Why I like anime...

[thistlechaser]

One reason for it, anyway. Cut for Dear Boys spoilers. If you think you'll watch it (and you better if you have the chance!) then don't look. Totally big spoiler, like really really big.



Dear Boys is about highschool-level basketball. I know, I know, that sounds boring as heck. But it isn't! As much as being about the sports, it's about five *people* interacting. Five guys who have to learn together and be together and act as one team together. Five different personalities and pasts and fears and such.

I watched the last two eps tonight. As expected from a series about sports, the end of the series brought the Big Game, the final game in the tournament to decide who would be best in the world (okay, best in Japan). What would the plot bring if this were an American show? Or god help us, a Disney movie? The "good guys" would have a hard time, fall behind at one point, but in the end would win. (Because good guys always win, right?)

That was not the case in Dear Boys. They lost. It came down to the last game, the biggest one, and they did not win. But luckily for us viewers, the story didn't fade to black there. There was one more ep, and I cried my eyes out during the entire thing. Each one of these boys, these players who had worked so hard for so long to try to win, every one of them tried to take responsibility for the loss.

Tell me if out characters would do that (if they ever lost...). What would NBA players do if they lost? Blame the officials, blame "bad calls", but blame themselves? Never.

(Yay, MUSH crap cutting in again. No, Chia, don't blame yourself. His fault.)

Anyway, since I've totally lost my chain of thought and now have to deal with another mess, I'll end conclude this: Not only do you get really cool m/m vibes, but you get storylines and endings you'd never see in the usual media we are exposed to.



Edited to add: When you're having a crappy night, it helps to listen to snaples read slash to you.

Comments

[aretina.livejournal.com]

Speaking of a plot about/not about sports, you must see Iron Ladies, if you haven't already. I hate sports, but I loved that movie, perhaps more than any film I have ever seen.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I haven't heard of that one! Is it anime or live action? I'll keep my eyes open for it to be available.

[aretina.livejournal.com]

Live action, from Thailand. It's about a volleyball team composed nearly entirely of gay or transgendered men.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Wow, that sounds very different and interesting! I'll watch for it!

[morinotokei.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Thanks for adding me. I have to admit I don't recognize you from the admittedly little corner I lurk around on LJ, but it seems we have similar interests. ^_~

Scanning down your journal briefly, I stumbled upon this entry (http://www.livejournal.com/users/thistle_chaser/311617.html), which just gave me a little thrill because that's exactly how I felt about that episode of Dear Boys. But yes, those somewhat unconventional dynamics are one of the many reasons I adore anime, the different ways they treat plot and characterization, and one of my favorite being the way the lines are frequently a lot more blurred between the "good" and the "bad.

It's nice to 'meet' you, by the way. ^_^

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Hello there! Yep, we don't know each other. I did a search for LJers with 'Dear Boys' listed as an interest -- you were one of the few who seemed both like an interesting person and like one who knew how to type, so here we are now!

Thanks for adding me.

No need to thank me! I have to thank you for writing about interesting things!

I stumbled upon this entry, which just gave me a little thrill because that's exactly how I felt about that episode of Dear Boys

*grin* It's been a few days since I saw that ep, but just thinking about it still makes me smile... Well, okay, it makes me go "eee!" out loud more than just smile, but you get the idea.

and one of my favorite being the way the lines are frequently a lot more blurred between the "good" and the "bad.

Yes, exactly! I felt bad for implying that the other team was the bad-guy team, but it would have taken too long to explain the difference. (I only got into anime in the last couple months, so most of my friends list is still all Harry Potter folks who could probably gives a rat's tush about anime stuff.)

Anyway, thanks for the comment!

[morinotokei.livejournal.com]

and like one who knew how to type

~laughs~ I know what you mean, but I should warn you that I frequently lose my ability to type coherently in the midst of crazed fangirling.^^ I do hope you find more anime you like and stay for a while in anime fandom. Also would love to hear more of your thoughts on anime in the future, especially coming from a fresh perspective. ^_^

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, but I should warn you that I frequently lose my ability to type coherently in the midst of crazed fangirling.^^

No worries! I've been known to slip now and then, too. (Though usually when mad more than fangirling, heh.) It's that... I don't even know what it's called. I usually (unfairly?) call it "AOL speak": "ne1 got smthang?????" Heck, I can't fake it well, but that's what I try my best to avoid.

I do hope you find more anime you like and stay for a while in anime fandom. Also would love to hear more of your thoughts on anime in the future, especially coming from a fresh perspective

I'm sure intending to stick around! There's so much to see, so many stories, and, well, so many cute guys to ogle. ;)

Thanks!