Who loves anime here?

[ironchapman]

A Certain Magical Index had one of the most interesting beach episodes I’ve seen. It’s starts off normally enough, but on the second day of the visit to the beach, people start switching appearances without being personally aware of it themselves. The only ones not affected are Touma (the main guy) and a couple of others. Index is replaced by one of Touma’s guy friends (even though she otherwise behaves as normal), which makes a shot of her in her swimsuit rather disturbing. It’s all related to a certain spell that had been cast, and it’s figuring all that out which forms the story of the arc.

Oh yeah, and before all the switching, Index and Touma are biding time in their hotel room waiting for the latter’s parents show up. They turn on the TV and stumble onto the porn channel by accident. Laughs ensue and they quickly switch to another channel, but not before we get about a one second shot of a man on top of a woman from about the neck up. Nothing explicit is actually shown, but it certainly was awkward. I’ve seen worse, namely in the movie The Big Lebowski and episodes of the anime Black Lagoon.

 

[MrSylvester]

A Certain Magical Index had one of the most interesting beach episodes I’ve seen. It’s starts off normally enough, but on the second day of the visit to the beach, people start switching appearances without being personally aware of it themselves. The only ones not affected are Touma (the main guy) and a couple of others. Index is replaced by one of Touma’s guy friends (even though she otherwise behaves as normal), which makes a shot of her in her swimsuit rather disturbing. It’s all related to a certain spell that had been cast, and it’s figuring all that out which forms the story of the arc.

Oh yeah, and before all the switching, Index and Touma are biding time in their hotel room waiting for the latter’s parents show up. They turn on the TV and stumble onto the porn channel by accident. Laughs ensue and they quickly switch to another channel, but not before we get about a one second shot of a man on top of a woman from about the neck up. Nothing explicit is actually shown, but it certainly was awkward. I’ve seen worse, namely in the movie The Big Lebowski and episodes of the anime Black Lagoon.

Lol, that sounds actually rather funny. But Black Lagoon has nudity, really? I never knew that. Black Lagoo doesn’t look like my cup of tea though. Heres a review by a certain ShadowACS, an ameteur rviewer whose reviews I really, really like. Beware for some foul language: youtube.com/watch?v=fpN2Yr4PDPA. However, the Berserk manga trumps anything and everything else when it comes to nudity and violence. Just saying.

 

[ironchapman]

Lol, that sounds actually rather funny. But Black Lagoon has nudity, really? I never knew that. Black Lagoo doesn’t look like my cup of tea though. Heres a review by a certain ShadowACS, an ameteur rviewer whose reviews I really, really like. Beware for some foul language: youtube.com/watch?v=fpN2Yr4PDPA. However, the Berserk manga trumps anything and everything else when it comes to nudity and violence. Just saying.

I’ll DM you the details of what I meant by the Black Lagoon reference (since it’s a spoiler), but that show definitely isn’t for the squeamish. It’s sort of like Reservoir Dogs/Pulp Fiction era Quentin Tarantino level of violence and objectionable content.

Overall, I enjoyed it, but it isn’t stingy with the violence and other objectionable content. Sex stuff is more or less nonexistent, particularly if it’s not related to the plot (although even that is very little). No visible nudity that I recall, although some implied stuff and a little happens out of the camera’s viewpoint.

 

[suko]

I have watched the first six episodes of Baccano, and I have conflicting feelings. On the one hand, the characters are compelling, but they’re violent, and so is the show itself. I keep wondering when is something too violent, and I’m not sure I have an answer. Stuff like this bothers me a lot.

Are you suffering from scrupulosity by any chance? Now I haven’t seen the anime myself, but I do remember watching The Passion and how violent and bloody that was. However, in my humble opinion, as long as the violence doesn’t cause a person mental problems (distorting fantasy from reality) or causing a person to have and dwell upon violent (sinful) thoughts, I generally don’t think it’s a problem (at least for most people, especially those who are already desensitized to all the violence). But if there is nothing but blood, guts and a whole lot of gore without a convincing story to justify all the violence, then I think it is a good idea to avoid it for sure. Each person is different though, if the violence seems like too much for you, then I would avoid it, nothing wrong with that. Use prudence. Also, if you haven’t already, maybe you can talk to your pastor about this.

Also, have you guys noticed how pro-life anime usually is? It makes me really happy that quite a lot of Japanese by the look of things support life.

Yes, I have noticed that… but there is, in my opinion, a lot of negative messages sent as well. For instance, I see a lot of teenage characters “sleeping” around like it’s a normal thing to do for non-married couples - or living together (and they’re teenagers O_O!). I see a lot of promotion for carving ones own path/destiny (which is good in a way), but bad also because there is never any talk about how God is factored into all that. As a result, I think people can get the idea that they can do whatever they want, since it’s their own choice. All of this though, is easily found also in most movies, American TV shows, etc.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Whew, man. I’ve only added like three ongoing series to my watchlist but I haven’t served myself this much anime for two years! It’s good to get the habit back. =w=

Anyways, I’m gonna keep this up. It’s a nice breather after a day at work. >_<;; The only possible downside is that I end up having no time to write my fanfic at times. q:

I think it’s pretty obvious that I’ve been watching Chuunibyou for a while and in another thread, I’ve informally announced that I’ve also been watching Sakurasou. Before, it used to disappoint me that all the good anime I’ve been encountering were based on LNs but hopefully sites like Baka-Tsuki have translations as well. (They’ve got SAO for sure.) Oh yeah and I’ve also been following Busou Shinki which is like a mix of Toy Story and Angelic Layer. It’s better than it sounds really and I actually love how it gives the impression of a fantasy sports anime when it’s actually casual slice-of-life. There are no tourneys or real rivalries. It’s just sweet a tale of four techno-sprite girls and their doting master. ^w^

Chuunibyou is funny and really high on the moe levels. On the other hand, it’s a nice exploration of what I found embarrassing in my own past. recalls and then shivers I can’t say I suffered completely from a similar syndrome but boy am I not shy of calling myself a stupid kid back then. Really stupid. >_<;;

Now as for Sakurasou it’s actually tying with SAO in terms of my current faves. While SAO is just a pretty epic piece that incorporates MMO tropes, Sakurasou resonates with me on a more personal level. The show’s themes really reflect a lot of what I’m currently going through (pushing through with career choices, the self-confidence it requires, as well as getting back after failures). I guess you could say that if you ever read an inspirational piece from Forbes or a success story from Reader’s Digest, Sakurasou would be just like that except it uses comedic, anime high-schoolers.

Yes, I have noticed that… but there is, in my opinion, a lot of negative messages sent as well. For instance, I see a lot of teenage characters “sleeping” around like it’s a normal thing to do for non-married couples - or living together (and they’re teenagers O_O!).

You know if I lived a life like most anime characters, I’d actually be married for three years right now (five tops). When one looks at the kind of situations they’re in, sleeping around is actually the least drastic.

I don’t necessarily advocate that. But if I were, for instance, a guild mage in some universe like Fairy Tail’s Fiore, I’d be more concerned about taking S-rank quests or wiping out dark guilds than who’s been sleeping around with who. (I know smut fanfic writers who take their cues from there but meh. )

In short, too much crazier stuff happens in the context of anime. q:

I see a lot of promotion for carving ones own path/destiny (which is good in a way), but bad also because there is never any talk about how God is factored into all that. As a result, I think people can get the idea that they can do whatever they want, since it’s their own choice. All of this though, is easily found also in most movies, American TV shows, etc.

Actually that concept is very much in line with Church teaching. When you choose your destiny, you choose the consequences that come with it. Good guy does what is right. Bad guy does what’s wrong. Good guy wins. Bad guys can get away with it sometimes but in the end, they get their comeuppance (like in the recent episode of SAO).

P.S.

Anime is not meant for religious proselytizing unless you’ve got enough talent and resources to strike an audience with an impact like this guilt-wrenching piece. You need to show the tales of the Bible at its prettiest AND its ugliest. There’ll be no campy moralizing unless you want to revive the Flying House series while limiting yourself to the kodomo genre/demographic.

 

[MrSylvester]

Yes, I have noticed that… but there is, in my opinion, a lot of negative messages sent as well. For instance, I see a lot of teenage characters “sleeping” around like it’s a normal thing to do for non-married couples - or living together (and they’re teenagers O_O!). I see a lot of promotion for carving ones own path/destiny (which is good in a way), but bad also because there is never any talk about how God is factored into all that. As a result, I think people can get the idea that they can do whatever they want, since it’s their own choice. All of this though, is easily found also in most movies, American TV shows, etc.

First, Baccano is very violent but not Berserk levels of violence. It’s not there for the enjoyment of it, it’s there to tell the story.

Secondly, yes, some anime do have people sleep around as if it’s a normal thing. Hell even Fruits Basket did that although not with the main characters. Said anime also has one of the greatest and most pure romantic relationships I have ever read in a work of fiction. Clannad also has a couple who is very pure and loving. The only and I mean the ONLY time I actually do give a free pass for a relationship that has pre-marital sex is that of Guts and Casca is Berserk. Because the religion in the Berserkverse is really screwed up and because Guts and Casca suffered MUCH more than anyone in America ever does, plus, even after the eclipse Guts never leaves Casca because he’s not interested in her. You may disagree and I can see why. I don’t encourage people to heal their emotional wounds through sex, not at all. Just in this case, the relationship was really developed and believable.

As for teens living with each other in the same house, I view it with mixed feelings. If the cohabitation is innocent like that between Belldandy and Keiichi in Ah! My Goddess! and Ryuugi and Taiga in Toradora, I don’t object to it. If it isn’t thats a whole diffirent matter. Whats the point of living under the same roof and pretending to lvoe each other when on a whim you can decide to just leave once you get tired of one another? Marriage doesn’t give that assurance because it is a promise of commitment.

As for carving out your own destiny, I disagree. Sure Berserk does have a message that humans should rely on themselves and not miracles but the way it puts it is rahter mixed. Guts and co. are always using magic to get out of situations and the Godhand aren’t really god so much as they are the devil. In fact, Griffith is supposed to be not a depiction of Jesus but a depiction of the anti-christ. He’s someone says that he wants to bring freedom to the world when in fact he is nothing but a selfish monster. It’s really interesting actually.

To be honest, anime and manga taught me a lot on confidence in your own self. Theres a diffirence between confidence and over confidence just as there is a diffirence between humility and hating yourself: humility means acknowledging that you’re simply human. It doesn’t mean wanting people hate you for being so ‘evil’. If you want to do good just do it. Don’t mind whether your evil or not. Screw destiny, no fate but what we make!

Isn’t that the same way Mary and God think? We have free will. They merely help us find the right way to to heaven. If we didn’t suffer or work hard in loving God and Mary there would be no point in living now would there? Suffering is a show of love.

 

[MrSylvester]

Say guys, what do you think of Fruits Basket again? I just finished it and, wow, I can honestly say it was one of the saddest, sweetest and most heartwarming manga I have ever read. If it isn’t, I think it’s very close at being in my top ten as it really was great. I give it a 9/10. If it was edited more well, I would have given it a 9.5 but it was extraordinary.

 

[suko]

I think it’s pretty obvious that I’ve been watching Chuunibyou for a while.
Chuunibyou is funny and really high on the moe levels.

I’ve been hearing good things about this show. I’ll probably try to give it a good watch myself soon.

You know if I lived a life like most anime characters, I’d actually be married for three years right now (five tops).

Lol, I would’ve gotten married in high school!

Anime is not meant for religious proselytizing unless you’ve got enough talent and resources to strike an audience with an impact like this guilt-wrenching piece.

Well, I browse thru other anime forums and see people saying about how much anime has taught them things in life, and I really wonder about that, since a lot of these same people don’t believe in God or morality (they favor relativism), and/or believe religion is evil/brainwashing method (especially Catholicism), etc. etc. etc. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve learned anything from anime, but I don’t use it nor advocate it as a medium to “learn” things of course. It’s just entertainment - though pretty good entertainment.

As for teens living with each other in the same house, I view it with mixed feelings. If the cohabitation is innocent like that between Belldandy and Keiichi in Ah! My Goddess! and Ryuugi and Taiga in Toradora, I don’t object to it.

Even if the cohabitation is innocent, there is the danger of the sin of scandal (which is why as Catholics, we should avoid it as much as we are able), but each situation is different.

Say guys, what do you think of Fruits Basket? Here’s my opinion: Anime-blasphemy.

Blasphemy?
I’ve seen Fruits Basket a long time ago (maybe a decade ago), but I honestly can’t remember anything about it anymore, lol. The only thing I can remember about it was that I liked it a lot.

 

[MrSylvester]

Even if the cohabitation is innocent, there is the danger of the sin of scandal (which is why as Catholics, we should avoid it as much as we are able), but each situation is different.

Blasphemy?
I’ve seen Fruits Basket a long time ago (maybe a decade ago), but I honestly can’t remember anything about it anymore, lol. The only thing I can remember about it was that I liked it a lot.

Yeah, I agree absolutely on the cohabitation bit, not to mention the fac tthat there is danger of lapsing into sin.

Anyway, by blasphemy, I mean that the Fruits Basket anime is MUCH more inferior to the MUCH deeper, complex and character driven manga. With all respect to your opinions, Mmy reaction looking back on the anime was practically oh my gosh, does this anime really, really suck when compared to the manga. It literally only adapts the first 6 volumes and almost every episode is standalone. There is none of the massive and realistic character development with Kyo, Yuki, Akito and Tohru found in the manga nor does it have a real or satisfying conclusion. Not only that but the manga becomes rather dark and depressing later on, something you’d never notice if you only saw the anime.

Also, I said it before but I’ll say it again, being dark doesn’t necessarilly mean it’s good. Fruits Basket is good ebcuase of the realistic character development and the intense emotions it gives off. It’s not even FullMetal Alchemist level dark, it’s just a small, simple story about a big screwed up family and the way they all change because of the actions of a teenage girl. If you’ve only seen the anime, seriously read the manga from the beginning as it’s a whole diffirent experience altogether. However, it’s better to buy tankobon volumes than to read the manga on mangareader; trust me, the sometimes poor editing is easier on the eyes if you read it normally.

 

[Crescentinus]

It seems that when it comes to anime, I go for the non-mainstream types 8 times out of 10. Hence, I feel a little like an outsider as far as being an otaku is concerned.

 

[lauraabarlow]

Has anyone ever saw the movie “Spirit Away”? My kids got me to watch it with them and I loved it. It was about the human girl whose parents turned into pigs for eating the food reserved for the visiting spirits. She had to get a job working to try to save her parents before it is too late-and befriended some spirits. In the end, her parents became human again and she and her parents went back to normal and her parents have no memory of the episode. It was an awesome movie.

 

[sidetrack]

hehe,I’m back even after having back-end handed 2 me thrice on my exams --.Also like some twisted joke not only am I apparently stuck in a timetable for next semester that was one 1 of 2 choices with the same teacher who likely failed me in HTML teaching “real” programming (Java) to me for next semester but like some twisted joke I won’t be able to find out about my marks till the “reputed end of the world” the 21st -- ; .

I’m just dropping by briefly b/c of the load of the stuff I’d like to do before my holiday break ends.I’ve read this synopsis by Toei on the upcoming DBZ movie
“The story takes place a few years after the fierce battle with Majin Buu. Bils,** the God of Destruction who maintains the balance of the universe, awakens from a long slumber**. Hearing rumors that a Saiyan defeated Frieza, Bils goes on a search to track down the warrior who championed this feat – Goku. King Kai advises Goku to avoid a confrontation, however, Goku is ecstatic that a new opponent has appeared after many years and decides to fight. Unfortunately, Goku is no match for Bils’ overwhelming power and is defeated. Bils leaves, asking if “there is anybody on Earth more worthy to destroy?” Will Goku and the Z Warriors really be able to stop the God of Destruction?!” *

…the part I highlighted has a similarity to the final baddie in the 1st of my 2 fan-fics.With Toriyama apparently adding this to the “canon:doh2:” of DBZ.

:coffeeread: Thus,after a bit of thinking about how irratating it would be 2 have modify my fan-fic in order for it to fit in and be cohesive with chronological DB stuff all the time(which is now being touched by it’s maker -~- ) I’ve decided to give a “scrub that” and a flatly said “scrub you Toriyama” & decided to just finish up the follow up fan-fic series I made by patching it up with stories it still needs and some more character development.I’ll leave this endevour as a whole bunch of rough notes,true and while I might never get 2 do concept art as I have long planned at least I’ll won’t be leaving incomplete blue prints.Maybe I’ll tell you guys about it when I’m ready.

I don’t mind scrapping it for run of the mill short stories and I’m okay with having to switch over to something like my Tekken+Shenmue inspired story.From now on I’m going to try to not go on those anti-Tori rants that a few a you know me for.

Dragonball on the other hand, while classic has been parodied and laughed at a lot and a lot of it’s stropes like people waking up from the dead (People die when they are killed…) and constant powerups are becoming overdone, cliche and** are deemed anti-climactic** while Kenshin learnt new techniques but was still limited by his strength. Theres a diffirence between skill and supernatural power. In Fullmetal Alchemist, the most of a powerup the heroes gain is for Alphonse to learn using Alchemy witohut the use of drawing circles. Other than that, the Elric Brothers still use their skill to win fights.

aahhh.Sweet,sweet valid-a-“cion”.Thanks Sylvesters

I’ve also decided that for old series that are considered classics but I can’t bring myself into watching the anime out of time restraints a/o interest levels like Eureka 7,Ranma 1/2 &* Escaflowne *I’ll just watch their movies.Although with Escaflowne I’d like to read the manga sometime.I know that Wanderer answered me on this but given my age I’m feeling left out by how a lot of recent anime revolves around teen characters.I mean I know that they might do it b/c of the developmental stage there at but at my age (early 20’s) I’m suppose 2b in the “end stages” of the developmental phase + I really don’t like being reminded to much about high school.Fan service when characters are that age makes me ***really ***uncomfortable as well .

 

[MrSylvester]

hehe,I’m back even after having back-end handed 2 me thrice on my exams --.Also like some twisted joke not only am I apparently stuck in a timetable for next semester that was one 1 of 2 choices with the same teacher who likely failed me in HTML teaching “real” programming (Java) to me for next semester but like some twisted joke I won’t be able to find out about my marks till the “reputed end of the world” the 21st -- ; .

I’m just dropping by briefly b/c of the load of the stuff I’d like to do before my holiday break ends.I’ve read this synopsis by Toei on the upcoming DBZ movie
“The story takes place a few years after the fierce battle with Majin Buu. Bils,** the God of Destruction who maintains the balance of the universe, awakens from a long slumber***. Hearing rumors that a Saiyan defeated Frieza, Bils goes on a search to track down the warrior who championed this feat – Goku. King Kai advises Goku to avoid a confrontation, however, Goku is ecstatic that a new opponent has appeared after many years and decides to fight. Unfortunately, Goku is no match for Bils’ overwhelming power and is defeated. Bils leaves, asking if “there is anybody on Earth more worthy to destroy?” Will Goku and the Z Warriors really be able to stop the God of Destruction?!”

…the part I highlighted has a similarity to the final baddie in the 1st of my 2 fan-fics.With Toriyama apparently adding this to the “canon:doh2:” of DBZ.

:coffeeread: Thus,after a bit of thinking about how irratating it would be 2 have modify my fan-fic in order for it to fit in and be cohesive with chronological DB stuff all the time(which is now being touched by it’s maker -~- ) I’ve decided to give a “scrub that” and a flatly said “scrub you Toriyama” & decided to just finish up the follow up fan-fic series I made by patching it up with stories it still needs and some more character development.I’ll leave this endevour as a whole bunch of rough notes,true and while I might never get 2 do concept art as I have long planned at least I’ll won’t be leaving incomplete blue prints.Maybe I’ll tell you guys about it when I’m ready.

I don’t mind scrapping it for run of the mill short stories and I’m okay with having to switch over to something like my Tekken+Shenmue inspired story.From now on I’m going to try to not go on those anti-Tori rants that a few a you know me for.

aahhh.Sweet,sweet valid-a-“cion”.Thanks Sylvesters

I’ve also decided that for old series that are considered classics but I can’t bring myself into watching the anime out of time restraints a/o interest levels like Eureka 7,Ranma 1/2 &* Escaflowne *I’ll just watch their movies.Although with Escaflowne I’d like to read the manga sometime.I know that Wanderer answered me on this but given my age I’m feeling left out by how a lot of recent anime revolves around teen characters.I mean I know that they might do it b/c of the developmental stage there at but at my age (early 20’s) I’m suppose 2b in the “end stages” of the developmental phase + I really don’t like being reminded to much about high school.Fan service when characters are that age makes me ***really ***uncomfortable as well .

In all honesty, I don’t know what you meant sidetrack about getting 2 back handed on your exams but if you actually did no pass them, sorry buddy. Pray to Mary so that you’ll do better enxt time OKAY?

 

[MrSylvester]

Has anyone ever saw the movie “Spirit Away”? My kids got me to watch it with them and I loved it. It was about the human girl whose parents turned into pigs for eating the food reserved for the visiting spirits. She had to get a job working to try to save her parents before it is too late-and befriended some spirits. In the end, her parents became human again and she and her parents went back to normal and her parents have no memory of the episode. It was an awesome movie.

Hey laura, haven’t seen you for quite a while! If you could, would you please tell your son that I finally finished the Fruits Basket manga and absolutely utterly loved it? Thanks!

Aso, Spirited Away: it think it’s a good movie but not deserving to be called one of the greatest ever. It’s good for kids but when compared to other anime, I don’t like it that much. I give it an 8/10.

 

[CesarAugustus]

I’ve been hearing good things about this show. I’ll probably try to give it a good watch myself soon.

Lol, I would’ve gotten married in high school!

Well, I browse thru other anime forums and see people saying about how much anime has taught them things in life, and I really wonder about that, since a lot of these same people don’t believe in God or morality (they favor relativism), and/or believe religion is evil/brainwashing method (especially Catholicism), etc. etc. etc. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve learned anything from anime, but I don’t use it nor advocate it as a medium to “learn” things of course. It’s just entertainment - though pretty good entertainment.

Even if the cohabitation is innocent, there is the danger of the sin of scandal (which is why as Catholics, we should avoid it as much as we are able), but each situation is different.

Blasphemy?
I’ve seen Fruits Basket a long time ago (maybe a decade ago), but I honestly can’t remember anything about it anymore, lol. The only thing I can remember about it was that I liked it a lot.

I don’t think is because anime makes them like that. In my experience, most of these antireligious anime fans tend to have liberal and progressive views and these inform they way they see religion.

Just check various tumblr blogs and see how some “social justice” (read; lgbt activism, anti-white racism. heterophobia, pro-choice, etc) internet warrior types tend to be into various fandoms, including anime/manga.

And we have also the ones that see Religion as a mainstream or common thing, and because they are so “countercultural” don’t like religion (speacilly Christian ones).

Blessings!

 

[lauraabarlow]

Hey laura, haven’t seen you for quite a while! If you could, would you please tell your son that I finally finished the Fruits Basket manga and absolutely utterly loved it? Thanks!

Aso, Spirited Away: it think it’s a good movie but not deserving to be called one of the greatest ever. It’s good for kids but when compared to other anime, I don’t like it that much. I give it an 8/10.

Oh-I am B-A-A-C-C-C-K-!-! lol. I will let my son know, he is still big on the anime events and now my 10-year-old daughter is a big fan too, thanks to Alek. I missed you guys, a bunch… Hugs To be quite honest, I was in a relationship and was busy working for the Air Force and had some hurdles to work through, I am sure you understand. The relationship didn’t work out, though. Getting back to anime—totally different in Japan than here in the states. Pikachu from Pokomon and Hello Kitty along with Baseball is huge over there and many of them use the flip cell phones more so than smart phones (2011) despite their technical advancement over us for practical reasons. Many Japanese folks ride their bikes as a family during the warm months rather than driving-they are big on environmental causes. I was there last year and would love to go back in a heartbeat if I could. Still in the Air Force reserves, believe it or not lol… I am starting to really enjoy the anime shows and watching my son participate in the annual cosplay at the local library. I am going to run now. I will gladly relay the message to Alek. I do enjoy the anime-wish it was popular back when I was in high school during the early '80s, lol. :shrug:

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I’ve been hearing good things about this show. I’ll probably try to give it a good watch myself soon.

The show might make a few jabs that hurt if you had similar childhood ‘phases’. However, it’s the good kind of hurt.

Lol, I would’ve gotten married in high school!

Exactly! Half the time in anime, the world’s usually going to hell in a bento box (or destined for it at least). I might as well get my own love story and tie the knot during the course of being dragged on a grand quest to save it. (And in some cases, we all save several more in the process). Never mind the fact that I’d still either be a teenager or a young adult with a teenage waifu.

Truth only gets stranger than fiction when you know contexts like that were actually closer to those in more ancient times. (Biblical case in point: Wasn’t Mary like 14 when she married Joseph?)

Well, I browse thru other anime forums and see people saying about how much anime has taught them things in life, and I really wonder about that, since a lot of these same people don’t believe in God or morality (they favor relativism), and/or believe religion is evil/brainwashing method (especially Catholicism), etc. etc. etc. To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve learned anything from anime, but I don’t use it nor advocate it as a medium to “learn” things of course. It’s just entertainment - though pretty good entertainment.

You wouldn’t catch me dead substituting faith and morals with entertainment. On the other hand, it’s a different case when you indulge in entertainment that actually rings well with your morals (imperfect it may be) at an amusingly high rate.

Even if the cohabitation is innocent, there is the danger of the sin of scandal (which is why as Catholics, we should avoid it as much as we are able), but each situation is different.

Given the many scenarios that cause such a situation, I would think different is an understatement. I mean, I know one series where a guy is forced to take an alien princess as well as her twin sisters all because she chose him to be her fiancee. >_>;;;

And of course, we also have that one classic series where a certain grandmother converted her inn into an all-girls dorm before leaving it in the care… of her grandson. A hopeless, lanky, and easy-to-beat-up excuse of a grandson.

I could go on but I’m glad everyone’s got my point.

 

[MrSylvester]

Oh-I am B-A-A-C-C-C-K-!-! lol. I will let my son know, he is still big on the anime events and now my 10-year-old daughter is a big fan too, thanks to Alek. I missed you guys, a bunch… Hugs To be quite honest, I was in a relationship and was busy working for the Air Force and had some hurdles to work through, I am sure you understand. The relationship didn’t work out, though. Getting back to anime—totally different in Japan than here in the states. Pikachu from Pokomon and Hello Kitty along with Baseball is huge over there and many of them use the flip cell phones more so than smart phones (2011) despite their technical advancement over us for practical reasons. Many Japanese folks ride their bikes as a family during the warm months rather than driving-they are big on environmental causes. I was there last year and would love to go back in a heartbeat if I could. Still in the Air Force reserves, believe it or not lol… I am starting to really enjoy the anime shows and watching my son participate in the annual cosplay at the local library. I am going to run now. I will gladly relay the message to Alek. I do enjoy the anime-wish it was popular back when I was in high school during the early '80s, lol. :shrug:

Glad to hear from you Laura! Mary bless you and your family! One thing though, I myself use a cheap flip phone I bought myself for practical reasons; why buy an expensive iphone when you have things like the computer? Just my opinion though.

 

[MrSylvester]

Truth only gets stranger than fiction when you know contexts like that were actually closer to those in more ancient times. (Biblical case in point: Wasn’t Mary like 14 when she married Joseph?)

Sorry to go off topic but Mary, while she was 14 when she married Joseph, didn’t marry him exactly becuase they were dating or anything. It’s a semi-dogma of the faith that she was a temple virgin (feast day November 21) and tradition says they married because God decided they had to in order for Joseph to protect Mary and her dignity. They certainly did love each other intensely but it was more like a relationship between well, heterosexual life partners. They were best friends but did not have romantic feelings towards each other.

Anyway, I disagree with tying the knot as the world is going down. I haven’t seen a lot of anime where the two main characters actually have sex (except for Berserk) but you must note that romantic love isn’t centred around sex. It’s part of the romantic marriage life yes, absolutely but not it’s main focus. If it was, the only love spouses would have towards each other would be that of animals and unfortunately, there were people in the 20th Century that advocated this type of false love. Therefore, I think its better if two characters would actually marry and THEN consummate their relationship as it would show more dedication and commitment. Abstinence from sex usually assures a better marriage life because you’d be showing one another that no, you’re focus is not sex but love.

Sorry for the rant but it really gets to me that people today support pre-marital sex.

You wouldn’t catch me dead substituting faith and morals with entertainment. On the other hand, it’s a different case when you indulge in entertainment that actually rings well with your morals (imperfect it may be) at an amusingly high rate.

Me too, as long as a show is relatively moral I watch it even if it does include very mature content like sex and violence. Berserk is one of the msot violent and sexual manga out there but while it did make me depressed, do you know what it taught me? That pro-life is good and abortion is bad. Guts is the last person the world wants alive; he’s supposed to be dead ebcause he was born from the corpse of a hanged woman. Yet he didn’t die, he continues to live and hold onto his beliefs. The only times a child is shown getting killed is when they literally become monsters and even then they’re still shown to be utterly innocent and when Guts does kill the fairy apostle Rosine and her fairy army, the guilt and pressure from doing so gives birth to the Beast, a part of Guts’ conscience where every bad feeling he has has gathered. And even then, Guts and Casca’s child which was infected by a demon at one point and turned ‘evil’ is shown to be a good guy because of his lvoe for his parents. Also, look at the truth in front of you.

Most of the really liberal people who watch anime probably don’t get it’s messages. You’ll never see a pro-choicer think about the pro-life implications of Berserk because they don’t want to think about them. At the same time, I’ve seen that anime has a huge following in Catholic circles even amongst traditionalist Catholics. Anime tends to be more moral so I see why. Hell, even this thread has become unbeleivably popular by Catholic Answers standards.

Given the many scenarios that cause such a situation, I would think different is an understatement. I mean, I know one series where a guy is forced to take an alien princess as well as her twin sisters all because she chose him to be her fiancee. >_>;;;

And of course, we also have that one classic series where a certain grandmother converted her inn into an all-girls dorm before leaving it in the care… of her grandson. A hopeless, lanky, and easy-to-beat-up excuse of a grandson.

I know, I know, I know! You’re talking about To Love Ru and Love Hina! And yeah, honestly both those two series look like they suck. I’ve enver seen them but I heard that they’re nothing but a comedy with a lot of fanservice and some romantic elements and Love Hina is infamous for all the physical abuse the main character Keitaro gets. I tried watching an episode but I couldn’t pass through 5 minutes.

If you want a great romance anime or manga, pick up Clannad or Fruits Basket (the Fruits Basket manga is a billion times better that the anime) or if you want a very very good romance, pick up 5cm per second, Hayate no Gotoku, Toradora or Kanon. If for some reason you want a HORRIBLE romance, watch School Days.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I know, I know, I know! You’re talking about To Love Ru and Love Hina! And yeah, honestly both those two series look like they suck. I’ve enver seen them but I heard that they’re nothing but a comedy with a lot of fanservice and some romantic elements and Love Hina is infamous for all the physical abuse the main character Keitaro gets. I tried watching an episode but I couldn’t pass through 5 minutes.

Well I actually love reading Love Hina. Keitaro’s a wimp but he’s the kind of wimp that actually has a sense of fidelity in the end. You could even say Akamatsu created the original backbone for the harem genre (kinda like how Dragonball created the backbone for shounen). The unique thing about it is that it’s pretty obvious from start to finish about who he was going to end up with.

To Love-ru on the other hand, well, let’s just say I like comedy and the kind it serves represents the kind of fantasy that falls on itself with little to no deconstruction required.

God you’d have to be both incredibly sick and incredibly stupid to take it seriously. If you ever want to know what it’s like to make fun of male sexual weaknesses, I suggest everyone take a leaf outta that series. You’ll break your previous face-palm record.

I’ve actually got a lot more to say (like clarifying what I said about tying the knot literally meaning that I’d get hitched real soon in an anime universe). Alas, I’ve gotta hit the sack. Night everyone!