Categories
Anime

Isekai

Isekai operate on two levels. First, we have the experiences of a modern person. Second, new rules and experiences in the fantasy realm. The main character is nearly always rewarded from the new environment by experiences in the old world.

Isekais seem to argue that a competent Japanese office worker or student have the intelligence and drive (with a bonus) to make it in another world. These are worlds of adventure that lack today’s politics and bureaucratic structure.

Clearly, after some initial shock, main characters make the trade. It’s pretty rare that characters want to return to the old world, often it is not an option. Instead characters remake some part of the fantasy world in the image of the modern world; utopian politics; aesthetics. A dream world.

It is a world of remarkable freedom rather than imprisonment. There are exceptions to this rule and in those cases the main character does not get an overwhelming resurrection bonus: it is not complete fluff.

Categories
Anime

Belle (2021)

Digital Utopianism

The users in U hide their identities yet their identities are unique and idiosyncratic to them.

Although U promises that you can become a new person online, the avatar that U automatically generates captures the essence of a person. Even if users use U to escape themselves, their essence is immutable.

After Suzuzu sings as Belle for the first time with the help of her genius friend, Hiroka, she becomes an online sensation. Her likeness is remixed in various musical styles and outfits. Her song becomes part of a karaoke sim.

Many wonder about her identity. Who is she? Is she a celebrity? Suzuzu though is a normal girl unused to this kind of attention.

Branding is not important to her. Nor does she interact with her many fans. She is overwhelmed. She does not mean to portray herself as an elusive diva. Primarily U to Suzuzu is a means to an end; to work through personal problems, to find her voice again.

Questions

  1. How can we keep our feelings and identity safe while being true to ourselves?
  2. How can the online world positively influence the real world?
  3. How does U preserve identity?