Anime: Is it evil or am I paranoid?

[Sailor_Kenshin]

beach episode, and 1 of the girls of the trio that were trying to stop ang

I don’t even remember the scenes you mention, and don’t see the problem, but if it bothers you that much, give them away or sell them.

 

[aguyoverthere]

I don’t even remember the scenes you mention, and don’t see the problem, but if it bothers you that much, give them away or sell them.

No, it’s minimal, that part doesn’t bother me, and I’m not willing to get rid of something that cost me 50$+ on something i’m not sure of

 

[Truchsess]

I get where you’re coming from, Kenshin… but it’s just one of those “I want to be absolutely sure” situations. In reality, the positives ALWAYS outweigh the negatives… thus one could come to such a conclusion about the show, especially when it comes to a character like Goku… however, if something is deliberately inserted into a form of entertainment or anything viewable on an imaginary level, could it wreak havoc on the soul? Could it muster a subconscious, diabolical submersion of sorts into an abyss of negativity or darkness and lead us away from God? Truth be told, I know, now, that I’d view the show in a much different manner. I’d find myself spotting little details here and there in a different light… such can be described as symbols. I LOVE finding symbols that relate to the temporal, existential struggle that we beings find ourselves wrapped up. I love finding the light VS darkness themes in different stories. I can’t help but wonder, though… can such characteristics such as those I listed, as well as those listed on websites I provided, hurt the soul or our singular connection to God? Are the traits I mentioned things that could separate us from salvation?

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

No, it’s minimal, that part doesn’t bother me, and I’m not willing to get rid of something that cost me 50$+ on something i’m not sure of

Then keep it, lol.

And as for anyone else, don’t watch what bothers you.

Anime itself is not evil.

 

[Oren]

I write the blog otakucatholic.blogspot.com. heads up so you know where I’m coming from.

Anime is no more evil than any other form of art or entertainment including books, movies, tv shows, music etc.
Just like there can be good shows and bad shows, or good music and bad music.
As for saying that anime has demons in it, so what? Their conception of demons isn’t the same as ours. In an anime a demon can be kinda good and an angel can be kinda bad. It’s more like they are spirits from shintoism, and even if they say that a demon is from hell in the show, it is not remotely the same thing we believe. So, just remember, this is all just made up stuff and has nothing to do with real demons or angels or the Bible or anything like that. It would be just like reading a story about faeries and elves and all that sort of thing.
Yeah, the Christian/Catholic faith is never represented properly in an anime. I don’t find it is ever represented properly in our programs here in America either. At least in Japan it is more innocent whereas in America it is with an agenda against Christianity.
Anime is almost always pretty secular in terms of religion, but I think there are tons of shows with great themes of loyalty, friendship, self-sacrifice, and so many other important things.
You’re going to run into a lot of issues with any kind of entertainment you get into…video games or tv shows…so I just think you have to decide whether you can deal with it as a mature person or not and go from there.

 

[Oren]

As for Avatar the Last Airbender, it isn’t anime. It’s an American cartoon. I can’t for the life of me see how anyone could have an objection to that wholesome, wonderful show. Yes, it deals with stuff like reincarnation and magic…and so? It isn’t like the show is telling kids to believe in it, it’s just a story. If the kid has questions, which I doubt they would since it’s just a story element and not about religious belief, then just explain to them that some people believe in reincarnation, but we don’t. What’s the big deal? There is nothing immodest about that show. I’ve watched it bunches of times and I would let any age child watch it. There is a level of puritanical that just goes so far it’s insane.

Read the reviews of Myazaki movies like My Neighbor Totoro by Steven Greydanus, who is a Catholic. Those movies are about shinto spirits, and he sees no problem with it and neither do I. We don’t believe in those spirits, Japanese people don’t really either, they are just made up things like faeries or elves or something like that. There’s nothing wrong with them.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

As for Avatar the Last Airbender, it isn’t anime. It’s an American cartoon. I can’t for the life of me see how anyone could have an objection to that wholesome, wonderful show. Yes, it deals with stuff like reincarnation and magic…and so? It isn’t like the show is telling kids to believe in it, it’s just a story. If the kid has questions, which I doubt they would since it’s just a story element and not about religious belief, then just explain to them that some people believe in reincarnation, but we don’t. What’s the big deal? There is nothing immodest about that show. I’ve watched it bunches of times and I would let any age child watch it. There is a level of puritanical that just goes so far it’s insane.

Read the reviews of Myazaki movies like My Neighbor Totoro by Steven Greydanus, who is a Catholic. Those movies are about shinto spirits, and he sees no problem with it and neither do I. We don’t believe in those spirits, Japanese people don’t really either, they are just made up things like faeries or elves or something like that. There’s nothing wrong with them.

Just so. If these things are good enough for Chesterton they are good enough for me.

Oddly enough I just (re) watched Totoro this past week with some (Catholic!) friends. They were delighted.

 

[Kamaduck]

I know your pain, and I have come to this conclusion myself, the art style itself is not intrinsically evil (evil in itself), but let’s face facts here, we know that we are supposed to dress modestly, and there are no anime shows (except christian religious ones, as far as i know) are ever modest. Even Avatar the last airbender, i watched the whole thing when it was aired, and now that I’m older, i can see it has some questionable things, some characters were immodestly dressed, and it’s based around paganism. With that being said it is still 1 of the most decent animes out there. But, i think anime is a very slippery slope, you may find some that are decent, maybe, but you may be fueling a desire that could lead into watching the sinful stuff

Then you haven’t watched much anime. Or at least, you’ve skipped over some gems. While many anime are inappropriately sexual, many are not. This goes for all modern visual media- comic books, movies, and regular TV have the same problem.

I doubt you can find anyone immodestly dressed in, say, Kino’s Journey or Haibane Renmei. You will find lots of problems with these narratives, but then you won’t find any narratives that don’t have some kind of problem. I don’t believe that fallen humans can produce a perfect story.

Avatar was amazing, had unique characters and terrific animation, and was overall a great fantasy story. Aang was a heroic pacifist, and most characters change for the better over the course of the series. It had some problems, just as all shows do, but it’s much more high-quality than Dragon Ball, mentioned upthread. I don’t think there’s anything immoral about watching Dragon Ball, but I can’t stand the stretched-out fights and huge amounts of filler. That said, Piccolo is awesome.

As for it being based on paganism and using magic- the same could be said of all fantasy. Tolkien used pagan influences and included magic in LotR. I just do not see an issue as long as the viewer is mature enough to know what they believe in real life and why.

 

[patrick457]

As for it being based on paganism and using magic- the same could be said of all fantasy. Tolkien used pagan influences and included magic in LotR. I just do not see an issue as long as the viewer is mature enough to know what they believe in real life and why.

Just because we’re Christians doesn’t mean that we are obligated to make all characters faithful Christians or plaster overt Christian references or beat our audience in the head with continuous allusions to the Bible or whatever in stuff we make. If it were up to me I for one would use imagery drawn from non-Christian sources if it could serve the interest of whatever story I’m making. Seriously, this ‘paganophobia’ (for lack of a better term) is the same reaction Fundamentalists have when they look at say, Catholic stuff: “Oh my gosh, that is derived from/is similar to pagan stuff*! Devil worshippers!!”

• Regardless of whether or not it is actually the case.

Just because something is non-Christian doesn’t automatically mean that we should throw it in the dust bin. G.K. Chesterton himself said:

It is often said by the critics of Christian origins that certain ritual feasts, processions or dances are really of pagan origin. They might as well say that our legs are of pagan origin. Nobody ever disputed that humanity was human before it was Christian; and no Church manufactured the legs with which men walked or danced, either in a pilgrimage or a ballet. What can really be maintained, so as to carry not a little conviction, is this: that where such a Church has existed it has preserved not only the processions but the dances; not only the cathedral but the carnival. One of the chief claims of Christian civilisation is to have preserved things of pagan origin. In short, in the old religious countries men continue to dance, while in the new scientific cities they are often content to drudge.

Finally, let me summarize the viewpoint of well, most posters here: just because pornographic books exist doesn’t mean that all literature is inherently bad. The Bible is a book (or at least, it comes in that form most of the time now), but the existence of questionable literature would not mean that the Bible is evil - just because it is a book. In the same vein, just because fanatics exist in all religions does not necessarily mean that religion itself is bad. Just because there are people like Jack Chick or the Westboro Baptist Church out there does not mean that Christianity itself teaches bigotry and hatred. Same with comics, movies and cartoons.

 

[Retro_Ace]

Some of it most certainly appears to be. The Evil One chooses the art medium (drawings, music, movies, books) as a preferred way to make itself present in a way that appears innocuous - wolves in sheep’s clothing. And he is very skilled in doing this. Very much.

As for your not having any intention of leaving the manga world, Christ requires that you be willing to leave behind all worlds for the sake of the kingdom. Perhaps your vocation is not to become a Trappist hermit, but nevertheless it is a timeless truth that “where your treasure is, there will your heart also be”.

So live your life peacefully, but be ready to renounce to anything that you may perceive as moving you away from Christ and from the Kingdom of Heaven.

I can imagine the anime world is quite wide…there must be all kinds of styles, etc. If there are some that ring a bell in your soul, why not just set them apart. After all, we truly need very little in this life to be happy…all else is caprice

Well ones I see sometimes point out sin through Mature Humor and Satire (Panty and Stocking With Gaterbelt, kinda like south park, NOT SAFE FOR KIDS) I think its overall the message in it, its not how mature it is that matters (to a degree of course) more over the message it holds

 

[RTz]

I don’t think anime is inherently evil, just another form of entertainment.

Of course, just like any other entertainment, it is necessary to discern the content of the anime you are watching. I stay away from anime that has gratuitous violence or sexual content. One also has to be careful not to be addicted to it (can be an occasion of sin).

There are also anime that demeans or make parodies of Christianity or God. These I do not watch as well.

I think as long as you can watch with an alert and clean conscience, it can be legitimate form of entertainment.

 

[beckylou]

I am worried about anime! My daughter keeps drawing these horrible women with horns all the time…trolls? They look wicked. This has coincided with her being very depressed and reclusive. She is in bed every day, missing school and has lost her faith.
I read up on an anime character called the handmaiden who is supposed to be connected with “bringing down the catholic church!” Only a brief google on anime troll ancestors found that information .
They all look really ill (these characters)…and their horns make me feel depressed. To tell you the truth, I wish my daughter had never discovered these characters as they are all she is interested in. She was so bright and bubbly before this came about.
So, I would be on the lookout for any dodgy anime. I know there are funny characters like one piece and such, but this is NOT funny at all…

 

[Retro_Ace]

sometimes its not appearance that matters, like for ex, satan isn’t really a goatman, we got that from Pan of greek myth, he’s a tall slender figure with tattered red clothes and blacked out jews. its what they stand for

If you want your daughter to see positive Catholicism I would give her the anime Trinity Blood, the Catholic Church is displayed as good (even though the pope in it is incredibly young) but its far more positive and can definitely catch her interest

also there is D.Gray-Man and Blue Exorcist

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

sometimes its not appearance that matters, like for ex, satan isn’t really a goatman, we got that from Pan of greek myth, he’s a tall slender figure with tattered red clothes and blacked out jews. its what they stand for

If you want your daughter to see positive Catholicism I would give her the anime Trinity Blood, the Catholic Church is displayed as good (even though the pope in it is incredibly young) but its far more positive and can definitely catch her interest

also there is D.Gray-Man and Blue Exorcist

What is a blacked out jew?

I am not defending anime in particular, but have ‘concerned’ parents looked at the utter filth that passes for mainstream prime time television entertainment? Where is the concern about that?

Gimme Pokemon, with its emphasis on kindness, loyalty, and friendship, any day.

 

[Retro_Ace]

What is a blacked out jew?

I am not defending anime in particular, but have ‘concerned’ parents looked at the utter filth that passes for mainstream prime time television entertainment? Where is the concern about that?

Gimme Pokemon, with its emphasis on kindness, loyalty, and friendship, any day.

blakced out JEWLS sorry typo

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

blakced out JEWLS sorry typo

Thanks…I must be dense, because I still don’t understand.

 

[CesarAugustus]

I am worried about anime! My daughter keeps drawing these horrible women with horns all the time…trolls? They look wicked. This has coincided with her being very depressed and reclusive. She is in bed every day, missing school and has lost her faith.
I read up on an anime character called the handmaiden who is supposed to be connected with “bringing down the catholic church!” Only a brief google on anime troll ancestors found that information .
They all look really ill (these characters)…and their horns make me feel depressed. To tell you the truth, I wish my daughter had never discovered these characters as they are all she is interested in. She was so bright and bubbly before this came about.
So, I would be on the lookout for any dodgy anime. I know there are funny characters like one piece and such, but this is NOT funny at all…

Trolls… horns…

That is not an anime. I think is Homestuck. Is a webcomic done by someone form United States.

That webcomic is terrible.

 

[Kamaduck]

I am worried about anime! My daughter keeps drawing these horrible women with horns all the time…trolls? They look wicked. This has coincided with her being very depressed and reclusive. She is in bed every day, missing school and has lost her faith.
I read up on an anime character called the handmaiden who is supposed to be connected with “bringing down the catholic church!” Only a brief google on anime troll ancestors found that information .
They all look really ill (these characters)…and their horns make me feel depressed. To tell you the truth, I wish my daughter had never discovered these characters as they are all she is interested in. She was so bright and bubbly before this came about.
So, I would be on the lookout for any dodgy anime. I know there are funny characters like one piece and such, but this is NOT funny at all…

It helps if you think of anime as an artistic medium, like any other. For instance, you wouldn’t condemn all books just because some books promote immorality, right? Anime is the same thing- some is good, and much is bad.

I would keep an eye on your daughter if she is acting this way. I doubt a single show or comic could bring about such a drastic change in behavior- there are probably other problems going on. She might be depressed. Or she could just be going through the usual teenage emotional roller-coaster. No matter what the problem is, though, blaming her media probably won’t help.

I have to say, I’m a bit partial to monstrous characters myself. I like drawing and writing about goblins and other monsters, but making them unambiguously heroic. I guess I just don’t like the idea that pretty characters are good and ugly characters are evil- after all, doesn’t Satan appear as an angel of light? I don’t like snap judgements, so I draw ugly characters (especially ugly girls!) and make them the heroes of my stories.

Your daughter may just be a normal teenage Homestuck fan. She may be going through a rebellious phase, or be going through a bout of depression. But no matter what’s going on, you’ll get further by talking to her about it and trying to understand her than by demonizing the story she likes.

Trolls… horns…

That is not an anime. I think is Homestuck. Is a webcomic done by someone form United States.

That webcomic is terrible.

At first I was wondering if she was talking about some weird, obscure anime, but that makes sense. It’s kind of funny when anime gets blamed for things that are actually American.

 

[CesarAugustus]

…

Your daughter may just be a normal teenage Homestuck fan. She may be going through a rebellious phase, or be going through a bout of depression. But no matter what’s going on, you’ll get further by talking to her about it and trying to understand her than by demonizing the story she likes.

At first I was wondering if she was talking about some weird, obscure anime, but that makes sense. It’s kind of funny when anime gets blamed for things that are actually American.

After searching the terms mentioned, besides the trolls and horns, I’m sure is Homestuck.

Homestuck fans… they don’t have the best reputation… I just remembered what I’ve read about the perversion, the fights with other fandoms, the behavior at conventions… well, not everyone is like that, but still, that webcomic (based on reviews, fans, etc) is not a good read. Lots of objectionable content.

 

[Kamaduck]

After searching the terms mentioned, besides the trolls and horns, I’m sure is Homestuck.

Homestuck fans… they don’t have the best reputation… I just remembered what I’ve read about the perversion, the fights with other fandoms, the behavior at conventions… well, not everyone is like that, but still, that webcomic (based on reviews, fans, etc) is not a good read. Lots of objectionable content.

Regardless of how bad the story is, I find it really unbelievable that one webcomic could bring about a total transformation (to the point of skipping school and losing her faith). There’s definitely something else going on, and the obsession with Homestuck may be a symptom of another problem. Mom would do best to investigate the situation further and keep communication open.

I’ve only read the very first part of it… It looked kind of interesting, definitely a unique project. But I guess it wasn’t enough to hold my interest, since I stopped reading pretty quickly. I never got to the trolls.