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Reviews
Anime from Akira to Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation by S. Napier
kaigairg's review against another edition
3.0
My thoughts:
http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_napier_anime.html
http://www.greenmanreview.com/book/book_napier_anime.html
cleocreads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting analysis of the anime industry and thematic concepts prevalent in films/series mentioned in the book. I have loved anime since my teenage years, and the book provided new recommendations to watch based on the thought-provoking analysis. Would recommend it to those interested in anime and would love to read into deeper discussions regarding certain shows and their symbolism.
szeglin's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting book that touches on some of the most well-known anime titles. This is probably not the best read for those who have not seen the titles discussed. Think of this book as a series off critical essays analyzing the importance of various themes across the works. That being said, I am familiar with a fair number of the titles & really enjoyed reading. I'm especially fascinated with the exploration of contemporary Japanese identity.
beebeewin's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting new perspective to shows and movies that I have loved my entire life. Gives new life and ideas to the characters.
tinycl0ud's review against another edition
3.0
Very dense, very thorough, very academic, requires a background in critical theory to understand the meat of the analyses. Quite eye-opening! Covers a wide range of anime across the decades. References films from the western canon too.
Chapters I enjoyed:
3. Akira and Ranma 1/2: The Monstrous Adolescent
Very interesting takes on representations of the unstable/amorphous adolescent body
5. Ghosts and Machines: The Technological Body
The last part talks about NGE through a psychoanalytic and mythic framework to comment on how this anime subverts mecha conventions
6. Doll Parts: Technology and the Body in Ghost in the Shell
Paralleled comparison of GitS with similar films like Blade Runner
8. The Enchantment of Estrangement: The Shojo in the World of Miyazaki Hayao
The first half talks about Totoro as a “classic fantasy of compensation” and Kiki’s Delivery Service as straddling the line between the fantastical and the realistically economical.
Chapters I enjoyed:
3. Akira and Ranma 1/2: The Monstrous Adolescent
Very interesting takes on representations of the unstable/amorphous adolescent body
5. Ghosts and Machines: The Technological Body
The last part talks about NGE through a psychoanalytic and mythic framework to comment on how this anime subverts mecha conventions
6. Doll Parts: Technology and the Body in Ghost in the Shell
Paralleled comparison of GitS with similar films like Blade Runner
8. The Enchantment of Estrangement: The Shojo in the World of Miyazaki Hayao
The first half talks about Totoro as a “classic fantasy of compensation” and Kiki’s Delivery Service as straddling the line between the fantastical and the realistically economical.