UlasanAnime.com – The article “Asking John about Kara no Kyoukai” presents an interesting perspective on John’s views regarding the Kara no Kyoukai series and its reception among American otaku. The author acknowledges that John offers a balanced, albeit retail-focused, viewpoint.
The author expresses uncertainty about the accuracy of John’s assessment of American otaku and the Rakkyo series’ fit within that demographic. Personally, the author believes John is likely correct in comparing Rakkyo to Oshii’s work. However, they question the frequent use of the word “pretense” and admit to not being an anime expert, even acknowledging that “Rakkyo” is readily available on Wikipedia.
The article notes that not many people seemed to enjoy Innocence, suggesting that the series might be too unconventional for the American market, unlike the OAVs that were popular in the 80s and 90s.
John’s fondness for Chapter 3, the “MAGARE episode” where Shiki performs an appendectomy, is highlighted. The author clarifies that Shiki actually eliminates an infection rather than the appendix itself, which they feel sums up their own opinion of the episode. Despite this, the author concedes that Chapter 3 is well-crafted and, unlike Chapter 7, doesn’t leave the viewer in excessive suspense. They also praise Mamiko Noto’s strong performance, portraying both the victim and the villain effectively.
The author observes that Aniplex likely believes Chapter 5 is the most appealing, as evidenced by its showcase at Anime Boston the previous year. They understand this choice, as Chapter 3 is considered somewhat “otaku-poi,” similar to Chapter 6 (which John also enjoys, despite its lack of epic battles). Chapter 5, according to the author, exhibits a pervasive pretentiousness, evident in its non-linear narrative and the peculiar showdown in the final 30 minutes. However, the author argues that when consuming animated content, pretentiousness can be a desirable quality, and there’s no need to be coy about it. The key, they suggest, lies in how this pretentiousness is executed to impress critics like John.
The author’s core argument seems to revolve around the perception of what anime “ought to be.” They believe that ambitious works, including anime, often necessitate a degree of pretense. Therefore, they question why this aspect becomes a point of contention, suggesting that the focus should instead be on the execution of these ambitions. The author asserts that good anime consistently delivers on its promises, both in concept and delivery.
You might also be interested in : Year in Review: Scammed
This leads back to the author’s earlier point about American fans’ preferences. They propose that American audiences often gravitate towards shows that lack both strong narrative ambition and compelling execution, deeming them the least pretentious. This, the author suggests, might be the underlying issue. They find it perplexing when shows that strive for excellence are criticized as inferior to those that make no such effort.
