All you could do last week - - when we reported that Toei’s gearing up a new CG CAPTAIN HARLOCK movie for 2012 - - was imagine what a computer-generated feature starring the dashing space pirate might look like. There’s no need for your imagination, anymore, my friends, because we’ve got the one-sheet for the movie ( courtesy of Wired). Does it match what you pictured in your fanciful mind’s eye?
Wired’s also got some whispers of a certain minute-and-a-half-long trailer that showed at last week’s Tokyo Anime Fair (and I'll be dollars-to-donuts you'll see at San Diego Comic Con). The words of praise came to the effect of its “impressive/aggressive look” being “jaw-dropping amazing” and that Harlock’s squeeze, Kei Yuki is “very sexy for CG.” I suppose that second bit dredges the enduring “should I be turned on by cartoon characters?” question into the digital realm. Mathematically-calculated dangerous curves aside, I’ll say that I’m looking forward to this production, as lil’ Tommy P was a fan of the Cap’n and I’d like to see more full-CG anime, too. This is probably going to give some otakus here aneurisms of rage, but I seriously didn’t dig the FINAL FANTASY: ADVENT CHILDREN movie, not even as eye candy, and I’ve been hoping since then to see a digital anime with a story I could actually get behind.
You know, I suppose I could just ask for the thoughts of you, the three-dimensional Anime Vice community, on this poster and prospects of a new Harlock. That question is still out there, don't worry, but I’m going to dredge up the Kei Yuki-related point and ask if you, the cartoon-desiring Anime Vice community, think it’s OK to crush on animated characters. And if so, name some of your drawn ‘n rendered crushes.
-- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia. Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this April - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
Is it OK to crush on animated characters? Is it OK to crush on literary characters? Or...any fictional character period? One is pure text, one is drawn, one is a real person pretending to be someone else. In the end, a character is a character; it has life, in a way. I think as long as people don't go crazy and start talking about how they're going to marry Wolfwood someday (though that would be totally awesome), or get their freak on with Jack Sparrow (unless their partner decides to dress up for them)...then I don't really think it's a problem. You're in love with the idea of the character, and unfortunately, fiction is often way cooler than reality.
That said....
I'm rather partial to megane myself. Like.... Kyoya, Soshi, Shigure, Yashiro, and Itoshiki-sensei. Yum....
I don't know what news story believe during April fools day.
Okay, maybe just a half sheet.
I find such concepts not too alien when compared to having a crush on, say, a pop star or even a person you know in real life.
In almost all instances, the person, or at least the idea of the person you are infatuated with, is not a reality, yet the earnest opinion exists. Kind of like being in love with the concept of a prince riding a white horse, and not the prince himself (see Into the Wood's princes).
People can say that its weird to crush on XYZ fictional character, but i would counter that intellectual infatuation with literary or animated characters is no less real then the indulgent images they push on their favorite, well built UPS person. At least the book nerd/otaku is willing to acknowledge that reality is only a springboard, not the final destination.
Unless of course they take their DS to Guam and marry it...
Yeah, I definitely think there's a line that that shouldn't be crossed, but a little fantasy isn't unhealthy. As long as you can separate it from the reality. Meaning you don't go marry the girl that lives in your DS. There's been escapism for....forever. What are all the tales of Zeus porking every mortal woman he laid eyes on, if not ancient romance (rape fantasy, obviously) stories? The entire Iliad is about some guy who fucks up this gigantic war because his boss stole his woman. I bet there were some women who were all like "Oh Achilles, be mine!" As long as they aren't sacrificing their first born to Athena for a chance to bed him, where's the harm?
Nice use of Sondheim there. Been a long time since I've seen that one.
The picture alone makes me want to see the movie.
Kei is NOT Harlock's squeeze, if Harlock needs a squeeze, he can find someone his own damn age! but I digress, the CG looks awesome, lets just hope the story lives up to its animation, I'd rather have Hayashi Shigeyuki direct the movie, no one directs Harlock like him, but it could still be great. Plus it gives fans something to talk about again, like Rebuild of Evangelion gave fans stuff to debate about, I also hope a whole new wave of fans come in to see it