Yesterday, I gave numbers one through six on my list of the years top posts regarding anime and spirituality. It’s been difficult selecting the top posts of the year, though I’ve found again and again, they’re written by my favorite writers in the blogosphere. These wonderful bloggers seem to be adept at writing about a… Read More Top Blog Posts About Anime and Religion in 2011: #7-12
Mawaru Penguindrum continues to deliver week after week, defying conventions on the way. Among other things, episode 20 was a beautiful episode about romantic fate. The flashback to Himari and Shouma as children is both touching and difficult to watch. There’s little as heartwarming as watching two kids love on a stray kitten (and little… Read More Mawaru Penguindrum, Episode 20: Himari and Shouma, the First Man and Woman
In his review of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84, a three volume work in which cults and Jehovah’s Witnesses play a role, Boyd Tonkin describes the protagonist as “clearly belong[ing] on the manga and anime planets of Japanese pop culture.” Among other analysis, Draggle delves into Momoka’s function in as the title character of Mawaru Penguindrum episode… Read More Momoka as Jesus, Waiting on YWAM, and Buying Religious Manga
Draggle continues to draw connections to Gnosticism in Mawaru Penguindrum, but this time also quotes Milton and discusses the “Princess of Lies” connection with the “Prince of Lies.” Vucubcaquix investigates the parallel between Yuri and Satan even further, calling it the “most provocative idea in this episode.” Zeroe4 reflects on the impossibility of his dream… Read More Yuri the Princess of Lies, an Impossible Anime Dream, and the Christianizing of Princess Mononoke
Each week, Mawaru Penguindrum ups the ante, revealing more about its characters while unfolding additional mysteries. Episode 14 was no different as it primarily focused on a character we knew little of until now: Yuri. Until this point (and still now), she was an enigma, but I would say she mostly radiated positive characteristics. So,… Read More Devilishly Entertaining: Mawaru Penguindrum, Episode 14
Episode 12 was rich in Christian symbolism. As Shoma told his tale of the bunnies, the goddess, and Mary and the three lambs, it was immediately obvious that much of the story’s inspiration was from the Garden of Eden (among other stories – Draggle mentions Prometheus). Shoma’s tale, of course, was also very different. Still,… Read More Mawaru Penguindrum 12: Brief Analysis of the Christian Symbols
As I try to find the time to marathon Puella Magi Madoka Magica in an attempt to avoid any more spoilers, I had to stop to write about episode seven, in which allusions to and mentions of Christianity are far stronger than in any other episode to this point of the series. Though a few… Read More Puella Magi Madoka Magica 07: From Adam to Jesus