Miyazaki grills Japan's otaku Prime Minister (was: Re: Japan's anime guru wants manga-loving PM to keep quiet (AFP via Yahoo!7 News))
Terrence Briggs
> On Nov 20, 12:11 am, ad...@ng2000.com wrote:
>
> >http://www.ng2000.com/blog/2008/11/02/anime/
>
> For those who don't want to click on the spambot link:http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iFs5Ox_jwYhErp1cVl...
It sounds like Miyazaki-sensei is expressing a familiar concern:
Commercial exports versus preserving domestic resources
Forget "guns or butter". It's "butter or butter" now. In the middle
of a recession. Things done changed.
Producing animation and graphics novels is probably a greener
enterprise than producing Japan's other major exports (electronics,
heavy metal goods, etc.). Still, he's not the only guy worried about
setting his country's long-term priorities straight. He doesn't
strike me as a guy who pushes product to make money around the world;
he pushes product to preserve his values. Miyazaki's concerns are
totally in keeping with the tone of his most recent films (Mononoke,
Spirited Away, and Howl). He does it for the kids, because kids are
the beneficiaries (and victims) of adults' decisions. In that
respect, this guy is the anti-Bill Cosby :-)
Not sure if the Prime Minister is an animation fan (not all comics fan
are), but priorities are priorities. Maybe he wants Japan to be an
anime Hollywood, but Hollywood isn't California's only strength
(produce is huge, too). It's cool to hear an artist with a
perspective that goes beyond his craft.
Still, it'd be nice to hear the cranky old genius complain less about
his art form. He's complained in the past about children getting too
caught up in "virtual worlds", including animation and video games.
He wants people to go outside and experience nature, right? Maintain
that balance between fantasy and reality? Is this the dark side of a
popular culture that values animation too much? :-)
Fannie! Get me my typewriter! I smell a Pulitzer!
Terrence Briggs, watched two hours of animated series openings on
YouTube with his brother. That's family bonding.
Peace to you...