While watching Claymore recently, I suddenly come to a comclusion which I should have noticed before. A quantum shift has occured in anime, and I hope I am not the only one to notice it.
I used to lament “where are the female role models in anime?” “Where are the strong women? ” “Where are ones who have intelligence? can think and reason without a man to lead?” Anime was rife with hotties, those of the blue hair and large eyes, impossibly huge breasts a prerequisite. And if they were not of that variety, they were either total moronic airheads, or whining self serving wenches who never shut up. (think Chi Chi and Bulma of dragonball fame, two of the most annoying females in anime.) Or they were bascially used for comedy relief.
Don’t get me wrong, there were exceptions to the rule, such as my current namesake Twilight Suzuka from Outlaw Star, Seras Victoria from Hellsing, whom does depend on Alucard to a degree, but does some major vampire asskicking/slaying on her own. Even Tohru Honda from
Fruits Basket is strong, just not physically. She takes care of those around her, has great compassion, and teaches them to look inside and see the beauty that she sees within them. But for the most part, Females were often simply eye candy (and we all need a little of that).
Now fast forward a little and a new breed emerges: Chicks who wield a sword as well as they fill their bra, who think and strategise as well as any man, who make action heroines something to be proud of. Bleach has Rukia, but she quickly lost her power to Ichigo. Still she is a strong woman. Inuyasha (though I have grown to despise most of it), has Kikyo, who embittered by love and life lost, still is strong enough to defend those around her. (her downfall of course was LOVE.) But it is after them that the landscape started to change. My previous Namesake, Layla Ashley of Avenger fame was a butt- kicking, hard fighting , take no shit female- now you know why I chose that screen name.
Real Mayar of Ergo Proxy, Some of the ladies in Deathnote, and the afore mentioned women of Claymore display as much brains as they do breast size, yet still are easy on the eyes. They are Strong women who dispatch their foes as easy as they change clothes. Faye Valentine, And Julia of Bebop, are indeed more examples, and don’t forget Major Motoko Kusanagi, from the Ghost in the Shell Franchise.
Of course I cannot list all the enviable women of anime, but I am glad so many came to mind so readily, it shows how much it has changed. And as I said earlier, there have always been butt-kicking, hard hitting take no prisoner chicks in anime, but often they had male counterparts that took the lead, not so anymore. And I am very proud it is so.
Perhaps this is another reason to get younger viewers hooked on something we all know and love, the ever changing and wondorous artform known as anime.