Blog Archives
A Year Ago on Beneath the Tangles
A year ago…Hana of T.H.A.T. Anime Blog guest posted about how her religion affects her cosplaying…
…and I guest posted at Anime Instrumentality about Fractale and Japan’s love for Irish music.
A year ago…I wished everyone a Merry Christmas by analyzing the finale of Mawaru Penguindrum…
…and a Happy New Year by discussing Gilles de Rais of Fate/zero.
A year ago…Goldy talked about Guilty Crown and being yourself…
…and “The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya” and getting out of one’s comfort zone.
A year ago…I visited my first con…
…where I sat down for a second interview with Caitlin Glass.
A year ago…I scattered thoughts about the Toradora OVA episode…
…made a judgment about our reasons for going to church (according to Hourou Musuko)…
…saw four “faces” of God in Chihayafuru…
…and gave thanks for Don and others for their various gifts.
My Favorite Things (2012)
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Christmas songs are ubiquitous during the holiday season. In my household, we have Michael Bublé, Martina McBride, Andrea Bocelli, and MercyMe playing constantly. The music of the season has become part of the holiday tradition for many families. A lesser tradition here on this blog is my rewording of a song that has become a holiday classic – “My Favorite Things.”
Chihaya is only a few weeks away;
Anime tropes even if they’re cliche;
Saber rises above the other kings;
These are a few of my favorite things.
Art by スロウス＠ついったは住み家
Mawaru Penguindrum coming on Blu-Ray;
Kiritsugu finally fights against Kirei;
Rikka to Yuta with a pinky clings;
These are a few of my favorite things.
Art by 鳩
TWWK’s Top Anime of 2012
2012 is ending in a whimper, at least for me, as there are few series I’m absolutely loving this fall. That seems to apply to the year as whole. Looking back at my list of best anime from 2011, there were a number of series that jumped into select company among my very favorites, including Hourou Musuko, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Usagi Drop, and Mawaru Penguindrum. I had yet to see Steins;gate or the first season of Fate/Zero at the time of that posting, but they would have been included in the group as well.
Because of the lack of great series this year, I’m not giving as many shows on the following list. I dropped dozens of series this year, too; they didn’t interest me enough to continue watching, failed to keep my interest for the entire season (ex. Accel World and Eureka Seven Ao), or were dropped for other reasons. I also want to note that didn’t see a number of critically acclaimed series this year, skipping out the likes of Space Brothers, Jorgumand, Kimi to Boku and the latest Natsume Yuujinchou,and stalling on Psycho Pass.
And because I didn’t complete too many shows in 2012, this end-of-year list functions more to show my favorites than those I judge the best. Let me know your favorites in the comment section below.
Merely Okay: 3 to 4 Stars
Little Busters
First, the bad: the series has been, well, boring. It also has way too many girls who act like they have some psychological condition. Luckily, the show has been trending upward lately, and I’m eagerly anticipating the second season. There are also some fun characters (mostly male). Read the rest of this entry
Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Tsuritama’s Hindu Conch, Tokyo Cathedral Cafe, and Destined to be a Shuu
Mira unpacks the Hindu and Buddhist implications of the conch shell in Tsuritama. [Hachimitsu]
Lacybacula tells us all about a cafe in Tokyo with a unique spin – it’s designed to resemble a Catholic Church [Lady Geek Girl and Friends]
Zeroe4 calls us the “Shuu’s of the world” as he muses on God-given destinies, including his own while in Japan. [Zeroe4]
A Day Without Me provides background on the Angra Mainyu from the Zoroastrian religion in her breakdown of Fate/zero, episode 25. [GAR GAR Stegosaurus]
Jason Morehead appreciates the themes in Haibane Renmei as a meaningful series full of spiritual content. [Christ and Pop Culture]
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As part of the Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere series of posts, each week, Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
A Heart Matter: Fate/Zero’s Grail and Prometheus’ Black Ooze
For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
- Genesis 3:5
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Prometheus and Fate/Zero (through episode 24)
Even if you’re like me and knew little of the context heading into Fate/Zero, it was portended right from the beginning of the series that the Holy Grail was going to come with strings attached. And what a string it is – Angra Mainyu, the “destructive spirit,” is contained within the grail.
In episode 24, Kiritsugu, coming to understand the rules of the Grail as well as the evil spirit lying within, chooses to reject it. In trying to bring peace to the world, he would instead bring destruction to it.
Tainted Grail (art by ちご)
The analogy between the Grail and another sacred symbol, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, must be made. Eve took of the tree and shared with her husband, the two eating from it to become like gods. Kiritsugu, too, seeks that power – to know the way and create a way to do something godly. Read the rest of this entry
Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Mathematical God of GitS, Religion in Gundam, and the Good Shepherd in Fate/Zero
Aelysium examines Ghost in the Shell and takes apart a Tachikoma’s theory of mathematics and God. [Anime Elysium]
Rocklobster approves of how religion is portrayed in Gundam oo. [Lobster Quadrille]
Tommy thanks God (more than once) for a great Colossalcon, as he shifts the direction of his blog more toward convention talk. [Anime Bowl]
I believe GAR GAR Stegosaurus is the only blog to really mention the reading of Psalms 23 at the end of episode 23 of Fate/Zero. [GAR GAR Stegosaurus]
Ghostlightning continues his revisit of Cowboy Bebop, detailing why episode 23, involving a religious cult based on Heaven’s Gate, is similar and superior to the Cowboy Bebop film. [We Remember Love]
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As part of the Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere series of posts, each week, Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Christians as Black Rock Shooters, Kiritsugu’s Wish in a Sinful World, and a Religion of No Underpants
Zeroe4 elegantly compares to the world of Black★Rock Shooter to ours and calls us all “Black Rock Shooters of sorts.” [Zeroe4]
John predicts the new Bible manga will be useful for some, but lacking for others. [AnimeNation]
Katherine discusses the idea of humanity, free will, and choosing evil in examining the result of Kiritsugu’s wish, if it comes true. [GAR GAR Stegosaurus]
Bianca Montes of UT-Arlington’s student newspaper gives us some family background (including that she is “rocking a few tattoos as a Christian”) to contextualize the idea of openness and tolerance she identified in her first visit to an anime convention. [The Shorthorn]
And finally, something would be amiss if I didn’t mention Draggle and friends’ thoughtful study and theories about…the lack of underpants and religious practice in Queen’s Blade society. Here are some particularly delightful snippets from the collaborative effort [Draggle's Anime Blog]:
Much like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness of Canaan were forbidden from worshipping idols after they repeatedly tried to do so, the religion of Queen’s Blade actively forbade pants as blasphemous and idolatrous after women, possessed by demons, began to wear them. Clearly, the god of Queen’s Blade is a pervert. There will be no virgin birth in this world.
As the series has shown us, males are inherently unholy creatures. They are unable to partake in the worship of god and wear pants (a mark of the unclean) shamelessly.
In a society concerned primarily with fertility and the worship thereof, it makes sense that pants would be eschewed. After all, pants get in the way of both the sexual act of fertilizing the egg, and the worship of the sacred bearer of fertility.
Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Tattoos of Psalms and Spike Spiegel, Pride of Fate/zero Mages, and a Holy Light on Gon
I discovered a new blog this week, and strangely not through the Aniblog Tourney. Lady Geek Girl and Friends examines geek culture, but adds to that with discussion of religion, feminism, and other ideas. In one post, for instance, Lady Saika dishes about the portrayal of Christianity in anime, realistic and otherwise. [Lady Geek Girl and Friends]
A documentary was just premiered which examines the depths of tattoo culture. Interestingly enough, one of the doc’s featured individuals is a young woman who has tattoos inspired by both Cowboy Bebop and her Christian faith, including one of Spike Spiegel. [South Florida Sun-Sentinal]
In his post on episode 18 of Fate/zero, Draggle discusses Kiritsugu’s father and the sin of pride. [Draggle's Anime Blog]
Bitmap discusses the “mysterious bhavacakra” featured in the OP for Mysterious Girlfriend X. [The Untold Story of Altair and Vega]
Shimaru starts his analysis on episode 30 of Hunter x Hunter by saying how much Gon resembles Jesus in a scene from that episode. [UNMEI KAIHEN]
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As part of the Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere series of posts, each week, Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Revisiting Madoka on Easter, a Big O Savior, and the Case of Moses and Death Flags
Myssa celebrated Easter, in part, by rewatching the finale of Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Her analysis of the finale includes discussion of Christian symbolism in the series, symbolism that doesn’t quite fit into the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and even some Gnostic symbolism. [Midnight Equinox]
A Day Without Me writes a wonderful piece about the religious symbolism and language in episode 3 of Big O II (and also in some earlier episodes) as she reexamines the series. [GAR GAR Stegosaurus]
Draggle’s thoughts on episode 14 of Fate/Zero include his comparison of a certain character’s demise to a deathbed conversion (that isn’t a conversion at all). [Draggle's Anime Blog]
In another post, Draggle discusses the idea of love while analyzing episode 25 of Mirai Nikki, and uses the words of Christ to support his belief that there’s no such thing as “soulmates.” [Draggle's Anime Blog]
Koji writes a surprisingly nice entry about his past, including a bit about how Evangelion affected his view of religion. [MASCHERA]
Omo writes that way before anime, Moses knew all about death flags. Yes, that Moses. [Skull Candies]
Kathryn Darden of the Nashville version of examiner.com posts an article about Iota Soul, an OEL manga about orphans and created by a Christian. It was featured at a booth at the MTAC anime convention. [examiner.com]
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As part of the Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere series of posts, each week, Beneath the Tangles links to writings about anime and manga that involve religion and spirituality. If you’ve written such a piece or know of one, please email TWWK if you’d like it included.
Spirituality in the Anime Blogosphere: Amazing Grace of Eureka 7, Anime Cons = Anti-Christian, and Homura the Evangelist
This week was particularly rife with great posts and articles relating to anime and religion, mythology, or spirituality. Let’s get to them!
Anime News Network posted a report on mangaka Kazuo Koike’s interview with Madoka Magica writer, Gen Urobochi. Among the things they discussed was Madoka’s ultimate status and the role she and Homura played by the end of the series [Anime News Network]:
When asked about Homura’s position at the end of the work, [Gen Urobochi] described her as an evangelist who is the only person within the world she lives in who understands Madoka’s existence and role.
Mike Huang, who once graciously wrote an aniblogger testimony for us, posts a wonderful piece reflecting on some events of his youth and drawing comparisons to Ano Natsu de Matteru for the Diary of an Anime Lived series. Much of the story takes place at a Christian youth retreat and Mike’s memories about how those teens acted is telling (and unfortunately, not unique). [Anime Diet]
Tommy calls anime conventions a “culture of hate,” explaining what he sees as an anti-Christian attitude exhibited by con attendees. [Anime Bowl]
JoeAnimated talks about the redemption of three important characters in Eureka Seven, framing his post around the hymn, “Amazing Grace.” [We Remember Love]
Marina chats about real life speculation involving transplanting a “soul” along with organs, while discussing the surprising turn in episode 3 of Area no Kishi. [Anime B&B]
Bitmap surmises that kijimuna spirits, famed in Okinawan culture, are the models for robot characters in the anime, Asobi ni Iku Yo!. [The Untold Story of Altair and Vega]
Kermit Bayless relates his New Year’s experience in Japan, including attending hatsumode, sleeping in a capsule hotel, and seeing loud, sign-holding, Japanese street evangelists. [Jesus Loves Japan]
Cyberpunk addresses what she sees as the unsettling end to Texhnolyze, calling the series an “eschatological heresy.” [Cyberpunk]
Landon draws some great connections between Greek mythology and Shin Mazinger Z. Warning: click on the link only if you’re not adverse to f-bombs. [Mecha Guignol]
Richmond Lee presents a series of interesting connections between Buddhism (his religion) and the game, Asura’s Wrath. [Kotaku]
Hippiefreak reviews Saint Young Men, giving a brief overview of the series and giving recommendations on how believers and non-believers might take it. [Anime Tree]
In a post on episode thirteen of Fate/Zero, Sofiel mentions her own reservations about Christianity when discussing the much-dissected discussion between Caster and Ryunnosuke. [Hiroi Sekai]
