Christian anime..does it exist?

[trentlogain]

I've heard it said that Neon Genesis is at least based on Christianity. I don't buy that for a second. Anyway, I was wondering if Christian anime exists. If so or not, what would it look like? Just curious.

 

[Antari2012]

I've seen anime with warriors that worship the Christian God, but the focus of the anime is not on Christianity, but on the war they are in.

I'm planning to make my own manga this year (I'm getting back into drawing and have a graphics tablet for my laptop now, to draw with), and I might try making a Christian-based one. It'd certainly be unique.

 

[trentlogain]

You have me curious. What is the story going to be about?

 

[Princess Of Yahweh]

There is a Manga Bible which can help in seeing the overall picture

 

[The Theory]

Superbook

The Flying House

Both are fairly similar-- kids plus a non-human (in the first a dog, in the second a robot) travel back in time to experience Bible events via some amusing method (in the first, a book... in the second a flying house) alluded to in the anime's title. They were aired on television for a while, which is how I, and most others, got to know them. As far as I know, only 3 DVD volumes of Superbook exist (which compiles about 12 of the 20-some episodes), and only one volume of The Flying House (which would have about 4 episodes of the 51 episode run). Though I did hear via the official website that there would be a complete series box set coming out sometime later this year... but I am not too optimistic, honestly.

Anyway, these are the only ones I am aware of involving Japan (although the idea was American-born) in the artistic/production stages. I don't even know if there was ever a Japanese dub... if so, none of the DVD releases saw fit to include it as an option. There might be some other anime/manga knock-off things (like the aforementioned Manga Bible), but I would doubt if they really involved Japan at all.

Now, there would be a number of animes that utilizes religion in interesting ways (like the aforementioned Evangelion), even if not from a "Christian" perspective or intent. I might compile a list of some of the ones I have seen (or seen part of) later when I have the time.

 

[Qyöt27]

Finding Christian symbology isn't extremely hard, but it's usually for show or to provide some esoteric mysteriousness to it (considering the fact that Japan is less than what, 2% Christian? It's the same as how Western cinema might use elements of Eastern religions to provide atmosphere, even if the way those elements are used are completely divorced from their origins).

 

[Nazzul]

Ive seen some very interesting anime. One had God as an all powerfull evil which the demons had to fight. Demon lord dante I think it was called.

D. grey man has some very christian themes in it. Where the church is fighting this evil force. I get the feeling its going to take some turns away from christian themes in that one though.

 

[AgapeBible]

I read a manga book called Wish, that involved the romantic love lives of angels. This is not Christian, angels are not suppose to be interested in romantic/sexual love, for one thing they are spirits and do not have physical bodies. A female angel fell from the heaven, I think she had been sent to earth for some reason, it was winter and this young man who was a doctor found her and took care of her. (I think she was in cherubim or chibi form, and was little like a baby, later on she grew up.) I only read the last book, I found it at the library and came across it by chance, was curious and the angels were pretty so I thought I'd read it. Anyway, the doctor saved her life ( I thought angels were immortal) she grew into a beautiful young woman and lived in his house with another female angel, a devil the son of Satan who was this more mature female angel's lover, and another demon with her two servants, hellcats, who were cats by day and girls by night. The young angel was in love with the doctor and promised to grant him a wish. This pretty, sweet young girly angel was God's favorite. Then she was called back to heaven. SHe was ordered to stay in heaven, but when she looked into a pool and saw that her boyfriend on earth was sad without her, she disobeyed and went back to earth to be with him.

God decided to punish her for disobeying and her friend for having the son of Satan as a lover. He sent down these powerful angels, angel of fire, water, and wind. The angel with the devil was stripped of her rank and power and exiled from heaven, and so was the younger angel, she was reduced to chibi form, and her doctor friend had to carry her everywhere. She would stay a tiny, helpless chibi for 100 years. Then, the man she loved died. Poor cherub angel was so sad. Then GOd sent down this little rabbit thing with a sunflower. The seeds would make her sleep for 100 years. After 100 years the doctor would be reborn again and she would wake up and be with the reborn version of her lover. THen he could make his wish, to be with her forever.

SO, although it has angels and God in it, it is not Christian. Reincarnation is not Christian, neither is angels in romantic relationships.

 

[AgapeBible]

oh, btw, I am in the process of writing my own manga. am working on the story, need to work on the drawings.