kimi o kimi o…
Categories: anime, commentary
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I was reading the October issue of Newtype USA, and there was a discussion about girls and anime. The editor from Japan was arguing that Gundam Seed and Full Metal Alchemist appeals to the ladies… are we watching the same series? Are we talking about the same Mwu “Reverse Sexual Harrashment” Fraga and Ed “I’m Too Clueless to Score with Winry” Elric? When I think “Gundam,” I think of the gang from GTO manga… not girls. It’s robots. It’s war. It’s more robots. I can concede a little with Gundam Wing, but I suspect it was more about the potential yaoi pairings than the actual series itself. But Full Metal Alchemist? Guys don’t even watch this series. FMA has fallen to the levels of anime hell below Kiddy Grade right next to Chrno Crusade and all other anime that has forsaken their manga roots.
I just don’t know a lot of girls who keep Kira and Mwu shrines. I don’t know anyone who worships Edward the same way others worship Hisui and Kohaku. More realistically, I do know girls who enjoy Escaflowne, Aa! Megami-sama, and Kaliedostar. To me, it just makes more sense. Escaflowne is, despite the best efforts of the giant robots, a love story. It has a likable heroine as the lead with two bishounen suitors: the untamed Van and the playboy Allen. Heck, there’s even Dilandau for the non-traditional female audience. Toss in some “heaving bosoms,” and it’ll just be like a smutty romance novel… just with giant robots.
If it weren’t for Keiichi’s harem, Aa! Megami-sama would make a case for shoujo. It’s definitely not typical shounen harem– it’s been a (too) long of a time since Keiichi stumbled and pulled down Bell’s skirt. The stories are tame and always skew heart-warming and romantic than chaotic fanservice (see Hanaukyo and Girls Bravo). As for Kaliedostar, I just stay away from that… shoujo written on it in big, bold letters.
There’s just so much more… Stellvia of the Universe… Fruits Basket… Chobits… Bebop… that do a great job of appealing to both sexes.
I just don’t know where they get Gundam Seed and Full Metal Alchemist from. Okay, they’re both insanely popular series. Gundam Seed because it’s the closest thing to Gundam since the original Gundam. As for FMA, I’m bit more perplexed. It’s popular despite absolutely butchering the manga and making no sense past the first arc. But neither really targets women. I just think there’s so much more out there that’ll appeal to women more than intergalactic war and human sacrifice.
4 Responses to “kimi o kimi o…”
I do know a few girls who love Full Metal Alchemist, although you are right – after going to Otakon, it’s fallen into that level where if you were watching the series from the beginning you don’t really want to associate yourself with it. Anyway, girls like Mustang. It’s as simple as that. They dig Roy and want to see him and Ed get it on. As far as Seed goes, I think along the same lines.. this is a guy’s anime, and the only girls who really like it are the ones writing the Asuran x Kira x Mwu fanfics.
Also, your title “kimi wo kimi wo” is doing nothing to help get that song out of my head :{
Hey, I enjoy Kaleido Star. ><
And girls can’t like intergalactic war and human sacrifice because…? ;)
Honestly, there ARE aspects of a show that appeal to girls *beyond* romance and hot guys. Take, for example, strong and interesting female leads. Take, for example, giant robots beating the living daylights out of each other. Take, for example, well-animated action, dramatic plots, spiffy-looking special effects. I don’t watch FMA because of Roy, or because the boys are slashable or anything. I watch it because of Riza, Winry, and the fact that it has fire and death and explosions and other things that float my boat. ^__^ I read the same editorial that you read, and I was equally as baffled by it, but I suspect for different reasons.
Although I have to say that I agree that Chobits appeals to both sexes (I know far too many female fans of Chobits), although I’m baffled as to why. I was never had such a strong “as a woman I cannot possibly justify watching this tripe or reading this manga” moment as when I was first introduced to Chobits. (*shrugs*) M’eh.
my site is a shrine to kira and yes I am a girl. I am almost done it until i change the layout i oly have 2 pages to do.