Clayton Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 So who here is familiar with Japanese mythology? Because if you aren't you are missing out on a lot of what's in anime. For example in the 80s we were all pretty uninformed and thus we thought Mario was turning into a raccoon, rather than a tanuki. So we had no freaking clue why he could fly or turn into a statue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohayotaku Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 (edited) If you think tanuki are weird/confusing, imagine an anime that combines them with rakugo (traditional Japanese storytelling as an art form & form of entertainment) https://myanimelist.net/anime/49533/Uchi_no_Shishou_wa_Shippo_ga_Nai yes, I actually watched the whole thing. Definitely odd, but also kind of charming & even a little educational about Japanese culture. Butt don’t even get me started on kappa Edited September 7, 2023 by Ohayotaku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holywhippet Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 I've been to Japan a few times and learned very little about religion and mythology there. Most of what I've learned is from anime, manga and video games. The Naruto series is interesting as quite a few of the special powers refer to their their gods or mythologies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animedragon Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Understanding a bit about Japan's mythology, legends and religions can help you understand anime & manga stories much better. Yuzo Takada's "Blue Seed" for example is based on references to Japanese myth and legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 try Inuyasha. or Dragoball. It's amazing how many fans of that series haven't even heard of Journey to the West, let alone read it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamomesan Posted September 8, 2023 Share Posted September 8, 2023 Technically Journey to the West is Chinese mythology, but I love the folksy feeling that those influences bring to the the original Dragonball. Pokemon also has a lot of references to yokai, kami and Shinto, even though it originated from a fascination with collecting bugs. And speaking of bugs, Mushishi. There's all sorts of folk mythology that inspires the the creatures Ginko handles, though I don't recall any off the top of my head based off of the more famous myths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted September 8, 2023 Author Share Posted September 8, 2023 Journey to the West took place in China and India, true, but it's famous in all of Asian culture. And it's the basis for a lot of anime like Siayuki, scenes in Yu Yu Hakusho, and many others. not to mention new shows in america even. The fact is everyone should read it. And yes Shinto is important in Anime is is frankly a far better religion than Christianity. I do find it annoying how few American kids understand the significants of a nine tailed fox. Adults too for that matter. As for pokemon a Raiju... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamomesan Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 On 9/8/2023 at 11:27 AM, Clayton said: I do find it annoying how few American kids understand the significants of a nine tailed fox. Adults too for that matter. As for pokemon a Raiju... I mean not a lot of people know the mythology behind other cultures. I doubt a lot of Japanese understand or care about the Jewish significance of the golem despite it being a relatively common enemy in JRPGs. Mythological creatures are such a broad topic that sometimes its difficult to tell what is the contemporary creator's imagination and what isn't. I find that particularly to be the case with Ghibli films. Is there some giant-bug beast the Ohm are based on, or did Miyazaki just think it'd be cool to have giant bugs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohayotaku Posted September 12, 2023 Share Posted September 12, 2023 (edited) 22 minutes ago, kamomesan said: Mythological creatures are such a broad topic that sometimes its difficult to tell what is the contemporary creator's imagination and what isn't. I find that particularly to be the case with Ghibli films. Is there some giant-bug beast the Ohm are based on, or did Miyazaki just think it'd be cool to have giant bugs? Like Mushishi where the creatures aren’t traditional yokai, but they have a similar feel to them. Or stepping away from asian culture, you can see the influences of Beowulf & Arthurian legends in J.R.R. Tolkein’s works, but he basically “created” a distinct mythology that has been referenced and copied over & over in RPGs & fantasy anime. Edited September 12, 2023 by Ohayotaku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted September 16, 2023 Author Share Posted September 16, 2023 (edited) On 9/11/2023 at 7:37 PM, kamomesan said: I mean not a lot of people know the mythology behind other cultures. I doubt a lot of Japanese understand or care about the Jewish significance of the golem despite it being a relatively common enemy in JRPGs. Mythological creatures are such a broad topic that sometimes its difficult to tell what is the contemporary creator's imagination and what isn't. I find that particularly to be the case with Ghibli films. Is there some giant-bug beast the Ohm are based on, or did Miyazaki just think it'd be cool to have giant bugs? Yes, but you have to admit, if you're into pokemon as deeply as some people, you should knwo the monsters they're cased on. Drowzee for example is based on a creature called a Baku that eats dreams. Edited September 16, 2023 by Clayton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletje76 Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 Wat are cool mythology anime? post 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted September 16, 2023 Author Share Posted September 16, 2023 Stray little Devil Inyasha Naruto Norogami Ghost Stories Oh My Goddess Gingitsune XXXholic Ayakashi 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletje76 Posted September 16, 2023 Share Posted September 16, 2023 since you mention naruto,..isnt myth a bit far fetched in these? i was looking for japanese gods and stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kamomesan Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 I rediscovered this Baki x Nissin ad recently. Pretty interesting that in the other commercials the kitsune only has a single tail but the Yujiro one has nine tails. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohayotaku Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Blue Seed has the legendary dragon Orochi & the god Susanoo as antagonists. Peach Boy Riverside draws on the fable of Momotaro. Various yokai play prominent roles in Gegege no Kitaro, Ushio & Tora, Kemono Jihen & In/Spectre. tsukumogami (inanimate objects that have acquired consciousness or a soul over time) are featured in Malevolent Spirits Mononogatari & Tsugumomo. The fable of the Red Onj & the Blue Oni is the inspiration for Rem & Ram from Re:Zero. Other famous characters based on oni include Lum from Urusei Yatsura & the ogres from Reincarnated as a Slime. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletje76 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 thanks. Clayton did not know about myu pre 2005 virus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted September 19, 2023 Author Share Posted September 19, 2023 On 9/16/2023 at 9:06 PM, Bulleje76 said: thanks. Clayton did not know about myu pre 2005 virus Please, elaborate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulletje76 Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 On 9/20/2023 at 12:14 AM, Clayton said: Please, elaborate sorry i was on holiday for a few days. Ehh never mind mate. it is just a lame joke. I always make a point on this forum that we should watch the latest anime since graphics and storylines have grown. I make a subjective comment like post 2005. I can ellaborate more if you like. But NOWWW<..time to watch the anime i missed last week haha. I dont watch to many running shows,..so will be fast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted September 28, 2023 Author Share Posted September 28, 2023 Anyway a lot of anime things are named after stuff from mythology or landmarks you may not know. Lots of Tenchi Characters are named after things. And of course you all remember Kohaku... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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