hontou ni
14May/0712

Five Anime Paradises

One of the reasons I love anime is its valiant attempt at recreating the heavenly realm on earth. And by this I don't mean Nagasarete Airantou or most harem series. This may be shocking to most but the idea of paradise to Stripey is not being stranded on a island surrounding by non-blood-related imoutos ranging from the lolicious to the babelicious. For this tanuki, paradise is the absence of evil or specifically to the human race, the absence of malicious intent born either of self-centredness or motivated by self-gratification. This, however, still does not excuse us from all suffering/pain since the cycle of earthly life (even when cleansed from the darkness of the human heart) embraces it.

Anyhow, this post is not for airing my shallow pseudo-philosophical babble but to commend anime series that fashioned (limited) paradisesque worlds which had me clamoring for a rebirth. And so, here's 5 anime universes I'd love to be born into.

Aria the animation

Having just finished Aria (the animation), I dare say there's no place in animedom like Neo-Venezia. Sure, people still die and folks still grief but it's a wonderful place charged with unquenchable hope and grand beauty. Not just breathtaking scenes of waterways reflecting Venetian architecture in the backdrop of the sunking sun but the purity of the inhabitants' hearts as they strove to make Neo-Venezia a paradise on Aqua.

Azumanga Daioh

If life's greatest dilemma is what to eat during the bread race, let me be born in this world even if I have to be Tadakichi-san. Of course the only element incongrous with this heavenly realm in the driver from hell, Yukari.

Card Captor Sakura

Evil is glaringly absent from CCS. There are no true villains. Even the Clow cards and Eriol/Yue challenges stemmed from loving motivations. The dead are not really gone but by their side watching and caring unseen. Everybody is impossibly kind/considerate though expressed differently as filtered by their varying personalities. What beautiful people. What a beautiful world.

Figure 17 ~Hikaru and Tsubasa

So heaven is a place in Hokkaido! This 26 parter masquerading as 13 eps convey a deep sense of tranquility not unlike Aria's aura of peace. I attribute it mainly to the artwork, the music and Hikaru.

Nanoha As

Only the 2nd installment of the Nanoha franchise because Fate's mom was as mad as she was evil in season 1. Nanoha As subscribed to CCS's 'no-true-villain' principle and founded the entire conflict on the cast's strong feelings to protect their precious master/comrades. Of course there is still evil in this universe given that someone DID corrupt the Book of Darkness. Nevertheless, within the limited sphere of Nanoha and friends, their selflessness is sufficient ground for As's entry on this list. I'd love to be reborn as Chrono.... XD

I was surprised to find listing even 5 so hard. My original intent was to have 15. Basically if I found any character with malicious intent in the series, I disqualified it. Ah well, if there were so many Aria-esque series, it would haven't been so outstanding I suppose. Looking forward to Aria the Natural.

PS: I noticed those listed have a stronger female presence in their cast. Ladies make better citizens of heaven? Or am I suffering from the Nagasarete syndrome already? XD

Related posts:

  1. What does your top 5 anime say about you?
  2. Praiseworthy anime sequels – The tanuki's choice
  3. Random rant ~Anime music~ Part 1

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  1. Skane
    May 14th, 2007 - 04:09

    “That’s because Men are boors!”

    Humour aside, what about Bartender? :p Not ALL “paradises” are female-centric. ^^;

    Cheers.

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  2. Ashram
    May 14th, 2007 - 05:15

    Haven’t seen Figure 17, but all the others I would agree with!

    Aria the Natural is just as good as the first season, minus a couple akward scenes in a few eps. I even keep a pencil board on my desk at work to look at all day (or it’s just a sign of massive otakuness, not sure!). Certainly can help relieve the daily stress to imagine oneself in Aqua for a few minutes, or to just remember some of the perspectives on life the episodes teach.

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  3. Zyl
    May 14th, 2007 - 05:48

    Azumanga is indeed a paradise for the children. But there is also a sense at the end of the series that the end of this idyllic school life is also inevitable – it’s not so much represented by Yukari because she’s crazy, quite ridiculous but also true to herself in a way… it’s in the form of Nyamo who tries her best to be normal, dutiful, responsible but as we’ve seen time and again is actually quite an unhappy person especially when it comes to her love life and her self-esteem about her intelligence – poor English, lousy math, PE teachers are not dumb! ;_;

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  4. Eirik
    May 14th, 2007 - 05:53

    For me, the anime paradise I’d wish to visit the most is the world of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. Even if human life seems to be declining, those living there are at peace, leading their lives without a hurry. That is something I’d like to experience.

    Neo-Venezia would be one of my choices too. How would I love to ride a gondola of Aria Company.

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  5. Asrialys
    May 14th, 2007 - 07:45

    Haha. I instantly thought of Cardcaptor Sakura as I started reading this entry. And there it was! I’d love to live the world of CCS. It is just so unbelievably peaceful.

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  6. Stripey
    May 14th, 2007 - 07:45

    Skane: Oh haven’t seen bartender but if it could be classified as an anime paradise, it’s certainly worth a look. thanks for the headsup :)

    Ashram: Ah Aria has such a positive/optimistic outlook on life that it would certainly brighten any dreary day at work :) I need to get my paws on Natural soon :)

    Zyl: Haha! I think Nyamo is not quite as pathetic/troubled as Yukari deliberately make her out to be :) I’m sure she finds a great deal of career satisfaction in educating young uns on the tracks or in a chalet XD

    Eirik: That’s another series on my to-watch list. Thanks for highlighting YKK :)

    Asrialys: Glad you concur! :) Though the peace here would not so much describe Sakura’s nightly activities than the loving relationships in the series. :) Everyone is so nice/accomodating/considerate towards each other. A heavenly place indeed.

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  7. Beowulf Lee
    May 14th, 2007 - 12:18

    Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou has the best slice of life music soundtrack ever; that’s not an overstatement. I’d even recommend listening to it before watching the anime.

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  8. Xellos-_^
    May 14th, 2007 - 13:16

    My idea of paradise is either

    Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito – spending eternity in a library with 2 lovely yuricest librarians and a infinity of books. If i need a vacation i can jump into one of the books.

    Or if i can’t get into the infinte library, there is also Kokoro Library.

    3 beautiful and loving sisters and a house full of books. What could be better?

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  9. Sherman, the Ramni
    May 14th, 2007 - 15:33

    Undoubtely, another victim of the Nagasarete sickness.

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  10. Stripey
    May 15th, 2007 - 02:03

    Beowulf Lee: A series with a good soundtrack is half the battle won :) Will definitely check it out. Thanks :)

    Xellos-_^/Sherman, the Ramni: To be frank not too long ago, my idea of a paradise would indeed be stranded on a deserted island and surronded by beautiful women. I blame it on Dead or Alive Xtreme beach volleyball XD

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  11. Plaid_Knight
    May 15th, 2007 - 09:36

    Don’t forget Megami Paradise. It’s a realm of almost pure good full of wonderful people who really care for one another.

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  12. Stripey
    May 15th, 2007 - 21:38

    I did a check and found the series a little dated so I’m not sure if I can get my paws on it. Nevertheless, thanks for the heads-up. Will check it out if I can. :)

    ( REPLY )

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