The Animanachronism

I was recently reminded that I originally planned a consideration of GAINAXing as a shorter companion piece or addendum to my remarks on the pantyshot. Perhaps these things are better for being mulled over for a month or so. (more…)

Hint: it’s in this picture, and it’s not ‘panic’

Barthes wrote Mythologies, a witty and intelligent look at the layers of meaning which adhere to various everyday objects and symbols. What I always enjoy about Mythologies is its promiscuity of subject: Barthes applies analysis to pretty much anything, from ‘Greta Garbo’s face’ to ’steak and chips’. Certain parts of the anime and manga thought-world seem ripe for this kind of unembarassed attention, though I’m no Barthes. And so I turn my attention to p- (more…)