Depth In Anime
A lot of buzz is going around the anime blogiverse regarding whether anime can be deep or whether it’s merely shallow entertainment. So I figured, “oh look! This is a blog! I’ll jump into the fray!”
The short answer is: depth is in the eye of the beholder. To some fans, Code Geass - the title most often being mentioned in these posts as far as I can see - may seem as complex and layered as, say, Sound and the Fury or Crime and Punishment. To others (myself included), it’s popcorn entertainment.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not dismissing Geass - I freakin’ love the show. But just because (as one blogger noted) it doesn’t offer easy answers as to who or what is right or wrong doesn’t make it “deep” in my view.
Death Note is another series often slapped with the label of “deep,” but I don’t think it is either. It sets up this great debate: is it okay to kill in the name of justice? But rather than exploring that thoroughly, which would have required Light to actually be conflicted all throughout the series, Light just determines that he is correct and follows through with it - leaving the show more about the entirely unlikely cat and mouse chase that ensues. I am not saying it’s a bad show. I just don’t think it’s “deep.”
If you ask me what I think is a “deep” series, I would have a hard time coming up with a good one. I think Black Lagoon explores some really intriguing themes about defining oneself by one’s past, right and wrong, good and evil. I’ve mentioned in the past that I think Ouran High School Host Club often gets dismissed as a shallow good time when in fact, it’s one of the better portraits of growing up and forming an individual identity that I’ve seen in fiction, period - regardless of medium. And Monster is amazing, not for its depiction of the titular evil guy, but for the way it depicts virtually every character you see as a fully rounded human being - even side characters who aren’t around for long.
So, again: depth is entirely in the eye of the beholder. I think people often expect to find depth in certain kinds of shows and may read depth into it that I don’t think is there, and I do think that the vast majority of anime leans more towards “mindless entertainment” than “deep” (though less so than most American cartoons). But eh, whatcha gonna do?
(Edited to add: Oh yeah, and being “deep” doesn’t make a show good, any more than not being “deep” makes a show bad. It is totally permissible to watch something for sheer entertainment! I promise.)
Tags: blogiverse, hot-topics
August 4th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Along the same line as “Ouran Host Club,” I’d like to throw in “Honey & Clover” as well. I loved that series, & thought it offers a lot of reflective thinking when done watching. Truly an amazing series. I think that might be considered “deep.” & heck, let’s throw Mushi-shi into the mix as well.
October 11th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
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