Over the years, dozens of regular and guest writers have contributed their craft and passion to Beneath the Tangles, making the BtT blog a site of rich, biblical reflection on anime, manga, and light novels. So it will come as no surprise that many of us from the current BtT writing team started out first… Read More Throwback Thursday with the BtT Writers: A Few of Our Favorite Posts
In the world of Banished from the Hero’s Party, characters live in accordance with their divine blessing, which, under the leadership of a theocracy, directs them to the occupation they’ll have and the path they’ll follow. In volume 10 of the manga, two members of the hero’s party, Theodora and Albert, are in the middle… Read More Banished Hero of the Sabbath
It’s episode 11 and Meg Raspberry is facing her most daunting challenge yet: A magic anomaly has triggered a gargantuan tsunami that threatens to destroy the island nation of Aquamarine. It’s enough to quell the spirits of the Seven Sages, the most elite of mages, let alone a powerless apprentice like Meg Raspberry, who has… Read More Meg Raspberry’s Revelation and the Math of God: Once Upon a Witch’s Death ep. 11
I was innocently eating my lunch while watching slice-of-life when blam! Straight to the kokoro. Nagi-san goes and drops a pearl of wisdom that leaves me spinning—in a good way. Here it is: For context, Ruri (left above) is an amateur mineralogist, and she’s on a mission to find sapphires. Not content with the (literally)… Read More Ruri Rocks: Detours, Shortcuts, and the Way of Life
Howdy, dear reader! In my last article, I sought to illustrate how TPN, my favorite anime ever made, takes inspiration in its themes, lore, and even its name from the biblical story of the Promised Land, and how the parallels extend to the gospel itself. (Be sure to check this article by our writer Thathilomgirl for… Read More The Promised Neverland and the Mass, II: Come and See
In the first episode of Season 2, Azusa meets again the deity who brought her to this isekai when she reincarnated after death by overwork. Pretty much everything about the episode’s depiction of divinity is pure silliness: The goddesses are likened to idols on the performance circuit, complete with glow sticks and other merch, a… Read More I’ve Been Killing Slimes’ Unexpected Insight into the Heart of God
In the age of The Matrix Resurrections and The Rise of Skywalker, sequel disappointment is like the common cold. Continuations of great stories must attempt to walk the tightrope of making us feel the magic once again while avoiding treading the same ground. Many try, a few succeed; most are mercifully forgotten, but some even bring the original… Read More The Promised Neverland and the Mass, I: Sequels, Pagans, and Evil Blood
Interested in watching thoughtful, human-centered conversations with people connected to anime?
Watch Something Genuine, our interview series that cuts through the noise and focuses on the people behind the costumes, in front of the mics, and watching anime, just like you and me. Season two premieres on May 27th.