Anime has many romance tropes, such as the symbolism of an umbrella. These tropes came out of the realities of relationships within modern culture. After all, romance is more about fantasy and escapism than any sort of reality. Romantic literature traces to 12th-century France. The first romance story appears to be Tristan and Iseult. As…
Category: Understanding Anime
This is Your Brain on Anime. Any Questions?
Teen brains sit on an important stage of brain development. Adolescence isn’t just a cultural construct; it’s a period of drastic rewiring. I will be using Robert Sapolsky’s book Behave (2017) for the following facts. Remember too that research focuses on averages. At the start of adolescence, teens have more gray matter than adults. Gray…
Who am I? Amnesia as an Anime Plot Device
It seems as if every other anime character is getting clocked on the noggin’ and getting amnesia. Amnesia has become a fairly common plot device with many advantages and disadvantages (the main one: over use!) According to the Mayo Clinic, amnesia “refer to the loss of memories, such as facts, information and experiences. Though forgetting…
Inuyasha: The Best Anime for Beginners
I’ve often thought about what the best anime is for introducing people to the medium. Many anime are great for people who hate anime. But what about those who are curious but find anime strange? What about those who find the tropes of anime and the jokes confusing? What is the best anime for them?…
Why are Shonen Heroes so Dense When it Comes to Love?
Shonen brims with love-dense heroes and the females that try to get their attention. The MO of these characters involves unawareness of flirtation, female emotions, and the inability to know how to react to emotional situations. These heroes remain unaware of female affection. For example, Bleach’s Ichigo remains unaware of Orohime’s affection for him despite how she…
Why are Harem Anime Popular?
Most harem anime I’ve watched follow a template. A gaggle of various girls chase a guy with little personality and an aversion to making decisions and touching female skin. Each of the girls represent an anime trope: the tsundere, deredere, and so on. You’ll see the usual body stereotypes too, from the large-breasted girls to…