Spring Break
Adult content and ideas make comics and anime not just for kids anymore
Kaajal Morar
Issue date: 10/21/08 Section: Opinion
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There are cartoons and comics that are geared toward an older audience, too. And just because they are animated doesn't mean they are immature or meaningless.
Take the graphic novel "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac" by Jhonen Vasquez (that's right, the guy who created "Invader Zim"). The comic includes explicit (and sometimes meaningless) violence as well as vulgar language and a strong suicide theme.
Main Character Johnny C. suffers from dissociative personality disorder. His negative personalities take form in the shape of Styrofoam creatures Psycho Doughboy, Mr. Eff and Nailbunny, a rabbit he fed once and nailed to a wall for three years that provides the only positive voice in Johnny's life.
Yeah. Not for kids.
Beyond the violence, Johnny has a fascination with the meaning of life and is constantly trying to find out how he turned into a psychotic murderer, giving the comic a strange, philosophical edge.
He even speaks with Satan, who helps him understand how the world works. God also plays a part, although he is less than helpful and turns out to be more of a nuisance.
Anime is also regularly written off as eccentric, Japanese cartoons. Anime isn't just about robots and big boobs; if you look deep enough, there exists meaningful stories with moving themes.
Take the 1988 movie "Akira" by Katsuhiro Otomo. Although there is societal rebellion, grotesque mutations and human experimentation, the violence is not pointless and it plays a part in telling the story of post-World War III Tokyo.
Gang member Tetsuo is involved in an accident with child psychic Takashi. Takashi is under observation by a government experiment group.
After displaying psychic potential, Tetsuo is taken in by the government experiment group where he is put under the same experimentation as Takashi.
Chaos ensues when the scientist who heads the group is unable to restrain Tetsuo, who rampages around Tokyo with a god complex and horrific telekinetic abilities.
The movie addresses political unrest, gang violence, terrorism and taking responsibility for controlling superhuman powers.
Even Sailor Moon, an anime geared toward girls, had a controversial theme, although North American companies tried to change it.
In the original series in the fourth and fifth seasons, Sailors Uranus and Neptune were depicted as lesbians.
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