Anime The ever luming presents of nazism in anime

[Guest Alchemist]

though i seriuosly doubt japanese culture is racist against jews. there are many animes wih ties to nazi thing. Example, Gundam Wing Endless Waltz, the uniform style chosen by the Bartlet foundation is the exact style of the hitler youth uniforms. Also in FLCL there is that one episode with the even more excessive random violence than the other ones, well Kamon is wearing that nazi unifor and firing a luger(funny scene :rotflmao:) I think it has to do with the WW2 Axis Alliance and the fact that Asia did not suffer at the hands of the Nazis. Anyway how much do you think it is revered in anime.

[Bloodseeker]

I doubt that they have any love for the Nazis in modern day Japan. They did some downright terrible stuff during their days as Axis members, and I'm sure that they're just as ashamed of it as Germany and Italy are.

And if I remember correctly, weren't the characters that you mentioned bad guys?
and I know that one episode of Lupin the 3rd makes fun of them.

[Guest Alchemist]

Kamon is not evil he is just a crazy pervert.
Also there was this one manga that revered hitler and the Nazis called Auschda or something like that.

[Gravy Train]

The ever luming presents of nazism in anime

What? Nazis will give you presents if you watch anime?! Score.
I want a luger, snitzel, a panzer tank, and an easy bake oven.

[Bloodseeker]

You're right, he wasn't evil. He was pathetic. That's not much better.

And just because one Japanese man admires the Nazis does not mean that the Japanese population as a whole shares his sentiments.

[Guest Alchemist]

[QUOTE=Bloodseeker]You're right, he wasn't evil. He was pathetic. That's not much better.

And just because one Japanese man admires the Nazis does not mean that the Japanese population as a whole shares his sentiments.[/QUOTE]
I know that i was just pointing out some things :D

[Dagger]

"Ever-looming" is an incredible exaggeration, in my opinion. I've noticed references to Nazis only one in recent memory, during some of the early & middle episodes of Monster. And in that case it wasn't exactly gratuitous; it was handled seriously and made perfect sense, given the context of the story.

In terms of Nazism and Nazi symbols, anime ought to be the least of one's worries. Prince Harry's actions are troubling, but anime? Nah.

~Dagger~

[Delta]

[COLOR=#FF5646][SIZE=1][IMG]http://www.otakuboards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=22845&stc=1[/IMG]
courtesy of 4chan.org

Clothes make the man (men, in this case).
The Nazi uniform (or whatever you call it) is, in my opinion, the best looking military outfit ever designed. It's so stylish that even Hitler looked... decent in it. Red bands=hot.

Nazi-related articles call up images of torture, wickedness and senseless violence. I guess you can take it as a means of stimulating viewers to link the same things to what they're seeing, i.e. luger-wielding Kamon = Kamon screaming "Havoc!!!" Plus an angry character in plainclothes won't be as interesting as, say, a leather-clad dominatrix armed with a whip. ;)[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Twilight_Kioku]

thogh i havent seen the anime, there is actual nazi's in the manga hellsing. theyre the bad guys, goin on vampire resurecting masquerades or something similar. havent finished all of the books set, so i dont know for sure

[elfpirate]

[b]As all powerful visual elements soon become a representative symbol of some sort, so has the Nazi uniform (and Nazi symbols) come to be a representation of dark power, malevolence, force, and intimidation.[/b]
[b]
[b]The images of the Nazi regime (and even images that are simply similar in style to the symbols of the Nazi regime) invoke many dark and negative emotions-- (or rather- for sane, rational, intelligent people the emotions invoked are negative...)[/b]

[/b][b]This symbolism is [i]not[/i] anime-specific but has been used in countless artworks, movies, theater, etc... since WWII took place.[/b]

[b]Even Cobra Commander sports a Gestapo-esque uniform... and I highly doubt that the writers and artists of [u]GI Joe[/u] are Nazi sympathisers.[/b]

[b]I wouldn't worry about it having any meaning but for visual reference to something repelling... unless it's obvious that what you're watching is some kind of demented, neo-Nazi, goose-stepping bull****:animeangr ... in which case, feel free to throw it in the nearest river or under the tires of an 18-wheeler. [/b]

[Sara]

[quote name='elfpirate][b']I wouldn't worry about it having any meaning but for visual reference to something repelling..[/b][/quote][font=trebuchet ms]Going on from Elfpirate's point:

It takes a good deal of time/effort to firmly establish the extent of an 'evil' in any story. What's the motivation? Who's in charge? What's going on? Why? Are they winning? Do the good guys have a chance?

The Nazis of WWII are already very well known--the examples you cite are proof of that, heh. But aside from actual historical fiction (where the reason is obvious), using or emulating the Nazis for the "bad guy" makes perfect sense. You save a lot of time if the reader/watcher already knows who the bad guys are and how bad they are. There are definite feelings, events--even, in a weird sense, a certain [i]ambience[/i]--associated with the Nazi party, uniform, etc.

Utilising that for a story just makes narrative sense.[/font]

[Dragonboym2]

[COLOR=Blue]The Japanese have no love for The Nazi Party. They are allways considered monsters, sadistic killers, and inhuman. The same way we feel about them. When the goverment of Japan found out that Germany was commiting these henious acts of crulety, and genoside, they were shocked. They couldn't belive that their one-time ally was a monster. Germany to this day is ashamed and sorry for what they did. (They don't like being reminded. They take it as an insult.) As is Italy, and Japan. Japan has done some things during the war they aren't to proud of either. But in every anime I see when Nazism comes up, they are portrated as evil, and are defeated. But I do see German characters in anime upheld with respect. And some characters have German sounding names. Like Edward Elric. Elric sounds German, dosn't it? If Japan was so horrorfied and discussted by Naziism and genocide, why do they have so many German sounding names and stuff in animes/mangas? Weird huh? But I don't let it bother me. The past is the past. WWII is over, and none of these countries are fasist or anything.

"KAMEHAMEHA!"

Dragonboym2[/COLOR]

[Guest Alchemist]

Actually Dragonboym2, the japanese commited just as many atrocious acts. I still have chinese friends who hate japan for what it did to their people, I say forgive but the wont. The Nanjing massacre to name a few. And even if the japanese were shocked at the war crimes that the nazis did, it did not stop them from making anime with nazis ties. The MK titans of Z gundam, were exactly like the Nazis in their uniform, and they were the good guys.:animeknow

I do think that it is just visual reference though, I mean face it, the Nazis had some nice uniforms and sweet weapons, to bad they were *sses.

[r2vq]

You mean Nanking right Alchemist?

The Japanese were quite brutal in World War II.
I'm from the Philippines so although in History class I learn mainly of the brutallity of German internment camps, at home my Grandmother only talks about the Japanese when it comes to World War II.

I doubt the Japanese have any infatuation with the Nazis. Don't worry too much, don't get too paranoid or else you'll turn into one of those scary people that say that pokemon will crawl into your parents' mouths at night and suffocate them.

-ArV

Edit: to Alchemist
dude, I was joking.

I apologize if I offended you, that was not my intention.

^^;; I never really thought you were paranoid.

-ArV

[QuincyArcher]

If you see a swastica in any animes, they have nothing to do with WWII, the axis powers, or nazi germany. The Swastica symbol is actually an ancient japanese symbol for peace (if you go to any ancient temples in japan, which pre-date WWII by hundreds of years, you will see the Swastica symbol on many of the temples) it is merely Hitler and the Nazi regime that turned the swastica into a symbol of hate.

[Lord Dante]

i'll have to agree with quincyarcher. the swastika was just a symbol that hitler thought was clever. (actuallly, he took the symbol that quincyarcher was talking about, and reversed it. according to my history teacher)

[elfpirate]

[b]The swastika has been used by soooo many cultures-- since ancient times... even the Native Americans used it... and yeah, Hitler changed it a wee bit...but not much.[/b]

[PWNED]

[quote name='Alchemist']though i seriuosly doubt japanese culture is racist against jews. there are many animes wih ties to nazi thing. Example, Gundam Wing Endless Waltz, the uniform style chosen by the Bartlet foundation is the exact style of the hitler youth uniforms. Also in FLCL there is that one episode with the even more excessive random violence than the other ones, well Kamon is wearing that nazi unifor and firing a luger(funny scene :rotflmao:) I think it has to do with the WW2 Axis Alliance and the fact that Asia did not suffer at the hands of the Nazis. Anyway how much do you think it is revered in anime.[/quote]


Okay first of all, I am fairly sure it is spelt Looming instead of Luming. and as for Kamon dressed as a Nazi and using the Luger, well Kamon is all Bollocks no Brains. I don't think that the Japs have anything with the Nazis, even though they were part of the Third Reich. And also r2vq, I see you have never seen what they did to Darwin so many Aussies proberbly share your grandmothers feelings about them. And yes, it is true that the Swatstika was used everywhere up to thousands of years ago, It's just that the Nazis were most famous for it.

I'll be back
[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=4]THE MONSTER[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Dragonboym2]

[COLOR=Blue]Well Alchemist, I heard of the Najing Massacure, but no offence, I recently stated that the Japanese did some things during the war they aren't to proud of either. And the US the "good guys", did some bad stuff as well. Like the interment camps for exsample.

My Great Uncle was killed in the line of duty in the Phillipines. Grandpa dosn't like talking about it.

I don't think The Titans in Zeta Gundam were supposed to be good guys. I'm for The AUEG. The Titans were bullies and corrupt, they suck. The did awful things, and crossed the line many times. Lines the Zeon wouldn't even cross. Char was right. The earth needed time to heal from the wounds inflicted during the One Year War. But he snaps later on in "Char's Counterattack." He puts together a new army called Neo Zeon, and starts dropping metorites on Earth, forcing people to move into space. Therefore, forfilling his father's dream of moving mankind into space. Ushering in a new era, as he puts it. But he became the one thing he hates most. A tyrant, and a hypocrite.
Oops! Got a tad off topic there. Sorry.

"KAMEHAMEHA!"

Dragonboym2[/COLOR]

[r2vq]

[quote name='The Monster']...I don't think that the Japs have anything with the Nazis, even though they were part of the Third Reich. And also r2vq, I see you have never seen what they did to Darwin so many Aussies proberbly share your grandmothers feelings about them...[/quote]

First, don't say "japs" that's derogatory. Even if you're too lazy to write "Japanese" type something else like Jpn.
Second, (and I don't mean to be rude with my ignorance) what do you mean Darwin? Who/What's Darwin and what did the Nazi's do?

[PWNED]

[QUOTE=r2vq]First, don't say "japs" that's derogatory. Even if you're too lazy to write "Japanese" type something else like Jpn.
Second, (and I don't mean to be rude with my ignorance) what do you mean Darwin? Who/What's Darwin and what did the Nazi's do?[/QUOTE]

Sorry for saying Japs, I'm used to saying Japs around my friends (Two are Japanese). Darwin is a city in Northern Australia that was bombed at least Half-a-Dozen times by the Japanese Air Forces during WW2. I am betting that they were receiving orders from either the Nazis or the Japanese Prime Minister. As for the Nazism in Anime, They are using the Nazis to portray evil and heartlessness.

[Sui Generis]

[color=purple]Pesronally I think that well...you have too much time on your hands or your just looking into things way too much, I'm sure we could completely twist anything that is in any anime and make it this hidden meaning. However, it is an interesting theory...but I really really really really really really doubt that it is a true factor, I mean can you honestly see the creators of any anime going "Hey lets put some nazism in our anime, the viewers will love it!"[/color]

[AzureWolf]

[COLOR=blue]Lalaith Ril is right. This concept really borders on that whole "video games kill people" kind of notion. Also, there aren't really all [i]that[/i] many instances of Nazis in anime - and definately not in any animes that are worth anyone's time.[/COLOR]

[Godelsensei]

Though the swastika may have had "honourable origins" and the Nazi uniform may be an instantly-recognized symbol of malignance, I still find it inapropriate to use these symbols in media, unless it's directly dealing with Nazis.

It's simply a matter of respect--the main character of "Blade of the Immortal" is an okay fellow, and the editors go to great lengths to explain the emblem on his back, but it was irresponsible and disrespectful to all the people who had to suffer in WWII to toss it around like that.
It's a symbol of hate, violence, racism, and everything we should be revulsed by. It's a symbol that stands for the erasing of an entire people and treating any one who is different from you as though they were an animal.

There are some artistic situations where Nazi symbols can be used artistically to convey a serious message, but "Blade of the Immortal" just doesn't meet that standard. (In fact, it actually assosciates the symbol with goodness and honour, a meaning the world gave up on a long time ago.)

Series involving Nazis as Nazis is different, obviously, but these images should never be taken lightly, nonetheless, and I find it disgusting that so many people seem so out of touch with what these images reprisent.

[r2vq]

[QUOTE=Godelsensei]
There are some artistic situations where Nazi symbols can be used artistically to convey a serious message, but "Blade of the Immortal" just doesn't meet that standard. (In fact, it actually assosciates the symbol with goodness and honour, a meaning the world gave up on a long time ago.)[/QUOTE]

Godel, I'm surprised in you.
You have to understand that although the Western World may have "given up" on the Swastika when Hitler bastardized it, the Asian countries [I]never[/I] let Hitler steal the symbol.

In Japan and in India the Swastika is a [B]holy[/B] symbol. When used in the context of Blade of the Immortal, it's very honourable. On maps in Japan they [i]always[/i] use the Swastika as a symbol for Buddhists Temples.

Although the Ku Klux Klan may burn crosses, twisting them into signs of evil, Christians don't "give up" on their symbol.
Although Hitler reversed the Swastika and put it at an angle, twisting it into a sign of evil, Buddhists and Hindus don't "give up" on their holy symbol.

Also, remember that the Buddhist Swastika is visually different from the Nazi emblem. The symbol you see in [b]Blade of the Immortal[/b] has nothing to do with Hitler. It's symbolic, religious, and extremely powerful if you understand it. Don't take the ignorant path, or you'll be like those people who think all Anime is porn.

-ArV