[13] Kas-trated

[13]

Kas-trated

tis is actually my critical analysis for Kas2...


After Hinduism and Buddhism... now Animé-ism?!


If ever you see a teenager of my age or any older who plays lies by telling you that he has never tuned in Animé in his entire sedately boring life, stone him to death.

Yes, I'm gonna be talking about how influential these colorful cartoons from Japan, animated in TV or simply printed on papers with callouted dialogues and yet being advertised, taking over the popularity of Sharon Cuneta, the days of 1980's. Animation has greatly evolved since its beginnings with Walt Disney back in the 1920's 'til early 1930's. America was awed at that time, when the 'man' combined animation, with sound, to create memorable characters that seemed lifelike. Asia, proving once again that she can't be number 2, had Japan to create a name, It was after the World War II, however, they were minimal and not well known, to America that time. Due to Japan's economy that went then to a downward spiral, its animation was marooned from the other companies e.g. Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros. TOEI Animation Co. was founded then in the early 1950's who danced along to become the 'Walt Disney of Japan.' I may now skip your minds into 1963 wherein Dr. Osamu Teszuka came up with Astro Boy[Tetsuwan Atomu] classified as the first “true” animated series and in America, became a big hit.



Perhaps the recent century of Asia could never have a perpetual spark if only the following were put on much concern... Japanese military forces who would never forgive themselves if ever that failed to build wars with Russia, Manchuria, the Pacific area, China and even USA. Civil war in a malodorous country Pakistan that led to the foundation of an independent nation Bangladesh[formerly Eastern Pakistan]. The sprawling of Communism that deteriorated helpless countries like Vietnam. Or a stormy-haired Chinese-Filipina, with her respective disciples, declaring herself as the 11th president of the Philippines just by standing in the middle of EDSA shrine, all dressed in yellow looking like spoiled mangoes. Ugh, simply irritating!

Whew! The 20th century wasn't all that tiresome and repetitive thanks [a lot] to these works of art. I too who have been brought up in Earth fortunately biting at least the last bits of the 20th C., was severely addicted [yeah, addicted] to these almost perfect quality or so cartoons, evident on what I usually draw and by playing “text-cards” [featuring their faces] with some lousy others during my 3rd grade. The main question now is: “Why was Japan's pop culture so appreciated by Asians, and in the 20th century til now, the world??” [My sources had reports of sushi, sweets, comics and karaoke also made names internationally, but I'm still gonna focus on my childish affections—ANIME.]


Among my lists are (1)Doraemon—a robot that resembles a blue whiskered stuffed toy with a belly-planted pouch; (2)Ghost Fighter—a team of mortals/non-mortals whose quest is to battle the demons; (3) Dragon Ball Z—a spike-haired ripped man who with his friends finds 7 orange crystal balls that can summon a humongous green dragon; (4) Curious Play—two ordinary girls get trapped in an ancient yet magical world and; (5) Pokemon—a collection of weird-looking pets that carry elemental powers at the same time, cuteness.


“It's because they're high-quality, that's all," explains Oyama Hidenori, a director of TOEI.
In the 1960's, their comics[in their term, Manga] have had heroes-turned-animated stars. Also they were into talked-about commercial smashes as media, comics, animation, publishing, toy and clothing companies joined forces, soon after. Franchising became hospitable to businessmen in the world as stickers, posters, school bags, CD's could never be absent along the populous streets of Divisoria.


The feeling is now what I call “a sense of belonging”. In the 1970's , Asians used to adore anything American. In the 1990's, this continent went almost exclusively Asian-oriented. For example, the “pilyo” aura of Bart Simpson[you know, “The Simpsons”] has been preserved in the clutches of Crayon Shin Chan, a rather “pilyo-er”.


I guess it gave way to people whose voices, they consider as their business capital, e.g. dubbing/translating [as obvious in GMA7, ABS-CBN adopted series mostly Animé.. Psychosocial effects too then can either be astonishingly helpful or not. Take a look at this following as an analytical comparison. These recent days, I've been glued on Jessica Zafra's books [“Twisted” familiar now? If not, go to the UP MainLib, Filipiniana Section] which entails about her vast experiences or opinions. In concern to the first, she said that she literally forgot to eat and later, lost 50 pounds just by reading and reading and reading books. If there existed someone like her who is awfully fond of reading Manga or watching Animé, which I believe there is,how much more calories can he/she actually burn?? Second, there's been a factual report acknowledging the four year-old son of a Hong Kong housewife Connie Lo, who has lost weight too just by straying for almost infinity, playing electronic games on the Nintendo Gameboy [another of Japan's hottest techno for kids and teens]. At least, he does not forget to take a bath and change his clothes, or else, his mother would throw him into the trash bin. In 1997, a close friend and a friend of his was talking naughtily about a website; finally, he broke it to me that it was a sexually-driven version of Dragon Ball characters specifically Bulma/Burma in hr shower suit. I could not describe if those who made it was eerily on the peak of sexual depression, or as any other porn stars would put it, as 'redefining ART'. I am open-minded... but I regard this thing out of context of ART. [“Pati ba naman cartoons, binababoy nila!” commented another friend.]

Bet you didn't know that Animé also had their “Golden Age”. It flourished in the 80's. Yessss... This was when the highest volume of Animé was coming out of Japan, and airing on TV in the United States.



Another elaboration. Japan's fascination with these childlike things could be a reflection of the “infantilism of postwar Japanese culture,” wrote Ian Burma in his book. The children then were so into trauma that they would intend to be kids again, he seconded. So can I ask him, is this the way how Japan would redeem themselves to the world that they are just gentle species who draw wonderful characters.??! I can't help myself but to say that it's effective! Hail Japan!


Cover story. Late 20th century, office workers create a personal world of their own by locking themselves in their room, infatuating on the cartoons, animations, and video games. They are so-called OTAKU. I may just hallucinate how jealous their respective wives could be;somehow, it,s better for them to think that their husbands have been spending time with other women[at least, that's normal].


Governments in influenced Southeast Asian countries have come to some point o being funny and ignorant. I the late 1970's, Ferdinand Marcos, president-turned-wax, banned the viewing of Voltes V series, because of its violent content leading even to restrictions of video game parlors. I can't stop from rationalizing that at least 1/3 of the People Power protesters were Voltes V Lovers!!! Ha-ha!


Dec. 1995. Malaysia's Information Ministry instructed local broadcasting and marketing companies to drop the first 2 words in the title Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, It's concern: that children might conflate the Rangers and their special powers with morphine. Hah!


As for me, being a nationalist, I believe in the abilities of Filipinos to create something MORE than it [I could not say, “something like it” because it will declare us as ill impostors.]


Imagine a world without Animé...
Imagine a world without Japan. [NOTE: I am not a Japanese]
Others say that there would still be Disney; deeper than that, we still have a unique one we know and practice: the Filipinos' pop culture.