Makoto Shinkai's new film, your name., along with Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi's Shin Godzilla, has been a roaring success at the Japanese box office. But Hiroki Azuma, a cultural critic and developer of the original story for Fractale, sees additional portent behind these recent hits. On September 8 he tweeted a link to an analysis by another critic, Daisuke Watanabe, of your name. from the perspective of bishōjo (pretty girl) games and the sekai-kei genre. (Sekai-kei is a concept Azuma helped define in his books; it refers to stories where the fate of the world or a similarly epic issue hangs on the resolution of one couple's relationship.) Azuma then went on to tweet his own thoughts: I completely agree with Watanabe's analysis that the imaginative power of sekai-kei and bishōjo games earned a peculiar national popularity by providing protagonists with satisfying personal lives. But I am not optimistic about what comes next. your name. seemed less like the beginning of an era than the ending of another. To put it simply, watching Shin Godzilla and your name., I felt that the otaku (geek) era had ended. The imaginations of the first-generation Gainax otaku and the second-generation sekai-kei otaku have simultaneously matured and reached personal satisfaction, and that special otaku aimlessness and hopelessness vanished entirely. That might be good and it might be bad. In any case, as someone born in 1971 who's been watching otaku media all my life, I think this year will be looked back on as a turning point, and as I go through life my various emotions intensify. your name. has also made a deep impression among animators: Yutaka "Yamakan" Yamamoto, director of Fractale, also wrote recently that he "envied" Shinkai after seeing his movie. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-09-10/cultural-critic-hiroki-azuma-shin-godzilla-your-name-signify-end-of-an-age/.106281 Here is another article. Hiroki Azuma is one of Japan's most prominent and influential cultural critics. He has been studying Japan's pop culture and it's reflection on Japanese society since 1993, and has been a powerful voice when it comes to otaku / video game / internet culture. Azuma believes the Otaku Era of entertainment, which he describes as aimless and hopeless due to the younger generation's bleak financial statues and dropping birth rate, is over. Azuma feels the box office success of Kimi no Na wa (Your Name) and Shin Godzilla is a turning point. He said, "...as someone born in 1971 who's been watching otaku media all my life, I think this year will be looked back on as a turning point, and as I go through life, my various emotions intensify." Azuma caps things off by saying the "vanishing of that special otaku aimlessness and hopelessness" being over "might be good and it might be bad." This is because "otaku" media has been moving towards a more optimistic road, instead of the self-loathing styles since Neon Genesis Evangelion. Do you agree with Hiroki Azuma's assessment? http://goboiano.com/news/5044-japanese-critic-says-the-otaku-era-is-over-thanks-to-%2522your-name%2522 I haven't watch Your Name but I don't think one anime alone is enough to change things. LOL! Anime otaku being hopeless and aimless. Did he really said Evangelion is self loathing anime style? |
ZapredonSep 12, 2016 10:03 PM
But it's important to remember that a movie review is subjective;it only gives you one person's opinion. http://www.classzone.com/books/lnetwork_gr08/page_build.cfm?content=analyz_media&ch=30 It doesn't matter if you like LoGH,Monster etc.If you are a jobless or college/school dropout living in your mom basement, you are still an unintelligent loser. Taste in anime does not make you a better person.If elitist don't exist, casual pleb and shit taste also don't exist. |
Zapredon said: I haven't watch Your Name but I don't think one anime alone is enough to change things. I also haven't watched Kimi no Na Wa. And the fact that he didn't specify which "kind" of anime moves towards optimism really puts me up... What? Is it Ecchi or CGDCT, or anime in general? Well, I guess that one isn't enough but a good stepping stone... |
| Wait, what does Shin Godzilla have to do with anime's turning point and why is it constantly brought up? |
Paul said: Wait, what does Shin Godzilla have to do with anime's turning point and why is it constantly brought up? Probably because it's directed by Hideaki Anno. |
But it's important to remember that a movie review is subjective;it only gives you one person's opinion. http://www.classzone.com/books/lnetwork_gr08/page_build.cfm?content=analyz_media&ch=30 It doesn't matter if you like LoGH,Monster etc.If you are a jobless or college/school dropout living in your mom basement, you are still an unintelligent loser. Taste in anime does not make you a better person.If elitist don't exist, casual pleb and shit taste also don't exist. |
| The Fractale guy also thought Fractale would save anime but it was just a generic, mediocre series that noone remembers anymore. I wouldn't take anything he says too seriously. |
| I probably regret this post by now. |
| Just how well received is Kimi no Na Wa in Japan? Is it a big hit just like in the West? Also, as I've said before, as long as there is Hikkomoris, there's going to be negative views towards NEETs and otakus. |
Pullman said: i dont know much about the series but at least it doesnt look like otaku seriesThe Fractale guy also thought Fractale would save anime but it was just a generic, mediocre series that noone remembers anymore. I wouldn't take anything he says too seriously. did he really say it will save anime? |
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Pullman said: The Fractale guy also thought Fractale would save anime but it was just a generic, mediocre series that noone remembers anymore. I wouldn't take anything he says too seriously. Wasn't it that dick of a director that said that though? |
| This is #what of this same topic now? Anyways, nope, I doubt anime will change simply because of these things. Budget is still a thing and the paradigm hasn't changef still. |
| That interview desperately needs some context, otherwise we'll have a lot more people misinterpreting what Azuma said, without trying to do the bare minimum of research on his views Paul said: Wait, what does Shin Godzilla have to do with anime's turning point and why is it constantly brought up? otaku media =/= anime. Learn to read BrandNew_Lanz said: Pullman said: The Fractale guy also thought Fractale would save anime but it was just a generic, mediocre series that noone remembers anymore. I wouldn't take anything he says too seriously. Wasn't it that dick of a director that said that though? Yep. Yutaka Yamamoto is a sad man. |
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Lollo36 said: lol for starters what the hell is a culture criticThat interview desperately needs some context, otherwise we'll have a lot more people misinterpreting what Azuma said, without trying to do the bare minimum of research on his views |
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| okay , can someone please explain ? Why would two movies change so much ? And what about other animes that are being made each season ? And why when it comes to anime , The word "otakus" appears ? |
| "This is my father's crime against me, which I myself committed against none" Al-ma'arri |
| Even though he might be wrong, things are changing and a select few anime can cause a domino effect. This year might also be a big turning point to the end of the animation is for kids stigma if sausage party becomes a hit in the west. |
hisokathebutcher said: okay , can someone please explain ? Why would two movies change so much ? And what about other animes that are being made each season ? And why when it comes to anime , The word "otakus" appears ? Looks like he isn't thinking necessarily that those two movies are gonna change the anime world, more like those two are signalling the end of an era. |
Zapredon said: Did he really said Evangelion is self loathing anime style? Is far from being a positive story about hapiness and how ejoyable the life is... is dark and depressive, and it ends bad. Paul said: Wait, what does Shin Godzilla have to do with anime's turning point and why is it constantly brought up? Directed by Hideo Anno (Evangelion). The fact that an anime creator made a movie and not only a movie, but a block buster is kind of a big deal, because it show to the non-otaku are more than ''cartoons'' creators that can be looked down on. [/quote] aqing0601 said: Just how well received is Kimi no Na Wa in Japan? Is it a big hit just like in the West? Pretty damn huge: [url]https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/509a4g/why_your_namekimi_no_na_wa_is_one_of_the_most/[/url] hisokathebutcher said: Why would two movies change so much ? And what about other animes that are being made each season ?And why when it comes to anime , The word "otakus" appears ? Because the anime industy targets the otaku comunity. Is not something mainstream in Japan, is simply something made to be sold to a group of few thousands loyal otaku ready to spend a shit load of money on expensive DVD's. That makes the anime industry a subsistence industry, where selling 5000-10000 DVD can be see as a great success, and where they need years to cover the 1.5-4 millions investion in the production of the anime, many times ending in failure. The fact that Your Name managed to crush all the competition and make 12,6 milion dollars in the first 3 days, is something huge for the anime industry. Godzilla was also a bllock buster, and it was directed by an anime director, which again is huge for the industry, because it means the recognition by the mainstream public of the talents behind the anime industry. Any~way... I don't get why everyone is so in shock. This comunity is made out only by fragile snowflakes, that criticize everything trying to look strong, but break every time a change take place (just look at the chaos created by Your Name getting the first place on MAL few days ago). I don't understand why it seem so hard to see an anime as a turning point... 20 years ago Evangelion did just that. It had a huge impact over the anime industry, and it come up at a time when the Japanese analyst considered that anime was a dying industry - Evangelion come and started a revolution. And over the years we had small revolutions - for example: Fate Stay Night brought a new standard in the anime art style. Up until that point, what ufotable achived in that series in 2011 was seen only in movies. What the critics try to say at the end of the day is that after the succes that Your Name the anime industry has the potential of becoming something that targets not only some otaku who may or may not be interested to buy the anime, but pretty much everyone. And yes we can see this sort of shift, because, you know, money. Your Name managed to make 12,6 millions dollars in the first 3 days, that is huge for an anime. The studios will definetly see potential in that and try to copy that success. The anime targets otaku and that is the reason why we see so many phatetic average protagonist... because they try to create a connection with those otaku who are just that. But is made to simply give a feeling of fulfillment whitout actually trying to heal the wound at all. So we can't really consider most of the anime as inspiring as we do with Western Movies and Disney Cartoons. That part of the anime industry keeps many away. But the anime indusstry play that card because is a safe one that puts food on their table. Now, they have reasons to to try to risk, experiment and change some of their ways. A shift from that depressive area towards a more positive and fulfilling attitude, can simply create connections with the average Japanese and expand the market. Basically what the critics consider it may happen is exactly what happened with Disney where in the past they made cartoons targeting mostly childrens and where that sort of ''niche'', and now they are pretty much bigger than movies, and are watched by everyone, especially adults. It can happen? In my 9 years spent watching anime, I can say for sure, that everytime something is successfull in anime industry, it will be fast copied and adopted by others who try to achive the same success and it becomes something big as result... maybe the best example for that is the success of SAO that lead to the boom of Issekai light novels, manga and anime. |
kronopySep 13, 2016 5:11 AM
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Lollo36 said: Paul said: Wait, what does Shin Godzilla have to do with anime's turning point and why is it constantly brought up? otaku media =/= anime. Learn to read Seems like it's still in relation to anime. If it weren't for big anime related directors then it wouldn't even be relevant. But the case is mostly that I wasn't aware this was a big deal for them, as in anime directors making a live action. |
| I had great hopes for Shin Godzilla. It seems Troll Anno is back full force this time :3. http://kotaku.com/evangelion-creator-predicts-the-death-of-anime-1706738732  |
Prophetess of the Golden Era  |
| @kronopy thanks mate , you explained it perfctly for me . @BrandNew_Lanz +1 |
| "This is my father's crime against me, which I myself committed against none" Al-ma'arri |
| It's just nothing more than a make believe self assessment. He didn't provide enough or convincing argument to how a single series can change an entire era. He said that the current hopeless and aimless otaku era is ended, but he didn't gave anything about what era will come next if the previous one died. It's never about the one who produces but it always about the one who consume, no matter how much success Kimi No Na Wa has, if its general idea cannot satisfy the mass consumer need then nothing will change. The turning point is the next coyple years imo, Kimi No na Wa premises is nothing new in the industry and I wonder if that themes can proves itself capable of carrying the industry, if it's can't then nothing will change. |
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tr1ckst3r said: It's just nothing more than a make believe self assessment. He didn't provide enough or convincing argument to how a single series can change an entire era. He said that the current hopeless and aimless otaku era is ended, but he didn't gave anything about what era will come next if the previous one died. It's never about the one who produces but it always about the one who consume, no matter how much success Kimi No Na Wa has, if its general idea cannot satisfy the mass consumer need then nothing will change. The turning point is the next coyple years imo, Kimi No na Wa premises is nothing new in the industry and I wonder if that themes can proves itself capable of carrying the industry, if it's can't then nothing will change. It's just a tweet, obviously he wouldn't write a professional essay there. Besides, the guy is a phd sociologist and culture critic; he's looking at how society works. He never said that Your Name is the cause of the turning point, but that, based on what he saw in it and Shin Godzilla and the subsequent success of the two movies, he feels, that otaku culture is at a turning point. The success and content alone can already tell alot about how contemporary otaku culture works. Atleast that's how I'd imagine a sociologist/culture critic to look at those things. |
robiu013Sep 13, 2016 12:44 PM
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