Shoji Kawamori and the Great Personal Dilemma
I love Shoji Kawamori's works. But I hate and love him (and the works). And although he is someone I sometimes hate to love, I don't think I ever loved to hate him (er, maybe at one point).
I could be looking into this too much, making a huge stretch or who knows what, but I just find it interesting how he handles his series, characters and the endings. Especially when it comes to the gender of the characters, and especially who the series revolves around. I think he's one of few directors that actually tries to be fair when it comes to sex/gender in his works, and sometimes succeeds to, but I feel he also fails to even when he succeeds at it.
I'll start with the earliest work of his I know, which is Macross. I actually know the early Macross as Robotech, and that may color my knowledge and feelings (especially since it's been an eternity), but really, I guess the pattern does start there. Although it's just a triangle and not a harem (which is more the pattern of his works), it's still an idol and a relatively high ranking officer, and neither of which is a bad catch (I can't say I have much love for Lin Minmay though). The only other female character in an at all monogamous relationship is Claudia, and we all know how that one ends. But there it is, the pattern. Either a love triangle (or harem) where there's no closure, or not entirely an uplifting ending for the other girl alongside another female who's love interest dies.
Skip to a few years later (I have no clue how many actually, lol) and we get Macross Plus, because it's the only one I remember as well from early on (and have watched recently). Lets face it, all of these main relationships are messed up. Myung, Isamu and Guld have a mess of a relationship, but at least it's.. 'Consistent'. I like that they're troubled and kind of close it in their own way. But for a woman with two love interests, one dies and the other... Well, it's not a really romantic-romantic ending, but I was pleased with it myself. (It doesn't compare to what male characters get, I'll say that.)
I can't remember where in the timeline it stands, but we also have Macross II, and I think this one actually fairs the best for female characters (as far as Sylvia and Ishtar go, anyway). I loved the main three, and while I always presumed Hibiki and Ishtar were an item or going to be, I guess we can't say Ishtar actually seemed emotionally involed romantically speaking, and I like that. It looks like romance from her side, but thinking about it, she's a troubled girl who has to come to terms with her identity and what it means, and while she values her connection with Hibiki, her people clearly come first. And for Sylvia, well, she had the best guy in the series (from everyone else's perspective) going for her and the main character in love with her, and I think they make a charming couple actually. For once, no love interest dies and all sides end up well. (And it's the one Kawamori was not involved with...)
The next series I'll address is another great Kawamori work, and I like that he has so many varied ideas and brilliant mecha designs, etc. And that this one is very romantic in every sense of the word is definitely appealing. Escaflowne was a show I watched in middle school and only finished just last year when Funimation had it available through OnDemand. And, it's not so bad. I like that Hitomi is an individual and many of the females are strong personalities, and yet, they are lacking when it comes to relations with the opposite gender, but heck, so are the guys. Van is the only one that fairs well, I think. Allen is charming and annoying, because I was so bugged with how back and forth he was, but I liked that he added to Hitomi's love interests. Too bad for you Allen, you didn't get over yourself and your past soon enough (not that I entirely blame him). What bugs me is that the princess spent a great deal of time being her own woman, but often letting her life revolve around a man, even when she's trying to be of use. Merle is just silly, because she comes off as an adorable, snotty and sometimes useless child, and I honestly don't know if I can take her crush on Van seriously and count it. She comes off as someone with too strong an admiration that often gets confused for love, but fails to be genuine romantically, but that's not a bad thing in this case. And I can say, I'm happy that Hitomi is her own character til the end, even when she has romantic problems and never lets them rule her completely, and hey, she has a requitted love (with a real catch!). The problem here? They exist in two separate worlds. Not to say it's probably impossible for them to meet again, etc., but THIS is true love. And they're not with each other? Both of them live, but they can't actually be together 24/7? Seriously? But I'll settle. Because I'm pretending they can just moon hop and see each other.
Outside of Escaflowne, my knowledge and pursuit of Kawamori works (they are so fun, even with the flaws) is a mixed bag. I barely watched half of Genesis of Aquarion, but it was a fun show that seemed to handle itself well as far as the female characters went and the romance. My only gripe is another female character separated from her love by death, even if they're going to meet again. In these kind of endings, that sense of individuality and yet longing for the guy is what bugs me, because we don't know if he's longing for her too (or in a few cases, we know he isn't).
The second one? Basquash. This show is torture. It's so damn diverse character-wise, in every way. Skin tone, personality, body type, etc. I felt mixed about the whole cast, but it's apparent by my icon who I love. But it's also her romance that bugs me too. For Miyuki, the ending wasn't bad. We see her focusing on her interest and strongpoint and going back to what her dad couldn't complete, and I honestly don't remember seeing Rouge, but we see Dan's ending and that's Basquash. And that's not bad. Except for the fact that we spend the whole series with technically three girls pining over Dan and in the end, I don't think he chose one. They have their strong moments and times of individuality, but we still see obvious 'ohemgee!Dan!' going on. And he just doesn't do that for them. He has his moments with Rouge, but all of a sudden, tada, Miyuki ship again too. And honestly, by that point in the series, I wish Miyuki had landed Iceman (and for once, I did not like any of Kawamori's idol characters, more on this later). I couldn't have cared less at that point if Rouge had got Dan to herself and it was a happy ending for them, but we don't get that, and that's what bugs me. This teasing, and then no real resolution after the girls spend ample time eyeing the guy. It doesn't add up and balance itself quite right.
And finally, oh gosh, Macross Frontier. I hate to skip series (Zero and 7), but I haven't watched them yet, and anything else Kawamori I haven't got to watch. But Frontier... Well, I pretty much hated a lot of the characters. But I did have some love for some. A love that wavered. But I couldn't stand most of the main-main characters or the ships. I thought Sheryl was gonna be a fierce bad ass, but she just came off as a bitch to me. An entitled one. Who didn't know what she wanted to do or be deep down. Playful and just go for the guy? Make him chase her? Tsundere? Either way, I didn't care for Sheryl. Love May'n though. Alto? I liked him. A fourth of the time. I won't even bother with him. Ranka? She was my reason for even watching. And she actually left me really happy as far as development went. Yeah, she spent too much time pining for Alto, but I liked that she still had her own person streamed in there. Yes, she liked to sing for Alto and her love, but song was intrisically a part of her, and even when she was singing for him, it wasn't just for him. He often played a huge role in it, but not the only one. And you know what? When Sheryl decided to play strong but weak gal at the same time, Ranka went off and did her own thing. She realized that there were matters more important than her love, no matter what that meant, and she wanted to do for herself and for another. And Brera was with her all the way. And I always hated that they were related because that is my ship. And interestingly enough, Alto never says anything, but I feel that key moments make it apparent that Ranka is his love. And I don't know how to feel about that. I like that we get friendly-rival Sheryl and Ranka in the end (and I could almost ship just them if Sheryl grew on me), but we still don't get a definitive say, and I can't tell if they love Alto and want to be with him, or are just fine with this way of life and loving Alto is now a part of it. I don't know honestly...
And that's my breakdown. And it never provides me any answers. I feel as though I had so much more to say, but at this point, I'm just done. x'D
Maybe next time I'll rant about NIS and how my love for them has become some odd disgust and indignance.
Sorry to have rambled! Nice night-morning to all, and happy weekend! ♥