Jun 30, 2008 6:34 PM
Man: The new Damsel in Distress
Anime Relations:
Fushigi Yuugi, Versailles no Bara, Shakugan no Shana, Shoujo Kakumei Utena, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R: The Movie, Tokyo Mew Mew, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Sailor Stars, Kamichama Karin, Claymore
In fiction, women were the victims of evil or held hostage by the antagonist: the damsels in distress. Princess Peach, Princess Zelda, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, etc. are all popular examples of the damsel in distress. The first task in the original final fantasy game twenty-one years ago was to save the princess from the evil Garland. Pop culture seemed to scream, "Save the women, men;" and "Go out and fight evil;" telling men to become a hero. After all, it was a man’s duty to protect the women. However, times have changed and anime has reversed the roles of being a "hero." Women who neglected their gender stereotype allowed themselves to fight the bad guy to save the prince and become heroines. Even heroines saved female damsels. (Utena saving Anthy and Lady Oscar saving Marie-Antoinette)
Magical girl anime has changed the gender roles when it comes to which gender saving the opposite. Tuxedo Mask (Kamen) is the biggest damsel in distress (or mansel) when it comes to magical girl anime. The first season Queen Beryle and her pals took him away and brainwashed into fighting the sailor soldiers. Second season movie his long lost friend kidnaps him and held him hostage, like a real mansel in distress. The last season was all about what happened to him and how the sailor soldiers can save him. Tokyo Mew Mew, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, and Kamichama Karin not only had to worrying about saving the world but to save the male protagonist.
More recently, I was watching the first episode of Claymore (I've only seen the first so don't spoil it ;)) and it screamed, "MANSEL IN DISTRESS." Raki is attacked not once but twice by a big monster and it's Claire's job, not Raki's, to save him. She may have been physically stronger but aren't men genetically stronger than women?
Shana, a strong woman who can kick anyone’s ass, has to save her mansel from the bad guys when they tried to take something from him. (Not telling what since it's a spoiler) All women, minus one, were stronger than the men and could take care of themselves as well as their men.
Dames are no longer being in distress but passed the torch to the men. Women in society are gaining equal respect as men each day which influences the change in gender roles in anime. Stronger women are appearing and taking part in fighting against the enemy. Take Fushigi Yugi for example, in the original series Miaka and Yui did little fighting while Watase’s new priestess, Takiko, fights with her warriors welding a naginata. Now a days, who wants to see a weak woman standing to the side while her man is struggling to keep her alive?
Magical girl anime has changed the gender roles when it comes to which gender saving the opposite. Tuxedo Mask (Kamen) is the biggest damsel in distress (or mansel) when it comes to magical girl anime. The first season Queen Beryle and her pals took him away and brainwashed into fighting the sailor soldiers. Second season movie his long lost friend kidnaps him and held him hostage, like a real mansel in distress. The last season was all about what happened to him and how the sailor soldiers can save him. Tokyo Mew Mew, Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, and Kamichama Karin not only had to worrying about saving the world but to save the male protagonist.
More recently, I was watching the first episode of Claymore (I've only seen the first so don't spoil it ;)) and it screamed, "MANSEL IN DISTRESS." Raki is attacked not once but twice by a big monster and it's Claire's job, not Raki's, to save him. She may have been physically stronger but aren't men genetically stronger than women?
Shana, a strong woman who can kick anyone’s ass, has to save her mansel from the bad guys when they tried to take something from him. (Not telling what since it's a spoiler) All women, minus one, were stronger than the men and could take care of themselves as well as their men.
Dames are no longer being in distress but passed the torch to the men. Women in society are gaining equal respect as men each day which influences the change in gender roles in anime. Stronger women are appearing and taking part in fighting against the enemy. Take Fushigi Yugi for example, in the original series Miaka and Yui did little fighting while Watase’s new priestess, Takiko, fights with her warriors welding a naginata. Now a days, who wants to see a weak woman standing to the side while her man is struggling to keep her alive?
Posted by
mistress_reebi
| Jun 30, 2008 6:34 PM |
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