The Devil Himself...

So... FOX released their trailer for the new Lucifer television show based on Mike Carey's comic book series. You can watch the trailer here:

The character (or this particular adaptation of him) originated from Neil Gaiman's Sandman series where he abandons his position as ruler of Hell and takes up residence in Los Angeles. FOX has made the controversial move of making this series a paranormal crime thriller, not unlike Sleepy Hollow, by teaming up Lucifer Morningstar with the LAPD. 

A lot of people are calling it a contradiction, asking why the Prince of Darkness would want to stop criminals. To be fair, Carey's Lucifer is obsessed with free will and purposefully acts in ways that contradict the tired stereotypes mankind has created for him. Refusing to lie. Saving the world. Of course, none of this is done out of compassion, kindness or emotion. His actions are taken for himself, on principle. 

The beginning of the trailer is somewhat promising. His speech is very similar to one he gives in the Sandman series - pointing out human's obsession with using the devil as a scapegoat. Explaining that we can never sell our souls, but through our own actions we can walk freely into Hell.

And then it looks like the writers quit trying.

Violently killing a woman to create motivation for a male character is honestly one of the most overly used and lazy tropes in film and television (not to mention comics, video games and books). It's called the Woman in the Refrigerator trope, referencing a Green Lantern comic in which Kyle Rayner comes home to find his girlfriend killed and stuffed into a refrigerator. Examples (often more than one) can be found in the Punisher, Supernatural, Dexter, Game of Thrones, Max Payne, Breaking Bad etc. etc. etc. 

I hate that I have to even say this, but this doesn't mean I do not enjoy these movies/shows or that you shouldn't either... or even that this plot point shouldn't ever be used... the problem is that it is CONSTANTLY used. The frequency of its use shows both that there is clearly something going on here with women's representation and also that there is a lack of originality on the writer's behalf.

The reason this particular instance irks me so much is twofold. First of all, it doesn't suit the character. This seems to be the event that sparks his involvement with the LAPD and his reaction to her death appears awfully personal and emotional. Oddly so for such a cold character.

Secondly, he's fucking Lucifer Morningstar. The devil himself! If you really can't think of a motivation other than "let's kill the girl he wants to bone" then you should really quit the whole writing thing now. Just go home. And guys, you should be offended by this. Apparently your entire gender is so boring that the only thing that spurs you to do anything story-worthy is the bloody slaughter of the people you love.

Anyway, give me your thoughts in the comments. Hopefully I'm wrong and what's not said in the trailer completely changes the direction this show is going. We'll just have to wait and see.

Anime: A Beginner's Guide

As I mentioned last week, there are going to be some ongoing changes to this blog. One thing that you will notice in 2015 is a definitive shift in focus from general discussion and literature to geek culture. Not that much of a change really since I often focused on Sci Fi/ Fantasy and anime anyway. So you can expect a lot more anime, video games, comics, science/tech, and science fiction/fantasy posts in the future. Not that it means you'll see less depth of content or rigorous discussion about relevant issues, but it will be brought about via the context of said topics.

Lately, I've been on an anime-watching binge with the start of the winter season this January. This is a fairly strong season, in my opinion, but I'll follow up with that in the future. First, I want to sort of introduce the concept of anime and help those who are interested navigate the multitude of titles to find a comfortable starting point. I know from personal experience that it can be a challenge to get into a new hobby or to explore a new medium. Especially since anime is looked down upon and dismissed by many, you might feel uncomfortable or unsure whether it's worth looking into. Anime ranges from heartwarming children's tales to incredibly adult stories filled with bizarre characters and abstract concepts. It can be beautiful, it can be crass, it can be subtle, it can be blatantly sexual. Depending on your interests, this can be very overwhelming.

For those who are nervous about starting something new, those who are curious but intimidated or embarrassed and really don't know where to start... hopefully this post can help guide you. And if you're already a fan, maybe there are even some new titles here that you haven't checked out yet. Or maybe you'd like to add your own titles in the comments. Feedback is always welcomed.

So, what is anime anyway? In Japan, the term anime refers to any animated film or television show. In the West, however, we generally consider animation created in Japan to be anime. There is often a distinct style associated with Japanese animation both in the artwork (characters with large eyes, vibrant hair colours and exaggerated emotional expression) and plot (frequently supernatural, strong character development, complicated and unexpected storylines). People debate this further - whether Studio Ghibli films are truly anime, for example - but for the purpose of this post, we will consider any animation originating from Japan to be anime. I will be talking about Western animation a little, but I will specifically point out which titles this refers to. Check out Idea Channel if you want a closer look at the Japanese vs Western anime debate.

To start, we come to that age old question... Dubs or subs? This refers to whether you choose to watch anime that has been dubbed over by English voice actors or anime with the original Japanese dialogue and English subtitles. I always recommend subtitles simply because the English dubs frequently change the dialogue to match the mouths of the characters as they speak. This is limiting and I can tell you from watching both versions, a lot is lost in translation. Now, of course, if you hate subtitles and it makes the difference between enjoying the show or not... then just go for the dubbed version. It's really personal preference that matters overall.

So where to start? Personally I recommend starting with films instead of shows. You only have to sit through a couple of hours rather than investing in a show that is 13+ episodes long. Plus, there are plenty of easy to find titles. I'd also recommend starting out with milder shows, more in keeping with stories you might be familiar with from Western film and television. Unless you're already really into weird and abstract film, starting out with an Akira or an Evangelion might be a bit jarring... 

I'd say it's not as weird as it looks, but it totally is...

 So here's what I suggest:

Studio Ghibli films - Hayao Miyazaki films in particular - come highly recommended and are distributed in the West by Disney, so they are very easy to find. I'd recommend starting with some of his simpler stories (often based on Western works) - Kiki's Delivery Service, The Secret World of Arrietty, or even Howl's Moving Castle - and working towards the more fantastical Japanese tales found in Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. All of these titles, Mononoke excepted, are family friendly and often have a socially and environmentally-conscious narrative.

Did I also mention that Miyazaki's films are stunningly beautiful?

From here I'd move onto Mamoru Hosoda's films. These are mostly stories about family and friendship, but are geared towards a slightly more mature audience than Miyazaki's. Again, they are all fairly easy to find at your local movie stores and on streaming services. Look for the titles: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Summer Wars and Wolf Children. Each has a slightly supernatural element that is presented subtly and in such a way that it enhances the emotional, human elements of his stories.

Warning: keep the kleenex handy for this one (that goes double for moms and triple for new moms)

If you're an adult who already enjoys abstract and challenging plot lines, you may also be interested in Satoshi Kon's films. Fans of films like Inception will be interested in the movie Paprika, about a woman who must navigate people's dreams to investigate the theft of potentially dangerous dream-interaction technology. If you enjoyed Black Swan, you may want to pick up Perfect Blue. Darren Aronofsky, director of Black Swan, is himself a fan of Kon and you will notice plenty of parallels between the two stories (despite owning the rights to the film, he denies it as an inspiration). Kon is a master of blurring the lines between dream and reality, and his plots are simultaneously twisted and incredibly intelligent.

I could seriously discuss Perfect Blue for hours. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have.

If you're looking to invest more time and want to try out a couple of shows, you can always try some Western animation first. The Nickolodeon shows Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra are Western shows that are often noted as having many similarities to Japanese anime. The stories, though geared towards a young audience, are still very deep and engaging for an older audience.

If you're trying to prepare yourself for some of the more bizarre elements of anime, you may be interested in checking out another Western animated show, Over the Garden Wall. I really don't want to tell you much about this one because its appeal is in its mystery. I will simply say it is a modern Alice in Wonderland story that pays homage to various eras and genres of animation. It's also only 10 episodes long so it doesn't require a massive commitment.

There is likely an upcoming post dedicated to this show. So watch it now. NOW.

From this point on, it really depends what you're interested in. Here are some Japanese titles based on various genre interests. I'm recommending each of these based on the reasonable length of the show, the lack of fan service (aka unnecessary nudity/sexual content) and a somewhat straightforward plot.

If you like science fiction, you've probably already heard of Cowboy Bebop. Reminiscent of Joss Whedon's Firefly, Bebop follows an unlikely crew of bounty hunters as they take new jobs and come to terms with their pasts.

 

Many people I know started with the incredibly popular Death Note, a great selection if you're interested in supernatural thrillers and crime drama. Light Yagami, a high school student, gains possession of a notebook which allows him to kill anyone as long as he knows their name and face. What begins as a quest to rid the world of evil, quickly turns into a battle between some of the brightest minds the world has ever encountered. 

If you're a fan of horror - particular Japanese horror stories like the Grudge and the Ring - Another is a gory, mysterious and creepy-as-hell show which I highly recommend. It centres on a cursed classroom and a couple of students who break the taboo protecting the class from a terrifying and deadly force.

Attack on Titan is another great title that has already won over many non-anime fans. It takes place in a world where humanity lives behind massive stone walls to protect themselves from the titans - massive humanoid monsters that seem to exist solely to kill humans. But when the wall is breached, humanity is thrown into turmoil and questions begin to arise about the nature of the titans and whether there might be an intelligent goal behind their mindless violence. A word of warning - this is an ongoing series and only one season has yet been released (the next isn't slated until next year). 

Likely you've seen this image (or parodies) even if you've never seen the show.

Maybe you'd rather shy away from the supernatural and are just looking for a good drama/ slice of life show. If so, Usagi Drop, or Bunny Drop, is a beautiful story about a man who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of the young, illegitimate daughter of his father. I'm also a fan of Kuroko's Basketball, an ongoing series about a high school basketball team trying to improve enough to challenge a group of prodigies known as the Generation of Miracles.

As you gain confidence and your interest builds, you'll likely start finding some titles of your own. Just don't give up if you find a title or two that aren't what you're looking for. Like any medium, anime is filled with a variety of genres and various degrees of quality. Check out www.myanimelist.net for a list of top-rated anime, reviews, and recommendations. You can find my user profile here: http://myanimelist.net/profile/AmyMaehem. I've found it to be a great resource for finding new anime to check out. Plus, I'm always happy to recommend titles and I'm sure I'll be talking about some new shows in the near future! 

As always, thanks for reading and feel free to comment here or if you have me on Facebook!

Fictional characters, fictional feelings?

Anyone who loves reading will talk about how the story and the characters stay with them long after they close a book. Many people will also tell you about the period of grieving that can take place after experiencing a good story. The time it takes before you feel mentally and emotionally prepared to read something else. The time it takes to mull over the detail, the meaning, the relevance to your own life. The time it takes to let go of the characters you've spent the last several days, weeks, or even months with. Television, film and video games can also have a similar effect. So, the question I have is: what exactly is the relationship we share with fictional characters? These are just thoughts and observations, and as usual, I'd love for people to join the conversation. So feel free to comment and share, discuss, disagree, whatever. I've also included some images that just might remind you of how emotional fiction can get... feel free to let everyone know how many you recognize/ if they broke your heart all over again.

You can honestly only ever watch this movie once. Never again.

I remember some time ago, I was having a conversation with a friend about our favourite characters from television. We got onto the topic of what characters we were attracted to. We both admitted to having become so enthralled with a character that there was literally a period of "getting over" them when the show finished. As if we had been rejected by them. Or had been in a relationship that was now over. There was a point in time where we had to consciously convince ourselves that there was no chance we would ever be with that person. Because they didn't exist.

I felt there was an obligation to include this one. Sort of that classic "feels" moment...

It seems strange at first, but it isn't so different from what happens in many fandoms. Harry Potter, Doctor Who, Star Trek, etc. All of these things have massive followings. People who dress as characters, write fan fictions, hold annual cosplay events. What exactly is the attachment we have for fictional worlds and characters? Is it really any different than what happens in " real" life?

Is your crush on Daryl Dixon as real as that crush you had on that guy at the office?

Are the tears you shed for a certain headmaster as meaningful than the ones you cried for your mentor who passed away?

Is that feeling of coming home when you hear the familiar whir of the Tardis as genuine as when you return after a semester abroad?

I don't think the answers are as obvious as many would think. And I really think it would be naive to immediately devalue our feelings because they are directed at a fictional entity.

I called Alex at work sobbing after watching only 5 or so minutes of this movie...

I'll start with celebrities. A lot of people feel emotionally attached to celebrities. Fans gather in droves to events, just to get a signature. They cry and create tributes when they pass away. Celebrities are real people, but I would argue that our perceptions of them aren't real. Our feelings are often based on characters they played in films or television. Even when we go out of our way to watch their interviews, read their biography and maybe meet them in person, we are still only seeing a minute part of who they are. Their interactions are also being filtered through the media, public relations personnel, and any persona they may have adopted to make fan interactions smoother. Though there is a real person out there named Ryan Gosling, our image of him is largely fictional. Our feelings are for the man we believe him to be, more so than the person he actually is. 

Not gonna lie, I cried.

To break this down further, I would argue that a similar concept applies to all of our relationships. How many times, when a relationship doesn't work out, do people say: "(S)he's not the person I thought (s)he was?" Or after a person passes away, you hear stories that make you question whether you really knew that person at all? When we know someone, I believe our brain creates a rough image of who we believe that person to be. We use this image to anticipate reactions, make judgements about their character, etc. It's like when we talk about the importance of first impressions. Our brain is designed to take a limited amount of information and stretch it as far as it can. (For anyone interested in psychology, this is also similar to how we fall prey to stereotypes.)

:(

 So, basically, all of our interactions are interactions with the image we have created of a person. Our fiction of that person. When you feed your brain information about a fictional character (or world, or event), I believe it interacts with that information much the same way that it does any other information. We have an image of Batman/ Bruce Wayne that tells us what he looks like, his background, his qualities. We use this information to predict his actions - this is why we can recognize when a character is written poorly. If someone writes about Batman shooting villains, we go "hey, that's not the Batman I know" because it doesn't fit with the mental image we have. It's much the same as when I ask Alex if he wants to go for sushi and he says no, "Who are you, and what have you done with my husband?"

<3

 

Now, obviously there are differences between fantasy and reality. A two-way relationship is one of those differences. Fictional characters don't respond when you ask them a question. You can't learn any more about them than what's on the page. You can use your aforementioned mental image to make inferences about their behaviour, but you cannot definitively know their response to something. Therefore, there is a limit to which you can "know" a fictional character and then have to resort to filling in the blanks yourself. There is a level of exploration that you cannot achieve without a real person. The same applies to settings and events as well. 

Here's a tough one. I cried so many times during this show.

Of course, it doesn't mean the emotions we feel about fiction aren't real. As I said, our brain is sorting the information similarly to how it would sort any other information. So our attraction to a character, our feelings of familiarity, our sense of loss... these are all occurring as if they were real. Does this not mean the feelings themselves are real?

This of course raises a lot of questions about reality. If our interpretation of the world is based on perception and a series of personal fictions... where is the line between reality and fiction? Is there one? Ah... but we'll save that for another day.

Kids' Stuff

Have you ever skipped out on enjoying something because it was "for kids"? Stayed home the night all your friends went to see that final installment of the Harry Potter franchise or pass on that new young adult novel the internet is fawning over? Teased your buddy for being a Brony or your girlfriend for shipping Korra and Mako? 

Image Source: http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Shipping
I'm more of a Masami fan myself...

What if I told you that it's okay to enjoy media marketed towards kids and young adults? 

What if I told you that you're actually missing out by omitting it on principle? 

First, I think it's important to examine why the thought of consuming children's media can be unappealing or uncomfortable.

1. Simplicity - we worry that stories for kids will lack complex plot or characters

2. Silliness - we feel that the content will be silly or cater too much to "children's humour."

3. Innocence - we think a lack of adult themes, such as violence or sexuality, will make the story boring.

4. Unrelateable characters - we're not sure what we will find in common with a cast of children and/or anthropomorphic animals.

5. Image - we don't want to be considered immature or childish for willingly consuming media intended for people well below our age range.

Now, before I begin unboxing these, I want to clarify what children's media I am taking about. Obviously, shows like Dora the Explorer and books like Spot Goes on a Picnic are significantly more simplistic than shows like Adventure Time and books like Tuck Everlasting. I'm not trying to convince anyone to enjoy ALL children's media, but to discourage people from dismissing it simply because the target audience is under 18. So I will be focusing primarily on plot-driven narrative aimed at children able to cognize and mentally examine the world and people around them.

Okay. So, simplicity. I think this is simply (ha, see what I did there) a misconception. Many narratives written for consumption by the younger generations are as complex and believable as their mature-rated counterparts. Again, I'm going to mention the Studio Ghibli films. My Neighbour Totoro and Ponyo are both aimed at children age 5+ and yet both feature a complex and gripping narrative about family, nature and the spirit world. Books like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and a Wrinkle in Time are well known for their complexity. The first an allegory for the story of Jesus and the second incorporating intense concepts of space-time theory and mathematics.

Frozen is a wonderful example of the complexity of children's narratives. It has spurred countless debates between adults about hidden subtexts and the subversion of many tropes generally employed by Disney films. Check out Idea Channel's breakdown of the film for instance.

I also think it's important to realize who the real audience of children's media is. Rarely do children consume media independently, but are often accompanied by at least one adult - a parent, babysitter, teacher, etc. If Disney wants a child to buy a movie ticket to see their newest blockbuster, they need to entice the child's entire family. Their movie must be fun and entertaining for young children, engaging for older children, and yet still enjoyable for the parents. Writers have to cleverly craft a story deep enough for adults and with enough surface value to amuse the children who can't really follow what is going on. 

This brings me to silliness and humor. The flexibility that the movie and TV industry must have to appeal to whole families extends to comedy. Anyone who has watched Nickelodeon shows or many Disney movies could tell you that there is very often humor included "just for adults". Jokes that go over children's heads.

Here's a list of some of the jokes you may have missed when you were a kid.

Even ignoring these jokes, I would argue that the humor in children's content can still appeal to all ages. Ask most parents. They'll tell you how much they still laugh when watching shows like Looney Toons, Spongebob Squarepants, or Fairly Odd Parents. Ask anyone who has watched a Pixar movie if children's films can be funny. 

Robert Munch is a great example of the sweet, clever humor of children's books. Some great YA novels have setups and gags that could make anyone laugh out loud include Diana Wynne Jones' Howl's Moving Castle series, J K Rowling's Harry Potter series and Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series.

And don't get me started on games. Mario, Ratchet and Clank, Sly, Little Big Planet. Each has its own brand of hilarity accessible to all ages.

All of the aforementioned have a well crafted sense of humor that mixes brilliant timing, intelligent setups, and, yes, silliness. And if you try to tell me silliness only appeals to children, please explain the popularity of comedians like Will Ferrell, Jim Carey and Amy Poehler. Not to mention most action films...

Image Source: http://pandawhale.com/post/16088/theres-power-in-looking-silly-and-not-caring-that-you-do-amy-poehler

Just as clean humor can appeal to a universal audience, so can PG rated content. A film, book, or game does not require adult-rated content to be entertaining to adults. If you really believe violence and sexuality are paramount to a film's worth, you are saying those are the only meaningful elements of human interaction. Which is fine if you think that, but kinda disturbing.

The reason I love children's and young adult stories so much is that they are generally a safe place. I have been feeling more and more lately that I'm coming across unnecessary violence and thematic elements in adult media. Whether this is for shock value or a justification for the media being deemed "mature" or "for adults", I'm not sure.  When I really don't feel like stomaching another bloodbath or rape scene, I know kids' movies and books are a pretty safe bet. 

That's not to say they don't contain dark or "adult" issues. Many children's narratives - the Lion King, Bridge to Terebithia, and Old Yeller for instance- include death as a central theme. They deal with responsibility and guilt for a death, coping with the death of a family member, and questions of an afterlife. Post-apocalyptic worlds and human survival are also very mature themes commonly included in media for kids. Nausicaa and Wall-E are both films that handle these topics very meaningfully while still being appropriate for children.

Image Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/coraline/
The "Other Mother" from Coraline

There are many other examples of adult or dark themes in children's media. Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series criticizes religion, questions the morality of humankind and the very nature of spirituality itself. Neil Gaiman's Coraline, aside from being genuinely frightening, deals with family flaws and the fragility of child-parent relationships. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is riddled with dark scenarios as you fulfill a dead man's wish to save his illegitimate (and technically unborn) children from a band of pirates, rescue a girl from her father who she has locked in a closet, and many other similarly tragic circumstances. A bit of a spoiler (though it occurs about 10 minutes into the film), but Up deals with a couple coping with their inability to have children and the husband later coping with the loss of his wife. The list goes on.

Image Source: http://oninfertileground.com/infertility-in-film/
Most heartbreaking movie opening... ever.

I would like to think that the complexity of the plots and the mature elements presented make it easy to understand how the characters in a children's book or show can be relatable. They undergo complicated situations, they face difficult decisions, they ask questions that adults ask themselves. Elsa, from Frozen is the embodiment of many women's difficulty to come to terms with who they are in order to claim autonomy and independence. Not to mention a very human representation of the challenges faced by those with differing abilities or skills. The song Let it Go has even been considered a metaphor for expressing one's sexuality and "coming out of the closet."

Image Source: http://movies.disney.com/frozen/products
... and now it's stuck in your head

For those that find it difficult to relate to a character because they are a child - I think this is a problem many parents face regularly. I think a lot of frustration between pre-teens/teens and their parents is that the issues they view as important or crucial are viewed as petty to adults. Parents see teenage romance as fleeting and fun while forgetting that their son or daughter likely views it as very serious. Though a high school social drama will likely have no bearing on a person's overall life, it is significant in that moment. 

As I've mentioned before, fiction is important because it helps us relate and empathize with characters that may be challenging for us. We are given a unique perspective into the lives of people different from ourselves. More empathy can only be beneficial.

Finally, we come to image. What kind of image does it create when an adult consumes children's media? 

In all honesty, I don't think this question should matter at all. Does it make you less of an adult when you admit to reading The Hunger Games? Does it make you immature if you watch Adventure Time instead of The Walking Dead? Are you childish for playing Pokemon?

Let me word this differently. Is it immature of you to enjoy the things that make you happy? Does it make you an adult by hiding or denying when you find something entertaining? 

Image Source: http://cartoonpacks.com/adventure-time-wallpapers-and-backgrounds.html

Emmy loves listening to the Wiggles. So every day, we set her up in her play area, and put on a Youtube playlist of the Wiggles while she dances around. (We turn off the screen so she doesn't get distracted by the video.) The other day I noticed something disturbing - nearly all of their videos have 50% downvotes versus upvotes. The comments also reflected this. 

"Gay losers," some said.

"This shit is so stupid. Only kids watch this," said others.

I saw not a single, legitimate complaint about the content and the hate was generally directed at the show being for children. Personally, I'm given the impression that these are individuals who are unsure of their own maturity (and potentially their gender identities as well). They prove to themselves, and anyone who will listen, that they are adults by showing their vehement disdain for anything aimed at children. As though it is stupid and vulgar. 

As most people probably agree, all it does is make them seem even more childish.

I want to close this post with one of my favourite quotes. I have used it many times, but I feel it is a valuable truth. It comes from Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the End of the Lane, which I highly recommend.

 

Why I'm proud to say I watch Anime

Like a lot of people from my generation, I grew up watching popular, often Americanized (read: poorly dubbed and censored) anime TV shows. Dragonball, Sailor Moon, Cardcaptor Sakura, Pokemon, Digimon and others. Back then, though, I didn't really have a concept of the animation and storytelling style that is anime. I loved the art styles and the rich, magical worlds these shows presented, but I was too young to appreciate the depth that often accompanied the genre.

Image Source: http://sciencefiction.com/2014/07/06/tv-review-sailor-moon-crystal-usagi/

As I got older, I began to understand that anime was a distinct style. I was drawn to the beauty of it, but I didn't know how to approach it. I was also beginning to grasp that there was a stigma associated with anime and the people who enjoyed it.  The shows were bizarre and the people eccentric. I mean, they even dressed up as their favourite characters and went to conventions. In public. Though I shouldn't have, I felt too afraid and intimidated to look much further. (Looking back now, I really don't see the difference between cosplay and painting yourself in the colours of your favourite sports team to attend a game.)

Then two things changed all of that.

The first was that a family friend purchased Spirited Away as a gift for my Disney-loving autistic brother. When we watched it as a family that night, I lost myself in the mystery, the excitement, and the dream-like quality of the world and its inhabitants. When it ended, I was surprised to find myself back on the old couch in my parents' dimly lit basement. I had been immersed in a way I had never known before. Afterwards, I got my hands on every single Hayao Miyazaki movie I could find but, like many people, I didn't really associate these Disney-distributed feature length films with the expansive world of anime.

Image Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/

The second event, which solidified my love for the genre, came at the beginning of high school. I was home with a cold and flipping through my family's film collection for something to pass the time. I came across a blank case in a stack of DVDs borrowed from one of my father's friends. The images on the disc were animated and the title said "Escaflowne: The Movie". It looked intriguing, so I put it on.

Again, I lost myself in the world, the characters, the animation, the music. The story was complex and didn't give any obvious answers or explanations. The lead was a teenage girl that felt lost in the world in a way that was painfully familiar. The villain wasn't obviously evil and the hero was sometimes villainous. There was beauty and madness and violence and mercy. The moment it ended I played it back from the beginning and lost myself all over again. I rarely rewatch movies, I watched that movie several times over the course of the next week.

Image Source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138919/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

From then on I was hooked on anime. And thankfully when I met my husband he introduced me to The Vision of Escaflowne - the show on which Escaflowne was loosely based. If you have a chance, I recommend watching the show rather than the movie.

Since high school I've watched literally hundreds of anime shows and movies. I've been to Anime North and loved it. Unfortunately I didn't cosplay, but I definitely would if I had to skill to make a half decent costume. Maybe one day I will.

Now I want to help break down that stigma that prevented me from enjoying anime for so long. I want people to not feel ashamed for watching anime and I want to encourage people who are interested in starting. Here's my reasons for why anime is a legitimate and mature storytelling medium in the same way that we believe Western television is and why it's worth checking out. (If you don't like movies or television, obviously this post will not appeal).

1.) Animation is not just for kids.

Griffith and Gats from the anime Berserk
Image Source: http://geek-news.mtv.com/2010/10/06/berserk-is-back/

 
I think there is a level of immaturity associated with watching anime. You tell people that you watch anime and they picture you sitting on the living room floor eating your Cheerios while watching Saturday morning cartoons. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with enjoying stories written for children (more on that another day). Regardless, many anime shows are directed at a more mature audience even if the characters are younger than we are accustomed to.

I don't understand why the same story told through film would be any different than when told through animation. We think CGI special effects are acceptable, why not fully animated pictures?

If you check out shows like Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul, Darker Than Black, Berserk, Monster and many others... you will quickly realize that they raise adult-level questions about morality, violence, and relationships while providing believable and deep plot lines that are worthy of any Western show like Game of Thrones or the Walking Dead.

2.) Stories and characters often break out of the tropes we are used to in the West.

Lady Eboshi from Princess Mononoke
Image Source: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/princess-mononoke/picks/results/297140/think-lady-eboshi-good-bad-person

If you watch American television and films, I'm sure you've seen the same character or situation repeated many times over. The dastardly villain. The redeemed hero. The backstabbing friend. There is also an emphasis on catharsis and "satisfying" endings. The story does not end until the villain gets what they deserve whether it be a painful death, an embarrassing character reveal or the loss of their attractive significant other to the hero (ugh).

While Japan has their own tropes and memes, they are often refreshingly different from our own. I believe there's some enlightenment to be had in the way they handle their antagonists in particular. Often, the villain is simply misguided and truly believes in the actions they are taking. Folken and Emperor Dornkirk in Escaflowne, Amon in Tokyo Ghoul, Lady Eboshi in Princess Mononoke and Angel in Angel Beats are all excellent examples.

Furthermore, there is often a lack of catharsis or satisfaction in the way that antagonists are handled within the plot. Instead of killing the villain or revealing their horrible conniving plans to the entire school, the protagonist often accepts the character as the person they are. They befriend them or leave them be. While this can be frustrating as an audience member who is accustomed to the "taste of your own medicine" ending, I find it to be much more meaningful. Especially in a world where morality is hardly as clear cut as good and evil. We frequently forget that the people in our lives have done terrible things and amazing things and everything in between. A person's view of the world and what they deem "good" can be totally dependent on the events that formed them. Not to mention our own selves. We are not defined by a single choice or personality trait.

And often, there are no clear solutions. I'm trying very hard not to give any spoilers and so all I'll say is watch pretty much any Hayao Miyazaki movie and you'll understand what I'm talking about. The antagonists in Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind, and Howl's Moving Castle are all poignant examples of this.

3.) Anime is weird.

Kaneki Ken from Tokyo Ghoul
Image Source: http://shewhospeaks2dragons.tumblr.com/post/91364283048/tokyo-ghoul-ending-art

That's right. I think anime is great for that same weirdness that once intimidated me. It breaks the boundaries that I think storytelling so often clings to in the West. It also treats bizarre occurrences and unique circumstances like they are the status quo. As a viewer, you don't spend your time focusing on how odd the story or the world or the characters are, but simply enjoying the experience. This allows for unique premises without making them seem like shallow gimmicks.

Spirited Away is a wonderful example of this. The protagonist of the story, a little girl named Chihiro, becomes entangled in the spirit world. The fact that the spirit world exists is no big deal. The fact that the cast of characters range from anthropomorphic frogs to ladies that are more nose than body isn't harped upon but accepted. It is comfortably odd and foreign while focusing on the universally human qualities of the story.

In fact, I would argue that anime often examines humanity so effectively and honestly because of its unique premises. Miyazaki examines our intimate ties with our planet and our exploitation of its resources. He does this with the use of demons and gods, post-apocalyptic landscapes and corrupted magic.  Angel Beats gives an emotional glimpse into our relationship with death and our obsession with pain by looking at an afterworld where people can fight to live forever. My new obsession, Tokyo Ghoul, tackles issues of empathy and the act of taking human life. It does so by creating a world where ghouls, human-looking creatures that can only survive by consuming human flesh, live disguised amongst humans. In order to survive, the ghouls must kill humans but to protect themselves, the humans kill ghouls. As the only known hybrid, the main character must act as mediator between the two worlds, even when they don't want to listen. The premise is bizarre and otherworldly but creates a unique scenario perfect for examining these issues.

4.) Anime makes anything exciting.

Kuroko's Basketball
Image Source: http://myanimelist.net/anime/11771/Kuroko_no_Basket

 
Like seriously. Anything. I have absolutely no interest in sports but I can't wait for season three of Kuroko's Basketball. Hundred Poets is a Japanese poetry memorization game that I know very little about, and yet I couldn't wait for an episode of Chihayafuru each week.

My husband says it has something to do with the emotional intensity that is portrayed through the exaggerated qualities of anime characters' bodies and faces. It places an emphasis on emotional involvement present in every aspect of a character's life. While Western shows often focus on material cause and effect (e.g. losing a game means losing a scholarship), anime is about emotional investment. Seirin High School's basketball team is so emotionally invested in every game that it is akin to a battle of life and death.

Some might call this melodramatic, but I think there is something valuable in the way that anime acknowledges the human struggles we face in the most mundane of our activities. The exaggerated emotions of anime characters suggests passion and dedication in all elements of daily life. When someone is openly passionate and enthusiastic about something, as banal as it may seem, it draws our attention. We become invested in their pursuit as well, which is why a show about basketball can appeal to someone uninterested in sports.

I think that we often associate someone being "emotional" with being "overemotional" or "dramatic". I think we could all benefit from being more wholehearted and impassioned with our pursuits, whether our interest lies with saving lives, painting a picture or baking a cake.

I could add even more to this list - exposure to other cultures, watching subtitled content, the art style, the music - but I think these are the most important. And the fact is that I'm writing on borrowed time here (Daddy is on baby-duty at this very moment).

I do want to make a quick comment on fan service. Some of the bad reputation anime gets is due to "fan service"; this is mostly hypersexualized content that is irrelevant to the actual story or characters but appears to please a portion of the viewership. It can ruin a good show and it can make selecting an anime to watch a discouraging task. I appeal to those of you just starting out to bear with it. Just because one anime includes gratuitous or offensive material, it doesn't mean they all do. Many anime shows - Gintama is my favourite - use fan service to poke fun at the other animes who seriously use it to try to boost their ratings.

Kill la Kill - the source of much fan service vs plot debate
Image Source: http://www.thewebsiteofdoom.com/articles/reluctant-anime-reviews-kill-la-kill/

To be fair, I would argue that our own culture isn't much different, though it tends to be more subtle. Women wear revealing clothes in unnecessary situations, gratuitous sex scenes interrupt legitimate plot development, nudity appears at inappropriate and illogical times. I don't have a problem with sexual content, as long as it is relevant and beneficial to the plot or character development.

If you're scared you're going to start watching a show just to find out it is rife with fan service - give me a shout in the comments and let me know the genre you're looking for. I've honestly seen way too much anime and would be happy to make recommendations.

I also highly recommend watching subbed anime as opposed to dubbed (much is lost in translation) but if it makes the difference between watching a show or not, then do what you feel most comfortable with.

Let me know in the comments if there's an anime that really got you hooked on the genre, or if you really can't get into anime - what is it that turns you off?

Thanks for reading!