Character: Sousuke Aizen Series: Bleach Gender: Male Occupation: soul reaper (formerly) Bible twin: Satan Overview Bleach is a manga and anime that needs little introduction. It follows Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school student who is bestowed with the powers of a Shinigami (soul reaper), beings who send tortured souls to the afterlife and who fight… Read More Finding the Invisible God in…Bleach
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
My fall 2010 anime season came to a close this week, as I finally finished a show I’d been watching in globs throughout the autumn. Fortune Arterial, based on a visual novel, follows Kohei Hasekura, a student who becomes involved with Erika Sendo, the school’s student council Vice President and…a vampire. I enjoyed the show for… Read More Finding the Invisible God in…Fortune Arterial
While watching episodes for my 12 Days of Christmas Anime series, I noticed a word pop up time and time again – holy. It seemed out of place – a very religious, archaic-sounding word in a medium that was anything but. What does this word mean, particularly in context of Japanese culture and in comparison… Read More Of Kami and Buddhas: Holy Anime!
I’m not usually a big fan of Secret Santa arrangements. In fact, I recently went on a long diatribe about the evil of Secret Santa with my wife (who thinks I’m a Grinch). But when I’d heard about what Reverse Thieves does each year, I immediately jumped on it. I was terribly excited, until I… Read More Secret Santa: Kino’s Journey
Read or Die Episode 10: “Christmas Carol” From an Official R.O.D. artbook via E-shuushuu The Christmas Story As the episode begins, Nenene receives two invitations to Christmas parties. The three sisters want to go to the second, a party for a recipient of an author’s award which Nenene once received. They all go, and Nenene… Read More The Second Day of Christmas Anime
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