Contents

Preface

Introduction to the 2nd Edition

Acknowledgments

PART ONE: INTERPRETING ANIME

  1. A Page Right Out of History

  2. Conventions versus Clichés

  3. The Social Web and the Lone Wolf

  4. Mukashi Mukashi: From Folktales to Anime

  5. The Naked Truth

  6. Rated H: Hardcore Anime

  7. “A Very Pure Thing”: Gay and Pseudo-Gay Themes in Anime

  8. Bushido: The Way of the Warrior

  9. Shojodo: The Way of the Teenage Girl

10. Enter the Mamagon: The Japanese Mother

11. Faith-Based: Christianity, Shinto, and Other Religions in Anime

12. Who Ya Gonna Call?: The Spirit World in Anime

13. The Starmaker Machinery: Anime and Idol

14. It’s Not Easy Being Green: Nature in Anime

15. War Is Stupid: War and Anti-War Themes in Anime

16. Birth and Death and Rebirth: Reincarnation in Anime

PART TWO: FILMS AND DIRECTORS

  1. Windaria

  2. The Wings of Honnêamise: Tora-san in Space

  3. Utena: Giri/Ninjo and the Triumph of Conservatism in Pop Culture

  4. Giant Robo: Anime as Wagnerian Opera

  5. Flying with Ghibli: The Animation of Hayao Miyazaki and Company

  6. The Sailor Moon Phenomenon: Love! Valor! Compassion! Middie Blouses!

  7. The Vision of Escaflowne

  8. Neon Genesis Evangelion

  9. Please Save My Earth

10. The Big Pokémon Scare

11. Plastic Little: Not What You Think

12. The Old and New Testaments of Masamune Shirow

13. The Man in the Mirror: Satoshi Kon

14. CLAMP: Women Unexpected

15. The Fullmetal Alchemist Phenomenon

16. Key the Metal Idol

Afterword: The Future of Anime 2.0

Websites of Anime Mentioned in This Book

Bibliography