Why choose another, choose this Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle, Updated Edition: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation (by Palgrave Macmillan) :
Customer Review for this product :
It frightens me that students may be 'learning' about anime from this -
As it is still relatively uncharted territory, good academia on anime is difficult for students to find. While this book is certainly a step in the right direction, it is not--in any way, shape, or form--where a discussion on the subject should end.
The book's strong points mainly lie in its broadest, most generalized ideas. Most notable, I believe, is Napier's argument that the majority of anime deals with one or more of three major themes: the apocalyptic, the elegiac, and/or the carnival. In general, the rest of the book focuses on these three modes and the way that they are portrayed, using specific titles as examples. However, I felt that, to some degree, she lost her thread somewhere along the way; instead of discussing the apocalyptic, elegiac, and carnival aspects, the chapters became a mash-up of arguments on why everything you see is a reference to sex or sexuality. I read this book for a class on visual Japanese culture, and more than once my classmates and I could not help but grumble over her arguably gratuitous, page-long descriptions of how, apparently, everything we see on screen is either a phallic symbol or a vagina in disguise. While Napier is, of course, free to interpret shows as she wishes, some of her claims just smack as silly to those who have watched the series in question. For example, while I found her chapter on the subject interesting, as a fan of "Ranma ½," I must confess that I have never interpreted Ranma, his father, and Ryoga's transformations (and subsequent reactions to those transformations) as a code for "female[s ...] being inferior to either pig or panda" (55). I have heard it said that Naiper's works are popular because she focuses on the "sexy;" this is true, and it grows very tiring, very quickly.
Still, disagreeing with certain arguments made by the author is not the reason I would dissuade people from using this book. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, so long as those opinions are based on some degree of fact. Disturbingly, however, Napier has a tendency to twist the plots and characters of shows to fit her arguments, rather than the other way around. Though I have not personally watched the series, others in my class who are fans of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Cowboy Bebop" were quick to discredit statements she made about characters and plot (or lack thereof, as it were). The inconsistencies (as well as blatant untruths) my peers and I were able to pick out of the book made it difficult to trust any claims she made, particularly when said claims were based on series that we hadn't personally seen. This is a tendency which, quite frankly, `does not a good reference book make.' By the same token, there were times when I found myself wondering how long it had been since Napier had last watched the anime she was discussing--or even if she'd watched it at all. On page 209, for instance, she features two pictures from the "Ranma ½" anime, and both are mislabeled. (The first picture misrepresents the scene in question; the second is a screecap of Ranma and his mother, not Ranma and Akane.)
To some degree, minor faults and dissatisfactions with the book--feeling as if it was very narrow in scope, growing frustrated with the distinct lack of more recent series-- can be attributed to the fact that anime, as a genre and medium of entertainment, is incredibly diverse and ever-changing, making it difficult to stay current. However, this does not forgive Napier for the glaring factual errors she made, both accidentally and (debatably) on purpose-- especially when this is supposed to be an updated version of a previous release.
While the overarching ideas have potential, I would not recommend "Anime: From Akira to Howl's Moving Caslte" to anyone to use in class or for study, unless they already have enough background knowledge on the subject to separate the fact from the fiction. Even then, tread with caution--you're likely to get very annoyed, very fast.
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More Detailed Product Description
Another Related Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle, Updated Edition: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation Products :
Customer Review for this product :
It frightens me that students may be 'learning' about anime from this - As it is still relatively uncharted territory, good academia on anime is difficult for students to find. While this book is certainly a step in the right direction, it is not--in any way, shape, or form--where a discussion on the subject should end.
The book's strong points mainly lie in its broadest, most generalized ideas. Most notable, I believe, is Napier's argument that the majority of anime deals with one or more of three major themes: the apocalyptic, the elegiac, and/or the carnival. In general, the rest of the book focuses on these three modes and the way that they are portrayed, using specific titles as examples. However, I felt that, to some degree, she lost her thread somewhere along the way; instead of discussing the apocalyptic, elegiac, and carnival aspects, the chapters became a mash-up of arguments on why everything you see is a reference to sex or sexuality. I read this book for a class on visual Japanese culture, and more than once my classmates and I could not help but grumble over her arguably gratuitous, page-long descriptions of how, apparently, everything we see on screen is either a phallic symbol or a vagina in disguise. While Napier is, of course, free to interpret shows as she wishes, some of her claims just smack as silly to those who have watched the series in question. For example, while I found her chapter on the subject interesting, as a fan of "Ranma ½," I must confess that I have never interpreted Ranma, his father, and Ryoga's transformations (and subsequent reactions to those transformations) as a code for "female[s ...] being inferior to either pig or panda" (55). I have heard it said that Naiper's works are popular because she focuses on the "sexy;" this is true, and it grows very tiring, very quickly.
Still, disagreeing with certain arguments made by the author is not the reason I would dissuade people from using this book. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, so long as those opinions are based on some degree of fact. Disturbingly, however, Napier has a tendency to twist the plots and characters of shows to fit her arguments, rather than the other way around. Though I have not personally watched the series, others in my class who are fans of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "Cowboy Bebop" were quick to discredit statements she made about characters and plot (or lack thereof, as it were). The inconsistencies (as well as blatant untruths) my peers and I were able to pick out of the book made it difficult to trust any claims she made, particularly when said claims were based on series that we hadn't personally seen. This is a tendency which, quite frankly, `does not a good reference book make.' By the same token, there were times when I found myself wondering how long it had been since Napier had last watched the anime she was discussing--or even if she'd watched it at all. On page 209, for instance, she features two pictures from the "Ranma ½" anime, and both are mislabeled. (The first picture misrepresents the scene in question; the second is a screecap of Ranma and his mother, not Ranma and Akane.)
To some degree, minor faults and dissatisfactions with the book--feeling as if it was very narrow in scope, growing frustrated with the distinct lack of more recent series-- can be attributed to the fact that anime, as a genre and medium of entertainment, is incredibly diverse and ever-changing, making it difficult to stay current. However, this does not forgive Napier for the glaring factual errors she made, both accidentally and (debatably) on purpose-- especially when this is supposed to be an updated version of a previous release.
While the overarching ideas have potential, I would not recommend "Anime: From Akira to Howl's Moving Caslte" to anyone to use in class or for study, unless they already have enough background knowledge on the subject to separate the fact from the fiction. Even then, tread with caution--you're likely to get very annoyed, very fast.
Check Best Price Here
More Detailed Product Description
This new edition of the groundbreaking popular book is a must-have for both seasoned and new fans of anime. Japanese animation is more popular than ever following the 2002 Academy Award given to Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. It confirmed that anime is more than just children's cartoons, often portraying important social and cultural themes. With new chapters on Spirited Away and other recent releases, including Howl's Moving Castle--Miyazaki's latest hit film, already breaking records in Japan--this edition will be the authoritative source on anime for an exploding market of viewers who want to know more.
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