From: a2chao@undergrad.math.waterloo.edu (Allen Chao)
Subject: Re: MI and RANMA 1/2 NETTOUHEN ?s
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 08:19:40 GMT

Our 'Na Ni Ja Wa Panda From China' says:
 
>         I am simply stating the fact that KOR is aimed at a much younger/
> female audience. MI is diffcult for junior high/high school kids to
> understand. I guess the lack of understanding the language and culture cause
> people to not understand my arguement. It is true that watching kid's
> programs help people to understand a language. However, just because a kid's
> program is watch by adult that it can be elevate to an mature animation
> level. MI is much harder to understand than most people believe. Many people
> commented on MI even if they have only watch a small collection of MI eps. 
> Just ask anyone with an opinion on MI- How much MI have you WATCHED? Many of
> them will turn away without casting the first stone.
 
	I take it that you are fluent (or reasonably so) in Japanese to be
able to say something like this, hmm?
 
	I've watched all of Maison Ikkoku, with the exception of an episode 
or two.  Also, I've seen all of Kimagure Orange Road as well, so perhaps I 
should reply.  Since I don't understand Japanese, I probably view them on a 
slightly different level, having relied on fan subs, synopses and my 
judgement to understand them.  (Ja, I did watch the entire second half 
without subtitles, and understood most of the situational items.  I do 
understand a bit of Japanese here and there, it comes from having watched 
too much anime... 8)  
 
(I'll offer this disclaimer now while I still have the chance:  I can't        
spell with romanji properly, aiee!  Forgive any errors I may subsequently 
make that way...)
 
	IMO, you are right about the target audiences of the respective shows 
- It's quite simply seen in the ages of the characters involved, but there's 
absolutely nothing worng with watching either series.  These shows ARE 
roughly at an equal level, with differences in them that you can account for 
by the age of the characters.  They're romantic comedies.  (KOR moreso on
the comedy part.)  If you only enjoy KOR, that's fine, if you only enjoy MI,
that's fine, and if you enjoy both, that's fine too.  Everyone's entitled to
their own preferences.  The only reason why you're being shit upon by all
of us who do enjoy KOR is because of your rather (to put it mildly) inept
way of expressing your preference of MI over KOR.  You imply VERY strongly
that anyone who enjoys KOR is terminally immature and on the brain-dead side.
(Check this out:  you term KOR as 'Kid's show' and imply MI as 'Mature
Animation'.  You >don't< have to say things this way, ne?  It's insulting
to we who watch KOR!  It amounts to 'You Watch KOR->You Brain-Dead Kid.')
 
	Now, I like MI better than KOR myself, but seeing you strutting like 
this, it really gets to me!  A joke about your preference here and there, ok, 
but what you're doing is pretty insensitive.  Considering that you like MI 
because it's more 'mature' (Well, the characters are, anyways), you're not 
being very mature about your opinions, ne?  (Yes, I'm thinking about your 
post regarding Bullshits(sic) too.)  
 
	When you think about it, the content of MI is not really very mature.
(It's fun and all, yeah, I love it! 8)  Many of the episodes deal with the
characters getting totally smashed on alcoholic beverages. ('Nomu! Nomu!'
'Kaasan! [no! not again!] 8)  In the first major section, Godai gets totalled
on beer and who-knows-what-else, and indiscreetly rants and raves about how
he loves Kyoko (Kyoko-san, Suki-ja!) and then tries to rape her, but luckily
for Kyoko, he's too drunk to do anything but fall asleep (unconscious? 8).
>This< is mature?  Think again.  What about Mitaka, Godai's rival for Kyoko?
He has a terminal faer of dogs, and Kyoko's pet Souichiro doesn't help.  A
good deal of attention (great humour! 8) is paid to Mitaka overcoming his
phobia (Mitaka:Here, McEnroe! [dog(McEnroe) rushes up]  Aaagggh!  No! 8)
Another Major section is about how Godai is chased around by Yagami, a 
highschool girl at the highschool he's doing his student-teacher routine at.  
Serious, ne?  How about The Fight?  Godai and Mitaka resorting to violence to 
solve their love triangle with Kyoko? (Yeah, that fails miserably, because 
Godai leaves his bag at a snack stand, and a cop follows them all over, 
trying to give Godai his bag.)  What about The Pregnancy?  Mitaka mistakes 
(ar, I forgot the other dog's name) pregnancy to be Asuna's pregnancy, and 
marries her?  Right... 'REAL' japanese cultural difference right here.  Sigh.  
Granted, there are those serious moments, a few entire episodes in fact, 
within the series, but then again, KOR does too.  You're reading a little too 
much between the lines, friend.  Just be a bit more sensitive about what you 
write about other people, that's all.  
 
Catch you on the flip side.
 
(I hope you'll have something to say in return for my work. 8)

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