Live Action ... Deadly Casting

Any self-respecting anime fan (and truly, any self-respecting science fiction fan) has at least heard of Akira, and likely watched it multiple times.  Whether you actually enjoy it is beside the point - it was a groundbreaking film and stands up well over time.  Its themes remain timely and its story has never ceased to be gripping and disturbing.  It is a cult hit and for good reason (it boasts an 88% fresh rating at www.rottentomatoes.com and has garnered respect for more than two decades).

With that as the backdrop, news broke this week that Robert Pattinson (of Twilight fame) was being floated as a possible actor to fill the role of Tetsuo Shima.  Matters were made worse for fans of Akira when the same article noted that Justin Timberlake (of 'N Sync, serial dating and Michael Jackson-esque gyrations fame) could be in the running to portray Shōtarō Kaneda.  OK, I'm not even going to BEGIN to get into the concept that a story set in post-apocalyptic Neo-Tokyo is somehow going to be populated mostly with white actors in lead roles (plenty is being written about this dismaying aspect of the casting on the Internet, see e.g., http://www.moviefone.co.uk/2011/03/24/akira-remake-race-row/). 

Now I don't hate Pattinson (though I have absolutely no interest in ever reading or watching anything even vaguely related to vampires that sparkle), and I enjoy some of Timberlake's music and have heard that his acting is improving.  But both actors are so identified with certain roles and are well-known heartthrob types, it seems that audiences would be hard-pressed to separate their swoon-worthy personas from the disaffected, angst-ridden, street-gang members they are supposed to represent.  Not to mention they are both WAY too old to be playing these characters.  Of course multiple other names have been proposed as potential Kanedas and Tetsuos - but almost all are anywhere from 5 years to 20 years too old for the roles, and most are really just too famous. 

Granted....they both have crazy hair.....

So maybe casting like Pattinson and Timberlake would draw in teenage girls in droves (and 20-something women, and 30-something women, and.... well, you get the idea).  But [SPOILER ALERT], do you really think adoring fans want to see their beloved sparkly bloodsucker transformed into this?

Well do you????  I didn't think so.

Of course, it might be amusing to see Pattinson-devotees react in horror when they see how their idol ends up.  Yup, this about sums it up.....

And then there is the truly terrifying casting apocalypse and surely a sign of the endtimes (I wager that someone can find a reference to this in the writings of Nostradamus and I bet the Mayans predicted this as lead-up to 2012).  The horrific, nightmare-inducing, shudder-causing, nausea-inducing idea of Spike Spiegel - the epitome of "cool", the wonderful, nonchalant, martial artist /bounty hunter from the revered Cowboy Bebop - being played by [it makes me sick to even type it] Keanu Reeves.

This man IS NOT Spike Spiegel.

Keanu Reeves may be a very nice man.  He is fit and has the right body-type for Spike.  But he can't act.  And he is, literally, nearly twice the age of Spike.  Spike would never be part of a meme that has pictures floating around on the Internet like this:

Spike Spiegel wouldn't be caught dead with Dawson.  Spike is so awesome, his mere image would resist photo shopping that put it anywhere near James Van Der Beek.

Now I'm not a religious person, but Reeves as Spike is as close to blasphemy as I can conceive.  Is nothing sacred?

Spike Spiegel would kick the ass of anyone for casting Keanu Reeves.  Take heed, producers and casting directors.

Reunited (and yes, it feels so good)

My absence from this humble blog mirrors my sad absence from regular anime viewing.  The past few months have been hectic and carving out time to delve into new episodes or to revisit old ones has been - if not impossible - quite difficult.  There are many good reasons for this, though they are about equally balanced with weak excuses.

But it is a new year and there has been a sign of sorts that it is high time to re-embrace my anime otakudom (which is rightfully in question).  Yesterday I was surfing television channels, aimlessly traversing back and forth and to and fro.  In the midst of my lackadaisical and undirected wanderings, I was struck somewhat dumb and quite astonished.  A channel which I have oft dreamed about but never gotten to watch suddenly appeared on the AT&T U-verse guide. 

Well, that isn't exactly accurate.  The channel did not magically appear.  But it was a channel which heretofore had always presented a bright blue screen informing me in no uncertain terms that "You are not subscribed to this channel".  But this particular Thursday in January, as I flicked halfheartedly among various show descriptions, I found that this channel's bountiful treasures were unexpectedly open to me.  Oh yes, gentle readers, happily channel 1484 (in HD no less) is now available for my 24 hour anime viewing pleasure. 

I feel that there should be some sort of choir singing.  Possible heavenly,
but at the very least made up of prepubescent boys sounding angelic or something. 
Can I at least get a brass choir???

My anime dorkhood blossomed anew.  The malaise that had attached itself, unbidden, to my otakudom began to dissipate.  And now, hardly 24 hours later, I am happily consuming anime shows at all hours of the day and night (interspersed, improbably enough, with Australian Open tennis).  Claymore and Hetalia, Black Blood Brothers and Kenichi, Full Metal Panic! and El Cazador de la Bruja. . . .  Despite the fact that I own most of Funimation's titles and have watched many of the ones I do not own, there is something different about the show being broadcast on TV.  I have the strange habit of stopping to watch movies, replete with commercials, when they air on television ... even when I own the movie in question.  In my quirky mind, it seems special when something I enjoy happens to air on television. 

So I find myself immersed again in the various anime titles I enjoy, and even in some I have only a passing interest in.  I hope this unexpected treat, so pleasantly surprising, will act as entrée back into my anime avocation.  It has been far too long since I greedily consumed new episodes and fondly revisited favorite shows.  There is a stack of unopened DVDs languishing on a bookshelf and dozens of episodes growing metaphorically musty in my DVR.  

So I guess there's only one thing left to say:

I was a fool to ever leave your side

Me minus you is such a lonely ride

The breakup we had has made me

Lonesome and sad

I realize I love you

'Cause I want you bad, hey, hey

Ah, yes.  Reunited and it feels so good

Reunited 'cause we understood

There's one perfect fit

And, sugar, this one is it

We both are so excited

'Cause we're reunited, hey, hey

Hollywood Ending? Not here.

"Hollywood Ending."  n.  Def. a typical improbable or simplistically positive movie ending; also, an outcome to an event that would be a more likely film ending than real-life result.

One thing I've grown to love in many of the anime features, series and OVAs is their success in avoiding typical "Hollywood endings."  Yes, yes - these productions aren't from Hollywood so maybe it is not surprising that their endings do not habitually resemble the endings of American productions.  Still, there are plenty of shows and movies from around the world (Japan included) which cleave to happy endings, with all strings tied and all conflicts resolved.

Don't get me wrong, I often want that type of an ending.  I do not always want to have my thoughts endlessly provoked, my stomach tied in knots wondering what happened to the characters I came to care about.  Sometimes the pat ending is exactly what I'm looking for.  The ending where each characters' long term fate is clearly laid out, where villains get their comeuppance and heroes get their just desserts. 

But sometimes that Hollywood ending - or, perhaps more fittingly (since we are talking about an animated medium), that Disney ending - must be eschewed.  More complex, real-world endings often are necessary to fully tell a story, or to honor the source material, or to respect your audience.  Those layered and ambiguous endings can be more satisfying, allowing multiple interpretations and leaving open the option of further tales involving the same characters.  Such endings don't diminish or oversimplify complicated characters and plot lines, don't belittle the intellect of the viewer, and invite further viewings and discussions about the show or film.

These contemplations on how a show or film chooses to conclude came to mind because I finally (finally) finished the show Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit.  I mentioned it in an earlier column about shows that I could not bring myself to finish (mostly because I loved them so much that the thought of watching the last episode was almost unbearable); let's just say that before tonight, the last episode I had watched of this fantastic show was during 2009.  The ending was, unsurprisingly, beautifully done - while it did not end with a cliffhanger or complete uncertainty, it likewise did not answer every question or give a viewer the most positive and emotionally satisfying conclusion.  The major conflict of the show was resolved, but the human aftermath, the way the characters went on with their lives afterward, was only sketched out and not specifically shown.  There were farewells that were not clearly final, one could hope and imagine that some characters would meet again.  There were hints that perhaps some characters would finally connect, but no promise that this would happen.  I was left satisfied, because the ending was as gracefully and intelligently done as the rest of the series, but was also left wondering (and more than a little bit misty eyed).

There are so many anime shows and films that shunned the concept of a Hollywood ending.  Some are so dark that the ending could not even begin to be described as a happy one: such as Gunslinger Girl (a disturbing tale of orphaned or all-but-terminally ill young girls who are brainwashed and physically altered to act as assassins) and Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade (a modern, loose and twisted tale which alludes to, directly and indirectly, that dark tale of Little Red Riding Hood).  

Other shows and films utilize ambiguity, so that the viewer can imagine the ending as happy or sad - films like Sword of the Stranger or series like Samurai Champloo.  Still others have intricate story lines and characters with various and realistic motivations; such shows (like Moribito) tie up the major conflict of the series, but leave open other plot points - shows that include Witch Hunter Robin and Welcome to the NHK.

Endings might be impossible to really explain without ruining the point of the entire series (like Paranoia Agent or Paprika); others are more about the journey of the characters than their actual destination (take Kino's Journey); some endings do tie up many details, but cannot be purely happy without making the story trite and/or unrealistic (BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad and Samurai 7).

But perhaps the best example of a non-Hollywood ending - an ending that could be happy or sad, that leaves you guessing and infuriated and satisfied and unsatisfied, curious and frustrated, excited and impressed - is the end to Cowboy Bebop.  I often wax rhapsodic about Bebop, and a big reason for this is because, to this day, I still wonder what happened to Spike.  I wonder if Faye ever found her way.  I wonder what Edward is up to and how Jet Black is holding up.  And I have to continue to accept the fact that I will almost certainly never have the answer to any of these questions. 

Even  more importantly, I have to pray that when Hollywood does its live action adaptation of the venerable and nearly perfect show, it doesn't append the dreaded and eponymous ending, that "Hollywood" ending, which it is so wont to propagate.  The idea of sullying such a show with a simplistic and cheerful ending is nothing if not horrifying.  So let's hope that, as viewers, some questions are never answered, some conflicts are never resolved, and some endings, explanations and events are never fully elucidated. 

See you, space cowboy.

I Wouldn't be Caught DEAD Wearing That

I have yet to take the plunge and try cosplaying (costume play, for the uninitiated).  Cosplay involves individuals (or groups) dressing up in costumes so they resemble their favorite anime (or other fictional) characters.  Really, it is more fluid than that - I've seen people at cons dressed up as the MythBusters, as characters from various U.S. shows, or in outfits that generally adhere to a genre (such as Victorian or Gothic Lolita). 

Most of those cosplaying will pose for pictures and attempt to do so "in character" - so a Strong Arm Alchemist will speak in a booming voice and flex his muscles; an Ichigo will likely yell "bankai!"; and Hinata from Naruto will appear incredibly shy.  As a result, many pick characters that they admire in one way or another, or at least someone who possesses qualities they wish they could embody.
That said, there are multiple characters that I find fascinating and/or admirable, yet would NEVER cosplay on.  That top 6 list follows:


6.  Jo (from Burst Angel) 
As this list will shortly make all too clear, I am intrigued by and at least mildly admiring of kick ass fighting skills.  As will also be made increasingly obvious by this list, when a women in anime wields guns, swords or other weapons, their bountiful fighting skills are not typically accompanied by bountiful clothing.  Jo is a case-in-point.

So we have ass-less red chaps, only those chaps are daisy dukes and not pants-length.  Hmmmm.  Then you have a pair of bikini underwear (bathing suit?) with a midriff-baring, open backed top.  On the side of practicality, Jo does wear boots that are flat.  This would be even more ridiculous if she had to fight in this outfit while balancing atop high heels.  That said, though I enjoy her deadpan delivery and formidable battle skills, her outfit precludes me from ever attempting to cosplay as Jo.


5.  Masane (from Witchblade)
To be fair, Masane (as bearer of the Witchblade) does not get to choose her own outfit as the Witchblade itself initiates the transformation.  That said, you can clearly tell that Witchblade is the product of someone who has spent too much time watching writing "exotic dancers" and not enough time watching women who actually fight.  Otherwise, what could explain the following outfit?

The outfit literally looks painted on and does the minimum necessary to avoid actual nudity.  That is, until she turns around.  Then, depending on what incarnation the Witchblade outfit is in, you might get to see a full moon.  Seriously, people.  We all love women who kick ass, and I understand highlighting the characters assets.  Still, creating such an insane outfit only tempts those with minimum self-control to cosplay in said outfit (if you can call tendrils of spandex barely encasing "the girls" an outfit); and I'm sure everyone can count on one hand how many females they are acquainted with who could even begin to pull off such an outfit without seriously traumatizing anyone who happened to see her.


4.  Yoko (from Gurren Lagann)
Poor Yoko.  Despite being an expert markswoman, a cheerful comrade, and generally a useful and capable character, no one can seem to find her a bikini top that fits. 

Forget, for a moment, that (to my knowledge) no fighting force on earth fights in swimwear (other than Navy SEALS - and their swimwear fits); just consider how terribly uncomfortable it must be to have a top that is at least two sizes too small and thigh-highs (really impractical, considering she typically fights in the desert) that must be cutting off circulation.  And she still manages to hit her target.  Unfortunately, most people who cosplay as Yoko seriously miss the mark, and I will never join their ranks.


3.  Faye Valentine (from Cowboy Bebop)
I really hate to say anything negative about Faye.  She is a central character in one of the best television shows  I have ever seen (and I say that to include all shows, not just those in an animated medium).  That said, as much as I love her, her idiosyncrasies, her sarcasm and sneakiness, her vulnerability and believability, I just can't get on board with her outfit.

First, she only gets to change outfits occasionally.  When she puts on evening clothes, she looks normal.  But in day-to-day life aboard the Bebop, or when they are planet-side hunting down a bounty, more often than not she is stuck in this yellow two-piece number.  And the awkward jacket seems like it would hinder any mercenary activities, not to mention that the suspenders seem to be uncomfortable.  I think one of the leading ladies of anime deserves a better wardrobe.  Unfortunately, her outfit is irrevocably tied to her character, which means any trip to a con will likely include those emulating the most wonderful Faye in that most horrible outfit.


2.  Revy (from Black Lagoon)
I can't say I entirely admire Revy.  After all, she is not only a mercenary, but arguably a sociopath.  That said, there is a vulnerability to her that is slowly uncovered over the 24 episodes of the show.  And her vulgar language, unparallelled skills with guns, and her almost feral fighting style combine to make her almost impossible to ignore on the screen.  She is very funny, very brutal, and incredibly interesting.  She also wears clothing that makes Daisy Duke appear chaste.

Those aren't really shorts.  They are denim underwear.  But I certainly would never have the balls to tell Revy to her face that I find her outfit a bit extreme.  I will say, though, that at Ohayocon 2010 I saw someone dressed as Revy.  And that person shouldn't have been dressed as Revy.  Not to put too fine a point on it, but suffice it to say that if your pants size approaches double digits, you probably shouldn't wear what equates to denim underwear; and the person who was burned into my retina wearing Revy cosplay had to have been sized in at least the single, and likely the double, X sizes.  'Nuff said.


1.  The Major (from the Ghost in the Shell franchise)
How else could this list end?  Among my favorite characters, male or female, in any medium.  You can see my exalted opinion of GitS in general, and the Major in particular, in prior blog entries.  Suffice it to say, if I felt her outfits were realistic, I would love to cosplay as her. 

For those not familiar with GitS (to whom I would say, "What the hell are you waiting for?  An invitation?  Go see it!  It is amazing!!!"), you may be thinking that this doesn't look like all that scandalous an outfit.  You might say to yourself, "hell, anyone could wear that!"  Well, let me offer exhibit B:

And to put your mind at ease, the bottoms are, in fact, a thong.  My general rule of thumb is that if any given outfit REQUIRES the wearer to get a Brazilian, it does not belong in public.  No matter how much I love the Major, those of us who are not almost all cyborg need not venture in public in such a get up.  That said, she does sport other, more user-friendly outfits.  But this is, by far, her most iconic outfit.  And maybe it is appropriate that no flesh and blood person can wear it as well the Major does.

Irresistible

A few weeks ago the "Answerman" column at Anime News Network asked an intriguing question that I've decided to write about here.  The question was directed to those who are collectors (of anime, manga, toys, animation cels, etc.) and asked what keeps your collection growing ... geekery, sick addiction, or something else altogether? 


Well it got me to thinking.  And has since led me to a realization and this column, which is something of a confession.


I have a problem. 

Yes, you have a problem!  Though it is kind of ironic if Izumi Konata (of Lucky Star - a Seinfeld-esque anime about nothing) is calling me out.  After all, Konata is an anime/manga/games otaku herself.  Rather the pot calling the kettle black, I'd say.

I hear that most 12-step programs begin with admitting you have a problem.  Well, I'm admitting it.  When it comes to my growing anime collection, I think the cause is a mix between my extreme "geekery" and an addiction (whether or not to label it "sick," I'll leave to the experts).

It started out innocently enough.  I was introduced to anime in 2008 and started out by renting disks (both via Netflix and the most excellent Cleveland-area library system).  I started out with an odd mix (Gantz, Inuyasha, Naruto; then Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo and Samurai 7).  A few are definite classics - specifically the latter three.  When Samurai 7 became one of the early shows to make the jump to Blu-Ray, I couldn't resist purchasing it.  It seemed silly not to buy Cowboy Bebop and Fullmetal Alchemist, when I loved them so much.  So my anime-purchasing addiction really started out with my purchasing shows I had completed and had loved -- healthy enough, rational, and purchases came few and far between.

Really, at that time my buying habits were nothing if not healthy.  Honest!  Maybe I spent a ridiculous inordinate sizable amount of time online, trying to find the best deals or an out-of-print show.  But still, not yet a compulsive drive to expand the collection . . . .

Then things started to change.  I started buying shows I liked a lot, but not ones that I absolutely loved.  Still, not too bad.  I collected Naruto and Bleach, fun shows I'd re-watched.  Also picked up classics (like Neon Genesis, RahXephon and Ergo Proxy), which I wasn't sure I would re-watch.  And that is where and when my collection began to really grow.

I started picking up shows that Netflix did not have complete sets of; I picked up shows that I thought I could lend to people (in my never ending quest to get friends, family and co-workers to open their minds to anime).  I really began in earnest when I started attending conventions in late-2009.  I would pick up shows that the voice actors attending the cons had been in so I could get them signed. 

And finally, I had to admit my addiction this last month.  For the first time, I started purchasing shows which I had never seen.  Not just shows I had only seen part of, but shows where I had yet to see a single episode; I bought based on reviews. 

Uh oh.  Methinks a problem might be developing.

So, per Wikipedia, I've looked up the next steps should I wish to overcome this addiction to anime:

Step Two: recognizing a greater power that can give strength.  Hmmm, not so sure about this one (especially due to my inherent skepticism in greater powers).  Maybe we skip this.

Step Three: examining past errors with the help of a sponsor.  I guess this would involve printing out my Amazon and DeepDiscount receipts and acknowledging which shows I bought without seriously considering the purchase.

Step Four: making amends for these errors.  Well, this involves admitting I made errors.  Not sure I'm ready to do that, as I covet my collections.
Step Five: learning to live a new life with a new code of behavior.  Let me just say, that if loving anime is wrong, I don't want to be right.  Seriously.

Step Six: helping others that suffer from the same addictions or compulsions.  I think we've determined that if this is an anime addiction, I'm not ready to come clean.  The only help I can offer other anime otaku would be tips on where to find good deals, opinions on which shows should be in any collections, and commiserating about the dearth of newly dubbed shows (due, in part, to the crappy economy).

I am unabashed in my anime addiction.  And I don't think I'd give it up for anything.  I will continue in my anime geekery and enjoy each new acquisition.  The real challenge is carving out enough time to watch the prodigious number of disks which I have accumulated - so many episodes .... so little time.

You Had Me At Hello (or Shows That Grab You From Episode One)

We've all started books, sat down to television shows, met a prospective suitor or listened to a new album and found ourselves unsure of whether the object of our attention was worth spending additional time on.  Sometimes we might know it is worthy of the time expenditure, but only think the item in question is passable, somewhat amusing, or just okay. 

Then there are other times when from the first word, scene, or song, we are entranced, or at least hooked and we couldn't possibly imagine not continuing the experience.

There are many fantastic anime series.  Many of my favorites I took a little while to warm up to.  Even some classics do not hit their stride until a few episodes in - though I love Cowboy Bebop and think every episode is at least very well done, it was not at least until episodes 4 and 5 (episode 4 when Faye Valentine becomes a regular character and Bebop inhabitant, and episode 5 when Vicious makes his first appearance and you begin to get an inkling of Spike's back story) that I started to understand what all the fuss was about.  By the end of the series I was (and still am) of the opinion that Bebop ranked among the very best shows (anime or otherwise) I'd ever watched.  Similarly, though early episodes of both Eureka Seven and Neon Genesis Evangelion sparked my interest, I did not fall in love with (in Eureka Seven's case) or become morbidly fascinated by (in Evangelion's case) those series until the full casts of characters had been introduced and their future worlds fleshed out. 

That said, others series really did "have me at hello."  That is not to say that those series remained as compelling throughout, or even that they currently rank in personal favorites.  They did, however, have that strange and mysterious chemistry to grab my attention from the get-go. 

When They Cry immediately gets any viewer's attention.  It opens with a remarkably violent scene, followed by a colorful title sequence, and then followed up by what appears to be an idyllic small town.  The juxtaposition of such a graphic introduction with the quiet normalcy of the post-title scene is jarring.  The paradoxical nature of the show is only heightened as it becomes clear that the big-eyed and innocent looking young female characters have incredibly dark secrets. 

Both Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Welcome to the NHK manage to be cerebral, fascinating, inventive and compelling from the first episode.  GitS:SAC is a brilliant and mature science fiction story, well-crafted and logical, and in many ways quite plausible (it served as some of the inspiration for the mega-hit Matrix).  You meet most of the Section 9 team, you get a rough introduction to some of their enhanced capabilities, and you have the Major showing just how much ass she kick (both cybernetic and human). 

In contrast, Welcome to the NHK is a clever psychological drama, comedy, dramedy, black comedy . . . let's just say it is hard to explain.  The show follows the exploits, embarrassments and anxieties of Sato, a hikikomori (Japanese term referring to the phenomenon of socially withdrawn individuals with extreme levels of isolation).  Observing Sato's daily life is usually painful, often funny, and always insightful.  His issues, though extreme, are sadly relate-able, and though the show has definite flights of fancy (not least of which is his burgeoning conspiracy theory behind why Japan has so many hikikomori, and the fact that he sometimes believes the appliances in his apartment come to life and discuss said conspiracy with him), even such unreasonableness is almost justifiable considering the protagonist's state of mind. 

From Welcome to the NHK - how could you not be caught up in this guy's drama?

A good fight can also serve as entree to a series and grab the viewer's attention and affection from the first kick, punch, sword strike, or bullet fired.  Black Lagoon commences with high speed chases, frenzied gun-play, and a head-on-head fight with a helicopter.  Samurai Champloo's first episode feature multiple fights, but the centerpiece is the impromptu clash of Mugen (with an undisciplined and frenetic fighting style, involving both sword and limbs) and Jin (the classic stoic and tightly controlled ronin, whose swordplay is elegant and calculated).  Black Lagoon managed to get even better as it developed; Samurai Champloo is a bit less even, though it was and remains exciting and interesting throughout.

Multiple shows capture their audiences from the first episode because you really have no clue what the hell is going on.  Ergo Proxy was confusing in the first episode, and was confusing in every episode that followed.  It still makes no damn sense to me (OK, it makes some sense, but not enough to be utterly comprehensible).  Ergo Proxy is science fiction/fantasy, and you can tell the authors didn't quite know what to do with all of their interesting ideas.  Which might hurt if looking for logic, but doesn't hurt if you want to be taken for a ride.  The art in Ergo Proxy is brooding, and the music and animation is excellent and apparent from the first episode on.  Baccano! is a fantasy, mafia, Prohibition, alchemy, caper story.  Confusing?  Well, add to that mixed premise the fact that the story is told in non-chronological order, jumping between more than 250 years over the course of its 13 episodes.  Oh, and did I mention some of the characters are immortal?  Yeah, well, the title of the show is (loosely) Italian for a din or a ruckus, and the show is nothing if not aptly titled.  That said, the ride is wild and fast from the start, and as soon as you see a character get pumped full of bullets, only to get up and walk away as if nothing happened - well, you're hooked (if perplexed). 

Then there's Gunslinger Girl, whose eponymous character(s) is (are) reconstituted girls, rebuilt (after being either abandoned by their parents or otherwise finagled from them by the state) with no memories, a reinforced body, and trained with all the skills necessary to an assassin.  You see Henrietta (one of multiple gunslinger girls in the show) with her "handler," Jose.  They encounter their quarry, and Henrietta's violin case is revealed to contain something far more deadly than a fine string instrument.  You immediately wonder why she is heavily armed, why she takes the lead in the killing, and why you are still watching (it is exceedingly disturbing).  But you don't look away.  The show remains disturbing throughout, but as bits and pieces of the girls' histories are revealed, and the ethical ramifications are tangentially dealt with, it remains gripping and hard not to watch.

Of course, there are those true classics that grab viewers as soon as the hit play.  Any such discussion would be remiss not to mention Fullmetal Alchemist and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya.  The shows couldn't be more different, but both are beloved, critically acclaimed, and boast amazing beginnings and steady quality throughout.  FMA opens with the shocking and heart rending scene of Ed and Al breaking the most important rule of alchemy and trying to resurrect their dead mother.  The results are horrifying and lay the groundwork for the following years of their lives, as they try to rectify what went so wrong. 

Haruhi, in extreme contrast, actually has multiple beginnings (depending on whether you watch it in broadcast order or in chronological order) - any way you begin it, the humor is sharp, the satire funny, the characters memorable, and the experience unparalleled.  You just can't go wrong with, or not be instantly absorbed by: a show whose main character meets an alien, a time traveler and an ESPer merely because of the force of her own will; and which is narrated in a dry and witty voice over by the long suffering and only "normal" individual in the show.  Truly brilliant.

Long suffering "normal" dude holding the sign - gotta love it.

Anime Du Jour - WWII and Foul-Mouthed Kindergartners

Life has been incredibly busy - between work and P90X, there seems to be precious little time for my anime enthusiasm.  That said, I have popped a few DVDs into the PS3 and enjoyed, in turns, a bit of alternative history/escapism fantasy and a heavy dose of scatological humor propounded by pint-sized potty mouths.


First up was the first six episodes of Strike Witches.  How to describe this perplexing show?  Well, how shall I put it . . . .  On the plus side, it is an alternative history of World War II.  Rather than fighting the Nazis, Mussolini's Italy and the Empire of Japan, the evil enemies are alien in origin and anything but human.  And instead of fighting only with the historically accurate array of B-17 Flying Fortresses, Class A Destroyers, and Sherman tanks, you can add magical girls to the arsenal.  Yes, magical girls.  Having only watched six episodes, I'm not sure if there is an origin story to explain magic in this alternate universe, or if it is simply a changed detail that we are to accept without explanation (which I can deal with, being a fan of fantasy novels).  These girls, who look (mostly) like normal girls, undergo a transformation when they don their fighting gear. 


"What fighting gear?" you might ask.  Well, the gear is affixed to the girls' legs and allow them to fly - looking like a cross between a missile and the nose of a plane, tipped with propellers, as they tote various weapons (machine guns, rocket launchers, and one with what looks like a samurai sword).  They can shield themselves and as they fly or take off, you can see what look like alchemical circles drawn in their general vicinity. Oh, and when they put on the fighting gear, each girl mysteriously sprouts cat ears and a tail (each girl has a different type of ear and tail).


You might be thinking, "Well, this show doesn't sound all that perplexing.  What gives?" 


Ah, I guess I should get to the point.  There is one major detail that has been left wanting.  In fact, it is something that leads to only one logical question:

Why no pants?  No, really - WHY NO PANTS??!!  I understand the Japanese fetish for lolicon, the fanservice staple of panty shots.  But seriously, people, give the poor girls some pants.  Or even shorts or a mini skirt.  SOMETHING.  If I were facing some rather formidable aliens while flying at high altitude, I'd want some bottoms (other than panties) to protect me from everything from scorchingly hot spent bullet casings to wind burn. 

Honestly, people - don't these girls deserve some trousers? 

Other than distracting the enemy, it certainly doesn't help in the fight

and would make any reasonable alien take their fighting prowess much less seriously.

That said, the show is well-animated, has some very good voice acting, and is an interesting retelling of certain aspects of WWII (quite interesting when one considers the show originates in a country that was among the aggressors in that terrible conflict).  Definitely worth watching if you can learn to ignore the fact that these girls, unlike almost every other person in the history of the earth, do not put on their pants one leg at a time (because they appear to never put on pants at all).

I also spent some time watching episodes 7-12 of Shin Chan (or Crayon Shin-Chan).  Unlike Strike Witches, I can unequivocally say that this is not well-animated.  Of course, that is part of the signature of the show.  The characters are rough-hewn and very out-of-proportion.  The style looks sloppy and amateurish.  Which I'm sure took quite a lot of work to achieve. 

See what I mean?

That said, like the first show I discussed, this show includes some very good voice acting.  In this instance, the Shin Chan cast does some incredibly funny comedic acting, made possible by an often disgusting, almost always hilarious script re-write in the vein of Ghost Stories. The rewrite incorporates many cultural shout outs to contemporary US pop culture.  Jokes about Paris Hilton, young Republicans, crack whores, unexpected pregnancies, dining and dashing, and boob jobs are only the tip of the iceberg.


The main characters are mostly Shin, a five-year old with a vocabulary that could make sailors blush and an obsession with toilet humor, and his classmates.  Add in: his precocious baby sister and his sarcastic and very put-upon parents, a potpourri of neighbors, school teachers, and annoying acquaintances friends; mix in a complete lack of political correctness; re-write in such a way that American audiences get all of the timely and inappropriate jokes.  Result: a show you might be embarrassed to admit you find amusing. 


Did I mention that Shin likes to bare his ass in inappropriate and disgusting ways?  Threatening people with farts? 

Yeah, like I said, totally embarrassed that the show makes me laugh out loud.