October 20th, 2008
My top 10 anime scenes
I'm going to start this off by being blunt: anime changed the way I look at fiction and the way I look at myself. I'm an aspiring writer with a fantasy story in the works, and since I've discovered anime, so many creative outlets have been discovered in my own mind. There were specific scenes that inspired me in ways that I can't even begin to explain. So, I'm going to attempt to begin to explain them.
Be warned, there are massive spoilers ahead!!
This is an ongoing project, so it make take several months to get all of the information compiled. Look at me, acting like a newspaper contributer!
10. The Death of Kaworu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
If you're an Evangelion fan like I am, you completely disregard episodes 25 and 26 from Eva canon. Not because they're bad, but because nothing happens in them. I mean, compared to the End of Evangelion, episodes 25 and 26 are like a very long nap. Thus, the death of Nagisa Kaworu, the pivotal "end" of the series that sets up the events in the End of Evangelion, belongs at number 10 on my countdown. The 30 seconds+ long sequence of Unit 01 clutching Kaworu, who, with a nonchalant smile on his face, wishes for his own death, despite the fact that he is a herald of the end of mankind, encapsulates so much raw emotion through the inaction of the still image that you just have to watch it again. The scene directly following Kaworu's death, in which Misato coldly explains to Shinji how those who have no will to live can't live, is an interesting fact which directly contributes to Shinji's attitudes in the End of Evangelion and illustrates his development, or rather, his digression, into his isolated state of mind.
9. The Death of Kamina (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
The first few episodes of Gurren Lagann seemed, to me, very "Power Rangers-esque." I'm not going to lie, the only thing that kept me from dropping the series after the first two episodes was Yoko >_>. The fights were dorky and over-exaggerated, lacking any sort of real emotion and winning in the end because of stupid luck. I'm very glad I continued watching it now. That first battle with the Gorilla general (I've forgotten his name) created new strife for Kamina and Simon, adding so much more to the series than ridiculous power-ups. And the final battle, when Kamina jumped out of Gurren in order to punch Simon in the face and bring him back to the battle, only to turn around and be blasted away basically punches you in the gut because it's so unexpected. Kamina's final battle alongside Simon and his inspiring final words to Simon were quite awe-inspiring. In a matter of one or two episodes, the series went from a dorky giant robot series to a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age saga, partially because of the fact that the death of a major character wasn't expected at all. That's what helped me see the series from start to finish.
8. One More Final: I Need You (The End of Evangelion)
The ambiguous ending to end all ambiguous endings, this final three or so minute scene of the End of Evangelion has irritated and angered Evangelion fans to no end since the film's debut in 1997. When I first saw the film, I questioned it, but I came to like it over time. The fact that we'll never exactly know what happens to Shinji and Asuka after the world ostensibly ends adds to the "Evangelion experience." And the animation of the scene itself is visually breathtaking as well as disturbing. There's a massive white head and an arm sticking out of the primordial ooze; street lights are toppled over, the sky is streaked with a ring of blood, and the clear night sky is contradicted by the blood red pool of LCL, which is flowing back and forth on the shore before Shinji and Asuka as calmly as the ocean, despite the fact that this is the current form of humanity. And amidst all of this, Shinji breaks down and Asuka offers only the cryptic line of: "kimochi warui." What exactly did she mean? We'll never really know. That is why the final few minutes of the End of Evangelion is number 8 on my list.
7. Tetsuo and Akira (Akira)
In my opinion, many of the great epic anime series that we all love today wouldn't exist if this massively popular anime-changing film of 1988 didn't premiere. This scene in particular is a very interesting one to look at: Tetsuo has lost control of his powers and is mutating into a massive bulbous version of himself. Throughout the course of the film, Tetsuo goes from being Kaneda's sidekick with a massive inferiority complex to a psychic and rather psychotic rampager. He's pushed Kaneda aside at this point in the film, declaring his own superiority and even trying to kill his former best friend. But as he mutates, he calls out to Kaneda in fear, reverting back to his childhood stage very quickly. Kaneda, though he knows Tetsuo had tried to kill him many times in the past, is only driven by his friend's pleas and of his memories of Tetsuo in the past. And then Akira appears through the interference of the three psychic children, and "takes Tetsuo away." At the end of the process, all that remains is a tiny bit of light which Kaneda grasps in his hands. I found this scene inspiring through the fact that, even though Tetsuo has become a grotesque form of his previous self and has basically gone on a killing rampage, he continues on in what appears to be his own universe. There's no retribution, Tetsuo was much more than some mindless all-evil villain, he was a complex and disturbed character. Though he caused a lot of destruction, he was still nothing more than a pained young boy. Which, I think, helps to promote my opinion that every villain is still very deeply human.
6. "Bang." (Cowboy Bebop)
How much fandom can revolve around one word? Quite a bit. A few weeks ago, Toonami ended its run on Cartoon Network, and the animated host of the series, TOM, voiced by Spike Spiegel's English voice actor Steven Jay Blum, said the simple word "Bang" before flying off into the sunset one last time. Now, this word would mean nothing to Toonami's 9-14 year old male target audience, who were probably so angry about Toonami's end that they didn't notice what the host said, but to avid Cowboy Bebop fans (such as myself) this simple word brought about one of the greatest endings to one of the greatest anime series ever created.
Spike, driven by his rage toward his former partner Vicious for his responsibility in killing his beloved Julia, has forsaken everything and pitted it all in revenge. After disposing of his enemy, he limps down the stairs and comes face to facw with awe-struck soldiers of the Red Dragon Syndicate. With a sigh and a smile, Spike cocks his imaginary gun and utters "Bang" before falling to the ground. Whether or not Spike actually died is still disputed, but I like to believe the series ended with an awesome battle and a conclusive death. Plenty of questions were left unanswered, such as what happened to Ed and Ein after they left the Bebop? What will become of Faye and Jet? But I think it's much better to end the story with the end of the main character.
Be warned, there are massive spoilers ahead!!
This is an ongoing project, so it make take several months to get all of the information compiled. Look at me, acting like a newspaper contributer!
10. The Death of Kaworu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)
If you're an Evangelion fan like I am, you completely disregard episodes 25 and 26 from Eva canon. Not because they're bad, but because nothing happens in them. I mean, compared to the End of Evangelion, episodes 25 and 26 are like a very long nap. Thus, the death of Nagisa Kaworu, the pivotal "end" of the series that sets up the events in the End of Evangelion, belongs at number 10 on my countdown. The 30 seconds+ long sequence of Unit 01 clutching Kaworu, who, with a nonchalant smile on his face, wishes for his own death, despite the fact that he is a herald of the end of mankind, encapsulates so much raw emotion through the inaction of the still image that you just have to watch it again. The scene directly following Kaworu's death, in which Misato coldly explains to Shinji how those who have no will to live can't live, is an interesting fact which directly contributes to Shinji's attitudes in the End of Evangelion and illustrates his development, or rather, his digression, into his isolated state of mind.
9. The Death of Kamina (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)
The first few episodes of Gurren Lagann seemed, to me, very "Power Rangers-esque." I'm not going to lie, the only thing that kept me from dropping the series after the first two episodes was Yoko >_>. The fights were dorky and over-exaggerated, lacking any sort of real emotion and winning in the end because of stupid luck. I'm very glad I continued watching it now. That first battle with the Gorilla general (I've forgotten his name) created new strife for Kamina and Simon, adding so much more to the series than ridiculous power-ups. And the final battle, when Kamina jumped out of Gurren in order to punch Simon in the face and bring him back to the battle, only to turn around and be blasted away basically punches you in the gut because it's so unexpected. Kamina's final battle alongside Simon and his inspiring final words to Simon were quite awe-inspiring. In a matter of one or two episodes, the series went from a dorky giant robot series to a post-apocalyptic coming-of-age saga, partially because of the fact that the death of a major character wasn't expected at all. That's what helped me see the series from start to finish.
8. One More Final: I Need You (The End of Evangelion)
The ambiguous ending to end all ambiguous endings, this final three or so minute scene of the End of Evangelion has irritated and angered Evangelion fans to no end since the film's debut in 1997. When I first saw the film, I questioned it, but I came to like it over time. The fact that we'll never exactly know what happens to Shinji and Asuka after the world ostensibly ends adds to the "Evangelion experience." And the animation of the scene itself is visually breathtaking as well as disturbing. There's a massive white head and an arm sticking out of the primordial ooze; street lights are toppled over, the sky is streaked with a ring of blood, and the clear night sky is contradicted by the blood red pool of LCL, which is flowing back and forth on the shore before Shinji and Asuka as calmly as the ocean, despite the fact that this is the current form of humanity. And amidst all of this, Shinji breaks down and Asuka offers only the cryptic line of: "kimochi warui." What exactly did she mean? We'll never really know. That is why the final few minutes of the End of Evangelion is number 8 on my list.
7. Tetsuo and Akira (Akira)
In my opinion, many of the great epic anime series that we all love today wouldn't exist if this massively popular anime-changing film of 1988 didn't premiere. This scene in particular is a very interesting one to look at: Tetsuo has lost control of his powers and is mutating into a massive bulbous version of himself. Throughout the course of the film, Tetsuo goes from being Kaneda's sidekick with a massive inferiority complex to a psychic and rather psychotic rampager. He's pushed Kaneda aside at this point in the film, declaring his own superiority and even trying to kill his former best friend. But as he mutates, he calls out to Kaneda in fear, reverting back to his childhood stage very quickly. Kaneda, though he knows Tetsuo had tried to kill him many times in the past, is only driven by his friend's pleas and of his memories of Tetsuo in the past. And then Akira appears through the interference of the three psychic children, and "takes Tetsuo away." At the end of the process, all that remains is a tiny bit of light which Kaneda grasps in his hands. I found this scene inspiring through the fact that, even though Tetsuo has become a grotesque form of his previous self and has basically gone on a killing rampage, he continues on in what appears to be his own universe. There's no retribution, Tetsuo was much more than some mindless all-evil villain, he was a complex and disturbed character. Though he caused a lot of destruction, he was still nothing more than a pained young boy. Which, I think, helps to promote my opinion that every villain is still very deeply human.
6. "Bang." (Cowboy Bebop)
How much fandom can revolve around one word? Quite a bit. A few weeks ago, Toonami ended its run on Cartoon Network, and the animated host of the series, TOM, voiced by Spike Spiegel's English voice actor Steven Jay Blum, said the simple word "Bang" before flying off into the sunset one last time. Now, this word would mean nothing to Toonami's 9-14 year old male target audience, who were probably so angry about Toonami's end that they didn't notice what the host said, but to avid Cowboy Bebop fans (such as myself) this simple word brought about one of the greatest endings to one of the greatest anime series ever created.
Spike, driven by his rage toward his former partner Vicious for his responsibility in killing his beloved Julia, has forsaken everything and pitted it all in revenge. After disposing of his enemy, he limps down the stairs and comes face to facw with awe-struck soldiers of the Red Dragon Syndicate. With a sigh and a smile, Spike cocks his imaginary gun and utters "Bang" before falling to the ground. Whether or not Spike actually died is still disputed, but I like to believe the series ended with an awesome battle and a conclusive death. Plenty of questions were left unanswered, such as what happened to Ed and Ein after they left the Bebop? What will become of Faye and Jet? But I think it's much better to end the story with the end of the main character.
Posted by Gendaros | Oct 20, 2008 11:10 AM | 0 comments