Shin Sekai Yori - General Discussion

[SeijiSensei]

Does anyone else see this show as a critique of modern Japanese society, particularly in the portrayal of repressive social institutions? There are a number of other shows I've watched that pursue similar themes. For instance, both Oh! Edo Rocket and AKB0048 focus on the suppression of entertainment. Rocket takes place in the historical period when such repression was institutionalized through the Tenpou Reforms while AKB0048 projects these themes into a rather dysfunctional future. Even the usually noncontroversial Space Brothers recently portrayed one of the astronaut candidates as wanting to escape his otherwise rewarding job to pursue adventures in space. Its usually glowing portrait of America often stands in sharp contrast to its depiction of Japanese life. Older shows like Ergo Proxy and NHK ni Youkoso! mine this vein as well.

I generally attribute shows of this type as representing the opinions of the artists who chose to work in the manga and anime industries instead of pursuing a career in some "zaibatsu." Plausible? Is the struggle against repression a common theme in other types of modern Japanese arts and writings?

[kuromitsu]

To be honest, I don't see such criticism in there... yes, there are repressive social institutions at work, but there are very good reasons why they're so strict about keeping control by all means. Unlike in other shows where the Evil Institution is being repressive because its leaders are afraid of anarchy or crime or just losing their position, in Shinsekai yori it's the survival of civilization at stake (or what remained of it, at any rate). We've already seen glimpses of the quiet desperation that is the foundation of the seemingly idyllic world Saki & Co live in (culling children who exhibit even the faintest traits of certain disorders, their utter helplessness when one slips through, the self-instilled genetic/mental limitations that are both a blessing and a curse, etc), and from now on we'll learn some dark things about the hows and whys and just how far things have gone (and to what end).

If there is criticism I think it's on a wider, more anthropological level, but frankly I think it's not really criticism but more like pondering some aspects of human nature. Kishi Yuusuke said that his inspiration for writing the novel was reading On Aggression by Konrad Lorenz, and from what I remember of the points the book made, it shows. (I read it many, many moons ago, maybe I should re-read it...)

[Malkuth]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

Well duh? TV Asahi is all about clean, wholesome family fun and entertainment. Let it not be said that Shinsekai yori is their latest victim: they have produced and/or aired other inoffensive, inane anime geared toward children, such as:

-Sci-Fi Harry
-Koikaze
-Speed Grapher
-Red Garden
-Gankutsuou

Another obvious sign of their attempt at turning Shinsekai yori into wholesome family entertainment is the fact that on all channels it airs at like 2 in the morning. (Well, except on NicoNico. There it's broadcast at 23:30.)

/sarcasm

As much as I appreciate sarcasm, the point still stands that Shin Sekai yori is out of place (even the way you want to perceive it) compared to everything else TV Asahi airs this seasons. Plus it airs at 00:30, not 2+ like most anime like most anime. As for the other examples, Koi Kaze was toned down from the manga, while that, Speed Grapher, Red Garden, and Gankutsuo belong (like Shin Sekai yori) to the "tastefully executed" category, in order to avoid certain viewers freaking out

Originally Posted by SeijiSensei

Does anyone else see this show as a critique of modern Japanese society, particularly in the portrayal of repressive social institutions? There are a number of other shows I've watched that pursue similar themes. For instance, both Oh! Edo Rocket and AKB0048 focus on the suppression of entertainment. Rocket takes place in the historical period when such repression was institutionalized through the Tenpou Reforms while AKB0048 projects these themes into a rather dysfunctional future. Even the usually noncontroversial Space Brothers recently portrayed one of the astronaut candidates as wanting to escape his otherwise rewarding job to pursue adventures in space. Its usually glowing portrait of America often stands in sharp contrast to its depiction of Japanese life. Older shows like Ergo Proxy and NHK ni Youkoso! mine this vein as well.

I generally attribute shows of this type as representing the opinions of the artists who chose to work in the manga and anime industries instead of pursuing a career in some "zaibatsu." Plausible? Is the struggle against repression a common theme in other types of modern Japanese arts and writings?

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

To be honest, I don't see such criticism in there... yes, there are repressive social institutions at work, but there are very good reasons why they're so strict about keeping control by all means. Unlike in other shows where the Evil Institution is being repressive because its leaders are afraid of anarchy or crime or just losing their position, in Shinsekai yori it's the survival of civilization at stake (or what remained of it, at any rate). We've already seen glimpses of the quiet desperation that is the foundation of the seemingly idyllic world Saki & Co live in (culling children who exhibit even the faintest traits of certain disorders, their utter helplessness when one slips through, the self-instilled genetic/mental limitations that are both a blessing and a curse, etc), and from now on we'll learn some dark things about the hows and whys and just how far things have gone (and to what end).

If there is criticism I think it's on a wider, more anthropological level, but frankly I think it's not really criticism but more like pondering some aspects of human nature. Kishi Yuusuke said that his inspiration for writing the novel was reading On Aggression by Konrad Lorenz, and from what I remember of the points the book made, it shows. (I read it many, many moons ago, maybe I should re-read it...)

I also don't think that the writer was thinking about his social environment when writing the novel. That does not mean that he is not influenced by it, and a lot of social structures and practices he describes are based on it.

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by Malkuth

As much as I appreciate sarcasm, the point still stands that Shin Sekai yori is out of place (even the way you want to perceive it) compared to everything else TV Asahi airs this seasons. Plus it airs at 00:30, not 2+ like most anime like most anime. As for the other examples, Koi Kaze was toned down from the manga, while that, Speed Grapher, Red Garden, and Gankutsuo belong (like Shin Sekai yori) to the "tastefully executed" category, in order to avoid certain viewers freaking out

Which apparently makes certain viewers freak out more...

Seriously, dude, don't you think it's time to get over the 12 year old-on-12 year old love scenes being tamed down a bit?

It's not like this being displayed gratuitously is needed to have a full appreciation for the narrative.

[Malkuth]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Which apparently makes certain viewers freak out more...

Seriously, dude, don't you think it's time to get over the 12 year old-on-12 year old love scenes being tamed down a bit?

It's not like this being displayed gratuitously is needed to have a full appreciation for the narrative.

I have, but apparently, not everyone else has, bringing it up in even remotely relevant posts

I had in mind how they censored gore, as well as all the off-camera violence... but you guys (and girls) still insist on discussing kids having sex

[kuromitsu]

Yes, yes, of course it's about the gore.... :3

I understand, tough. I mean brutal violence and gore are also very important for stories like this to be enjoyable, and having it censored like this really takes away from the mood. (Someone should've told this the novel's author, too, because he clearly had no idea.)

(Also, they censored the off-screen violence? how would that even work? )

Anyway, let's pretend, for a moment, that this idée fixe of yours has a point. Who are, then, these "certain viewers" whom the creators are supposedly trying to appease? Who are these people who watch a show that airs at 2:30 in the morning and freak out over the content?

ETA:
FWIW on TV show is broadcast at the following times on different channels: 24:30 (repeat), 27:10, 26:48 (as part of a programming block that also airs OreImo True Route and will air that other light novel adaptation about my girlfriend and my childhood friend and carnage).

[Malkuth]

Ah! pitch-black-sarcastic-honey-chan... you just want some cheap trolling

Look, I (and a certain apparently very small minority) obviously disagree with what you as the voice of the majority here wish to believe.

Concerning the schedule, check the link I posted, I will see for myself tonight... if the internet lied again

... and who is watching porn (according to you) at 2:30... dunno, those appropriately behaving businessmen, who everyone respects and totally agree with what you guys and gals say Even I, that am on vacation here, have a hard time staying up that late when at home

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by Malkuth

Look, I (and a certain apparently very small minority) obviously disagree with what you as the voice of the majority here wish to believe.

I'm the voice of the majority? Wow! So what does the majority elsewhere think?

As for the rest I don't know what you're getting at, but cool!

[Solace]

Originally Posted by Malkuth

Red Garden

One of my all time favorite anime.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by Solace

One of my all time favorite anime.

Same here, and Gankutsuou is in my Eternal Top 5.

(And Sci-Fi Harry was much better than I expected.)

[MeisterBabylon]

You know, something about this entire anime reminds me of a Jedi Knight academy.

[Rosalena]

Does everyone remember how we were puzzled about Satoru's behavior when he touched the cave wall when he and Saki were trying to escape the cave during Queerat Adventure Time (a.k.a. summer camp)? Rather than looking up at the night sky they were actually looking at the ceiling of the cavern. Satoru reached up and touched the surface only to have his fingers come away sticky. I seem to recall that many of us were confused about what was going on in that scene. I could be mistaken, but I'm not sure that it was every really resolved.

Well, I was watching a program on the National Geographic Channel last night that provided a splendid answer that makes perfect sense. There is a remarkable cave series on the North Island of New Zealand called the Waitomo Glowworn Caves. These caves house a special variation of glowworms found nowhere else on earth. I've included a few of the pictures I found on Google in the spoiler tag below.

Spoiler for very large images of the Waitomo glowworm caves:

Considering all of the other wacky, genetically altered animals that have shown up so far, I think this cave may have been the inspiration for that scene.

[Diveman]

I just want to say that, I just finished episode 17 of this series and I'm am in love with it. All the themes presented are so well done and worth of discussion. It's been a while since I watched an anime that makes me question human society and the meaning of trying to preserve it.

[hyperborealis]

Yes. The show gives a human history where humanity itself is a historically changing term. Perhaps the ideals we today associate with ourselves can only happen at certain stages of technological progress. As radically dangerous technology becomes more democratized, we may find ourselves in a world like SSY. And write our own elegies to humanity. Farewell, old Rights of Man!

[neshru]

It's funny how every time I'm about to completely lose interest in this series, the next couple of episodes are interesting enough to drag me back in. I think it's happened three times now.
If half of the episodes weren't boring padding this series would be so good...

[Natsu_]

Originally Posted by Solace

One of my all time favorite anime.

Me too.
But when watching this anime, I feel that the time is too fast.

[black_rosso]

Bakenezumi

What are they ??

In the serie doesn t tell exactly . what are you think ??

[kuromitsu]

They're huge, intelligent rat-like creatures. For everything else there's the rest of the show. Patience, patience.

[AvatarST]

Hey kuromitsu,

Since we're up to episode 22 now and the anime never mentioned it, I figured it won't anymore. About Shisei having 4 pupils,

Spoiler for Theory about Shisei's 4 pupils:

Did that happen when he approached Shun in the class and his cantus was leaking as he was becoming a Gouma, or was it related to something else?

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by AvatarST

Hey kuromitsu,

Since we're up to episode 22 now and the anime never mentioned it, I figured it won't anymore. About Shisei having 4 pupils,

Spoiler for Theory about Shisei's 4 pupils:

Did that happen when he approached Shun in the class and his cantus was leaking as he was becoming a Gouma, or was it related to something else?

Yeah, I suppose they won't mention it now...

Spoiler for Kaburagi Shisei:

He was born like that, apparently it's a genetic mutation that runs in his family and it's connected to their power. (By the way his name, "Shisei" means "four stars.") The thing about Shisei, he's not normal at all: he can see through his mask, he has a 360 degree field of vision (don't ask how that's even possible, I mean physically), and his reaction rate is way faster than a normal human's who has a normal nervous system.

Shame he just had to run into that kid...