Maison Ikkoku

 

While we usually do not consume romantic comedies, a rekindled interest in anime and manga drew us back to Maison Ikkoku. We adored the soundtrack, slice of life aspects and slow pace of this 1980s show, but it was excessively long. There was no reason to extend it to 96 episodes. Nor did we need that pointless film with the different character designs (although we liked the Michael Jackson poster). As the series began to run too long and certain characters disappear for long stretches, it seemed like the story was just grasping for any plot device to prevent Godai and Kyoko from confessing their feelings. To their credit, the animation improved and some of the antics of the Maison Ikkoku tenants continued to entertain. Nonetheless, this is a very endearing tale of widow and her tenant falling in love with a colorful ensemble of characters (who can forget Mitaka or Yotsuya?). If only it could have been condensed into 52 episodes or perhaps even fewer so I would have watched it 2 or 3 years ago...

Nadia: Secret of Blue Water

Been thinking about Nadia: Secret of Blue Water for some time now. Although only very loosely based on Jules Verne's famous novel, the series reimagines it for an engaging adventure story with even more absurd science fiction elements. Despite some rather regrettable story arcs (Lincoln Island and the short trip to Africa), most of the episodes are endearing and entertaining tales of adventure, mystery, technology, and maturation for Nadia, Jean, Grandis and friends in the late 1800s. What's not to love about a series of adventures in the late 19th century, beginning in Paris and ending in space?

Like Shinji in Hideaki Anno's better-known series, Nadia is something of an orphan with a difficult relationship with her father. She also struggles to accept her role and to find her identity, mistakenly thinking she is from Africa when her roots lie somewhere else (no spoilers). But what most appeals to me from this family-friendly TV series from the early 1990s is a cautious embrace of technology and progress. Jean, the boy genius capable of inventing airplanes and other wonders, confronts the limitations of an obsession with technology as the path forward for humanity. Jean must learn that matters of the heart and the ideas behind the technology matter just as much if not more than advanced ancient technology.

The series, to me at least, seems to embrace the idea of progress lying in personal growth and openness to difference, not technological prowess or power. Set in a time of imperialism and industrialization, Jean and Nadia's budding love and the diverse crew of the Nautilus hint at an ideal future at odds with the ugly present of the late 19th century. Even the main antagonist in the series wears a hood resembling KKK outfits and pledges to restore ancient Atlantis to subjugate the human race, calling to mind the ugly realities of the period. Moreover, unlike Neon Genesis Evangelion, there is a more optimistic conclusion to the series, too, although some would interpret the ending of Evangelion as a positive one. Overall, I prefer Nadia to Shinji as a protagonist, but Evangelion is the superior series (its brevity helps as it contains far less filler than Nadia).

The Birth of Jazz

Here is a Krazy Kat cartoon from 1932 on the birth of jazz. It nods to "St. Louis Blues" and what sounds like "Down Home Rag" while showing jazz's conquest of the world. Silly, no doubt, but endearing as Krazy Kat the bandleader receives the key to the city at the end. 

Evil Mickey Mouse Invades Japan

I've been watching older Japanese films lately and received some recommendations on early Japanese animation to look into. Some of the propaganda is horrible, yes, but very interesting to compare and contrast with similar propaganda cartoons from the US, especially during World War II. Enjoy!