What's Up With Most Anime and Rape? *SPOILERS*

[Ian Caronia]

So yeah, I'll try not to ramble, and right off the bat there will/can be spoilers here since we are talking about stories and specific incidents. You've been warned.

I love anime, specifically anime around 90's (give or take a few series that began in the 80's and 2000's). I loved Dragon Ball/Z on Toonami, COWBOY BEBOP BABY!, Big O (first season only), Gundam Wing, Hellsing, Fist of the North STATATAAr, and hell, I even wanted to check out this series called Code Geas (Gease? Geass?) because it's supposed to be a very stark glimpse at a mecha-filled future's politics...but with mechs and shooting :3 (from what I heard).
_Point is, I'm not some raging douche making a rant thread about rape in stories. I give almost every anime a chance, and while post-2000 anime seem to be mainly depressing or S.O.L moe (Just not my kinda thing really), I found a horrific trend that's been eating at me for a looong~ time...

The hell is it with all the rape? And I mean, meaningless rape. Like rapings that can be completely omitted, and with a little re-writing you wouldn't even know the difference!
Examples:
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
Gantz (from what I hear of the manga)
Berserk
The Cowboy Bebop Movie
Hellsing (well, pre-Hellsing actually... Unless it happens in the manga too)

Spoiler: Now before you post...

I want you to know that yes, I do realize Guts's backstory (berserk) is actually well implemented with who he is and how he reacts with Casca, and I applaud the author for creating what I consider a golden example of how using rape in a story should and/or can be done well(though I really didn't need the panels depicting it...ugh). I also know a bit about that thing that happened with Seras Victoria's past, and from what I hear it's well implemented also (in the least it sheds light on a phobia many would be quick to make fun of...like other animes do).
_I'm talking about useless, needles rape. Casca? Faye Valentine?! ALUCARD?!
The list here is just of animes I know a lot of folk know about and would/could be willing to comment on. They are also perfect examples of what I'm talking about (Gantz is recommended by a friend, actually, only saw the anime). Berserk is a series that's actually made fun of for two things: 1. Having an author (or mangaka) that takes forever to make the next installment and 2. everybody was, is, or shall be raped at some point.

Look, I'm not bashing on the animes listed. Seriously, I'm not. That's not my intention at all. My hate for that scene in the Bebop Movie is detached from this, as is my desdain for that scene in the anime of Count of Monte Cristo. I'm just looking for others' opinions on this. Not all anime do this, and because it's done doesn't mean the rest of the anime, or even all anime, is bad. As I said, my best friend really likes reading what the series of Berserk is up to despite what happened...and what happened after... O_O
I mean, just look at the "revenge flick" genre, and in the West! "I Spit On Your Grave" is a perfect example of even entire stories/movies/what have you that shouldn't and don't need to exist. And yeah, that's worse than a single scene in an anime to me.
But this isn't about that. This is about anime.

So, what's your opinion on the subject?

 

[Averant]

...there's an anime of Monte Cristo? I can safely say I never knew that. I can also safely say I do NOT want to watch it.

As for the rape thing? Well, anime will be anime. It's japanese, and we all know where we got our tentacle rape from...

 

[SwimmingRock]

It's mostly just a crutch for lazy writing. Need your characters to have some kind of psychological problem? Rape. Issues with a particular character for cheap drama? Rape. Sudden debilitating flashbacks for dramatic tension at an inconvenient moment? You see where I'm going with this.

Let me assure you it's not specific to anime. As a comics reader, it's gotten to the point where I just sigh annoyed and disappointed whenever a female comic book character has what by now is the single most clichéd character development twist. I really wish they would cut that shit out.

 

[Ryhzuo]

98% of mainstream anime don't incorporate any sort of rape into them. If you think otherwise, then you probably just haven't watched enough anime.

Or you should stop browsing hentai sites =3

 

[FFHAuthor]

98% of mainstream anime don't incorporate any sort of rape into them. If you think otherwise, then you probably just haven't watched enough anime.

Or you should stop browsing hentai sites =3

That takes about 3/4ths of the fun out of it though.

 

[Snake Plissken]

I mean, just look at the "revenge flick" genre, and in the West! "I Spit On Your Grave" is a perfect example of even entire stories/movies/what have you that shouldn't and don't need to exist.

Don't mean to derail, but I will politely disagree with the quoted phrase.

As an avid horror and grindhouse fan, I cannot let this slip by without a remark. "I Spit On Your Grave" (original and remake), and other revenge films in general ("Teeth" comes to mind...), have a solid place in the media of film. They DO exist, and SHOULD exist. I don't understand why you claim they shouldn't. If it's because particular scenes make you uncomfortable, then it's just childish sentiment. Rape scenes aren't just thrown around in these films just to have the sake of rape scenes; they're integral to the story. Without the first half of a story, the second half wouldn't exist.

I know several females who LOVE these films, regardless of their past involvement with sexual abuse, because these films give them an outlet that they wouldn't otherwise have. These films are important to them, and to make the claim that they shouldn't exist just because you don't like the content is an emotional slap in the face to them. I don't particularly enjoy rape/revenge films, but it's because I can't really identify with them. Just because I can't identify with something that disturbs me, though, doesn't give me the right to lay claim to what should and shouldn't exist.

 

[AbstractStream]

Wait there was rape in the Cowboy Bebop Movie?
How did I miss that?

Yeah, I missed it too. I looked it up and this is what I found. (Spoilers for those who haven't seen the movie.)

Spoiler

Ed and Ein head out to track down the hacker. They find him and call in Faye. They get distracted and leave, so Faye shows up and doesn't know where to go. Vincent is playing solitaire again, and when Lee shows up, Vincent shoots the last bead on his board. "Only one can win." Lee breaks the window as he chokes to death on the virus, and Faye runs up to him. "Press my reset button," he says, dying. Faye also gets woosy from the virus and sees golden butterflies. Vincent returns and she shoots him, and he tastes his blood. He then leans down over her apparently to rape her, as the screen fades away.

Apparently, it's "implied," but I honestly DON'T think it happened.

 

[Snake Plissken]

EDIT: DOUBLE POST.

 

[Macgyvercas]

You missed "Luv Wave", but then again, that probably can't count, since it is a straight up hentai (albeit with a halfway decent plot line, compared to other hentai).

Most of the anime I watch though just has lots of fanservice. Which is awesome.

 

[Ian Caronia]

Don't mean to derail, but I will politely disagree with the quoted phrase.

As an avid horror and grindhouse fan, I cannot let this slip by without a remark. "I Spit On Your Grave" (original and remake), and other revenge films in general ("Teeth" comes to mind...), have a solid place in the media of film. They DO exist, and SHOULD exist. I don't understand why you claim they shouldn't. If it's because particular scenes make you uncomfortable, then it's just childish sentiment. Rape scenes aren't just thrown around in these films just to have the sake of rape scenes; they're integral to the story. Without part the first half of a story, the second half wouldn't exist.

I know several females who LOVE these films, regardless of their past involvement with sexual abuse, because these films give them an outlet that they wouldn't otherwise have. These films are important to them, and to make the claim that they shouldn't exist just because you don't like the content is an emotional slap in the face to them. I don't particularly enjoy rape/revenge films, but it's because I can't really identify with them. Just because I can't identify with something that disturbs me, though, doesn't give me the right to lay claim to what should and shouldn't exist.

To respond but not derail, I'll make this brief. While I understand that such films are a means of venting or releasing stress for people who have gone through such trauma, and I will admit that I generalized the revenge flick genre rather poorly (and am also willing to admit that certain revenge flicks are FRIGGIN BAD ASS), I will stick to my opinion on revenge flick which centers entirely on rape.
I do this mainly because the rape scenes are ridiculous. Yes, they are integral to the plot, but what is the plot? "Kill the rapist." Doesn't need a lot of rape shown to get that point across. Some rape scenes go on for almost five-seven minutes at a time. Shit, I think Irreversible had a ten to 13 minute rape scene! Excessive much?
_Also, and primarily, there is often no character arc (aside from modest girl/guy turns violent) and no respect for the victim. A good story incorporating or even revolving around a rape shows development, growth. It shows life outside of revenge. It's not often a victim of any kind gets revenge in real life, and the desire to can and does ruin them when they fixate on it. When it comes to revenge films in general there is at least one person who is hindered in their healing for every person who is helped. I suppose you can say I look at the darker side of having those films around while you look at the brighter side. Like a black and white cookie. Fucking love black and white cookies-

*clears throat* Anyway, I can agree to disagree when it comes to rape revenge flicks. I am honestly glad your friends are helped by them, though, and I'm glad they were able to move on and triumph over the trauma. : )
...But I will say "I Spit On Your Grave" (the original, didn't see the remake and don't plan to) is horrible shlock that only holds its place in media as a reference point.
Again, agree to disagree though.

 

[mcnally86]

In Berserk the demon rapes Causka in the demon world. It is to take over the child she is carrying and ultimately use this to come back to the living world. Which is very ephed up but a very demonic thing to do. The rape in this is not romanticized in any way. It destroys her emotionally she regresses to being very child like. I suppose it destroys Guts too but his reaction is kill everybody ever. Incidentally he was raped as a child but he can function in public until he loses Causka and his son. It is central to the story and there are serious consequences. They don't play around. Moral of the story there is a lot of rape in the berserk world done mostly buy demons and demon horses but rapists with have a sword the size of a sofa rammed though their face.

No spoiler warning came out in like 1986.

 

[pyramid head grape]

In Hellsing ultimate I think the rape part was completely unnecessary.

 

[Carlston]

It's odd since Japan has one of the lower birth rates in the world.

Almost wonder if the government is trying to get people "In the mood"

But sure there can be better ways.

 

[Carlston]

Odd it double posted me huh

 

[mcnally86]

It's odd since Japan has one of the lower birth rates in the world.

Almost wonder if the government is trying to get people "In the mood"

But sure there can be better ways.

In the mood is poorly worded. Clearly only the men have to be in the mood.

 

[Weskerbot3000]

pandering to the fan base nothing new