I was dusting out blog drafts, and found this completed entry among them. I don’t know if I would’ve written it today…but nonetheless, here it is! Several years ago, while I was still in college and unmarried, a group of close guy friends and I had a conversation about “animated women.” My friend blogged about… Read More Belldandy, Nagisa, and What it Means to Be Pure
Higuchi Asa, the creator of Oofuri aka “Big Windup,” studied high school baseball in Japan for ten years, and it shows. Baseball playing itself fills most of the anime, with some games lasting several episodes. Many critics have also commented on the attention to detail in this show, which highlights the raw emotion and psychology… Read More Pitch To Contact! Teammates and Character Transformation in Ookiku Furikabutte
At the end of episode four of Hourou Musuko, a scene occured which took me by surprise (in a good way). Chiba heads toward a facility – at first, we’re unsure of what it is, but it soon becomes clear that it is some sort of church or cathedral. There, she bows and prays. Dear… Read More Hourou Musuko Episode 04: A Prayer from the Heart
Set Apart by Daniel Cronquist Pleasant Word Publishing 80 pgs. Christian themes and symbolism are ever-present in anime and manga works, from the surface-level use of nuns (Toaru Majutsu no Index, Trinity Blood) and crufixes (Kannagi, Neon Genesis Evangelion) to deeper themes that also have universal relevance, like redemption (Trigun). Japan, however, is not by… Read More Review: Set Apart by Daniel Cronquist
In 2002, Haibane Renmei, an acclaimed anime with heavily spiritual themes, premiered in Japan. While many pointed out Christian themes in the series, one individual went even further and wrote a book discussing Christian faith in light of Haibane Renmei. Daniel Cronquist, writer of Set Apart, is a civil engineer who traveled extensively throughout Japan. … Read More Interview with Daniel Cronquist, Writer of Set Apart
And now we’re grown-up orphans That never knew their names We don’t belong to no one That’s a shame But you could hide beside me Maybe for a while And I won’t tell no one your name And I won’t tell ’em your name When my wife was pregnant with our first child, we flipped… Read More Orphans That Never Knew Their Names: Haibane Renmei and the Power of Names
As many of us suspected, Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko) is turning out to be something quite special indeed. Episode 2 of the series could be summed up in one word: forgiveness. Chiba and Takatsuki’s relationship probably connects deeply to many of us. While we may not have been in such a difficult love triangle, where… Read More Wandering Son Episode 02: Graceful Takatsuki
The easiest way to keep up with Beneath the Tangles is to sign up for our email newsletter, Above Anime, on Substack!
Each Friday, you’ll receive an original anime devotional along with links to all our reviews, analysis, videos, and other content for the week. It’s the easiest way to keep up with our ministry!