Overly Attached Anime Girlfriend

[Jiggle Counter]

They're so common that I just gotta ask, where the hell do these come from...

Do they stem from real life stereotypes, are they from some guy's fantasy, are they conflicts-made-flesh?

I mean, who invented these and why?

What's the story here?

 

[Sung-Hwan]

This is stereotyping for starters, and there is no story other than appealing to a certain audience.

Keep in mind that this also goes the other way around as well: See Shin of Hokuto no Ken.

 

[Zontar]

Seems that the first three are exaggerations of how some real people act (like all things anime exaggerates after all, especially in comedies). Though for the psychopathic overly attached girlfriend, for that I've got nothing.

 

[DefunctTheory]

Much like anything else in life, attaching tits to things, good or bad, makes them better.

Welcome to entertainment 101, though a strong argument could be made that anime leans on this tool a bit more then other entertainment institutions.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Women have been considered disparagingly in Japan for as long as the Japanese know how to write and tell tales.

The origin of everything that is wrong and evil is attributed to a woman in Japanese mythology. Incidentally it's also probably the first depiction of the Overly Attached Anime Girlfriend you mention in the title. The tale (you can read it in the Kojiki, Japan's "oldest extant chronicle", written in the early 8th century) tells of the world's first (godly) man and woman. The woman dies after giving birth, and the man - unfamiliar with death - descends into hell to fetch her back. He finds her in the dark and the couple happily get back together, until the man strikes a light and he sees the woman's decomposed face. He promptly ditches her, and she chases him around hell in a rage. The man barely escapes and manages to contain her in the underworld. As a last resort, the scorned woman swears to kill thereon a person every day (the man counters by promising to cause the birth of two persons thereon every day).

So according to Shintoism, death and generally all bad things humanity has to endure exist because a woman was overly attached to her husband, and "unreasonably" resented his rejection.

Throughout the Kojiki and other stories, women and generally the female gender is seen as duplicitous and malignant. The majority of monsters are specifically described as female, and evil women are also usually monsters in disguise. Ghosts are predominantly female, since in Japanese culture ghosts spawn from terrible grudges, and as you can already tell from the origin myth, scorned women hold grudges the most.

It's a long way from the creation myth to the modern-day cultural paradigm of a nation, but the incipient sexism that dominates Japanese history can start being partly understood here.

 

[Zontar]

Snip

This all seems like it can (and does) apply to the West as well with our own Pandora myth and many demonic and mythical monsters having the appearance of beautiful women to trap men and kill them/eat their soul. Similarly many paroles can be drawn with myths from India. I think there's more to it then just old creation myths.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Snip

This all seems like it can (and does) apply to the West as well with our own Pandora myth and many demonic and mythical monsters having the appearance of beautiful women to trap men and kill them/eat their soul. Similarly many paroles can be drawn with myths from India. I think there's more to it then just old creation myths.

There is certainly more to it, but everything has a beginning and it's fun to ruminate about the origin of things. Don't let a mere parallelism get in the way of creative speculation.

 

[sageoftruth]

It definitely comes across as pandering. Considering the target market is otaku, who are basically treated like lepers in Japan, it sounds like a kind of wish fulfillment for them to suddenly have a woman who MUST be with them at all times.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Repetition to the point of cliche, like most anime. Miyazaki said it best when he said that the people making anime today only study other anime instead of real people. So of course the same stereotypes will be driven into the ground, especially romantic ones.

 

[Asita]

It is worth pointing out that this is far from a gender specific concept. Orpheus's depression over the loss of his wife Eurydice was so profound that Hades agreed to let her return to the land of the living with him (that same attachment and fear of loss also led Orpheus to inadvertently sabotage that revival). Helen of Troy's character was pretty much defined by suffering such people, with Paris being smitten enough to abduct her, Menelaus being clingy enough to fight a ten year war to get her back, and the major heroes that fought alongside him being sworn to do exactly that as insurance that they wouldn't raise swords against Menelaus for marrying her (they'd been her other suitors before she wed Menelaus)...oh, did I mention that Menelaus nearly killed her for 'unfaithfulness' at the end of the war only for her to dissuade him by dropping her robe and dazzling him with her beauty? Then of course there's the various takes on Dracula[footnote]Special mention to Bram Stoker's Dracula, which has the eponymous character declare war on God because of his wife's suicide (committed due to a false report of Dracula's death, so it goes both ways here)[/footnote], Imhotep in the Mummy trilogy (1999-2008) is motivated largely by the desire to revive his lover, Khan Noonien Singh's main motivation in Wrath of Khan is getting revenge against Kirk for the death of his wife (which he blames on Kirk's negligence), Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors is driven to murder people to feed Audrey II (the plant) because he believes it to be the only way he can woo Audrey (the human)...and then of course we have Anakin Skywalker turning into Darth Vader because he thought the dark side would give him the power he needed to save his wife...

You know what, let's just link to the relevant tropes, it'll save time. Love Makes You Evil, Stalker With a Crush, Crazy Jealous Guy, Murder the Hypotenuse, Prince Charming Wannabe, Dogged Nice Guy, Entitled to Have You, I Love You Because I Can't Control You, If I Can't Have You, And Now You Must Marry Me...wasn't this supposed to be the shorter option?

 

[Sung-Hwan]

Repetition to the point of cliche, like most anime. Miyazaki said it best when he said that the people making anime today only study other anime instead of real people. So of course the same stereotypes will be driven into the ground, especially romantic ones.

Unless you have seen an extraordinary amount of anime, I wouldn't make some ridiculous claim like "most anime," since it screams profound ignorance. Also, taking Miyazaki's word on the anime industry's state also gives me bad vibes. Don't forget this IS the man that makes his success to an audience that is too uninformed/inexperienced of a medium, and he's outdone by Takahata.

There is a massive difference in perception between myself and what can be considered your average/casual anime fan, so that is why I am imposing some authority here. I usually don't mind, but sometimes I can get confrontational when frustrated with these sort of topics.

 

[Thaluikhain]

I think it's a fantasy thing. Fiction tends to get "really romantic" and "stalker" mixed up.

I mean, wouldn't it be nice if the hot person was really into you? Generally.
So much so that they'd break into your house and watch you sleep? Um...

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Repetition to the point of cliche, like most anime. Miyazaki said it best when he said that the people making anime today only study other anime instead of real people. So of course the same stereotypes will be driven into the ground, especially romantic ones.

Also, taking Miyazaki's word on the anime industry's state also gives me bad vibes. Don't forget this IS the man that makes his success to an audience that is too uninformed/inexperienced of a medium, and he's outdone by Takahata.

There is a massive difference in perception between myself and what can be considered your average/casual anime fan, so that is why I am imposing some authority here. I usually don't mind, but sometimes I can get confrontational when frustrated with these sort of topics.

First of all, its only your opinion if Miyazaki is outdone by Takahata. Personally, I don't agree with that, but whatever. How exactly is Miyazaki making his success off of ignorant people? He's the Walt Disney of Japan, that's where he does most of his business. He's certainly the most successful anime director reaching out to an international audience, and I'd say that he is definitely more successful than Takahata in that regard.

I don't see why you feel the need to impose "authority" here. Its not an attack against you if I don't the cartoons you do like. But the way I see it, the anime industry is built upon ripping itself off and repetition.

 

[Redryhno]

First of all, its only your opinion if Miyazaki is outdone by Takahata. Personally, I don't agree with that, but whatever. How exactly is Miyazaki making his success off of ignorant people? He's the Walt Disney of Japan, that's where he does most of his business. He's certainly the most successful anime director reaching out to an international audience, and I'd say that he is definitely more successful than Takahata in that regard.

I don't see why you feel the need to impose "authority" here. Its not an attack against you if I don't the cartoons you do like. But the way I see it, the anime industry is built upon ripping itself off and repetition.

Not to bash Miyazaki too much, the guy's got a golden touch for most of his projects, but remember this is also the same guy that said that Hideki Anno was the future of anime when he hasn't done much of anything but cash in on one project for the last twenty years that has gotten everything from "pretentious crap that doesn't have near the depth it likes to think it does", to things like it completely changing someone's life. In comparison, you've got The Urobutcher and Watanabe constantly working on different projects with diverse themes and styles over the same time period, all with pretty much glowing reviews from critics and the community at large for all of it.

I love most of his work and consider him one of the pillars of anime and the medium will be considerably less bright when he eventually dies, but I can't take his word on much of anything he has to say about the anime watching community or the medium in general.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Wow, so none of you people dated before...
Yes those types exist, not in caricature form (which should be obvious to anyone who comprehends entertainment does not equal real life), but they do exist. Goes for men also, not just a woman thing.

Usually comes in smaller or greater doses with people who push for relationships right from the start rather then trying to know anyone.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Not to bash Miyazaki too much, the guy's got a golden touch for most of his projects, but remember this is also the same guy that said that Hideki Anno was the future of anime when he hasn't done much of anything but cash in on one project for the last twenty years that has gotten everything from "pretentious crap that doesn't have near the depth it likes to think it does", to things like it completely changing someone's life. In comparison, you've got The Urobutcher and Watanabe constantly working on different projects with diverse themes and styles over the same time period, all with pretty much glowing reviews from critics and the community at large for all of it.

I think that's just a case of Japanese loyalty. Anno was there at the beginning of Ghibli and worked on Nausicaa too. And I seem to remember that it was actually Ghibli that called Anno "the future of anime", not Miyazaki himself. So in that regard it's just Miyazaki/Ghibli being on good terms with Anno. Why else would he cast him as the main character in his "last" movie? Have you seen The Wind Rises...? Yeah, Anno can't voice act... at all.

I love most of his work and consider him one of the pillars of anime and the medium will be considerably less bright when he eventually dies, but I can't take his word on much of anything he has to say about the anime watching community or the medium in general.

Miyazaki is absolutely right here though. Anime is stuck in a spiral of geek regurgitation.

OT: Honestly, I haven't seen the overly attached anime girlfriend trope much at all. Tenchi Muyo suffered a great deal of it, but that's really the only one I can think of.

 

[Autumnflame]

All four rolled into one would be just fine with me for my waifu please. :3

 

[Redryhno]

Not to bash Miyazaki too much, the guy's got a golden touch for most of his projects, but remember this is also the same guy that said that Hideki Anno was the future of anime when he hasn't done much of anything but cash in on one project for the last twenty years that has gotten everything from "pretentious crap that doesn't have near the depth it likes to think it does", to things like it completely changing someone's life. In comparison, you've got The Urobutcher and Watanabe constantly working on different projects with diverse themes and styles over the same time period, all with pretty much glowing reviews from critics and the community at large for all of it.

I think that's just a case of Japanese loyalty. Anno was there at the beginning of Ghibli and worked on Nausicaa too. And I seem to remember that it was actually Ghibli that called Anno "the future of anime", not Miyazaki himself. So in that regard it's just Miyazaki/Ghibli being on good terms with Anno. Why else would he cast him as the main character in his "last" movie? Have you seen The Wind Rises...? Yeah, Anno can't voice act... at all.

I love most of his work and consider him one of the pillars of anime and the medium will be considerably less bright when he eventually dies, but I can't take his word on much of anything he has to say about the anime watching community or the medium in general.

Miyazaki is absolutely right here though. Anime is stuck in a spiral of geek regurgitation.

OT: Honestly, I haven't seen the overly attached anime girlfriend trope much at all. Tenchi Muyo suffered a great deal of it, but that's really the only one I can think of.

Yeah, haven't gotten around the The Wind Rises yet, I knew Anno was a part of it, but I'm starting to think I may wait for the dub if he's a voice in it...(I don't have much respect for the guy as a creator). But I was sure it was Miyazaki saying it himself and not just Ghibli. I'll have to go look around some again looks like

I really don't think so. This year's been the "worst" in terms of anime for me. Only like five shows I've been actually interested in to watch. With the last few years having something like four or five each season, each of them pretty different from each other with a pretty minimal amount of regurgitation if there was any at all. I will continue to consider Miyazaki's work great for the most part, but, like Anno in some respects, he likes to talk down to alot of other anime that isn't his. Which is why I don't consider his word on anything he's not working on to be worth much.

 

[gandhi the peacemake]

Japanese creation myth

To add to this story: The woman tells the man not to light a match to see in the darkness. When he does, he sees her decomposed face, and she so does she. The reason she didn't want him to light the match was because she didn't want to see herself. The themes of women and physical beauty and all that. She chases him around Hell in rage because he revealed her ugliness to herself (and to him, I suppose, but the important one is her). When he escapes, she - since she's dead and can't escape Hell because of it - promises to kill x amount of people every day (the ones I read vary from 1 to 1000), and he promises in return to birth x + y amount of people every day (anywhere from 2 to 1500).

So I wouldn't say it's so much she "was overly attached to her husband, and 'unreasonably' resented his rejection" as... women are vain and their vanity causes evil? It's a eye-rolling message either way, though, which is I suppose the bigger point.

Everything else in your post gets general reiteration from me.

 

[CpT_x_Killsteal]

It's just a real life stereotype/trope massively exaggerated for comedy purposes.

Also, the old stereotype has always been that the man chases the woman. This is a reversal of that, one of the reasons it's so popular.
Also the standard shy, unconfident guy might get a kick out of the idea.