Jeepney Press March-April 2023

by Geraldine Limpo

ANIME THROUGH THE EYES OF AN ADULT

Like many of his peers, my son loves watching anime. Thinking no more of them than animated cartoons (previously presented as manga), it never occurred to me to watch anime until my son introduced my family to Assassination Classroom (manga written and illustrated by Yusei Matsui) during the infamous lockdown of pandemic years. Almost magically, we were hooked to the lovable and witty multi-tentacled Koro-sensei who was assigned to mentor a class of “underrated” junior highschool students through unconventional means. Amusing though the episodes were, I thought that the idea of introducing violence to young children is simply bizarre. What relevance does the topic of assassination have with education? It is only while I watch the concluding episode wherein the erstwhile motley crew of youngsters confront identity and learned to work together to achieve the bizarre goal that I find the answer.

Takagi’s playful teasing of her shy classmate Nishikata in Teasing Master Takagi-san (manga written by Soichiro Yamamoto) transported me to my youth. How many times have I self-selected due to a strange case of inferiority complex so I grew too dense to the idea of a member of the opposite sex actually liking me? Chuckling as Nishikata does 100 push-ups, I think of how many times I punished myself for never being “enough”. Seeing Nishikata’s face turn beet red when he blushes from awkward kilig encounters with Takagi arouses the little girl in me. Takagi’s constant teasing of Nishikata moved me to ask myself how many times I masked infatuation for another person so I am never found out.

A sucker of romcoms, I take a liking too for Komi Can’t Communicate (manga written and illustrated by Tomohito Oda). The protagonist Komi is a charming and intelligent headturner who excels in sports and academics; she also suffers from extreme social anxiety so she cannot utter a single word with ease. Her seatmate Tadano—awkward, average in most respects and shy, is her (unexpected) Knight-in-Shining-Armour. What is the probability that the much-admired high school goddess falls for the average Joe? How can one of the minor characters Najimi keep her gender from her classmates for so long? Is Japan ready for the dialogue about queers?

The adventures of the tall, well-built and handsome lineage of the Joestars in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures (manga written by Hirohiko Araki) sends me swooning and, at the same time, renders me confused. Genteel and kind-hearted Jonathan Joestar has “ripple” to heal. Ingenious Joseph Joestar who can intimate bits of the future discovers his “stand”. Pensive and fearless Jotaro Kujo discovers how to stop time with Star Platinum. Araki also presents the most evil of villains—gruesome Yoshikage Kira, diabolical Kars, heartless Dio, and also the most unforgettable—Wamuu, Hol Horse, Esidisi—simply because they are named after some of the iconic bands of the 80s (Wham, Hall & Oates, ACDC, respectively). The fights are unbelievable, and the level of evil rises exponentially as the plot thickens. I think about how “stands”, though powerful, need to be understood and mastered—pretty much like each of our human “strengths”. I am reminded that the testosterone-heavy Joestar heroes are vulnerable as real men are; for example, Joseph falls in love and fathers a child with a woman other than his wife.

Presently, my family is hooked on Blue Lock (written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura). Plot and character development evidence deep research and creative writing. The chief protagonist Yoichi Isagi knows he is lacking in many aspects, and is relentless at introspection and self-improvement. His fellow strikers training in Blue Lock are just as inspiring-- Bachira is light-hearted and effcient (and also wrestles with the real reason he plays soccer), and Chigiri overcomes his fear of breaking his injured and rehabilitated knee. Foes become comrades-in-training —Nagi and Isagi learn instinctively to move in synch; Chigiri and Kunigami and Reo develop awesome teamwork; self-centered Barou rises from strength to strength. Episodes cast the spotlight on how individual ego is formed. The games investigate the delicate balance of ego and cooperation when playing a team sport. When does ego rear its ugly head, and when do we rely on it?

It is said that a good story creeps into the minds and hearts of its audience and stirs it. The other night, I was roused from sleep and found myself thinking about how Isagi’s team with Chigiri, Nagi and Barou measures up to Rin’s formidable foursome. I am simply awed at Ego’s design of Blue Lock even as I suspect that no such training exists.

Perhaps the unique advantage of anime lies in the limitless potential of plot and production, and the expressive visual images of human emotions that not many real-life actors and sets can convey as effectively.

Didn’t imagine that I will ever say this about an anime but the truth is: I can’t wait for Sunday’s episode 23 of Blue Lock!