Anime

[MauEvig]

Just wondering if anyone watches any anime or Japanese animation?

We're currently watching Rurouni Kenshin; the tale of a wandering samurai who has sworn against killing ever again. He was once known as the batousai; a powerful manslayer with God-like speed whose swordsmanship could not be matched. His character was a warrior who fought in the revolution that brought about the meiji era. Of course his story is fictional but I think the time period might have some facts to it. His story is interesting because of his vow never to kill again, he now takes up the reverse blade sword which is incapable of taking human life, and repents for his sins by helping others. It's a really interesting story.

Another one we finished up takes place in a fictional part of feudal Japan, called Inuyasha which delves somewhat into some Japanese folklore. Inuyasha is a half-demon, sired by a dog demon and a human mother he falls in love with a Priestess named Kikyo. She ends up getting killed by a powerful enemy, and is reborn in the character Kagome in Modern Japan. The power of the shikon Jewel and being transported through a well brings her to the Feudal era. There they fight demons and try to defeat Naraku, the one who killed Kikyo and staged them against each other. Japanese demons aren't like demons in Christian belief. They're actually more like monsters; and of course it follows many of the cultural beliefs of the Japanese.

Some of the really popular titles include Dragon Ball Z, which is one I like to watch. I never did get into Sailor Moon but I did like the cat characters in it. ^^; I also enjoyed Gundam Wing, which involved using giant robots. ^_^

A lot of anime movies are pretty popular as well. There's plenty of horror type animes as well. I'm pretty sure Blood: The Last Vampire takes place during Halloween, but I don't think it was quite as interesting as I thought it would be.

[Murfreesboro]

I'm not into anime, but my kids are familiar with it, and my daughter (who, like you, is highly artistic) really likes it. There is some parody of Dragonball Z on YouTube that she loves. I cannot recall right now what that is called, but she says it is very funny if you know the original series.

In her IB curriculum she was required to read a novel called Monkey, on which Dragonball Z was based. I tried to read it and found it totally unreadable. Most of the kids felt that way about it. She says it is remarkable to her that the cartoon series was better than the book, which is apparently iconic in Japan.

I just don't "get" Asian sensibility. She loved Sailor Moon and I found it unwatchable. We also have a movie on DVD called Spirited Away, which I think won an Oscar. My daughter enjoys it, but it just gets too weird for me. Everything Asian, along the line of fantasy, I mean, gets weird. I never liked Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, either, back when everybody else was having a fit about it. A bunch of people floating around in trees. The movie lasts forever and in the end, everybody dies.

[MauEvig]

Sometimes I think Japanese lore is a little difficult to grasp; I often have a difficult time grasping it myself.

However; I do think some animes are easier to grasp than others. Kenshin is pretty easy to follow. I think it really takes an interest and an understanding of their culture to really get it.

I enjoy a lot of it; but I can see where it can be a little odd for some people. The only anime I could get my mom into was Tenchi oddly enough; and that was a pretty strange anime.

[Murfreesboro]

I have heard my daughter mention something that sounds like "meroni kenshin," something like that. I think she likes that, too.

My daughter is seriously into origami as well. Like, she made an origami version of Dante's Inferno as a project during her senior year of IB. She has also done presentations for geometry classes about origami, and she follows a couple of origami masters on YouTube. She does seem drawn to Japanese art.

[jadewik]

I went through an Inuyasha phase in my early 20's.... that was a while ago. I watched what was available at the time and it passed.

I've seen Armatige III, Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle, Spirited Away, Vampire Hunter D, Goldenboy, Lodoss War, Trigun... let's see... there was some angel one I saw where the angels had 3 wings and there was incest.... and I saw a lot of Revolutionary Girl Utena... when I was really young, I was addicted to Ronin Warriors. My husband was into Bleach for a while, but I got tired of it. He also introduced me to Escaflowne, which is really good. A couple years ago, we watched Attack on Titan.... let's see... and I liked the original Hellsing anime. Alucard in episode 1 just hooked me. I think they revamped it (pun intented).

I'm not super into anime-- I like movies-- so if someone recommends a show, I'll typically check it out. I like things that end... so a lot of anime I just get tired of watching because it goes on and on and on.

[Kolchak]

Hmm? It's all Japanese to me.

[Murfreesboro]

I think it's their fantasy I don't get. Their sensibility is different from mine. I have the movie Memoirs of a Geisha on DVD, and I like that quite well. But then, it is more realistic.

[MauEvig]

"I think I'm turning Japanese I think I'm turning Japanese I really think so!"

Yeah; I suppose it's the fantasy elements of it that I find interesting though Murf. Then again the demons in Japanese mythology seem to be a lot like creatures of Greek Mythology. When you think about it you could probably put the two next to each other. Both Western and Eastern Cultures also have dragons in them, but the Eastern idea of the dragon is a lot different than the Western.

I remember Howl's Moving Castle was a adaptation of Diana Wynne Jone's book by the same title. I faintly remember Princess Mononoke and Spirited away. I did like Vampire Hunter D. I used to watch Yu Gi Oh and Gundam Wing as well.

I didn't like Angel Sanctuary; which I think is the one you were talking about with the incest. That one bothered me.

I agree with you Jade I think there are certain animes that I like; but I wouldn't say I am obsessed with it like some people are. There are some that I think are cool and fun to check out but that's not all I watch. Like yourself if someone recommends something that looks interesting I usually check it out.

[Murfreesboro]

I've forgotten if it's Dragon Ball Z Abridged or Yu Gi Oh Abridged that my kids find so funny on YouTube. But one of those series has been parodied very cleverly there. Of course, the more familiar you are with the original, the funnier the parody is.

[MauEvig]

You're right about that Murf. It's hard to get a joke when there's a parody of a series if you haven't seen the series or movie in question.
That's why my step dad insisted I watch a lot of old movies, especially so I can "get" the parodies.

I think Kiki's delivery service would be a cute anime movie for kids at Halloween since it's about a young witch girl and her talking black cat. The story I think is basically about learning how to come of age and find her own way. She ends up starting her own delivery service with her broom.

[jadewik]

Yes, Angel Sanctuary was the name of the show. I was also disappointed with it.

I think we bought a copy of Kiki's delivery service... haven't had the chance to watch it yet. My free time seems to come in 30 minute intervals...

My computer desktop is set to an anime image from Escaflone... Van, wings outstretched, flying with Hitome in his arms. It had weird moments, but I always enjoy the romance stories set in feudal Japan.

[MauEvig]

I might have seen the movie Escaflowne, but since I didn't watch the series I had no idea what was going on.

Honestly Angel Sanctuary was terrible. I rather watch Twilight. Yep. I just went there.

You might like Kiki's delivery service. Sure it has some of those odd anime quirks but it's not one of those really far out there animes.

Neon Genesis Evangellion sounded interesting; but I can see how it might offend some people. My cousin told me about that one.

Blood: The Last Vampire I didn't really get. I liked that it took place during Halloween but she was described as being the "last" of her kind; and the other "vampires" were more like monsters. I think they made a live action adaptation of it.

I think a lot of animes are very thought provoking. I kind of prefer the ones who don't wrack your mind too much and enjoy the action; with some character development and good morals and philosophies with it. Rurouni Kenshin has a really nice balance of those and you get to look at Meiji Era Japan which I think is an interesting perspective. I have this odd fan theory that Train Heartnet from the anime Black Cat is Kenshin's descendant. I know the animes are completely unrelated stories; but to me it makes sense since Train is a former assassin who gives up killing and becomes a Bounty Hunter. Kenshin is a former manslayer of the Revolution who gives up killing and becomes a wanderer. Plus both guys seem to move at God-like speed in terms of combat abilities. Sure their personalities are different, Train has a lot of qualities that give him that "black cat" motive like wearing a bell collar and drinking milk; but the similarities are interesting coincidences. It could just be that this is a popular theme in anime. But as a fan; I like to make up little speculations like that for fun. It makes for good fanfiction too.

Of course I need to watch more Black Cat. i've only really read the manga in terms of storyline.

[Kolchak]

I have absolutely no idea what any of you are saying!

[Murfreesboro]

It's a world unto itself! I don't get it either, but my daughter would.

[Kolchak]

Between this and Nevermore talking about his high tech stuff, I feel like a dinosaur. Think I'll just crawl under a rock and pray for Armageddon.