Uknighted Manganime Life is too short to watch bad anime

This well known and much publicized anime has overtaken the western world, and is one of the most well known Japanese cartoons. Based on the popular and innovative gameboy games, this show truly brings the game to life.

We start off this epic series with a series of imagery reminiscent of a Pokemon (Pocket-Monster - fictional animal) battle from the computer game, which quickly expands in dimension to represent a real world implementation of a Pokemon tournament (fight between two Pokemon). This epic battle between a Gengar (a ghost type of Pokemon) and Nidorino (grass type of Pokemon) is the same match which shows on the start up screen of the first two Pokemon games. Nidorino is recalled and Onyx is set out instead to battle Gengar.

This scene really shows appreciation toward to original fans of the Pokemon games who will grasp the reference to the opening sequence, and at the same time symbolically suggests the trials that our main protagonist will face in this series, and hints at the resolve of his determination as he continues to try despite not always succeeding. The same pattern can be seen juxtaposed throughout this episode as the protagonist faces up to the main antagonist, and continues to battle his way through the obstacles in his path.

The camera pulls back from the fierce battle to reveal our main protagonist watching his TV set intently. Ash Ketchum, a 10yr old boy dreaming of being a Pokemon trainer, longing for tomorrow. For there he anticipates beginning a legendary adventure with his own Pokemon. His vivid fantasies are interrupted by his mothers declaration of bed time. While it is 11pm, his mother shows great mothering skills by allowing her son to continue watching TV, but only on the Pokemon educational channel, which introduces the various Pokemon new trainers have a choice of.

Throughout the night he dreams intensely about the next day and the various advantages of the three Pokemon. You really feel the dedication of our lead, as he sleep talks toward the morning. Alas, somehow his alarm has negated to activate and late, Ash rushes out of the house wearing only his pajamas, on his way toward the Pokemon trainer ceremony.

This lack of preparedness and poor planning demonstrates the foibles of not getting enough sleep, and also underscores Ash’s young age and provides a subtle illustration as to the required maturity and forthought a journey and life change such as this requires.

Desperate not to miss out on getting his Pokemon, Ash runs directly into Gary, the grand-son of Professor Oak, the local Pokemon expert and receiver of one few Pokemon available that morning. Gary underscores the moral lesson mentioned early about ensuring adequate preparation, and spikes Ash’s discrimination to do better. After this Ash meets Professor Oak, and for some reason the strange old man is fixated on Ash’s state of undress and bare skin. Professor Oak invites the young boy into his ‘laboratory’ and indicates Ash to clasp one of his balls. Alas of the ones most immediately available, none provide satisfaction. Oak indicates that someone else as already satisfied themselves first, and were Ash so hard pressed to possess this, then he should have arrived more prematurely. Struck by the boy’s dismay at missing out, Oak indicates he has another ball that is still filled, and Ash is filled with pleasure at the thought. Professor withdraws his last ball from within a hidden crevice and hands it to the 10yr old. The older man warns that the last one may be defective, however Ash is determined regardless.

The last Pokemon is Pickachu, a rather electrifying Pokemon. Departing Professor Oak’s lab, he is met on the road by his mother who covered for her son’s lack of preparation by packing him clean underwear and rubber gloves (presumably for after leaving the Laboratory) and other various odds and ends relevant to a journey.

Setting off, our protagonist is determined to add to his Pokemon collection and attempts to capture a Pidgey (a pigeon like Pokemon). despite his attempt to curtail the freedom of this wild animal, he fails miserably due to the lack of co-operation from his furry partner. Finding his capturing methods do not work, Ash resorts to throwing rocks at the birds, in attempt to knock them out (or perhaps kill them in revenge for thwarting his capturing efforts). Unfortunately (for him), his attempted stoning disturbs some more resilient wildlife. The boy hits a Ferrow on the head with a rock (Ferrows are described by the show as having a terrible attitude) which then flies at him. Quickly thinking, Ash grabs his bag and swings it like a club in order to bash the bird out of the sky, as it makes several close passes. After being shocked by Pikachu, the Ferrow calls for reinforcements and hundreds more fly after Ash and Pikachu as the run away at top speed. Jumping off a cliff, the two plummet into a river at the bottom.

After being rescued out of the river by a young girl, Ash spots the Ferrow swarm still pursuing. He grabs Pikachu and steals his rescuers bike, ridding as fast as he can away from the pursuit. Ash rides the bike off another cliff and destroys his stolen bicycle, toppling Pikachu out onto the road. Still under attack by the flock of bird pokemon, Ash attempts to sacrifice his life in order to preserve Pikachu. Pikachu, empassioned by this display of love, jumps in front of Ash and uses the last of it’s energy to drive off the attackers. Lying on the ground recovering from their ordeal, the pair spot a unknown golden pokemon glittering as it flies across the open sky.

The announcer fades in with “This is just the beginning of the amazing adventures of Ash and Pikachu, their journey is destined to be packed with non-stop action, millions of laughs, heart pounding perils and endless excitement. Together they will encounter fantastic friends, evil enemies and meet creatures beyond their wildest imagination. And as their story unfolds, we’ll unlock the magic and mystery of a most wondrous place, the incredible world of Pokemon.”

The premise of this show focuses on the travel of Ash, and his adventures in the pokemon universe. His journeys represent the gradual growth in maturity and epitomizes his struggles to be self dependent. The child seeks to escape from the authority of the mother, and develop into adulthood. Through the excuse of being a pokemon master, Ash finds a reason to leave home and takes on the adult responsibilities of life.

Through not strictly defining bedtime, Ash’s mother indicates that she is ready to hand over the reigns of control to her son, and doesn’t wake him in the morning to reinforce the necessity of being prepared and remind Ash that she’s not going to be there to cover for his mistakes any further. The mother ensures that his needed supplies are completely packed, to prevent the possibility of any last minute return home. This gesture seems to suggest that he is indeed alone now.

Later in the show, we see that Ash demonstrates that he is still a child in need rules and boundaries, when he turns to animal cruelty through his attack on the birds, and then grand theft cycle when he turns upon his would be rescuer and steals their property. Through these actions the narrative strengthens the need for Ash to develops his on boundaries and accept culpability for his actions. When the protagonist seeks to sacrifice himself for his wounded pet he accepts the punishment for his wrongful actions and realizes the error of his ways. This epiphany demonstrates to his Pokemon that he is indeed a worthy and mature character and as such is deserving of Pikachu’s friendship. Through this selfless act, the Pokmeon is driven to expand it’s own energy in defense of it’s owner.

Both as a cautionary tale about the trials of cultivating adulthood, and on the simple level of the bond between a boy and his pet, Pokemon represents an insight and development that can be applied to fit many of life’s trials.

William
1/4/08