2006-09-26, 01:55 | Link #1 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Existential Anime
I'm looking for anime with a story that has at least somewhat of an Existential feel.. something in the same league as the following (yeah, I know it's still kinda broad):
Evangelion Naruto The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi Noir .hack (Sign and Roots) Paranoia Agent Madlax Welcome to the NHK Cowboy Bebop Narutaru Boogiepop Phantom Serial Experiments Lain Any recent and preferably unlicensed anime I'm missing that sort of "fits in" with these in having Existential themes? |
2006-09-26, 02:22 | Link #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Age: 38
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There's a lot of anime with uhhh, Existentialism ( had to look up the word real quick ^^; )
Haibane Renmei Pale Cocoon Kurau Phantom Memory Kiddy Grade I really like the first three... |
2006-09-26, 11:10 | Link #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Try Shakugan no Shana, however it is licensed.
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2006-09-27, 09:25 | Link #7 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Chile
Age: 42
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Maybe you could try Kino no Tabi (also known as
Kino's Travels or Kino's Journey). It's quite new (2003) but it's licensed (by ADV), and I think that if you are looking for something "vaguely" existential, you definitely wouldn't waste your time by watching it, even if it doesn't exactly fits your criteria. There's a movie too. Good Luck. P.S: Sorry for my english. |
2006-09-27, 13:08 | Link #8 |
Former Immortal, Future:
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It seems as if nearly anything can have an existential "feel" to it, so long as one is actively searching for existential themes. Existentialism in novels, movies, television shows, newspapers, and the old aluminum baseball bat under your bed is simple enough to find; finding existential phenomena is a completely subjective procedure, and can become a sort of self-fullfilling prophecy. For example:
In Pokemon, Ash Ketchum seeks to become a Pokemon master. He chooses becoming the greatest Pokemon master ever as his raison d'etre. As such, he creates subjectively a purpose to his life, exemplifying his freedom of choice. Ash had infinitely many possible reasons to live, but of them, he clearly chose to become a Pokemon master and has since dealt with any and all repurcussions of his decision. At times, Ash is wrought with despair as he is faced with seemingly insurmountable odds (stronger Pokemon trainers defeating him, Team Rocket stealing his Pokemon on occaison, etc.). He begins to whine about how he will never be able to become a Pokemon master, and as such, is overcome with great existential anxiety as he begins to wonder whether or not becoming a Pokemon master is even a worthy reason for him to exist. This is how Ash experiences existential angst. Hmm...I earlier claimed that it is possible to identify an old aluminum bat with existentialism...perhaps that was stretching it? Existentialism deals with the human experience--if a phenomenon is devoid of any human elements, then the only way to relate it to existentialism probably lies within the fact that one is observing the phenomenon (should it exist in reality) from a subjective perspective and can therefore allocate any particular meaning to the said phenomenon. For instance, a professional baseball player who is doubting his path in life can identify an aluminum bat as being a symbol of his existential angst. In any case--did I just recommend Pokemon to you? Nah. If you meant that you wanted a list of anime that deal directly with the absurdity inherent of struggling to live within a universe void of answers, meaning, or rationality, then how about...well... Evangelion. You've already seen that, though. However, Shinji Ikari is the poster-boy for existential angst, and Evangelion is the quintessential existential anime. Serial Experiments Lain comes close, but has quite the Matrix-y feel to it, huh? Hmm...just go read and then re-read The Stranger by Albert Camus if you're looking for existentialism accurately portrayed in fiction.
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Last edited by Cogwheim; 2006-09-27 at 17:03. |
2006-09-29, 20:15 | Link #10 | |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Quote:
Out of those on my list, I'd say Evangelion, Lain, Suzumiya Haruhi, NHK, and Cowboy Bebop are probably closer to what I'm looking for. Others are mentioned in that they somewhat fulfill the philosophical and intellectual depth of this sort that I desire. |
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2006-10-29, 02:29 | Link #12 |
squidlet
Join Date: Oct 2006
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You ought to try Jigoku Shoujo. I've only seen the first episode of the sequel (Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori) , but the first season/part has a rather existential feel to it. Authenticity for various characters comes into question, as they search for meaning... I don't want to give too much away. Paranoia Agent and Abenobashi Mahou Shotengai are also good series with existential twists, and even Full Metal Alchemist, to a certain extent. I've read that The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has existential themes as well, a la Neon Genesis Evangelion, but I've only seen the first episode and was too weirded out to make much sense from it. At any rate, good luck!
Also - since some titles were mentioned - for a good read, check out Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus, Sartre's No Exit ("fun") and Heidegger's Sein und Zeit (siper "fun"). Last edited by kellwych; 2006-10-29 at 02:35. Reason: addendum to post |
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