LIVE, LAUGH, P I N K

I enjoyed this anime, it is very nicely animated, and the soundtrack is beautiful. However, I was slightly annoyed by the story. It had this nice plot but it drops the ball in the second half after they shift focus from the two characters switching bodies every other day to the comet destroying the city. Other than that the movie is good and still the best one Makoto Shinkai has produced to this date. 

Your Name follows Taki and Mitusha who one day suddenly switch bodies one morning. Mitusha lives in rural Japan while Taki lives in the Big city so when they switch they have to get used to their new surroundings. They go back and forth between these two places as they switch bodies every other day. Mitusha one day finds out that a comet is going to hit her home and destroy her whole city so she attempts to warn the townsfolk but they refuse to acknowledge her. The townsfolk don’t want to listen to what she has to say because they don’t want to think about the possibility of losing their homes. This idea can be related to the discourse around a Kizuna. The townspeople are hesitant to leave their homes behind because they have a bond or tie to that city and the people in it. 

I feel as though I can relate to this film because I also tend to share a connection with my surrounding environment, home, and people. It is easy for people to create some sort of bond when they live in a place for so long. So I do understand where the townsfolk are coming from when they are hesitant to leave behind their hometown. 

The End of Evangelion is a profound and complex film that offers a deeper exploration into the themes of Neon Genesis Evangelion. It delves into the intricacies of human psyche, societal expectations, and personal identity, addressing issues both within Japan and on a global scale.

The film addresses various societal issues, particularly focusing on the individual’s role in society and the immense pressure to conform. In Japan, where societal expectations are extremely high, the film highlights the mental strain and isolation that come with these pressures. Globally, it resonates with the universal human experience of seeking connection and understanding amidst existential dread.

The apocalyptic scenario in the film symbolizes the collective anxiety and fear of an uncertain future, a sentiment felt worldwide. The collapse of societal structures and the ensuing chaos reflect the fragility of modern societies and the constant fear of societal breakdown.

On a personal level, The End of Evangelion resonates with the challenges of confronting one’s inner turmoil and reconciling personal desires with external expectations. The film’s intense psychological and emotional landscape reflects the often turbulent journey of understanding oneself and navigating relationships in a complex world. The characters’ struggles with identity and self-worth mirror many of my own experiences with self-acceptance and finding a place where I truly belong.

Connell’s theory of masculinities is evident in the film’s exploration of hegemonic, subordinate, and marginalized masculinities. Shinji’s struggle to assert his identity and find his place in a world dominated by traditional masculine ideals highlights the conflict between hegemonic masculinity and more vulnerable, introspective forms. His journey reflects the marginalization of those who do not conform to conventional masculine norms.

Episodes 8, 16, 24, and 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion dive into the complexities of human relationships, societal expectations, and personal identity. These episodes tackle both Japanese societal concerns and universal themes, offering a rich field for reflection.

Episode 8 introduces Asuka Langley Soryu, bringing a new dynamic that highlights the competitive nature of academic and professional environments in Japan. Her drive to prove herself mirrors the global pressure on youth to excel. This episode also touches on national pride and the burden of representing one’s country, reflecting Japan’s post-war identity crisis. Episode 16 delves into psychological introspection as Shinji gets trapped in an alternate dimension. This episode addresses mental health issues, particularly the struggle with self-worth and identity. These themes are universally relevant, highlighting the internal battles many face in a world that often prioritizes external success over internal well-being. Additionally, episode 24 introduces Kaworu Nagisa, whose ambiguous relationship with Shinji challenges traditional notions of masculinity and sexuality. This episode addresses Japan’s often conservative stance on LGBTQ+ issues and resonates globally as societies grapple with acceptance and understanding of diverse sexual identities. Finally, episode 26 offers a philosophical and introspective conclusion to the series, focusing on self-acceptance and realizing one’s worth beyond societal expectations. This episode’s abstract exploration of individual consciousness mirrors the global quest for personal fulfillment in an increasingly complex world.

These episodes resonate deeply with me. Asuka’s introduction in episode 8 reminds me of the competitive nature of my own academic and professional journey, where the need to prove oneself often overshadows personal well-being. Episode 16’s portrayal of Shinji’s psychological struggle echoes my own experiences grappling with self-worth and identity in a demanding world.

The plot is set in a post-apocalyptic future and follows Shinji Ikari, a teenage boy who is recruited by the organization NERV to operate an Evangelion, a massive bio-mechanical robot, to combat strange monsters known as Angels.

This section of the module was about the cutscenes in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, where the world is reduced to an endless wasteland and humans must survive on the backs of titans as their only livable habitat, the rest of the world covered in the cloud sea (basically a misty soup of a nuclear winter and melted ice caps). Now, not to compare this to ULTRAKILL- jk I won't do that to you guys.

But really, I have to bring my hyperfixation into this class at least once, and I commend you for dealing with my brainrotted tumblr page. ULTRAKILL operates under the same anti-war and environmentalist message. In ULTRAKILL, humans have fought an endless war for centuries, fighting with blood-fueled machines built to counter the last, similar to the Cold War and every other arms race. The significance of the blood fuel is that the machines could operate on an organic, fully renewable resource - which just becomes laughable as humans created such a scale of robots, including giant, skyscraper-like mechas, that eventually their smoke and smog choked out the sun, leading to the Long Night. In the end, the only habitable place was to live on the backs of those giant mechas. There, that's the linkage between ultra-violent boomer shooter ULTRAKILL and Nintendo's anime RPG Xenoblade Chronicles 2. You'll never have to hear me talk about that blasted game again.

In Xenoblade, nature seems not to be fully destroyed, as Elysium is presented as a land with rolling green hills and giant trees -- but this turns out to be a lie, as this "nature" is actually an artificial space station, and all plants are long dead. As Klaus explains, actually, all life entirely is dead. What makes this interesting is that the restoration of the ecosystem also goes hand-in-hand with the restoration of humanity -- unlike in Nausicaä where human culture and invention has survived, just confined.

The anime Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind examines key challenges facing Japan and the world through the lenses of environmentalism, war, and the human condition. Set in a post-apocalyptic world devastated by ecological calamity, the film's plot focuses on the environmental implications of human actions, mirroring Japan's own challenges with industrialization and environmental destruction. The Toxic Jungle, a dangerous habitat overflowing with mutant flora and fauna, is a metaphor for humanity's neglect of nature, implying that environmental disasters come from a lack of understanding and respect for the natural world. This problem is particularly relevant in Japan, where fast industrialization has frequently resulted in environmental issues such as pollution and biodiversity loss.

 Nausicaä, shows a concern for all living species, which transcends her contemporaries' aggressive impulses. Her attempt to comprehend and harmonize with the Toxic Jungle symbolizes a larger appeal for cohabitation rather than dominance, which is consistent with Japan's historical relationship with nature and cultural appreciation for the environment. For example, her relationship with the Ohmu, huge insect-like animals who guard their home, exemplifies the possibility of harmony between humans and nature when treated with respect and understanding. In contrast, figures like as Kushana, who aims to exploit the land for military benefit, depict the devastating forces of war and greed, echoing Japan's own historical conflicts and issues of ethics.

I've only been to one convention in my life, which, to be fair, is one more than most. In the summer of 2022, I was lucky enough to be able to attend Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California with a friend of mine. Honestly, in some ways I regret going to Anime Expo as my first con experience because every other one in the US pales in comparison (except maybe the NY one). However, Anime Expo was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

When I arrived at my hotel, people were already in cosplay. When I woke up, I saw a line for the bus and a ton of people were in cosplay. I actually felt out of place since I wasn't and if I went again I'd definitely try it out. Then when I actually arrived, I felt even more out of place, because so many people were in cosplay. Of course, many weren't, but the people in cosplay were just so noticeable. Maybe it was just luck or maybe it was because we arrived more towards lunch time, but we skipped the notorious hours long line and headed straight in.

Honestly, it was overwhelming, there was just so much to do and see. There were events constantly happening, and sadly I didn't know that many needed pre-bought tickets. I still had a blast just exploring the exhibit halls and Artist Alley. I think I ended up spending like $150, which I found out through other peoples posts, is actually not a lot. Some of these people are dropping over a thousand dollars on merch. Maybe I should start using that as motivation to do well in college and get a well paying job so I too can drop a rack on anime merch.

Honestly, I was super nervous to ask any cosplayers for a photo but next time I'm going to need to just suck it up. I did get one photo though with this dude in an awesome set of armor. I really admire the skill and dedication it takes to make some of these cosplays. I'll do my best, but I have a feeling I'll be buying a premade one in the future.

This was my first time viewing this series and it was not something I liked. I can understand Nitori's struggle on a conceptual level, but can not understand it in reality, especially in the setting of a middle school. I also think that the prominence of this issue in the community was also really strange with so many people being shown in the transgender scene. I also found it hard to follow with the genders flip-flopping so much and so many characters looking so similar and being in the same place. For this blog, I want to discuss my interpretation of transgenderism in Wander Son.

From the beginning of the series, it seems gender identification will be a prominent issue in the series as the main character Nitori says she feels uncomfortable in her male uniform. This is symbolic of how she feels restricted in her uniform and unable to express her true gender identification as a female. This is because the uniform itself is a way to make sure that she stays the gender assigned biologically since the uniform indicates gender with different looks for males and females. This in a way represents how the school system in Japan makes it difficult for transgender people to represent themselves which is less of an issue in countries like America where there are many schools without uniforms.

The anime also showcases the increased scrutiny against male transgenders in society. We see that another boy, Yoshino, (biological gender female) is accepted at school as identifying the way he does and even encourages Nitori to express herself since everyone will think she is cute and they already accept Yoshino. This coupled with all her friends telling her that she is cute and will be accepted gives Nitori the confidence to go to school dressed up as a girl like she always wanted to. This does not end well, however, since Nitori gets in trouble and has her parents called. As well as this all the students in the school now find her weird and avoid her. It is made out to be that Nitori has a problem acting the way she wants whereas Yoshino is accepted. This showcases a double standard and maybe a commentary that the acceptance of males trying to perform as females is not something society is ready to accept.

In my life, I have never really had any issues like this. I have accepted my gender and performed my gender attributes readily. I have not had my gender or gender attributes questioned ever. Therefore, I cannot relate to the struggles presented in the series, but I can identify the issue definitely does exist.