that was arguably on of the most disturbing animes i ve watched so far (actually the only disturbing) and im not referring to the creepy long legs thing (which btw is very similar to the character design of the obscure soccer anime "ashite e free kick") but the discrimination and preferential treatment of the elite and especially the way is justified with the phrase "well they worked hard for it" Its not entirely funny in its absurdity and exaggeration as the creator of the manga must have thought.
Well of course i might seem stupid saying this because the word elite is in the tile and that means it qualifies as a Exactly What It Says on the Tin kind of thing but i never expected it to be that morbidly depicted from the first episode. This is really the exact opposite of the social shunning and discrimination thats going on in assassination classroom. The exaggeration there though acts as a subtle approach and criticism of the hardships in japan's demanding education system and competition between and within schools plus we get to see the story from the viewpoint of those incurring the discrimination.
from the very first scene at school where hikari enters the school and every plebeian of the school steps aside for her to pass and bows before her i felt like puking. Actually the condescending manner with which she responded to all the servility of the school commoners (because she isnt like the others she comes from a poor family...) and the pseudo-meekness made it all the more difficult to watch. How is this is hollywood like behaviour supposed to make the central character likeable... oh yeah but i forgot she worked hard for its justified.
Then there is the poor guy who points out how irritating their behaviour is, the way the act like they own the place and questions their authority. This guy then brings up the way the elite 7, the school's royalty looks down on them from their glass castle only to get a stuttering no from Hikari and three elites dressed in a flashy white uniform whose only purpose is to make the elite stand out from the rest... i mean how ironic is that? And not only that then the most unlikable character of the show comes up acting all erasoni threatens the guys, completely looking down on him.
The poor guy's hardships though, who dared to mingle with the royalty dont end there. he is then humiliated beaten pro wrestle style for us to see the elite's exceedingly good skills in every aspect of life.. and he isnt even the one who provoked them Kei went all muai tai on him without any reason. Not even his lackeys look up to this guy they are just afraid of the elite the whole time just like the rest of the school. My point here is why have this kind of character in this kind of anime based on exaggerated elitism just to humiliate him there wasnt even a moral at the end of that for example the guy admitting his mistake and vouching not to cheat.. he is the bad guy a chance for the creator to show his life motto "effort accomplishes anything"
I ve never seen an anime with such an exaggerated disturbing premise and not using this exaggeration to parody a genre, deconsturct something like animes taking place in high profile japanese schools or even criticise the competitiveness in school .. No the anime just sticks to the exaggeration only preaching about the importance of effort to become the best and this single phrase justifies the characters actions all through the first episode "i worked for it i deserve it" what about someone who worked from being bad to being mediocre? what kind of perverse way of thinking is that.
Im not even gonna bother watching a 2d episode of an anime with such an off putting premise i ll only watch if one of the less competent students of the school goes on a killing spree against the elite (yeah killing even the laid back bishounen guy with the sloth) that would be less disturbing for me. |
peropero-nekoApr 23, 2015 4:21 PM