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The anime "Your Name" and "Hetalia: Axis Power", as well as the manga "Sensoron", all symbolically convey themes of politics, nationalism, stereotypes, and relationships, some more so than others. After watching "Hetalia: Axis Power" and reading "Sensoron," I could tell automatically that these had a strong sense of national identity, whether it was portrayed comically or more seriously. However, it took me a little longer to see how the national identity was portrayed in the anime "Your Name".

Starting with the anime, "Your Name," it follows two young teenagers: Mitsuha, a girl from a small town, and Taki, a boy from Tokyo. They somehow merge, causing them to share bodies, and after some time passes with Taki not hearing from Mitsuha, he realizes that he must find her to save her life and the lives of her town from a comet similar to the Fukushima Disaster. This anime connects people with their homes and cultures, which means that both Taki and Mitsuha came to appreciate each other's homes and their own. Mitsuhua finally came to realize the importance of tradition and heritage after working tirelessly to save her town and its cultural heritage. This anime makes me want to study my heritage further and remember the importance of my hometown.

In "Hetalia: Axis Power," I honestly thought I was sitting in history class, but with a comedic twist. This was such an interesting way to learn about historical events. However, I also saw some interesting stereotypes depicted, such as Italy being portrayed as a young, almost unintelligent person who cannot fight for himself. However, this anime is almost like being in a room with every country, watching how they interact with each other, and seeing who likes whom. It nearly makes the person watching it want to laugh at each country's flaws rather than questioning the reasoning behind it.

Of all the Miyazaki films that I’ve watched, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is surely one of the finest. Words can’t even begin to describe how beautifully articulated this movie is. It masterfully addresses the then-contemporary global issues of the Cold War, the nuclear age, and climate change while providing greatly entertaining animation to boot. As I always do, starting with the animation, it’s just marvelous. Vibrant, pastel, and colorful. The animation brings the world to life and gives viewers a distinct tone, mood, and color palette for each environment, whether it be the valley itself or the toxic jungle; it’s all sublime.

Nausicaä herself is a wonderfully bright and charming character to be the star of the show, and her actions definitely speak for themselves. Her attitude toward preserving nature and all that is good, being the salt of the Earth, is In line with her almost being portrayed as a type of Christ, but in an environmentalist framework, someone whose passion for the salvation of nature spreads not only to the sea of decay but to all the villages of the land and their peoples. I was personally immensely touched by this, as we can all learn from her self-giving, love, and sacrifice to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be, not only for our fellow people, but for even the ecosystem that we so often distinguish ourselves from, showing us that sometimes all that it takes is a mere appreciation and acknowledgment of nature’s value and worth to start making a change for the better, turning ourselves from the paradigm of instrumentalism, industrialism, and neoliberalism, to one of peaceful coexistence.

Onto Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I had heard a lot about this game, how great it is and whatnot, but I was still remarkably surprised! Firstly, while obviously not an anime film or show in the typical sense, it still retains a lot of the familiar storytelling tropes and aspects of anime that we oftentimes see in media, just told within a different medium, in this case being video games, such as heartfelt dialogue and awesome fight sequences. Here, I was really touched by the sentimental relationship between Rex, Pyra, and Mythra, as well as their companions. The worldbuilding is phenomenal and really touches upon environmentalism in a distinct way, not by dismantling our current exchanges with it, but by nurturing it through further human intervention and involvement, seeking harmony instead of a simple coexistence, quite noticeably different from the path that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind took for its story, but a welcome change for sure. Following the story, the same themes of sacrifice, mystery, and intrigue run all throughout, and the game manages to build a strong sense of appreciation in me for nature, the world, and how to better it, not just by letting it do its thing, but by working in conjunction with the ecosystem itself, always remembering that we are intrinsically a product of and united to nature, and so we must always remember to show deep care, respect, and admiration for it.

The anime “Sailor Moon”, “Aggretsuko”, and “Wandering Son” all have unique approaches to gender performances and femininity. Although they have different storylines, they all follow the main characters who are women. In “Sailor Moon,” Usagi Tsukino runs late for school as usual, and she runs into a cat with a moon shape on its head. Usagi is not a very smart girl, and she is not very good in school, but for some reason, the cat she ran into came into her room and started talking to her. Luna, the cat, gave her a brooch and told her to say, “Moon Prism Power, Make-up,” and she turned into Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon then saved many people from Jadeite and the evil queen. Sailor Moon is depicted as a cute little girl, but when she needs to, she transforms into a superhero who saves the day. However, when she becomes the hero, she is still depicted as very feminine. This relates worldwide because women are seen as vulnerable, not smart, and cute, but people tend to undermine them. They are strong, powerful, and capable of changing the world. 

In “Aggretsuko,” we follow Retuko as she goes to work as an accountant. She does not love her job because her boss is sexist towards her. For example, he mentioned that women are made to clean up after people. She would release her anger at the local karaoke bar and sing heavy metal. I relate to this show because so often I face comments about my gender, whether that be that girls can not be leaders or that girls are meant to stay home and clean. 

In “Wandering Son,” we meet two transgender kids: Yoshino, who is a girl but dresses and acts like a boy, and Shuichi, who is a boy but dresses and acts like a girl. They both try to avoid puberty as much as possible, but eventually they go through puberty, and it makes them even more confused. During this anime, these kids navigate their identity and try to figure out how and if they can be who they genuinely want to be. 

The theory by Judith Butler enhances my understanding of these anime. Whether it be Sailor Moon uses her feminine side to embrace her superhero powers, Retsuko being very lovely and submissive at work, and then going to karaoke to relieve her anger, or the kids in “Wandering Son” figuring out who they are through their gender.

I really liked how you connected all three animes through the theme of gender performance and femininity. Your point about Sailor Moon using her femininity as part of her strength really stood out to me. It is so true that society often underestimates women who are soft or cute, but characters like Usagi show that those traits do not make someone weak.

I also related to what you said about Aggretsuko and the way gender expectations play out in the workplace. It is frustrating how normalized those kinds of sexist comments can be, and I thought the show did a great job of showing how bottled-up emotions affect someone over time.

Your discussion of Wandering Son was also really thoughtful. I agree that the show handled gender identity in a very honest and emotional way. It was hard to watch at times, but I think that is what made it so powerful.

When I visited Tokyo, Japan, I had no idea that I would be stepping into the world of anime. I knew Tokyo was the hub of anime and manga, but I had no idea that it was going to be that vibrant and busy. I had always loved anime growing up, but nothing prepared me for what I experienced in Japan. It was no longer about watching the anime; it was about being fully immersed in a culture where anime was not just for entertainment, but it was part of their lives. It was on billboards, trains, on snack packages, and even in the bathrooms. This is where I experienced true fandom.

The first place we visited was Akihabara, which is known as the Electric Town, and boy, when I tell you this was an experience. There was color, energy, and action. Buildings were wrapped in banners with the most popular anime, such as My Hero Academia. Shops were overflowing with merch. It felt like each anime had its own store. I found things that I could only find there, like rare action figures. But what was even more amazing was the people. People were dressed in full cosplay just walking down the street. Come to find out, most of them dressed up in cosplay for work. And there was no judgment.

While walking around, I came across a group of people all dressed very similarly, so I went to see what was going on, and it turned out to be a gathering of fans for Sailor Moon. I found myself surrounded by so many Sailor Moon fans in front of the Sailor Moon Cafe. It was literally like I was walking onto an episode of the show. There were Luna stuffed animals, milkshakes with a moon on them, and even food with the characters on it. Fans were getting to know each other even though they were from all across the world. They were giving each other goodies and sharing their favorite moments from the show. I would not consider it a convention, but a fan gathering. Tons of fans began swarming in, dressed as their favorite characters from Sailor Moon, eager to get to know one another. At this point, I felt like I belonged here. It was truly a fantastic experience because we all shared similar interests and understood each other, which is something I hadn't felt in a long time. After leaving the cafe, we just started walking, mesmerized by the anime and manga. On every street corner would be someone in cosplay handing out pieces of paper that were inviting you to their cafe or store. What shocked me the most was how normal it was to everyone. It was like everyone was used to this excitement.

Throughout the rest of the trip, we had multiple fan encounters like we did at the Sailor Moon Cafe, and it felt as though we were literally at an anime convention the whole trip. Being in this class made me reflect on my time in Japan. It made me realize that fandom is so prevalent in Japan. These people travel across the world to attend conventions and gatherings because they provide a space for them to be themselves and express themselves. Today, the younger generation, especially in Japan, is growing up seeing how normal it is to be fans of anime and manga. They are learning that there is a place for them and their passions, and they can share them with others who share the same passions. Not only this, but fandom transforms Japan's economy and is a leading factor for why Japan is so economically successful.

Although I did not attend an organized fan gathering, I did participate in numerous fan gatherings in Japan, including the Sailor Moon gathering. It was incredibly cool to be in the very country that anime and manga are most known for, while attending these gatherings and contributing to the fandom.

Your points about cosplay as a form of identity exploration and self-expression were especially powerful. It’s amazing how conventions create a safe space for people to step outside societal norms and fully embrace who they want to be. I also really liked how you described fandom as a form of “soft power”; anime and otaku culture have indeed become a major way Japan connects with the world.

Genshiken was an interesting anime for sure! It was much more on the comedic side than most of the anime we’ve watched thus far. Seeing how otaku fans interact with other people, particularly with Kasukabe, was really funny as there are obvious distinctions that Genshiken showcases between otaku personalities and non-otaku people. This anime really showcases how many in the otaku world/sphere pursue meaning and substance in fictional works, even sometimes over long-lasting goals and objectives in the real world, not because they believe that there is nothing of value in the real world, but because there is an unmistakable level of fun, enjoyment, and community involved with being an otaku that connects people from so many different backgrounds together.

This is shown to us in the character of Kousaka who, despite not "looking" the part of otaku, is still heavily engaged with and in touch with otaku culture and the Genshiken club. He still deeply interacts and associates himself with his hobbies of manga, anime, and video games, even while being in a relationship. On the flipside are those such as Madarame, who prioritize otaku and pop culture media over most other aspects of their "real" lives, akin to NEETs who also overlap with otaku culture. In this sense, there is an implicit rejection of the mainstream official culture and employment system and an acceptance of the “unofficial” culture, where hierarchies are built and society is maintained almost underground and parallel to the real world, explaining why many also feel like they must operate "hidden" from the broader society at large, as if fearing that their culture and hobbies would be ostracized by the public. In this framework, cooperating and participating in mainstream society is rejected wholesale in favor of pop culture consumption and remixing, almost as if it's a replacement for the real world and employment itself, especially within the context of Japan. There is no more need to find meaning in anything other than what is being partaken in with otaku culture and visual art and media, because the meaning and emotional value ascribed to the objects supplant themselves over things with real world value or monetization.

I can really connect with this to a certain degree, and I feel that many nowadays can as well. Nowadays, it seems as if we all live just as much in the virtual world as we do in the real world, through smartphones, computers, laptops, and the sorts. In this postmodernist paradigm, where assets are taken from a database of items with emotional value attached to them, we replace the items and identities present in our physical world with these customizable characters and objects that used to represent things that exist in the real world. Now, we see it and take it for what it is, above what it was originally meant to signify and point to. A prominent example of this for a lot of people is simulator games such as Stardew Valley, where the value of farming and farm-life in the digital landscape is supplanting actual farming and labor in the real world, and instead, we are metaphorically transported to a parallel world as avatars in the video game simulation, almost like a hyperreality. Even things such as in-game currency in certain online games can be said to follow through with this same principle and logic of ascribing value to things that are entirely digital and not held within the mainstream “official” cultural economy, environment, and context of the real world.

Just wow! I have to say, these three were my favorite anime that we watched this course. All three of these anime had their storylines; however, they shared a common theme: children undergoing discrimination but learning to overcome it. In "Naruto", Naruto is an orphaned troublemaker boy with a demon, known as the Nine-Tailed Fox, inside him. He did not know he had this demon inside of him, but he always wondered why people rejected him. He was the odd man out most of the time, even when it came to excelling in school. He wanted people to see him and love him so badly. Finally, he realized that he wanted to prove these people wrong and show them that he is not a horrible person. We see this when he faces the villain Pain, who destroyed Naruto's home village. They called for Naruto because he was the only person who could defeat Pain; however, he did not exactly defeat him. he chose to listen to him and reason with him, and it ended in Pain bringing back to life all the people he had killed in the destruction. After Naruto went back to the village, everyone was celebrating him and thanking him for everything he did. For me, this scene had a profound impact. It shows me that no matter what I go through, good will come out of it. From this anime, we also see war and peace, just as we do in our world today. We see war and hatred, but then we see the effort of making it right.

Next, we see a different approach to this theme in "Wolf Children". A young college girl falls in love with a werewolf, and they have two wolf children; however, he suddenly dies. Hana makes the children hide their wolf identities from the world, and even gets questioned if she is a fit mother because of her not taking them to the doctors. She was so scared that people would judge them for their true identities. Finally, Hana realized that these children needed to be free, so they moved to a very off-the-grid home. The children have the opportunity to be themselves, whether they be human or wolf, without the judgment of the world. As the children grew older, she enrolled them in school and taught them how to control their wolfish urges. As the children entered their teenage years, they finally realized who they were and chose the path of life they were going to take. Ame decided to connect with the wolves, while Yuki chose to be a human and attend school. Ame and Yuki did not directly face discrimination; however, Hana shaped their childhood around the fear of their identity, hiding who they were. People all over the world, including my younger self, are often scared to express or show who they truly are due to the rejection of the world, just as we see in this anime.

In all honesty I didn’t quite understand this anime very well upon first viewing. I don’t know if I was distracted or what, but I had trouble putting the pieces together when it came to the plot. Upon some rewatches, however, I was able to put together some key themes the show was trying to relate to children and how we perceive them. The anime takes it to a very far extreme but one of the main messages is how dangerous children can be when adults cannot predict or regulate the way they act. The magic system in the show is a perfect example of this. While not super complex, it serves as a narrative tool to denote a potential “wild child”. If a student does not show capable signs of wielding telekinesis by a certain age they are designated as disposable and killed shortly after. Why? Well, it’s because if children don’t possess magic, they aren’t susceptible to Death Feedback. If they aren’t susceptible to death feedback, the adults of the society fear that they can kill without repercussion. To get ahead of this potential outcome, they just kill the children first. However, even developing magic doesn’t grant you immunity from just being killed. If adults deem the children unpredictable enough at any point, they can still be subject to death. This idea that children are so unruly that they must be disciplined to this harsh extent is quite frightening. They aren’t even allowed to learn about the past and what led them to this point in society in fear that it’ll change their outlook and turn them against society. In said past non magical humans were infused with rat DnA just so they wouldn't trigger Death Feedback and could therefore be killed in the event they needed to be. Now obviously this is fiction, but it does have some real implications for our society in real life. Thankfully, we aren’t that extreme, and “wild child” cases can be tackled much more tactfully with adult guidance such as counselors and therapy.

Watching Psycho-pass felt like staring into a distorted yet recognizable mirror of our own world. The idea that a society could be governed by a system like Sibyl, which scans and scores a person’s mental state in real time, sounds like science fiction. But as I moved through episodes 1, 3, 4, and 5, it began to feel less like a distant future and more like a reflection of our present. In Japan conformity and societal harmony are deeply valued, the Sibyl System makes sense as an exaggerated extension of those cultural ideals. But globally, it speaks to an obsession with surveillance, data, and predictive technologies meant to prevent harm at the cost of freedom.

Akane’s journey, especially in the early episodes, challenged me. Her choice in episode 1 to spare a man that the system deemed unrecoverable based on his Crime Coefficient was a powerful act of resistance. It reminded me that empathy often requires us to go against what is expected. That tension between what is legal versus what is right runs through the show and felt extremely relevant to ongoing debates about justice, especially in places like the U.S. where predictive policing and bias are very real.

Episodes 14 to 17 introduced Makishima in a much more complex way. He’s terrifying, not because he’s mindless or chaotic, but because he believes people have traded their freedom for false peace, and the show doesn’t completely dismiss his point. His immunity to Sibyl is a flaw in the system that exposes its lack of morality. He sees the society as dead inside, and in many ways, he’s not wrong.

What struck me most about Psycho-Pass is how it made me reflect on my own life. we don’t live under the Sibyl System, but people do feel the pressure to appear mentally stable and productive. Whether it's at school, on social media, or in job interviews, there’s this expectation to be normal, to keep our own stress or confusion hidden. The Sibyl System may be fictional, but the fear of being judged or labeled for ones inner state is not.

Ultimately, Psycho-pass isn't just about dystopia it’s about the real world cost of over prioritizing order, safety, and efficiency at the expense of humanity.