Madoka Magica is well known for being not only an excellent and memorable anime, but also one that made religious symbolism look easy. Thus, it’s fairly intimidating to write anything about this anime, despite its massive potential for commentary. Even more intimidating is that BtT’s original founder, Charles (TWWK) also wrote a very well worded… Read More Holy Week: Kaname Madoka as a Christ Figure
To compare anything at all to Jesus Christ might be an exercise in futility at best, but under the circumstances I will try my best to meet the challenge. In the second chapter of Philippians, Paul writes that Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” In other words, as the… Read More Holy Week: Utsugi Lenka As A Christ Figure
Gungrave is my all-time favorite anime, and the main character, Brandon Heat, numbers among my favorite anime characters. The first time I watched it, I was hit by his fighting ability and loyalty. But as I watched the show a few more times, I realized there is more depth to Brandon, and that he is a… Read More Holy Week: Brandon Heat as a Christ Figure
Princess Tutu is a show that’s pretty low-profile. Or rather, its somewhat childish name forces it into obscurity. It’s also not normally a show people turn to when looking for biblical parallels, but hidden behind its shallow initial impression is a story that explores concepts such as free-will and sacrifice in depth. Ultimately (spoilers), the… Read More Holy Week: Princess Tutu as a Christ Figure
Death Note is no stranger to Christian symbolism—and ingenious detective L may be the centerpiece of it all. From his name (which is homonymous with the Hebrew word for God—El) and triune identity, to his miraculous ability to solve unsolvable crimes, L encompasses a variety of imagery pertaining to the Christian God and Jesus Christ.… Read More Holy Week: L Lawliet as a Christ Figure
When it comes to Christian allusions, Death Note pulls no punches. Whether it’s an artistic replication of The Fall of Man by Michelangelo, Light’s literal taking of the forbidden fruit, or the Gregorian choirs, crucifixes, and god-complexes, there’s a bit of Christian influence sprinkled across every chapter (and episode) of the series. Perhaps the most… Read More Between the Panels: Disciples of e(L) – (Ch. 40)
Ten or so episodes of Ashita no Joe convince one that many Christian themes run through it. One even locates a Christ figure in Rikiishi and a Marian character in Yoko Shiraki. Therefore, Joe Yabuki (especially when one considers the slang “average Joe”) might be looked on as an everyman–a representative of graceless humanity needing a… Read More Examining Old School Anime: The Christ Figure Antagonist