nelll101

[nelll101]

Assassination Classroom (Episodes: s1eps.1,5,16. s2ep. 11)

I've been dying to watch this show since I was a kid but never got around to watching it, so I'm glad that I was able to get a taste of it in these 4 episodes. I'm taking a film analysis class as well on top of this class, and both of these classes have taught me how to analyze works of media better. If I were to have watched, for this case Assassination Classroom, before I took these two classes, I would have never thought about the different types of topics we learned and how it applies to the show or movie. I would've probably watched the show and enjoyed it at face value, a fun action packed show of kids trying to kill their teacher. Usually, anime is seen as a "fun/childish cartoon" that people watch for entertainment but a lot of the shows and films that encompass anime include many analyzable topics that relate to society. I think this show was a pretty good pick to end off with because it has multiple topics that were covered in class.

The show shows the ideas of a social class. The principal is very adamant about classes within classes. The school already has what is called classes (obviously), but he also instills social classes in the structure. Class E is the lowest of all and is treated extremely bad by others in the school. An example is that they can’t be on campus or be a part of school activities. At one point the principal states, "Assassination can wait, my priority is status quo", after seeing that Nagisa stood up to higher-class boys. This furthers the idea of trying to protect the social class in place and puts more importance on social classes than killing the impending danger of society (the teacher creature). The principal sees lower-class people as more “danger” to society than a creature that will kill and destroy society.

Also we can see the importance of money and capitalism in the show. In the very beginning it's established that if the teacher is killed, they get 10 billion. “It's only fair. Kill him, save the Earth. If that doesn’t deserve a life on easy street, what are we fighting for?” From this statement, it is inquired that the character who stated this thinks that these kids should fight and kill to get the life on "easy street". He is targeting the fact that these kids are so low level in society and manipulating them with money as throughout the show there is a message that money kind of just fixes every problem. Relating to this message, its shown that 3 boys in class E would kill Nagisa to kill the teacher by exploiting his low self-esteem to get the money. He goes even further to say that he’ll pitch in on his medical bills after looking at his seemingly damaged/dead body. The boys looked at money as a source of fixing everything. They put money over another human, specifically, their classmate's life. This shows how humans will go to the extreme when money is involved and shows the total control money has over our society. Also, some other money-related parts of the show were in epsiode 5, "My question’s why a super organism has to live on a teacher's salary in the first place?" This line was added for comedic effect but it is a genuine question when thinking about it logically. But the show itself is all fiction so you can't really think of it in that way. Also, I believe in the same episode it is stated, “Can’t be helped it's how things are here” in regards to no funding for AC. This also emphasizes the vitality of money and when no money is possessed, then things that should be a necessity become unattainable and is forced to not be a necessity anymore.

Overall the show itself is pretty interesting but I'll have to watch the whole show to form an opinion. This class was really engaging and eye-opening to things my mind would never even think of or correlate to certain things and I'm glad I was able to get a chance to watch some of the shows I've been wanting to for a while. A little bittersweet but happy bc I need a good break from school and anime 💀. Also, this page is probably going to be dead after I post this bc I don't use Tumblr lmao.

Bye everyone! 🥸

[nelll101]

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

I saw an article titled that Crunchyroll named this the best anime of 2022 so I would obviously have high expectations for this (plus the good ratings from google reviews) and thought it would be amazing, but as much as I want to deny this, it fell short. This show really could've been a masterpiece but the story was honestly really rushed and David and Lucy's relationship was also rushed and not developed well. Like I really want to force myself to love this show, but I just can't. It wasn't completely bad, but it's not perfect.

We see David and Cyberpsychos depict what addiction is in the real world and the effects it causes. We also see the theme of greed in the show. Kiwi's character stood out to me because she told Lucy not to trust anyone in this world because people will turn on you, and she ends up doing that exact same thing. Pretty interesting action her character did that makes you think about how society functions in the real world. Humans are self-centered creatures in the end.

Lucy shows what escapism is. She sees the world for what it truly is and her choice of not going back to be with David's gang solidifies that. She escapes this world through her fascination of the moon and David not being able to go with her further proves how she stated that they are from two different worlds, they are completely different. David also lives through others and lives through what other people want for him and Lucy's will to live is the complete opposite; to make her own choices. David dying in the end shows the extreme of not just addiction but losing one's self and instead living through others causing something like this.

The show also depicts social classes. David grew up poor yet his mother wanted a good life for him and worked as hard as she could to almost "fake" a higher class life that they couldn't afford. The higher class people such as that one boy, bullied David because of it. David shows rejection of that societal construct by fighting the boy in the school and getting expelled. He knows what the consequences are and chose to do it anyways and later is seen not regretting his actions.

Overall the show wasn't horrible and I did enjoy it. It kept my attention for all 10 episodes and is interesting enough for it to be a recommendation but the actual story and narrative fell short.

[nelll101]

Perfect Blue

Ah, the beloved Perfect Blue. Probably my favorite anime film of all time. Watching this is truly an experience one could never forget. This is my second time watching this, but nothing will hit the same as the first watch of this film. I already knew what would happen in the film so this second watch was a little bland, but the only word that could describe my first time watching this movie is, insane. Satoshi Kon (RIP 😔) is really a master of his craft at depicting raw psychology, especially noticed by viewing his other works.

Perfect Blue quite literally makes you question, as a viewer, is what you're seeing a reality or a dream? The film almost puts you in the mind of Mima as she herself questions her surroundings. The film most certainly addresses the themes of simulation and simulacra and touches on fan culture.

Perfect Blue touches on a lot of psychological themes such as mental disorders, delusions, delirium, etc. I think I love NGE so much because of what Perfect Blue is based upon. Those two works are very similar as they tap into the human psyche on a deeper unseen level, which is what makes them so interesting.

Another one of my favorites by Kon is "Millennium Actress"; highly recommend and I also decided to write my essay on it (tbh I would've done my essay on Perfect Blue but Millennium Actress is definitely more simpler to talk about). Kon also directed "Paprika", another psychological thriller that I've been dying to watch as well but haven't gotten the chance to as yet. Even the American film "Black Swan" is kind of "based off" of Perfect Blue. Overall, Kon's work proves time and time again how amazing he is. Everyone talks about Miyazaki but I feel like Kon doesn't get the flowers that he deserves.

[nelll101]

I too also noticed that they both benefited from the "masculine" and "feminine" aspects of being human. I also loved the symbolism of the red string and how it relates to individual relationships that can be built with others and even fate.

Your Name

Now I've never seen this movie before, but I knew that it was going to be a 10/10 within 30minutes of starting. This movie is so good. The visuals are absolutely beautiful, and the soundtrack alone is enough to make this a masterpiece. The film has a very compelling story about two teenagers, Mitsuha and Taki, living in a different time and place randomly switching bodies with each other. It follows the entanglement of two completely different lives as they work to avert the comet disaster and change the fate of the residents of Itomori.

The dichotomy between their lives and the intersections of them illustrates key themes of gender and identity. When Mitsuha switches into Taki's body, she brings an element of "femininity" into his life, which lands him a date with his crush. And when Taki switches into Mitsuha's body, he brings an element of "masculinity" into her life, which makes her more popular at school and helps her stand up for herself more. Both individuals benefited from the introduction of elements from the opposite gender identity, which shows that conformity to a singular one is not necessarily an effective way to live and that the elements that are defined as "feminine" or "masculine" are not restricted to the bodily expression. Gender is not intrisincally tied to the biology; it is instead rooted in one's mind, and we see this when Mitsuha and Taki retain their individual gender identity while in the other's body instead of changing to conform to what their bodies signify. This also goes into the theme of identity. Both Mitsuha and Taki retain their individual identity despite embodying a completely different physical form. Their friends and family are able to tell when they are a different person. And it shows that identity is rooted in the mind. Identity itself is a spiritual concept that is not tied rigidly to one's bodily expression.

Another theme is the contrast between traditionalism and modernism. Mitsuha lives in a small rural town, while Taki lives in the urban city of Tokyo. Mitsuha's life is dominated by traditions such as her shrine maiden responsibilities. However, at the beginning of the film, she laments being stuck in her life of unchanging traditions, and she finds a lot of fun in experiencing the urban modernist life through Taki's body. But the film has an even stronger inclination toward retaining tradition and going back to natural/spiritual roots. This is shown through Taki venturing all the way out to Mitsuha's town and finding the tree. He is only able to get a second chance at saving the people of Itomori by drinking the sake under the tree, signifying that he has returned to that natural/spiritual root and becoming one with it. And it is through this embrace of traditional values that Taki and Mitsuha are able to save the people of Itomori from being destroyed by the falling comet.

This also goes into a theme of fate. I noticed that Mitsuha's hair tie and Taki's wrist bands are both symbolic of the red strings of fate. And of course the whole film is ultimately about changing fate. The film initially suggests that fate is immutable as Taki fails to save Mitsuha the first time around. However, a second chance is given when he revisits traditional values and becomes in touch with greater spirituality. Through that, Taki and Mitsuha are able to change fate and alter the course of history. But it also seems like fate has a role in the two meeting and becoming intertwined with each other's lives both in the beginning and once more at the very end. After all, why did they have to switch bodies with each other in particular? Is that not fated?

Absolutely beautiful film. Loved it.

[nelll101]

Your Name

This movie has been on my watchlist for a while and I'm glad I was able to watch it for the class. Right after I watched the movie, I honestly looked at other reviews to see if I anyone agreed with mines. To start, this truly is a good movie, the cinematography is amazing and beautiful and the way certain scenes played out were almost perfect and left me feeling a certain way that is indescribable, but after watching the movie I felt as though it lacked in something. I don't know what to pinpoint but I feel like if the movie was tweaked a little more, it would be almost perfect, which is why I don't know if I could say this could be one of my favorites. I think people online can make better criticism on the movie than me that is well articulated without trashing the movie, because it really is a good movie, but overall I just felt like it was missing something.

I read the assigned article (mostly read some parts and skimmed through others) and I see it talks about the relation of power and sexuality. At first I had a little trouble with comparing it to the movie, but after thinking I think it could mean the power you can get from different sexualities/genders. When Mitsuha takes over Taki's body, Taki develops some advantages that helps him with his life that he couldn't get before which was creating Miki's attraction to Taki and landing him a date with her. I believe Miki, or at least another character, says that Taki has become more "feminine". When Taki takes over Mitsuha's body, he causes her to be more "strong" and stand up for herself in class as well as do well in sports, etc. This shows that both gender/sexuality expressions both have their advantages and there's truly no "correct" way of expressing your sex. Also this shows that gender/sexuality is a mental thing rather than a physical one. They both still act the same way even though they are in a different gender body; they both still retain their masculinity and femininity and express it through the different body even though its a different gender.

Also I really loved the red string element added to the movie. I won't do an in depth analysis on it but the symbolization is extremely meaningful and the way it flows is beautiful to watch as well.

[nelll101]

I agree that "those" scenes were really disgusting but they were depicted for a purpose to further add to Shinji and Misato's character. Unfortunately, this show at first watch is extremely confusing and I myself had to do extensive research to kind of grasp the plot of the show and underlying symbolizations but overall the whole movie can be interpreted in many different ways which is a part of what makes this series so interesting.

Neon Genesis Evangelion Tres

I am truly flabbergasted. I started the anime amused at the full minute of back-to-back production & company and ended with a whole lotta confusion and disgust.

STARTING with the opening scene. In part uno and dos of the Neon genesis evangelion trilogy I was trying to feel for Shinji. I knew that I wouldn’t understand one hundred percent since he’s a fourteen-year-old boy, but I tried to empathize with the outright toxic and damaging community he had around him and the effect on his mental health. But him exposing Asuka’s naked body as she lies unconscious in a HOSPITAL bed and masturbating to it,,, I was honestly speechless. To take advantage of someone in such a vulnerable state, and then spend most of the movie moping around and berating yourself… I couldn’t find any more empathy for him. AND the kicker is that Asuka KNEW and said he did it on multiple occasions. A REPEAT OFFENDER! Literally clutching my pearls I can’t anymore. Is this some sort of fanservice thing? Why do these creative minds decide to use their artistry to make such appalling material???

Then, when we get past that, [approximately] fifteen minutes later we see a THIRTY-year-old WOMAN kissing a FOURTEEN-year-old CHILD. I even googled the ages to confirm. From the past episodes, it seems as if they have a peculiar relationship going on. Nobody knows what a healthy relationship looks like in this show but Misato is kinda like a caretaker/ guardian to him. I saw this dynamic while she was trying to snap him out of his depressive state by encouraging him to make his own decision and pilot the robot. I guess as an extra boost of encouragement she kisses him and hints towards him getting “more” later. Fighting for my life to look past how wildly INAPPROPRIATE this is for the bigger picture, it seems as if the circumstances were unique. They were in a life or death type of scenario, and Shinji looked like he was ready for everything to just end (ex. Him not even lifting his head when that guy had a gun pointed at him). Misato acknowledges this and that she’s probably gonna die anyway, so she pulls this stunt as a last-ditch effort. Did it work? Shinji kinda just sat there staring at the robot for a good chunk of the movie so…

In the grand scheme of this, this movie showed the state of Shinji’s mental health, and how depression affected him greatly. He lost the will to live and battled with self-hatred. Through a confusing dream sequence, we see Shinji’s attitude slowly shift and he finds hope- using it to reject the single human state which destroys the lilith and sets the souls of humanity free.

[nelll101]

I would definitely say to watch this show completely another time, it's one of my favorites and I agree with the topics you chose to bring up. The show's ending really shows how much importance was put into the character of Shinji and his battle of his own self-identity.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (ep. 8, 16, 24, 26)

I wish I could watch the episodes we skipped because I actually kind of like the show now, but that's for another time. Throughout these episodes, the characters face a range of complex themes that are explored in depth. These episodes particularly focus on the themes of identity, loneliness, and the search for meaning.

We see a new character: Asuka Langley Soryu. Asuka is a highly skilled pilot who is fiercely competitive and determined to prove herself. However, as episodes 8 progresses, we begin to see that her drive to succeed is rooted in a deep-seated sense of insecurity and loneliness. Asuka's search for validation is a relatable theme for many people, as we all crave acceptance and approval from others. This can further be related to how Shinji was unwanted by society once he did not display a drive to succeed or any competitiveness at all, seen as traits of hegemonic masculinity.

Episode 16 explores the theme of identity. Shinji is forced to confront the fact that he is an artificial human created by his father, Gendo Ikari. This revelation causes Shinji to question his sense of self and his place in the world. The episode is a powerful exploration of the nature of identity and the ways in which our sense of self can be shaped by external forces.

Loneliness is another prominent theme in Neon Genesis Evangelion, and it is explored in depth in episode 24. In this episode, we see Rei struggling with feelings of isolation and disconnection. Rei is an enigmatic figure who is often distant from those around her, but in this episode, we get a glimpse into her inner world and the pain that she carries with her. The episode is a poignant reminder of the importance of human connection and the toll that loneliness can take on us.

Finally, in episode 26, the series explores the theme of the search for meaning. Shinji is once again at the center of the episode, and we see him grappling with the existential question of why he exists and what his purpose is. This theme is a universal one, as we all seek to find meaning and purpose in our lives.

Overall, I took a different approach with this blog post, where I outlined the themes presented in each episodes rather than combining them into one due to the confusing nature of the two last episodes we were required to watch. However, through the struggles of the show's characters, the series reminds us of the importance of human connection, the search for meaning, and the power of our own sense of identity.

[nelll101]

I also found it very interesting that Nausicaa, a young girl, was the most adamant about truly caring about nature and stopping the war, She had to sacrifice herself which could even parallel to Rei and Gendo in NGE. Gendo used Rei as his little puppet in his own way of "saving the earth" meaning that older generations use the younger generation or expect them to make an effort for the betterment of the environment, make change, or at least use them to do so.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is a commentary on environmentalism. The movie is set in a post-apocalyptic society riddled with toxins. Things are so bad that they have to wear (oxygen?) masks during the majority of the movie because the air pollution is terrible. The societies we see in the film (Tolmekian and Pejite) insist on fighting one another instead of working together against the issue. They also void themselves of any responsibility as to why the earth is how it is and blame other things (such as the sea of decay) for why things have gotten so bad. This is an allegory for our current society and how we have treated the earth. Most of the damage has been done by big corporations, but individuals cannot be absolved of all responsibility. In the past, the effects of pollution were still being discovered, but even then it is ignorant to think that actions like dumping garbage and toxins into local water sources have no consequence. Even today, despite the various warnings by scientists and activists, a blind eye is turned as the Earth tells of its suffering (most obviously seen through global warming and climate change)

I think it's telling how Princess Nausicaä, a sixteen-year-old, shows more compassion and determination in helping the Earth than others much older. They look up to her because she is the only one who cares enough about the Ohm and the rest of the insects to talk to them instead of firing at them (which is backward in itself- wouldn’t firing at them provoke more anger???) She even sacrificed her life for the baby Ohm, restoring peace between human society and the ohm. This parallels current society, as much of the younger generation is pressured to speak out against the environmental harm humans have caused to the earth.

While watching the movie, Princess Nausicaä reminded me of Greta Thunberg, a twenty-year-old, Swedish environmental activist. She has spoken on climate change numerous times, but unlike Princess Nausicaä, I don’t know if we will receive a happy ever after. She has faced much criticism for speaking out against climate change and companies and lawmakers alike prefer to push greenwashed alternatives and ignore the greater issue instead of actively trying to make a change.

It’s crazy what the previous generations have done to the Earth, and all they've done is dropped the mess in the younger generation's lap with no clear road ahead…

[nelll101]

I also noticed how they depicted Italy. There was an obvious difference to the other characters because they made him seem really weak, a follower, and a "crybaby". This could relate to how Italy was in the real wars, but I have no idea if that's historically accurate or not.

Hetalia Axis Powers S1(1-19)

This was undoubtedly an interesting anime to watch. Hetalia: Axis Powers have a unique way of demonstrating the relationship between the world's countries, especially between the Allies; the United States, France, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom, and the Axis Powers; Germany, Japan, and Italy.

This anime uses personification of the countries and satire to depict their relationships and how they interact with each other. It uses a lot of stereotypical notions of the countries exaggeratedly to make it more fun and relatable. There was a special spotlight on Italy especially. Italy was portrayed as a coward who was always the victim of bullying from other nations like Austria and the United Kingdom. Italy was depicted to be more of a wimp than history has told; he was always ready to wave the white flag before anyone and only cared about eating pasta.

Hetalia also shows the cultural exchange between countries. Italy was also at the forefront of cultural exchanges as he loved art, food, and music and incorporated them into his life. The cultural exchange depicted in this anime shows how important it is to share cultural experiences as it could foster new friendships. Hetalia also depicts how Japan was basically raised by China. Still, since they held different ideals, they ended up on different sides of the wars that happened, one on the Allies' side and the other on the Axis powers' side. This shows how power dynamics can change as time passes and how small countries can overcome imperial rule and be involved in significant conversion with them. Although Canada seems to be an exception to that.

Overall, this was a good and lighthearted anime to watch, 7/10.

[nelll101]

Hetalia (ep 1-19)

I've honestly never heard of this anime and I'm really shocked that it's that popular, but honestly, this show is really weird. Like it's so (this word is a little too opinionated but I'll still use it) dumb that it's funny but I don't see the crazy appeal to it, but I could see how it could for younger girls. This show basically just feeds off of the country's stereotypes as entertainment.  I wish I could’ve remembered my knowledge about WW1 and 2 because I’m not sure if this show is even historically accurate. The show itself is too random and confusing, and the characters talk too fast to actually learn something from this. The only thing I managed to pinpoint was that the tripartite pact includes Germany, Italy, and Japan. Also Italy is made to seem weak and a follower in the show; maybe that could relate to how Italy was in the World Wars but I have no knowledge of it.

Overall the show's banter is immaturely (partially) funny but this could raise a concern about where we draw the line between playfully making fun of stereotypes to racism. Also another concern is the show having a gay subtext to further add to the comedy of the show. I genuinly don't understand why people like this show but, I'm going to stop judging people's interests.

[nelll101]

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 

For some reason, I just could not pay attention to the movie and kept getting distracted but that probably my fault so I won't say it was a bad movie because it was actually a good movie but idk I just couldn't get into it, but I did love the wonderful visuals, the music was nice, and the message of the movie was the most important. (Also I watched this dubbed and I actually really enjoyed Nausicaa's voice actor, I felt she brought a lot of emotion to her which helped me fall in love with her character)

The movie's main theme is environmentalism. It was more of a metaphor as how humans treat nature, and the consequences of it. Nausicaa was found in some chamber where she stated that she irrigated the chamber of plants and spores using water and soil drawn deep underground. She found that with clean water and soil, the plants aren’t poisonous. All the soil is actually poisoned. This scene was most evident that as long as you take care of nature, it will produce good effects. Also, there was one scene where Nausicaa stated that they can’t use guns in the jungle and if they do the insects will descend upon them. The gun represents a man made, violent thing intruding on nature itself. The gun is the opposite of nature entirely, and bringing something like that into nature will disrupt the environment.

To add, the one specific scene of her with Tito was my favorite and how she related that back to another scene of her and Kushana was interesting. This scene with Tito really showed how wonderful Nausicaa really is. Overall, Nausicaa treated things that weren't human with love and respect even when they caused hurt and damage to her and her people. I feel like we could all take something from her character into us.

Also, this movie did remind me of NGE as the insects kind of resembled Angels and had kind of the same function as Angels since both humans and insects lived together but fought with each other for keeping their own humanity/race. Nausicaa evidently represents hegemonic masculinity with the way she fights for her people and even her clothes, and could be compared to Asuka due to that. But through that hegemonic masculinity she maintains her feminineness of being a loving and caring girl.

[nelll101]

Swampcon

Not gonna lie, I went to one part of swamp con and left. Hopefully that is enough lmaoo as honestly I don't like conventions and didn't feel comfortable staying but I went specifically for the vendors section because I love spending money unfortunately. I thought it was fun to walk around and see all the merchandise, even of some of the anime's we've watched (I only remember noticing NGE tbh) and I noticed specific shops were targeting specific people. Such as soon as you enter inside the room there's a vendor on the left selling a bunch of pokemon and even disney princess things and, not surprisingly, there were mostly little children and parents surrounding it. I mostly looked at the vendors selling figurines and was debating on getting a Rei figure as I've never collected figurines before and I thought that if I wanted to start, I'd get a Rei one but ngl they were taxing and I decided to be financially smart and not get it.

As I was walking through the Reitz, it honestly just reminded me of Genshiken and the otaku culture. The vendor part specifically reminded me of one of the assigned readings by Azuma where it talked about simulacrum and derivative works. "The market, where copies produced by the media are where professional authors get their start, is what really formed the otaku culture. Even best-selling authors sell and produce derivatives of their own work, and in that case, there is not much distinction between the original and its copy." Just seeing the merchandise there that is all derived from an original source of media makes it a copy.

Overall I thought exploring the vendor section was fun, I would think the other parts of the convention were very fun for others.

[nelll101]

End of Evangelion

After watching, I actually do like this ending more than the show's original, but I do feel like the original's ending was still needed and hopefully it could've been merged with this ending but unfortunately the director turned it into two alternative endings.

The first scene is a definite shock at first watch and some people freak out about it but was put in the movie on purpose and I wanted to analyze it because it's one of the most important scenes in the movie. I've done some research into it and formed an explanation that makes the best sense to me. Shinji actually tries to kill himself before turning to Asuka in the beginning scene but obviously doesn't because he's a "coward". Asuka would usually be the last person he would run to but out of desperation, turns to her and even begs her to call him an idiot like she always does which is something Shinji never liked but is doing this out of desperation. Shinji masturbates to Asuka, because simply put, he cannot make decisions for himself. Throughout the whole show he could not make decisions for his own and just did what other people told him to do. Shinji doesn’t act on his free will and his drive for doing things comes from others. Shinji at that exact moment had no one to turn to. He’s afraid of Misato and Rei and his father definitely doesn’t care about him. In that moment he realizes he needs to make decisions for himself but he doesn’t know how to and when he exposes Asuka, the only thing he can rely on is his sexual instincts. On top of that, Shinji is chronically depressed and like I said before, desperate. Not only does he rely on instincts in that action, but also at the same time, he wanted to desperately feel good for the moment, therefore he masturbates.  After he does this action, he realizes the horrible thing he has done and is riddled with guilt which further emphasizes the fact that he is so depressed and messed up, it causes him to do something like that. (Note: I wrote this part before the professors explanation of this movie but posting this now bc I didn't have time to watch it completely before class] and hegemonic masculinity also comes into play in this scene too which I didn't look at it in that way, but i'm still going to leave this explanation up as well because it makes sense too)

Some other scenes in the movie I noted were Gendo speaking before the LCL got him. Gendo says he left Shinji alone on purpose and would only hurt him if he was with him and leaving him alone was the best thing to do. He also says "I do not deserve to be loved or feel love." Kaworu tells Gendo that Gendo rejected the world before it could hurt him. This scene was really interesting because it showed even though both the son and father were almost completely detached from each other, they were so detached that they, in the end, were just like one another. This also just shows how humans will push others away in fear of pain and hurting others, but it actually in reality, does the opposite.

Also, the professor noted that hands were really important in the show as there are a lot of close up shots of hands. There's the obvious one scene in the show of the close up of Shinji's hands opening and closing into a fist before he gets laughed at by the children, but in the movie there is also a close up shot of Shinji holding Rei’s hand with his right hand and says thank you. There is some definite importance of hands and maybe even specifically right hands, which will require further research.

Shinji also says in the movie that only bad things happened from the past world which is why he easily chooses to run away but says running doesn’t solve anything because it means that he won’t be there anymore which is the same as no one being there. This is almost a comparison to the world he is in now. Shinji was basically was already living in the new world even before everyone merged, but now he cannot run away anymore in this new world like he once knew before. He also can't run or push away the hegemonic masculinity and then in turn, makes a partial effort to strangle Asuka.

It is also stated in the movie that humanity won’t change unless people act on their own initiative. This also is comparison to criticism of Shinji. Shinji cannot change unless he acts on it through his own efforts. It is also stated that if there is a will to live, you can turn any place into a paradise.This hints to Shinji that his bleak outlook on life can change through how you envision reality. In this new world, he can make it paradise if he wants to, but he needs to want to live to do so. I believe Shinji and Asuka become the new Adam and Eve but I'm not sure if the other people affected by the Instrumentality project could come back if they wanted to as well.

I was wondering why was it only Asuka that accompanied him in the new world and no one else. At first I thought, because Shinji was technically God in that moment, he wished for everything to be back how it was and the Instrumentality project to stop, but if that was the case, I would think he would wish for everyone he knew to come back but he didn’t so I was still confused. I did some research again and found two things that make sense but I don't know which one is right. I had originally stated  before that a character (i forgot who) stated, “ if there is a will to live, you can turn any place into a paradise”. The explanation I read said that it was also stated that if someone has the will to live, they can and will return. Asuka showed that the best. She died trying to live and fighting off the angels, so therefore she accompanies Shinji in this new world. The other explanation I read, someone said that I guess Shinji was told that humans can return to their physical form since Instrumentality stops, but most people haven’t done so yet at the end scene. So in that case, would Shinji and Asuka still be Adam and Eve since there technically is still a human population? Honestly idk and this is hurting my brain.

Anyways, NGE is an almost 10/10, will be one of my favorites for a while. (and yes this post is long asf but there's just way too much stuff in NGE to talk about)

[nelll101]

NGE (8, 16, 24, 26)

Watching these episodes now has me just as confused as when I watched it for the first time. This show honestly requires extensive research to really understand the whole plot line but that doesn't take away from how good the show really is (maybe a little, but I'll be biased).

These episodes focus more on the character of Shinji and his development. Maybe the creator of the show wanted in the end to focus more on Shinji's character development and thought that was more important than what was happening around him, such as the specifics with the angels, Eva's, Adam, Lilith, and the next fate of humanity. But with EoE (the movie), I believe that is an alternate ending to the show which focuses more on the actual original plot but I'll have to watch it again to remember everything. For this post, I'll just focus on talking about Shinji's character development because I literally don't even understand the actual plot and couldn't even talk about it if I tried.

We actually understand Shinji mostly through what other people say about him / relationships with others. Shinji isn't a completely reliable source for others to understand who he really is, because in reality, he doesn't even know himself. He doesn't even realize his own potential and identity which is why we understand Shinji through other characters, which can also relate to the show showing us that Shinji, or people in general, are made up of other people as well (our experiences and relationships with others form us).

Some specific points I jotted down as I watched these episodes about what people tell or ask Shinji was: Asuka says Shinji apologizes too easily and fast to avoid criticism, Rei questions Asuka,” Do u pilot the Eva to be praised by others?” and Shinji is also questioned in ep 26, both of them have the same answers (basically yes), Misato says that Shinji is quick to obey others to make life easier, and if he doesn’t he will be abandoned, and basically the whole of episode 26 is just other people he knows telling him that the way he thinks of himself isn't true and dead set. Shinji actually says himself that everyone goes on and keeps living life through deceiving themselves.

In episode 16, an extremely important scene occurs where just when Shinji feels happy and proud of himself on the train for his successes with the Eva (and proud of his own masculinity in terms of hegemonic masculinity), he gets reminded and sucked back into being self conscious on his queer masculinity and hate for himself when the little children laugh at him. This scene can be taken literally (little children literally laughing at him in real time) or figuratively where this shows how Shinji view his own environment and feels that in his environment, its always something stopping him from being or staying happy with himself, basically his environment is an obstacle to him. In the last episode, someone tells Shinji that with a change on your reality and how you see your world, what inside your heart will change. Basically, if people are stuck seeing the world as one thing or always having this horrible outlook on life, that way of thinking will manifest your reality. But if you change how you see things, your reality can change as well.

Overall Shinji's problems all stem from the simple fear of being alone. Shinji suffers from loneliness, but pushes other people away and avoids interactions with others to prevent suffering but it only continues the cycle of loneliness. Also it was talked about in the last episode that people who hate themselves project their hate onto others, therefore Shinji thinks because he hates himself, others hate him as well, and episode 26 is everyone basically telling him that this is simply not true and life is worth living only if you make it. Shinji comes to a realization that life can be good and is motivated to make it as such, and everyone claps and congratulates him.

I'm looking forward to watching EoE again because unfortunately like others, (not that I hate the ending) but I'm not completely content with it.

[nelll101]

I also agree that his interactions with other people like Rei, Misato, and his own father add to the complexity of Shinjis character. Shinji doesn't fully understand his own identity yet and his relationships he's building with others aren't typical. His own masculinity gets questioned and the people around him further emphasize that.

Neon Genesis Evangelion (ep. 1, 2, 4, 5)

This was my first time watching yet another iconic show I have heard so much of. I think I'll definitely end up watching the entire series on my own time. It was definitely quite different than the anime we have watched in class so far, but, nevertheless, Neon Genesis Evangelion is an anime that tackles complex themes such as trauma, depression, and loneliness, which can have a significant impact on a person's mental health. In the first five episodes, we see how these themes affect the main character, Shinji Ikari, and how they relate to his masculinity.

Shinji is a complex character who struggles with his sense of self and masculinity. As a pilot of the giant bio-machine known as the Evangelion, Shinji is expected to be a hero and fight against the Angels. However, he finds himself struggling with feelings of inadequacy and failure. This struggle with masculinity is a common theme in the show, and it is explored in depth in the first five episodes.

One of the main themes I saw emerge during these few episodes was trauma. Shinji has suffered from a traumatic event in his past that has left him emotionally scarred. His relationship with his father, Gendo Ikari, is also a significant source of trauma for him. Gendo is emotionally distant, and his lack of affection has left Shinji feeling neglected and unimportant. This lack of emotional support from his father has had a significant impact on Shinji's sense of self and masculinity.

Now let's discuss depression. Shinji's feelings of loneliness and isolation, coupled with the emotional trauma he has experienced, have left him feeling hopeless and disconnected from the world around him. This sense of disconnection from the world is a common experience among individuals struggling with depression, and Shinji's experiences in the show reflect this reality.

The theme of masculinity is also explored in the show. Shinji is expected to embody traditional masculine traits such as bravery, courage, and strength. However, he finds himself struggling with these expectations, and his sense of self is further complicated by his relationship with the other pilots, particularly Rei Ayanami and Asuka Langley Soryu. Shinji's interactions with these characters highlight the complexities of masculinity and how societal expectations can be detrimental to one's sense of self.

In conclusion, Shinji's experiences in the show reflect the experiences of many individuals struggling with mental health issues and the societal expectations placed on them. Neon Genesis Evangelion is a powerful anime that highlights the importance of empathy and understanding when dealing with complex issues such as mental health and masculinity.

[nelll101]

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1,2,4,5)

Extremely happy when I first looked at the syllabus to see this show on there. I don't usually have a favorite anything but if I had to pick a favorite anime show, it would be this one. It's surprising because this anime looks as something catered to little boys and males at face value because of the action, robots, and mecha genre and at first when I watched it a couple years ago I thought I might not have liked it because of that reason (which is exactly why I don't really like Mobile Suit Gundam) but it is so much more complex, psychologically, which makes this show so thought provoking and wonderful. NGE is honestly not a show to watch for fun, it's extremely depressing, and a lot of people don't really get this show, but if anything could be called a masterpiece, it's this.

To focus on how this show relates to this article, Shinji's character really questions and goes against the norm and social constructs of what it means to be a man in society. Shinji obviously takes on the powerful role of controlling the eva to take down angels which is seen as a "manly" thing, but the characteristics of Shinji doesn't really fit into what is considered a "man". He is very submissive and not confident, even calls himself a coward and weakling. Other people around him play into the male social constructs, furthering Shinji's declining mental state such as when Misato says "Grow a spine, be a big boy for once" because she got mad at him for the repetitive use of ma'am towards her. Also Shinji's loss of a father figure is important to the make up of Shinji's character, as usually father's are supposed to teach their son how to "be a man" and because his father was so detached from his own son (even stated that in the ikari family it’s normal to live and be apart from each other) has led to Shinji being de-masculinized. Shinji further strays from patriarchal masculinity with Kaworu which is a character later in the show, which then questions Shinji's sexuality as well. Men are seen as supposed to be heterosexual and get scrutinized for being the opposite. Shinji to me, represent queerness. Shinji's character basically rejects masculinity itself, not entirely, but the social construction of masculinity and instead represents "queer masculinity". Many viewers also look at Shinji as gay because of his characteristics, but that just shows how people really view masculinity. This also kind of relates to Wandering Son and how Nitori was actually more scrutinized for being transgender than Yoshino simply because she was originally a male.

Also in terms of "sissy boys", these are males who cannot "do" straight masculinity and present to others as queer even though that is not his identity at all. There are also males that live in the "shadow" of masculinity, but I don't think Shinji is either because he doesn't reject these things, but kind of embraces it.

Overall, Shinji himself is extremely complicated to analyze but an interesting character, nonetheless.

[nelll101]

I think it's really interesting, which actually never crossed my mind, that you said Shu is actually a threat to the other girls femininity. Even in the synopsis, it states that Shu is considered by most to be one of the prettiest girls in school and throughout the anime, she is always called cute. This is def something that needs to be unpacked.

Wandering Son

SUB/DUB

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Okay so I'm gonna be leading the discussion on this anime tomorrow so I don't want to spoil my presentation in this post but I think it goes without saying that I loved this anime (slice of life lover)

This anime is almost certainly the best trans representation I have seen in anime (stars align is up there though). I thought it did a really amazing job at showing the experiences of trans people in a way that could be relatable to cis people as well.

Shu is the love of my life she really ate all the other girls up and they're just upset about that. In all seriousness though I think a lot of the hatred that the girls have for shu is that they see her as a threat to their femininity (which I will talk about more on Friday hehe).

We didn't watch this episode but the scene where they give each other their names is so freaking cute and relatable that I almost cried for real. I also loved the scene where Shu's dad takes her to the corner store and pretty much tells him that he accepts her.

I loved a lot of the visual elements in this show, how they will purposefully cut people off in frames

The scene frames them between the bedpost, showing a distinct separation between them, a line that is only crossed for Mato to attack Shu and claim her clothing back. This divide is only closed when Maho wants to force Shu out of feminity. It's incredibly well done.

That is all I'm saying for now you will all hear me talk about it much more in-depth on Friday :)

I also love her, my queen <3