Supernatural 101

I know I promised we’d talk about the new animes of the season, but I’m a noob at this blogging thing, and even though I was warned, I still stupidly thought it was going to be easy to update every week. So I noticed this year supernatural anime seems to be the trend - four of them made my list, Blue Exorcist, Natsume Yuujinchou San, Blood C and Durarara!!, and they are de-licious – I would write a little introduction to prepare you for what a supernatural anime is like. Once again I am sorry for the broken promise and I hope you enjoy this blog instead for now. I will have the reviews for those animes ready by my next blog entry.

(Clap hands together) Okay let’s begin class….

Like true anime with mystical themes, they gotta be a bit scary. Some of them, like Deathnote (below right) and Vampire Hunter D (last pic below left) are more than scary, they’re down right “oh-my-god swallow-your-tongue won’t-sleep-for-a-week” disturbing. But I say if you never watched an anime that made you hide your eyes like a child, then you haven’t watched many and you are so missing out. Because if it’s one thing I’ve learned in all my years of watching anime is: creepy-weird is awesome.

Supernatural animes overflow with creepy and weirdness. You know the ones I mean, the animes that will have a scene where the hero is in a dark forest/field, and a lone little kid with a freaky smile steps out from behind a tree, and you know the brat is going to change into some kind of Wtf-monster, but you know it’s going to be an awesome-sauce moment, because that hero has some kind of unbelievable power that his demon mom/dad/grandmother passed/cursed him/her with and we’re about to see the monster get his ugly butt thoroughly kicked.

But if all that kind of thing is not your cup of tea, I reassure you that supernatural anime is not only blood, violence and horrifying monsters. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still creepy and weird, but a few are more realistic and normal…well, normal-ish…like maybe a teenager being able to talk to those who’ve gone over to the other side, and therefore using his/her gift to help their loved ones get in contact with them or solve the mystery of their murder, like in Psychic Detective Yakumo

The atmospheres also are not always so dark and heavy. They can sometimes do a complete one-eighty. Yes, demons and spirits are still there, but you’d be surprised that the same type of monster you saw trying to rip someone to shreds in one show, could be seen as a cute harmless idiot in the next, who with one goofy face has become the comedy relief, maybe even a good friend. Suddenly the darkness has lifted, and fun and laughter ensues. And even though most of the demons are still “mischievous” and the hero is always in danger of being eaten by one of them (his demon buddy included in this), you are never too worried that it all won’t end happily. You see this kinda thing a lot in animes like Saiyuki (right, Lirin), Soul Eater, and Rumiko Takahashi works, like Inuyasha (above left). It’s amazing how they can be really ominous and scary one episode, and then be side-achingly ridiculous in the next. Basically, these light-hearted moments give us some relief from too much drama and depressing stuff, so we can LMAO, relax and have fun.

Also another cool thing about supernatural animes is that these plots are usually placed in an ancient Japanese setting and with that comes a lesson of Japanese culture. Even if the characters aren’t actually in Feudal Japan (though sometimes they are), you can probably bet that the hero of the story either lives, works or trains in a “rice paper-walled, tatami mat, futon using” old shrine or dojo, and despite the fact that it’s the 21^st Century is still very much involved with old Japanese customs, like tea ceremonies, religious rituals and may still dress in ancient Japanese clothing like kimonos, hakama and gi. Their families are very traditional and they are usually training them to be a priest/martial artist.

The monsters and spirits, like shinigami and oni (right) can also be part of well known stories that have been passed down from great great great great…well, you get the idea…grand-people to their children. So if you’re into Japanese history, learning about their creatures that “go bump in the night” is a fun way of doing it. For instance in animes like Grandchild of Nurarihyon and Otome Youkai Zakura I can guarantee you will get to find out about a range of different subjects; Japanese customs, food, songs, architecture, famous people, religion, anything you can think of, because as I said, supernatural themed animes are the ones that are especially rich in culture.

 

Another thing I want to mention is that many people find the issue of demons offensive and may think just watching shows about them may be immoral, and that’s fine because you are entitled to your own opinion, but personally I disagree. 

As we all must have realized by now, the Japanese are not as overly sensitive as some cultures. They are pretty okay with the certain subjects that bother most people; like gun toting nuns, priests and exorcists who kick butt with pray and sutras, keep company with demons, and may even have a little bit of questionable blood in them as well. We see this kind of thing in shows like Blood Trinity, Chrono  Crusade (left) and D Greyman (below right and left), and this maybe one of the reasons why religious oriented people hate on anime, but I think this comes from being narrow minded and overly sensitive.

It’s not like these shows are rooting for Evil to win, and there is a clear distinction of who the good people are and who the bad people are judging by their personalities and how they are drawn. It is  obvious that the makers of these animes create the good characters to be admired and liked because they are friendly, brave and loving, always smiling with large kind eyes, and they usually do everything in their power to wipe the floor with the baddies, who are mean, selfish scowling inhuman monsters with glowing murderous eyes, wreaking havoc on the innocent. So as long as this message is clear, how are these animes all evil? Good always triumphs over evil in the end of them.

And let’s not forget the most important point of all……It’s...not...REAL!!! It’s fiction!…Make believe!…so stop taking it so seriously. Lighten up!

I think people these days are too quick to see the evil in everything. What happened to the days when a show with a little scare was fun? Shows have become so watered down, shallow and almost unwatchable because everyone has become too sensitive, and therefore the people who make shows now are afraid of stepping a toe out of line because they may offend someone and get sued.

Parents complain that these types of anime are not for kids. Well you’re damn right…They’re not! Some of them are horrible and violent, too much so I will agree, like Ninja Scroll (really gross!), but parents still let your little children watch it because it’s animated and you automatically think it’s a cartoon like Tom and Jerry. But you see that little “R” hanging on the top corner of the screen? It still means the same thing as when it’s on those “Saw” movies. And even though I don’t think it’s something sinful, I won’t lie, some of these animes are very nightmarish, not for innocent eyes, and if you enjoy sleeping without your kids waking you up in the middle of the night, you won’t even let them have a peek. Even the fun-loving ones I consider them PG, because like I mentioned before they are still scary, and though they might use it for humor, they may contain mature themes. So make sure to watch it yourself, before your kids, and seriously consider what you want your children exposed to.  

Any way let me end it there for now. If I keep going I will never stop. Till next time GOs and I would love to hear from you. Speak up if you have something to say. Questions, suggestions, opinions, beefs…Bring it. I hope you go check out those animes I mentioned because they are yummy. So till next time and happy dinning.