The most christian(ish) anime you've seen?

night2day

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Like several here I couldn't think of many anime as "Christian" persay. I wouldn't be able to consider an anime Christian unless it had certain themes and tones.

References regarding an apocalypse aren't limited to Christianity for example. After watching all of the Evangelion episodes and the 2 movies I couldn't help but think many of the themes and symbolism the series draws from the mystical traditions of Judaism known as Kabbalah.**And two glaring clues are even in the opening of the series which has several major symbols of that particular religion.

A majority of imagery one may first see as Christian usually isn't even considered orthodox or reconcilable with even basic Christian beliefs.

Actually, I've noticed an underlying tone within certain animations which present underlying messages that sound much the same. Lain, Witch Hunter Robin, Evangelion and others. But then, one has to look at the culture, what the major religions are, and be rather discerning. Whatever the artist is placing into them, some of him/herself is going to be displayed. (Er...this should prolly left for another thread all together. Pardon. This is the first post I'm making here...) :blush:

Anyways, I do love anime...although somewhat picky. Evangelion is more true "Eastern religion" material...which is more blatant within the final movie. (Rather queasy on recommending due to...er certain...content.) I could compare the TV series (not the OVA) of Wolf's Rain to "Pilgrim's Progress", a story written by a Christian known as Paul Bunyan while he was in prison. Within both stories the characters are searching for paradise/Heaven to leave a dead and decaying world behind. Yet, unlike in WR, Christian has alot more guidance and assurance than the wolves.

I would also add .hack//SIGN to the list regarding the basic story line holding a Christian concept. For the main character, being stuck in a game, and away from reality (literaly), was considered a good thing. Until signs began showing the character was merely being used. Sin is enticing in much the same way.

I love Kenshin. Guess it's always nice to see someone who once took life without much thought as an assassin vows to uphold it. Too bad CN took it off the air. :sigh:
 
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night2day

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bigcontry said:
Yeah Kenshin was the best!! You watch Lain too?

Tech TV ( a cable station) has what they call "Anime Unleashed". It's usually broadcasted late at night or early in the morning. They've shown Lain, Silent Mobius, Betterman, Duel, Banner of the Stars, etc. Usually aired during the same time as Cartoon Network airs their anime.

I've seen Lain...and I like it to an extent. But, there are other anime I tend to place as being more engaging.
 
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night2day

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Kam_Islash said:
I frankly dont care what religion the characters are as long as I'm entertained. Kenshin might have made a very good Christian though.

While watching anime, I'm more concerned about whether or not the characters stay within their character. I like to watch them grow and change. Makes their characters more 3D...not like the cardboard characters that are sometimes found in run-of-the-mill cartoons. (Won't comment on the typical kiddy villain...or how a majority of kiddy villains seem to have the same annoying laugh. Someone should recommend they read the rules of becoming and Overlord drifting on the net.)

Hmmm...Kenshin would have. Would have been really interesting if he had been brought the Christian faith. Would have helped him learn to forgive himself, knowing that God in Christ had already forgiven him. I feel he was still struggling with the issues of forgiving himself throughout the tv series as well as the last OVA. :angel:
 
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Ghost23

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night2day said:
Hmmm...Kenshin would have. Would have been really interesting if he had been brought the Christian faith. Would have helped him learn to forgive himself, knowing that God in Christ had already forgiven him. I feel he was still struggling with the issues of forgiving himself throughout the tv series as well as the last OVA. :angel:

it seems to me that even though he seemed to die in peace in the arms of Miss Kaoru, even unto his death he still was burdened by his guilt and unforgiveness towards himself. the completion of his atonement was represented in the cross shaped scar disappearing @ his death.
 
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Chrono Traveler

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Neon Genesis Evangelion for sure! :) Its filled with things like the tree of life, the dead sea scrolls, "angels", and more religious symbols like crosses and the crucifix. And Lots of religious thought too.

one symbol In a scene Rei is in the tree of life and I think she is on, Binah. Rei in other words is ready to Die(you might not understand unless youve seen end of evangelion)..

ok, i found the link...yey..

heres some info...Ill find more later http://www.neonevangelion.host.sk/evangelionv2/en/religion.html
 
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night2day

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jesusfreak407 said:
What is eva?

"Neon Genesis Evangelion" could be translated as "Gospel of the New Age". From a web page I found this synopsis which could give an idea of what the series if about (without spoilers hopefully).

The world is recovering from a disaster called Second Impact. Second impact is described to the public as a time when a giant meteor hit Antartica destroying a huge portion of humanity in the process.

Since that incident being called "Angels" have been consistently terrorizing the public through mass destruction and carnage of the rest of the surviving population.To cope with this threat the world organization has devised a seperate brach called NERV dedicated to the destruction and study of "Angels".

NERV is headed by Gendou Ikari, a strict and secretive man who barely survived second impact. Along with Gendou, a female scientist named Ritsuko and a millitray commander, Misato lead NERV's forces to defeat the Angels.

In order to defeat the Angels NERV "creates?", perhaps we should just say uses giant humanoids (which resemble robots) called EVAs (hence the name EVANGELION). The origin of these creatures are left a mystery, but it is implied that they have some sort of relationship with both humans and angels in their DNA structure. The EVAs must be piloted by 14 year olds born around the time of second impact (I guess its some celestrial thing).

However the pilots are not just any 14 year olds. They are special in some way which is also a kept a mystery. All we know is that they are called "children". The first child...is Rei Ayanami. Little is known about her because she doesn't express her emotions very well. She pilots the one-eyed prototype EVA-00. The second child, Shinji Ikari, is also the son of Gendou Ikari and only pilots EVA-01 because his father tells him to (by the way, he doesn't get along with his father very well - this too is a mystery). A sidenote is that his EVA has a tendency to go berserker, making the series really gory and taking away any chances of it being shown on American television. The third pilot is the obnoxious and attention-loving Asuka Langley. Her nationality German-Japanese and her eva is the four-eyed production model EVA-02.

From here on the fight between man and Angels begin...


At any rate, alot of the religious symbolism is more focused on the more mystical religion known as Cabbala/Kaballah. While there is Christian imagery, it is rather far from being orthodox.
 
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tsucasa

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Well, most christian-ish? I have to say the near end of Rouroni Kenshin. The Mieji Era was when the Japanese gov. ended percicution of Christians. In RK, the secret christians come out, but they were lead by the wrong person. It shows many christians in Japan murdered, and it was very sad. But Kenshin came to the rescue. Also, Kenshin's desire to make up for the sins he committed during the revolution is good enough on it's own.
 
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night2day

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tsucasa said:
SPOILER
Well, most christian-ish? I have to say the near end of Rouroni Kenshin. The Mieji Era was when the Japanese gov. ended percicution of Christians...


I haven't seen much of the "Christian Arc" of the series, although I have read some of the various episode synopnis. From what I gathered many didn't care for it. I was informed too that some of the basis for what transpired was taken from history (which occurred about a century or two previous) and flubbed for entertainment purposes.

Much akin to many things thought "Christian" used by the Japanese simply to add to plot development while knowing little of what they are using. IMHO, there are things best left untouched.
 
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