Anime and Philosophy Read online

  Table of Contents

  What These Otaku Are Saying about

  Popular Culture and Philosophy Series Editor: George A. Reisch

  Title Page

  Previews and Coming Attractions

  Accidental Anime

  Body

  Chapter 1 - Take a Ride on the Catbus

  Becoming Bodies

  The Posthuman

  The Ghost in the Machine

  Morphing Bodies

  Wave Goodbye from the Catbus

  Chapter 2 - The Making of Killer Cuties

  Gunslinger Girl

  Repressing the Self

  Fearful Technologies

  Reinforcing Boundaries

  Looking Inwards

  Chapter 3 - Just a Ghost in a Shell?

  Meet Motoko

  Informational Bodies and Distributed Cognition

  Boundary Beings

  Motoko in Crisis

  Transcendence or Expansion

  The Transforming Body

  Mind

  Chapter 4 - I Am Tetsuo

  Who Is “I”?

  How Does “I” Know? Or Why Does “I” Think So?

  Cogito Ergo Tetsuo?

  What Is the Thing that Does the Thinking?

  So, Is Tetsuo Human? Are We? Is Anyone or Anything?

  The Posthuman Condition via the Problem of Representation

  Is Everybody Disembodied? (or, Have We Always Been Posthuman Beings?)

  Chapter 5 - The CPU Has Its Reasons

  The Genuine Article

  Martians Believing Badly

  You Bet Your Life

  Mars Needs Women

  Questioning the Question

  Spirit

  Chapter 7 - Nothing that Happens Is Ever Forgotten

  Fiction and Contradiction

  If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, Any Road Will Get You There

  It Is Only with the Heart that One Can See Rightly; What Is Essential Is ...

  In the Palm of Your Hand

  Chapter 8 - Did Santa Die on the Cross?

  Do Angels Practice Voodoo?

  Angel Invasion

  Introducing the End of the World

  Why Catholicism Is Better than Protestantism . . . for Anime

  Gay Angels, Female Cardinals, and Bishōnen Popes

  Chapter 9 - Why Nice Princesses Don’t Always Finish Last

  Soon This Place Too Will Be Consumed by the Toxic Jungle

  We’re Doing This for the Good of the Planet. You’ve Got to Understand That

  You’re Not Saving the Planet! You’re Killing My People

  Too Much Fire Gives Birth to Nothing

  What a Mysterious Power She Has

  You’re Nothing Like Our Princess

  The Legend Has Come True. The Wind Has Come Back

  Conflict

  Chapter 10 - Just War Is No Gouf

  There’s More to War than Big Metal Robots

  Jus ad Londo Bellum

  Etiquette in War: RSVPs for Bombing?

  Have Colony, Will Drop

  Freeing Clausewitz’s Soul from Gravity

  Chapter 11 - The Search for Vengeance

  Courageous Crusader or Avenging Coward?

  War and the Pursuit of Vengeance

  Death, Pain, Rage, and Loss

  Redemption and Hope for the Future

  Chapter 12 - The Possibility of Perfection

  And the Winner Is . . . the Best?

  Tsuyoku Naritai (I Want to Become Stronger)

  Rock Lee and the Limits of Specialization

  Cell’s Game and the Darwinian Model

  Transcending One’s Limits: The Super Saiyan

  Whatever It Takes? Soul Reapers, Hollows, and Buu

  Don’t Be a Vegeta

  Heroes

  Chapter 13 - Alchemic Heroes

  The Dual-Hero

  Student Heroes

  Wandering Redemption Seekers

  Al-Chemy

  Equivalent Exchange

  Alchemic Heroism

  Chapter 14 - Astro Boy and the Atomic Age

  From Horsepower to the Power of a Thousand Suns

  The Death of Tobio—The Birth of Atomu

  Imitating the Power of the Universe

  Existing Otherwise

  The Sacrificial Lamb

  Chapter 15 - Grave of the Child Hero

  Natural States

  Like Adults, Only Smaller

  The Ability to Reason

  Defying Conventions

  The Offer of Help

  The Aftermath of Tragedy

  Devils

  Chapter 16 - Human Alchemy and the Deadly Sins of Capitalism

  It’s Not a Miracle, It’s Science

  Turning Lead into Gold

  Gold and the Philosopher’s Stone

  Money, Power, Corruption

  Deadly Sins and Capital Vices

  Human Alchemy

  Usury and Human Ingredients

  Homunculi and the Deadly Sins

  Equivalent Exchange

  Chapter 17 - Everything You Never Wanted to Know about Sex and Were Afraid to Watch

  Abnormal Conception

  Bi-Cultural Attraction

  Hate Fuck

  How Dirty Boys Get Clean?

  Textually Transmitted Disease

  Chapter 18 - The Devil Within Sara Livingston

  Future Perfect

  Chapter 19 - Cyborg Songs for an Existential Crisis

  What Is a Human, Anyway?

  A Musical Interlude

  Building a Cyborg Kenji Kawai-style

  Dolls with Ghosts and What’s Really Going on in Innocence

  Giving Voice to the Voiceless

  Who Wants to Be Human Anyway?

  Chapter 20 - Cyborg Goddess

  The Age of Spiritual Machines

  A Manifesto for Cyborgs

  Radical Feminist Cyborg

  Break Through a Glass, Darkly

  The Soul of a New Machine

  Obsolete Humanity

  A New Branch on the Evolutionary Tree

  Techno-Transcendence

  Cyborg Goddess

  Chapter 21 - It’s the End of the Species as We Know It, and I Feel Anxious

  What Will Become of Us?

  Future Shock

  Manufacturing Evolution

  I Feel Sick

  Men, We’re Going to the Apocalypse

  A Grotesque Kindergarten

  One Last Anguished Existential Scream

  ALTERNATE ENDING:

  Credits

  Subtitles

  Making Of . . .

  Easter Eggs

  Deleted Scenes

  Scene Selections

  Copyright Page

  What These Otaku Are Saying about

  Anime and Philosophy

  “Anime is easily the most complex and interesting animation genre. The only rival to watching anime is thinking about it, and Steiff and Tamplin have assembled a smorgasbord of thought. Combining scholarly erudition with fan-boy passion, this collection is as rich, deep, and fun as anime itself. It sure beats talking to yourself.”

  —ANDREW HUEBNER, Animation Producer

  “A brilliant combination of pop culture investigation and philosophical thinking, Anime and Philosophy is a startlingly impressive collection of chapters by writers who use their great love for, and knowledge of, anime for serious probing and accessible philosophical questioning.”

  —MATTHEW PATEMAN, Director of Film and Media,

  University of Hull

  “As befits a genre that came of age in the wake of the Hiroshima bombing and the humiliating surrender of Japan to the Allies in 1945, anime asks difficult questions about war and violence, the limits of human lif
e and the self, and the frontiers of experience (space travel, apocalyptic scenarios, cyborgs and androids). This timely volume shows us scholarly dissections—don’t fret, Shaorin—of anime from the wildly popular to the bizarre and obscure. The result is stimulating and enlightening in equal measure.”

  —CAROLE M. CUSACK, editor, Journal of Religious History

  “In the unique cultural sub-verse worlds of anime, manga, animanga, and on and on, anything is possible. Our imagination determines the boundaries, and we approach each new world with a slightly different philosophical slant. Anime and Philosophy is an enlightening read and a brilliant addition to any anime lover’s bookshelf. It’s also an atlas of the anime universe, a welcome guide for anyone intrigued by anime but unsure of just where to start their journey.”

  —DEL HARVEY, publisher, FilmMonthly.com

  “Perhaps the only thing more fascinating than great anime is what goes on inside the heads of those who really get it. Here at last is a fascinating explanation of an art form that is re-defining pop culture all over the globe, told by those who have dipped deep into the psyche behind Japanese animation.”

  —DOUG RICE, Emmy Award-winning Animation Artist

  “This book is a launching point for fans who recognize that anime don’t only make us laugh and cheer and cry but also think. Anime and Philosophy surveys the anime that have made the biggest splash among Western audiences, helping fans connect their best-loved shows with the deeper questions behind them, bringing out the larger philosophical themes that make anime so powerful for Western viewers.”

  —ADA PALMER, founder, TezukaInEnglish.com

  “Anime makes your average American or British Saturday morning cartoon look slow and shallow. Why does anime—a medium primarily but not exclusively aimed towards young children in its native country—tackle “deep” themes such as identity and the self, sacrifice and self-awareness, while Sponge Bob scratches around looking for another shrimp? This book helps us understand that there’s a lot more to anime than just pretty girls with big eyes and giant robots smashing up Neo-Tokyo—again! To truly appreciate films like Akira, Ghost In The Shell and even My Neighbor Totoro, you just have to read this book.”

  —JEROME MAZANDARANI, Acquisitions and Marketing

  Manager, Manga Entertainment Ltd

  “Thought-provoking and mind-blowing! Anime fans will gain new insight into their film favorites through readable commentary and analysis of animation classics.”

  —JOHANNA DRAPER CARLSON, founder,

  MangaWorthReading.com

  Popular Culture and Philosophy ® Series Editor: George A. Reisch

  VOLUME 1

  Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book

  about Everything and Nothing

  (2000)

  VOLUME 2

  The Simpsons and Philosophy: The

  D’oh! of Homer (2001)

  VOLUME 3

  The Matrix and Philosophy:

  Welcome to the Desert of the Real

  (2002)

  VOLUME 4

  Buffy the Vampire Slayer and

  Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in

  Sunnydale (2003)

  VOLUME 5

  The Lord of the Rings and

  Philosophy: One Book to Rule Them

  All (2003)

  VOLUME 6

  Baseball and Philosophy:

  Thinking Outside the Batter’s Box

  (2004)

  VOLUME 9

  Harry Potter and Philosophy:

  If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts (2004)

  VOLUME 12

  Star Wars and Philosophy:

  More Powerful than You Can

  Possibly Imagine (2005)

  VOLUME 13

  Superheroes and Philosophy: Truth,

  Justice, and the Socratic Way (2005)

  VOLUME 17

  Bob Dylan and Philosophy: It’s

  Alright Ma (I’m Only Thinking)

  (2006)

  VOLUME 18

  Harley-Davidson and Philosophy:

  Full-Throttle Aristotle (2006)

  VOLUME 19

  Monty Python and Philosophy:

  Nudge Nudge, Think Think! (2006)

  VOLUME 23

  James Bond and Philosophy:

  Questions Are Forever (2006)

  VOLUME 24

  Bullshit and Philosophy:

  Guaranteed to Get Perfect Results

  Every Time (2006)

  VOLUME 25

  The Beatles and Philosophy:

  Nothing You Can Think that

  Can’t Be Thunk (2006)

  VOLUME 26

  South Park and Philosophy:

  Bigger, Longer, and More

  Penetrating (2007) Edited by

  Richard Hanley

  VOLUME 28

  The Grateful Dead and Philosophy:

  Getting High Minded about Love

  and Haight (2007) Edited by Steven

  Gimbel

  VOLUME 29

  Quentin Tarantino and Philosophy:

  How to Philosophize with a Pair of

  Pliers and a Blowtorch (2007)

  Edited by Richard Greene and K.

  Silem Mohammad

  VOLUME 30

  Pink Floyd and Philosophy: Careful

  with that Axiom, Eugene! (2007)

  Edited by George A. Reisch

  VOLUME 31

  Johnny Cash and Philosophy:

  The Burning Ring of Truth (2008)

  Edited by John Huss and David

  Werther

  VOLUME 32

  Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy:

  Darkness on the Edge of Truth

  (2008) Edited by Randall E. Auxier

  and Doug Anderson

  VOLUME 33

  Battlestar Galactica and

  Philosophy: Mission Accomplished

  or Mission Frakked Up? (2008)

  Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan D.

  Tamplin

  VOLUME 34

  iPod and Philosophy: iCon of an

  ePoch (2008) Edited by D.E.

  Wittkower

  VOLUME 35

  Star Trek and Philosophy: The

  Wrath of Kant (2008) Edited by

  Jason T. Eberl and Kevin S.

  Decker

  VOLUME 36

  The Legend of Zelda and

  Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am

  (2008) Edited by Luke Cuddy

  VOLUME 37

  The Wizard of Oz and Philosophy:

  Wicked Wisdom of the West (2008)

  Edited by Randall E. Auxier and

  Phillip S. Seng

  VOLUME 38

  Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter

  Happier More Deductive (2009)

  Edited by Brandon W. Forbes and

  George A. Reisch

  VOLUME 39

  Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy: The

  Porpoise Driven Life (2009) Edited

  by Erin McKenna and Scott L.

  Pratt

  VOLUME 40

  Transformers and Philosophy (2009)

  Edited by John Shook and Liz

  Stillwaggon Swan

  VOLUME 41

  Stephen Colbert and Philosophy: I

  Am Philosophy (And So Can You!)

  (2009) Edited by Aaron Allen Schiller

  VOLUME 42

  Supervillains and Philosophy:

  Sometimes, Evil Is Its Own Reward

  (2009) Edited by Ben Dyer

  VOLUME 43

  The Golden Compass and Philosophy:

  God Bites the Dust (2009) Edited by

  Richard Greene and Rachel Robison

  VOLUME 44

  Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All

  Will Be Revealed (2009) Edited by

  Scott Calef

  VOLUME 45

  World of Warcraft and Philosophy:

  Wrath of the Philosopher King

  (2009) Edited by Luke Cuddy and

  John Nordlinger


  Volume 46

  Mr. Monk and Philosophy: The

  Curious Case of the Defective

  Detective (2010) Edited by D.E.

  Wittkower

  Volume 47

  Anime and Philosophy: Wide Eyed

  Wonder (2010) Edited by Josef

  Steiff and Tristan Tamplin

  VOLUME 48

  The Red Sox and Philosophy: Green

  Monster Meditations (2010) Edited

  by Michael Macomber

  VOLUME 49

  Zombies, Vampires, and Philosophy

  (2010) Edited by Richard Greene

  and K. Silem Mohammad

  IN PREPARATION:

  Facebook and Philosophy: What’s on Your Mind? (2010) Edited by D.E. Wittkower

  Soccer and Philosophy (2010) Edited by Ted Richards

  Manga and Philosophy (2010) Edited by Josef Steiff and Adam Barkman

  The Onion and Philosophy (2010) Edited by Sharon M. Kaye

  Martial Arts and Philosophy: Beating and Nothingness (2010) Edited by Graham Priest and Damon Young

  Dune and Philosophy (2010) Edited by Jeffrey Nicholas

  Doctor Who and Philosophy (2010) Edited by Paula J. Smithka and Court Lewis

  Breaking Bad and Philosophy (2011) Edited by David R. Koepsell

  For full details of all Popular Culture and Philosophy® books, visit www.opencourtbooks.com.