Sexualization of Minor characters in Evangelion

[The Eva Monkey]

Warning: This thread may contain some mature imagery and discussion of a sexual nature. Please be advised.

This discussion is stemming from the following topic:
http://evageeks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=285

Anyone who has been an Eva fan for a time knows about the sexualization of the minor characters in the show. This is the case for quite a few anime. Basically, if its a female character who is old enough to have gone through puberty, its fair game. Its odd, at times disgusting, and at times horribly innapropriate. Some of this is official, some is fans taking it to another level to satiate their childish fantasies.

Now, as I said, part of this is Gainax's fault, as they put just as much sexualization on the 14 year old characters as the adult characters. No better example can be given than the masturbation scene in End of Evangelion.

http://www.evamonkey.com/just_plain_wrong/

This is taken one step further with official spin-off games with some stuff that could be interpretted as fantasizing on the part of those involved, or catering to those with those fantasies.

http://www.evamonkey.com/game/

And lets not forget that Gainax has made (or licensed) some soft core eva hentai. I'm not certain if the images in this next directory are Gainax done, but I'm pretty sure. I do know that there is worse than this that is Gainax done/approved.

http://www.evamonkey.com/soft_core/

And finally, own your very own minor in sexually suggestive presentation. Included in this directory are Bedtime Asuka and Rei (spawned from the bedsheet designs), as well as the life size Rei and Asuka "action figures".

http://www.evamonkey.com/evil_merche/

I personnally concede that is impossible to avoid adding the slightest sexualization to a minor character. We are sexual creatures at some fundamental level, and as such, there is some sexualization lent at some level, even if it is unintended. But it is possible to limit this. And it is not neccessary to cater to the desires of fans.

I have never condoned the secondary representation of the characters, nor do I understand to its full extent.

Thoughts?

[ShoKenju]

cool, i didnt know Hikari was into plad panties

[Dave]

Basically, if its a female character who is old enough to have gone through puberty, its fair game.

Let me rephrase that for you to make it more accuracte.

Basically, if it's a character, it's fair game.

This is true in a lot of anime shows, and when you take fan works into account it is true of all anime. Remember that each Anime show/manga is a work of art, and human beings have a predisposition to find the bodies of the opposite sex (and perhaps the same sex) attractive. Attractive art = succesful art. Personally I find it harmless, sometimes amusing, and sometimes beautiful. However I will admit that there are quite a few pictures I've seen that... um... *ahem* ... go a bit too far. Just remember, you don't have to like it, you don't have to look at it, but you have no right to stop it.

[ShoKenju]

my stomach turned after trying to find Asuka pics for someone

go google, "Asuka" images. and look at the first one ><!

[Treeves056]

Its not that bad considering the other stuff

Then again like Dave said dont like it dont watch it

[Asuka Langley]

Bah!

As a wannabe animator myself, I can't really understand what the appeal (other than trying to draw in the fanboys) would be in throwing things like underage jailbait around (shut your mouth, ShoKenju...).
A series can be successful with 'pretty art'. It doesnt have to contain an overload of sexual humor, or innuendos to make it seem more appealing.

But anyways, in the culture they don't really frown upon open sexuality or sexual preferences like most north americans do.
Especially in regards to "cartoons".
So I suppose sexual humor has become part of what anime is by now, so they toss that into the mix where and when they see it fit.
It keeps the fans interested/happy. And the younger the characters are, the funnier it seems to be, apparently.

I don't disagree with that kind of content in moderation, simply because it wouldnt change anything. (and I'd have nothing left to watch...)
But I do disagree for the reason it's put into a series.
ie: giving the fans what they want.
But you get desensitized to it after a while, so it's "normal" now.

Anything underage, I find disturbing. It's just indecent, in my opinion. No one seems to think of the consequences, nor do they have any common decency or delicacy towards the matter.
It's sad that things have to get to that point.

But then again, I could be a little more biased.
And seeing as it's mostly the younger female characters that get sexualized like this, I'm probably more, for lack of better terms, 'sensitive' towards the subject.

[ShoKenju]

yeah, what she said

[Super Mega Ultra Deluxe]

zOMG TORRENT PLZ!!1

But yeah, this has bothered me a lot as well (though I don't have a issue with the ShinjiAsuka scene in question). The problem is that this is just very popular and more people like it versus those who are disturbed and are uncomfortable with it. I like collecting toys nd such merhandise from shows and movies, but the thing with Eva is that while there is A LOT of toys most of them are very provactiave and too sexy for me. The problem is that the 'otaku' at GAINAX don't really mind it themselves, and as always, it sells.

And as Dave has mentioned, sometimes times in anime characters who aren't old enough to have gone through puberty are sexualized or show sexual interest. And lets not go in interest between relatives which is also a common theme.

And sometimes yes art the portays people with unnatural or "older" bodies can be beautiful, but most of the time it's just a perversion of the character.

And yes, in my search for pictures I've found many disturbing things.

[Timesplitter 01]

my stomach turned after trying to find Asuka pics for someone

go google, "Asuka" images. and look at the first one ><!

There is not only one on that page , but about 4 :shock: . Makes me wonder :?

[Nephilim]

go google, "Asuka" images. and look at the first one ><!

DAMM :shock: that's sick man!!! :roll:
I don't know if you agree with me, but Japanese animators are all perverts !!!! :twisted:
Just think about how much hentai is in the world !!!, and i don't know, but Japanese sexual culture has a lot of pre-teen sick stuff going on...

But' that's just me :roll:

[houtaru]

Anime in itself sexualizes all its minor characters usually for the sake of humor, which I don't mind (Love Hina, Ramna). I do believe that anime is catering to their target audience of 13-17 year olds with 'fan service'. If you are selling to this audience, then sex does sell (for example, look at MTV). I like 'fan service', as long as it's funny or romantic. I'll admit that I watched Evangelion for the first time because I saw Rei, Asuka and Misato in Newtype USA.

However, I don't like the hentai or sex-themed merchandise. I may be a guy, but the hentai just cheapens my love of animation in general. Especially in my favorite series. I have avoided Eva hentai movies like the plague. Gainax should be faulted for creating all that stuff (Those sheets with ANY anime character on them are WRONG for sooooo many reasons). They just did it to make more money. What sickens me is that old men with no life (or girlfriend) are buying that stuff.

However, I didn't think the sexualization got out of hand in the show or in the movies. The bed scene, for example, in EOE really wasn't there to turn you on. It was there to disgust and shock you about how low Shinji had become. There is also a reason for the scene where Shinji sees Rei naked, which is to show that Rei doesn't have any modesty, or normal human feelings (in a humorous way). There are many pieces of great literature that sexualize minor characters. (Romeo & Juliet, Catcher in the Rye). After all, most of us have sexual feelings by at least 14. It does make it more realistic and emotional. But again, the merchandise takes it too far.

[Kiel]

:shock:

Well...I, uh...um, I ....uh...

humminahumminahummina

Ahem, personnaly I think these kind of pics are disrespectful to Evangelion as a series, a peice of art, and to all of its creators.

:? But then again, some of its creators actually made some of that stuff so...

As for the resin* figures, I dislike them the most.

What I'd like to know is what's up with some of those pics from the game! What exactly did GOS2's real story involve?!

[The Eva Monkey]

Let me rephrase that for you to make it more accuracte.

Ok, yes, true, in anime, any character can be a sexual object, as is demonstrated by pokeporn.... *shudder*

But, let me say I meant to say that a character WILL be a sexual object if they are of the age of puberty.

[Dave]

And seeing as it's mostly the younger female characters that get sexualized like this,

Not even close. I'd say it's about fifty/fifty actually. The way young males are drawn in most anime is quite similiar to the way a female is drawn... and well... you can see where this is going.

(Those sheets with ANY anime character on them are WRONG for sooooo many reasons).

Hey, I like those sheets! They are pretty. *ahem*

But, let me say I meant to say that a character WILL be a sexual object if they are of the age of puberty.

Let me once again rephrase your statement to make it more accurate Mr. Monkey.

But, let me say I meant to say that a character WILL be a sexual object.

[Asuka Langley]

And seeing as it's mostly the younger female characters that get sexualized like this,

Not even close. I'd say it's about fifty/fifty actually. The way young males are drawn in most anime is quite similiar to the way a female is drawn... and well... you can see where this is going.

Ew... Don't remind me about that whole thing.
The male/slash/yaoi/whatever, is like it's own seperate genre of sexualization. It's geared towards it's own little audience.

But anyways, what I meant was, I've just noticed that the females are played on a lot more than males are.
And that the male characters are more or less being taunted by their antics. (Think of explosive nose bleeds, etc, etc.)
I, personally, find it much more common for female characters to be put in those types of situations.

Of course, that could just be the type of anime I somehow end up watching...

[The Eva Monkey]

But, let me say I meant to say that a character WILL be a sexual object if they are of the age of puberty.

Let me once again rephrase your statement to make it more accurate Mr. Monkey.

But, let me say I meant to say that a character WILL be a sexual object.

Remind me never to try and explain anything ever again. :roll:

[Karma Burn]

It's sad...really sad. Though, I'm not sure if it's because there girls are underaged, or that they are animated.

I'm equally likely to make fun of a yaoi-obessed squeeling fangril as I am a drooling fanboy with crusty pants. People take anime on to levels it does not ever need to go to.

I know that earlier I ranted about how Gainax made it on to my hate list for exploiting Anno's genius for money and playing to dirty fanboys.

At least there weren't any tenticles in NGE or then I might have to really rant...

(What the hell is it with Japanese and tenticles and melons?! Is it all part of some crazy symbolism that I shouldn't want to be asking about in the first place?)

[Treeves056]

At least there weren't any tenticles in NGE or then I might have to really rant...

Obviously you havent typed Rei on google

[Karma Burn]

Don't...DO NOT get me started....

Actually I was referring that there were no tenticles in the actual series...fan art is something different....

[Phaze]

As far as sexualization of characters in the Evangelion series itself, I think it has every right to be there. Shinji is, after all, a 14 year old boy, and with Evangelion's level of characterization, not bringing up sex wouldn't make sense.

As for all the spin-off games and such, it's just there to please the fans, obviously.

(What the hell is it with Japanese and tenticles and melons?! Is it all part of some crazy symbolism that I shouldn't want to be asking about in the first place?)

Since it's illegal to show genitilia in works of fiction in Japan, the tentacles are just there to represent a certain part of the male anatomy.

If you didn't want an answer, you shouldn't have asked.