Gainax makes no sense???

[GAP]

I am not that big of anime fan and I had only seen a few Gainax's works (at least not to point of otaku) but wherever I go the fansites of said show I always hear about some hidden psychological subtexts with what the author's real intentions are for the show. What I am trying to ask to those who analyzed shows like FLCL or Ideon, WTF is going on? Even TTGL has something hidden in it and want to know how I can spot out the references, nods and other things in the shows so I can understand it better.

[ZapX]

What the hell was hidden in TTGL? That's about as straightforward as you can get. There are themes of growing up in there I guess... Ideon wasn't Gainax. FLCL has some interesting metaphors about sexual adolescence as baseball and the like but hardly anything that would confuse any half-observant person or anyone who's gone through puberty for that matter. If by "makes no sense" you're referring to absurdism then I guess FLCL falls under that. Gunbuster is hardly confusing and Diebuster leaves a few questions that aren't really central to the story but leave interpretation open to the viewer. It'd be helpful if you pointed out specific instances of "making no sense". As far as references go, Gainax loves to reference their previous works. The only way to get them is to look them up or to actually watch more Gainax shows.

NB, I'm just going by the shows I've seen. I'm sure others can shed more light on things from Daicon to Mahoromatic to Shikabane Hime.

[Mr. Tines]

If you're talking "Gainax" and "makes no sense", look no further than "He is my master".

[The Bastard King]

I'd say look no further than evanjellyoon...

[CorporalChaos]

If you're talking "Gainax" and "makes no sense", look no further than "He is my master".

Of course, they had Shaft helping them with that one...

[Twsa'teotu]

I've found that Gainax shows, i.e. Eva, actually make a lot of sense.....but its...

many people assume that, like most shows, they're just about "explosions!" etc. The deeper meaning was just "social commentary on otaku/get out there and live your life"

But some people take this to ridiculous extremes, looking for subtle shades of meaning or metaphor in seemingly everyday camerawork in the shows.

The problem is, they're so vocal about it, that then everyone else is convinced that "it's a pretentious show which isn't really about anything"

just because the crazy elaborate fanboy theories were baseless doesn't mean the show doesn't mean anything;

It's that it meant something a lot more basic, but still above the level of "explosions!"

[Alaska Slim]

If you're talking "Gainax" and "makes no sense", look no further than "He is my master".

I'll take that, and raise you "This Ugly Yet Beautiful World".

[NAveryW]

What I am trying to ask to those who analyzed shows like FLCL or Ideon, WTF is going on?

What?

Ideon

What?

[The Bastard King]

Ideon existed purely for the sake of making you feel sick with depression. I don't believe that a show involving headshots on 5 year olds and blowing up the universe can hold any secret morals on loving relationships or how to grow roses.

FLCL was one big penis joke.

Edit: oh God, NAveryW's avatar over my avatar...

[Sailor Star Dust]

Ideon wasn't even BY Gainax though.

In regards to "hidden meaning", Gurren Lagann was straightforward though one of it's themes was growing up. FLCL on the other hand has sexual references with adolescence.

[BrikHaus]

Mahoromatic's theme was that maids are hot. And also, they love raping the fans with terrible endings.

[NAveryW]

Let's not forget all the subtle sexual symbolism in Oruchuban Ebichu. For example, the phrase "squirrels and chestnuts" is "kuritorisu" in Japanese, which can also mean clitoris. Lots of intelligent Freudian stuff.

[The Bastard King]

Mahoromatic's theme was that maids are hot. And also, they love raping the fans with terrible endings.

I've said it before, I'll probably say it before in the future as well. Mahoromatic didn't have a terrible ending, it had an unsatisfactory ending. All the important characters were reunited and happy by the end of it. That makes it a happy ending, albeit one that could have been done better.

Suguru also makes a badass Gene Starwind cosplay, on a side note.

[I Accidentally Dracula]

If you're talking "Gainax" and "makes no sense", look no further than "He is my master".

Maid outfits and boobies.

What else is there to get?

[The Eva Monkey]

Maid outfits, boobies, and a horny alligator that rips clothes off of underage girls for no apparent reason whatsoever.

What else is there to get?

Fixed.

[Agentomega]

Maid outfits, boobies, and a horny alligator that rips clothes off of underage girls for no apparent reason whatsoever.

What else is there to get?

Fixed.

XD

[Gendo'sPapa]

There's a horny alligator in He Is My Master?

Suddenly the show sounds A LOT more interesting.

[The Eva Monkey]

There's a horny alligator in He Is My Master?

Yes. Unfortunately.

Suddenly the show sounds A LOT more interesting.

It's probably my least favorite thing Gainax has done.

[Gendo'sPapa]

That's an alligator?

To be honest, as large a fan of Gainax that I claim to be I've missed out on most of their "Maid" Shows. I consider the pre 2000 era when practically everything Gainax was Anno directed to be their heyday.

Of the works they've released since 2000 I've only seen FLCL, Diebuster, Gurren Lagann, and Shikabane Hime. Thankfully, aside from Hime, those are all really great works.

So Gainax is still going strong. Has there been any news about a new show for them?

[cat42]

So Gainax is still going strong. Has there been any news about a new show for them?

Hanamaru Kindergarten