You're Reading Backwards | Anime And Manga Analysis

In this post I’ll be discussing the relationship between individuality and freedom in the anime Ghost in the Shell , and why the imbalance conveyed through its characters is so relevant today. Numerous articles discuss the philosophical implications of a breach in self in this series, so I’ll be focusing on choice instead. The work I’m specifically referring to in this analysis is the 1995 film directed by Mamoru Oshii. What is the core of Ghost in the Shell ? Masamune Shirow’s Ghost in the Shell is an intricate study of one losing their sense of self in a world optimized for the convenience of instant communication and inquiry, to a much higher degree than our own. For example, humans with cybernetic augmentation can connect directly into any interface. This ranges from the visual stream of Kusanagi’s sight to the sharing of information between cyberbrains. Ultimately, Ghost in the Shell depicts a futuristic world where the line between the self and others is blurred by an

I’m a huge fan of Tsutomu Nihei’s work, mainly because of his ability to pull you into an established world of mystery. The lack of prior knowledge going into one of his manga is key to enjoying his signature technique, environmental storytelling. So what does this mean? Nihei is able to construct worlds that dwarf their characters in a maze of sci-fi structures. Huge landscapes draw the reader out along winding paths, scraggly electronic pires, or even the dark stretches of deep space. In this post I want to discuss how Nihei does this in Blame!, a work that explores a procedurally generated superstructure of scrap metal and fine steel. Blame! is mostly void of verbal interaction and narration, leaving the surroundings up to the task of worldbuilding and plot direction. I’m going to explain the nuance without spoiling too much, if you are planning to check this out afterward. Let’s take a look. Cred. Barnes & Noble and Tustomu Nihei        This panel depicts Killy and