My Otaku Life

              My love for Japanese anime started at a young age. I believe I started watching anime at the age of two years (stated by my mom) and began my obsession at five years old. The first animes I ever watched which got me hooked were Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon.epilogue. In the past year, I have also found myself watching the new re-make of sailor moon.     

Left:Sakura, Right:Sailor Moon

I can still remember when they were featured on tv and I would get up Saturday mornings just to watch them. I loved the animes so much that I purchased the Sakura Cardcaptor ward and The Book of Clow. I still have the Book of Clow from my childhood, although some of the cards are missing, I’m not sure if I still have the wand. My mom thought it was cute that I was also so enthralled with sailor moon as a child, for my ninth birthday, she bought me this really pretty expensive moon necklace with the thought of sailor moon in mind. I still have that necklace, which is actually one of my favorites. As a child, I found Japanese animation somehow to be different compared to American animation. I enjoyed the design, graphics, and storylines more than American-made cartoons. Over the years, I was able to finish all of Cardcaptor Sakura and Sailor Moon seasons, episodes, and movies. In more recent years I was able to discover Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles which is almost a spin-off of Cardcaptor Sakura, or at least it includes all of the main characters. I was elated when I found this series because its predecessor got me interested in anime. In addition to watching all of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles, I have watched the movie, OVAs, and have read the entire manga series, which just started up again as a new series adding on to the

                Having a taste for anime, I soon discovered several others the caught my interests. I got into the more shounen genres next including; Yugioh, Pokemon, Digimon, and Beyblade. These animes were the start of my tomboy years when I would be obsessed with these with my guy friends, compared to my female friends who were all about dressing up and playing with dolls. I ended up purchasing both Pokemon and Yugioh cards, at which I would battle my friends. Even now I still purchase Yugioh cards but more for collection purposes. As I child, I would also play Beyblade with my neighbors and we would always say the battle phrase “let it rip” when we played. I can also remember when Burger King and Dairy Queen would give away Digimon toys as kid’s meal prizes, I obviously tried to collect them all. Pertaining to the animes, I have watched several seasons of all of them. I ended up Pokemon till the diamond and pearl season with the addition of at least ten of the movies. I have watched all of the episodes and seasons of the original Yugioh, Yugioh capsule monsters, Yugioh GX, and Yugioh 5Ds, and a couple of episodes of Yugioh Zexal and Arc and all of the movies. Fun fact: The newest Yugioh movie: Yugioh The Dark Side of Dimensions will be shown in a select number of theaters in January of 2017. I have watched six seasons of Digimon and the movies; Digimon adventure, Digimon adventure 02, Digimon tamers, Digimon frontier, and Digimon data squad (known as Digimon savers in the Japanese version. Looking back, I probably watched the least number of episodes of Beyblade in compassion with the others.

Dorney Park: Had catch some Pokemon

Gaming wise I have also purchased various Japanese games stemming from those anime for my Gameboy XP and DS. Starting from Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire I have purchased all of the generations currently up to the present and am planning on buying the new release next month, Pokemon Sun. I have also played around eight of the Yugioh games. Additionally, I have repeatedly watched Yugioh and Digimon several times.

                Later in life, I started to watch more mature anime such as Naruto, Inuyasha, One Piece, and Bleach. I have watched almost all of Naruto and have read all of the manga, and have watched and read all of Bleach. Watching more anime got me interested in reading more manga and discovering other genres. My favorite genre to watch has been fantasy. I like the unreal aspect that is conveyed such as things we imagine or dream of that may not exist in the real world but do with our imaginations. I have watched probably at least over 50 series including all kinds of genres. If I do end up watching a series I try to finish them completely unless I lose interest, which only happens occasionally during longer series. Additionally, if I liked the original series I end up also watching the spin-off if there is one. I am also a fan of doujinshis and fan artwork.

Sakura Festival 2016

                The social aspects of my anime life before college were little to none. I didn’t have any friends to talk about anime with. Most of them had no idea what anime was and the others thought of anime as childish. I can remember some parents questioning why I was watching cartoons instead of real-life drama, so I kind of keep to myself about my anime interests. In junior year of high school, I discovered one of the male assistant coaches at my club gym for gymnastics had interests in anime. He was about the only one I would talk to about anything anime. Coming to college I found more individuals who shared the same appreciation for anime. It is interesting to find others who are interested in anime and be like I know what you’re talking about. For others who don’t know me too well, I always find it interesting how others seem so surprised I know what they are talking about when they are talking about anime. I frequency get, “Wait you watch anime?” or the look that says whoa she knows what we’re talking about. I question sometimes, is that because I’m a girl or I don’t have that look? I’ve had others tell me that I didn’t seem like the type because I looked “normal”. Which means that some people associate having an interest in anime with a particular look. My mom doesn’t care that I watch anime; she has the “you like what you like” attitude.

J1-Con (right:me)

               

           I have been to one anime con, which was this past year in Philadelphia, J1-Con. I hope to someday to make it to the huge anime con in California. I have also been able to cosplay two characters; Asuna Yuki the blue fairy version from Sword Art Online and a Pokémon trainer from Pokémon Black and White video game, Hilda. I have worn both cosplays to the Annual Japan Club Halloween party and went as a Pokémon trainer to the anime con because the theme this year was Pokémon in response to this year being their 20th anniversary. Watching and reading so much anime and manga I got interested in drawing them. I have a small sketchbook which I have drawn some characters but only their heads because I suck at drawing bodies. For me to draw something I need a visual to look at so I found that I am unable to draw original characters that look good. At one point I wanted to become a mangaka or voice actor but found that I don’t have talent in either. 

UC Japan Club Halloween Party 2015

               

 What got me interested in anime? I think the first reason that got me interested in anime were the character designs and graphics. Anime has something special in its graphic designs compared to cartoons. I look at it as more of an art form in comparison. Second would be the storylines. I have noticed that most anime have excellent, sometimes complex storylines. Having a storyline engages the viewer making them want to watch more because they want to know what happens next. Whereas, lots of cartoons are standalone episodes, take Sponge Bob for example; you could watch any episode and it wouldn’t matter that you haven’t watched the previous or preceding episode. My interest in Japanese anime has lead me to learn some of the language (2 years, 4 semesters), become interested in the culture, even so far as to study abroad in Japan (summer 2016), and become part of the UC Japan Club, later a member of the executive board. Anime has been a substantial influence on my life helping bring me here to where I am today.   

Some Sketchbook Drawings 

                                   

Art Project 2016

Evangelion Blossay featuring Episode 23

              

Shin Seki Evangerion (Japanese translation) or Neon Genesis Evangelion (English translation) is a Japanese animated television series which debuted from October 1995 to March 1996. The series was produced by Gainax and Tatsunoko Productions and was broadcasted on TV Tokyo. The series was directed by Hideaki Anno. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this series mainly follows three teenagers as they combat monstrous beings known as Angels using bio-machine mechas called Evangelions or EVAs for short. The inspiration for this series came from Anno’s four years of depression. In the proposal phase, the project discussed Evangelion as a film, television series, or OVA; to which the producer decided on a whole television series. It was eventually covered by those three mediums after it became a hit with the public. Anno carried certain scenarios and the use of introspection as a narrative device from some of his previous works including; Gunbuster and Nadia. He wished to increase the number of otaku (anime fans) through this anime. Anno based the personalities of some of the characters to reflect parts of his own including; traumatic past events, personal problems, and relationship struggles. The anime was classified under the genres of; action, sci-fi, mecha, psychological, drama, with common themes stemming from tragedy, military, and post-apocalyptic society. For this blog post, I decided to analyze Neon Genesis Evangelion, episode 23, Rei III, Namida (tears), originally released March 6, 1996.  

         

Photographed at Universal Studios Osaka by Amanda Palladino 

       Why did I choose this anime? I chose this anime because as an avid anime watcher, I have heard good reviews about Neon Genesis but have never watched it due to the fact that mecha is not my favorite genre. Having been to Japan this past summer, I was able to travel to Universal Studios Osaka where they displayed a section of the park dedicated to Japanese anime including Neon Genesis Evangelion. Since returning, my Japanese anime course featured it, which I found as a sort of sign to research it a little.

                The episode starts out with a gloomy atmosphere. Misato is found draped over her desk in her cluttered room with the lights turned off listening to a final message left to her from Kaji.   

The next scene follows Asuka who is also in a depressed state but instead she is handling it by playing video games, skipping school, and running away from home. Her recent loss to the Angel Arael sent her into a state of depression, making her question the reason for her existence. Ritsuko receives a phone call from her grandmother informing her that her cat has died. Elsewhere, Gendo is getting grief from Seele for having used the Spear of Longinus to destroy an Angel. The meeting is interrupted due to an incoming Angel alert. NERV then decided to send out EVA-00 piloted by Rei to intercept the Angel. While Rei is in position, they decide to also deploy EVA-02 with Asuka as backup. 

The Angel bio-fusing with Rei

The Angel Armisael appears and attacks Rei, it erodes her EVA’s AT field and begins to bio fuse with the EVA. This immediately caused the call for an immediate deployment of EVA-02 but Asuka is unable to come to her comrade’s aid due to the fact her disturbed psyche has reduced her synch levels so low, to which she cannot pilot her EVA. After bio fusing with EVA-00, the Angel invades Rei consciences. There they discuss loneliness and the meaning of it. Gendo lifts the suspension on EVA-01 leaving Shinji to rush to Rei’s aid. The Angel then locks on to Shinji and attacks him, also breaking his EVA’s AT field and bio fusing with him. Rei realizes unconsciously that she wants to be with Shinji. She then stops the bio fusion happening with EVA-01 by containing the Angel within her EVA. Gendo and Misato order Rei to abandon her EVA, but she refuses; she ends up sacrificing her life by self-destructing with the Angel in order to save Shinji.

EVA-00 exploding with Rei inside

 NERVE later searches for her remains and her entry plug. Shinji returns home and is found in utter shock listening to his music, wondering why he can’t find himself to cry. Misato tries to comfort him but is shooed away in the process. Misato gets a call and informs Shinji that Rei is alive. At the hospital, Shinji and Rei chat about the previous events that transpired earlier, to discover Rei has no recollection. She comes to the conclusion that it may be because she is “the third one”.

 The following scene cuts to the third Rei in her apartment finding a pair of glasses that belonged to Gendo, with no recollection of the battle, she questions why tears seem to be falling from her eyes. Seele is upset with Gendo for the additional loss of EVA-00, to which he offers them Ritsuko as collateral. Ritsuko stands before them naked as Seele explains to her that she was offered up in the replacement of Rei. She then calls Shinji to meet her at NERV HQ, to which Misato also finds herself heading in accordance to Kaji’s microchip he gave her. There she holds Ritsuko at gun point demanding her to reveal the secrets she has been hiding. Ritsuko agrees on the condition that Shinji joins them, as he appears from hiding in the shadows. They begin to descend the underground floors of the facility and first stop at a room which reminds Shinji of Rei’s room; having Ritsuko explain that this is where Rei was born and raised. She then shows them the EVA graveyard, where the failed Evangelion experiments are disposed of, on their way to discover the dark secret of the dummy system.

They stand before the core of the dummy plug system to find that with a switch of a light, they discover a tank full of Rei clones. Ritsuko explains that these soulless clones of Rei are the core components of the dummy plug. After finishing her explanation, she presses a button which destroys the clones of Rei right before their eyes. Misato points the gun at her asking if she realizes what she has just done. Ritsuko explains she did this out of rage for her unrequited love for Gendo choosing Rei over her. She then asks Misato to kill her but she refuses. The last scene cuts to Seele awaiting for the last Angel.

                

              In our anime course, we watched and discussed episode one and two. Comparing the three episodes you can see a change in the character development and the narrative. One can also see similar themes and scenes that are conveyed both in the beginning and toward the end. In the first two episodes, Shinji is very hesitant at piloting the EVA but by episode 23 he seems more comfortable and is able to pilot it better. Throughout the series he has gained more knowledge and battle experience in dealing with his EVA, showing that he has developed as a character.

Shinji listening to music

 Within the first two episodes, you can also see that Shinji is fond of music as he is shown listening to music during his free time. His fondness continues throughout the series as he is shown in episode 23 listening to music as he grieves the loss of Rei. When Shinji’s father Gendo calls him to pilot the EVA it seems as though he doesn’t care about his son’s well-being only that he can pilot the EVA; this makes it seem as though he doesn’t care about sacrificing individuals in order to achieve his goals. This same mentality carries to episode 23 where he willingly offers up his assistant, Ritsuko, to Seele as an offering instead of giving them what they requested which was Rei. When we are first introduced to Rei she is seen as hurt and has not had much contact with Shinji, causing them to not have a very strong relationship. Skipping to episode 23 we can see the progression of their relationship, in addition to seeing Rei injured again. Their relationship has grown to the extent that Rei ends up sacrificing herself in order to save Shinji. She went from barely knowing him to having the will to sacrifice her life for him, which shows how much they have grown.

Some themes that have carried over from the beginning to end of the series include; psychological trauma, self-worth, anxiety, and fostering connections. While characters do develop as a series goes on, parts of the individual do remain the same. While Shinji gradually becomes more comfortable piloting the EVA, his reliance on music as a way to cope does not change. Watching the first two episodes with the addition to a later one, one can see differences and similarities between them. Although by skipping episodes we miss additional information to help explain the development of the characters, so it would be interesting to now watch the entire series to see how they got there and by what means made them change.       

Works Reviewed:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neon_Genesis_Evangelion

http://evangelion.wikia.com/wiki/Episode:23

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=49

http://wiki.evageeks.org/Episode_23

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/NeonGenesisEvangelionEpisode23Tears