Post by Evil McBadGuy on Dec 26, 2010 15:37:05 GMT -5
Note: If you don't wanna read all this, just skip to the last line of this post.
So as some of you know, a friend of mine recently recomended I watch this anime called Earth Maiden Arjuna. Since it was Christmas time, I figured I'd do so as a gift to him. And while I enjoyed watching, I don't think it was for the reasons he thought I would.
Where to begin? Arjuna is all about an average high school girl named Juna who, while out on a date with her boyfriend Tokio, dies in a motorcycle crash. When her soul leaves her body, she sees visions of the entire planet getting consumed by giant demonic worms called Raaja.
The spirit of aboy named Chris then comes forth and reveals to Juna that she has been chosen as the next Avatar Of Time, and if she accepts her duties, he will bring her back to life. Juna agrees because dying sucks. Upon being revived, Chris forces her to join an organization called SEED, designed to save the world.
Sounds basic so far right? This is where the show gets fun. Imagine if Captain Planet had the smallest ounce of dignity and was then transformed into a Magical Girl. It's filled to the brim with speeches about how to protect and save the environment, and the plot is all about it.
Here's the thing though, said tidbit of info about being eco-friendly come right the fuck out of nowhere and are presented in an overtly serious and over-the-top manor. I mean, imagine you're talking to someone and you casually mention you forgot your watch at home(or something like that). Said person would reply with:
"DID YOU KNOW THAT SHOES ARE BAD BECAUSE PEOPLE WEAR THEM AND PEOPLE ARE EVIL AND WHEN YOU STEP ON GUM IT RELEASES A SHITON OF DEADLY CHEMICALS WHICH POLUTES THE WHOLE WORLD EVERYONE AND LIFE SUCKS UNLESS YOU'RE VEGETARIAN YOU MONSTER!"
Sound ridiculous? That's only because it is. I'm pretty convinced that this show was originally meant to be something different until some asshole higher-up demanded it be all about the environment and vegetarianism. Hell, the show's' own Green Aesops are usually broken in the very same episodes they appear.
So I decided to compile a list of most important lessons I learned from Arjuna:
Trains and Nuclear Power Plants are the exact same thing.
Water is bad for you.
Technology is bad, but smoking is just fine.
Insects and plants are in communalist relationships.
Smoking is only bad when you're pregnent.
Technology is only good when it destroys other technology.
World hunger would vanish in an instant if everyone were vegetarian.
If you're not a slut, your relationship has no value.
ONLY be a slut if you're in a relationship.
Anyone who eats meat is evil.
Schools are evil.
Abortions are the leading cause of Climate Change.
Anything that has to do with words is evil.
And that's just a few.
Speaking of which, you know that one kid, Chris? Despite being the sidekick, he is a Master Troll. I'm serious. Things he does include: Shoving a Magatama into Juna's' forehead, contanstly berrating her about her powers despite her doing what she tells him to, slapping her up, and palm blasting her boyfriend.
Again, that's just a few. The show is also laden with unneeded symbolism, but that's a minor detail. And speaking of details, Arjuna uses a mixture of animation and CGI, making it visually interesting most of the time, but downright disturbing the rest. They even graphically show a child being born at one point. Ugh.
Basically, everything is done in such a stupid and over-the-top way that I just laugh it off. If you're like me and can get into dark humor, you might enjoy this. Otherwise be warned that show is pretty preachy at times. Overall, I give Earth Maiden Arjuna a 3/6.
tl;dr: Everything is evil - The anime
So as some of you know, a friend of mine recently recomended I watch this anime called Earth Maiden Arjuna. Since it was Christmas time, I figured I'd do so as a gift to him. And while I enjoyed watching, I don't think it was for the reasons he thought I would.
Where to begin? Arjuna is all about an average high school girl named Juna who, while out on a date with her boyfriend Tokio, dies in a motorcycle crash. When her soul leaves her body, she sees visions of the entire planet getting consumed by giant demonic worms called Raaja.
The spirit of aboy named Chris then comes forth and reveals to Juna that she has been chosen as the next Avatar Of Time, and if she accepts her duties, he will bring her back to life. Juna agrees because dying sucks. Upon being revived, Chris forces her to join an organization called SEED, designed to save the world.
Sounds basic so far right? This is where the show gets fun. Imagine if Captain Planet had the smallest ounce of dignity and was then transformed into a Magical Girl. It's filled to the brim with speeches about how to protect and save the environment, and the plot is all about it.
Here's the thing though, said tidbit of info about being eco-friendly come right the fuck out of nowhere and are presented in an overtly serious and over-the-top manor. I mean, imagine you're talking to someone and you casually mention you forgot your watch at home(or something like that). Said person would reply with:
"DID YOU KNOW THAT SHOES ARE BAD BECAUSE PEOPLE WEAR THEM AND PEOPLE ARE EVIL AND WHEN YOU STEP ON GUM IT RELEASES A SHITON OF DEADLY CHEMICALS WHICH POLUTES THE WHOLE WORLD EVERYONE AND LIFE SUCKS UNLESS YOU'RE VEGETARIAN YOU MONSTER!"
Sound ridiculous? That's only because it is. I'm pretty convinced that this show was originally meant to be something different until some asshole higher-up demanded it be all about the environment and vegetarianism. Hell, the show's' own Green Aesops are usually broken in the very same episodes they appear.
So I decided to compile a list of most important lessons I learned from Arjuna:
Trains and Nuclear Power Plants are the exact same thing.
Water is bad for you.
Technology is bad, but smoking is just fine.
Insects and plants are in communalist relationships.
Smoking is only bad when you're pregnent.
Technology is only good when it destroys other technology.
World hunger would vanish in an instant if everyone were vegetarian.
If you're not a slut, your relationship has no value.
ONLY be a slut if you're in a relationship.
Anyone who eats meat is evil.
Schools are evil.
Abortions are the leading cause of Climate Change.
Anything that has to do with words is evil.
And that's just a few.
Speaking of which, you know that one kid, Chris? Despite being the sidekick, he is a Master Troll. I'm serious. Things he does include: Shoving a Magatama into Juna's' forehead, contanstly berrating her about her powers despite her doing what she tells him to, slapping her up, and palm blasting her boyfriend.
Again, that's just a few. The show is also laden with unneeded symbolism, but that's a minor detail. And speaking of details, Arjuna uses a mixture of animation and CGI, making it visually interesting most of the time, but downright disturbing the rest. They even graphically show a child being born at one point. Ugh.
Basically, everything is done in such a stupid and over-the-top way that I just laugh it off. If you're like me and can get into dark humor, you might enjoy this. Otherwise be warned that show is pretty preachy at times. Overall, I give Earth Maiden Arjuna a 3/6.
tl;dr: Everything is evil - The anime