“Akira” by Katsuhiro Otomo - Deep Behind the Cartoons
About a week and a half ago I watched the critically-acclaimed Anime film “Akira” and I have to say it was quite awesome. Being an Anime fan since birth, I discover that some common Anime fans watch series and films on the surface and I find that this does not allow the viewer to absorb Japanese animation as an art in all its glory. But that’s beside the point of this post.
A few lectures back we discussed the historical representations in film regarding the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings as well as the rebuilding of Japan symbolized by the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. After watching “Akira” I realize that a lot of the Anime films and TV series out there portray these significant events through whatever motif or symbolism, and a lot of them are clearly released years after the bombings and 1964 Olympics. Other than being an extraordinary display of animation (especially in 1988), the movie shows much of the themes we talked about during that lecture on October 11th.
So I’m asking why is it that these themes of destruction and reconstruction of Japan’s national identity and global status come up many years after the events and also especially in animated films? Are the feelings and emotions still lingering in the Japan we know today? Or are they just reflections of history?
Other than that watch more Anime with a deconstructive and analytic mindset! My friends consider me to be immature and geeky sometimes for watching Anime movies and series over and over again. Enjoy and drown yourself with thoughts! Take care.
-Philbert Lui
November 1st, 2007 at 10:05 am
Hey, Philbert,
First off, as a fellow anime fan, I must disagree with the assertion that anime fans appreciate work for surface value only. True, there are the truly unfortunate and lonely souls who watch it for the fanservice and nothing else, but a number of us try to base our selection on quality-of-story, quality-of-artwork/animation, and characterization. And it’s alright to appreciate the surface value of a work; you don’t swim in a pool without looking at the water’s quality first.
Of course, I may be misunderstanding what you mean by “deconstructively”, taking it as an academically analytical perspective, rather than in the “looking for the qualities I listed above” kind of way. But I’ll move on.
In regards to your question about the deconstruction/reconstruction of Japanese identity through the depiction of literally deconstructive methods—I’m assuming you’ve heard the expression, “gone, but not forgotten”? Even though all the issues they dealt with leading up to the 1964 Olympics aren’t as prevalent now as they were then, it’s likely that numerous people still recall the post-Hiroshima/Nagasaki rebuilding process, and in a way, want to instill whatever values they experienced then to a younger generation. Of course, they can’t go and bomb another major city and then recover from it in order to do that, so they convey it through a medium that reaches a large number of younger viewers: animation.
Now, I could be very very wrong in this assertion, since I only vaguely recall some of the themes tha came up that week, and since I haven’t seen “Akira”. I’ll probably offer a revised thought on the matter later on, once I’ve revisited my notes.
Thanks,
Greg
November 1st, 2007 at 11:53 am
Yeah this was a really good anime. Its been about 2 years or so since i last watched this one. I don’t remember the details of it all nor have i thought deeply about this movies themes. It can be debated that it deals with themes of destruction and reconstruction, but in my view i don’t think that’s what the movie was coming across as. It centered around teenagers, from a gang. I would push to say the movie dealt with the struggle of identity for the youth population and even displacement of that generation.
For me a few animations come to mind when i think post war, i guess since they are obvious choices, Grave of the Fireflies and Barefoot Gen. I’ve only seen Grave of the fireflies, and that must have been like 5-6 years ago. But from what i remember it did paint a good picture of post-war japan. I think it may have come out the same time as akira too. def worth a viewing for those anime fans that havn’t seen it. I heard barefoot gen is great too and i plan to view that soon.
James
November 1st, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Yay replies so soon!
Just a few responses. Hey Greg, I’m just really trying to avoid generalizing and assuming but I know a good number of people who watch Anime just for the sake of watching Anime, hence only scraping the surface. But those who study film, like us, I know a lot of us go beyond the surface when watching anything really.
Anywho, I thought Akira boldly state the themes referring to aftermaths of WWII but instead they stated that the Neo-Tokyo they portrayed was after WWIII. The motifs of identity crisis in youth population is clear in the film but to me at least, the themes of war came out stronger. But I guess it could be said that the youth was affected most by war and its aftermaths?
Awesome that you guys responded! York should totally make an Anime Film & TV class haha jokes. But no really we should…
November 6th, 2007 at 10:18 am
That seems fair, Philbert. However, I’m afraid I’m not much when it comes to critical analysis of stuff; if I’m asked to, I can be, but I’m hardly a film analyst.
And James, I don’t know if I’d classify “Grave of the Fireflies” as a post-war film, seeing as the story is actually set during the war. There is no doubt, it paints a very vivid picture of the suffering you endure in such times—suffering which, I suppose, we can only really reflect on when the war has passed—and there is a portion of the film set shortly following Japan’s surrender; but for the most part, I’d say it qualifies more as a war film than a postwar film.
(And for those who haven’t seen “Grave of the Fireflies”, it is probably one of the greatest WWII movies ever made. I’m talking “Schindler’s List” level.)
And hey, there’s already an Anime club on-campus; a course seems like the next logical step……
November 7th, 2007 at 12:40 am
I think it is interesting that you bring up the notion that some anime viewers watch anime from a anon-analytical position. I know that this is not the main point of your article, but I wish to touch upon the subject a bit.
It seems that there is a notion among some that anime is something “other”. Perhaps, if we take the position of its detractors, those that disenfranchise the anime fan with statements such as “anime is for kids” or “oh, you watch anime”, we see anime as an anomaly. It is animation but frequently deals with topics and portrayals that seldom creep up in a Disney cartoon. Thus, it is strange, weird and other. I believe this is the type of position that leads to a resistance among older North American crowds. Of course, Miyazaki films, to provide a counter-example, are some of the more successful animes, with family friendly stories that resemble Disney productions more often than not. They are exoticised Disney-like films, different enough to intrigue but not strange enough to alienate. Regardless, much of the body of anime is ignored by all but its cult fans. I believe this resistance is due to this tendency to see anime as different.
I will say flat out that I am not an anime “fan”. The word is otaku, right? I’ve encountered many people who consider themselves otaku, and many other people who believe otaku are simply mad. Yet the same people who view anime fans as bizarre would look at a fan of Schwarsenegger action flicks as perfectly normal. Why is this, and how does this tie into my statement about not being a fan? Well, it is simple. I see anime as simply another facet of film. To make an animation is simply a choice of a filmmaker, synonymous with choosing a different film stock, film ratio, or even a shooting location. If an anime looks to be a good film I will watch it, with the same eyes and mindset I lend to any film. Thus I am not a fan of anime any more than I am of horror, sci-fi or any other genre - I am a fan of film.
Yet to others the choice of animation as medium lessens the value of the film. It immediately becomes less mature, seen as a medium for children. Thus to the non-fan otaku are bizzare individuals, adults who engage in hours of consumption of what, in the mind of the non-fan is for children. To the non-fan the otaku must simply be fanatical, watching anime simply because of a blind devotion to the genre, not for any deeper meaning or enjoyment. With any fan following of a genre those outside the fan group may look at the group as strange, and attempt to explain their behaviour by lessening the significance of their enjoyment.
Thus, if I don’t understand or enjoy anime and you do, my reasoning will lead me to believe that you must be strange to enjoy something that I do not. I think this type of mentality is what spreads notions that anime fans do not read beyond the surface layer of their favourite shows and films. We could argue for hours on this topic and use other genres as examples (horror fans, action fans) however I am a firm believer that the serious fans of any medium often delve very deep into their interest simply because they engage themselves with it so frequently.
Perhaps the view that anime is strange and other is changing, as it gains ground in contemporary culture. It is likely a major force behind the rise of adult animation on late night television (look to Adult-Swim and shows like Harvey Birdman, Robot Chicken, Metalocalypse and Aqua-Teen Hunger force for examples). Perhaps, in time, anime will be looked upon as simply a part of the greater repertoire of film and enjoyed as such.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Completely agree with ‘Grave of Fireflies’ being one of the greatest WWII films ever made. Some critics actually compared Grave of Fireflies to Schindler’s List (notably Roger Ebert). Funny how a movie can be appeal so true to humanity whilst being an animated film.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am
Very nice summation, Jason, though it should prob’ly be noted that the generalized views of otaku are limited to either “oh, anime, that’s for little kids”, or “EW, you watch anime, you sick pervert”. (the latter being on account of hentai and variations thereof, or of extremely graphic violence)
And I dunno if I’d call Miyazaki’s films “family-friendly”. Yes, “Spirited Away” and “My Neighbour Totoro” and……OK, so most of his films probably ARE family friendly. But at least one—”Princess Mononoke”—is most definitely for viewers in their teens and up. Just sayin’.