Following part one of our series on our favorite anime, where JP (Japesland) and Casey (CutsceneAddict) talked about how the unique writing and presentation of Death Note, both spiritual and otherwise, make it her favorite anime of all time (spoilers!). In part two, JP and Jack (R86) discuss the anime Jack personally believe to be the epitome of perfect anime production. And for the second week in a row, we spoil his answer in the featured image…
As always, every episode of The TangleCast will be covering a different topic, from anime reviews, to discussions on spirituality, to listener mail, and everything in between. Please join the conversation by commenting below or submitting a question at our contact page!
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- 12 Days of Christmas Anime, Day 1: Cardcaptor Sakura - 12.14.2018
- 12 Days of Otaku Christmas, Day 12: Merry Christmas from Hatsune Miku - 12.25.2016
- Secret Santa 2016: Tsuritama - 12.24.2016
I’ve heard nothing but positive things about Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, from both casual and hardcore anime fans. It’s on my to-watch list, and perhaps I’ll get around to it now that I’ve finished Clannad.
I am curious about the theology presented in FMA:B. I know there is some atheism in there (and maybe that’s an understatement), but it’s a series I find consistently recommended by my Christian friends, so there’s clearly something deeper and more meaningful–something that holds a lot of spiritual truth–within it. I’m excited to dive in and start exploring the themes (and, y’know symbolism, ’cause that’s what I do) of this series.
As for the L VS El-ric argument, we can take that outside 😛
To be serious, though, I want to learn about Ed before I even BEGIN to offer an assessment of his character. He’s toted as a very well-written and intriguing individual, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he IS, clearly, the better-written of the two. I have two standards of favoritism: (1) one that is personal to me (based on non-objective criteria) and (2) one that is objective (based on writing quality, development, etc.). I doubt L will be topped any time soon in my book because his character holds a lot of personal value (much of which is revealed through extended material) to me, even if Ed is the better man, objectively-speaking.
In any case: really enjoyed hearing your thoughts. I’d like to hear about your connection with Saint Seiya as well sometime. I know you’ve probably told it several times during your duration at Tangles, but I think I might have missed out on it. If there’s a link to something I can read or listen to, I’d love to check it out.
I keep forgetting that I am now of such a vintage that most of my posts are distant memories. 🙂 My main piece on Saint Seiya came out five years ago: http://www.beneaththetangles.com/2011/05/09/burn-o-my-cosmos-comrades-at-arms-and-fighting-the-good-fight-in-saint-seiya/
While I cannot resolve the L vs. The Great Edward Elric controversy entirely here, I can do it partially. Since this podcast I have finished watching FMA: Non-Brotherhood. And I will have to admit that Edward has only faint echoes in that context of the greatness he has consistently in FMA: Brotherhood. I would say the same of Roy Mustang, or “the great Roy Mustang” as I prefer to call the Brotherhood version of him. In any case, I will concede that the non-Brotherhood version of Edward Elric can’t hold a candle to L, and in my mind this is largely why L beats him on the Anime-Planet character popularity poll.
Though I still blame fujoshi to some extent too. 😉
Really enjoyed your piece on Saint Seiya. I have found myself really enjoying some older-era anime (Black Jack 21 was a throwback I especially liked), so I have Saint Seiya on my docket to watch. That episode list is a bit intimidating but–hey, if I can get through Naruto, I think I have few excuses in this matter.
It’s interesting that our “first-favorites” (Saint Seiya and Death Note, respectively) cemented themselves in the same way for both of us. In my podcast on Death Note, I talk about how Death Note’s use of Christian imagery (and principles, though principles of an entirely different sort than Saint Seiya’s) made me realize the power anime had not only for conveying biblical truth, but also for conveying it in meaningful, tangible ways (also, that “nature giving witness of the Creator’s influence” phenomenon that you discuss in your piece). I wonder if this is more-or-less consistent with Christian otaku in general?
It’s entirely possible that non-Brotherhood is a huge factor in the popularity contest. I do think though that, at least in part, there’s a significant portion of L’s fanbase who just thinks he is velociraptor-screetching KAWAII(!!!!)/attractive/husbando-ftw material, and that… is cringe-inducing to me. (Fujoshi are even more-so–I generally consider that the bane of any promising fandom.) I suppose that’s generally the case for any weirdly-attractive(?) male anime character out there, though I find myself drawn to L for his quirkiness, aesthetic choices, love of sweets (which I relate to quite literally), intelligence, heart (yes, he does have one that I encourage fans to check out extra material to see more clearly), and complexity. His Christ-figure archetypeness (particularly his meekness) is definitely what sold me on him, though, and that’s kept me coming back to him time-and-again, discovering new parallels through his character.
Someday, I will watch Brotherhood, and then we can have a podcast where we discuss THE GREAT EDWARD ELRIC and L and bring our thoughts to the table. It would be fun. I won’t throw tomatoes at you–promise 😛
I would have to agree with Jack that Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood is the best anime that I have ever seen. It has been a long time since I have watched it and I don’t have a great argument for why it is good, but instead see myself through Edward Elric. I used to call myself an atheist not that long ago because I was tired of going through crap in my life and hated denying my flesh of the things that I wanted to do. Like, the nature of these things were from the church letting me down, mainly my father who was a pastor, and it made me have a terrible taste for religion. I pretended that God didn’t exist so that I could cope with my pain in my own way instead of letting Him heal me, and it brought all sorts of unnecessary problems. I don’t want to go into spoiler territory for the anime, but Edward is literally the exact same way, and the striking similarities between us are what has made him my online avatar.