Category: Something More

Something More: Fan (Dis-)Service, Tsundere for Jesus, and “Playing God” until you Run out of Chimeras

Every-so-often, creators like to throw their fans a juicy bone–putting favorite characters into high-action power fantasies, or allowing an emotional build-up “just for the feels.” Fandom pandering can certainly lead to a watered-down story if creators cater to every imagined whim of their doting followers, but, sometimes, a little sprinkling of fan service can go… Read More Something More: Fan (Dis-)Service, Tsundere for Jesus, and “Playing God” until you Run out of Chimeras

Cutsceneaddict3 Comments

Something More: Belonging in Bungou, Berserk “Sunday School,” and Dangerous Flying Witches

Anime often revels in deviant storytelling. Add that to its cultural roots, and it’s easy for misunderstanding and stereotyping to occur among Western audiences. Christians, especially, seem hesitant to embrace anime due, in part, to its oftentimes default spiritual content. Witches, demons, spirits, and magic frequently flavor Japanese storytelling, which can sound worse in word… Read More Something More: Belonging in Bungou, Berserk “Sunday School,” and Dangerous Flying Witches

Cutsceneaddict2 Comments

Something More: Fullmetal Anti-Semitist, Re:Samaritan, and Ultimate (Idolatrous) “Harmony”

Anime, especially in the dark fantasy/dystopian genre, thrives on the concept of freewill. Death Note shows the futility of forcing the world into a mold to which it cannot conform. Kiznaiver reveals that shared adversity and duty-driven empathy aren’t enough to keep people (or the peace) together. Psycho-Pass… well… you get the picture. At least as far… Read More Something More: Fullmetal Anti-Semitist, Re:Samaritan, and Ultimate (Idolatrous) “Harmony”

Cutsceneaddict7 Comments

Something More: Tangles’ MAL Debut, Crane Game Gospel, and Kiznaiver’s “Holy Spirit”

Recently, Beneath the Tangles was invited to become a blogger for popular database My Anime List. Aside from expanding our organizational platform, we hope to utilize MAL as a mainstream bridge between the spiritual and secular in a way that reaches a primarily non-Christian demographic. Our introductory post, which has received almost 5,000 views, provides… Read More Something More: Tangles’ MAL Debut, Crane Game Gospel, and Kiznaiver’s “Holy Spirit”

Cutsceneaddict4 Comments

Something More: (Gnostic) Titan Jesus, Christian Freedom in JRPG Airships, and Humility Levels Over 9,000

I get excited whenever I see Christ and Pop Culture publish a piece qualified for the “Something More” column, and this one is certainly an original. I never imagined that the JRPG airship trope could convey so many spiritual truths about freedom and responsibility. Looking back on my memories playing through the Final Fantasy series… Read More Something More: (Gnostic) Titan Jesus, Christian Freedom in JRPG Airships, and Humility Levels Over 9,000

Cutsceneaddict7 Comments

Something More: Metaphysical Mushishi, Divine Dr. Black Jack, and Old Testament Anime… Sort Of

“Cartoons” aren’t just for kids. Anime fans probably know that better than anyone. But it’s not just mature content and convoluted plots that make anime an appealing medium for adults. Through animation’s ambiguous limits, philosophy and theology can be easily conveyed in a manner that anyone can grasp (often without their realizing it). For example,… Read More Something More: Metaphysical Mushishi, Divine Dr. Black Jack, and Old Testament Anime… Sort Of

Cutsceneaddict2 Comments

Something More: Sexualized Shipping, Islamic Anime, and the Love of Asuna, Ackerman, and Ashitaka

Tangles is no stranger to tough topics, and the sexualization of anime by fans is one we’ve delved into at length. As a cosplayer and massive fangirl myself, I’m often directly in the middle of the otaku community and consistently surprised by how far characters and narratives are stretched in order to sexualize them. Especially… Read More Something More: Sexualized Shipping, Islamic Anime, and the Love of Asuna, Ackerman, and Ashitaka

CutsceneaddictLeave a comment