially is, a lesbian. This might be said also for Mitsuha in Taki’s body, however Mitsuha’s pursuit of Taki’s female coworker - said to be for Taki’s own benefit - introduces then a variation in sexuality and its presentation in the anime.

How this translates to power, aside from the manifestation of the general socialized dominance and agency of men verses the subjugation and traditional, stereotypical subservience of women, I’m not entirely sure. This movie definitely presents an interesting and unique exploration of sexuality. Even Taki and Mitsuha’s attraction to one another is unique, as it is an emotional attraction and connection rather than physical. Their love for one another goes beyond the corporal self, again presenting another variation in sexuality and its representation (which in media representations is typically is constrained to the physical.)

[rhejac]

I like your thought process in concern to how Taki and Mitsuha act when they're in eachother's bodies. It is really interesting how behavior translates differently across different contexts, and I love that the movie fully explored the implications of the gender swapping. I especially appreciate the exploration of how they present queer as they switched bodies, which makes the commentary around the anime interesting. I haven't watched the lecture video on the movie yet, so I am curious about how this is supposed to be broken down according to the film. I also love your comment about how Taki and Mitsuha's relationship goes beyond the corporal self, because I feel like its so romantic. Thanks for the insight!

[rhejac]

your name

This is one of my favorite movies of all time, for a ton of reasons. First of all, the animation is absolutely brilliant. It's smooth and very technical, while also being super dynamic! I especially enjoyed the scenes that focused on comet as it hurtled towards Earth, with the brilliant colors and shots of the city-scape. Furthermore, the scene where Taki and Mitsuha finally meet as the sun sets was absolutely breathtaking, the subtle emotions on the characters' faces captured nicely.

I also like how the animation had to play with the body switching, especially with emulating how Taki in Mitsuha's body would interact in the world and vice versa. It led to giving really subtle cues, if not from the animation then from the voice actors themselves, in order to embody the other character. I think it's so cool! It also reminds me of the gender and performativity module, and the subtle expectations that are placed on men versus women. It was interesting that it only took Taki to adopt a queer masculinity (because Mitsuha was in his body) to really sway his workplace crush.

The whole plot twist about them being from different points in time? Wild! I was surprised when I first watched this movie because they didn't lose me at all. I was worried about such a complicated plot point, and usually I lose all sense of meaning with fantasy films, but it managed to keep me hanging on. And what is more compelling than a love story that transcends time and space? Your Name shows how we must take charge of our lives, and that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

I also really like how the anime portrays the small town life, and the traditions that Mitsuha's town holds on to. It was very interesting to watch the ritual that her and her sister did in the beginning of the movie, and the insecurities Mitsuha holds about being such a prominent figure in a small town.

[aqua-dagger]

XenoBlade 2 Chronicles

If we had 50 plus hours to play this game it would have been worth it. I'm a little bias on RPGs, they always have a great story line, and amazing character development, and depending on the game they always try to deliver a message. Anyways this game has a unique plot, so pretty much Mor Ardain and Uraya are the two nations that are at any point going to war, the game takes place at a place called Alrest which is a vast sea, surrounded by clouds, there's these giant being called titans on which humans live on, and the whole end goal is to see this place of heaven or as the game calls it Elysium that has everyone's creator the Architect. Over what i assume is hours of game play you go to that island, and meet the architect, which is named Klaus. He pretty much tells you he is responsible for the way the world is now, both the cause of the mass destruction, and how hes trying to better it with the use of nanobots. How he saved humanity by creating the titans. After a few fight scenes we see that following Klaus death, Elysium starts to crumble, and much like Neon Genesis Evangelion, they fly down back to Alrest and see that a new world or i should stay restored world is waiting for them.

Not to beat a dead horse, but this game is also very pro-environmental. Its a little different compared to Nausicaa and the valley of the wind. In that film they let nature take its course. But with this game, they take matters into there own hands. Klaus uses nano machines and titans to save humanity, not lets see how this all plays out. Which we could view this as an global issue, with all the significant changes we as humans are doing. Even in central Florida, if there's vast open land, there's going to be either a cookie cutter suburbs or apartment complexes. We going to have to intervein to protect the environment before we reach a critical tipping point. Hopefully its not like the one we have seen in Nausicaa or in this game.

[rhejac]

I think it's so cool how the game adopts the fact that the world has an architect, and that he lives on a world tree. I thought it was cool thinking about how there are philosophical discussions about religion, and that the universe must have had a maker, or an architect, who designed it. The presence of a designer is a compelling argument. Anyways, the fact that you reached such a conclusion about the environment just from watching cutscenes of the game shows how effective the game is as a piece of media and providing awareness about how the environment and humans should coexist as one.

[rhejac]

xenoblade chronicles 2

I recently watched cutscenes from the video game Xenoblade Chronicles 2. I did find the graphics lackluster so I found myself feeling a little bored during the viewing. A lot of my motivation for watching media unfortunately has to doHowever, there were elements of the narrative that genuinely captured my interest and left me with a lot to think about.

One of the standout aspects of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the concept of humanity living on the backs of Titans. This imaginative setting immediately drew me in. The idea of entire ecosystems thriving on these colossal creatures is a fascinating blend of fantasy and ecological storytelling. It provides a unique backdrop for the game's events and adds a layer of depth to the world-building that I found incredibly appealing.

While I didn't find every moment of the cutscenes captivating, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers some compelling ideas that left a lasting impression on me. The vision of humanity coexisting with and actively participating in the restoration of the environment is both inspiring and thought-provoking. It made me appreciate the creative storytelling that video games can bring to the table, even if the format wasn't entirely to my taste this time around. I do like how Elysium was simply what we are used to in the real world, but what we may take for granted. Long hills of grass, trees, and blue skies. Given how we are so used to having this aspect of Elysium, the fact that it is viewed as heaven and so desirable in the first place is gut-wrenching. It means that we shouldn't take nature for granted.

In conclusion, my experience with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 cutscenes was a mixed bag. Despite moments of boredom, the innovative concepts and hopeful messages within the story made it a worthwhile watch. I'm curious to see how these themes are further explored in the full game and how they might influence future narratives in both gaming and anime.

[sinjpt11]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Watching Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind was an enjoyable experience with its fantasy-like theme. This anime offers a powerful critique of environmental degradation and the human propensity for conflict, themes that are as relevant today as they were when the film was released in 1984.

In the context of Japan, Nausicaä reflects deep-seated cultural concerns about harmony with nature and the consequences of industrialization. Japan's rapid post-war industrial growth led to significant environmental issues, including pollution and deforestation. Nausicaä’s world, devastated by toxic jungles and giant insects, serves as a stark reminder of what can happen when humanity disrupts the natural balance. The film's portrayal of a strong, empathetic protagonist who seeks to heal rather than conquer nature relates to traditional Japanese values of respect for the environment and living in harmony with it.

Globally, the film's environmental message is pertinent. As we face climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, Nausicaä serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of environmental neglect. The toxic jungle in the film can be seen as a metaphor for the world's polluted ecosystems, urging viewers to reconsider their relationship with the environment. Miyazaki's vision is a universal call to action, advocating for a more sustainable and respectful approach to nature.

For American viewers, the themes in Nausicaä are also relevant. The United States, like much of the world, grapples with environmental challenges and debates over sustainability. Nausicaä’s journey reflects the growing environmental consciousness in America and the increasing recognition of the need for eco-friendly policies and practices. Her character embodies the kind of leadership and vision required to navigate these issues, a leader who prioritizes ecological balance and peace over exploitation and war.

Connecting this to our assigned readings, particularly those discussing environmental ethics and the Anthropocene, Nausicaä is a vivid narrative that exemplifies these concepts. The film illustrates the ethical imperative to protect and preserve the environment for future generations, a key theme in many contemporary environmental discussions.

[rhejac]

I really enjoy your analysis because you touch on the contextual surroundings of the movie. The toxic jungle was so interesting to see play out, especially as we see how the environment works against us in real life as we degrade it, for example, climate change. Giving nature itself this living breathing quality allows us to empathize with it more. The way the movie characterizes the ohms as beings that are capable of rage and empathy is very moving, and gives us a model for how we should treat the environment in real life. The film really calls for balance between humankind and its environment, and also seems to have a anti-violence narrative to accompany it as well. Overall, thank you for your insight!

[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.

[kwanyoung]

The End of Evangelion | Themes of Individualism & Reality

The Plot Of The Anime

After the massive destruction and near human extinction, traumatic flashbacks of Asuka Langley Soryu's mother committing suicide, as well as the defeat of her beloved Evangelion Unit-002, we can see that Asuka is comatose, and Shinji Ikari is trying to wake her up, but eventually goes desolate and not responding.

All the Angels have been defeated and there isn't much to do with the Evangelions now. We also get an insight into the Human Instrumentality Project, which Gendo Ikari and SEELE (a secret organization) proposed to force evolve humanity. They believe that humanity reached its evolutionary limits (as we can see Angel species dominate in power) and calls humans and living beings weak and flawed. They thought that merging the existence of everyone into one whole, super-entity, instead of making the beings independent, would make them stronger and comparable to entities like the Angels, as well as solving independent struggles and hating of their own kind. Gendo, personally pushes the project just to see his dead wife again. SEELE, however is hacking NERV's Magi super computers so they can do their agenda before Gendo can, eventually turning into all-out war.

In the near end, Shinji goes hysterical as he witnesses the awakening of the angels (Lilith), a part of SEELE's master plan towards instrumentality.

The Issue In Question

Honestly, this movie took on a very weird and disorienting storyline, so finding themes were quite hard to do so. However, I want to talk about individualism in the space of reality. In the end, the anime talks about reality and the fact the composition went from anime to cinematography. Reality is reality, and you cannot escape it. Dreams and fantasy are where you can find happiness, but it is temporary, and reality will always come for you in the end. Individual-wise, if there was no individuality, and if all entities merged into one, you will be everyone but also nobody. There will be no pain, no suffering, no individual thinking. The concept of fear is lost, there is nothing good in this new combined reality. We see that there is a 5 billion year cycle between individual humans and a single god, and neither can coexist at one period (humans probably messed up injecting angelic remains into individual beings). We can only have individual humans, or all the humans merging into a one supreme being.

So what can I obtain from this? I personally don't have a clear answer. Also, watching this movie quite damaged my mentality in some way. However, I might suggest that what an individual must find is happiness, by facing the fears of society, and suffering through pain. Society and the individual must understand each and they are humans and humans are humans, separated by individualism and scattered from a spectrum whole. But who knows, the movie seems interpretive anyways.

The Issue Addressed In Japan & Beyond

Our world is reality, the place we live and the place we are conscious in. In our world, there is no escaping. Dreams and fantasy are inside our reality and are temporary means of happiness, whether that is sleeping or diving into fiction. It is important for an individual to find happiness in their life and there are no shortcuts. Pain, fear, and suffering are all part of the cycle of living, especially you, and one must suffer through it while maintaining your individualism (be like yourself), which is a good thing as other people can understand who you are in reality and you will find some good helpful people. Our reality does not have a single being just like how all the souls merged in the anime, we have to cope living in this reality.

My Personal Takes

I don't know. My previous statement is what I think about my reality. The movie itself felt like a fever dream, and I writing like I am going through that phase in this blog. My reality is shared among everyone but it is the individual that isn't shared. My individual, my body, my control. By being an individual, I have my own will to shape and bend reality how I want (however in small local bits and if I am confident enough with no pain, fear, nor suffering blocking my path). How I perceive myself and the forgoing reality is destined to becoming my future. I had this kind of thinking and it applies especially in college. If I have a strategic path through reality and have the confidence to execute it, the future will eventually bring me happiness and success.

--- Hysteria mode has ended ---

[rhejac]

This whole post is basically my mind about this anime. I feel so existential thinking about the implications of it all, and it gives me a very unsettling feeling about it. The world right now does feel stagnant, and the end of humanity itself feels like it could happen any minute now. All that's left is to merge together as one, to evolve. It makes perfect sense but it scares me. The imagery of the whole anime was absolutely amazing and giving me terror. I love the concept, and the ending of this movie is so different from the ending of the anime. I think I prefer the ending of the movie overall, because Shinji chooses to live as himself.

[rhejac]

the end of evangelion (1997)

My brain is pretty tired from watching this movie. I love the concept so much, though. The visuals of everyone becoming one, everyone seeing the psyches of others, the darkness that lies beneath everyone's skin, was absolutely mesmerizing to watch.

Asuka's violence at the beginning of the movie was so cool to look at from an animation standpoint. Seeing her complete confidence in her mission and the way she tried to take out every Eva had me on the edge of my seat. It was gut-wrenching when she did lose. It was like I felt all the pain and gore myself as her Eva gets eaten to death and she screams in horror.

Shinji's journey through the movie was equally captivating and harrowing. His deep psychological struggle, depicted through surreal and intense imagery, was a powerful exploration of his inner turmoil. The moment he confronts his mother, and the subsequent scenes where he grapples with his sense of self and his place in the world, were profoundly moving. The merging of human consciousness, while visually stunning, also conveyed the immense loneliness and desire for connection that Shinji experiences. It was heartbreaking to witness his pain and confusion as he navigated this new reality.

The climax, where Shinji makes the decision to reject Instrumentality and embrace individuality, was a poignant resolution to his character arc. His choice to return to a world where people are separate but capable of forming genuine connections underscored the series' recurring themes of identity, loneliness, and the human need for understanding. The final scene, with Shinji and Asuka on the desolate shore, left a lasting impression. Their ambiguous interaction, full of raw emotion and vulnerability, encapsulated the complex and often painful nature of human relationships.

Overall, The End of Evangelion was an intense and thought-provoking conclusion to the series. Its exploration of deep psychological and existential themes, combined with its stunning visuals, made for an unforgettable viewing experience. Despite the exhaustion, I can't help but appreciate the profound impact of this film.

[n4stasia]

Neon Genesis Evangelion | pt.2

Continuing the Evangelion iceberg of disturbance. Level 2 reached.

Trauma

After facing battles that leave deep psychological scars on Shinji, the need for a third pilot arises. This is where Asuka Langley enters the picture, a rebellious girl who arrives from Germany as an exchange student. Her tough exterior is a defense mechanism developed to cope with her mother's mental breakdown and subsequent suicide. Determined to never cry or show weakness again, Asuka becomes fiercely independent, but emotionally unstable.

Shinji is grappling with his own inner demons. Having always been an outsider, he struggles to form meaningful connections. The psychological toll of piloting the EVA intensifies his isolation. Despite his fear and reluctance, circumstances force him to continue.

Rei, emotionally distant girl, is another puzzle piece in this complex narrative. Like Shinji and Asuka, she's searching for her identity. However, her unwavering obedience and willingness to sacrifice herself set her apart.

Their psychological wounds are only deepened by the realization that EVA is not just a machine. EVA seems to possess her own consciousness and exerts a powerful psychological influence on the pilots, especially Shinji, as if she's brainwashing them.

eps. 25 & 26

I'm saving my personal opinions for the third blog, but umm? At this point my brain started to melt. Total chaos, delusion, psychodellic badtrip, and nonsense. Honestly, if I were to watch it at the age of 14 or so- I would totally enjoy such an exquisite cinematic performance and think those who criticize it just don't get it. >_<

At this point Shinji is very sick, mentally. In my opinion, the compilation of delirium conversations/thoughts/graphics is one of the best portrayals of existential crisis, severe depression, and suicidal ideations. These last two episodes are anxiety inducing and almost put you inside of Shinji's brain, which is again very disturbing and sick.

[rhejac]

Hello! I like how you explore the three main protagonist's trauma, because it is interesting how this anime seems to dive so deep into dark psychological themes. Asuka is really charming to me as a character because she shows an unexpected side to mental illness that people don't often dwell on. Her emotional instability seemed to give her great success at first. She could fully embrace controlling the Eva's and did it with little struggle, and she always strived for success. But that job was all she was, and when that was gone she felt like nothing. On the outside, people would admire her connection to what seems to be like masculinity. She leans towards violence and is headstrong and aggressive. In many cultures, masculinity also includes blocking away emotions until they get too out of control. It's really interesting how the story shows this in the perspective of a girl.

[rhejac]

neon genesis evangelion PART 2

The second part of the anime seemed to get more and more abstract and confusing. I definitely had to watch some lore videos on tik tok to fully grasp what I was watching. The most interesting episode was the one where Shinji meets Kaworu. Their relationship hinted at romantic feelings between them, and it's really interesting that Kaworu, an angel in a human's body, wanted to save humanity after meeting Shinji. Shinji's pain and struggles for feeling useless and unwanted seemed to inspire Kaworu to die, which I thought was really interesting if I looked at the anime from the lens that the lecture wants me to.

Asuka's downfall was pretty sad to me, especially seeing her so emaciated and withered. The way society treats the child soldiers reminds me of the previous anime we watched about war. Her energy and expressiveness, and the self satisfaction she gave herself giving her life to the war was really infectious for everyone. I wish I got to see more of her apart from the assigned episodes because she seems like a really intriguing character. Maybe some other day I will find time to watch the whole series.

The very end was really confusing to me, and it felt like a drug trip. The way Shinji has to rationalize loving himself resonated so well, but I was still drowning amidst all the lore that was thrown at me previously. The most interesting scene was when Shinji sees himself in a happier, more simpler life. There he is doing hegemonic masculinity right. He objectifies women with the other men, for instance. I think it's really interesting that in another life he seems to align with what society's ideal man is supposed to be like. Seeing that alternate version of himself helped him realize he's not as helpless as he thought, and he could finally love himself.

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - Neon Genesis Evangelion ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

I've wanted to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion because it's just so iconic within anime culture. I never did though, because I heard the series could be hard to follow. However, despite that fear, it really drew me in! Evangelion was like Mobile Suit Gundam but a thousand times more terrifying, especially with its darker tones and the presence of Lovecraftian-like Angels.

I can definitely see how the main character, Shinji Ikari, not only rejects masculinity throughout the series (like the readings from this module discuss) but he also rejects everything within the show. The boy is invited by his absent father to be at the organization, Nerv, with no other information. Once rescued by Misato, he is brought to the top secret location where eventually (with much prying by his father) finds out that the only reason he is here is to pilot the mech suit, Evangelion. Suddenly, all the adults around him who told him nothing are now telling him to do everything. They constantly push him to pilot the suit and make him feel horrible if he doesn't, which puts an enormous amount of pressure on Shinji. And once he finally accepts to pilot (only because Rei was hurt) they still belittle him and say things like "Suck it up! "Be a real boy!" and "Stay calm!" as it isn't his first time piloting a dangerous mechanical monster against a terrifying biblically accurate angel.

This is a bit off-topic, but I find it interesting that the mech suit is treated like an uncontrollable wild animal. (Which it kinda is since its revealed to have an alive creature inside.) It's constantly restrained to prevent a "runaway" or becoming "berserk", and only a few people can pilot an Evangelion without rejection. In a way, I wonder if it was an intentional comparison between Shinji and the Evangelion suits. They are considered dangerous deadweight until they become useful to the people around them. Maybe that's why only people who reject societal norms can pilot the suits.

[rhejac]

I absoolutely love your analysis and how you find parallels between Shinji and the Eva suits!! I do see this connection, and I wonder what implications this could have on the rest of the show. I think the pressure that Shinji is under is similar to what many men experience in society. To embrace the violence of war, and to never complain about it. Shinji does not perform this form of masculinity very well, and in turn he is often dismissed and mistreated because of it. I wonder if this was intentional by the writers, and the context behind Shinji's character. I really like how this anime subverts the tropes that Gundam seed initially planted, because this anime had me intrigued from the very beginnning. All in all, thank you for your insight!

[rhejac]

neon genesis evangelion PART 1 (1995)

I'm so glad I got to watch this series for the first time. This type of animation is my favorite, it's highly artistic and the hand drawn look is so aesthetically pleasing. I enjoy the composition and design of the mecha throughout the anime, as well as the character design. The machinery has so much detail and care put in that it really envelopes the viewer into the world.

Shinji is a really interesting protagonist because his gender performance does not seem masculine. He is very polite, and even submissive at times. He seems to be concerned and empathetic with others feelings, which is stereotypically a feminine trait. I think it's unique for a male character to not adhere strictly to stereotypically masculine behavior, especially in a show as famous as this in the time that it was made.

I also noticed the similarities and differences evangelion has with gundam, like the car scene in the first episode reminded me of the first episode of gundam. Shinji's relationship with his father, his being forced to pilot an experimental mech suit, and many more details seem to pop out and coincide with how gundam operated at first. The similarities end with the way both protagonists seem to handle their responsibility. Shinji attempts to run away from the responsibility because of the mental anguish he goes through.

I also wanted to point out the startling amount of biblical references sprinkled in just from the assigned episodes. Attacks would carry the shape of crosses, the enemies are called angels, and there are many references to god. Not to mention the title of the anime. While I don't really understand why these references are in the anime, it was just an observation I wanted to bring up.

[robian]

Wandering Son

Honestly, at first I thought this anime was a comment on discrimination against transgender people. However, by the end of the show, I think the anime was more of a comment on cross-dressing. Either way, the discrimination portrayed could easily be applied to either one because most people can't differentiate between the two. Most people, if they saw a bio male in a dress, would automatically jump to the conclusion that the person was transgender.

I thought it was interesting how the anime portrayed the contrast between male and female cross-dressers. Women can pretty much easily get away with dressing as a man, but if a dude were to wear a skirt (unless you're about to whip out the bagpipes), people would judge him. My personal thoughts on the cause of this is that women tend to be more fashionable in general, so a woman dressing as a man could just be seen as fashion.

The anime makes a pretty clear statement that society frowns upon men to women cross-dressing. What I think is interesting is how we've applied gender labels to so many things. Even the color pink is seen as girly. Personally, as a dude, I love the color pink. Society, from a young age, conditions us to like certain things. Boys are given toys different from girls, they're dressed in different clothing, etc. There's nothing biologically that implies a guy can't like wearing a skirt. It's all psychological conditioning.

I wonder if transgender people feel that they were born into the wrong body because their interests happened to align with the opposite gender's. gender and sex are fundamentally different after all. One is based on psychological aspects while the other is based on biological aspects. In my opinion, theres actually nothing psychologically wrong with transgender people at all, rather, it's society assigning labels that's the problem.

Society is wrong for discriminating these people just because they don't fall under it's standards. Just let people like what they like. If it isn't hurting anyone, then what business do you have with them. To all my homies out there, if you wanna go dress up as a woman, go do it. To all the ladies out there, if you wanna dress up as dude, go do it. Who cares what society thinks, cause it's all BS anyways.

p.s. if you disagree or feel strongly about any of the things I said just know I don't read any of yalls reposts, but feel free to criticize🙏

[rhejac]

Hi! From reading the synopsis of the manga, I think the anime takes away a lot of the things transgender people face. The anime makes it seem like its more of a struggle with cross dressing, which I think is interesting. Therefore, the anime definitely speaks on the double standard of gender performance. The manga seems to touch on gender dysphoria, which is the distress a person feels when their sex does not align with their gender. Being transgender is definitely not a choice, and it is often a struggle having your mind say one thing while your body is different. I agree with a lot of the things you say, after all, transgender people deserve respect and rights just like anyone else.

[rhejac]

wandering son (2011)

The style of this anime was so pretty, it reminded me of watercolor paintings. The way the screen would fade into white at the edges really draws the viewers to how the work is composited. I think the soft art style was a nod to the manga's style, and I think the painterly soft vibe made the entire anime distinct.

This anime really brings to light the struggles of being transgender in society. Gender has always been very rigid, and switching to a different one has been stigmatized. I thought it was refreshing to see how the anime points out how different a trans woman's experience is to a trans man's. Society has always seen masculinity as cool, and the neutral gender identity. Most objects are seen as neutral until you add the color pink to it, like razors and clothes. We assign gender to a lot of things, and it changes our attitude towards them. Feminine things always have a negative connotation. It's written in the English language, and in our culture. Society exclusively views any man wearing clothing made for women as weird and funny, while we allow women who dress masculine and see it as normal.

I do think society has gotten more accepting since the manga of this anime came out. It's becoming cooler to be androgynous, and clothing seems to be released (mostly) from gender constructs. Still, institutions like school are pretty rigid when it comes to gendered clothing, which inhibits children from identifying the way they wish.

We also see Nitori face fetishization as a trans woman, as Doi encourages her to continue to dress as a girl while he internally thinks the idea of it is hot. It is obvious he doesn't value Nitori as a person as he calls her a moron for dressing up like a girl at school. It shows how trans woman struggle with acceptance even in the face of people who seem like they accept it. I thought this anime was really ahead of it's time, even more so the manga as it came out two decades ago.

[rosiebee-18]

Aggretsuko

With its interesting and sympathetic story, Aggretsuko carefully tackles topics that are relevant to both Japan and the world. The anime draws attention to the widespread issue of workplace stress and overwork in Japan. The "karoshi" phenomenon, in which workers work themselves to death, is reflected in Retsuko's difficult work schedule and her struggles with a demanding supervisor. Her situation shows the need for a better work-life balance because many Japanese professionals face comparable demands.

By exposing Retsuko's experiences with gender discrimination and being devalued in her professional environment, the show also addresses gender roles and workplace inequalities. For example, Ton, her supervisor, frequently minimizes her suggestions and disregards her work, a situation that is representative of the actual difficulties faced by Japanese women. This representation clarifies more general social concerns about workplace gender equality.

Retsuko's battle to balance her demanding career with her personal life is representative of the struggles faced by many people from various cultures who try to strike a balance between their personal and professional goals. The way the show depicts office politics and challenging coworkers has universal resonance because the power struggles and dynamics are typical of many different types of workplaces worldwide. The way in which difficult coworkers, power battles, and hierarchical conflicts are portrayed in the anime is representative of what is encountered in offices across the globe. These elements of the program provide an opportunity to consider the frequently complex dynamics of work settings and how they affect people's happiness and sense of fulfillment in their jobs.

Retsuko's search for personal fulfillment outside of her career reflects a common need for purpose and fulfillment in life. Despite facing obstacles at work, her quest for fulfillment and meaning in life is a reflection of the universal human experience that cuts across cultures. Aggretsuko successfully crosses cultural gaps by providing insights into global challenges as well as Japanese societal difficulties through humor and likable characters.

[rhejac]

Hello! I really love how you touch on the cultural aspects of the anime. I feel like Asian women usually have this expectation to act submissive, especially towards men. It's pretty much conditioned into young women, and definitely makes more complicated work dynamics. The way the show writes the office dynamics makes me wonder if the creator had to work in the office setting themselves, since it all just seems so real and rich with detail. I am really curious about how the concept came to be, but I think a lot of us feel like we need to escape from the boringness of the capitalist workplace. Free time itself is so valuable, especially because jobs suck up all the time you usually have. Thanks for your insight!