Welcome to the Fantasy Zone
This Zone is dedicated to the lesser known elements of anime hosted by the cast of Victory Script.
What weapon is the best?
Who will win in this Death Battle?
Is this costume practical?
You name it, it's all covered here in the Fantasy Zone!
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a manuscript written by Luo Guanzhong about the events of the unification of China from 169AD-280AD mixed with historical events, myths and legends but why do Japan love it so much when the countries themselves don't really see eye to eye on culture?
The novel's influence is seen throughout Japanese history. Japan's earliest recorded events along with it's earliest stories borrow heavily from the novel as well as the war strategies, bushido code and the Samurai themselves, there was nothing quite like it.
Strong definied personalities along with the cleverest minds of the era fought a three way battle for unification, if you look at the entire Sengoku period, one of Japan's most turbulent yet most dramatized eras, it's pretty much the same setup, a battle between three major factions for the unification of Japan but with alot more players, even Nobunaga Oda is modelled and stylised on the look and beliefs of Wei General Cao Cao, so much so you almost wonder if it's the same person or history repeating itself in a different nation.
Very few nations can honestly say that they built up their heritage on their own and now reading how much one book defined centuries of codes, legends, battles and culture, you realize that Japan owes more to China than you might think as much as it pains them to admit it.
I mentioned eras of anime so I thought it would be good to expand on that meaning especially from a Western perspective.
Early to Mid 90s: Ultra Violent Taboo era
This era is defined by the limited selection of anime available post release of Akira in the west. Most were Sci Fi, most were overly violent and extreme in nature, and was such taboo that viewing it put you in the same camp as those who buy pornography. In short, no one in the west knew what to do with this anime thing.
Late 90s to early 00s: Pokemon Toonami Era
Networks open up to anime with great success due to the ratings winners of Pokemon and Dragonballz; with interest established, curiousity leads to more anime being green lit for home release. Anime is still very niche and some semblance of the previous era remained especially with DVD being in it's infancy.
Mid to late 00s: Otaku Golden Era
With DVDs being default, computers being fast enough for torrents and a number of top tier anime being released including Full Metal Alchemist, Death Note and Naruto. Anime cons were now common place and there was no limit to how much anime that was coming out, being a fan in this era was a dream.
2010s to mid 2010s: The Hangover
The endless party brought on by the previous era was beginning to bite; Anime Distribution holders were starting to go out of business, long runners were out staying their welcome and Western Cartoons fought back with the likes of Avatar and Adventure Time. On the brightside the taboo label it used to have was starting to come off.
Today's Era: Meme, Stream and Waifu Wars
Today's era is controlled by the internet, the popularity of new shows is dictated by how well it can be memed, the waifu quality and how easy it is to obtain through streaming. Meanwhile certain older titles are upgraded to legendary status while today's sensibilities are catching out people who partied too hard in the Golden era, it's also making up dumb controversies which are worth ignoring.
Summary
So to summarise what I like and dislike about each era
Ultra Violent Taboo era
While I didn't like the lack of originality or diversity, one thing you can never take away from this era is the shock and awe of seeing something that was animated and actually being serious, it really did feel like a rite of passage watching these titles.
Pokemon Toonami Era
Most people I know started here and it felt like a second rite of passage because we finally have diverse shows of all types and really set the bar of what can be expected in the future, but I look back with a sense of frustration that the networks did far too much censorship.
Otaku Golden Era
Probably the best era for anime and the one best remembered by fans today, being a fan in this era was the best but it's legacy is being felt later on and you get the sense that you were getting alot of meh among juggernaut titles.
The Hangover
I was sad to lose ADVfilms along with a lot of distribution houses, I also found it was getting harder to like the newer top tier anime especially the high standard that came before, but I least felt I can take my time with what to watch and there more hits than misses.
Meme, Stream and Waifu Wars
The ease of anime is just a click of a button and I kind of feel that anime relies on Memes to be relevant way too much, but my job as a reviewer is easier for it and I wouldn't be doing such over ambitious projects.
Over the last month or so, the phrase "Ok Boomer" went viral after a young politician used the term to shut down an older politician who kept heckling her during a speech on Climate Change, in the last week, someone on Twitter suggested that over 30s anime fans should be called "Weeaboomers" captioned underneath an elderly version of Sailor Moon; being in that age group myself at 33 my reaction was perfectly justified by the picture below
First off, I don't even like the term "Ok Boomer", I find it offensive and promotes an Ageist attitude towards the elderly.
Second I hate being associated with Millennials, even if by definition I am one of the first batch of that Generation because I really dislike this holier than thou attitude that seems to have been adopted in recent years.
In regards to the subject matter, there is a generation gap developing within the fandom which can be tested by simply saying yes to statements like
"You know what VHS is"
"You call Goblin Slayer tame because you watched Fist of the North Star"
"You are aware that Full Metal Alchemist had a series before Brotherhood"
"You still think Gen 1 Pokemon is the best Gen"
"You still think Anime is taboo despite being generally favourable"
"You think $50 for a 30 minute OVA in one language on VHS is justified"
You get the picture; while there are areas of this era I dislike, I'm mostly grateful that I'm not going to be shot down so easily for liking certain titles; my aim with Project 1000 is to be the Anime Teacher and educate fans on my experience both for fun and as an eye opener, because anime is so diverse that it's so easy to overlook titles that get ignored for better or for worst because I don't really want to read any more dumb controversies or keep defending my hobby whenever otaku take it too far.
Lately these are the only posts keeping my sanity in check so lets go for another.
Before I begin, I'd like to remind readers that Yakitate Japan is about making bread.
All lines are from the subtitled version.
"Please forgive this ignorant old lady, who didn't even know that you can't dry cats in the microwave"
How do you add to this piece of dark humour?
"It's not unusual for an elderly person like yourself to think of drying her cat in the Microwave"
But the Bill Clinton caricature reassures her that this is normal
"Hey, Freezer Boy!"
Spoken while referencing Super Saiyans
"Not another word! Shut up and eat my croissant!"
A reminder that this anime is about making bread
"The first problem is that the juices trickle out"
Care to elaborate?
"Putting black things into their mouth isn't a big deal for the Japanese"
Always thought that was an American thing
"By Conan, do you mean the show that airs on Monday during Primetime?"
4th wall break to advertise another anime
"Throw away your common sense and get an afro!"
Okay sister, why?
"The feeling of shouting "love!" from the core of an afro"
Oh this is what you meant, I think
"If you show your dick here, the program will be discontinued!"
So what's Food Wars excuse?
I'm having way too much fun with these.
"No more for me, thanks. I've swallowed enough" - Plastic Little Sub
Uhhh, nah too easy
"Porno Sites, Porno Sites" - Chobits Dub
Sumomo listing recent internet history
"Leo Burnett and 4Kids are the Devil" - Pokemon Dub
James from Team Rocket using backwards messages
"Earth to Toddler Bitch!" - Yu Yu Hakusho Dub
Earliest days of glorious Funimation dubbing
"Hold your fire, this man isn't Black" - Dragonball Super Dub
And yet the current Funimation didn't think to proof read this line before going to print
"So you dodged my Gàe Bulg fatal blow" - Fate/Stay Night Dub
The dub actor called it "Gay Bulger"
"My feelings are not a fake" - Bible Black Dub
What do you expect from a hentai?
"How do I look, Darling?" - Darling OVA Sub
What's meant to be a nice moment of bonding between husband and wife you just can't take seriously when her hair is that bad!
"I am Mad Scientist! United States goes and invade" - Steins Gate Sub
Okabe really not doing well with English
"Hanako-sama, you were so delighted by my butt beam until just a week ago" - Asobi Asobase Sub
Maeda upset that Hanako no longer likes his butt beam
