Anime explosion! : the what? why? & wow! of Japanese animation / Patrick Drazen.

Incluye bibliografía.

Part 1. Interpreting anime. A page right out of history -- Conventions versus clichés -- The social web and the lone wolf -- Mukashi mukashi : from folktales to anime -- The naked truth -- Rated H : hardcore anime -- ´A very pure thing´ : gay and pseudo-gay themes in anime -- Bushido : the way of the warrior -- Shojodo : the way of the teenage girl -- Enter the mamagon : the Japanese mother -- Faith-based : Christianity, Shinto, and other religions in anime -- Who you gonna call? : the spirit world in anime -- The starmaker machinery : anime and idol -- It´s not easy being green : nature in anime -- War is stupid : war and anti-war themes in anime -- Birth and death and rebirth : reincarnation in anime.

Part 2. Films and directors. Windaria -- Wings of Honneamise : Tora-san in space -- Utena : Giri/ninjo and the triumph of conservatism in pop culture -- Giant robo : anime as Wagnerian opera -- Flying with Ghibli : the animation of Hayao Miyazaki and company -- The Sailor Moon phenomenon : Love! Valor! Compassion! Middie Blouses! -- Escaflowne -- Evangelion -- Please save my earth -- The big Pokémon scare -- Plastic little : not what you think -- The old and new testaments of Masamune Shirow -- Key the metal idol.

Where did Japanese animation come from, and what does it all mean? Written for fans, culture watchers, and perplexed outsiders, this is a tour of the anime megaverse, from older arts and manga traditions to the works of modern directors like Miyazaki and Otomo. Read about anime standbys like giant robots, samurai, furry beasts, high school heroines, and gay/girl/fanboy love--even war and reincarnation, plus all of anime´s major themes, styles, and conventions.