CAA in Plugged In magazine

[Kireihana]

Does anyone here get Plugged In magazine? [link] My parents do. The newest issue featured an article on anime and manga, and guess who got mentioned? CAA and Anime Angels!

Personally I thought the article only mentioned the most occult and controversial anime and manga titles, which caused my mom to have a "little chat" with me because she was suddenly concerned. I didn't have anything to worry about because I don't read/watch any of the titles mentioned (except Spirited Away- hey, I thought that was a cute movie). Thankfully she still trusts me to make good decisions. I was still irritated though that the article failed to mention the finer points of A&M, or at least some of the clean series. I was pleased to see that they provided links to CAA and Anime Angels. Maybe visitors will see that there is good anime and manga out there.

[CDLviking]

How widely published is it? What did it have to say about CAA?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Omg Yeah Tell Us Thats Crazy Amazing!

[Rev. Doc]

Unfortunately I don't get that particular publication. I wish I did as I really would like to read what they have to say and then perhaps respond from a ministers point of view. I'm thankful however, that CAA and Anime Angels got the plug. I hope it was in a positive light in the context of the article.

[Kireihana]

Plugged In magazine is a branch of Focus on the Family, so I suppose it's a pretty popular magazine among Christians, particuarly parents. I know some of my other family members get it. And since the front page of the issue sports a huge Yu-Gi-Oh picture and says "Manga & Anime: Inside Japan's Hottest Exports" it'll probably turn many heads.

This is where it mentioned about CAA:

"It's not unusual to find teens in church hallways chattering more excitedly over each other's artwork than about what happened in youth group. In response to that interest, Christian alternatives have begun appearing. Christian Anime Alliance (christiananime.net) and animeangels.net offer online analysis and commentary from a biblical perspective."

[Destroyer2000]

I hate moronic people like that. They're mostly ignorant Americans that won't accept anything as 'cool' besides their own interests. Man...how I would love to cause them pain at times. They mention the bad things and leave out the good things, causing a stereotype. Is there anyway to contact tthem? I'll do the same thing to them that I did to the New York Times when they called Kenshin a spice girl.

EDIT: A branch of Focus on the Family? Figures. They may have good intentions, but most of their articles are too stereotyped and close-minded. Idiots.

Anyway, Kireihana, I haven't seen you post in a while. What's up?

[Mr. SmartyPants]

yeeah thats right bubs! we are the caa!!

*is dragged of the stage*

ow ow ow NOT THE EAR!!! LET GO OF MY EAR! STOP PULLING IT!

[Ashley]

At least they acknowledged us in a positive light, Destroyer, and that means that we're starting to change all the narrow-minded stereotypes on both sides of the bar.

As for me, I'm so ordering an issue of it. That's definately a keeper.

[Kireihana]

But let's be fair, guys. I don't always agree with Plugged In's movie and tv reviews, but they usually have very good music reviews. On their website they do point out the positive aspect of whatever they're reviewing. I don't know why they seem to have it in for anime, though. Their reviews on Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence and Spirited Away were both pretty negative. (Never seen Ghost in the Shell, but I didn't think Spirited Away deserverd the description "equal parts visual masterpiece, nightmare-inducing fable and slickly packaged pantheism")

Anyway, Kireihana, I haven't seen you post in a while. What's up?

Lol, I've mostly kept to the Manga Mania board, and before that I was very busy with school and soccer, but things have settled down a bit so I'll try to be on more.

[agasfas]

That's so great to hear. I hope CAA will start getting more coverage. It's nice to see the gap close between the two sides. Rock on

[Destroyer2000]

Ah. Yes, I suppose that I shouldn't be too jumpy about it. I just have an issue with people stereotyping. Eh...I see now that I forgot to put the fact in that I am American. No intentional racism, it just seems like many people in America are much less accepting of anything than other places. I apologize. Also, congratulations, Ashley. I know this must make you happy, seeing as how you nurtured this site from the beginning.

Kireihana: So that's where you've been? I knew I hadn't seen you around much, and I don't frequent Manga Mania. I understand the school part. It's kept me pretty busy, too.

[Ashley]

Well, a big part of CAA's mission is dismissing the stereotypes about anime Christians seem to have (it's all kiddie shows/porn/satanic) and the stereotypes otakus have about Christians (narrow minded hypocrites). So when I see something like this actually acknowledging us, our ministry, and introducing us to parents, I get excited. We're changing the world!

[MasterDias]

Hmmmm.
Out of curiousity, what other titles besides Spirited Away and Yu-gi-oh were mentioned in that article?

[Swordguy]

God changes the world we are just the tools

Matt 5
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Yes alot people do sterotype and this site might get a lot of heat but remember that God will work this out for His glory. i am glad that this place got out there...it is a great site

[Kawaiikneko]

wow that's awesome! I sent them the link and a little email, but I didn't expect them to actually do anything with it. Thats so special! I need to get that issue.

Personally I love Plugged In. Even if some of the things are negative, they do state almost anything bad that happens in any movie/tv show whatever. I like it much better than screenit.com

[uc pseudonym]

I wish that I still had access to this magazine (it used to be placed at my church) so that I could read this article. The website refuses to feature a great deal of information (not that I particularly blaim them). It is good to see that we are making an impact, at least a small one.

Off hand, I will say that Plugged In is far enough away from Focus on the Family that it isn't exactly the same (for good or ill, depending on your opinion). Also, I'm somewhat disturbed by the negativism against the organization. I may severely disagree with them, but there is no need to bash another part of the Body.

[Mangafanatic]

Since I don't get the magazine, I haven't gotten to read the article yet, but I can imagine how brutal I bet they are. You know, tellin' the world how we anime/manga fans are really just sex-crazed adolescence looking for porn wherever we can find it. I love Focus on the Family, but I wish they would be a little balanced. (For every GIS, there's a Hamtaro around the corner.)


And Spirited Away was axe murdered in its review. They compared it several times to a Drug trip. So. Darn. Sad.

I can't wait until the next issue is published so I can read this article. As much as I'm sure it's going to hurt. . .

[JediSonic]

Its nice that christiananime.net got mentioned in a positive light!

[Kisa]

WOW! This is such a big magazine for Christian reviews on music and tv and such! Yea its Focus on the Family and I think they do a pretty good job in this magazine. We used to get it, but like Ash said, I'm gonna get a copy of this one! Wow congrats to Ash and the mods for doing such a great job! Of course our freinds aat AA as well ^_^
What month's issue is it????

[bakura_fan]

Wow...now I want to read that article! Did it mention CAA much?

When it comes to Focus on the Family however...they seem to overexaggerate....

When I first read a review on yugioh by Focus on the Family....I was slightly hurt what they said about Bakura....

"The most disturbing character is named Bakura. A “kind-hearted transfer studentâ€

[Kireihana]

Hmmmm.
Out of curiousity, what other titles besides Spirited Away and Yu-gi-oh were mentioned in that article?

Let's see, mentioned was Chrono Crusade, Hellsing, Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh, Ghost in the Shell, and Spirited Away. They also had pictures from various cover boxes and magazines (i.e. Anime Insider). The pictures were of Ranma 1/2 (manga), Lady Death, Hellsing, Yu-Gi-Oh, Shaman King, Chrono Crusade, Spirited Away, Slayers, an advertisement for Ragnarok Online (that one with the girl in the skimpy bikini), and the Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence poster.

What got me was:

"At a recent anime convention, or kan, Plugged In fount innocent animated graphics alongside gay art. Thousands of dollars changed hands in a dealer's room, a sordid cross between a toy store and an adult book store.... Sadly, children who showed up with visions of Pokémon left with images meant for fans far beyond their years."

I thought they had rules regulating what kind of stuff you could have at conventions... I've never been to one before, so I don't know what it's like, but I highly doubt there are people shoving yaoi art in your face at every vendor.

But yes, they definitely gave anime a bad rap. Like how they said here:

"Today, that stylish Japanese pop culture invastion has reached teens via every conceivable medium, trading heavily in false religions, faulty worldviews, violence and pornography."

and

"Christian youth are as attracted to the dark world of anime as their peers are."

However, one interesting thing that made me happy was that apparently Dynamic Animation (dynamic-animation.com), a Christian anime studio (I didn't even know one existed, lol) are creating a manga featuring KJ-52. They also plan to make a PC game about the manga.

[Gypsy]

I've defended Focus on the Family in the past, and I'll gladly do so again. If they are "closed minded" as some have called them, then I say more power to them. We are called to be separate from the world and I think Focus on the Family on the whole strives to be realistic and yet pure at the same time. We don't have to agree with every word they print, but I find their views and values very refreshing. We cannot judge the entire organization from one writer says about anime. I actually thought the review for Ghost in a Shell 2 was fair, myself. You must remember that as anime fans, we're apt to be quite biased.

Each of us should understand by now how controversial our hobby of anime seems to other Christians. Getting angry and defensive will never help. For instance, what if a parent came here after reading that article and came directly to this thread? What would they see? Us calling Focus on the Family/Plugged In and conservative parents closed minded and ultimately stupid for not immediately understanding why we like anime. Call me silly, but I doubt that's the best way to win them over.

I am more interested in breaking the stereotype about the anime/manga art style rather than defending specific titles. Like it or not, things like being possessed is never going to fly with conservative Christians, and trying to justify it will only hurt credibility. Actually, I would be very concerned if Plugged In welcomed anime with open arms. We, of all people should know how carefully we must tread in the realm of anime and manga, and I think Plugged In communicates this aspect of it quite well. Parents should be concerned and in control, but there are enough clean titles out there to make everyone happy. Then, of course, we have our own pioneer artists that are bridging the gap between the two worlds with Christian truths in manga form.

I see an understanding starting to take place, and I'm willing to work that much harder to see it happen. Remember, this is new ground for all of us.

[mechana2015]

I am glad for Plugged in mentioning us in a positive light, and hopefully that will inspire a group of curious people to find out what we are all about!

I like FotF quite a bit and have read their title magazine in the past, and really enjoyed their advice, more so than the more popular sources like Anne Landers.

I have read Plugged In before and thought that some of the information was great, but I did feel that there was an element of pessimism towards all secular media. I agree that in some cases it is well justified (vulgar rap CD) but I was a little wierded out when they ripped into the Backstreet Boys in a CD review O.o. It seemed to me that they had some very extreme filters on their reviews...I was under the impression that they were filtering for a very young audience, but the magazine itself was focused on teen culture in it's articles.

I do hope that some effort will be made towards dissuading people from having the first word that pops into their head after anime being pornography, but I guess that's what we're here for ^.^ .

[Mangafanatic]

I suppose we have to see the article for what it is. The article was written with the intent of informing the most ignorant of parents what their children might get into when they get into anime and manga. They want them to know what ideas are presented. I would have been happy if they'd give an equally strong "But on the positive side. . ." section, but that just might not have jived with what the writers was trying to do. Oh well, I guess people can come here and get the positive side of manga. Kudos to Focus on the Family for mentioning us.

[Ashley]

I thought they had rules regulating what kind of stuff you could have at conventions... I've never been to one before, so I don't know what it's like, but I highly doubt there are people shoving yaoi art in your face at every vendor.

From my understanding of cons, most of them do. For example, when I went to Oni-Con, they had special, clearly marked rooms showing hentai and yaoi set apart from the normal viewing rooms (these viewing times were also set much later, like 11 PMish and onwards), and in the art gallery the more "adult stuff was set far in the back and tilted in a different direction. And as far as the dealer's room goes--which is a little bit like a live version of Ebay--yaoi stuff was for the most part clearly marked in boxes, so you weren't going to accidentally see anything. Maybe on a poster or two, but for the most part it was fairly well labeled.

On a side note, I agree very much with what Gypsy said. I find Focus on the Family a little *too* far on the conservative side for me personally, but I applaud them for taking the initiative to be a world apart from most secular sources. Like Osaka said, I wish they would have added reasons anime could be a positive thing, but who knows? Perhaps they will eventually. Especially if CAA and AA and organizations like us can continually show the two aren't irreconcilable. That's what I want to work towards...there was a time when movies, photography, heck just about any form of technology or cultural innovation was seen by the Christian community with apprhension, and now many of these things are used as mediums for Christians to continue to spread the gospel. I want to see anime treated in the same way, and encourage the "pioneer" artists to keep working hard at bridging that gap.

[MasterDias]

Let's see, mentioned was Chrono Crusade, Hellsing, Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh, Ghost in the Shell, and Spirited Away. They also had pictures from various cover boxes and magazines (i.e. Anime Insider). The pictures were of Ranma 1/2 (manga), Lady Death, Hellsing, Yu-Gi-Oh, Shaman King, Chrono Crusade, Spirited Away, Slayers, an advertisement for Ragnarok Online (that one with the girl in the skimpy bikini), and the Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence poster.

It figures that they would pick the titles that would probably be rather offensive to Plugged In's general readers.
At least CAA was mentioned. I would like to read the entire article though.

[Jasdero]

Yay!!!!! :3

Let's see, mentioned was Chrono Crusade, Hellsing, Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh, Ghost in the Shell, and Spirited Away. They also had pictures from various cover boxes and magazines (i.e. Anime Insider). The pictures were of Ranma 1/2 (manga), Lady Death, Hellsing, Yu-Gi-Oh, Shaman King, Chrono Crusade, Spirited Away, Slayers, an advertisement for Ragnarok Online (that one with the girl in the skimpy bikini), and the Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence poster.

..........I liked Spirited Away...... *goes off to buy the DVD* XD I even have the soundtrack for it...

[Godly Paladin]

Most Christian discussion I read or hear about Anime (outside CAA) is about how it's occult, porn, etc. and people should keep their kids away from it.

Also, when I tell my friends that I like Anime their reaction always tends towards "oh-kay... It takes all types, I guess." Grr...

[Destroyer2000]

.....yet again, I am angered. Violence, porn, all stereotypes of Anime. They may TRY to be pure yet balanced, but they fail horribly. Not once have I seen them say something positive about Anime, manga, or videogames.

[Kawaiikneko]

*applauds Gypsy* ^___^

I think FotF is doing a great job with PluggedIn in the sense that they are showing any possibly questionable content to parents. They provide everything that a Christian may not want their family to see in a movie and then (mostly) leave it up to you to decide for yourself. They didn't have a review on Yugioh when this happened, but my mom decided she didn't like all the magic/socercery type stuff in Yugioh even though its only fake and my little brother and sister knew that. So, she decided we should get rid of their cards. Now, she doesn't think its evil for kids to have Yugioh cards and she doesn't condemn another parent on the subject, she just didn't want the influence in our house. As our parent, she has the authority to do so. So really, even if PluggedIn says something, it all comes down to a parent's convictions.

Edit: Well, I don't want to start an argument, but there aren't many animes that don't have at least some violence or fanservice or questionable content from the bible's point of view in it. I'm not saying there aren't any, but its understandable that it could get that stereotype. Instead of being appalled that they've stereotyped it that way, we should show them ourselves that we are upstanding Christians who don't compromise our morals for anime and show them the good shows that there are.