Steven Scimone Animated world

Animated World fan

[abhiramanimeblog]

Hetalia and Stereotypes

This was my first time watching Hetalia and I have to say I did not like it. I found the stereotypes to be amusing, but the overall experience was just not fulfilling. It may be that I have just watched Your Name, but the story of Hetalia did not hit. I was also surprised to find out how popular this was since I have never watched it or heard of it, but it has over 9 seasons. I think it is offensive, but like the reading suggests it inspires conversation which is also important. For this discussion, I want to talk about the stereotypes in Hetalia.

I want to preface this by saying that stereotypes are not inherently bad. They can be very comedic when used to that effect. They are generalizations about a population which is definitely bad if it is taken as fact. However, most will not take a stereotype as fact so it is not a bad thing. I did not get offended by anything Hetalia showed. A big part of my not being offended may be that my country was not represented heavily. I can see how people from Italy and England could be offended by the depictions Hetalia showed.

Italy is depicted as a very clumsy and helpless country. This is true in some regard since they were not big winners in any major wars. Where I can see Helalia stepping too far is when they make Italy a country or a depiction obsessed with pasta which may be offensive to the Italians, any generalization about a country's interests will be offensive to some people. One of the only things I found truly funny from the show came from the chibi form of the show where the Holy Roman and Italian relationship was shown which was hilarious.

I also think that the depiction of Germany especially in this time as being something noble and likable is a bit weird. To most people, this time period in Germany is definitely villainous. They did some undeniably heinous acts and to paint them as some kind of good character is very odd. Obviously, the show does not go out of its way to have any villains. It is just trying to showcase a funny telling of events. It is still a bit weird.

In my life, I have seen a lot of stereotypes about Indians told to me. I do not let these stereotypes make me feel bad. I know who I am, and while I do fit some of them I am still my own person. I am not a generalization of my people.

Overall, Hetalia is a short show that can comically tell you about the history of the Axis powers. If you have some time you should check it out.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi Abhiram. Your analysis was very precise and I liked how many of the points you made. I actually was a pretty big fan of the anime probably because it was more light-hearted than all the ones we have been watching, but I totally understand why someone would not like it. I also was very shocked on how popular this anime was, because although I did enjoy it, I have not heard much about it and would never of expected it to be as famous as it was. I understand how you could find the show offensive because much of the humor and comedic aspect of it was offensive to many different cultures. Overall, I think your analysis was very strong and you definitely got your point across successfully.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hetalia

This anime was a bit odd and I honestly could not tell if I enjoyed it or not. There were some humorous parts that I found entertaining and funny, and others I felt just were not funny jokes if I am being honest. Also, a few comments that were made were a little over the line I would say, and although I know it is not politically correct to say this, I tend to like shows and movies that do cross the line, but only to an extent. The anime, Hetalia, personifies individuals as specific countries in which the individuals are supposed to act as if people from the country act. An example being how the man supposed to represent Italy is obsessed with pasta. The main three characters portray Italy, Germany, and Japan, but there are many other countries mentioned and represented throughout, giving the film some diversity and expanding the humor. The anime focuses on the usual stereotypes assigned to each country. Mainly, the main focus of the anime is World War I or II, which sometimes can get a little bit controversial and offensive. The anime represents how many countries are viewed by other nations, and the reasoning behind those opinions. I am not a huge traveler even though I love vacations very much, so I am not as updated on the stereotypes regarding many countries. However, I do have relative knowledge about some of the countries used in the anime so I did enjoy it. After all the anime we have watched this semester, it felt good to watch a less intense one in which I can relax and just enjoy it. Overall, Hetalia was a comedic anime that had some good humor in it, but if shown to the wrong crowd it could cause some controversy. 

[davidfahim]

Your Name

I had heard many amazing things about this movie in the past but just like every other anime in this class, I had never seen it before. The first thing that really stood out to me when I was watching this movie was the amazing animation. I thought the movie as a whole was a fantastic watch. The plot and characters were so captivating and interesting, I could not take my eyes off the screen for a second. The premise of the film is that two teenagers, Taki and Mitsuha switch bodies out of nowhere and begin to live in each other's place. Taki has always lived in the city and has wanted to know what the countryside is like. Mitsuha lived in the countryside and wanted to know what city life was like. Both people were able to experience what they had always wanted and figured out a system in which they could communicate through writing in a diary. Everything was going great until a meteor hit Itomori and killed Mitsuha. This led to Taki going back in time to save Mitsuha and other people in Itomori.

I wanted to connect this movie to what Foucault said about formed identities being heavily influenced by social and historical aspects. We see this in the movie because, after the swap, both Taki and Mitsuha start to enjoy their radically new and different lives. I thought this was very interesting because I have always been a person who is not a big fan of change. I know that if one day I just woke up with a whole different life, I would not be a happy camper. Overall, I thought that Your Name was a great watch as it covered issues of identity and tragedy. I would definitely recommend this for someone who is just getting into anime. I would give it a 9/10 in the end.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi Davidfahim. I really like your analysis and we have many points that we agree on. First, although I forgot to mention it in my analysis, I have to agree with you on how excellent the animation was in the anime. I also really liked the anime because of how intrigued I was the whole time, due to the interesting plot as well as characters. I also think it is very funny how you wrote about how you would not enjoy waking up in someone else's body, because when writing my analysis that is something that came to my mind. Of course it is just an animated film, but just the actual idea of what happened to the characters is crazy. Overall though, I think your analysis was great.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Your Name

“Your Name” was a very unique anime, one unlike really any other media that we have covered in this class. Although it definitely was a bit on the “weird” side, it was very entertaining largely due to the humor it used and embarrassing moments that both characters had. In the anime, Taki Tachibana, a male from Tokyo and Mitsuha Miyamizu a female from a small rural town switch bodies, leaving both of them with extreme struggle adapting to their new body and characteristics. I also like the time traveling aspect of the anime, because for some reason I just tend to enjoy shows that incorporate it. The overall plot is a bit immature, with Taki trying to warn Mitsuha of a comet coming to destroy her town, but it was entertaining nonetheless. He has to get in touch with her three years in the past in order to give her that warning and help save her town, which was a cool idea because it gave the story more of a direct plot than just a comedy based on each one’s inability to live in the other gender’s body. Many parts of the anime are actually very funny, but there are themes the anime is trying to convey. A main theme of this anime was the portrayal of how more people moving into urban areas negatively impacts Japan. Taki, being from Tokyo which is a very busy and lively city, contrasts with Mitshua who is from a small, quiet town. The two are very different from each other obviously, but it represents how due to urban migration, many Japanese cities are losing culture and people. I do not really relate to this anime at all, because although I most likely would be uncomfortable and not able to live in a random female’s body either, I do not think (or hope) that I will ever get the chance to truly figure it out.

[pari-patel]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Blog Post

I appreciate how this deviated from what we have been writing about in our past blogs, but I’m still not a fan of it. It does offer an immersive experience that tackles important environmental issues, but it just didn’t engage me or catch my attention much. This game presents a narrative that resonates with both Japanese cultural concerns and global environmental ones. Set in a world where Earth has been destroyed, it reflects the vulnerability of natural disasters and the chaos that technological advancements bring. It aims for a balance between that and environmental preservation. The narrative connects to climate change and degradation which incites players to consider their own actions on the planet they live, making this both a global and native concern. Furthermore, it elicits that degradation drives human ingenuity for environmental restoration.

Personally, the themes of this game related to my own experiences of being raised in a world where technological progression has outstripped and overshadowed environmental considerations constantly. It further sheds light and is a reminder to prioritize ecological importance and restoration, furthering reducing out environmental footprint and helping better preserve and restore our planet. Through witnessing the impacts of climate change first hand, I advocate for more sustainable practices and, as mentioned in my previous blog post, that is mainly done through participating in annual walk-a-thons and even spreading awareness locally in campus. This further connects to the readings by navigating human relationships with natural ones and the need to recognize both aspects as an integral part of a system. They are not separate entities, but, instead, need each other to facilitate restorative acts and encourage individuals to preserve the planet for future generations to come. It highlights how human and ecological restoration must go hand in hand and that one thing cannot happen without the other supporting it. This is a little different than the Nausicaa Blog Post since that one relied on the planet to restore itself overtime, but this one relies more so on humans and the plant collectively.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi Pari-patel. I really liked your analysis and I thought it was very strong. I was a fan of the video game, however I understand from your responses why you were not. I like you how specifically pointed out its relation to Japanese cultural issues as well as environmental issues, because those are both very important messages to take away from the game. I agree with your take on how advancements in technology have overtaken the importance of protecting the environment, and this game represents how the environment needs to be a priority. Overall, you had some very strong points in your blog that I found very interesting.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is nothing like anything we have seen so far in this class. I do not know much about video games, so I was shocked to see that we were writing a blog post about a video game, however I was immediately intrigued. I have never played the game, however the cut scenes do tell a pretty distinct story, although there might be some components I missed or did not understand. The overall theme of the video game is basically a representation of how damaging the environment leads to significant damages and it is important that we, as a society, do our best to keep the Earth clean. The video game starts in a world called Alrest, in which humanity lives on the backs of Titans who are progressively dying, and they float in the Sea of Clouds. The video game represents how with pollution and not taking care of the environment, creatures will struggle to survive and the many aspects of the environment will struggle. The video game follows Rex whose goal is to discover “Elysium”, a new place that can restore peace and health throughout humanity. Rex finds Pyra, a blade that will help him with his quest to find the new land. The game is very interesting, with the blades having specific abilities and the battles that Rex and Pyra face. Although the game is fun and very explorative, giving the user the ability to customize actions and other components, it does raise awareness for the environment and it provides a fun way for video game players to do something they love but also gain knowledge inadvertently. I can relate to this video game because in today’s world, I see lots of pro-environment campaigns and I hear about how essential it is to clean the environment so the world can continue to be a healthy place for many generations.

[jpt-1311-deactivated20240823]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Another Ghibli film I'm glad to finally cross off my list. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is, unsurprisingly for a Ghibli movie, a beautifully animated story with strong themes about humanity's relationship with the environment and a clear message against environmental destruction.

The movie takes place 1000 years after the end of industrial civilization, after the Giant Warriors set the Earth ablaze and the Sea of Decay grew to consume much of civilization. The Sea of Decay is seen by the current humans as an evil that they must constantly fight back to survive and ultimately must destroy. From the beginning of the movie, though, we see that our main character, the titular Nausicaä, is not afraid of the toxic plants and fungus or massive insects that fill the forest. Instead, she is captivated by them, and understands them much better than anyone else. By collecting spores from the forest and growing them underground with clean water and air, Nausicaä discovers that the plants themselves are not toxic, rather it is the earth that they grow on that makes them so. With this discovery, the true nature of the Sea of Decay begins to be explained. The second part comes when Nausicaä falls into the massive cavern beneath the Sea of Decay, where large trees purify the toxic water and air. Now, the truth is revealed. The Sea of Decay is not some disastrous poison that will spread to destroy the land, rather it is nature's response to the waste that the old humans left behind, trying to clean it all up. The message here is twofold: first, it is humanity's mass pollution of the environment that led to these problems - a clear condemnation of humanity's disregard for nature. Second, we may destroy the environment through our actions, but in the end, that will only end up destroying us, and while nature will come back, we may not - a clear warning that environmental problems such as climate change must be taken seriously.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi jpt-1311. I really enjoyed reading your analysis of the anime. I agree that this movie does a tremendous job of portraying the dangers of polluting the environment and what could happen if humans do not try and protect it. I never knew how much I could like a form of entertainment that raises awareness for the environment, however this anime was very well produced and structured to make it entertaining. I like how you called the forest a "response" to human waste left behind, because that really is exactly what the forest's purpose is. Overall, I think your analysis was very strong and included some very important points.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

This film was very interesting but I actually did enjoy watching it. The overall plot was very unique and a bit odd, but the storyline was developed very well and it was pretty easy to comprehend what was going on the entire time. In the anime, Nausicaa tries to protect the Valley of the Wind and the Sea of Decay from Tolmekia and people who want to destroy the Sea of Decay. During her time trying to save the Sea of Decay, Nausicaa finds out something extremely important. The Earth is the reason the forest is poisonous, and when spores and other parts of the forest are taken out and grown in a safe environment, they are not toxic. It was thought that the poisonous forest was just filled with harmful spores and also home to the Ohmu, which are abnormally large insects. But the forest is actually cleaning out the environment and the Ohmu have a huge role in that, yet some people do not see it that way and still want to terminate it. The point of this anime is to represent how in the environment and nature, everything has its own role and it is important to leave animals and natural environments alone, instead of trying to alter them. Also, it shows how pollution and human damage to the environment is detrimental to nature and if it continues, the world will become a dangerous place. It is essential to preserve animals and plants that wildlife need in order to succeed and be healthy. I personally can not relate to this anime due to my lack of involvement in environmental issues and my lack of understanding. I was never really into nature or anything in that aspect, so I have a lack of knowledge regarding the whole situation. Overall, this anime was interesting but it was also entertaining, and I am happy I got the chance to watch it.

[abhiramanimeblog]

End of Evangelion and Masculinity

This was my first viewing of End of Evangelion and concludes my Evangelion viewing. This movie was a lot. It was very confusing with a lot of imagery, symbolism, and many ideas that were set up in episodes that I did not watch. I think I would need to watch the series over again and watch the movie a couple more times to understand it actually. However, I can point out the masculinity shown in the movie.

We see at the start of the movie with a very disgusting scene Shinji masturbates to Asuka's lifeless body. This act comes off as disgusting, yes, but it also is very out of character for Shinji. He has stated early on in the series that he does not objectify women and does not find true arousal from those parts of a woman. However, here we see him show that he does find arousal from this since he was able to masturbate to it. This act is unimaginable if you think of Shinji as someone of queer masculinity, but if you see this as him accepting or trying to embrace some aspects of hegemonic masculinity it all makes sense. Additionally, we see that he is unable to embrace this masculinity. He finds himself disgusted by what he did and goes back to being an inactive shell. This may indicate that those who try and force a change in their masculinity will only find disappointment in what they have done.

By reverting back to an inactive shell he also reverts back to his queer masculinity and once again becomes a burden. He does not even attempt to save himself and gets Misako killed in the process. This implies that the way he is causes problems and only reinforces his view of himself as someone who is worthless in this society pushing him to be more and more desperate.

This desperation culminates in his dream world (whatever it is) where he is in a room with Asuka. He pleads for her help, but she refuses calling out his faults and pushing him on the floor into a hot pot of coffee. This is an extreme version of Asuka made in Shinji's head that shows Hegemonic masculinity, she is violent and ready to take charge of the situation. In desperation Shinji then snaps and starts to take on aspects of Hegemonic masculinity again by throwing the table and then choking Asuka, symbolically killing off the hegemonic masculinity that has tormented him while also embracing it in another extreme way. This shows once again that the embracing of masculinity not your own has disastrous consequences.

In my life, I can relate to Shinji's lost nature. There have been times when everyone felt like the aspects they demonstrated do not align with everyone else making them want to adopt those traits like he does. Not everyone has done the deplorable acts he has while trying to emulate others but the idea is similar.

Overall, End of Evangelion is a confusing mess, to say the least. I would recommend you to watch this if you are an expert in ep 1-24 of the base series and have 12 phds. The movie shows more of Shinji's character and his character struggles as well as his masculine journey of desperation.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi Abhiramanimeblog. I think your analysis was very strong and really hit the nail on the head when talking about the anime. I was also extremely confused from watching it. Everything was just moving so fast that I had no time to really figure out what was going on. I think the scene with him masturbating was very uncomfortable. I do see how it develops a character change and represents a possible change in his masculinity, however I feel it was more weird than anything else, especially at the very beginning of a film. I also found it very funny when you said you should have 12 phds to watch it lol.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

The End of Evangelion

This film was one like no other that I have ever watched. Although it was action packed, I was genuinely lost for the majority of time. I probably spent more time reading about the film online than I actually did just sitting there and enjoying it because of how much was going on. I want to say I enjoyed watching it but if I am being completely honest, I did not. The movie is supposed to be an alternate ending to the TV series we previously watched, which is actually pretty cool. In the movie, SEELE is trying to erase individual thought from society by finishing the Human Instrumentality Project and Shinji and the other pilots are trying to prevent this from occurring, and are willing to go to battle and do whatever they need to be successful. Shinji is given the option to keep individual thought and keep society normal or change humanity forever, in which he chooses to keep the individual thought. The film represents the issues people face with identity, using Rei’s character change as a symbol of it. Rei is revealed to be a clone, which provides insight to why she acted the way she did and also just supports how many characters struggled to show their true character and find their real identity throughout the show and film. I have little to no relation to this film at all. The only thing I can really say is I also enjoy individual thoughts and would choose to keep it that way if someone was trying to take that freedom away from society. Overall, this film was a lot to process. I would not recommend it or watch it again, however it definitely was not the worst anime we have watched in this class, nor was it even close to the best.

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - Neon Genesis Evangelion Part Two ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

I don't know why I thought part two would be a new season, but it was just finishing off the original Neon Genesis Evangelion. I appreciate that choice so it's easier for us to follow the show! And I'm really excited that Asuka Langley Soryu was introduced in the first episode! She's like the og "tsundere" girlie and I love her for that. Asuka is such a petty girl boss and is also an interesting parallel to Shinji's and Rei's more quiet demeanors.

When Asuka is introduced to Shinji and his classmates, they are immediately surprised by her brash attitude. It might be due to her German descent that the Japanese characters are taken aback by her prideful personality. However, I believe it has nothing to do with where she comes from, and Asuka only comes off as confident to mask her insecurities. When she finally meets Shinji, the Third Child, she is jealous that he can effortlessly sync to his Evangelion, instead of going through the long training that she and Rei went through. In an attempt at friendliness, Asuka tries to bond with Rei about this dilemma in the locker room, saying sarcastically "He did it so effortlessly it's a little frustrating, you know? He's amazing! Magnificent! Tough! Too tough! Ooh, Shinji the Mighty! Our jobs will be so much easier thanks to him! Right? We'll have to work super-duper hard to keep him from leaving us in the dust!" Yet, her conversation falls on deaf ears as Rei leaves her alone mid-sentence. And she isn't the only one who doesn't care about her. Even though she should be at least acquainted with Misato and Shinji because the three of them live together, it's clear by the body language that they consider Asuka a very annoying roommate. All of this neglect doesn't just make Asuka feel more insecure about her capabilities as a pilot, but alone in Japan without anyone to truly connect with. It makes me feel really bad for her.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

HI Mochicrackersss. I really liked your analysis and thought you had some very interesting takes on different aspects of the anime. Similar to you, I really liked the introduction of Asuka because of how she contrasts so much with the characters of Shinji and Rei. I also really like how you included direct quotes from the anime to support your claim, because originally reading that you said she acted so confident to mask her insecurities I did not agree, but when you brought up the evidence to support your claim I actually switched my opinion on it. Overall, this a strong analysis of the anime.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 2

I found these episodes to be much more interesting than the first ones we watched. Although I liked them both, I think possibly because these episodes were so spread out, I got more details about different aspects of the show, instead of just focusing on one part of the plot. Each episode focused on something different which is probably why I was constantly engaged more than I usually am. One thing I really like about this show is the contrast between Shinji and Asuka’s character. They are almost polar opposites, however they are forced to work together on something very important, which I find very entertaining. This part of the anime went more in depth on Shinji’s inner feelings, explaining his lack of self-worth and vulnerability. The anime also goes in depth on Rei, Asuka, and Misato’s feelings as well and reveals important things about their past and their character. These episodes allow the reader to have more insight on the characters which further explains why many of them act the way they do. This anime is a great representation of how you never know what people are going through. Although they might seem one way, their thoughts and personal feelings can be completely different, so it is important to be nice to people and try to understand that not everybody is as they seem. The characters in this anime go through significant character development due to what they go through internally and externally while piloting the Evangelion. Personally, I can relate to the anime. I mean this not in a mysterious way or depressing way, but there are a lot of emotions and feelings I have that many close people around me do not know about. Some of them are very good and some of them are not, I just am not a very emotional person on the outside so many would never be able to tell. Overall though, I really enjoyed these episodes.

[theanimetedworld]

Neon Genesis Evangelion Part 1

I really enjoyed Neon Genesis Evolution, at least the first few episodes, with a concept that I absolutely love. Giant robot anime, especially older ones, hold a special  place in my heart and are my favorites to watch. When I saw we were assigned this anime, I got really excited as I have always wanted to watch it but just never found the time. This anime starts with a young boy named Shinji being summoned to work for NERV, the company that his estranged father works for and is entrusted with the mission to protect society from destructive beings called angels. Masculinity and toxic masculinity are issues that are extremely prevalent throughout this anime, with Shinji not being the epitome of what some people believe to be “a real man”. Shinji is thought to be basically a wimp. He is always scared, nervous, and extremely indecisive. Growing up without his father seems to be a point in this anime, as he now seeks validation from others due to not having his father there to validate him as a child. This anime shows that masculinity is a stupid concept as the main character, who is thought of as being too feminine, still is able to pilot the Evangelion suit and help to save the world from the Angels. This issue is talked about a lot today as discussion around gender norms is very common. I personally believe that masculinity is such a stupid thing to focus on as we should just let people be themselves in every situation. Toxic masculinity is also very dumb in my opinion; nobody is cooler or better than anyone just because they act tough or unafraid. Overall, I really enjoyed Neon Genesis Evolution because of the awesome concept and technology as well as the great characters.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi TheAnimetedWorld. I really liked your analysis of the anime. I liked the anime as well, however unlike you, I am not a big fan of giant robot anime. For some reason it just does not appeal to me like it does to many others. I like how you analyzed the toxic masculinity issues that the anime focused on, because they do provide some insight and better understanding for some of Shinji's actions throughout the anime. I also think it was very smart how you included how he looks for validation from other people, because it is a huge part of his character. Overall, your analysis was very interesting and provided some very strong points.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (Part 1)

This anime has been mentioned to me as a suggestion a few times, however I never got to watch it. Now that I have seen some episodes, I can definitely say it is an anime I enjoy watching. It is a bit much for me with all the robots and science fiction, however it is entertaining. The anime is about a boy Shinji, who gets assigned the task by his father, the head of a hidden organization called NERV, to pilot a large robot named Evangelion in order to fight back against Angel, who is a threat to the city they live in, Tokyo-3. Shinji is a very shy and timid boy, who lacks confidence as well as faith within himself. The situation really overwhelmed him and revealed some true inner issues he had. The anime puts a huge point of emphasis on masculinity and the expectations of a man. Shinji is not looked at as a “real man” because of the way he acts, since it is not very intimidating and “manly”, which is what many would say a real man is, even though it is really just toxic masculinity. He comes off as a weak individual because he has no self-confidence, which really shows in some scenes in the anime. The anime focuses on vulnerability and putting people outside of their comfort zone. Oftentimes in life, people will have to do things they are unfamiliar with and work with people that they do not get along with, but it is how you deal with those situations and face those challenges that determines whether you will be successful or not. Personally, I can relate to this anime. Although I am not controlling robots or fighting evil, I have been put in uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations and had to adapt quickly. Overall, I enjoyed the anime so far and am eager to continue watching it. 

[emilato]

ℂ𝕠𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕖𝕩𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖

I have been to a total of 4 conventions throughout my life, all of them being Megacon. My first time going to Megacon was back in 2015 with my family. I was around 10 years old at the time, and the whole reason why we went was for my older sister, who was 15 years old at the time. My sister has always been into anime for as long as I can remember. She would watch Attack on Titan, Death Note, and Tokyo Goul in our living room, and so I would just end up watching with her. I don't think I knew what was going on the entire day we went because I was so young and couldn't grasp what was happening. I was literally just there because I couldn't stay home alone. The only memory I really have was my sister freaking out at this couple who was cosplaying Levi and Petra. My sister wore her Survey Corps jacket, and my 10-year-old chubby self wore a not-so-flattering Spongebob shirt for some reason.

My next convention was about a year after my first convention experience. It was 2016, and my sister, my dad, my sister's friends, and I went to Megacon again. I definitely have more memories associated with this one. My sister cosplayed Sasha Braus from Attack on Titan, and her friends also cosplayed. I of course didn't, but I luckily wasn't wearing my stupid Spongebob shirt this time, so that's a win. At this point, I was watching Attack on Titan a lot with my sister and was slowly becoming a fan of the show. So seeing cosplayers was really cool because I could finally recognize them and get the hype of the whole convention. I still don't have too many memories of the convention itself, but I do remember eating crappy pizza with my father.

After our 2016 Megacon, my sister and I took a break from conventions for a decent amount of time. During this gap, I didn't really watch too much anime on my own. However, like many, during the 2020 pandemic, I had a lot of free time and boredom, so I ended up getting back into watching anime. I got REALLY into My Hero Academia for some reason. Not even joking when I say I consumed every form of MHA media at the time. And this love for MHA lasted for around a year and a half. So in 2021, around 5 years after our last Megacon trip, my sister and I went back to Megacon. This convention experience definitely was the most memorable, as I was much older (16) and was DEEP into my anime phase. My MHA "obsession" rubbed off on my sister a little, and she ended up really liking the character Jiro, so that's who she ended up cosplaying. I guess MHA was popular at the time we went because everywhere I turned I saw an MHA cosplayer, and there was a whole mob of them too. So of course I was having a blast. During this time I also loved buying and collecting figures or any kind of anime merch, so I was tweaking out the entire time. There was a fashion show where a bunch of cosplayers walked on stage, and I remember that being so entertaining. I think at one point we saw Chester Cheetah. Though I lowkey cringe now looking back, I did have a great time with my sister and reminisce about this time in my life. 

Flash forward to the beginning of 2024, and I found myself going to Megacon again with my sister and friend. At this point, I have grown out of my heavy anime phase and barely watch it anymore. My friend reads manga and watches a couple of animes, such as Chainsaw Man and Jujutsu Kaisen, so I hear updates from them. Other than that, I just don't have the energy or desire to. My sister and friend both cosplayed and of course, I didn't once again. My sister cosplayed Shoko Leiri from JJK, and my friend cosplayed Angel Devil from Chainsaw Man. This convention was fun, but I definitely can feel myself falling out of the whole convention thing. It was so unbelievably crowded and hot. I felt claustrophobic the entire time. There were, of course, fun moments still. For example, we went to a Q&A session with the dub voice actor for Yuji Itadori and he was pretty cool. We found a chainsaw man get-together, and my friend got to take pictures with other cosplayers. My sister loved Balders Gate and got to meet Neil Newbon and take a picture with him. And as for me, I bought some Garfield stuff to add to my collection because that's basically what I am a fan of now. I just remember how destroyed all of us were at the end of that day; it felt like we fought in a war. My mom also took ten years to pick us up because of the traffic and confusing layout of the place. I do not have many pictures from this day, as I was dying throughout most of it. 

Overall, over the years, my convention experience changed as I've gotten older. Each was a unique experience and had its own highlights. My favorite part of each year was seeing elaborate cosplays regardless if I knew where the character was from. It is cool seeing so many people from different fandoms come together for this massive event. I don't know if I'll go to Megacon again in the future, but if I do, I'm sure I'll find a way to have fun. 

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi Emilato. I loved reading your convention stories as well as seeing all the cool pictures! You are very lucky to have been to Megacon so many times. I only got to go once, but I am eager to go at least one more time. I think it is very cool how each Megacon you went to, you had a different experience because of your age. These conventions are a great way for you to look back at your childhood and watch yourself grow up, because each one shows your advancement in maturity and anime interest, which I think is very cool.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Convention

My one and only anime convention that I have attended was Megacon. Honestly, from what I have noticed by taking this course, I am not as big of an anime fan as I thought. I have only watched a few anime series’ like Attack on Titan and Naruto and although I did enjoy them thoroughly, there is an entirely different world of anime that I was completely unaware of. Unfortunately, many of the anime’s in this class I have not really enjoyed, so I think after this course ends I will continue sticking to mainstream anime because those seem to be the ones that I like the best.

I was pretty young when I went to Megacon. My sister and mother do not watch anime at all, but my father has been a huge fan his whole life. I did not even know what Megacon was at the time, but he wanted me to go with him to get the experience and I actually thought it was a lot of fun. It inspired me to watch my first anime, which was Attack on Titan and I loved it. I found Megacon very interesting. I went in 2016, when I was ten years old. My dad took my whole family to Disney and then just him and I went to the convention. I saw a bunch of people in costumes and different, awesome outfits. My dad tried to explain to me what each one was and the significance behind it, but at that age honestly everything he said to me, even things I cared about, just went in one ear and out another lol. However, I specifically remember seeing so many people wearing the same costume, Hinata Hyuga. I did not understand the significance of her until I watched Naruto, but after I understood why everyone wanted to cosplay as her. My dad cosplayed as Minato Namikaze from Naruto, and I just wore a plain shirt that my dad got me with Naruto’s face on it, since I refused to cosplay. I guess I thought I was “too cool” at the the time lol. The whole experience really was surreal. I always thought my dad was so unique for loving anime, but when I got to the convention and realized thousands of people love it just as much or even more I was a bit taken back. 

The convention gave me courage to pursue hobbies and other things that many people do not. For example, growing up I loved to make rap songs and produce them in my basement. Most of my friends thought it was corny and weird, but it was a passion of mine that I was able to pursue because this convention made me realize that as long as you love something and embrace it, other people’s opinions do not matter.

This convention was a great bonding moment for my dad and I, because it allowed me to do something and spend time with him involving anime which is something he loved, but it also was my introduction into the anime world, which has allowed me and my father to get much closer over the years. 

Overall, I loved Megacon and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I loved how unbothered everyone was, just enjoying the moments with their family and friends. All the people were so complimentary of each other which was something I thought was very nice to see. Immediately walking into Megacon I felt that I was welcomed into the anime culture and fandom, which was not what I expected. Although I did not know much, I did not feel out of place at all which was awesome. It was a great experience and writing this actually is going to make me text my father about it so maybe him and I can go to another one together.

[mochicrackersss]

Blog Post - Wandering Son ᯓᡣ𐭩‧₊˚ ⊹

See, now this is proper LGBTQ+ representation compared to what was shown in Genshiken and Shin Sekai Yori (you wouldn't have even known Shin Sekai Yori discussed that topic without looking into its other episodes, but it wasn't that much better lol). Wandering Son follows Shuichi Nitori and Yoshino Takatsuki as their journies overlap while trying to figure out their dysphoria and gender identities. Shuichi yearns to be a girl and inspired by Shuchi's courage, Yoshino desires to be a boy. Simultaneously, the pair has to balance the shenanigans of middle school and their fear of social isolation due to their new identities. As Yoshino puts it, "It's just the difference between wanting to wear boy's clothes and wanting to wear girls' clothes. Even so, it's harder than you'd think." Although Shuichi and Yoshino are not specifically said to be transgender in the anime, they are either heavily implied to be or enjoy partaking in cross-dressing. And for whatever interpretation the viewer has, Wandering Son is a well-handled representation of transgender, gender-fluid, and non-binary communities. Especially in a Japanese school setting, which is somewhat unheard of in real life.

Another thing I wanted to discuss was the author of Wandering Son, Takako Shimura. Although there is no record of anything she identifies by (and it's also not any of my business) she is one of many great female mangaka who can create good LGBTQ+ media without going down a fetish-y, fujoshi route like seen in Genshiken. Not all (assumably) heterosexual cis-women are completely incapable of writing great stories with great representation, and I believe those authors, along with LGBTQ+ authors, are the ones who should be put into the limelight instead of the questionable BL content. Simple, down-to-earth stories like Wandering Son could truly be just what someone needs to begin their journey of self-discovery, and I think that's very special.

[stevescimoneanimatedworld]

Hi Mochicrackersss. I loved your analysis and the passion you wrote it with. I agree that unlike some other anime's, this accurately and positively embraces the struggles of the LGTBQ community, while also providing awareness of them. Although I did not include it, I like how you specified the Japanese school setting, because their school system and society is much different than America's when referring to the social expectations and standards regarding clothing and other aspects. Although I do not know much about the author, I like how you added more information and did new research on the subject, and it really adds a sense of depth and effort to the response.