Anime: To or Not to?

Wow, it certainly has been a while since I wrote anything here. Being somewhat preoccupied, I have not written here for months, even spilling into a new year – but I have not abandoned this blog just yet, and do no plan to anytime soon.

Awhile back while writing the material for my next post, I discovered this article (http://www.beneaththetangles.com/can-christians-watch-anime/) and thought I should address this question first, which I have been putting off for quite a while. If anyone stops by to read this, recommend to go through the above article before reading on. Note: this post will assume one is familiar with basic anime terms, or else just google them out if need be. While specifically mentioning anime (which generally calls to mind Japanese animated cartoons), I also refer this to related media such as manga, games and visual novels. Also, it may be prudent to have the Bible on hand, since I may be referencing much of Scripture without quoting it here. Lastly, this muse of mine is quite long, and I intend to further explore this subject in the near future.

Let me start with the basic question: is it OK to watch anime? I have mentioned in my previous post how some people are morally/religiously critical of such media. In a way, just as I browse through Beneath the Tangles every now and then to perhaps acquire new insight regarding faith and anime, these people may have viewed this type of entertainment from the other side of the fence. While I do not intend to be too critical of their stance, I would say that consuming such material is hardly any different from, say, other forms of cartoons, video/PC/phone games, or even literature. No matter where you turn, all forms of entertainment have two different sides on a coin. I think it is a bit ludicrous to label any activity/interest on a whole as unacceptable for partaking.

Should I have given up ninjutsu because the art is potentially lethal? But it sharpened my mind and discipline, and could be useful in dangerous situations. Should I have stopped freeriding because it may encourage reckless cycling in my neighbourhood? It helped foster relationships within the neighbourhood while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Should I cease listening to metal because they are “music of devil”? Allow me to introduce just two songs: All Consuming Fire by War of Ages and Redemption by August Burns Red.

In regards to personal tolerance to the genre, the above linked post has already discussed to some extent about it. But in my region anime makes up the hobby of a significant portion of the youths’ today. If one intends to reach out to this group, the person should at least be aware of this before making any preconceived comments.

For the majority of people, I believe that watching anime is not really an issue. Thus I will now proceed to narrow down my question.

Is it fine to watch questionable anime?

When I use the term questionable anime, I define it as anime which commonly include elements of ecchi, violence or other controversial themes, yet are somewhat acceptable for mainstream screening, and not clearly distinguished into the R18 category. Examples in this group are Highschool of the Dead, Akame ga Kill! and Haganai.

Many of the more conservative Christians will likely flat out say it is wrong and avoid such media, while those with a more liberal mindset will probably allow it as a form of entertainment.

It is perhaps most valuable to acquire insights from Christians who enjoy anime-related materials. For TWWK, the main issue is “Will God be pleased with me if I watch anime?” Thus one should direct the question at themselves when encountering this problem.

While valuable as a preliminary yardstick, our conscience may at times fail us, since we are all imperfect, having sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Furthermore, this may not be too useful for those, especially newcomers to the genre and topic, who seek and need a more direct answer.

How can this be a problem? Say for instance a person X (non-religious) introduced his friend Y (a practicing Christian) to his first anime series, which is an ecchi. Y only found out later on after watching it, but he also found the show to his liking. 

What then, should be his appropriate response? Should Y staunchly reject all future episodes, seeing that it depicts/promotes questionable values? Or is it fine to continue the series, knowing it is not real? Either way, choosing one basically means that he supports the decision and encourages others, whether directly or indirectly, to do so as well.

First, let us look at it from a biblical perspective. From the Old right up to the New Testament, we are commanded to stay from all forms of violence and immorality. Deuteronomy 5:21, Psalm 101:3-4, Isaiah 33:15-16, Daniel 13, Matthew 5:27-28, Mark 7:21-22, Romans 1:21-32, Galatians 5:19-21 and Titus 3:3-9 are some passages that can more-or-less be adopted to fit this category in today’s world.

By just browsing through these excerpts, it seems obvious that the we should reject such questionable material. But is it just that simple?

As mentioned previously, anime makes up quite interest of quite a portion of people from where I am from. There is a chance one may encounter a person who is into questionable material. Like it or not the world does not revolve around one person’s ideals. Enter an anime convention and one will most definitely encounter material with themes that run contrary to Christian virtues. Make a pilgrimage to the holy land of otaku (Akiba) and it will be many times more glaring.

Another issue is our interactions with those who enjoy such genres – or the social perspective. How are we to go about dealing with such people? Are we just going to flat out say it is wrong and quote a multitude of reasons why we should stay away from it? In today’s world which advocates individuality and freedom of speech, such action will likely have the opposite effect. A blunt attempt to impose our convictions or correct a person’s viewpoint tends to impulsively trigger defiance on the side of the recipient. “I like what I like; what’s it got to do with you?” Such comments are some of the politer renditions I have seen and heard.

There are two, perhaps starkly different answers I would give, depending on the group I am addressing to.

The first address is to the common majority, especially to newcomers in the early process of forming their faith. To this group, I would recommend to stay away and abstain from the earlier defined questionable anime.

Drawing from my own experience as well as observing others around me, the early stages of a believer is the most delicate, as it is at this period when they are most impressionable. Often, those who have recently dedicated themselves to the Lord are passionate and enthusiastic about living out their faith. However, their foundation has not yet been firmly established; they are, as the writer of Hebrews would have put it, still infants reliant on milk (Hebrews 5:13). It is at this period a person is most easily influenced/affected by the people and material he/she consumes.

With a conscience that is still moulding, one may also resort to emulate certain examples, stick to a set of principles, or categorise things in black and white in order to find his/her footing. As I was brought up in a Catholic environment and had some knowledge in her teachings, during the early days when I started to take my faith more seriously, my stance often made me question the way the Church handles her affairs. For instance, I used to desire the Mass to be more animated, charismatic and emotionally engaging, complete with contemporary music that appeals to the youths, who are the future torchbearers of the Church. Also, what is it with all the rules and regulations the Catholic Church set out – the Days of Obligation, no meat on Fridays, etc? This was to an extent influenced by the charismatic camps and multi-denominational Christian Fellowship I attended back in high school. While they certainly help play a part in building my faith, without proper guidance and an appreciable amount of time of contemplation, I would probably have continued in my flawed mindset.

It is not just me however. When an acquaintance of mine first converted to Christianity, she often posted messages on rapture, and even a few that vilified Catholics. It got to the point where people started to harshly reprimand her antics. Even I must admit I got quite upset with her behaviour, her incessant posts/messages, and her flippant replies when I attempted to correct her misconceptions.

Then there is another on the other end of the spectrum, who, being heavily influenced by the traditional rite stopped participating in the Catholic group in university, ceased attending Masses in Novus Ordo (opting a 2+ hour drive back to his hometown every weekend to celebrate the Tridentine Mass), and even mocking (yes, mocking, not just criticising) the Ordinary Latin form.

While the three examples given can be related to shortcomings/misconceptions that need to be corrected and overcome, there is no question that fondling a person’s private parts, mounting heads on spears, and dirty talk are things we should not be doing. By extension, is it not appropriate and commendable that we eschew from such materials, even if they are fictional? This is even more so if we are easily influenced, or trying to find our feet in the faith.

I must stress again I am not suggesting a blanket refrain on all forms of anime. There are other more agreeable shows that could arguably be more engaging – Angel Beats!, Kimi No Na Wa, and a host of titles by Studio Ghibli just to name a few. One does not need to engage in the more controversial series to enjoy anime as a whole. In fact, many – particularly ecchi – rely on fanservice to compensate for the lack of good design or plot. That is one of the reasons why I find most in this vein to be unremarkable/unmemorable to me. A bit of research and one can generally stay clear of the more questionable types. And, even if we indulge in more family-friendly anime, this still gives us ample opportunity to connect with the majority of other anime fans.

Now, although I have mused much on this throughout this post, it is important to keep in mind that the world does not revolve solely around anime. I have personally met a guy who gave up a stable job and staked his life in pursuing his otaku interest, yet approximately half of our hours-long conversation had nothing to do with anime. This goes to show that one can still build a meaningful relationship even outside of anime (although it will certainly help!).

So to sum it up again. To the majority of Christians, I would advise to stay away from questionable anime that heavily focus on ecchi, violence and controversial themes.

My second address is to the niche, more mature Christians who have been called to be witnesses to the anime otakudom. To this group, I would cautiously approve their decision to continue down this line.

Now wait a second. Does that mean I am a two-faced hypocrite? What of all the Bible verses quoted, and the above long-winded exposition against it to boot?

I would like to bring up a passage which I left out until now. Taken from 1 Corinthians 8, St Paul spent the entire chapter discussing on food that has been sacrificed to idols. First, he explains that all things, even the food offered to idols, come from God. Next, he goes on to state that not everyone can comprehend this. Finally, he warns that our actions should not become a stumbling block to other believers.

If we take the passage above and substitute the ‘food’ with ‘questionable anime’, we find that our subject of discussion actually fits the bill quite snugly. Try putting this into practice, and we get something like the following:

Concerning questionable anime, we all possess knowledge. We know that such content is fictional and does not exist in real life. God made all things, through and whom we live for. But not everyone is able to grasp and understand this. Such material will not make us worse or better off if we consume it. But take care that your knowledge and liberty does not destroy your brothers and sisters whose conscience are weak.

Those who are firm in faith and grounded in knowledge are not likely to be affected by such scenes. After all, we can discern what is right and wrong, and, if we can look past those spots, we may be able to find great themes and stories beneath the murky sheet (eg: Berserk). Just as organic vegetables are often riddled with holes, at times we may discover a gem amidst morally provoking materials. The essence is that we are able to focus on its redeeming points rather than the faults.

Still, is it better not to engage in such material? Why flirt with sin (or lead others to sin) for a good story?

While not the majority (at least from where I am from), there are people who are obsessed with the outliers, perhaps to the point of even forgoing conventional anime. Take a friend of mine, B as a soft case in point. When you bring two people with an interest in a similar subject, you can naturally expect them to engage in that subject sooner or later. However, B paid exceptional attention on the ecchi clips, and often highlighted them whenever we discuss on anime. To him and other like-minded people, should I adopt a tough guy stance? I personally feel that I more or less made the right decision, merely highlighting I am not into fanservice, and focusing on other parts of the story. For those who are called to be witnesses in this niche, they must be able to handle the occasional, or even common, questionable material. Otherwise, it will be difficult to connect and stay on the same page as them.

So, for Christians who are matured and informed on their faith, and who are called to be witnesses in this area, I would support their decision on watching questionable anime.

For such a simple question, I definitely took more than a bit of musing – and in the end, there is not one direct blanket answer I can give. It really bores down to our disposition and maturity. Only God can peer through the depths of our hearts and desires to know if we are truly suited for such material and exposure. And ultimately, the only way to know this is to earnestly seek His guidance through prayer. Let this verse be my lamp post, and the guide for those struggling in and under such situations:

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything (in) the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

(Colossians 3:17)

RFG always.