Rewind: Eyeshield 21

Eyeshield 21 taught me most of what I know about football. That's no surprise, since I can say the same thing about The Prince of Tennis and tennis or Chihayafuru and karuta. In the middle of each episode, framing the commercial break, there's a "football clinic," where a character gives the audience information about everything from how to score points to what a tight end is. It's very educational.

Sena races past an opponent that managed to get him
not just to be angry, but fierce. It was an impressive feat.

Like many shounen anime, Eyeshield 21 mixes suspense and character growth with utter silliness. I enjoyed all 145 episodes when I saw it a couple years ago, but only because I knew better than to take it too seriously. Every character's main traits are exaggerated. The main character, Sena, is a weakling who can run ridiculously fast, a result of years of running from bullies. His team's captain, Hiruma, is a delinquent who runs the high school through intimidation and blackmail. Hiruma has a locker full of guns and always has one on hand to use as convenient. Mamori, Sena's older childhood friend, is ridiculously over protective of him. I barely even know where to start with her, actually. Of all the "childhood friend" characters I've met over the past four years, she's probably the most annoying. Step back and let Sena be a man, for heaven's sake! Scratch that, just give him enough room to breathe. That alone would be an improvement!

The list goes on. Physical and personality traits alike are ridiculous in scope, and you have to accept that in order to enjoy the comedy. Same goes for setting and plot.

I laughed a lot as I watched, but that's not all that kept me interested. I wanted Sena and his team to succeed. I wanted them to grow, to exceed their limits, and to overcome their opponents. I wanted to watch Sena catch up to rival running backs and leave them in the dust. Episodes ended mid-game, leaving me in suspense, and I quickly clicked on the next one.

More came from Eyeshield 21 than humor and suspense. Even the silliest sports anime naturally lends itself to musings about diligence. I ended up using Eyeshield 21 as an example in the second half of this blog post, although I hadn't set out to write about anime. It spurred continued reflection and sports anime analogies, so I had to post the rest of my musings next day, in a post called "Perseverance and Sports Anime." These anime helped me to process something about myself that I already knew, but hadn't dealt with.

It's difficult for me to outright recommend Eyeshield 21. The animation isn't anything special. Nor is the story, for that matter. From what I remember, it's simply fun. If you loved The Prince of Tennis, you'll probably enjoy Eyeshield 21. It has a lot of similarities, which I outlined in my recommendation on Anime-Planet. Beyond that, there's little to say.

Rewind: Berserk

I've debated featuring Berserk for several weeks now. Each time, I backed down before I could even type the title. Why? If I'm completely honest with myself, I realize it's shame. I watched something I shouldn't have.

Now, don't get me wrong: I'm not saying that I shouldn't have watched Berserk just because I'm a Christian. Yes, it's explicit, but sometimes, truths can be shown better in something rated TV-MA than TV-G. Nor am I passing any other sort of judgement on Berserk, good or bad... partially because it's been too long since I watched it. I'm just relating my experience, take it or leave it.

I was around seventeen years old, and I'd been watching anime for a year and a half. My parents sheltered me when I was younger, but by this point, they trusted me to make my own TV and book choices. For the most part, they were right to trust me. Still, there were times I wasn't as savvy as I'd have liked to be when I chose what to watch.

This particular choice came after I watched Gungrave for the first time. As you might know, I loved that show from the beginning. Naturally, I wanted more, so I browsed the recommendations on Anime-Planet, searching for another serious, action-packed, non-shounen series. Berserk was the top recommendation. Sothis herself thought that fans of one would like the other, and dozens of users agreed with her.

I noted the "Explicit Content" tag on Berserk's Anime-Planet entry, but I figured it was probably there just for blood and violence. It's not like that stuff gives me nightmares. Worst case scenario, I'd have to look away for a moment, right?

So I typed "Berserk episode 1" or some such thing into Google and found the first episode. This was before I decided to stick exclusively to Hulu, Crunchyroll, and other official streaming websites to provide my next anime fix. The user-uploaded anime sites don't even have the minimal warnings that Crunchyroll has. Not that I would have listened - those warnings don't usually explain why we should be careful, only that we should.

This is my reaction, as written on my Anime-Planet blog the night I finished: 

I just finished Berserk. Yep, once again I stayed up too late in order to finish a series. Too late to say much but, here's a few things about the anime: 

- It gets decent six, seven, or so episodes in, great at episode 20 or so, then disturbing at about episode 23.

- I enjoyed most of the action. Gutz is a pretty amazing fighter.

- Berserk contains too much explicit content for me, and for that reason, I wished I hadn't watched it. For the less sensitive, it might be fine, but between some nudity, gore (and I've handled gore before, in Baccano), and other stuff, I've concluded that I won't watch Berserk again, or recommend it. Whenever I watch an anime with this content, I try to mention it so other viewers come in knowing. The nudity and gore is worst in the last episode or two.

- I might, however, watch the first episode one more time, since it makes sense after watching the final episode.

- The storyline was far from cheerful (in fact, I'd say the storyline is in a different galaxy than cheerful), but it was intriguing and well done. 

Now, even though it's really late, I think I'll go watch an episode of light-hearted, innocent shojo or even shounen. Something along the lines of Saiunkoto Monogatari or Kenichi History's Strongest Disciple.

The "other stuff" I mentioned included a rape. I averted my eyes, of course, but it stuck in my mind. I did my best not think about it. I tried to replace it with cheerful scenes from Working!, Bible verses and stories, or whatever pleasant things my imagination could conjure. As I write this, I'm relieved to report that the memory has faded, and I no longer have to shove it down or avoid it.

Meet Gutz. He's pretty good with a sword.

Like I wrote on Anime-Planet, the last couple episodes of Berserk had the most explicit content (including gore and that rape). But the first twenty episodes weren't exactly filled with rainbows and ponies. The director had a dark story to tell, and he didn't whitewash it. I saw the signs. But I kept watching. I thought, "they can't possibly make every episode this bad. Surely the next one will be better." Of course, each episode was usually at least as dark as the one before it.

I should have stopped. So why didn't I? I don't have much to add to what's quoted above, except that I really enjoyed Gutz's character (or Gatts or Guts... there doesn't seem to be a consensus among fans). I think I even used a screenshot of him as my desktop background for a while.

Lots of people loved Berserk. They gave it high reviews, praising the story and characters. The ending frustrated them, and they recommended reading the manga to get the rest of the story. But other than that, all signs pointed to it being a great addition to my "watched" list.

In many ways, I agreed with the reviews and recommendations. But I wish I hadn't watched it. The explicit parts stuck with me more than the actual story or themes, which is yet another sign that Berserk wasn't good for me. Maybe I'd be able to handle it better now, but I don't plan to re-watch it anytime soon.

Rewind: Hikaru no Go

My love for sports anime extends to shows that cover other competitive activities - especially games. I've written about Chihayafuru several times, but I watched Hikaru no Go well before Chihaya and her friends graced my screen.

Hikaru, Sai, and Hikaru's rival, Toya Akira

Hikaru no Go is about a boy, Shindo Hikaru, who discovers his grandpa's old Go board while raiding the attic for something to sell for extra cash. Hikaru is twelve years old and has no interest in a strategy-intensive game like Go. But this particular board has trapped Sai, an ancient Go master from the Heian period. He is, for the time being, released from the board, and now Hikaru is stuck with his spirit... and, by extension, the game Sai is so passionate about. And when I say passionate, I mean passionate - Sai gets really emotional.

To review: We've got a young, irreverent kid and an ancient guy who is dead serious about a game with tradition even older than him.

Like many other shounen anime, Hikaru no Go has competition, friendship, and rivalry. There are both serious themes and humor as Hikaru adjusts to his bizarre situation. He matures throughout it, of course. At first, he only plays Go for Sai's sake, but he eventually develops a love for the game himself.

There's physical growth, too. The faces of Hikaru and the other children gradually lose their baby fat over the 75 episodes. The change was so gradual, I didn't realize it until I went back and looked at the first episode again.

I can't remember all the reasons I enjoyed Hikaru no Go. I first watched it before I started to blog or critically think about anime. But one thing I loved was the focus on the game, including its tradition, technical details, and atmosphere. The audience is privy to the thoughts and strategies going through the characters' heads. As I watched, I learned, and I decided I wanted to try my hand at it.

Some of the characters in Hikaru no Go played Go online, so I looked it up and joined a website. I learned slowly, and I started playing on a small, 9x9 board, working my way up to the full 19x19 board. It was fun, but this kind of game takes a lot of time and brain power, both of which are usually in short supply. I had other hobbies and responsibilities, so I drifted away from the game after only a short time. Since then, I've forgotten much of the little I knew. I know the basic rules, but the strategy that goes with it requires more than a little playing around to master. Still, I have a portable Go set in my closet, just waiting for the day that someone in real life will want to play with me.

Now, there were a couple negatives. The animation quality wasn't great at first (I haven't watched the later eps in a long time, so I have no judgement there). And after the credits, there's a live-action bit with a teacher and two kids learning things about Go. It's a jarring addition, especially when we've just finished 20 minutes of intense suspense and strategy. But it's skippable, so there's no real harm done.

Do I recommend Hikaru no Go? Yes. I'm going to re-watch a bit of it between homework this weekend, and I'll see how it measures up now that I've seen dozens more anime. But I think my opinion of it will remain high.

Dear Extroverted Friends

Dear Extroverted Friends,

We're different.

"Well, duh," you say. "I like parties, and you don't."

First, that's not completely accurate. Believe it or not, I enjoy some parties. At weddings, for example, I'm always on the dance floor until Dad wants to go home. I just can't go to parties/big gatherings/social things as often as you can.

Second, you're both over-simplifying and making a big generalization. That's okay. Introverts do the same thing. In fact, some of you extroverts might be complaining, "Hey! We don't all like parties! I do other social stuff instead!"

There are a few comics and such floating around about introverts and extroverts. They're fun. Maybe they've opened your eyes a little. Now, I want to throw my two cents in.

I'm going to be frank. If you know me, then please understand, none of this is out of resentment or annoyance with you. Those of you who are close enough to get on my nerves usually don't. You're too caring and too understanding of my needs. Thank you. Hopefully this will help you understand better... even if all you understand is that you can't completely understand me. That's okay, too.

This is not meant to be a generalization about all introverts. We have different personalities and struggles, and I've had anxiety issues that make my introversion a little more pronounced at times.

Here's the thing about being introverted: it's not a choice. It's just how some of us are. I simply cannot handle being too social too often. If I am, I'll crack. My energy and mental health will start to leak out of that crack. Sometimes, I notice I've cracked, but I don't retreat from people the way I need to. The crack widens. If I'm not careful, I may breakdown entirely. I try to avoid that. It takes a long time to put the pieces back together.

There are days when I want to hang out, but I know I'm nearing my breaking point. I have to turn you down. I appreciate the invitation, though - I really do.

If I must be around friends or family when I'm already cracking, it does help if we ignore each other. But it's not just quietness that I need. It's solitude. A quiet presence is still a presence. I appreciate your offer to just be quiet around me. Yet, if I'm at my breaking point, then I don't want to hear you, smell you, see you, feel you, or even sense you.

"What's wrong?" you might ask.

Nothing's wrong. I'm not upset about anything. You haven't done anything to hurt or offend me. Nor has anyone else.  I'm just worn out. No, I do not want a hug! Don't touch me! I need space. Sometimes, I love hugs. But when I'm running on empty like this, I can't be in such close proximity with anyone. There are times I won't even let my mom hug me. So if you try, I'll probably snap. I might even hiss like a cornered cat. Please don't try. I don't want to hurt you like that. If you really want to hug me when I'm upset, then stand at a safe distance and ask first.

Talking about it won't help, either. This isn't the kind of problem that's helped by talking or any other kind of human interaction. I love you, my friend, but I need to be alone. So either go away or let me retreat into my hole.

Please, don't feel bad if you've interrupted my solitude when I was cracking. You didn't know any better. I don't want you to feel bad for your extroverted perspective. And my introversion doesn't give me a right to hurt you. So if I snap at you or otherwise hurt your feelings when I'm running on empty, please confront me. I will apologize, and I will work to make sure my problem doesn't become your problem.

Also, please understand that I'm still learning about the needs of my non-introvert friends. I care for you, but I don't always realize that you need a hug or conversation or even just a presence. Plus, there's more to you than your extroversion, which make it even harder to know what you need. So, as we get to know each other, be honest. Extroverts and introverts may appear to be different species, but I'm confident we can live in harmony. In fact, we have to. I need your help navigating the social world and getting information out. Maybe there's something I can help you out with, too... when I'm not hiding in my hole, that is.

Love,
Your Introverted Friend

Rewind: Black Butler

I've completed 159 anime shows and movies. You'd think I could easily pick one each week to write a quick post on. Nope. Instead, I've spent the past ten minutes waffling back and forth between several titles. Gah!

Okay, here: Ghost Hunt. No, never mind. I don't remember much about that. How about Black Butler? 

Ah, now there's a popular title. It's been a while since I watched Black Butler, or, if you prefer, Kuroshitsuji. And I never finished the sequel series. I can't remember why... I liked the first series well enough. I rated it five stars on Anime-Planet... granted, I was overly generous with stars back then, but still. I do think that the second series was rated as more mature, so maybe I decided it was too much for me at the time.

For those of you who somehow missed this fangirl favorite, Black Butler is about a rich, noble, orphaned kid named Ciel Phantomhive and his demon butler, Sebastian. Ciel made a deal with Sebastian. Sebastian would loyally serve and protect him. In return, Ciel gave up his soul. 

Why is a fangirl favorite? Well, look at this picture of Sebastian. He's somewhat bishounen. Plus, Ciel is good at playing damsel in distress (despite being a boy), so girls can easily place themselves in his role, and thus imagine Sebastian swooping in to protect them. That's my theory, anyway. 

And me? I thought Sebastian was cool. He made simple butler tasks look epic. Seriously; no one can handle silverware like he can. He can handle himself in a fight, too. That's always fun to watch. And I always like loyalty in a character... although I prefer it when the loyalty is not based on stealing souls.

When I watched Black Butler, I was still relatively new to anime and thus still more sheltered than I am now. So what did this sheltered, Christian girl have to say about the demon stuff? 

I raised my eyebrows at first, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment at all. I saw it mostly as a fantasy, like I would a show about vampires. It was, however, pretty dark at times. In addition, I'm sure there was some questionable content that went over my head. I'm going to watch part of an episode now, in order to get a screenshot, so we'll see if I look at it differently after a few more years of experience.

Okay... I took a couple screenshots from episode one, but it's now about midnight on the West Coast, so I don't have time to make anymore of an evaluation. See ya'll next week! ...probably, anyway. I'll let you know via Twitter and Facebook if I'm swamped again.

I was Swamped Today

I'm sorry to say
I was swamped today.
I did not have time
To relax or Rewind.

Next week, I'll return
With some time to burn,
No looming deadlines,
And no awful rhymes.

Now, I'm off to get
Some much needed rest.
I'm done with this post.
Goodnight... good morning... goodbye.