Love Letters

Here's an interesting question : "Does it make sense to be emotionally affected by a cartoon?" The answer is : "Of course it makes sense."
A cartoon is an artistic commentary on human behavior in some fashion or another. And I have a saying, "The most fascinating thing for human beings is : other human beings." Thus, a cartoon, which is a pictographic examination of human issues, naturally evokes a human emotional response, despite the fact, "they're just drawings."

I'm 28 now and a great deal more confident than I was when I was younger. It's funny to admit it to myself, but I must acknowledge the age-old adage that with "age comes wisdom". Although, I prefer my own take on this truism : "distance brings perspective", whether that be physical distance or the distance the passage of time affords. I think I prefer the word "perspective" in lieu of "wisdom". Personally I feel I was easily capable of the maturity I currently possess when I was younger, much younger, in my early teens. For this reason, I prefer the word "perspective", which anyone can have, over "wisdom", which connotates age.

Once again, a new Anime has kindled reflections in my mind. I just finished watching the 3rd episode of the Anime "Kamen no Maid Guy" (Masked Maid Guy). It's what called "Ecchi" in Japan and its defining feature is an unrelenting emphasis on playful sexuality. Not full blown porn by any means, more like the kind of innocent fantasies of adolescents. I could say "perverted fantasies", but I don't think there is anything wrong with obssessing about the opposite sex. Last time I checked sex was an absolute requirement for the continued perpetuation of our species. It's right up there in importance with eating and sleeping. It's one of our fundamental human drives. That it occupies a HUGE part of our thoughts and feelings is...well...as natural as breathing. Sexual repressiveness is something that stems from hurt feelings long ago. When some powerful guy was scorned by a girl and he decided to force her and other guys to subvert their sexual tension and bury it under the pretense of tradition and culture. Stupid stuff like not showing ankles, or communicating with the movement of fans, or wearing tops that covered the whole neck, and marrying for money not love, and arranged marriages, and on and on and on...All because some poor guy long ago got rejected by a girl. This is all just a theory on my part...but, I bet it's right.

The premise of the Anime is that 2 siblings are the sole remaining members of a once large and wealthy family. The Grandfather/Head of the family believes that foul play has resulted in the deaths of the other family members and thus he commissions 2 "special" maids to attend and protect his 2 remaining Grandchildren. The novelty of the show is that one of the special maids, Kogarashi, is a monster of a man who has the body of the Hulk, coupled with the skills of a super maid, packaged in a personality with a complete disregard for all discretion and "decency". The result is Naeka, the 17 year old granddaughter and heroine of the story, is constantly being stunned and embarrassed by Kogarashi as he criticizes her in her selection of panties, rebukes her for her enormous bust-size that causes her to be terrible at Math (it's a lewd cartoon, y'know ; ) , or makes her drink a love potion which causes her to lose all inhibitions.

It's really all hilarious stuff and I find it lots of sexually-playful fun. Again, it's only old-fashioned Victorian prudery that has inculcated us with the ridiculous belief that overt sexuality is "wrong". In plenty of cultures around the world (Bora Bora for one), sexual play is a common part of childhood, with children encouraged to explore their sexuality as soon as they are so inclined. It demystifies sex and prepares kids for healthy sexual relations in their adult lives. Again, sex is fundamental to human existence. I say, there is nothing wrong with thinking about it all the time. We think about food and water all the time. Sex is right up there in importance.

All the randy jokes aside, I've always found Ecchi to be compelling because it always has a sweetness and innocence to it. It's actually as important as the lasciviousness of the shows to me. In this particular episode, Naeka receives her very first love letter. It's a wonderful moment to bear witness to. Naeka is a very likable character in her physical attractiveness (of course), but also in her energy and her sensitivity. She had a traumatic experience with her 1st romantic endeavor (unfortunately she poisoned the poor boy she was interested in when she tried to make a lunch to share) and had since decided to dedicate herself to "the path of the sword" (she studies Kendo diligently). Naturally, she is just afraid of her feelings getting hurt again. But the female member of the 2 super maids : Fubuki, wisely recognizes that Naeka is just blocked by her fear of poisoning another boy, so Fubuki teaches Naeka how to properly prepare deep-fried shrimp, and so cures Naeka of her fear of loving a boy. Thus, Naeka is able to open up her 1st love letter.

I've written love letters to girls, and I'd always wondered what it was like for them when they opened and read it. I got an idea when I watched Naeka's reaction. Let me say, as a guy, it was so very, very sweet. I found myself wishing I would have been able to install cameras into the rooms of girls in my past I'd written letters to just to watch their reaction to reading my letter. ah...young love is so great... All the little hearts that pop up is an artistic touch in cartoons that definitely enhances the moment for me. : )

I feel compelled now to make a suggestion to young people (and adults too). If you like someone : TOTALLY write them a love letter. Pick some nice paper (maybe scented). Pick a nice envelope. Write about exactly how you feel. Be sincere. Show your feelings. It is just so totally great to get a love letter from someone else. We human beings are fuelled by love. It's our energy source. It's really what makes human life. You will totally make somebody's day, week, month, year by writing them a sincere love letter. Even if you don't "get together", you've still expressed your feelings, and that is just : pure magic. With such powerful feelings, you'll DEFINITELY meet someone special for you. ; )

Unfortunately for poor Naeka, this being an Ecchi Anime and thus inherently kind of twisted, her 1st love letter just happened to have been written by : a girl with seriously sappho inclinations. To complicate matters, Kogarashi (the Monster Super Maid Guy) made a trapdoor where Naeka and sappho girl have their rendezvous which drops the 2 of them into a "make out" room complete with bed and pink flowers. The episode closes with Naeka coming home looking like she has been wrestling for her life, armed with a katana, and charging at Kogarashi with the intention of turning him into sushi, all the while being restrained by her little brother and Fubuki (the other maid, female). It's all pretty crazy, but very fun. : )

Being young and engaging in romantic adventures (or misadventures) is great, but, speaking for myself, it's even more fun in Anime. Why? Because in Anime there is a neverending presence of adventure and surprise, you never know what will happen next. It's wild and exciting. Most of the time, real life just lacks that, y'know.

Totally write those love letters kids, but, look inside yourself to find what adventure means to you at the same time. When you add adventure and excitement to your love life, it will be special. What's adventure to me? Writing these articles, and, some day soon, going on my own journey of exploration. I know I'll meet a special girl for me doing so. Believe it! ; )